Catching Up on Star Wars Books

The Last Jedi, the newest entry to the Star Wars franchise, was released in theaters this weekend. Thirsty for more Star Wars, but don't know where to start?

Since the original release of the first Star Wars film in 1977, the franchise has been a pop culture juggernaut with countless spinoff novels, comics, TV Shows, video games, and more. For a long time, the Star Wars "Expanded Universe" (or EU for short) kept the story going, both before the movies were set, and long after Episode VI's conclusion.

However, when Disney bought the franchise, most of this Expanded Universe was declared "Legends", or unofficial. This was to make room for a new era of movies and books for a more unified universe.

How do you know what's official and what's not? Outside of the nine Star Wars movies and two Star Wars TV shows (Clone Wars and Rebels), only some novels and comics are deemed "canon". Here is a list of all of the canon Star Wars novels, as of the release of The Last Jedi in theaters.

Dark Disciple by Christie Golden - Based on an unfinished group of episodes from the Clone Wars TV show, this is the story of a Jedi mission to assassinate Count Dooku with the help of his former apprentice.

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn - Grand Admiral Thrawn was first part of the Expanded Universe rendered unofficial, but sees new life as a cunning villain in this novel. You can also see Thrawn in the Rebels TV show. Thrawn first appeared in the now unofficial Heir to the Empire.

Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp - Takes place after Revenge of the Sith and follows Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine as they are hunted by revolutionaries on an alien planet.

A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller - follows characters from the animated Rebels TV series, shortly after Revenge of the Sith.

Tarkin by James Luceno - the story of Grand Moff Tarkin, played by Peter Cushing in the first Star Wars movie.

Ahsoka by E. K. Johnston - Bridges the gap between the Clone Wars and Rebels TV shows, following Anakin Skywalker's former apprentice as she goes into hiding.

Catalyst by James Luceno - set after Revenge of the Sith leading up to Rogue One, tells the story of the development of the Death Star superweapon.

Heir to the Jedi by Kevin Hearne - set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, chronicling the adventures of a young Luke Skywalker.

Twilight Company by Alexander Freed - Ties in with the Star Wars Battlefront video game, taking place right before The Empire Strikes Back. The titular Twilight Company is on the front line of the Rebel Alliance struggle against the evil Empire.

Inferno Squad by Christie Golden - Taking place after Rogue One, follows the Empire's elite Inferno Squad as they hunt down rebel extremists.

Aftermath by Chuck Wendig - Set just after Return of the Jedi, tells the beginnings of the New Republic's attempts to defeat the remaining forces of the Empire.

Aftermath: Life Debt by Chuck Wendig - The sequel to Aftermath, follows a mission to find Han Solo who has gone missing on the wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk.

Aftermath: Empire's End by Chuck Wendig - The last of the Aftermath trilogy, leading into The Force Awakens.

Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson - The origin story of the villainous Captain Phasma, first introduced in The Force Awakens.

Bloodline by Claudia Gray - Takes place 5 years before The Force Awakens, and focuses on Leia's attempts to bring lasting democracy to the galaxy while struggling with the shadow of her family's legacy.