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Author	Topic: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here!
Master_Keralys Title: Lit Mod of Ferociously Furious Fury Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 6/4 6:04pm Subject: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here! - Date Edited: 9/5 11:50am (13 edits total) Edited By: The2ndQuest
	Welcome to the Star Wars Expanded Universe! If you're just jumping in, you might have a lot of questions - who the important characters are, what books or comics to start with, and so on. This is the thread to ask them. Right here in this post we have recommendations for you on where to start, and as users ask questions, the most common questions and answers will be gathered into a resource that is also a part of this thread. For more detailed info (but also spoilers, so beware!) you can find a lot of useful information on the Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki. At the bottom of this post are a list of commonly used abbreviations that you may find useful. Have fun! With such a plethora of titles available for Star Wars literature, it can often be a daunting task to determine where a good place to begin is. There really are a number of great places to begin, but where and what these are can vary from person to person, since everyone has their own opinions (you're bound to find at least one person or loves or hates any particular title). In this thread you'll find a summary of the most commonly given suggestions and approaches for exploring the Expanded Universe: 1) General Introduction 2) Choose an Era 3) Chronological Order -General Introduction There are a handful of titles that are usually the first to be recommended by other fans as good starting places- this is, besides the actual quality of the work, most likely because these titles are either standalone stories or they are more connected to the films/ do not rely heavily on characters & events from other books. These titles are: -The "Thrawn Trilogy": a series set 5 years after Return of the Jedi and basically was the launching point of the modern publishing material. Probably the most often-recommended starting point in the EU. Stars the heroes of the Classic Trilogy. (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising & The Last Command) -X-Wing Rogue Squadron (comic): Along with the book series it sprang from and is peripherally related to, a fan favorite and full of great stories and action with Wedge Antilles and his top squad. -The X-Wing series: Another fan favorite, this time following the exploits of Wedge Antilles and his fighter pilots shortly after Return of the Jedi through 9 years after Endor. (Series I: Rogue Squadron, Wedge's Gamble, The Krytos Trap & The Bacta War; Series II: Wraith Squadron, Iron Fist & Solo Command; Series III: Isard's Revenge; Series IV: Starfighters of Adumar) -Shadows of the Empire: This "bridge novel" covers the timespan and events between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Features Vader, Luke, Leia, Lando and more. -Cloak of Deception: This political thriller sets the stage for the events of The Phantom Menace. Stars Qui-Gon and Obi-wan. -Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter: A more action oriented story also set just prior to The Phantom Menace. -Outbound Flight: Set The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones and featuring (though not starring) Obi-wan & Anakin in a prequel to the various Thrawn books. -Shatterpoint: The first Clone Wars novel written, focusing on Mace Windu and the horrors of war. -Labyrinth of Evil: The official lead-in to Revenge of the Sith! -Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader: Set in the aftermath of ROTS as Darth Vader obsessess over Order 66 survivors while adjusting to his new body. -The Tales of the Jedi series: This comic series is set some 4,000 years before the films, and, with it's primary story arc (which starts with Knights of the Old Republic-not to be confused with the game or actual comic series of the same name), delves into the ancient Jedi and Sith conflicts. This fan-favorite series also acts as backstory to the popular Knights of the Old Republic video games. (Knights of the Old Republic, The Freedon Nadd Uprising (if you can find it), Dark Lords of the Sith, The Sith War & Redemption) -The Knights of the Old Republic series: This comic series, set after Tales of the Jedi, but before the Knights of the Old Republic video games follows a padawan on the run, set against the backdrop of the emerging Mandalorian Wars. -The Clone Wars comics: These highly-recommended comics follow heroes new and old through the turbulent Clone Wars, from the Battle of Kamino to a damned-fool idealistic crusade...