Top Ten Star Wars EU Storylines

When Star Wars was sold to Disney the executives had a decision to make. Will we bring the wealth of stories that populated the Expanded Universe (EU) or make new content? The decision was made to ditch the old story lines and create new and more relevant content for the consumers. For those devotees who read the series and plundered the knowledge bases of the EU it as if our world had been taken away from us. Having read all the series and novels I thought it would be great to rank the Top Ten Legends Storylines.

10. Star Wars Legacy

Legacy is a Darkhorse Comics series by John Ostrander that was released in 2006. It centers around the grandson of Luke Skywalker, Cade. For the first time a person who could use the Force wasn’t necessarily a Jedi. Cade is an outlaw who uses drugs and thrives off personal attachment. As the Sith make yet another bid to take over the galaxy, Cade must come to terms with his troubled past if he is to save the universe from evil.

9. X Wing Series

This series was written by Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston in 1996. In the initial offering Rogue Squadron we were shown an entirely new set of characters. Legendary character Wedge Antilles, who flew in the first and second Death Star runs, is given a shot at teaching and leading a new host of Rebels into the fray against the Empire.

8. Knights of the Old Republic

This series by John Jackson Miller gave us our first look into the lives and times of the Jedi Order at its peak in power. Though it only ran for fifty issues this comic series was the first attempt, by then George Lucas, to make the franchise more transmedia. Several references from books, games, and the movies all appear. The Zayne Carrick storyline is one of my favorite pieces from all of the Legends line up.

7. Jedi Academy Trilogy

Kevin J. Anderson wrote this trilogy about Luke Skywalker’s quest to rebuild the Jedi Order. As a child these were the first Jedi books that I read. Luke searches the galaxy for worthy students to inhabit his new training facility on Yavin 4. When a dark spirit begins to influence one of his young trainees Luke must find a way to save his student and exile the spirit. As a writer these books are important because later another book, I, Jedi, is written an inserts a new character and fixes problems that the readers had complained about.

6. New Jedi Order

This series of books made me love the EU. Luke has grown his group of students into a flourishing Jedi Order. In perfect timing, because a new and dangerous threat the Yuuzhan Vong have appeared at the edges of known space. These new beings live outside of the Force and their technology surpasses those of our heroes. Seeing the heroes lose everything that they fought for in the Rebellion was a gut punch to fans. While the series has several page-turner novels there are just as many that make reading them a chore.

5. I, Jedi

Michael A. Stackpole published the first hardcover of this book on Star Wars Day in 1998. I am especially interested in this book because it is written in first person, making it one of only two written in the EU. Corran Horn is a Corellian Securuty Forces officer who is recruited by Luke at his Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. Corran goes on to have a major role in the New Jedi Order war with the Yuuzhan Vong, leading Jedi and New Alliance forces.

4. Star Wars: Republic

In 1998 Darkhorse Comics ran over 40 issues of this closer take on the events that take place between Episode II and III. The writing is amazing, introducing classic Star Wars characters Quinlan Vos and Aurra Sing, just to name a few. What is most enjoyable about these are the intimate moments you read between Anakin and Obi-Wan. When I saw the films it made the story more rich and engrossing.

3. The Thrawn Trilogy

During the great speculations on what exactly would transpire in the films to come, I placed my bet on this one. Set in the time after the fall of Empire, a Dark Jedi attempts to turn Leia, her two oldest children, and Luke to the Dark Side. It also introduces some very critical characters in the years to come. Mara Jade is a Force sensitive assassin sent by the Emperor to kill Luke. The two form a bond and eventually marry, producing a son named Ben. Grand Admiral Thrawn is a tactical genius who was fighting in the Unknown Regions during the rise of the Rebellion. What remains of the Empire falls into lock-step behind him, turning the tide in their struggle against the New Republic.

2. The Darth Bane Trilogy

Drew Karpyshyn wrote these novels starting in 2012, with the release of Path of Destruction. A look at the humble beginnings of the man who would become Darth Bane. It follows his training as a Sith Lord and his eventual destruction of the Sith Order. The following novels, The Rule of Two and Dynasty of Evil, show his search for eternal life and the training of his apprentice Zannah.

1. The Dark Lord Trilogy

James Luceno wrote Labyrinth of Evil as the lead up to the novelization of Episode III. It follows Anakin and Obi-Wan on their search for the kidnapped Senator Palpatine. Luceno does an excellent job of showing the war’s effect on Anakin and how close to the Dark Side he has become. The action is nonstop with Yoda, Mace Windu, Dooku, and General Grievous all playing major parts in the warfare. Normally the novelization of the films are spot on from the script. This time Matthew Stover referenced the previous novel and introduced parts that weren’t in the film. Possibly my most favorite Star Wars novel is Dark Lord Rising by James Luceno. It goes into great depth about the inner turmoil that Anakin goes through as he transcends into Darth Vader. The final chapter shows something I have always been interested in, how did Obi-Wan know Anakin survived Mustafar.

In the years that have followed the demise of the EU, there appears to be great promise. Chuck Wendig has written a trilogy of novels about the events directly after Episode IV and leading into Rogue One. Jason Aaron has taken over the flagship Star Wars comic series and has pushed it into a top seller at Marvel. In the films I see similarities between characters from the EU and I am excited with the potential of these stories.

REFERENCES

Bricken, R. (2014, May 09). The 10 Best Stories In the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-10-best-stories-in-the-star-wars-expanded-universe-1574103684

Star Wars Legends: A Look at 10 of the Best Non-Canon Stories. (2015, October 28). Retrieved January 20, 2017, from https://grizzlybomb.com/2015/10/26/star-wars-legends-a-look-10-of-the-best-non-canon-stories/

Star Wars: Great Legends Stories You Should Read. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/star-wars/246066/star-wars-great-legends-stories-you-should-read

Kamen, M. (2016, May 23). The lost riches of Star Wars' Expanded Universe. Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://www.wired.co.uk/article/star-wars-expanded-universe-best

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