The 10 best “Star Wars” books ever

Our list of the best 'Star Wars' novels includes titles from both Legends and new canon.

Where to begin when ranking 10 best Star Wars books ever? It’s almost an impossible task considering the sheer volume of expanded universe novels over 45 years. For example, there are 19 New Jedi Order books alone, and 10 in Michael A. Stackpole’s Star Wars X-wing series.

Making things even more confusing is the fact that due to a recent reset, anything written before 2014 is no longer even considered official canon. All those earlier novels — some of which are the franchise’s finest ever — have now been classified as “Legends” titles.

Finally, every reader has their own personal preference on the type of story they enjoy, the style of writing that hooks them, and the particular characters they want to learn more about. So consider this top 10 list — ranked from 10 to 1 — less of a definitive ranking, and more of a guide for folks looking to dive deeper into the expanded universe (both Legends and canon) with some key "can’t miss" titles.

10. 'Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade' by Delilah S. Dawson (2023)

The majority of recent Star Wars novels have been wrapped up in Lucasfilm’s sprawling High Republic initiative, as Jedi have been forced into conflict against the Path of the Open Hand and the Nihil. However, the most exciting offering of late has been a standalone story telling the tale of a Padawan Iskat Akaris. Set across many years, Inquisitor follows a descent into darkness, and shows what could transform a Jedi into a Jedi-hunter. The novel is packed with action and shocking moments. However, this strong outing is almost undone by the book’s epilogue, which offers a peek into the future that undoes some of the mystery surrounding one of the most intriguing expanded universe characters in years. That said, Rise of the Red Blade offers the most complete backstory we’ve ever been given to one of the Inquisitors and how they were recruited into the fold, which alone makes it worth a read.

9. 'Outbound Flight' by Timothy Zahn (Legends, 2006)

Timothy Zahn revisits some characters from Heir to the Empire (more on that later) to tell a story in prequel form of the Outbound Flight project first mentioned in that landmark 1991 novel. In this story, Jedi Joruus C’baoth (the original, not the mad clone), is obsessed with his proposed voyage of 50,000 people traveling to the most remote corners of the galaxy to explore and colonize — a voyage that Palpatine/Darth Sidious wants to destroy. But the plans of both men are complicated when they come into contact with a mysterious blue skinned, red-eyed alien named Thrawn. This page-turning entry is for those who crave military maneuvering, underhanded political dealings, and the exploration of deep space. Throw in the original (now retconned) first meeting between Palpatine and Thrawn, as well as some Anakin and Obi-Wan action, and Outbound Flight does indeed take flight.

8. 'The Han Solo Adventures' trilogy ('Han Solo at Stars’ End', 'Han Solo’s Revenge', 'Han Solo and the Lost Legacy') by Brian Daley (Legends, 1979-1980)

Who’s ready to swashbuckle? If you’re the type who loves old school Han Solo, why not read some old school Han Solo books? This trilogy of adventures by Brian Daley (which has been compiled into one handy-dandy compilation) was written after the very first Star Wars movie and follows everyone’s favorite scruffy nerf-herder as he takes on dangerous jobs, and even a treasure hunt. The action takes place two years before the events of A New Hope and features Han, Chewie, droid Bollux, and computer Blue Max as the Millennium Falcon crew attempt to avoid entanglements with the dreaded Corporate Sector Authority. And in a universe filled with gunslinger archetypes (Boba Fett, Cad Bane, Han Solo himself), this trilogy introduces another dandy in the enigmatic Gallandro — the fastest draw in the galaxy. I'm still waiting for him to somehow make it on screen.

7. 'Master & Apprentice' by Claudia Gray (2019)

For my money, Claudia Gray is the finest of the writer of Star Wars’ new canon era. Not only is this but one of two Gray books on this list, but I easily could have put her YA entry Lost Stars — which tells the tale of two friends who grow up with one joining the Rebellion and the other fighting for the Empire — on here as well. What makes this story set eight years before The Phantom Menace so riveting is not just the structure of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi traveling to the planet Pijal to oversee a teenage princess’ coronation and the accompanying corporate complications that come with that, but the deep dive into the tense and troubled relationship between teacher and student. As Qui-Gon contemplates an offer to sit on the Jedi Council and pass his pupil off to another master, Gray focuses on the clash of not just styles and personalities, but belief-systems. That juxtaposition includes lots of flashbacks to Qui-Gon’s training under Count Dooku, and the obsession with Jedi prophecies that may or may not hold the key to the future. For those longing to see more the master and apprentice dynamic in Episode I, Master & Apprentice is the perfect place to start.

6. 'Dark Disciple' by Christie Golden (2015)

Love The Clone Wars TV series? Wish there were more than what already aired? Well, there are… kinda. Dark Disciple is based on unproduced scripts that were originally supposed to comprise an eight-episode arc of The Clone Wars. And what an arc it is. In a somewhat shocking development, the Jedi Council decides they want to assassinate Count Dooku. But since it would not be very Jedi-like of them to do the deed themselves, they ask Quinlan Vos to pair up with former Jedi-slayer Asajj Ventress to take down the count. What follows is an riveting push and pull not just between Vos and Ventress, but between light and dark itself. It’s a complicated philosophical dance that lands all characters involved in the murky morass between both worlds, and culminates with one of the most surprising relationships in all of Star Wars canon. Author Christie Golden crafts a story that is filled with both heart and yes, heartbreak, and Dark Disciple offers a titillating peek at what could have been — both for the characters themselves, and for Clone Wars fans to have enjoyed onscreen.