(Volume 1: The Defense of Kamino, Volume 2: Victories & Sacrifices, Volume 4: Light & Dark, Volume 3: Last Stand on Jabiim, Volume 5: The Best Blades, Volume 6: On the Fields of Battle, Volume 7: When They Were Brothers, Volume 8: The Last Siege, The Final Truth, Volume 9: Endgame) -Legacy comics: Set over 100 years after the movies, this ongoing series follows a descendant of Luke Skywalker as he struggles with new conflict in the galaxy: new Sith, a new Empire at war with itself, a new Rebellion, new smugglers, you name it. One of the most popular Star Wars comics titles around. -Choose an Era Another popular approach is to select an era or timeframe you're most interested in reading about, and focus on the titles from there. Here are some of the highlights/common recommendations for each era: Ancient Times -Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic (comic) -Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith (comic) -Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War (comic) -Tales of the Jedi: Redemption (comic) -Knights of the Old Republic (comic) -Darth Bane: Path of Destruction -Jedi vs. Sith (comic) Prequel Era -Jedi Council: Acts of War (comic) -Cloak of Deception -Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter -Jango Fett: Open Seasons (comic) -Twilight (comic) -Darkness (comic) -The Stark Hyperspace War (comic) -Rite of Passage (comic) -Clone Wars Volume 1: The Defense of Kamino (comic) -Clone Wars Volume 2: Victories & Sacrifices (comic) -Republic Commando: Hard Contact -Shatterpoint -Clone Wars Volume 4: Light & Dark (comic) -Clone Wars Volume 3: Last Stand on Jabiim (comic) -Clone Wars Volume 5: The Best Blades (comic) -Yoda: Dark Rendezvous -Clone Wars Volume 6: On the Fields of Battle (comic) -Clone Wars Volume 7: When They Were Brothers (comic) -Clone Wars Volume 8: The Last Siege, the Final Truth (comic) -Labyrinth of Evil -Clone Wars Volume 9: Endgame (comic) Inter-Trilogy Era -Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader -The Han Solo Trilogy (The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit & Rebel Dawn) -The Han Solo Adventures (Han Solo at Stars End, Han Solo's Revenge & Han Solo and the Lost Legacy) Classic Era -Tales From the Mos Eisley cantina -Empire Volume 2: Darklighter (comic) -Empire Volume 3: The Imperial Perspective (comic) -Empire Volume 6: In the Shadows of Their Fathers (comic) -Empire Volume 7: The Wrong Side of the War (comic) -Rebellion Volume 1: My Brother, My Enemy (comic) -Allegiance -Tales of the Bounty Hunters -Shadows of the Empire -Tales From Jabba's Palace Sequel Era -Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand (comic) -The Truce at Bakura -X-Wing Rogue Squadron (comic) [widely available in omnibuses] -X-Wing: Rogue Squadron -X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble -X-Wing: The Krytos Trap -X-Wing: The Bacta War -X-Wing: Wraith Squadron -X-Wing: Iron Fist -X-Wing: Solo Command -The Courtship of Princess Leia -Tatooine Ghost -The "Thrawn Trilogy": Heir to the Empire -The "Thrawn Trilogy": Dark Force Rising -The "Thrawn Trilogy": The Last Command -X-Wing: Isard's Revenge -Dark Empire (comic series) -Jedi Academy Trilogy: Jedi Search -Jedi Academy Trilogy: Dark Apprentice -Jedi Academy Trilogy: Champions of the Force -I, Jedi -Darksaber -X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar -Hand of Thrawn: Specter of the Past -Hand of Thrawn: Vision of the Future -Union (comic) The New Jedi Order This series of 19 books is set 25 years after the events of A New Hope. It was also meant to be a sort of "jumping on point" for new readers (starting with the first book, Vector Prime), however, to get the fullest enjoyment out of the series, most fans suggest either holding off on this series until after you've read more of the other SW novels, or, at the very least, reading The Essential Chronology or The New Essential Chronology to get an overview of the events that occured between ROTJ and the NJO. Legacy Era Containing both the Legacy of the Force novel series somprised of 9 books (set 40 years after A New Hope) and the Legacy comic series (set about 100 years after the LOTF series). Legacy of the Force acts as a very good jumping-on point to the current novels (though you still might want to consider breezing through the New Essential Chronology first to get a little more of the backstory). Meanwhile, the Legacy series, set so far ahead on the timeline, is almost a blank slate when it comes to backstory found in existing sources, so it too can be enjoyed