An Unrevised Exploration of Star Wars Expanded Universe
Notice: you may note the domain name IS CHANGING. The contents are not. I'm dedicated to maintaining information (lore if you will) and the history of the original Star Wars canon. That said, the old name was a handful to type, spell & remember, especially on mobile, (and more expensive) so update your links to the new one! The old will eventually be going away.
Attachment is forbidden. A Jedi isn’t to fall in love. But it does happen. Across 3 generations this is explored in Secrets of the Jedi. Qui-Gon is barely over the loss of his secret beloved, when he, Obi-Wan, Adi-Gallia & Siri are sent to protect a boy who is witness to an assassination plot. The … Read more
The stories in Tales of Jabba’s Palace are short and stand alone in themselves, but most of them interweave with the others. It’s creative and entertaining how the beings in Jabba’s palace are expanded here. This isn’t just a different points of view of the events but a bit of background and some on their … Read more
This prequel era Starfighter game starts right before the Trade Federation Blockade of Naboo and is a blast to play. There are three starfighters flown throughout the main story involving a pirate, free trader and a Naboo pilot. While a blast to play it had a learning curve as I am not the best pilot … Read more
When a young Jedi is killed, a Jedi archivist must find the reason for his fate. A mysterious new and deadly spice, a new scourge on the galaxy, seems involved. Along with the young Jedi’s sister, and her bothan companion, they have to finish the original mission to get exclusive hyperdrive routes from the Hutts, … Read more
Jedi families were at one time a common thing but later they became a contradiction in terms. The Jedi Order were supposed to be guardians of peace and justice in the universe. To do this, they had to be unbiased and use the Force for knowledge of what a situation truly is, not what they … Read more
The Hutts are conquerors as a whole. They often conquer as gangsters, through money, power, enslaving others and manipulating others into indentured servitude. But they initially conquered through violence, using machines and mercenaries. Biology Home Turf: Varl was the original homeworld but it was made inhabitable by a catostrophe and lost. They took over Nal … Read more
The major player of Tatooine is the heir to Desilijic clan. Savvy and smart when it comes to business he’s also totally immoral and ruthless. Jabba has no mercy for repeated failures by subordinates. And he has been known to torture or feed people to monsters just because he was in a bad mood, or … Read more
Jabba the Hutt in all of his infamous ugliness! Jabba the Hutt: The Art of the Deal is a story of greed, gore, and twists where you can get away with rooting for the Hutt because honestly, his opponents are just as criminal as he is. Jabba the Hutt : The Art of the Deal … Read more
Legacy 2 is set over 100 years after Return of the Jedi and the last of the stories of Luke, Han and Leia. it’s right on the heels of Legacy, containing it’s wrap up. I’ll start here as that is a much longer arc. Legacy 2 stars Ania Solo with new friends and it’s a … Read more
This young junk dealer from Carreras Minor is named Ania Solo but doesn’t know her exact connection to the famous family. She has boldness (or recklessness) and courage as well as dreams, but gets more than she bargained for when she makes an unexpected find of droid and lightsaber that lands her in a galaxy … Read more
Jaina Solo is the older of the Solo twins born to Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo approximately 5 years after the Battle of Endor. She found early on that being a child of the Skywalker Solo lineage has its disadvantages. Like Anakin Skywalker, the moment people knew she existed and was strong in the … Read more
This book by Barbara Hambly had some interesting moments and made good use of the original trilogy characters. Once more there is an abundance of creepy bugs, but there is also a well balanced use of old characters as well as some new ones. There is a lot of mystery and suspense in this package. … Read more
Darksaber by Kevin J. Anderson is the follow up to Children of the Jedi and follows multiple threads. It’s a bit of a complex story, involving the Jedi, the Empire and the Hutts, as well as Luke’s saga with Callista, his would be lover. It’s actually quite a roller coaster of an adventure and jumps … Read more
Grand Moff Tarkin is one of the most infamous characters of Star Wars, even without any flashy fight scenes. Few can compete with the sheer ruthlessness of a man who would casually order the destruction of an entire populated world of pacifists. He’s also notable as one of the few with authority even over Vader, … Read more
This novel, Dark Lord Riise of Darth Vader, really is a transition period for the fallen knight. The catalyst is not surprisingly, surviving Jedi, a struggle he’s wrestled with before. After all, his choice was predicated on saving his wife and he lost her and his health at the same time. Formerly the Jedi Anakin … Read more
Leading directly into Revenge of the Sith, Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno takes Anakin and Obi-Wan on a hunt for the identity of Darth Sidious. This is the trail that could lead them to unveiling their foe before he is ready. While most of us already know who that is, sometimes the journey is … Read more
