The Star Wars Expanded Universe | The Best Place to Start for Beginners

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Күн бұрын

Mike answers the most commonly asked question in regard to the original Star Wars EU; where should you begin?
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0:00 Introduction & Background Info
2:10 The Rise of the Empire Era
3:59 The Rebellion Era
7:24 The New Republic Era
17:48 Legacy of the Force
19:00 Fate of the Jedi
20:00 Final Thoughts
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#MikesBookReviews #StarWars #StarWarsEU

Пікірлер: 321

@mikesbookreviews 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Bookworms! Here is the pinned comment I promised in the video. If you want to read *JUST* the New Jedi Order, I recommend *AT LEAST* these basics first: - The Thrawn trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command) - Jedi Academy trilogy (Jedi Search, Dark Apprentice, Champions of the Force) - I, Jedi - Hand of Thrawn duology (Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future) If you want a streamlined, no filler run through the New Republic Era to Fate of the Jedi, I’d do this: - The Thrawn trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command) - Jedi Academy trilogy (Jedi Search, Dark Apprentice, Champions of the Force) - I, Jedi - Hand of Thrawn duology (Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future) - The New Jedi Order (19 books, starting with Vector Prime) - Legacy of the Force (9 books, starting with Betrayal) - Fate of the Jedi (9 books, starting with Outcast)

@timmeyer9191 2 жыл бұрын

I loved the original Thrawn trilogy as well. I remember getting them through a sci fi book club mailing group.

@bradley8575 2 жыл бұрын

You should read the Old republic Novels Darth Bane Trilogy and the Darth Plagueis books there really good also read the Revenge of the Sith novelization the best Novelization of a Film I have read.

@ernstbrehm1135 2 жыл бұрын

THANKS A MILLION!!! I desperately needed this.

@ryanlee6214 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this list Mike. I’ve read most of the X Wing books in high school and loved them. I just got back into wanting to read Star Wars and this list is going to help! Looking forward to getting back to my childhood love! Would love more Star Wars content from you!

@mathewguglielmi8451 2 жыл бұрын

Mike, this was a really helpful guide. I remember when the first Thrawn trilogy was released and it helped reinvigorate interest in Star Wars. I think i will check out the Thrawn trilogy.

@milkafox 2 жыл бұрын

Darth Plaqueis is one of the best star wars books for me because its a like a missing side of the episode 1-3. you learn how sidious was build up to the point when he takes control of everything.

@aamirrazak3467 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah Plageuis was fantastic both the book and character it serves as a great episode 0

@marceloabad8545 Жыл бұрын

Plagueis was never EU

@rodrigomatiaspalacios9923 Жыл бұрын

I couldn't agree more. I even think it would've made a better Episode I.

@myoldchannel0690 Жыл бұрын

Hahaha I clicked on this video so I could ask "How's the Darth Plaugueis novel?" and this is the first comment I see.

@jasonbrumley5453 Жыл бұрын

Also the Darth Bane trilogy and Old Republic books

@Chewbaccafruit 4 ай бұрын

I know youre not an audiobook guy but the EU is being rereleased in chunks unabridged with sound effects and music. A space battle is being narrated and youll hear laser blasts and ship sounds. Really good.

@DaBigCheeso 3 ай бұрын

As someone who never has time to sit and read anymore, I greatly appreciate the Legends audiobook rereleases right now.

@MrShadowfax42 2 жыл бұрын

I love the Zahn "Thrawn" trilogy. WHY couldn't Disney just use the plot from that set of books?! Thrawn is an amazing antagonist, as you say.

@TheChosenOne66501 Жыл бұрын

Because the actors were too old to play themselves in the movies

@antjwilliams1987 Жыл бұрын

@@TheChosenOne66501 you could have had the same/similar plot with the new characters

@TheChosenOne66501 Жыл бұрын

@@antjwilliams1987 you right

@In-hoc-signo-vinces Жыл бұрын

Doesn't pass the bechdel test and other box ticking exercises would be my guess.

