[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:02.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn to the galaxy in Ahsoka
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.88,0:00:05.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's becoming more and more clear that the future
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.39,0:00:09.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of that story is going to continue taking inspiration from Star Wars Legends
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.18,0:00:10.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the character originated
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.61,0:00:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get questions about how to get into Star Wars books and comics all the time
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.70,0:00:17.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've got more videos on those topics coming, but today,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.77,0:00:21.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to focus on Star Wars Legends because there are hundreds
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.20,0:00:24.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of books and there is definitely renewed interest thanks to Thrawn
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.29,0:00:26.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's daunting and overwhelming to start
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.67,0:00:28.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, where {\i1}should{\i0} you start?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.38,0:00:31.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just like when it comes to making canon recommendations,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.15,0:00:34.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it really all depends on what you personally like about Star Wars so
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.95,0:00:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm gonna try to cover a bunch of different bases in this video
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.56,0:00:41.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I generally tell people to begin with the trilogy that started it all,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.99,0:00:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Thrawn trilogy, Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising and The Last Command
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.06,0:00:50.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, I know that there were comics and shows and the Han Solo and Lando Calrissian Adventures
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.33,0:00:52.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that were part of the Expanded Universe before those books,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.91,0:00:56.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but Timothy Zahn's novels arrived in the early 90's when people were
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.39,0:00:59.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unsure if Star Wars would ever continue in a major way
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.48,0:01:03.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then here came some new stories about Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie and Lando
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.48,0:01:06.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,facing a new kind of villain in the form of Grand Admiral Thrawn
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.61,0:01:10.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were instantly hits and ushered in a brand new wave of Star Wars stories
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.61,0:01:13.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the form of books and comics. To get personal for a bit,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.72,0:01:17.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those books shaped Star Wars for me as much as the movies did
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.05,0:01:21.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got into Star Wars around 1995, I watched the movies constantly
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.61,0:01:25.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but obviously, I wanted more. I wanted to find out what happened next
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.56,0:01:29.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So most of the Star Wars universe when I was growing up was made up
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.18,0:01:33.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of these books, and they very much shaped my view of what Star Wars can be
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.35,0:01:36.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is to say, it can be pretty much whatever it wants to be.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.54,0:01:38.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I fell in love with the X-Wing books especially
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.89,0:01:42.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,solidifying my love of pilot stories. Reading these books showed me
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.70,0:01:47.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the variety to be found in Star Wars and it's something I still push for today
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.27,0:01:51.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see the occasional comments from people saying they wished I talked about Legends more
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.32,0:01:54.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or some going so far to say that I hate Legends which is absurd.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.63,0:01:57.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of my favorite Star Wars stories are from that point in time
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.71,0:02:00.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in my life where I was reading every book I could
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.37,0:02:03.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I even have fond memories of the some of the... let's call them
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.30,0:02:06.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the lesser celebrated books. As a young kid, there were definitely
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.80,0:02:10.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some weird stories in there but I didn't care. They were all new adventures
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.72,0:02:15.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with some of my favorite characters. I definitely agree that I could spend more time
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.04,0:02:17.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talking about Legends but it's not because I don't love it,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.68,0:02:21.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just that most of my time is spent keeping up with everything that's coming out now
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.91,0:02:24.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it is something I'd like to change in the coming year
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.60,0:02:28.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway, to hop off my nostalgia soapbox, my next recommendation
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.45,0:02:32.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a series I already mentioned, the X-Wing novels by Michael Stackpole
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.03,0:02:36.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Aaron Alston. Like I said, these books solidified my love for pilot stories,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.62,0:02:40.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so if you liked the Alphabet Squadron trilogy, these books are right up your alley.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.78,0:02:44.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or, if you were into Andor, I also think this is a solid recommendation.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.55,0:02:47.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are stories about normal people, just a bunch of pilots
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.63,0:02:50.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doing their best to make the galaxy better. But of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.67,0:02:53.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some fans aren't really interested in Star Wars if the Jedi or the Sith
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.67,0:02:56.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aren't involved and that's ok, we all have our personal preference.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.71,0:03:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If it's Sith you want, look no further than the Darth Bane trilogy by Drew Karpyshyn
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.98,0:03:04.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the story of the Sith Lord who created the Rule of Two, which also
