The Star Wars universe has produced some of the best audiobooks in science fiction. From Timothy Zahn’s exploration of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s tactical intelligence, to Drew Karpyshyn’s dark dive into Sith philosophy with the Darth Bane trilogy, these audiobooks offer something for every type of Star Wars fan. Whether you’re drawn to political intrigue, character studies, or you’re curious about the Force’s light and dark sides, the best Star Wars audiobooks capture the cinematic experience in audio form.
Best Star Wars audiobooks as of June 2025
With well-known narrators like Marc Thompson, Jonathan Davis, and Daniel Davis bringing iconic characters to life, these audiobooks offer another way to explore the Star Wars universe. Star Wars audiobooks dive deep into character development, political intrigue, and Force philosophy that the films only touch briefly. Whether you’re seeking an intimate character study, the rise of a villain, or a fresh perspective, the best Star Wars audiobooks combine superb stories with great storytellers. Let’s take a look at the best Star Wars audiobooks as of June 2025.
From a Certain Point of View Series
From a Certain Point of View Star Wars is a collection of stories that retell the original trilogy films from the perspectives of background characters. The audiobooks feature an impressive voice cast, including celebrity performers like Jon Hamm and Neil Patrick Harris.
Each anthology contains 40 short stories that explore familiar Star Wars scenes from completely new angles. Some perspectives include a cantina patron, a Rebel technician, and an Imperial officer. These new angles give fans fresh insights into iconic moments from the films through the eyes of background characters. If you’re looking for a fresh perspective of familiar stories, queue up From a Certain Point of View. Additionally, these stories are canon, making them officially part of the continuity. This anthology comprises 40 stories from 43 authors.
Star Wars: Thrawn
Grand Admiral Thrawn is a ruthless Chiss warrior in the Galactic Empire. In Star Wars: Thrawn, the first installment of the Imperial Trilogy, we follow Thrawn’s rise to power. Unlike typical Imperial officers who rely on brute force and fear, Thrawn wins through strategic brilliance and cultural analysis. He studies his enemies’ art and culture to understand their psychology and predict their tactics.
Even if you’re not super versed in Star Wars lore, these audiobooks work as a standalone stories. Thrawn‘s rise from exile to Grand Admiral is a complete arc that doesn’t require extensive background knowledge. If you’re looking for a satisfying story about a smart antagonist set in the Star Wars universe, look no further than Thrawn. Thrawn was written by Timothy Zahn and narrated by Marc Thompson.
Darth Plagueis
If it’s a comprehensive exploration of Sith philosophy and tradition you need, Darth Plagueis is the answer. While this is in the Expanded Universe (Legends), meaning it isn’t canon, it’s an engrossing Sith Lord story. Darth Plagueis is a powerful Sith Lord with command over life and death. A mentor to Darth Sidious, eventually Emperor Palpatine, the book follows Palpatine’s recruitment and eventual betrayal.
Known as one of the best Star Wars novels, this book answers many questions the prequel movies created. We learn about the Trade Federation, how Palpatine rose to power, and more back stories that give depth to the series. This is a great audiobook for fans interested in the darker, more philosophical aspects of the Star Wars universe. Darth Plagueis is written by James Luceno and narrated by Daniel Davis.
Kenobi
The Star Wars: Kenobi audiobook by John Jackson Miller stands out in the Star Wars Legends collection. The story takes place on Tatooine—a harsh desert world where farmers work in the heat of two suns. All the while, they are trying to protect themselves and their loved ones from the thieving Tusken Raiders. Known to locals as “Ben,” the bearded and robed offworlder is a mysterious stranger. He keeps to himself, doesn’t share his past, and goes to great lengths to remain an outsider.
The audiobook explores the tension between Obi-Wan’s commitment to remain hidden and protect Luke versus his Jedi instincts to help the needy. This is a Legends (non-canon) novel. However, it remains popular for its intimate character study of one of Star Wars‘ most beloved characters during a crucial period of his life. Star Wars: Kenobi is written by John Jackson Miller and narrated by Jonathan Davis.
Darth Bane Trilogy
The stories include Darth Bane: Path of Destruction (2006), Darth Bane: Rule of Two (2007), and Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil (2009). These books tell the complete story of the Sith Lord who forever changed the nature of the Sith Order. The trilogy explores how Bane reinvented the dark side as a circle of two: one Master to wield the power and pass on the wisdom, and one apprentice to learn, challenge, and ultimately usurp the Dark Lord in a duel to the death. Again, these are Legends (non-canon) novels, but are considered essential reading for understanding Sith lore and philosophy. This intense and dramatic series makes the dark side philosophy and brutal Sith politics come alive. The Death Bane trilogy is written by Drew Karpshyn and narrated by Jonathan Davis.
How we chose the best Star Wars audiobooks
To find the best Star Wars audiobooks, we looked for some of the most exciting stories that expand the Star Wars universe in a meaningful way. Of course, you can’t forget the performances by some of the best narrators. Marc Thompson, Jonathan Davis, and Daniel Davis elevate the already great stories into audio experiences. We fall in love with the characters at the movies, but we get to know them more intimately through the audiobooks. We get to know their motivations, their fears, and what they’re thinking and feeling.
These audiobooks also give us more insight into some of the more philosophical aspects of the Star Wars universe. The best Star Wars audiobooks ultimately combine expert narration with stories that use the expanded universe to explore themes and characters in ways the films simply don’t have time to address.