@edwinvillalobos7159 11 ай бұрын

⁠⁠@@In-hoc-signo-vincesI refuse to believe that, blue aliens were a recipe for success for avatar, Star Wars wouldve gone gang busters if they had a new trilogy with the chiss ascendancy

@lordfolgers5285 18 сағат бұрын

Great help, Mike. I’m so burned out on Disney Star Wars and have finally let go of hope. I need to remember what a good Star Wars story feels like again, even if it will make me sad it’s not cannon or I will never see something like that on the screen. Thanks from one Star Wars fan to another. May the force be with you 🙏

@willhennessy864 Жыл бұрын

For those curious: there is a book that takes place between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back called Honor Among Thieves by the Expanse's own James S. A. Corey and it is DEFINITELY worth the read, especially if you're into both the EU and the Expanse. It's in the old canon, one of the very last of them.

@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful, as usual, Mike! The original Star Wars film trilogy was a defining element of my childhood, and I'm still a fan, but I never ventured into the books for fear they could never live up to the films. Your enthusiasm for the Expanded Universe might convince me to give them a try someday!

@Dylan13Collins 2 жыл бұрын

I was never a huge fan of the movies. They are good, but I was never obsessed. I read the first book in the Darth bane trilogy, and am now obsessed! There is a philosophical approach and depth in exploring the dark side vs the jedi. Super interesting!

@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy 2 жыл бұрын

@@Dylan13Collins Cool!

@bradley8575 2 жыл бұрын

@@Dylan13Collins Star Wars really knows how to to Multimedia done right And in My opinion Star Wars is the Greatest Multimedia Franchise ever

@Dylan13Collins 2 жыл бұрын

@@bradley8575 I would be Incline to agree. The scope is also unmatched in what I've read so far.

@mikesbookreviews 2 жыл бұрын

I don't think anyone of that generation didn't feel the permanent imprint of those movies in their DNA. When I thought we were clearly never getting another movie, these became FACT for me.

@starwarsfan9575 2 жыл бұрын

I like the Darth Plagueus book. If one ever wondered about the perspective of the sith and their ideology then this book will not disappoint. Such a brilliant origin for Palpatine and Darth maul along with, obviously, Darth Plagueus. If they just had used Plagueus as villain in the sequels then it would have tied up all the trilogies nicely together.

@AspyreFGC 2 жыл бұрын

The Darth Plagueis book is a must read. It’s one of the most important books pre-The Phantom Menace. It really makes that film make much more sense.

@starwarsfan9575 2 жыл бұрын

@@AspyreFGC yeah so true!

@poodlemuffin 2 жыл бұрын

Wedge is such a great character in the books. The Rogue Squadron novels are definitely worth the read!

@gymjunkie35 2 жыл бұрын

It's fun to hear someone else talk about how much they enjoy the EU. My brother read most of these pretty religiously when they came out when he was in high school and I wasn't much of a reader then but he kept me filled in on the story but I'm working on reading them all now lol. I'm also looking forward to you reviewing "Rogue Squadron" but I think one point of clarification on that: the X-wing series is actually set between Return of the Jedi and the Thrawn Trilogy if I remember right, except for the last 2 books which are post- Last Command.

@aamirrazak3467 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed as someone who loved the EU it’s great for me to see others who share my enthusiasm for its stories

@wayne_404 2 жыл бұрын

I started with the thrawn trilogy and really enjoyed it. I picked up all 19 books in NJO, hunted down some 1st editions. Last year I wanted to dive into NJO, but I am going to read Jedi academy first. Thanks for recommending these Mike, I’m in your younger demographic and didn’t even realize that Star Wars had such a good book continuation. Disney has dropped the ball with their movies/shows for me to the point that I don’t watch/care about them and this definitely makes me enjoy stars wars still.

