Where To Start

As I understand, there are a lot of fans who dropped out of the EU for a while or eventually gave up on it. Now, since the beginning of Disney’s treacherous reign, some have seen the light and are returning to the EU side of the fandom. Or, we also have new fans/visitors! This is all great! There’s just one question. When you want to hit the books again, where do you start?

Now, let me explain something to you all that I hadn’t known when I first got into the EU. The Expanded Universe is a timeline. Every series, every trilogy, every standalone story has its place in the timeline and it all goes together. I hadn’t realized how extensive the timeline was and, being merely a fan of the movies, started off with the New Jedi Order series- the longest and first truly developed series of the EU. Now, this major spoiler alert wasn’t so terrible for me. I don’t think I would have gotten so hooked to the EU if I hadn’t delved straight into NJO like I did. Let’s just say- there was almost literally a new surprise on every page! So, what are some good places to start? Let me give you the tour I never got.

I’ll give a sloppy rundown of what each of these categories has to offer, then a little list of some suggested titles.

Let’s Start At the Very Beginning

First, of course, you could start- as Julie Andrews is famous for suggesting- at the very beginning with Old Republic novels. I should not be your go-to source for this era. But I know there’s a Darth Bane trilogy that explains the whole rule-of-two thing with the Sith. There’s also the novel Revan. That’s about all I know about. Sorry.
Revan

Bane Trilogy: Path of Destruction, Rule of Two, Dynasty of Evil

Plageuis

The Start- and Heart- of the EU

Of course, if you’re like me, you don’t care about anything before the movies. From here, there are several categories to discuss- the first being one of the most widely considered “best” places to start. If you’re planning on reading a decent amount of the EU and getting into the stories of the OT3’s lives following ROTJ, the Thrawn Trilogy is a really great place to start. Its first installment Heir To the Empire really kick-started the Expanded Universe and paved the way for such potential. Written by Timothy Zahn, the Thrawn Trilogy introduces some of the most influential and appreciated EU characters there are including the Solo twins Jaina and Jacen, Admiral Thrawn, Talon Karrde, and Mara Jade. Zahn can be held responsible for establishing Mara’s beloved and classic character, making this trilogy very popular just for that reason alone (of course, there are other reasons, I ‘spose.). Though, Zahn can’t be credited with Jaina and Jacen’s true characters as much as just giving birth to them as they are just born in the third book. So, the Thrawn Trilogy is kind of where the EU truly starts. It’s the beginning of the continuing timeline.

Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, Last Command

I Just Care About My OT3

But Thrawn starts eight years after ROTJ. What happened before that? What happened to the Empire? When did Han and Leia get married and stuff? If you’re looking for what happens after ROTJ, there are plenty of selections for you as well. (This category is also basically the Han/Leia/Luke Adventure Time category. Yay for our OT3!) How soon after ROTJ are you looking for because there’s Truce At Bakura which literally picks up minutes after the credits roll. The Emperor may be defeated, but the Empire remains. Han and Leia start to explore the freedom of having the opportunity to actually start their relationship and Luke- well, Luke’s kind of a Jedi hermit until Thrawn. Then, of course, there’s Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor which is amazing and comes a few months after ROTJ.

Truce at Bakura

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor

Splinter of the Mind’s Eye

Crucible

Or, maybe you’re looking for something a little more in the future. Or, you just care about the next generation of heroes. Here’s where we get a lot more options. The first books to really establish Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin’s characters are the Corellian trilogy books, I think. I haven’t read them yet, but I’ve ordered them. There’s another couple series I’ve never read that prominently feature the Solo kids- that are actually mostly about the Solo kids. Young Jedi Knights and Junior Jedi Knights. These are more like children’s novels. YJK focuses on Jaina, Jacen, Tenel Ka Djo, Raynar Thul, Zekk, and Lowbacca training to become Jedi. JJK focuses on Anakin and Tahiri Veila and their friendship as they train on Yavin IV.

Young Jedi Knights series

Junior Jedi Knights series

Corellian Trilogy: Ambush at Corellia, Assault at Selonia, Showdown at Centerpoint

In It For the Long Haul

Now, while all of these stories that I’ve thus far mentioned are part of the timeline, they don’t . . . how do I say this the right way? They do matter, I suppose, but they aren’t essential to the storyline. This brings us to my favorite category. When do things start to matter? When do people start dying and there’s romances and drama and all that fun stuff? This is where I started. So, I guess you can say that everything else I’ve talked about is an introduction to the story and this is the first chapter.

Things start to really matter in the EU’s first series that goes beyond being a trilogy. It’s 19 books, but worth every novel. It’s called the New Jedi Order. We break out of the YA stage here and the series explores topics much more complex than anything seen in the Star Wars universe before. Lots of weird, Jedi philosophy stuff, lots of weird, non-Jedi philosophy stuff. This series is so amazing though, okay? You know what? I think I might need to write an entire post on this series in general because-!!!! It’s amazing. The Solo kids are in their late teens, growing up, trying to break out of their parents’ shadows. Leia has been in politics for so long and is kind of trying to figure out where to go next in her life. At least, that’s how I kind of see it. Luke has been training Jedi and now his pupils are spread across the galaxy and the Jedi Order has accomplished a lot. But, this series is 19 books? What on Coruscant is it about?

