Summary
Star Wars is a massive transmedia franchise, which means the adventures continue in books as well as on the screen.
Lucasfilm’s most popular projects include Star Wars: The High Republic, set centuries before the prequels.
Every period of the Skywalker saga’s timeline has been fleshed out in books.
Here’s your official guide to the Star Wars books in chronological order. When George Lucas launched Star Wars, part of his genius lay in the decision to embrace transmedia. The first tie-in novel, Alan Dean Foster’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, was actually published before the release of The Empire Strikes Back. Still, it wasn’t until 1991 that Lucasfilm really began to exploit the potential of novels, with Timothy Zahn relaunching the Star Wars Expanded Universe with the launch of his bestselling Thrawn trilogy. All that was erased from canon, officially branded “Legends,” shortly after Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.
Since then, Disney has evolved Star Wars into a trailblazing transmedia franchise. Lucasfilm Publishing has launched several successful initiatives to tie in with movies and TV shows, while the Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative has opened up a whole new part of the Star Wars timeline. That makes it incredibly difficult to keep up – but here’s your guide to the Star Wars books in chronological order. Note this doesn’t include choose-your-own-adventure stories, siimple adaptations, or some novelizations of debatable canonicity.
Related
How To Watch Star Wars Movies In Order
Here is how to watch all Star Wars movies and TV shows chronologically and in order of release, and how each fits into the Star Wars timeline.
Books In Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II
382 BBY
Star Wars: The High Republic technically takes a tip from George Lucas himself, with the overarching story told out of chronological order. That means phase II technically comes first, some 350 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. It’s worth noting these stories often overlap significantly, with events occurring concurrently – particularly toward the end. Path of Vengeance technically begins before Cataclysm, but ends as something of a coda to the era, so logically comes last in this list.
Path of Deceit by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland Convergence by Zoraida Córdova Quest for the Hidden City by George Mann The Battle of Jedha by George Mann Cataclysm by Lydia Kang Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott
Related
Star Wars’ High Republic Era Explained
The future of the Star Wars galaxy lies in the past – in the High Republic Era, featured in books, comics, games, audiobooks, and Disney+ TV shows.
Books In Star Wars: The High Republic Phase I
232 BBY
Set 200 years before the prequel trilogy, Star Wars: The High Republic Phase I is the story of the Jedi Order at its height. The High Republic Era is a time when the light of the Jedi shone brighter than ever before, as the Republic expanded across the Star Wars galaxy map toward the Outer Rim. But the brighter the light, the darker the shadows it casts, as the Jedi learned to their cost.
Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule Into the Dark by Claudia Gray A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott Race to Crashpoint Tower by Daniel José Older Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland Tempest Runner by Cavan Scott Mission to Disaster by Justina Ireland The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older
Books In Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III
229 BBY
Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III is set a year after the events of Phase I. The space pirates known as the Nihil appear to have triumphed, but the Jedi are organizing against them. Phase III launched in November 2023, which means only three books have been released to date.
The Eye of Darkness by George Mann Escape from Valo by Daniel José Older & Alyssa Wong Defy the Storm by Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland
Star Wars Books Set Before The Prequel Era
292 BBY – 32 BBY
Several stories are set between the High Republic Era and the prequel trilogy. The Vow of the Silver Dawn is included in this list, but unfortunately, it has yet to be translated into English; its timeline placement has recently moved as a result of the reference book Star Wars: Timelines. Claudia Gray’s Master & Apprentice is a particularly important book during this period, finally revealing details about the Chosen One prophecy.
The Vow of Silver Dawn by His Majesty the King Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott Padawan by Kiersten White Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray Darth Maul & the Rathtars by Steven Behling
Prequel Era Star Wars Books
32 BBY – 19 BBY
Lucasfilm Publishing’s Star Wars canon books have done a good job of adding depth to the prequel trilogy. This period includes a tremendous range of novels by E.K. Johnston focused on Padmé Amidala, and a trilogy by Timothy Zahn that ends shortly after the rise of the Empire. Christie Golden’s Dark Disciple is an unusual book, the only one still officially considered canon even though it was technically produced after Disney’s reset; it’s an important story from Star Wars: The Clone Wars that was never made because of the show’s cancelation.