@orboakin8074 8 күн бұрын

Great video, friend. I have been a Star Wars fan since my childhood in Nigeria and I'm currently rewatching Clone Wars and buying EU novels🎉🎉Just finished book one of the Bane trilogy and am also reading the prequel novelization. The Stae Wars lore is so amazing and well crafted byuxas and all those awesome writers👍Whenever i hear people say the Prequels were bad because of politics abd that politics has no place in Star Wars, I am always confused🤔 Lucas' great world building is also what made this franchise so awesome.

@PnutButtaJllyMan 2 жыл бұрын

June 1st a New Jedi Order buddy read is starting on the Sarah Reads discord. Feel free to join.

@spectre.shadows 9 күн бұрын

I've only watched the movies (EPs 1-9), watched TCW and Andor, and played some games, never really engaged with the 'bonus' material even as a prequel kid, but since the EU's resurgence I've become interested and maybe I'll get some nostalgia from that era

@mattl4935 2 жыл бұрын

Recently found this channel and I’ve really been enjoying watching your EU videos! Began reading the EU books a few months ago and just finished The Last Command over this past weekend. Wow, the Thrawn Trilogy is epic! Been searching the internet for lists to get me into the New Jedi Order eventually since the concept and villains sound very interesting to me. Anyways, X-Wing Rogue Squadron just showed up today and I’m going to start reading it this evening, heard lots of great things about the X-Wing series so looking forward to this section of the New Republic timeline. Keep up the great content Mike!

@JamesEatonMedia 2 жыл бұрын

this is really helpful! I have never dipped into Star Wars books because I had no idea where to start or what was happening. This will be a great reference for future reading!

@mands1010 2 жыл бұрын

That was awesome Mike and extremely helpful, thank you so much. I was totally lost when it came to the SW books yet loved the movies, so now I have watched your video, I am excited to start with the solo trilogy and go from there. 😁👍

@mastersal4644 2 жыл бұрын

Your videos inspired me to go back and read the (original) EU books starting from Truce at Bakura. This was a lot of fun. Gave me a little more structure. I am trying to do it in chronological order

@Roondawg_Valhalla 2 жыл бұрын

You’re the one who got me interested Mike. I have around 20 books in the EU which I haven’t started yet but plan to soon. Thanks for the insightful video.

@fogle429 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Nostalgia is real with the Young Jedi Academy series I read as a kid. It’s been fun rediscovering these books slowly over the years. I would add in a few Old Republic titles that you didn’t mention, but that is arguably my favorite era as I lived on the KotOR games.

@KingCrusoe 2 жыл бұрын

I never bothered going through and figuring out what was in the EU and do all of that research, so this video is going to be that reference point for me. This will single-handedly guide me through most of the EU, since I've always wanted to, so I appreciate you taking the time to make the video Mike!

@iWizard Жыл бұрын

Just watched episodes 4-6 and 1-3 again and I’m really itching to jump into these EU books. Thanks so much for this!

@UsernameGoomba 3 ай бұрын

Hey Mike! Thanks so much for the recommendations. Really started my Odyssey into the Star Wars Expanded Universe

@RikimaruLDR Жыл бұрын

Great video, loved your final thoughts at 20:45 too. Very informative and very level-headed opinions. Thanks for the help.

@mikesbookreviews Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@paperclip019 2 жыл бұрын

This is very helpful. I've spent most of my time reading the old republic and darth Bane trilogy

@TheObsessiveBookseller 2 жыл бұрын

This was MASSIVELY helpful, and, really, the breakdown I've been searching for ever since I brought home my first Star Wars book from work almost 20 years ago (still unread). Thank you! I've heard the same thing about Rogue Squadron, so that's what I latched onto as the place to start, but now I'm thinking it would be fun to go more chronological with it, gearing up for Thrawn as the payoff (I'm a completionist to a fault). This is awesome - I can't wait to dive deeper into this world. I just needed the structure. :D

@mikesbookreviews 2 жыл бұрын

Always happy to help!

