After a very very long bout of mental health induced inability to read properly, I really want to try getting back into reading novels.

With that, I would like to know:

Which books are Canon?

What is the chronological order of those books?

Which are worth reading?

Which Legends Books are worth reading in the OT Period?

Which Legends books are worth reading in the Old Republic period?

Currently have little interest in anything Post Jedi, but open to suggestions for books set "recently" after RotJ, if you get my meaning (As in, NO Yuzong Vong pish, or 30 year after stuff... within 5 years area.... stuff that COULD be considered valid and not 'contradicting' canon).

Cheers!

After a very very long bout of mental health induced inability to read properly, I really want to try getting back into reading novels.

With that, I would like to know:

Which books are Canon?

What is the chronological order of those books?

Which are worth reading?

Which Legends Books are worth reading in the OT Period?

Which Legends books are worth reading in the Old Republic period?

Currently have little interest in anything Post Jedi, but open to suggestions for books set "recently" after RotJ, if you get my meaning (As in, NO Yuzong Vong pish, or 30 year after stuff... within 5 years area.... stuff that COULD be considered valid and not 'contradicting' canon).

Cheers!

All the books i have read over the years, I still thought the Zahn novels (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command) were the best. There were at least my favorites. I was hoping they would use those as a blueprints for the movies until the reset button was hit.

If you google "star wars canon books" you get a pretty good list. There's also this:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Timeline_of_canon_books

There are a few pre-OT/OT books that are canon, mostly related to the Rebels period: A New Dawn, Lords of the Sith, Tarkin, Lost Stars, and Ahsoka. I enjoyed the last two, especially Lost Stars, which is probably my favourite SW novel to date: good characters, measured action, "real" people with reasonable motives, and some clever weaving with some of the off-the-cuff lines in the movies. The others weren't that interesting as novels, but still contained useful information if you want story ideas.

Of the new canon stuff I've read so far, I really enjoyed Lost Stars (covers bits an pieces between from pre-ANH all the way to post RotJ) and A New Dawn (essentially a prequal to Star Wars: Rebels). I haven't read much in the past year or so, but I hear good things about bloodlines (set a few years after RotJ).

Bloodlines is great (same author as Lost Stars), but takes place only a few years before TFA.

Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire trilogy and Scoundrels are really good.

Darth Plagueis, Tarkin, Lords of the Sith, Kenobi, Lost Stars, Ahsoka are good.

The Darth Bane trilogy is good too.

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor is a very funny book.

Not in your requested timeline but the Han Solo Adventures: ...At Star's End,.. Revenge. ... And The Lost Legacy. They're all set just prior to Han & Chewie nipping off to Tatooine. Apparently, the first two were used as inspiration for the Corporate Sector splat for d6 I think.

Actually, the Han Solo adventures would be just the period im looking at... I think I should have said "PT through to OT" era...

I have read the Han Solo Trilogy, (not the above one), and LOVED them, while I am not a naysayer when it comes to the Disney takeover, and the EU becoming Legends, THAT set of stories will, in my book, be a shame if they are nullified from canon by the new film. But hey ho..

Of the new canon stuff I've read so far, I really enjoyed Lost Stars (covers bits an pieces between from pre-ANH all the way to post RotJ) and A New Dawn (essentially a prequal to Star Wars: Rebels). I haven't read much in the past year or so, but I hear good things about bloodlines (set a few years after RotJ).

I've not been impressed with the neo-canon books thusfar. I think Bloodlines and Lost Stars are the really good books, New Dawn was okay (although it might be better with 3 years of Rebels under my belt) - and that's pretty much it. Dark Disciple read way too much as the adaption it was, Lords of the Sith was restlessly dull, Heir to the Jedi was wildly uneven, and the Aftermath books - well, I'd rather go read Crystal Star again. The Tarkin and Ahsoka books were okay - Ahsoka was the superior of the two - but it was more interesting for the "what happened to these characters" information more than being well written and compelling.

So meet the new boss, same as the old boss. A few gems but you have to sift through a mountain of **** to find them.

Of the new canon stuff I've read so far, I really enjoyed Lost Stars (covers bits an pieces between from pre-ANH all the way to post RotJ) and A New Dawn (essentially a prequal to Star Wars: Rebels). I haven't read much in the past year or so, but I hear good things about bloodlines (set a few years after RotJ).

I've not been impressed with the neo-canon books thusfar. I think Bloodlines and Lost Stars are the really good books, New Dawn was okay (although it might be better with 3 years of Rebels under my belt) - and that's pretty much it. Dark Disciple read way too much as the adaption it was, Lords of the Sith was restlessly dull, Heir to the Jedi was wildly uneven, and the Aftermath books - well, I'd rather go read Crystal Star again. The Tarkin and Ahsoka books were okay - Ahsoka was the superior of the two - but it was more interesting for the "what happened to these characters" information more than being well written and compelling.

So meet the new boss, same as the old boss. A few gems but you have to sift through a mountain of **** to find them.

I enjoyed a New Dawn because I'm a huge fan of Hera and she was pretty great in that book.

Unlike Desslok, I'll recommend Aftermath, though I haven't read the second one yet. I thought it was an excellent look at what happens after Return of the Jedi. I haven't read much else for Star Wars, however.

Unlike Desslok, I'll recommend Aftermath, though I haven't read the second one yet. I thought it was an excellent look at what happens after Return of the Jedi. I haven't read much else for Star Wars, however.

Very much enjoyed both of the Aftermath books. The first feels a bit rushed, but apparently he only had a 45 day window to pull it off, which is...impressive...most impressive...

Currently reading Twilight Company which I'm enjoying... Gives a different perspective on the Rebellion & shows more of a "grunts" on the ground point of view!

Different time period but... Also really enjoyed Dark Disciple!

Forgot about Twilight Company...yeah, it was definitely better than most, solid characters and good action.

Just finished Catalyst (the prequel to Rogue One) last night: it's a slow burn that takes a while to get going, a political thriller and personal drama with zero action, but in the end was worth the read. Lots of useful information. Fun to know Tarkin can get out-maneuvered, even if only temporarily.

Unlike Desslok, I'll recommend Aftermath, though I haven't read the second one yet. I thought it was an excellent look at what happens after Return of the Jedi. I haven't read much else for Star Wars, however.

Very much enjoyed both of the Aftermath books. The first feels a bit rushed, but apparently he only had a 45 day window to pull it off, which is...impressive...most impressive...

To be fair, I haven't read the second one beyond some excerpts I found online. But the characters weren't engaging, the story was "meh" and I just couldn't get into that first person writing style.

And I'll go the grave saying that the book should have been more like World War Z (the book, not the movie) a series of vignettes around the galaxy showing Joe Six-Pack's reaction to the fall of the Empire. That would have been way better than what we got.

Scoundrels was wierd to me. I just walked away about 90% of the way through.

It is a caper book, and after the 49th major plot twist in the same scam...