fairly easily without any backreading. However, if your looking for some backstory, in broad strokes, to the LOTF, without reading the New Essential Chronology, take a look at Traitor and the Dark Nest Trilogy. Now, there are obviously other titles in each era beyond those highlights that you may enjoy as well (be it the character interaction of the Corellian Trilogy,the military battles of the Black Fleet Crisis or the action-packed nature of the comic Crimson Empire), so feel free to look into those titles as well! To assist you in that endeavor, you may find the following timeline reference sources of use (or, you can always check the inside covers of a recently published novel or comic collection): General Timelines: Star Wars Expanded Universe Timeline The Ultimate Timeline at TheForce.Net Timeline Universe's Star Wars Expanded Universe Timeline Del Rey's Star Wars Novel Timeline Dark Horse Comics Star Wars Timeline TF.N Book Reviews Listing (Chronological Order) Detailed Timelines (w/summaries): Time Tales Timeline Gold Unauthorized Star Wars Chronology Era Specific Timelines: The Ultimate Attack of the Clones & the Clone Wars Timeline Timeline at The Unofficial Clone Wars Site -Chronological Order The third most commonly suggested approach to the EU is to experience everything (or, at the very least, a specific era) in chronological order. This could be just the books, just the comics, or everything, depending on your particular tastes. For this approach, just follow any of the links above to get started ::) Now, those aren't the only ways to experience the EU - try looking into titles focusing on your favorite character, for example, or read the books in the order of publication (to get a sense of how the characters and events have developed as they were created). Feel free to discuss the particulars of these and other recommendations here. And, finally, if you are a member of the Star Wars Fan Club, there is some EU material you have access to online through your Hyperspace service: -Hyperspace Fiction: Short stories from current and out-of-print sources republished online, with new additions twice a month. -Hyperspace Webstrips: Original ongoing series of comic strips are joined by classic strips from the 70's and 80's. And, as always, if you have a question about anything in the EU, just ask- someone will know the answer. Commonly Used Abbreviations and Slang: Star Wars TPM - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace AotC - Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones RotS - Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ANH - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope TESB or ESB - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back RotJ - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi PT - The Prequel Trilogy OT - The Original Trilogy BFC - Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy CE - Crimson Empire CIS - Confederacy of Independent Systems COD - Cloak of Deception COPL - Courtship of Princess Leia CT - Corellian Trilogy OR Classic Trilogy (see Original trilogy) CSW - Classic Star Wars (Marvel & Newspaper comic strips) CW - Clone Wars CW3D - Clone Wars 3D (slang for 3D animated series; see The Clone Wars) CWGT - Clone Wars Genndy Tartakovsky (slang for 2D animated series) DE - Dark Empire DF - Dark Forces DMSH - Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter DT - Dark Times GCW - Galactic Civil War HTTE - Heir to the Empire HOT - Hand of Thrawn duology HSA - Han Solo Adventures HST - Han Solo Trilogy JA - Jedi Academy JAT - Jedi Academy Trilogy JK - Jedi Knight (Dark Forces 2) JO - Jedi Outcast KotOR - Knights of the Old Republic (may refer to either the game or the comics) LOE - Labyrinth of Evil NEC - The New Essential Chronology NEGTAS - The New Essential Guide to Alien Species NEGTC - The New Essential Guide to Characters NEGTW(& or A)T - The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology NEGTV(& or A)V - The New Essential Guide to Vessels and Vehicles NJO - New Jedi Order DNT/DN3 - Dark Nest Trilogy LotF - Legacy of the Force RC - Republic Commando SOTE - Shadows of the Empire SOTME - Splinter of the Mind's Eye SWDBPODANOTOR - Star Wars: Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, A Novel of the Old Republic SWI - Star Wars Insider magazine TAB - Truce at Bakura TCW - The Clone Wars (see Clone Wars 3D) TFU - The Force Unleashed TOTJ - Tales of the Jedi TTT - The Thrawn Trilogy WTS - What's The Story? (former Hyperspace web feature) XW- X-Wing (games or novels) XWRS - X-Wing Rogue Squadron (comics) YDR - Yoda: Dark Rendezvous Star Wars fandom GFFA - Galaxy far, far away (the Star