@Krypton_Ken 9 ай бұрын

Really glad this video popped up in my feed. I haven't read the expanded universe books in a while but was thinking of diving back in, this was a great refresher. I don't hate the new stuff but my sequels will always be the original Thrawn Trilogy and the Dark Empire comics from Dark Horse. Thanks, Mike! I've been enjoying your channel a lot lately.

@lukemaxfield5240 2 жыл бұрын

Been into the eu ever since found the heir to the empire for 50c in a antique store. Perfect entery. I really enjoyed the old republic era with books like the Bane trilogy, Revan and more. Very keen to start reading books in the post original trilogy era! Great video

@octavioortiz679 2 жыл бұрын

I love videos like this because it just grows the EU community more and more. The EU is just amazing. I remember leaving the theater after episode 9 came out feeling so disappointed in what Disney did with this awesome franchise. I remember i watched a ton of rewriting videos on the sequels an a bunch of the mentioned the EU and i remember looking into the EU and just being amazed by just how vast it was. Your video was one of the many i watched about the EU and i can proudly say that i took you on your word and i read the Thrawn trilogy last year and now I’m on book four of the NJO. Thank you for opening this universe to me.

@JacobMinger 2 ай бұрын

Here’s a fun fact about The Legacy of the Force series. The length of time between it and A New Hope is roughly the same amount of time between A New Hope and The Force Awakens

@aamirrazak3467 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! As a huge Star Wars EU fan it makes me happy to see others who enjoy its stories and lore and characters. The ROTS novelization Darth Plageuis and new Jedi order as well as Thrawn and bane trilogies are my favorites, and I love Stover and Lucenos EU works. I plan to read outbound flight next I am really interested to hear about Thrawn before the empire

@domber2981 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much dude I love the Thrawn trilogy and I’ve been looking for what to read next, but I couldn’t find a clear answer anywhere

@thejosh2099 2 жыл бұрын

For my part, I wanna thank you for the Star Wars content. I love your passion and dedication to it, and I will always be happy to watch you talk about it.

@Ghosthost1313 2 ай бұрын

I have been craving new and risk taking Star Wars content as I have only seen the Disney stuff really. Someone told me about Jacen and Jaina and I had to know more! I finally got inspired to read Heir to The Empire and I find it so good. I went out to the used book stores yesterday and started collecting these! It’s so much fun to find them. Great video! Excited to keep going! 🎉

@jeremy6604 2 жыл бұрын

This comment is to just say thank you for the video. I'm glad to find a decent video on where to start the SW series.

@mikesbookreviews 2 жыл бұрын

Hope it helped!

@darthenclave6946 2 жыл бұрын

Thrawn Trilogy and AC Crispin trilogy were both great!

@WillBReads 2 жыл бұрын

I started with Thrawn back in November and I got hooked, immediately, and have been working through the New Republic stuff ever since

@richardzierer9118 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for making this man! As someone who grew up in the prequel era, I actually started with Legacy of the Force and some of the YA / kids’ book novels in the new republic era. I loved the Jedi Academy books, and maybe because the prequels were still new at the time I loved the legacy of the force callbacks to the prequel era. But in retrospect I should’ve read chronologically. Always awesome to see someone still talking about old EU stuff, thanks for having this channel and making vids about the Legends/EU canon!

@mikesbookreviews Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@alynam82 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you made this video, even though you pretty much confirmed my question on starting with original Thrawn trilogy. That was what I purchased first, but wanting to watch episodes 1-6 movies again to refresh before diving into Thrawn. Also, the mention of Han Solo books got me interested! I would love to get into his back story. I imagine it's different from Solo movie (which I enjoyed...) but I can read those after completing Thrawn x3

@garysandberg6132 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you this will help alot

@TheHikingReader 2 жыл бұрын

Man this was awesome. I'm saving this video. I grew up with the original trilogy films but have only read a couple Thrawn books up to this point. This will be a great reference for me to start dipping into this world of books more in the future!

@mikesbookreviews 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoy! It's a blast.

