MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU! A GUIDE TO STAR WARS BOOKS EXPANDED UNIVERSE

Hello Everyone! May The Fourth be with You! Fans across the world are celebrating their love of all things Star Wars today. I will be sporting my Her Universe Yoda shirt, re-reading Splinter of the Mind’s Eye by Alan Dean Foster ( the cover is pictured below) and probably staying up late watching a Original Trilogy or Clone Wars marathon.

Today I want to focus on some amazing books that have fed the flame of fandom between movies, and also added wonderful elements to the Star Wars mythos. Immediately after Star Wars release Marvel comics began producing comic book adaptations of the movie as well as branching off into new adventures. After the novelization of Star Wars, Del Rey books released an original novel by celebrated Science Fiction author Alan Dean Foster : Splinter of the Mind’s Eye. With Splinter fans got the first original adventure of characters from the movie. Splinter focuses on Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia on a mission to recruit more allies against the Empire. The two crash land on a jungle planet and find themselves in a desperate race to find the Kaiburr crystal, ( yes did geek out that the crystal was called Kaiburr!) a gem that intensifies the power of the force.

I really loved this novel as a kid and I’m enjoying the chance to discover it all over again. Despite a few awkward narrative bits between Luke and Leia, the book really captured the feel of the original characters and situations.

Ah, Han! A generation of young women have fallen under the spell of this scoundrel. Yes I’m sure there are some Luke lovers out there in the world but Han has always been my Star Wars Crush!

After Splinter of the Minds Eye, fans got a chance to learn about Han’s life before that fateful meeting in the Mos Eisely cantina. These books focused on Han and Chewie’ adventures across the galaxy. I really enjoyed these books and look forward to reading them again one day.

This Saturday, May 5th, Comic Shops across the United States will be hosting Free Comic Book Day. Star Wars fans can get a free comic from Dark Horse Comics featuring a brand new Han Solo adventure. Click HERE to find a comic shop close to you and snag this great book.

So now that you’ve seen some books set before and after Star Wars Episode IV, what next? Now you can explore the world of Star Wars through the Expanded Universe of Star Wars Novels and Comics.


Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire is a fan favorite. For many years this series was the lifeline for Star Wars fans who wondered what happens next? After the end of Return of The Jedi. The first in a trilogy this book explored how a small band of rebels turn a victory into a democracy. We see the characters a few years after the events of Return of the Jedi. We learn that Han and Leia are now married and Leia is expecting their first born child (fangirl squeal!), Luke has continued his Jedi studies and now is building a Jedi training temple.

One of the greatest legacies of this series was the creation of the character Mara Jade. Here at last is a woman for Luke! Sure she’s trying to kill him thanks to the former Emperor's programming but there is definitely sparks between the two Jedi.

After the conclusion of Zahn’s Heir to the Empire Trilogy we get to see a special series thanks to the fine folks of Dark Horse Comics: Union, the wedding between Luke and Mara! A lovely four issue series full of action and romance.

This is barely the tip of the world of Star Wars comics and books. They wonderfully complement the established world that fans turn back to again and again. May the Force Be With You!