Wars galaxy) IWOD - Imperial Womb of Destiny (a satirical commentary on fan obsession with Jaina Solo's status as a wife/mother) JINO - Jacen-In-Name-Only (a term used by fans who dislike the direction Jacen Solo's character took) TBT - Tumble bunny trainer General AFAIK - As Far As I Know AU - Alternate Universe DH or DHC - Dark Horse Comics DR - Del Rey EU - Expanded Universe IIRC - If I recall Correctly IU - In-universe LA - LucasArts LFL - Lucasfilm Licensing or Lucasfilm Ltd. OOU - Out-of-universe (see: real life) PPOR - Post proof or retract RL - Real Life RPG - Role-playing game TOS - Terms of Service or The Official Site (starwars.com) WEG - West End Games (game company, used to make the Star Wars RPG) WotC - Wizards of the Coast (game company, currently makes the Star Wars RPG) Special thanks to The2ndQuest for putting together the original version of this thread! -----signature----- God made man. Man rejected God. God became the man Jesus Christ, died and rose again to life, saving man from himself. The craziest story ever told. The truest.
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Kyptastic Title: Manager Emeritus SWD Co-Commish Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 6/4 6:16pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here! - Date Edited: 6/4 6:20pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Kyptastic
	Nice work, looks quite good . Master_Keralys posted: -Cloak of Deception: This political thriller sets the stage for the events of The Phantom Menace, and is also the earliest occurring adult novel on the timeline. Stars Qui-Gon and Obi-wan. Actually, Path of Destruction and Rule of Two take that honour . -----signature----- Valar Morghulis
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Master_Keralys Title: Lit Mod of Ferociously Furious Fury Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 6/4 8:00pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	Good catch. I'll fix it. Tomorrow. (I've already spent many hours working on this project, though not so much this thread. ) - Keralys -----signature----- God made man. Man rejected God. God became the man Jesus Christ, died and rose again to life, saving man from himself. The craziest story ever told. The truest.
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Robimus Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 6/4 9:25pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	You could insert a list of abbreviations here as well. Prehaps the general abbreviation for a book across from its title and a short list other goodies like: Whats a Jino? Who's this Iwod guy, etc... -----signature----- I am forever seeking the damutek of Hooley Krekk Oh, woe! Oh, misery! Oh, unhappiness. Hooley Krekk where are you?
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Kyp Registered: Feb '03	Date Posted: 6/4 11:25pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	Which books were published by Del Rey and which ones by Bantam? I have read almost all the EU novels published but I've never paid attention to it, but recently more and more people refer to "The books under the Del Rey era.." and so forth. -----signature----- 2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilamockingbirds
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Excellence Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 6/5 5:42am Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	I don't know what a Jino and Iwod is, but even trade. Spliced areas of the forum don't transliterate me well either. Could use some trimming, but this is a good idea. -----signature----- My utilisation of complex locution to ask what's more pathetic, fans who worship their movie actors, or the actors who couldn't give a damn, is more a reflection of my own superincumbent mental actuity than any circumscribed lexicon. Don't you agree?
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Master_Keralys Title: Lit Mod of Ferociously Furious Fury Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 6/5 7:05am Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	Kyp - this list doesn't really break down well, but essentially anything published between 1991 and 1999 was on the Bantam contract. Del Rey published everything that came out 1999 and after, as well as the very earliest EU (the Brian Daley Han Solo trilogy and so on). The abbreviations are a good idea. Why don't you guys just start suggesting them and I'll add them in as we go? - Keralys -----signature----- God made man. Man rejected God. God became the man Jesus Christ, died and rose again to life, saving man from himself. The craziest story ever told. The truest.
