Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter

By Michael Reaves. Finally, a Star Wars book which has a happy ending for the Sith. Set prior to the Phantom Menace, Darth Maul is set to track down an opportunistic and cowardly Neimoidian who plans to betray Lord Sidious’ plan. Darth Maul is on the case, and set to eliminate all those who have knowledge of the Sith’s grand design. A satisfying ride from beginning to end.

Shadows of the Empire

By Steve Perry. It is just after Luke Skywalker’s encounter with Vader at Cloud City, and Han Solo is in the hands of Boba Fett. Meanwhile a new enemy has emerged in the form of Prince Xizor, the head of the criminal organisation, Black Sun who pursues a deadly vendetta against both Luke and Darth Vader. Possibly the best out of the Star Wars novels, a gripping tale right to the end.

Using the Force

By Will Brooker, professor of Communications at Richmond College, the American University in London. This book is about the cultural impact of Star Wars and about the fans of the film: the study discusses what it means to be a fan, and the unstoppable tide of creativity that Star Wars has released among its fans. A must for true Star Wars-aholics as a description of the community to which we belong.

Attack of the Clones

The book detailing the story of Episode II, Attack of the Clones. Useful in filling in gaps for first time Star Wars fans.

Star Wars Encyclopaedia

The central source of Star Wars knowledge, sometimes difficult to obtain due to availability problems. Still, a welcome addition to a Dark Side home.

Star Wars Trilogy

Printed volume covering the stories of Episodes IV, V, VI – useful for times when you want to revisit the films, but don’t have the facilities to do so. Also provides a bit more details about the characters, and a touch more narrative.

The Jedi Academy Trilogy, Vol 1: Jedi Search

By Kevin Anderson. Set after the defeat of Grand Admiral Thrawn in The Last Command, Luke Skywalker is trying to build a Jedi Academy. Meanwhile Han Solo and Chewbacca are captured on Kessel, forced to work in the spice mines, but then escape with Kyp Durron, a boy strong in the ways of the Force. The high point is when they are captured by Imperial Admiral Daala, but then she allows them to escape with the most deadly weapon of all, the Sun Crusher.

The Jedi Academy Trilogy, Vol. 2: Dark Apprentice

The most interesting of the Jedi Academy Trilogy, the students at the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4 happen across the presence of the greatest Sith Lord of yore, Exar Kun, who corrupts the most powerful and promising student, Kyp Durron, who takes it upon himself to destroy the remnants of the Empire using the Sun Crusher.

The Jedi Academy Trilogy, Vol. 3: Champions of the Force

The final book in the Jedi Academy trilogy and by far the least satisfying. Exar Kun exiled by 12 novice Jedi? Kyp Durron turns back to the light side? Daala defeated? Only for those with a completeness fetish. Not filled with Dark Side moments.

The Phantom Menace

Book that accompanies the film, the Phantom Menace. Provides useful additional narrative materials. Written by Terry Brooks

Thrawn Series, Vol. 1: Heir to the Empire

By Timothy Zahn. Picking up 5 years after the death of the Emperor and the re-establishment of the Old (corrupt) Republic, this novel shows the Empire striking back through the plans and forces of Grand Admiral Thrawn and the mysterious Emperor’s Hand.

Thrawn Series, Vol. 2: Dark Force Rising

Grand Admiral Thrawn continues his demolition of the New Republic in this book, particularly with his quest for the Dark Force, a group of 200 advanced battle cruisers, known as the Dark Force or the Katana fleet, built by the Old Republic before its destruction. A page turner.

Thrawn Series, Vol. 3: The Last Command

The sad climax to the first part of the series (known as the “Thrawn Trilogy”), frankly because the Empire loses. Not by much however, and Grand Admiral Thrawn does deploy his clone soldiers and fleet to the point of nearly crushing the Rebellion underfoot. Too bad the author was obliged by narrative norms to let “good” prevail and dispose of Thrawn with a sudden death.

Thrawn Series, Vol. 4: Specter of the Past

A tour de force. Not only does Thrawn apparently return from the dead along with remaining Imperial forces, the infighting and anarchy which marked the Old Republic are shown to be overtaking the new. A “told you so” book for Dark Side fans.

Thrawn Series, Vol. 5: Vision of the Future

The most disappointing book in the Thrawn Series, civil war in the Republic is prevented, the remnants of Empire swept aside, goodness and truth supposedly prevail, and all that sort of blather. For Dark Side fans with a completeness fetish only.