The Death Star by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry adds a whole new depth to the first ever Star Wars movie, A New Hope. From the movie standpoint we only see the side (mostly) of the heroic freedom fighters. But while villains ran the Death Star, there were others aboard, who had bought into the … Read more
Patterns of Force doesn’t just wrap up the Coruscant Nights trilogy, but several plotlines from previous Michael Reaves’s stories and finishes in a satisfying way. It is a fun adventure, but a bit frustrating because it doesn’t so much explain all it’s own started threads as well. I love the general story I just do … Read more
The main story in Street of Shadows is a murder mystery set in the Star Wars dark times, when the few surviving Jedi are in hiding. The main story is well worth a read, though I didn’t care for the side quest and the continuity hiccups were a distraction. It continues the set noir style … Read more
by James Luceno This is kind of an adventure crossed with a political thriller and a mystery that, if you’ve seen the movies, you do know the answer to. But you don’t know how it got that way! It’s a solid story if you like intrigue, or if you want more Qui-Gon. Cloak of Deception … Read more
Spoilers for the previous books. Jedi Academy: Champions of the Force by Kevin J. Anderson story itself does reiterate and repeat certain points, as a refresher for those who haven’t read them in awhile. It’s an action packed finale to the series. It was a bit overwhelming at times but did get a great thrill … Read more
The inspiration for this era comes of Star Wars the Old Republic game’s Tython and it’s ancient Jedi lore, as well as Knight’s of the Old Republic’s Rakata. Who were the Jedi, before their were Jedi, or a Republic? Dawn of the Jedi comics answer this. They were the Jedaii Rangers, originating from Tython where … Read more
Wookiees are tall, bipedal fur covered people with an animalistic snout, and are easily underestimated. They have a deep history and impressive achievements. Modern Wookiee culture is one of loyalty and honor. Physically wookiees usually come in shades of brown, which camouflage well with the forests of Kashyyyk, there homeworld. There are exceptions however, an … Read more
In 2003 George Lucas decided to hire Genndy Tarkovsky to create a series of animated shorts of the Clone Wars. Originally it aired in the commercial break, during cartoons on the Cartoon Network channel. Eventually these shorts were put together into DVDs. The first set of animation featured various battles throughout the galaxy. Genndy had … Read more
Dawn of the Jedi : Into the Void by Tim Lebbon opens up a whole new era. Before there was a Republic, the precursors to Jedi were confined to the Tython system, taken there by the Tho Yor for unknown (to them) reasons. This is the story of one Jedaii Ranger, Lanoree Brock and her … Read more
As the title “Dark Apprentice” indicates, the promising start of the first story in the trilogy is about to meet some dark challenges. Admiral Daala, loosed from the Maw cluster with her Star Destroyers is out seeking vengeance. Leia finds a tragic diplomatic crisis rocks the New Republic, as she struggles to manage family with … Read more
Story by Kevin J. Anderson, original cover art was by John Alvin. It was released in 1996. This is an amazing piece of galaxy building and I can’t overestimate it’s importance to the mythos of Star Wars. This was the book that starts the massive multimedia project, where game, comic and novels would tie together … Read more
Star Wars Interviews was a site and also a series of books dedicated to Interviews with all sorts of people involved with the Star Wars galaxy. Actors, cast and crew, behind the scenes folks, game developers, authors and so on were all on his site. Sadly, the site was removed. Disclaimer here: that isn’t me. … Read more
Jax Pavan had barely made knighthood when Order 66 or ‘Flame Night’ went down. Now in Jedi Twilight, he’s finding that being on the run has compromised his morals as well as his ability to access the Force. To top it off, Vader for some reason is looking for him, him personally, with more interest … Read more
The final chapter of the Bounty Hunter Wars is an action packed story of survival set during the events of Return of the Jedi. Hard merchandise is the cold term that bounty hunters use for the people they hunt and treat as products to profit off of. And sometimes, the hunter themselves may become the … Read more
I’m writing this coming up on it’s 40th anniversary! Growing up on the original trilogy, this was my hands down favorite even though as a kid, I wasn’t sure what moved me so strongly. It left me speculating on who Anakin Skywalker was before his fall and I was eager to see it. It was … Read more
As the second book in the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy, Slave Ship gives us more information more adventure and a bit more that is expanded on later. There are tidbits I recognize as popping up in the rest of the Expanded Universe (both before and later). Naturally, the Boba Fett and bounty hunter bits are … Read more
Well by now the word has spread throughout the fandom that another Star Wars Expanded Universe author is gone. It’s a grievous thing anytime that happens, but this one stings me as Michael Reaves was by far my favorite Del Rey era author, based on how many of his books I absolutely loved and reread. … Read more
