Star Wars

Updated September 11, 2007

I love Star Wars. The Star Wars movies are some of my favorite movies. I collect the Micromachines Star Wars Action Fleet. The imagination that went into these movies was spectacular. I also enjoy reading books set in the Star Wars universe, with the Star Wars characters. So far as I have read, the best of these books have been written by Timothy Zahn. He is definitely one of my favorite authors. The Han Solo trilogy and The Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy were also great! They let me get to know two of my favorite characters (Han Solo and Boba Fett) much better. The Han Solo trilogy fills in Han's early life in great detail, and Boba Fett plays a major roll in both series, with The Bounty Hunter Wars focusing on Fett before and after his rolls in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (and you thought he died -- well, okay, maybe he did, read the books to find out for sure). But I have yet to run into a Star Wars novel that I didn't like.

Star Wars Books I've Read

Kevin J. Anderson

Greg Bear

Terry Bisson and Elizabeth Hand

    Young Boba Fett

    1. The Fight to Survive (by Terry Bisson)
      The Fight to Survive

      BORN TO BE A BOUNTY HUNTER.

      Boba Fett is not like other boys. His father, Jango Fett, is a bounty hunter. His planet, Kamino, is home to an army of clones. He has no friends, no school. The one thing he does have is a future as a bounty hunter.

      This future comes quickly. Suddenly Boba Fett is all alone in a dangerous galaxy. He must struggle for safety -- and vengeance -- using his strength, his intelligence, and his father's hard lessons.

      Boba Fett will grow up to be one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy.

      But first he must survive his childhood. (from the back of the book)

    2. Crossfire (by Terry Bisson)
      Crossfire

      HIS MOST IMPORTANT ALLY IS HIS GREATEST ENEMY.

      Boba fett is alone in the world. His father is dead. He’s never had friends. The only thing that keeps him going is his desire to survive—and become a bounty hunter.

      Aurra Sing has taken him to Count Dooku’s lair on the toxic planet of Raxus Prime. Boba thinks Dooku will help him. But Dooku has other plans . . . and the Jedi have their plans, as well.

      The Clone Wars are raging throughout the galaxy, and Boba Fett is caught in a spectacular crossfire on Raxus Prime. What he discovers there will change the course of his life. (book description)

    3. Maze of Deception (Mass Market Paperback) or (Hardcover edition) (by Elizabeth Hand)
      Maze of Deception

      TRUST NO ONE. ESPECIALLY A BOUNTY HUNTER.

      When he died in the first Clone War battle, Jango Fett left a fortune somewhere on the planet of Aargau. The bounty hunter Aurra Sing is the only person who knows where the fortune is. But Jango's son, Boba Fett, is the only person who can get to it.

      Aurra Sing needs Boba, and Boba needs Aurra Sing. But there's no way they can trust each other. Every move could be a deception. Every word could be a lie.

      As the search for Jango Fett's legacy becomes dangerously complicated, young Boba Fett must outsmart and outmaneuver enemies of all kinds—even hidden ones. His future as a bounty hunter depends on it. (book description)

    4. Hunted (Paperback edition) (by Elizabeth Hand)
      Hunted

      HIS FIRST MISSION MAY BE HIS LAST

      On the barren planet of Tatooine, young Boba Fett is surrounded by criminals, mercenaries, and thieves. In his quest to become a bounty hunter, he is searching out the greatest crime lord of all—Jabba the Hutt.

      But Jabba the Hutt is not easily found . . . or easily impressed. When Boba finally tracks down the crime lord, Jabba has an offer for him: one assignment, one chance. He must capture a deadly bounty . . . or else.

      It is the biggest test Boba Fett has ever faced—one that will determine his future. (book description)

    5. A New Threat (Paperback edition) (by Elizabeth Hand)
      A New Threat

      A POWERFUL ENEMY IS THE GREATEST DANGER

      When you work for Jabba the Hutt, you do whatever he wants you to do—no matter what the risk. As Jabba’s newest bounty hunter, Boba Fett has a lot to prove . . . and little time to prove it. So when Jabba sends him into the thick of the Clone Wars, there’s no backing down from the fight.

      General Grievous is at the heart of the plot to overthrow the Republic. He is fierce, strong, and virtually unstoppable. When his path crosses Boba’s, sparks fly—and many lives are threatened. (book description)

      Personal note: This series was intended for young readers, and I've kept that in mind with my ratings. That said, I found this book to be the weakest in the series. From a logic standpoint, there were more holes than any of the other books. I also found it easier to put down than the other books. On top of that, the book ends rather abruptly, not even finishing the story that's being told.

