With summer vacation on the horizon, I thought I'd ask for recommendations of what Star Wars Expanded Universe ("Legends," whatever...) people would suggest I read before our canon is rocked by Episode VII.

I never got into the books in high school (aside for gifts of "Planet of Twilight" and "Rogue Planet"), but finished the Thrawn trilogy a couple months ago, and am nearly finished with "The Bacta War," 4th in the X-wing series. I loved Zahn's work; Stackpole's is "meh," but enjoyable.

I'm also coming to understand that a lot of the EU exists in comic form, which would be a new medium for me.

So, what should I read this summer that you consider to be classic Star Wars Expanded Universe?

The Thrawn trilogy for sure!

I recently reread the novelization of Shadows of the Empire, as well as reading Allegiance by Timothy Zahn for the first time. I enjoyed both of them; the Zahn novel follows a group of Stormtroopers on the run from the Empire. It takes place between Episodes 4 and 5. I would recommend it.

After reading Shadows, I want to repaint my YT-2400 in chrome, since that's how the Outrider is consistently described in it. I was also disappointed that Guri didn't get her own ship, the Stinger, yet in X-Wing.

X-Wing: Rogue Squadron is a nice read, too. And quite relevant for our favorite miniatures game!

I'm also coming to understand that a lot of the EU exists in comic form, which would be a new medium for me.

So, what should I read this summer that you consider to be classic Star Wars Expanded Universe?

For US$10/month, you can subscribe to Marvel Unlimited. MU now includes _all_ the Star Wars Legends comics. If you have a portable screen 6 inches or larger, I highly recommend!

Any of the "Tales From ______" or the Karen Traviss Republic Commandos books.

People knock on the Vong, but if you want to see actual total war in the Star Wars universe New Jedi Order is where it's at. The Rebellion was tiny and surgical by comparison. Also you get to see a huge cross-section of most of the late EU characters.

The bounty hunter wars. Several scum pilots can be found through out the series...plus...it's all about the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy!

What you might be better doing is listing a few books you like or the kind of story you are looking for? Do you want the background on the majority of EU characters in this game, some fun stories about the minor characters in the OT, some X-Wing action, etc????

The books we like come down to personal preference and might not be on par with the ones you like. For example, in these posts people always scream for Zahn's work. I thought it was total dross .. yet I liked Stackpole's X-Wing series (it's not going to win any awards .. but it was a fun read and relevant to the game).

One interesting "Trilogy" is the Jedi Academy one (Jedi Search, Dark Apprentice, Champions of the Force, and "I,Jedi") if you go that route make sure you read "I,Jedi" after you read the actual Trilogy, it is sorta simultaneous as the trilogy but covers events from all 3 of the other ones, and it focuses quite a bit on Corran Horn from the Rogue Squadron books

Other wise if you liked the Thrawn Trilogy I would recommend the Hand of Thrawn set or Outbound Flight (and whichever book covers the finding of the Outbound Flight wreckage by Luke)

Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi weren't terrible in my opinion (and honestly I wish what episodes 7-9 were about)

I can't describe to you just how much of an impact the X-Wing series has had on my star wars life. I started reading them when I was in 6th grade, my parents couldn't believe that I had that kind of reading comprehension level or terminology down. It led me to two of my favorite authors (Stackpole and Allston RIP) as well as my down right favorite character Wedge. I've probably read each of the books minus Mercy Kill at least fifty times each. They're that good. Go read them. You will not be disappointed.

"Shadows of the Empire".

Dark Horse comics, in general.

The prequels lol

Just kidding, I will say enjoy your summer break because you won't have them when you grow up.

I'd recommend anything by Timothy Zahn and the X-Wing books. As far as I'm concerned, everything else in Legends can probably be skipped.

When it comes to new canon, I'd recommend the new comics. They're all really good. My particular favourite is the Princess Leia series.

The X-Wing series is what got me into Star Wars. Before I knew about Luke, Han, and Obi-Wan, my Star Wars heroes were Wedge, Corran, and the like. So they are obviously recommended by me - and if you aren't a fan of Stackpole's work, maybe you'll prefer Allston's.

Aside from those, I would also recommend James Luceno's books - Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader is one of my favorites, and Tarkin has made me realize that this new Disney Canon might not be such a bad thing after all.

In no particular order, I would recommend any Zahn books you haven't already read, definitely the Karen Traviss novels, Shadow of the Empire, and any of the Tales from xxxx books for the short stories. Some great ones in there. I, Jedi is up there too for a good read though you'll want some of the Corran backstory from the 'Tales' books.

Thrawn trilogy is a must, rogue squadron is an easy read.

People knock on the Vong, but if you want to see actual total war in the Star Wars universe New Jedi Order is where it's at. The Rebellion was tiny and surgical by comparison. Also you get to see a huge cross-section of most of the late EU characters.

I've actually been wanting to get back to the Vong stuff and cherry-pick some of the better things from it to read. So far I've only read Vector Prime, Star by Star (both kind of . . . "meh") and the Rebel Dawn series (the one with Wedge and Lusankya - THAT is awesome Are there any more books in the series that are similar in tone to that one and have less "jedi save the word, because they're the bestest" ?

Will have to reply in full to all these excellent comments & suggestions after I get home from work.

To clarify - I started the X-wing series in order, and am currently about to finish "The Bacta War," (probably on my lunch break today, haha!), so I've already read Rogue Squadron.

And I forgot that I read Tales from Mos Eisley and Jabba'a Palace in late middle school / early high school. And virtually all of the "Essential Guides" series! [Edit: And "Incredible Cross-Sections!"]

I'm interested in backstory for major OT characters, especially Boba, but also want to learn who in the 'verse all these pilots FFG keeps pulling out of thin space are. I'm cool with or without Jedi; after recommending the X-wing series to me, a buddy warned me that main characters in the EU tend to either find out they're a Jedi (!) and badically become another Luke, or be a Han stand-in. I'm a big fan of Corran, so far as I've read him, and grimaced when he found out about his little Force problem, but I'm still cool with him so far.

I'm a Lit snob at heart, but I need something to take my mind off the stresses of work for 30 minutes each day. Stackpole's writing, while hardly "Literature" [/posh accent], tells a fun story. I just can't shake the feeling his editor told him "sex sells" before he wrote Bacta War, without teaching him how to write steamy, 'cause he can't do it and it just ends up feeling awkward.

Aaron Allston's installments of the X-Wing Series (Wraith Squadron trilogy, Starfighters of Adumar) are my favorite books in the EU. They inject a lot of humor into the setting, and that's a good feeling.


Oh, and if you like Corran, "I, Jedi" is a pretty solid read.

Any of the "Tales From ______" or the Karen Traviss Republic Commandos books.

This is what I like to point my friends to. Tales of mos eisly cantina is my favorite. (But I haven't read bounty hunters and suspect it might become the top)

I really like "The Courtship of Princess Leia" It is a good story, introduces the now truly canon Dathomiri Night sisters, the Hapans, and generally shows Han Solo acting like a pirate and then like a truly good person underneath. Its one of my favorites and I've read most.

Shadows of the Empire

Also if you want back story for OT characters, or at least Han Solo, the Han Solo Adventures(Han Solo at Stars End, Han Solo's Revenge, and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy) by Brian Daley are really good. And my favorite "back story" books are The Han Solo Trilogy(The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit, and Rebel Dawn) by A.C. Crispin. If you want to read all six in chronological order read The Paradise Snare and The Hutt Gambit, and then read the Han Solo Adventures, and then finish with Rebel Dawn. It will tell you all about Han's life from early teens to the Mos Eisley cantina on the day he meets Luke.