1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,879 With the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn to the galaxy in Ahsoka 2 00:00:02,879 --> 00:00:05,392 I think it's becoming more and more clear that the future 3 00:00:05,392 --> 00:00:09,176 of that story is going to continue taking inspiration from Star Wars Legends 4 00:00:09,176 --> 00:00:10,607 where the character originated 5 00:00:10,607 --> 00:00:14,705 I get questions about how to get into Star Wars books and comics all the time 6 00:00:14,705 --> 00:00:17,773 and I've got more videos on those topics coming, but today, 7 00:00:17,773 --> 00:00:21,199 I wanted to focus on Star Wars Legends because there are hundreds 8 00:00:21,199 --> 00:00:24,289 of books and there is definitely renewed interest thanks to Thrawn 9 00:00:24,289 --> 00:00:26,668 but it's daunting and overwhelming to start 10 00:00:26,668 --> 00:00:28,383 So, where should you start? 11 00:00:28,383 --> 00:00:31,154 Just like when it comes to making canon recommendations, 12 00:00:31,154 --> 00:00:34,946 it really all depends on what you personally like about Star Wars so 13 00:00:34,946 --> 00:00:38,559 I'm gonna try to cover a bunch of different bases in this video 14 00:00:38,559 --> 00:00:41,994 I generally tell people to begin with the trilogy that started it all, 15 00:00:41,994 --> 00:00:46,064 the Thrawn trilogy, Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising and The Last Command 16 00:00:46,064 --> 00:00:50,329 Yes, I know that there were comics and shows and the Han Solo and Lando Calrissian Adventures 17 00:00:50,329 --> 00:00:52,909 that were part of the Expanded Universe before those books, 18 00:00:52,909 --> 00:00:56,389 but Timothy Zahn's novels arrived in the early 90's when people were 19 00:00:56,389 --> 00:00:59,479 unsure if Star Wars would ever continue in a major way 20 00:00:59,479 --> 00:01:03,479 Then here came some new stories about Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie and Lando 21 00:01:03,479 --> 00:01:06,610 facing a new kind of villain in the form of Grand Admiral Thrawn 22 00:01:06,610 --> 00:01:10,610 They were instantly hits and ushered in a brand new wave of Star Wars stories 23 00:01:10,610 --> 00:01:13,725 in the form of books and comics. To get personal for a bit, 24 00:01:13,725 --> 00:01:17,046 those books shaped Star Wars for me as much as the movies did 25 00:01:17,046 --> 00:01:21,607 I got into Star Wars around 1995, I watched the movies constantly 26 00:01:21,607 --> 00:01:25,557 but obviously, I wanted more. I wanted to find out what happened next 27 00:01:25,557 --> 00:01:29,177 So most of the Star Wars universe when I was growing up was made up 28 00:01:29,177 --> 00:01:33,353 of these books, and they very much shaped my view of what Star Wars can be 29 00:01:33,353 --> 00:01:36,543 Which is to say, it can be pretty much whatever it wants to be. 30 00:01:36,543 --> 00:01:38,893 I fell in love with the X-Wing books especially 31 00:01:38,893 --> 00:01:42,701 solidifying my love of pilot stories. Reading these books showed me 32 00:01:42,701 --> 00:01:47,266 the variety to be found in Star Wars and it's something I still push for today 33 00:01:47,266 --> 00:01:51,317 I see the occasional comments from people saying they wished I talked about Legends more 34 00:01:51,317 --> 00:01:54,631 or some going so far to say that I hate Legends which is absurd. 35 00:01:54,631 --> 00:01:57,712 Some of my favorite Star Wars stories are from that point in time 36 00:01:57,712 --> 00:02:00,372 in my life where I was reading every book I could 37 00:02:00,372 --> 00:02:03,295 I even have fond memories of the some of the... let's call them 38 00:02:03,295 --> 00:02:06,805 the lesser celebrated books. As a young kid, there were definitely 39 00:02:06,805 --> 00:02:10,718 some weird stories in there but I didn't care. They were all new adventures 40 00:02:10,718 --> 00:02:15,042 with some of my favorite characters. I definitely agree that I could spend more time 41 00:02:15,042 --> 00:02:17,680 talking about Legends but it's not because I don't love it, 42 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,908 it's just that most of my time is spent keeping up with everything that's coming out now 43 00:02:21,908 --> 00:02:24,600 But it is something I'd like to change in the coming year 44 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,450 Anyway, to hop off my nostalgia soapbox, my next recommendation 45 00:02:28,450 --> 00:02:32,030 is a series I already mentioned, the X-Wing novels by Michael Stackpole 46 00:02:32,030 --> 00:02:36,624 and Aaron Alston. Like I said, these books solidified my love for pilot stories, 47 00:02:36,624 --> 00:02:40,779 so if you liked the Alphabet Squadron trilogy, these books are right up your alley. 48 00:02:40,779 --> 00:02:44,550 Or, if you were into Andor, I also think this is a solid recommendation. 49 00:02:44,550 --> 00:02:47,630 These are stories about normal people, just a bunch of pilots 50 00:02:47,630 --> 00:02:50,670 doing their best to make the galaxy better. But of course, 51 00:02:50,670 --> 00:02:53,667 some fans aren't really interested in Star Wars if the Jedi or the Sith 52 00:02:53,667 --> 00:02:56,712 aren't involved and that's ok, we all have our personal preference. 