    6. Pursuit (Mass Market Paperback) (by Elizabeth Hand)
      Pursuit

      A FATHER’S DEATH. A SON’S REVENGE.

      Boba Fett is emerging as one of the most skilled bounty hunters in the galaxy. After surviving his deadly battle with the fearsom General Grievous, there’s one bounty he wants more than any other: Mace Windu, the Jedi who killed his father.

      When fate and Anakin Skywalker bring Boba Fett to the city-planet of Coruscant, Boba plunges into the Coruscant underworld and arms himself for the greatest confrontation of his young life.

      It’s the bounty hunter vs. the Jedi as Boba Fett takes his one and only chance at revenge. (book description)

Clone Wars

A. C. Crispin

    The Han Solo Trilogy

    This trilogy is one of the best Star Wars series I've read. Find out about Han Solo's younger life. See what made him the rogue he is. Oh, yeah, one thing I found out reading this series is that Han really did mean 12 Parsecs as in distance, not time. Crispin did a great job of explaining the Kessel run in such a way as to make that make sense.
    1. The Paradise Snare
      The Paradise Snare Recounts the early years of the young Han Solo, beginning with his late teenage years, as he chafes under the sadistic tyranny of the cruel Garris Shrike, and chronicling his transformation into a swashbuckling pilot, smuggler, and rogue. (from an Amazon.com review)
    2. The Hutt Gambit
      The Hutt Gambit Solo is now a fugitive from the Imperial Navy. But he has made a valuable friend in a former Wookiee slave named Chewbacca, who has sworn Han a life debt. Han will need all the help he can get. For the Ylesian Hutts have dispatched the dreaded bounty hunter Boba Fett to track down the man who already outsmarted them once. But Han and Chewie find themselves in even bigger trouble when they agree to lend their services to the crime lords Jiliac and Jabba the Hutt. Suddenly the two smugglers are thrust into the middle of a battle between the might of the Empire and the treachery of their outlaw allies...a battle where even victory means death! (from an Amazon.com review)
    3. Rebel Dawn
      Rebel Dawn The tale of young Han from his winning of the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian in a sabacc tournament to his fateful meeting in the Mos Eisley cantina with Luke and Obi-Wan. Along the way, Han gets his first taste of the Rebel Alliance, and runs afoul of Jabba the Hutt--which comes back to haunt him later. (from an Amazon.com review)

Alan Dean Foster

K. W. Jeter

    The Bounty Hunter Wars

    1. The Mandalorian Armor
      The Mandalorian Armor Boba Fett is one of my favorite Star Wars characters. This book delves into his life and really fills out his story. It isn't totally consistent with the rest of the Star Wars universe, but it's an enjoyable read. Find out what happens when Boba Fett (known for being strictly an independent operator) joins the Bounty Hunters' Guild. And you'll enjoy learning about what happens to him after he falls in the Sarlacc pit.
    2. Slave Ship
      Slave Ship This book is the sequel to The Mandalorian Armor, and takes up where that book left off. Which pleases me greatly, since I didn't think there was a sequel to it, and I was disappointed that it left the reader (or me, anyway) hanging at the end. This book goes more in-depth into Kuat of Kuat's life, as well as depicting another temporary partnership between Boba Fett and Bossk that ends about the way you'd expect.
    3. Hard Merchandise
      Hard Merchandise This is the conclusion to The Bounty Hunter Wars. It completes the story started in The Mandalorian Armor and continued in Slave Ship. Here's what Amazon.com has to say about this book: When Boba Fett stumbles across evidence implicating Prince Xizor in the murder of Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle, Fett makes himself an enemy even he fears: the unknown mastermind behind a monstrous deception, who will kill to hide his tracks. Fett also finds himself in possession of an amnesiac young woman named Neelah, who may be the key to the mystery--or a decoy leading Fett into a murderous ambush. Fett's last hope is to run through the list of Xizor's hidden enemies. And since Xizor's hidden enemies are almost as legion as Fett's, the chance of survival is slim--even for someone as skilled and relentless as Boba Fett. (from an Amazon.com review)