5. 'Kenobi' by John Jackson Miller (Legends, 2013)

The Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series told the tale of what happened to the venerable Jedi master once he settled on Tatooine after dropping infant Luke Skywalker off with his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. However, that story set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope had already been told in equally dramatic form by John Jackson Miller. Kenobi centers on the generations-old distrust between the farmers surrounding the Dannar's Claim trading outpost and the Tusken Raiders who live — and occasionally attack — along its edges. Obi-Wan (or Ben, as he’s known in these parts) gets caught in the middle of the dispute, and while the story may be somewhat small scale in that it does not involve off-world kidnappings or Jedi-slaying Inquisitors, Miller gets at the heart of what makes one of Star Wars’ most beloved characters tick — a charismatic mix of wit and wisdom alongside the emotional battle scars of a tutelage gone horribly wrong. Kenobi fans owe it to themselves to check out Kenobi.

4. 'Bloodline' by Claudia Gray (2016)

Let me first say this: Bloodline — the second Star Wars novel by Claudia Gray to make this list — is not for everybody. Because more than perhaps any other book in either the new canon or Legends line, Bloodline is first and foremost a political — and not an action — thriller. That means lots of debates about policy and the role of government in everyday lives. And considering it takes place 25 years after Return of The Jedi and six years before The Force Awakens, this is a key and perilous time as politicians raise questions as to if and how things have improved since the toppling of the Empire. With the rise of the First Order just around the corner, Bloodline intriguingly shows the seeds of that uprising being planted here. All of this is what makes Bloodline stand apart from all the other Star Wars books out there.

It also introduces one of the most fascinatingly complex expanded universe characters ever in Centrist Senator Ransolm Casterfo — a man who collects Imperial artifacts and admires tenets of the Empire way of rule while holding a personal deep disdain for Darth Vader. But where the book really shines is in offering the most complete literary portrait of Leia Organa. Here, we see all of Senator Organa’s strengths — diplomacy, leadership, and, yes, kicking ass when need be. Entertainment Weekly’s number one Star Wars character ever gets her long overdue close-up.

3. Darth Bane trilogy ('Path of Destruction', 'Rule of Two', 'Dynasty of Evil') by Drew Karpyshyn (Legends, 2007-2009)

We’ve heard about the infamous Sith Rule of Two — one master and one apprentice; no more and no less — a million times before, but where did it start? Drew Karpyshyn gives us that origin story through a trilogy of books chronicling the rise of the man who helped tear the original Brotherhood of Darkness apart to chart a new path from the shadows — a path that would ultimately come to fruition 1,000 years later when Sheev Palpatine would all but wipe out the Jedi and take control of the galaxy. The books follow Bane from his humble beginnings as the son of an alcoholic miner, to becoming a failed Sith student, to transforming into an unstoppable dark force eluding detection from the Jedi. Along the way, he takes on his apprentice, Darth Zannah. But how long until the student becomes the master? It all concludes in an ending that had fans debating to the point where the author had to come out and publicly explain what had actually happened. Read the books to find out for yourself.

2. 'Darth Plagueis' by James Luceno (Legends, 2012)

“Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?” It kicks off a super creepy scene at the space opera from Revenge of the Sith that many people — including Star Wars director J.J. Abrams — consider to be the prequel trilogy’s best ever. While in the film Chancellor Palpatine gives Anakin Skywalker the Cliffs Notes version, explaining how the Sith Lord had the power to create life and avoid death — here we get the entire, unfiltered tale of the enigmatic Plagueis. But even more so than that, the book serves as Palpatine’s ultimate origin story, taking the reader from his discovery as a teenager, to Sith apprentice, to full-fledged mentor-murderer. And if you are looking for an expanded universe novel that gives context to and sets up on-screen story, it doesn’t get any better than this. Even if Darth Plagueis is no longer considered canon due to the 2014 literary reset, this book is still essential fan reading for showing all the years-in-the-making schemes that led to the Naboo trade blockade and creation of the clone army in the prequel trilogy. If you have yet to hear the full tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise, now is the time.

1. The original Thrawn trilogy ('Heir to The Empire', 'Dark Force Rising', 'The Last Command') by Timothy Zahn (Legends, 1991-93)

There are so many Grand Admiral Thrawn books out there now, and while the newer installments — featuring a kinder, gentler Mitth'raw'nuruodo — tend to be of varying quality, there is a reason Heir to the Empire was such a seismic force (slight pun intended) in the expanded universe when it was first published in 1991. Not only did the original Thrawn trilogy of books — which takes place five years after Return of the Jedi — first introduce us to the brilliant Chiss-turned-Imperial officer, but it also gave us our first Star Wars clone in the form of Joruus C’baoth as well as Luke Skywalker’s feisty future wife Mara Jade. Watching Thrawn play chess against the three Ls (Luke, Leia, and Lando) is an absolute delight, but there is one move at the end of the trilogy that neither the miliary tactician nor readers will see coming. All Star Wars reading should begin right here.

For more Star Wars news and views — including interviews with folks like Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, Diego Luna, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni ,and more — check out EW's Dagobah Dispatch podcast.

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.