@tiffanyrich6652 2 жыл бұрын

A website called Yoda’s data pad has both timelines. You can also click on a character’s name and get their timeline. When I jumped back in I started with Han’s time line. I remember when Heir to the Empire came out (had the whole trilogy in hardback, sadly I decluttered them) I read that in a day. It really is one of the best trilogies. I also love AC Crispins’ trilogy. The other Han Solo stories from Brian something were ok and Lando’s story was also ok. I never read the Jedi academy but the first three are sitting on my shelf. I’ll get to them at some point. Anyway, loved the video. Have a great weekend.

@gamer46ful 2 жыл бұрын

I have been wanting to read Star Wars EU for a bit but I always was nervous to but honestly you sold me on a bunch of books that isn't the Thrawn trilogy and I appreciate these recommendations.

@atom0191 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video!!

@HERNDONADER 2 жыл бұрын

The Hutt Gambit is one of my favorite Star Wars books ever

@BaldBookTuber 2 жыл бұрын

Thrawn Trilogy is so good. Also love the Darth Bane Trilogy and others. So much still left to explore such as NJO!

@aldenwilkins 2 жыл бұрын

I remember buying Heir to the Empire for my Dad on Father’s Day. And then the next 2 books the following Father's Days. Totally self serving because I'm not sure he ever read them 😂

@fleetadmiralmatteo4123 2 жыл бұрын

I love the Star Wars EU. From The Han Solo Adventures all the way through Fate of the Jedi, I enjoyed them all. Thanks for the video, and the walk down memory lane. As a side note, the graphic novel adaptations of the Thrawn Trilogy are beautiful, and worth a look.

@colin1818 Жыл бұрын

9:05 I would agree that the Thrawn Trilogy is the best place to start. Since it was written before almost all of the other EU stuff (it came out around 1992 - only 8 years after Return of the Jedi) most of the other books have a chance to reference them. Books that come later in the Star Wars chronology all reference the events/characters of these books. Books that precede them in the Star Wars chronology frequently foreshadow them. Doing a re-read of X-Wing (which in the timeline comes earlier) they make jokes about the Katana Fleet for instance. Had you not read Thrawn you wouldn't get the reference.

@MrHehj 2 жыл бұрын

Really helpful, thanks Mike!

@kaylahuesman1825 2 жыл бұрын

My husband has read all of the EU books and loves them. I wasn’t ever interested in reading them before, because I wasn’t the huge Star Wars fan he is, and after that sequel trilogy 😩. This just gave me a new excitement for Star Wars! These sound so interesting. I would love to know more about the MCs in the movies, so I think reading this might be just what I need to fall in love with that world.

@RedFuryBooks 2 жыл бұрын

This is a video I didn’t know I needed until you posted. I’ve read quite a bit of the new Disney canon and they are hit or miss (although mostly miss), so it’ll be nice to check out some of your recommendations. Thanks!

@iWizard 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this!!

@jasonbork7291 2 жыл бұрын

Great stuff, Mike! Completely agree with you. Literally everything you state is exactly how i feel about these books. I wish Disney had used some of these books for episodes 7-9 instead of what we got

@animalmother8037 Жыл бұрын

Started rocking my old Bantam Spectra books and will likely search out more books in the future. Tried splinter of the minds eye and now I'm checking out the SW tales books.

@connorolita5342 2 жыл бұрын

New subscriber love ur channel was watching it for hours

@thaheeraalthaf1970 2 жыл бұрын

I've been taking a break from my beloved Star Wars world for a while now because of some nasty stuff I've experienced from some "fans", and I wanted to get back into the world again. I think I shall go ahead and start with the Thrawn trilogy. Thank you for this, Mike. Much, much appreciated! Fans like you are who I love interacting with. :)

@israaahmed7168 2 жыл бұрын

This video was really helpful so thank you. I think I’m going to stick with chronological order (from old republic to the end) cause I want to have every detail read. Also would you consider doing a Star Wars EU read along where every one or two months we read a Star Wars EU book (please let it be chronological)? We would love your book reviews on every Star Wars EU book 👀👀👀!!!