The New Jedi Order

  1. Vector Prime (by R. A. Salvatore)
    Vector Prime Twenty-one years have passed since the heroes of the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, breaking the power of the Emperor. Since then, the New Republic has valiantly struggled to maintain peace and prosperity among the peoples of the galaxy. But unrest has begun to spread and threatens to destroy the Republic's tenuous reign. Into this volatile atmosphere comes Nom Anor, a charismatic firebrand who heats passions to the boiling point, sowing seeds of dissent for his own dark motives. And as the Jedi and the Republic focus on internal struggles, a new threat surfaces from beyond the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim--an enemy bearing weapons and technology unlike anything New Republic scientists have ever seen. Suddenly, Luke Skywalker; his wife, Mara; Han Solo; Leia Organa Solo; and Chewbacca--along with the Solo children--are thrust again into battle, to defend the freedom so many have fought and died for. But this time, the power of the Force itself may not be enough . . . (from the back of the book)
  2. Dark Tide I: Onslaught (by Michael A. Stackpole) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Onslaught Twenty-one years after the destruction of Darth Vader and the Emperor, the Star Wars galaxy has been hit by a threat deadlier and more terrifying than anything that has gone before. In Vector Prime, invading aliens were routed at great cost to our heroes. Now, in this climate of mistrust, expecially of the Jedi, Leia cannot convince the New Republic that the threat may not be over, even as the next wave of alien warships are entering the galaxy. It is up to Leia, Luke and the Solo children to defend the Outer Rim planets from invasion(from the back of the book)
  3. Dark Tide II: Ruin (by Michael A. Stackpole) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Ruin The alien Yuuzhan Vong have launched an attack on the worlds of the Outer Rim. They are merciless, without regard for life - and they stand utterly outside the Force. Their ever-changing tactics stump the New Republic military. Even the Jedi, once the greatest guardians of peace in the galaxy, are rendered helpless by this impervious foe - and their solidarity has begun to unravel. While Luke struggles to keep the Jedi together, Knights Jacen Solo and Corran Horn set off on a reconnaissance mission to the planet Garqi, an occupied world. There, at last, they uncover a secret that might be used to undermine the enemy - if only they can stay alive long enough to use it! (from the back of the book)
  4. Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial (by James Luceno) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Hero's Trial Merciless attacks by an invincible alien force have left the New Republic reeling. Dozens of worlds have succumbed to occupation or annihilation, and even the Jedi Knights have tasted defeat. In these darkest of times, the noble Chewbacca is laid to rest, having died as heroically as he lived--and a grief-stricken Han Solo is left to fit the pieces of his shattered soul back together before he loses everything: friends, family, and faith. Refusing help from Leia or Luke, Han becomes the loner he once was, seeking to escape the pain of his partner's death in adventure . . . and revenge. When he learns that an old friend from his smuggling days is operating as a mercenary for the enemy, he sets out to expose the traitor. But Han's investigation uncovers an even greater evil: a sinister conspiracy aimed at the very heart of the New Republic's will and ability to fight--the Jedi. Now Han must face down his inner demons and, with the help of a new and unexpected ally, honor Chewbacca's sacrifice in the only way that matters--by being worthy of it. (from the back of the book)
  5. Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse (by James Luceno) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Jedi Eclipse A string of smashing victories by the forces of the sinister aliens known as the Yuuzhan Vong has left New Republic resources and morale stretched to the breaking point. Leia Organa Solo, estranged from her husband, Han, oversees the evacuation of refugees on planets in the path of the merciless invaders. Luke Skywalker struggles to hold the fractious Jedi Knights together, even while one of them undertakes a bold but reckless undercover mission. Manipulating their alliance with the amoral Hutts, the Yuuzhan Vong leave a cunning trail of vital information where New Republic agents are sure to find it--information the desperate defenders cannot afford to ignore: the location of the aliens' next target. Then Han Solo stumbles into the dark heart of raging battle, thus beginning a furious race against time that will require every skill and trick in his arsenal to win... (from the back of the book)
  6. Balance Point (by Kathy Tyers) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Balance Point In the aftermath of one tragedy, will a young Jedi’s search for redemption lead to yet another? There is no place else to channel the flood of refugees fleeing the murderous Yuuzhan Vong but the overcrowded planet Duro, poisoned by centuries of technological excess. Fortunately a deal is struck: In exchange for a new home, the refugees will work to restore the planet to health, under the watchful eye of Leia Organa Solo. While tempers flare between the Duros and the New Republic, Han Solo, his son, Jacen, and the Ryn called Droma arrive to keep the peace. They are unaware that Leia is on Duro . . . and that Luke, Mara, and Anakin are on their way, searching for a missing Jedi apprentice. And none realize that the Yuuzhan Vong have chosen this embattled planet as the next target in their brutal coreward thrust. Now, as the fragile stability on Duro threatens to collapse into violence, Jacen Solo must face his greatest dilemma: At what point does the use of power become aggression? Whatever he decides, his next step could tip the galaxy’s destiny toward the light or toward darkness–with the life of someone he loves hanging in the balance . . . (from the back of the book)
  7. Edge of Victory I: Conquest (by Greg Keyes) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Conquest The dazzling Star Wars space adventure continues in The New Jedi Order as Luke Skywalker, Anakin Solo, Mara Jade Skywalker, and others battle their deadliest enemy in a tale of nonstop action, shadowy evil, and spectacular triumph . . . No longer content with the destruction the Yuuzhan Vong have already sown, Warmaster Tsavong Lah has demanded the heads of all the Jedi. Now the Jedi Knights are in terrible danger–and none more so than the young students at the Jedi academy on Yavin 4. Already the sympathizers known as the Peace Brigade are in the Yavin system–and a Yuuzhan Vong fleet is not far behind. At Luke Skywalker’s request, Talon Karrde mounts an expedition to rescue the young students. Anakin Solo has his own ideas. Impatient, and figuring that forgiveness is easier to come by than permission, he takes off for Yavin 4 in his X-wing. When it comes to confidence, courage, and raw Force talent, Anakin has few peers. But when his friend Tahiri is separated from the other academy kids and captured by the Yuuzhan Vong, even Anakin may be in over his head. For the aliens have a different future in mind for Tahiri, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their horrific ends . . . (from the back of the book)
  8. Edge of Victory II: Rebirth (by Greg Keyes) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Rebirth The Star Wars epic continues its dazzling space odyssey in The New Jedi Order–as Luke and Mara, Leia and Han, and others battle the mighty enemy from beyond the galactic rim. The brutal Yuuzhan Vong are scouring the universe for Jedi to slaughter. With no help from the divided New Republic, the Jedi stand alone against their seemingly invincible foe. Han and Leia Organa Solo risk deadly consequences with their controversial tactics to bolster the Jedi resistance. After uncovering a new Yuuzhan Vong menace, Anakin and Tahiri find themselves wanted for murder by the Peace Brigade. To avoid capture, they jump into hyperspace... and into trouble far graver. Hunted by the Yuuzhan Vong, wanted as criminals by the New Republic, and with unrest stirring within their own ranks, the Jedi find peril everywhere they turn. But even in the midst of despair, while the fiercest battle of all looms on the horizon, hope arises with the birth of one very special child.... (from the back of the book)
  9. Star by Star (by Troy Denning) (hard cover) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Star by Star A new book in the successful "New Jedi Order" series, created jointly by Del Rey and Lucasfilm, this adventure pits the children of old favorites Luke, Leia, and Han against alien invaders. (from an Amazon.com review)
  10. Dark Journey (by Elaine Cunningham) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Dark Journey The New Jedi Order continues as Jaina Solo struggles with anger and despair after the Jedi Knights' harrowing adventure behind enemy lines.