Aliens!

But- Star Wars is kinda’- about aliens.

Yeah, but these are aliens! That’s it. I’m definitely doing an NJO post.

Once you hit NJO, I would HIGHLY recommend all the following books and in order. After NJO comes the Dark Nest Trilogy, then Legacy of the Force (9 books), then the final EU series published Fate of the Jedi (also 9 books). These series all go together and continue the flowing story. You can stop at the end of a series with little to no problem, but I really do suggest that- if you’re interested in reading one of these stories, you have to commit.

New Jedi Order series

Legacy of the Force series

Dark Nest Trilogy

Fate of the Jedi series

Sick of Solos and Skywalkers

Now, there is one last category left to discuss and, surprisingly, it’s not all too small. This last category is for anyone who may get sick of the Skywalkers and Solos or just care about the “background” characters. There’s the X-Wing Series which focuses on Wedge Antilles as well as the rest of the Rogue Squadron: Corran Horn, Wes Janson, Tycho Celchu, etc. It follows their adventures in the beginning of the New Republic’s days. I’ve only read two of these, but I really enjoyed them and am hoping to read more if I can get my hands on some copies.

I, Jedi

X-Wing series

MedStar Duology (just another random duology set in the Clone Wars that has nothing to do with OT3)

*SPOILERS!*

Okay, but when does the BIG stuff happen?

Han and Leia get married in . . .

Courtship of Princess Leia (DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!!!)

Han and Leia have their honeymoon in . . .

Tatooine Ghost

Jaina and Jacen are born in . . .

Last Command

Anakin is born in . . .

Dark Empire (comic series)

Corran and Mirax get married in . . .

Bacta War

Luke and Mara get married in . . .

Union (comic)

Ben is born in . . .

NJO: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth

Allana is first featured in . . .

Dark Nest: Unseen Queen

Leia and Luke finally learn about their mother in . . .

Dark Nest Trilogy

Jaina gets married in . . .

Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse

I think that’s everything I can cover in a brief post. I’m so sorry about the mess; I hope it’s still comprehensible. If you were hoping for something more or are looking for something specific, I would love to try to help you out. I hope this crash course was helpful, though.

What's the Point?

 I’m sure we’ve all heard the great insult that EU doesn’t matter anymore because it’s not canon. The last installment to that universe has long been written and most have moved on . . .

Obviously, I haven’t. That shouldn’t have been the end! Don’t even get me started on the Sword of the Jedi trilogy we were supposed to get! But, we got an end and we must deal with it. So, the question is: what’s the point?

There’s still a point to reading and writing EU fanfic. I will make sure of that. The sad thing is that there are so few purely EU fanfics out there that are written well or are even completed. I’m always looking for more to read and I know I’m not the only one.

Everybody says that it doesn’t matter what you choose to write next, as long as you’re writing for yourself and not for the audience that you want to have. I’m still learning that, but I’m always up for writing something EU-related. I also know that I’m not the only one looking to read EU fics. I’m always surprised when I get a review on Revival thanking me for writing the story because this hidden gem of a user prefers EU canon like I do and has been endlessly searching for more EU fans and fics. It never ceases to surprise me every time I get a message like that. So, no one is alone in that boat.

Okay, so back to the ‘writing for yourself’ thing. Here’s another point: if the writers who are too afraid to represent this canon or ‘verse, who will? Who will represent the classic stories that made Star Wars more than the epic movie trilogy it already was. The books- the Expanded Universe made it even more. How can all of that just be forgotten in light of what Disney thinks?

I think I must look funny because I wrote EU fic like 2014 never happened. Just write an Invincible AU like everyone knows what I’m talking about. But I still treasure the classic characters we were gifted with and I much prefer Mara, Jaina, Anakin, and all the others to what Disney is trying to stuff our faces with. There’s something about the entire storyline, all the different characters, their backgrounds, their futures that I can’t let go of. Their stories as a whole were unfinished and I don’t think that’s fair. So, I figure, why not write like it’s not over? It doesn’t have to be. Mara can still be alive if you want. Or, Jag can mysteriously vanish. I’m totally cool with that (wink, wink).

I don’t want the story to be over, so, for me, it’s not. That’s what I think the point is.

Sorry this is so dramatic and- nothing. I’m trying- I really am. Please, if there’s a discussion topic you’d like to see, just shoot me a message on Tumblr or FFN or leave a comment here! I know there’s plenty I would love to talk about, but I don’t know what anyone else wants to see, so I would love to hear from you guys and it would help so much! Want to talk about certain characters? A certain era? Or who else wants to fury rant about the Sword trilogy! I want to hear from you guys!

Thanks for reading and may the Force be with you!