@peterthebooklover9375 2 жыл бұрын

It's cool to know that other people read Star Wars. I have a book that's called the Rise of Darth Vader that I will be reading soon. I plan to start to read it May 4th. I like your R2D2 cup. The force is strong in this video.

@madmaxisnow 2 жыл бұрын

I read the Han Solo books a long time ago and found them incredible to enrich your knowledge of the original three movies. I also read the Tales from Jabba's palace and tales from Moseley cantina.

@andreamiller3578 2 жыл бұрын

Oh man, what great memories!! I remember being so excited when Heir to the Empire came out. I immediately bought it, and my dad read it right after I finished it. After that, i had to fight to read every book first. LOL. I think we read the second simultaneously--him bending the pages (gah!) and me using a bookmarker. He flat out stole the third one from me. But at least he finished it in a couple of days, so I didn't have to wait too long. The next Thrawn series was a repeat of that dynamic. Heh. I've read several of the other ones you mentioned as well. Now, I have to go dig them out for some nostalgia reading this week. Mara Jade! Thrawn! Talon Karrde! The Thrawn trilogy will always rule!!! I am not interested in replacing them with a new EU.

@ObiWann90 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Mike, thanks for the Star Wars vid! My favorite star wars EU series is X Wing by Micheal Stackpole. Takes place between Return of the Jedi and the Thrawn trilogy.

@thehunter24 2 жыл бұрын

Just ordered Heir to the Empire and Shadows of the Empire to start out with. I gave up on trying the EU after reading the first Bane book by Drew Karpashyn as I couldn’t stand his writing style, but this helped bring back that spark of interest. Thanks!

@amykibbey4210 2 жыл бұрын

This takes me back. I loved the EU when I was high school.

@jaylytical2271 4 ай бұрын

I started with the Darth Bane trilogy and I have no regrets with that decision!

@kjwonder6411 2 жыл бұрын

i actually really remember liking some of the older republic books outside of the loved Revan books. Red Harvest and Dawn of the Jedi weren’t insanely new in ideas, but they painted a cosmopolitan universe better than i think is done with the new High Republic books

@JonahsWail 2 жыл бұрын

Thrawn trilogy for sho!

@milossedlacek8734 2 жыл бұрын

Hi there, thanks a lot for this video! This is precisely what I needed! And yes, I'm exactly the kind of person who blindly bought the Legacy of the Force set first and then was surprised who all those people were and what was going on and just then started looking at the other books:D

@Man-With-a-Hat-Who-Reads 2 жыл бұрын

The Expanded Universe (because that is what I will always call it) provided hours of enjoyment for me in the past, and they still do. For the prequel era, I cannot recommend 'Darth Plaugeis' enough, as it really fills in a lot of background on the Sith taking over the republic. Timothy Zahn cannot write a bad Star Wars novel as far as I am concerned. On my recent re-read, I was surprised how much 'Hand of Thrawn' leads up to the New Jedi Order. It was something I didn't remember on my initial read. I ended my Star Wars reading with New Jedi Order, because the ending just felt so nice. I have heard 'Fate of the Jedi' ties back to a lot of stuff from pre- New Jedi Order, so they would be stuff I would maybe read someday, but it is not high priority. Great video Mike! Thanks for the effort you put into this video, and hopefully new readers will check out the EU. May the force be with you!

@Splatruck924 Ай бұрын

I just found your channel and I love your Star Wars videos! Did you ever get around to reading the X-Wing novels? Or any of the Dark Horse comics from the 90s? Hoping for more Star Wars videos in the future!

@devlin76 2 жыл бұрын

Good video. I read a fair bit of EU back in the day. Never read the Jedi Academy or New Jedi Order books. I might give those a look soon.

@johnwilson8331 2 жыл бұрын

Heir to the empire truce at bakura or vector prime are the best starting points

@calista3371 2 жыл бұрын

Great name for a Trilogy - Calista. I'll start there. haha. I want to read the Bane Trilogy. Great video. Very helpful. Thanks for doing this and keep it up.