The Bounty Hunter Wars Trilogy by K.W Jeter Boba Fett is dead, and his victims and rivals rejoice. But Dengar and a young slave woman who knows that Fett is part of her lost past have found evidence he’s not as gone as his enemies hope. And while neither trust him, they know they need … Read more
I,Jedi is by Michael Stackpole and he is the primary author of most stories (but not all) stories involving Corran Horn and his family. Warning going in: this book I,Jedi contains a few spoilers for the X-Wing Rogue Squadron Book Series. It also has spoilers for the Jedi Academy series. This book does stand alone … Read more
Black Sun is no one’s ally, and stamping it out and keeping it that way has been a job for Jedi, the Republic and even certain Sith. It isn’t the only bit of the past to rear its head in these stories. While a bit simplistic in the resolution (or suggested implementation) its still a … Read more
This story has it’s grindy moments, as I kept wanting to get back to the actual Jedi, Anakin and Nejaa in Jedi Trial. I kind of wish there had been more moments with the two of them. But it was overall a good read. Right up until the end I had no idea how or … Read more
While the Jedi Code was first laid out in the Expanded Universe, it is based entirely on what we see of the Jedi in the movies. Only the Original Trilogy was out when it was written, but the prequels only clarified that information, didn’t contradict. George Lucas did give guidelines on the Jedi to the … Read more
The final book in the trilogy hits peak action as are heroes are at their most desperate and the fate of billions is on the line. This may seem normal for them, but while the stakes are as always high, this is a different kind of foe with a different kind of weapon. The story … Read more
Assault at Selonia by Roger Allen McBride is the second book in the Corellian trilogy and the original trilogy heroes are now responding to the danger set up in the last book with new allies at their side. This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting for what happens next. The author … Read more
This game is still a blast decades after release. Jedi Knight Dark Forces 2 graphics may be dated but they don’t diminish the challenge one bit, and they are a step up from the predecessor. This one did include more save options to it. The story is loads of fun and so is the gameplay. … Read more
This game is a challenge but has a great story. It’s quite a thrill to defeat it at all, even for one like me, who fails at hitting bonus goals. The Clone Wars video game is a blast if you love playing as a heroic Jedi Knight, flying fast vehicles and enjoy the Tales of … Read more
The Ambush At Corellia is pure suspense. We find out pretty quick there is danger for our heroes in the near future, we just aren’t sure what or how. There is an interesting family dynamic here, with typical kids being kids (except they are as bright as their Grandsire and they already know about the … Read more
If we want our expanded universe to resist the efforts to diminish it, its up to the fans. Keep letting them know we want our stories, our books and comics, to be available, intact. Be very aware of digital legal limitations and do what you can to encourage protection for the buyer, not just the … Read more
Dark Forces introduces Kyle Katarn and an amazingly cathartic, immersive game that includes new challenges and the foundation for a new era of Star Wars games. That new era in turn ties in (as usual) with the rest of the content. At this beginning level, we see in the movie tie ins while it sets … Read more
This site is based on Star Wars expanded universe, and stories are my favorite thing. So naturally this is what I focus on in SWTOR. SWTOR itself is purely based on this universe. It combines all the best action, storytelling and humor just as the movies did. Origin Story SWTOR originally called these classes and … Read more
Padmé’s death dissatisfied many people. They felt it took away from her ‘strong woman’ status that she simply died when Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. Or they felt betrayed she died then at all, given that it was suggested that Leia had some memory of her. But while screen time limited an explanation and story … Read more
A galaxy full of various races of beings is bound to have ideological differences, of what was right and wrong. The ones like the Hutts and the Sith Empire firmly believed the strong should rule. Slavery is a natural outgrowth of that attitude. On the other side you had the Republic which believed in freedom … Read more
This Young Jedi Knights story arc, about the Diversity Alliance, hits harder in 2022 than when it was released in the late 1990s. It’s the second arc in the series, so you might want to read that first if you are worried about spoilers. It picks up right where the other left off. Warning: review … Read more
While most associate the Sith Darth Sidious and the fallen Jedi of ancient days, originally the Sith were a species. The Sith pureblood race of beings was usually (though not always) Force sensitive. Sith purebloods already had an Empire when the cast out Jedi followers of the dark side happened upon them and conquered. Soon … Read more