Queen’s Peril by E.K. Johnston Queen’s Shadow by E.K. Johnston Queen’s Hope by E.K. Johnston Brotherhood by Mike Chen Dark Disciple by Christie Golden Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising by Timothy Zahn Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good by Timothy Zahn Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil by Timothy Zahn
Books Set During The Reign Of The Empire
19 BBY – 0 BBY
Lucasfilm Publishing initially focused on novels set during the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign, with a number of books by James Luceno fleshing things out. A major transmedia initiative accompanied the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, meaning several books are set around that; this seems to have blazed the trail for later approaches. Catalyst, by James Luceno, is included in this section even though it technically begins during the Clone Wars;
Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah S. Dawson Catalyst by James Luceno Adventures in Wild Space by Cavan Scott and Tom Huddleston, a series of children’s novels Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp Tarkin by James Luceno Crimson Climb by E.K. Johnston Most Wanted by Rae Carson Lando’s Luck by Justina Ireland Solo: A Star Wars Story by Mur Lafferty Rebel Rising by Beth Revis Thrawn by Timothy Zahn A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs Servants of the Empire by Jason Fry, a series of children’s novels Leia: Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn Thrawn: Treason by Timothy Zahn The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fearl by Tom Angleberger Guardians of the Whills by Greg Rucka Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed Bounty Hunt by Katrina Pallant
Related
10 Most Essential Star Wars Canon Books Every Fan MUST Read
The best Star Wars books add new depth to the galaxy, fleshing out characters and answering mysteries. Here are the most important Star Wars novels.
Star Wars Books Set During The Original Trilogy Era
0 BBY – 3 ABY
Surprisingly few Star Wars canon books have been set during the original trilogy era, which has instead mostly been explored by Marvel Comics. Claudia Gray’s Lost Stars technically begins during the Dark Times, spanning the entire Galactic Civil War before finishing a year after Return of the Jedi, but it’s included here because so much is set during the original trilogy. Sarah Kuhn’s Doctor Aphra is an audiobook adaptation of a comic book story, with significant additional material.
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray Battlefront II: Inferno Squad by Christie Golden Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure by Greg Rucka Heir to the Jedi by Kevin Hearne Doctor Aphra by Sarah Kuhn The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure by Jason Fry Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure by Cecil Castellucci and Jason Fry
Star Wars Books Set Before The Sequel Trilogy
3 ABY – 34 ABY
The period between Return of the Jedi and the Star Wars sequel trilogy is relatively unexplored. This is partly because Lucasfilm had no concrete plans for the rise of the First Order, so didn’t want to detail anything until the sequels had been completed. Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy and Alexander Freed’s Alphabet Squadron trilogy overlap significantly.
The Princess & the Scoundrel by Beth Revis Alphabet Squadron by Alexander Freed Aftermath by Chuck Wendig Shadow Fall by Alexander Freed Aftermath: Life Debt by Chuck Wendig Victory’s Price by Alexander Freed Aftermath: Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig Hunters: Battle for the Arena by Mark Oshiro Last Shot by Daniel José Older Poe Dameron: Free Fall by Alex Segura Shadow of the Sith by Adam Christopher Bloodline by Claudia Gray The Legends of Luke Skywalker by Ken Liu Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson Force Collector by Kevin Shinick Join the Resistance by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker
Books Set During The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
34 ABY – 35 ABY
Continuing through the chronology, there are several Star Wars books set during the sequel trilogy. Again, though, these are minimal in number, reflecting the various course corrections taken by Lucasfilm. The most notable is Rebecca Roanhorse’s Resistance Reborn, which resolves many of the unanswered questions from Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster Star Wars: The Last Jedi by Jason Fry Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse Spark of the Resistance by Justina Ireland Pirate’s Price by Lou Anders A Crash of Fate by Zoraida Córdova Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker by Rae Carson
Star Wars Anthologies
Finally, there are a number of Star Wars anthologies considered canon. Several of these are tales of myths and legends told across the galaxy, and so cannot be precisely placed. The From A Certain Point Of View series explore the different original trilogy movies, but it is difficult to say whether they are canon; they are omitted from the recent Star Wars: Timelines reference book, suggesting these aren’t official Star Wars canon.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Tales Of Light & Dark From A Certain Point Of View From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back From A Certain Point Of View: Return of the Jedi Myths & Fables by George Mann Dark Legends by George Mann Life Day Treasury by George Mann and Cavan Scott Star Wars: Tales of Light & Life