Books to Read Before You See Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: Aftermath, by Chuck Wendig
We know very little about this September release: only that it is the first official peek into what happened after Return of the Jedi and before the start of The Force Awakens, it involves a “lone Rebel scout” happening upon a “secret Imperial meeting,” and it is being written by Chuck Wendig, the multi-genre mastermind who has published one inventive, fantastical novel after another (including his Miriam Black urban fantasies and the YA-friendly Heartland trilogy). A lack of cold, hard facts has done little to cool our burning desire to read it.

Star Wars: A New Dawn, by John Jackson Miller
The first book in the new continuity, this novel (from the author of Kenobi) sets the stage for the Expanded Universe and ties neatly into the first season of Rebels. Set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, A New Dawn shows us the first meeting of Kanan, one of a few Jedi to survive Order 66, and Hera, a Twi’lek pilot, as they struggle to avoid the Empire and join the nascent Rebellion.

Star Wards: Lords of the Sith, by Paul S. Kemp
This one flashes way back to the period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Our heroes are…Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine? When the two Lords of the Sith become stranded in the midst of a rebel stronghold on a dangerous planet, they must rely on one another to survive—but those who follow the Dark Side aren’t generally known for their trustworthiness. Veteran franchise author Paul S. Kemp shines a light on the tense relationship between the Emperor and his masked apprentice in this action-packed adventure, which also sets a precedent in the canon via the inclusion of a lesbian Imperial officer.

Star Wars: Tarkin, by James Leceno
A little-seen, highly memorable baddie from the Star Wars films gets the backstory treatment in this one. Grand Moff Tarkin is one of the original trilogy’s most enigmatic villains, a figure with power and influence that apparently rival Darth Vader’s. And yet in the films, we learn little about him. This account of his storied military career will answer your pressing questions. One unexpected revelation: his first name is Wilhuff.

Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi, by Kevin Hearne
Travel back with Luke Skywalker to the time between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back with the first Star Wars novel ever to be told from the future Jedi master’s first person point of view. Hearne, author of the addictive urban fantasy series The Iron Druid Chronicles, perfectly captures the voice of the impulsive young farm boy who has suddenly been thrust onto the galactic stage (and shot right to the top of the Empire’s most wanted list). Tasked by Princess Leia to deliver a potentially valuable Imperial code-breaker to safety, Luke quickly finds himself on his own and over his head in an adventure of space-faring spycraft.

Ultimate Star Wars, by Ryder Wyndham
Whether you’re a Star Wars newbie or a veteran fan, this is the, well, ultimate study guide to prepare you for December 18. This heavily illustrated, chronologically arranged, information-rich compendium includes the essential character profiles, backstory summaries, vocabulary lists, and vital vehicle and weapons stats you’re going to need to know to make sure you fully appreciate all the little details and references hidden in the corner of every frame of the saga’s long-awaited continuation.

Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown
If you’ve got the premiere date circled on your calendar, but are sad that you’ll be hiring a babysitter for the night because your kids are too young to share in the magic, Jeffrey Brown’s adorable, kid-friendly books (which also include Vader’s Little Princess, Goodnight Darth Vader, and Darth Vader and Friends) are a delightful way to nurture the next generation of Padawans. Cute comic panels will amuse kids and parents alike, whatever their fluency in the world of Jedis, lightsabers, and the Force.
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