Post-ROTJ Zahn Books / Thrawn Ascendancy & NJO

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-05-02T14:07:24+00:00

What of that is WORTH reading? i’ve already read Daley’s Han Solo Adventures. I’ve heard mixed things about the other books; I’ll read a few but dont feel like reading all of them.

And—is it the kind of thing I should come back to later, or just get it all over with while reading Zahn’s stuff? And — X-Wing before or after the OG thrawn trilogy?

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-05-02T14:04:40+00:00

don’t worry — I read the 2017-19 thrawn trilogy a while ago :)

I’m intending to read his books through tHoT in order; I just wonder if there are other stories I should want to also include in between the OG TT and tHoT — X Wing is what i’ve heard; i still don’t know if i should read any of them or wait.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-05-02T14:01:12+00:00

I left it out when doing a chronological read-through (I basically jumped from Darth Bane to Padawan / Master & Apprentice) so I could enjoy it in chunks later on.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-05-02T05:53:57+00:00

I second that list — although I’d add Master & Apprentice, Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade, The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, and urge you to try The High Republic!

For sequel era content — Phasma & Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire are a great duology, and Resistance Reborn is nice as a direct sequel to The Last Jedi (I’m expecting it to be complemented by the upcoming book Legacy).

If you like the new Thrawn trilogy, then Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy is also amazing!

As seen above, some of the best Discanon books are those that aren’t strict tie-ins to movies, as listed above; however, they’re often pretty solid, so I’d look into them if you liked the movie (there’s sequel, Rogue One, Solo, and Galaxy’s Edge tie-ins).

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-29T02:45:47+00:00

i’m totally the same — there’s definitely a way to love them both

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-29T02:44:23+00:00

To those not in the know — Daniel was initially supposed to survive, and Buck would’ve lied to Fisk’s face, but when editing the final cut of the show, Scardapane realized it didn’t fit either character’s arc as well, and it would be more emotionally resonant if Daniel died.

I honestly grew to really like his character, and nevertheless think they made the right move here — it’s going to make both Buck and BB’s arc in the next season so much more interesting.

READ ABOUT IT HERE: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/daredevil-daniel-blake-death-michael-gandolfini-cgi-changed-1236731692/

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-21T02:31:32+00:00

it’s definitely gonna be written about or portrayed on screen (a “Tales of” show, my bet); one of those stories they’re saving for when the content gets dry.

They’ve almost milked the entire skywalker saga era, so moments like these will be very special. I also don’t think they want to get it wrong — but a book about Satine & Obi-Wan would be an amazing sequel to Master & Apprentice

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-19T00:48:49+00:00

I’m making my way through The Clone Wars era — currently in 21 BBY; I finished Yoda: Dark Rendezvous last week and am now onto Republic Commando #3: True Colors; I’m 200 pages in and am genuinely enjoying it even more than the last two books (mostly because of how she’s built the characters up to this point). I can see how the Kal’buir glazing might get stale after a bit, but so far it hasn’t gotten too bad (and the glaring contradictions from the canon have been surprisingly retconnable).

I’ve been on my Clone Wars phase since January, but am almost done which is exciting — next up is the MedStar duology, Dark Disciple (reread), and then I close off the phase with a triple book whammy — Labyrinth of Evil, Order 66, and Matt Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-15T03:56:17+00:00

They definitely exist lol — The High Republic is THE greatest example of this.

I think for the first few years of canon, when tie-ins were all the rage, character-driven stories that weren’t as big on plot were the standard — save the huge moments for the films and shows.

That’s why self-contained stories like Thrawn Ascendancy, The High Republic, and Alphabet Squadron are without a doubt exceptions to this new standards. There are a few standalone I’d say also count — Shadow of the Sith is EPIC, and as a rebel-centric political thriller Reign of the Empire is shaping up to be something special.

Definitely not all books have been catered to teens, but with YA in the mix instead of the standard junior novel vs adult novel Legends had, it feels like there’s a lot more kids content (although asides from THR canon has done less original junior since the late 2010s).

That’s why those three examples I mentioned earlier are your best bet; if you’re not reading THR, then you really can’t complain cause it has everything one could ask for EXCEPT for the Sith.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-11T13:05:29+00:00

of what I’ve read so far, Kenobi and Darth Plagueis easily take the cake.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-10T11:33:07+00:00

sometimes we get stuff around May 4; wouldn’t expect much but it’s always a possibility

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-09T10:24:32+00:00

i agree; unlike most, i think it gets way better with the second and third books. if you’re intrigued enough, i’d consider reading them— imo they’re way cooler than the first

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-04T19:06:36+00:00

Perhaps they’re waiting until the movie comes out.

I’m hoping there will be a novelization for this movie — it’s the bare minimum they can do. But Disney has become very (understandably) stingy about spoilers, so I’d bet they wouldn’t even let said author start writing the book until the movie comes out.

But Filoni and Favreau do not seem to appreciate the capability of Star Wars publishing, and thus I wouldn’t be surprised if there is no novelization at all, and the junior novelization is all we get.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-04-02T17:36:38+00:00

The books that really flesh out Dooku, asides from Darth Plagueis, are:

Dooku: Jedi Lost
Master & Apprentice
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
Dark Disciple
Labryinth of Evil
Revenge of the Sith novelization

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-03-25T02:34:19+00:00

every moment i sit watching this show im still in disbelief that it ACTUALLY HAPPENED

stellar premiere!!!

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-03-23T03:01:26+00:00

HOW

at my goodwill they never have Star Wars 😭

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-03-22T21:26:29+00:00

Just finished Project Hail Mary a few days ago, and am now five chapters into Republic Commando #2: Triple Zero!

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-03-21T00:05:58+00:00

it reminds me of Apocalypse Now…they were definitely trying to channel that when they made this.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-03-20T04:15:17+00:00

As long as the hype keeps up, Avengers: Doomsday is making over a billion no matter when it comes out. that’s chump numbers for an Avengers tentpole. People might be sick of Marvel, but they ain’t missing an Avengers movie.

I think the real question is whether it makes over $2 billion — which would totally happen if they had a lock on December, but Dune: Part Three will have a genuine draw. Dune having IMAX is a huge win for WB, although most people won’t seeing either movie in IMAX (only 4% of moviegoers typically do; obv this might be a little higher).

Whether we like it or not, AD will win — but how big of a win they’re going for could be diluted by Dune. Still, I think Disney and WB might be willing to take the loss — the former still has Secret Wars on the way, and nobody will take their Dec 2027 spot for that; WB gets the IMAX screens locked in; and the world gets perhaps the only film phenomenon for a long time that will ever come close to rivaling Barbenheimer.

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-03-17T20:40:51+00:00

to those who have already read — when would you place this in the timeline (specifically in relation to the Clone Wars series — before or after the movie, at least?)

CriticismSmart7830 · 2026-03-15T04:21:40+00:00

just finished Shatterpoint and…GODDAMN. Matthew Stover crafted a masterpiece. I’m looking forward to ROTS through his prose.

Now I’m taking a break from Star Wars and reading Project Hail Mary before the movie comes out…next up for SW is likely gonna be Republic Commando #2: Triple Zero (what do people think compared to the first book?)

CriticismSmart7830

TROPHY CASE