53 00:02:56,712 --> 00:03:00,982 If it's Sith you want, look no further than the Darth Bane trilogy by Drew Karpyshyn 54 00:03:00,982 --> 00:03:04,571 It's the story of the Sith Lord who created the Rule of Two, which also 55 00:03:04,571 --> 00:03:08,950 shows how the Sith Order went from tons of Sith to only two hidden in the shadows 56 00:03:08,950 --> 00:03:12,026 We get to see massive battles between the Jedi and the Sith, 57 00:03:12,026 --> 00:03:15,940 political ramifications in the galaxy and also a compelling personal story 58 00:03:15,940 --> 00:03:18,700 in the form of Darth Bane. I will say there are some 59 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:21,430 aspects of the story surrounding the Force that don't fully 60 00:03:21,430 --> 00:03:24,347 vibe with my view of it. But it doesn't ruin my enjoyment, 61 00:03:24,347 --> 00:03:27,480 it's just different and that's fine. To stick with the Sith, 62 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,490 I can't not mention Darth Plagueis by James Luceno, 63 00:03:30,490 --> 00:03:34,011 it's considered to be one of the ultimate Star Wars Legends books 64 00:03:34,011 --> 00:03:37,726 and for good reason. It clarifies some aspects of the Prequel Trilogy 65 00:03:37,726 --> 00:03:40,226 while giving us a look at a young, sadistic Palpatine 66 00:03:40,226 --> 00:03:43,676 and his training and rise to power. It's as much Sidious' book 67 00:03:43,676 --> 00:03:47,247 as it is Plagueis'. This would probably be my top recommendation 68 00:03:47,247 --> 00:03:50,655 if you're a Prequel fan above all else. If you're a High Republic fan, 69 00:03:50,655 --> 00:03:53,571 I'm gonna recommend something that might be controversial, 70 00:03:53,571 --> 00:03:57,664 but I would say give the New Jedi Order series a try. I know not everyone 71 00:03:57,664 --> 00:04:01,667 liked the Yuuzhan Vong as villains, but 12 year old me thought they were rad 72 00:04:01,667 --> 00:04:04,657 To be fair, I haven't read them since they came out, but really, 73 00:04:04,657 --> 00:04:06,984 I'm recommending it because it has a similar format 74 00:04:06,984 --> 00:04:10,113 to the High Republic. A big cast of Jedi characters fighting 75 00:04:10,113 --> 00:04:13,712 a new kind of enemy in the galaxy that offers some interesting challenges 76 00:04:13,712 --> 00:04:17,369 It can also be heartbreakingly tragic at times, and it was written by 77 00:04:17,369 --> 00:04:21,529 a bunch of different authors. Not every book is great, but I loved having 78 00:04:21,529 --> 00:04:24,379 a big, long book series telling a large story. 79 00:04:24,379 --> 00:04:27,051 It's part of why I love the High Republic so much 80 00:04:27,051 --> 00:04:31,072 because I missed when Star Wars books felt that big and the High Republic 81 00:04:31,072 --> 00:04:33,812 has brought me back into that feeling. You can also 82 00:04:33,812 --> 00:04:36,508 choose a starting point based on some of your favorite characters, 83 00:04:36,508 --> 00:04:39,854 you love Obi-Wan Kenobi? Read Kenobi by John Jackson Miller. 84 00:04:39,854 --> 00:04:42,959 Do you love Maul? Check out Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves. 85 00:04:42,959 --> 00:04:46,157 There's a whole series of books about Clone Troopers if you're into that 86 00:04:46,157 --> 00:04:49,849 Or Anakin/Darth Vader has an unofficial trilogy in the form of 87 00:04:49,849 --> 00:04:51,672 Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno, 88 00:04:51,672 --> 00:04:54,255 The Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover, 89 00:04:54,255 --> 00:04:56,915 and The Rise of Darth Vader once again by Luceno, 90 00:04:56,915 --> 00:05:00,498 and really Stover's Revenge of the Sith deserves a special shoutout 91 00:05:00,498 --> 00:05:03,639 I hesitate to call it an introduction to Star Wars Legends 92 00:05:03,639 --> 00:05:07,573 because it's an adaptation of a film, but it is celebrated as one of the 93 00:05:07,573 --> 00:05:10,190 best Star Wars books of all time for a reason 94 00:05:10,190 --> 00:05:12,977 I think I've given you enough jumping off points depending on what 95 00:05:12,977 --> 00:05:16,233 you like within Star Wars and from there, you can just keep on reading 96 00:05:16,233 --> 00:05:18,797 what happens after the Thrawn Trilogy if you were into it, 97 00:05:18,797 --> 00:05:21,837 or you can just read more books about Thrawn or Mara Jade 98 00:05:21,837 --> 00:05:24,167 There are a ton of avenues to follow, but again 99 00:05:24,167 --> 00:05:29,334 there's no one real answer here, it's all down to what speaks to you as a Star Wars fan 100 00:05:29,334 --> 00:05:32,138 But I hope that helps anyone who has been feeling overwhelmed 101 00:05:32,138 --> 00:05:35,148 searching for a way into the Legends universe. And by the way, 102 00:05:35,148 --> 00:05:38,098 hearing that people started reading Star Wars books or comics 103 00:05:38,098 --> 00:05:41,108 because of our channel is one of my favorite things to hear 104 00:05:41,108 --> 00:05:44,398 Like I said, the books hold a very special place in my heart, 105 00:05:44,398 --> 00:05:48,008 I look forward to some of them as much as I do new movies or series 106 00:05:48,008 --> 00:05:52,008 Helping Star Wars fans discover a whole new aspect to their own fandom 107 00:05:52,009 --> 00:05:56,241 is my favorite thing, so hopefully I helped a least one person do that today. 108 00:05:56,241 --> 00:05:59,636 But I'm gonna wrap up, if you haven't already, please like this video, 109 00:05:59,636 --> 00:06:03,692 subscribe to the channel, follow us on our socials and consider checking out our Patreon page 110 00:06:03,692 --> 00:06:06,044 As always, thanks for watching and 111 00:06:06,044 --> 00:06:07,860 May The Force Be With You