With such an expansive universe, choosing the best Star Wars novels can be overwhelming. While the movies and TV series are already full of detail, they can’t match the depth that books provide. If you’re ready to jump into the Star Wars universe through its books, here’s our list of the best Star Wars novels as of June 2025.
Best Star Wars novels as of June 2025
It’s hard to believe the Star Wars universe began with just one film — and where would we be without it? George Lucas wasn’t even sure it would succeed. As a backup, he commissioned Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, a novel written by Alan Dean Foster intended as the blueprint for a low-budget sequel in case Star Wars flopped. Fortunately, the film was a hit, and the galaxy has continued to expand, with a significant part of the credit due to the substantial expansions found in some of the best Star Wars novels.
Thrawn Trilogy
Written by Timothy Zahn, the Thrawn Trilogy was written between 1991 and 1993. Although not considered canon (anything after 2014, when Disney acquired Lucasfilm), the trilogy belongs under the Legends banner. Think of Legends as mythology about your favorite characters, versus important overall details to the major plotlines. Of course, many show up in both Legends and canon.
The Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command) is often praised for its compelling storytelling and for bringing fans into the Expanded Universe. The political intrigue and details of the trilogy are entertaining, and we get a really great antagonist: Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn. In brief, the story follows Thrawn from the annihilation of the Elomin task force to the Battle of Bilbringi, the final battle of the Thrawn campaign against the united forces of the New Republic and the Smugglers’ alliance. The Thrawn Trilogy also follows the Dark Jedi Joruus C’baoth in his obsessive quest to claim Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo, and her children as his apprentices.
Even with the sheer number of Star Wars novels out there, this trilogy helped open the door to the Expanded Universe. It’s definitely worth a read for any fan and is easily one of our top picks for the best Star Wars novels.
Star Wars: Darth Plagueis
Although we didn’t include the Darth Bane Trilogy on this list, it’s worth mentioning that they’re another strong contender for the best Star Wars novels. We’re noting that here because Darth Plagueis feels like a philosophical successor to the Darth Bane books. Written by James Luceno, Darth Plagueis helps justify some of the plotlines in the prequels and fills in many narrative gaps, offering more insight into the origins of several key characters. Most importantly, it reveals how Plagueis fully corrupted Palpatine and brought him to the dark side.
Beyond being a compelling read, the novel is significant to the Star Wars universe because it explores the philosophy of the dark side, adding more complexity to the classic good-versus-evil dynamic. And sometimes it’s just good fun to get into the minds of the villains. A New York Times bestseller, Darth Plagueis is often considered a masterpiece among Star Wars novels. It’s also a political thriller that can be read without having to know much else, which means it’s a good one to pick up if you’re just getting started with Star Wars novels.
Kenobi
One of the best Star Wars novels from author John Jackson Miller, Kenobi follows Obi-Wan Kenobi in self-imposed exile on the desert planet of Tatooine after the events of Revenge of the Sith. Known only to locals as “Ben,” this mysterious stranger mostly keeps to himself until tensions between farmers and a tribe of Tusken Raiders led by a ruthless war chief begin to escalate. No longer able to stay out of the fray, the Jedi Master must once again call on the Force in pursuit of justice.
Published in 2013, just before the canon and Legends timelines split, fans praise Kenobi for its intimate focus on Obi-Wan’s internal conflict rather than sweeping galactic plots and large-scale battles. There’s something deeply satisfying about a hero in hiding stepping up to save the day—not only because of the human struggle with guilt and failure, but also because it’s thrilling to see everyone realize just how powerful this so-called nobody really is. Additionally, the novel has a strong Western vibe, making it an especially enjoyable and atmospheric read.
Order 66
From New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss, Order 66 stands out as one of the best Star Wars novels thanks to its detail-rich storytelling, tight pacing, and multi-layered political intrigue. While the final book in a series often runs the risk of being the weakest, Order 66 is anything but—it’s gripping from start to finish. As the last installment in the Republic Commando series (Hard Contact, Triple Zero, True Colors), the novel is set in 19 BBY, near the end of the Clone Wars. It follows several clone commandos — particularly the members of Omega and Delta squads — as they grow increasingly disillusioned with the Republic and begin to question Chancellor Palpatine’s true intentions.
And then we get the infamous (and titular) moment when Order 66 is issued, directing clones to destroy their Jedi generals. This, of course, marks a significant turning point in the Star Wars saga. Order 66 expands the scope of the Clone Wars well beyond what we saw in the films and is a must-read for both longtime fans and newcomers. But be warned — Traviss does have a reputation for casting the Jedi in a harsh light, but hey, we’re not opposed to some controversial character development.
Star Wars: Outbound Flight
A great prequel read, the story takes place in 27 BBY, in the years leading up to the Clone Wars. Master Jorus C’baoth senses dark days lie ahead for the Jedi, and approval is given for a plan to launch a deep-space expedition beyond the known galaxy. Along with 50,000 civilians and a small group of Jedi, the Outbound Flight begins the long journey to the Unknown Regions beyond the Outer Rim. Master Jorus C’baoth’s leadership style and philosophical views raise concern. Unbeknownst to them all, however, Chancellor Palpatine has his own plans and wants to make sure the Outbound Flight project never reaches its destination.
Outbound Flight earns its spot on our list of the best Star Wars novels not just because it’s a solid standalone novel, but because it adds meaningful depth to the larger universe. Another standout from Timothy Zahn, the novel does a good job of bridging the backstory introduced in the Thrawn Trilogy with the prequel-era events seen in the films. Part of the Essential Legends Collection, Outbound Flight is a compelling origin story for Thrawn, set during his final days as a leader in the Chiss Ascendancy.
How we chose the best Star Wars novels
We picked the best Star Wars novels based on fan favorites, their importance to the development of characters or elements of the universe, and honestly, just for being solid reads. After all, how important something is doesn’t matter much if the book is a slog to get through, right? Fortunately, the titles on this list of the best Star Wars novels are as enjoyable to read as they are essential to the galaxy far, far away.