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.57,0:03:08.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shows how the Sith Order went from tons of Sith to only two hidden in the shadows
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.95,0:03:12.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We get to see massive battles between the Jedi and the Sith,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.03,0:03:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,political ramifications in the galaxy and also a compelling personal story
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.94,0:03:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the form of Darth Bane. I will say there are some
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.70,0:03:21.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aspects of the story surrounding the Force that don't fully
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.43,0:03:24.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vibe with my view of it. But it doesn't ruin my enjoyment,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.35,0:03:27.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just different and that's fine. To stick with the Sith,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.48,0:03:30.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can't not mention Darth Plagueis by James Luceno,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.49,0:03:34.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's considered to be one of the ultimate Star Wars Legends books
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.01,0:03:37.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for good reason. It clarifies some aspects of the Prequel Trilogy
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.73,0:03:40.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while giving us a look at a young, sadistic Palpatine
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.23,0:03:43.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his training and rise to power. It's as much Sidious' book
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.68,0:03:47.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it is Plagueis'. This would probably be my top recommendation
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.25,0:03:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you're a Prequel fan above all else. If you're a High Republic fan,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.66,0:03:53.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm gonna recommend something that might be controversial,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.57,0:03:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I would say give the New Jedi Order series a try. I know not everyone
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.66,0:04:01.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,liked the Yuuzhan Vong as villains, but 12 year old me thought they were rad
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.67,0:04:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To be fair, I haven't read them since they came out, but really,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.66,0:04:06.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm recommending it because it has a similar format
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.98,0:04:10.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the High Republic. A big cast of Jedi characters fighting
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.11,0:04:13.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a new kind of enemy in the galaxy that offers some interesting challenges
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.71,0:04:17.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can also be heartbreakingly tragic at times, and it was written by
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.37,0:04:21.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a bunch of different authors. Not every book is great, but I loved having
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.53,0:04:24.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a big, long book series telling a large story.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.38,0:04:27.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's part of why I love the High Republic so much
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.05,0:04:31.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I missed when Star Wars books felt that big and the High Republic
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.07,0:04:33.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has brought me back into that feeling. You can also
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.81,0:04:36.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,choose a starting point based on some of your favorite characters,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.51,0:04:39.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you love Obi-Wan Kenobi? Read Kenobi by John Jackson Miller.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.85,0:04:42.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you love Maul? Check out Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.96,0:04:46.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a whole series of books about Clone Troopers if you're into that
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.16,0:04:49.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or Anakin/Darth Vader has an unofficial trilogy in the form of
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.85,0:04:51.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.67,0:04:54.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.26,0:04:56.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and The Rise of Darth Vader once again by Luceno,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.92,0:05:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and really Stover's Revenge of the Sith deserves a special shoutout
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.50,0:05:03.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hesitate to call it an introduction to Star Wars Legends
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.64,0:05:07.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's an adaptation of a film, but it is celebrated as one of the
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.57,0:05:10.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,best Star Wars books of all time for a reason
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.19,0:05:12.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think I've given you enough jumping off points depending on what
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.98,0:05:16.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you like within Star Wars and from there, you can just keep on reading
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.23,0:05:18.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what happens after the Thrawn Trilogy if you were into it,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.80,0:05:21.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or you can just read more books about Thrawn or Mara Jade
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.84,0:05:24.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are a ton of avenues to follow, but again
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.17,0:05:29.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's no one real answer here, it's all down to what speaks to you as a Star Wars fan
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.33,0:05:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I hope that helps anyone who has been feeling overwhelmed
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.14,0:05:35.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,searching for a way into the Legends universe. And by the way,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.15,0:05:38.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hearing that people started reading Star Wars books or comics
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.10,0:05:41.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of our channel is one of my favorite things to hear
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.11,0:05:44.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like I said, the books hold a very special place in my heart,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.40,0:05:48.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I look forward to some of them as much as I do new movies or series
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.01,0:05:52.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Helping Star Wars fans discover a whole new aspect to their own fandom
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.01,0:05:56.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is my favorite thing, so hopefully I helped a least one person do that today.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.24,0:05:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I'm gonna wrap up, if you haven't already, please like this video,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.64,0:06:03.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,subscribe to the channel, follow us on our socials and consider checking out our Patreon page
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.69,0:06:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As always, thanks for watching and
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.04,0:06:07.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,May The Force Be With You