@johnwilson8331 2 жыл бұрын

The X-Wing series is one of my favorite stories of Star wars it takes place between return of the Jedi and hair to the empire and fills in a lot of gaps in between and is the introduction of my second favorite Jedi corran horn. Also it's best to have seen return of the Jedi to get a better understanding of one of the pilots

@obijuan-kenobi5117 2 жыл бұрын

This was awesome Mike, thanks! I've been considering diving in for many years but never did because the number of books was daunting, to go along with luke-warm reviews. Recently I read Kenobi and really enjoyed it for what it was, which I decided to do because of the upcoming TV show (I'm prepared to be disappointed and there's 0% chance anything from the book will be in it) Reading the EU stories may be a nice palate cleanser from the Disney stuff, so I'll need to give it a try. Have a great day!

@Phantom-uj3zr 2 жыл бұрын

This video has been a great walk down memory lane for me. I was in middle school reading these books as they came out (dating myself here), and they largely are what got me through grade school. Loved the jedi academy series, loved the thrawn series. I laughed when you mentioned a lot of your friends dropped out when the yuuzhan vong storyline started, because I was one of those. I felt like the expanded universe jumped the shark there and didn't feel so much like star wars anymore, and that invasion was the main reason I was initially ok with the EU being taken out of canon. I say initially, because the only thing I've enjoyed that disney has given us is the mandalorian, and the last season of clone wars.

@g2024_ 2 жыл бұрын

Love the Star Wars books, was a much needed way to get a Star Wars fix during all the years when there wasn’t much available as film or tv development of Star Wars was years away

@calvingoddard206 2 жыл бұрын

excellent thank you

@Joe_Biden915 Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this review. I'm reading the high republic series and it's my first dabble into star wars in print form. I really love sci fi and star wars but honestly had heard the comments that it was crap. Now I'm in this battle in my head whether or not to read heir to the empire or thrawn within Disney canon. Because, I don't want the let down you feel. But I also don't want crap. I've been warring in my head for months.

@gillisk2659 2 жыл бұрын

Liked your video, I do plan to return back to reading more SW novels. I quite like the star wars legends comic books. Last year I have read the old republic omnibus, which was really great.

@goblinboooks3949 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Mike, new subscriber here. Great video and looking forward to getting to know you through your content. Scanning some other videos and love what I’m seeing. While I like some Disney canon material, I don’t dismiss Legends whatsoever. I have a lot of reading ahead, and I’m eyeing that Han Solo trilogy you mentioned early on. I want to get to New Jedi Order and actually read Vector Prime at an airport years ago because of a layover. I couldn’t believe ‘the death’ in that one and… well, it was a sad flight after that. Anyways, nice to meet you and joined your Discord.

@benconlin3557 2 жыл бұрын

Read Thrawn trilogy based on your old video Mike and then read Outbound Flight due to the mentions about it in the Thrawn books (highly recommend if you haven’t read it, C’Baaoth is a great character in it). That’s where my Star Wars reading ends so far as I have so many other things I wanna read but I’ll follow your recommendations when the chance arises, maybe when First Law is over

@eliasisthegreatest 2 жыл бұрын

Haha! Thanks for the video. I read Truce at Bakura in the 90s and decided Star Wars books weren’t for me. I still have my Thrawn trilogy paperbacks. Maybe it’s finally time to give them a shot.

@deadpoolm 2 жыл бұрын

thank you for this , always wanted to start in starwarseu read a few loose novels , but never really tried to find out where to start, just bought The trawn trilogy (digital) and ill start there :)

@adamborst 2 жыл бұрын

On the advice of a coworker back in the early 2000's I started reading the Star Wars EU basically anything around the timing of the original movie trilogy and forward. Rogue Squadron was fun. Original Thrawn Trilogy was fantastically amazing. Vector Prime blew my mind, the scene where the legacy character dies and the long-term effects it had on the other characters because of how it went down. Unifying Force, again blowing my mind, and that whole series I was so intrigued by Vergere. The biggest takeaway I have is that if you paid really close attention, and could remember, there were minor things/items/people in books across the series that impacted things 20 books later. The overall massive storyline in the EU was my favorite. I ended with the end of Fate of the Jedi, partially because of getting married/starting a family and partially because of the loss of canonization. I know they don't do well in the analytics, but I still love watching these videos. Thank you.