    Though the Jedi strike force completed its deadly mission into Yuuzhan Vong territory, the price of success was tragedy: not everyone made it out alive. In a daring getaway, hotshop pilot Jaina Solo stole an enemy ship, taking along her fellow survivors--and leaving behind a huge piece of her heart.

    With the enemy in hot pursuit, Jaina is forced to seek haven in the unprotected, unfriendly Hapes Cluster, where the Jedi are held responsible for a past tragedy--and where the royal family has grim plans for their famous Jedi guest. Even more sinister are the intentions of the Yuuvhan Vong, desperate to capture Jaina for a hideous sacrifice.

    Grief-stricken and obsessed with revenge, Jaina is blind to these threats--and to the overpowering evil dangerously close to consuming her. In the coming conflagration, Jaina will be fighting not for victory or vengeance, but fore her very being . . . (from an Amazon.com review)
  11. Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream (by Aaron Allston) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Rebel Dream In the face of the Yuuzhan Vong's conquests, the New Republic is edging closer to surrender. Now, as Leia and Han Solo drum up resistance, Luke Skywalker sets out to breach enemy lines. (from an Amazon.com review)
  12. Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand (by Aaron Allston) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Rebel Stand Luke Skywalker’s daring mission to halt the Yuuzhan Vong’s nefarious plot to overthrow the New Republic is struggling on all fronts. And time is slipping away for Han and Leia Organa Solo, trapped on a small planet whose rulers are about to yield to Yuuzhan Vong pressure to give up the Jedi rebels.