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JediHobbit Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 6/5 7:30am Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	nice job with the thread Keralys. I liked the inclusion of the acronyms for some of the newer people. and now I finally know exactly what JINO stands for. -----signature----- But they won't let me dream to live or live to dream.
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The2ndQuest Title: : -Games -LACWAC -Lit Mod of Death Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 6/5 9:59am Subject: RE: New to the EU? Your Questions, Answered Here! - Date Edited: 6/5 10:09am (2 edits total) Edited By: The2ndQuest
	Kyptastic posted: Nice work, looks quite good . Master_Keralys posted: -Cloak of Deception: This political thriller sets the stage for the events of The Phantom Menace, and is also the earliest occurring adult novel on the timeline. Stars Qui-Gon and Obi-wan. Actually, Path of Destruction and Rule of Two take that honour . That's a relic of that document being made prior to the Darth Bane novels being released- I'll go ahead and edit that bit out. Once I get the NJO/LOTF starter guides assembled, I hope to update that document a little. I'm going to edit in a few abbreviations as well. -----signature----- K'Kruhk, 140 ABY: "Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker? Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..." Is your Death Magnetic?
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Lord_Hydronium Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 6/5 1:58pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	The X-wing comics might be a good starting point to recommend, particularly with the convenience of the Omnibuses. -----signature----- Great midis have little midis Swimming round inside 'em And little midis have lesser midis And so ad infinitum.
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Manisphere Registered: Aug '07	Date Posted: 6/5 3:27pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here! - Date Edited: 6/5 3:35pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Manisphere
	Master_Keralys posted: Timeline Universe's Star Wars Expanded Universe Timeline This link doesn't work.
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Master_Keralys Title: Lit Mod of Ferociously Furious Fury Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 6/5 3:44pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	Hydro - good suggestion. I'll take care of that a bit later. Manisphere - which ones? Thanks! - Keralys -----signature----- God made man. Man rejected God. God became the man Jesus Christ, died and rose again to life, saving man from himself. The craziest story ever told. The truest.
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Havac Title: Lit Mod of War Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 6/5 9:05pm Subject: RE: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	TBT! TBT! TBT! -----signature----- "Have you not yet learned, Executor, that everything I tell you is the truth?" - Vergere Recipient of Thrawn McEwok's Sexually Ambiguous Tusken Raider™ and a Special Golden Ewok™ "Reality doesn't care if you believe it." - Boba Fett
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spicewood Registered: Jun '07	Date Posted: 6/6 8:54am Subject: RE: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	Great thread, Master Keralys. I have had absolutely no idea what IIRC meant for the past year. Now I am not new to the EU, but I have a question about Legacy comics. Is there something I should read prior? I have read the entire NJO and LoTF as well as most of the Bantam stuff. This would be the first comic series I got into. Am I missing something important? Again, thanks for this thread. I really didn't want to throw this question as an aside in another thread and possibly derail the discussion.
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Robimus Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 6/6 10:03am Subject: RE: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	[quote=spicewood] Now I am not new to the EU, but I have a question about Legacy comics. Is there something I should read prior? I have read the entire NJO and LoTF as well as most of the Bantam stuff. This would be the first comic series I got into. Am I missing something important? [quote] Dive into Legacy, it uses many aspects of both series that you have read. You'll likely pick up on the connecting peices/nods to the novels pretty quickly. -----signature----- I am forever seeking the damutek of Hooley Krekk Oh, woe! Oh, misery! Oh, unhappiness. Hooley Krekk where are you?
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spicewood Registered: Jun '07	Date Posted: 6/6 10:07am Subject: RE: New to the EU? What to Read? Where to Start? What's That Mean? Your Questions, Answered Here!
	Thanks, Rombimus.
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