@Erisplay 2 жыл бұрын

Great video as always, and on one of my favorite franchise. Have you read Darth Plagueis? It’s my favorite of the novels I’ve read so far.

@JacobMinger 2 ай бұрын

I decided a couple of days ago that I was going to start The EU with Shadows of the Empire. I’ve always wondered how Luke went from being in hospital to where he started in Return of the Jedi.

@nordicmaelstrom4714 Жыл бұрын

A little late to this video but better late than never. I actually just started with The Last Command of the Thrawn Trilogy and in a few days I will likely need to figure out where I am going to next. I am debating Shadows of the Empire, X-Wing series or the Jedi Academy trilogy. I am leaning towards either the first two. I will agree that starting at the Thrawn trilogy is the best spot to start. I actually took your advice about a year ago and got the trilogy and now just getting around to finishing it up and glad I did. I have enjoyed it a lot!

@nerdyshitwithjess6893 2 жыл бұрын

I have always seen the Thrawn trilogy in the bookstore but I have never picked it up mainly because my Star Wars reading is purely based on books that revolve around Obi-Wan and Anakin as they are my all time favorite characters. I will give the trilogy a try but for those who also love those characters I have a couple of recs. The Star Wars books by Karen Miller like siege and gambit and incredible and she gets Obi-Wan and Anakin so well. I also just read Kenobi by John Jackson Miller yesterday and it made me cry so I highly recommend that. Master and Apprentice by Claudia Gray gives such good backstory to Obi-Wan and gives you a good look at his relationship with Qui-Gon.

@markb3534 2 жыл бұрын

Star Wars Content! Yesssss!!!!!!!

@factualopinion4275 Ай бұрын

I plan on reading every sith, dark jedi & thrawn book/comic. So far I've read darth plagueis (my favorite sith), darth bane path of destruction (my favorite star wars story/experience). Next up rule of 2😁

@coltseavers6298 2 жыл бұрын

*_Han Solo at Star's End_* and then *_Splinter of the Mind's Eye_* were the two very first books to come out, and I say start with those.

@Books_coffee_and_ducks 2 жыл бұрын

Yo. I definitely am new to the expanded universe. I grew up with star wars and really have been feeling so frustrated wanting good content. I told myself that 2022 I would read star wars books... and uh.. try for the majority to be expanded universe content. This was helpful forsure. Thanks for sharing. I haven't gotten to the xwing series yet either! I am looking forward to it! ....I have been reading some of the current Disney star wars novels too 🙄 but just those pertaining Rogue One.... and Timothy Zahn's books. Zahn's writing style intrigues me.

@iamdarthketa Жыл бұрын

love this video thank you so much lol i started reading legend books and i love them so far lol im leaving cannon for last :P

@seiya93 Жыл бұрын

Excellent recommendations!!! Please! Do more videos about this topic! I can add to the recommendation of the best of the EU, this trilogies and books: -Darth Bane trilogy -Vader trilogy (laberint of evil, episode 3 of Matthew Stover, Darth Vader Dark Lord) This is not trilogy, they're like 5 or 6 books but are very good -Republic commando series (and imperial commando) And the single book: -Darth Plagueis And as a recommendation to someone who love the EU, please, read this books! Are excellent! Cheers!!! 😁

@kimtherrien8643 2 жыл бұрын

I owned all those books and loved them but gave all of them away after Phantom Menace, I had a huge Star Wars reject after that movie, to this day! I kinda wish I kept them. Had hardcovers and trade paperbacks, I could sell them now. I watched the whole video, that's how much I love your channel.

@g2024_ 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Mike