Philip’s Star Wars Literature Recommendations

Overview

My tastes in Star Wars literature fall into three categories:

  1.  The Original Trilogy, specifically the Radio Dramas - by Brian Daley

  2.  The best of the Pre- & Post-Yavin stories of the 1970s:
    1.  the Han Solo novels - by Brian Daley
    2.  the Marvel comics - by Archie Goodwin

  3.  The best of the Post-Endor stories of the 1990s:
    1.  the Thrawn novels - by Timothy Zahn
    2.  the X-Wing novels - by Michael Stackpole & Aaron Allston


Chronological Order

Here is how the stories fit together chronologically. Episode designations are total headcanon. I envision less of a tight & grand saga, & more of an open-ended serial I think of as The Adventures of Luke Skywalker.

Episode I: Han Solo at Stars’ End
Episode II: Han Solo’s Revenge
Episode III: Han Solo and the Lost Legacy
Episode IV: Star WarsThe Original Marvel Years: Volume 1
The Original Marvel Years: Volume 2
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Episode VI: Return of the JediX-Wing: Rogue Squadron
X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble
X-Wing: The Krytos Trap
X-Wing: The Bacta War
X-Wing: Wraith Squadron
X-Wing: Iron Fist
X-Wing: Solo Command
Episode VII: Heir to the Empire
Episode VIII: Dark Force Rising
Episode IX: The Last CommandX-Wing: Isard’s Revenge
X-Wing: I, Jedi
X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar
Episode X: Specter of the Past
Episode XI: Vision of the Future


Comics

Just a brief note about these, because the rest of this page will not be focusing on them. I am **not** a fan of comic books in general, but I found that Marvel did a really excellent job of continuing the story of the original movie in an exciting & fun way, especially once Archie Goodwin took over the writing. I really enjoy immersing myself in what Star Wars meant in the 1970s. Look for Star Wars Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years, Volumes 1 & 2.


Reading Order

My suggested reading order presumes a focus on the justly famous Thrawn Trilogy of the early 90s & the subsequent - and brilliant) “Mini-canon” of the late 90s resulting from the collaboration of Zahn, Stackpole, & Allston. We’ll read those in publication order, so we can experience the interplay & unfolding of ideas as the original readers would have. We’ll also be sprinkling in the Han Solo novels from the 70s just as a very nice change of pace.

Thrawn: Heir to the Empire
Thrawn: Dark Force Rising
Thrawn: The Last Command

X-Wing: Rogue Squadron
X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble
X-Wing: The Krytos Trap

X-Wing: The Bacta War
Han Solo: Han Solo at Stars’ End
Han Solo: Han Solo’s Revenge

Thrawn: Specter of the Past
X-Wing: Wraith Squadron
Han Solo: Han Solo and the Lost Legacy

X-Wing: I, Jedi
X-Wing: Iron Fist
Thrawn: Vision of the Future

X-Wing: Solo Command
X-Wing: Isard’s Revenge
X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar


Audio Order

I have listened to this order in my car multiple times… back to back… just so good.

  1.  Star Wars - radio drama
  2.  Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell - audio drama
  3.  The Empire Strikes Back - radio drama
  4.  Return of the Jedi - radio drama
  5.  Heir to the Empire - read by Marc Thompson
  6.  Dark Force Rising - read by Marc Thompson
  7.  The Last Command - read by Marc Thompson
  8.  Hammertong - read by Laura Esterman
  9.  Specter of the Past - read by Marc Thompson
  10.  Vision of the Future - read by Marc Thompson