    On Coruscant, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker have made a shocking discovery that is preventing the Yuuzhan Vong from exerting complete control. But when the enemy tracks them down, Luke and Mara are thrust into a fierce battle for their lives. Suddenly, the chances of escaping appear nearly impossible. And in space, another battle rages, one that holds ominous consequences for the New Republic—and for the Jedi themselves. . . . (from an Amazon.com review)
  13. Traitor (by Matthew Woodring Stover) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Traitor FROM THE DEPTHS OF CATASTROPHE, A GLIMMER OF HOPE

    After the capture of Coruscant, the mighty heart of the New Republic, a stunned galaxy fears that nothing can stop the Yuuzhan Vong. Still, that crushing defeat produces one small miracle: Jacen Solo is alive. Yet he can scarcely imagine himself in stranger circumstances.

    The young Jedi Knight is in the care of Vergere, a fascinating creature of mystery and power, her intentions hard to fathom, her cruelties rarely concealed. But this master of inscrutable arts has much to teach the young Jedi . . . for she holds the key to a new way to experience the Force, to take it to another level—dangerous, dazzling, perhaps deadly.

    In the wrong hands, the tremendous energies of the Force can be devastating. And there are others watching Jacen’s process closely, waiting patiently for the moment when he will be ready for their own dire purposes. Now, all is in shadows. Yet whatever happens, whether Jacen’s newfound mastery unleashes light or darkness, he will never be the same Jedi again. . . . (from an Amazon.com review)
  14. Destiny's Way (by Walter Jon Williams) (abridged) or (hardcover) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Destiny's Way The time of reckoning is close at hand. Events in the New York Times bestselling Star Wars: The New Jedi Order series take a decisive turn, as the heroes of the New Republic prepare for their most volatile clash yet with the enemy—from without and within.

    In the war against the ruthless Yuuzhan Vong, the fall of Coruscant leaves the New Republic divided by internal strife, and on the verge of bowing to conquest. But those who steadfastly refuse to consider surrender—Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, and their children and comrades-in-arms—are determined to seize victory against overwhelming odds. And now, finally, there are signs that the tide may be turning in the New Republic’s favor.

    After capturing crucial Yuuzhan Vong intelligence, Jedi fighter-pilot Jaina Solo prepares to lead a daring surprise strike against an enemy flagship. Meanwhile, Jaina’s brother Jacen—liberated from the hands of the enemy and newly schooled in an even greater mastery of the Force by the Jedi Knight Vergere—is eagerly poised to bring his unique skills to bear against the invaders. And on Mon Calamari, the New Republic’s provisional capital, the retired, ailing hero Admiral Ackbar has conceived a major tactical plan that could spell the beginning of a swift end for the Yuuzhan Vong.

    Yet even as opposing squadrons face off in the depths of space, intrigue runs rampant: in the heated political race for Chief of State . . . in the shadows where Yuuzhan Vong spies plot assassinations . . . and in the inscrutable creature Vergere, a Jedi Knight whose allegiance is impossible to predict. And as Luke Skywalker sets about reestablishing the Jedi Council, the growing faction opposed to the ways of the Force unveil a terrifying weapon designed to annihilate the Yuuzhan Vong species. But in doing so, they may be dooming the New Republic to becoming the very thing it has sworn to fight against—and unleashing the power of the dark side. (from an Amazon.com review)
  15. Force Heretic I: Remnant (by Sean Williams & Shane Dix) (I haven't read this one yet)
    Remnant As the bloodied and weary galaxy faces battle once more, the Jedi take on the formidable task of bringing the last of the Empire into the light...

    In an attempt to contain the Yuuzhan Vong threat once and for all, Luke Skywalker, his wife Mara and Jacen Solo head off into the Unknown Regions to find the secret of Zonama Sekot, a long lost planet that may hold the key to winning the war.(from a StarWars.com review)
    16. No review currently available.
  16. Force Heretic II: Refugee (by Sean Williams & Shane Dix) (I haven't read this one yet)
    No review currently available.
  17. Force Heretic III: Reunion (by Sean Williams & Shane Dix) (I haven't read this one yet)
    No review currently available.

Steve Perry

Peter Schweighofer

Michael A. Stackpole

Kathy Tyers

Timothy Zahn

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