# List of Star Wars books
The list of [Star Wars](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-wars) books covers the franchise's prose fiction: original novels, film novelizations, young-adult and middle-grade titles, and related short fiction, published across two distinct continuities since the first novelization appeared in bookstores in late 1976, months before the 1977 film's release.[1](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First prose fiction | The first Star Wars novelization reached bookstores in late 1976, months before the movie[1](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut) |
| Last official census | As of October 2012, the Del Rey *Essential Reader's Companion* covered over 145 full-length novels, over 100 juvenile novels, and over 170 short stories in 486 pages[1](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut) |
| Two continuities | Since Disney's acquisition, the backlist is split into the pre-2014 "Legends" Expanded Universe and the current Canon, presented by fan bibliographies in side-by-side timelines[2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/) • [3](https://www.yodasdatapad.com/booklist.html) |
| Era-defining canon series | Aftermath (from September 4, 2015), Alphabet Squadron (2019–2021), Thrawn, Thrawn Ascendancy, and the High Republic[4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books) • [2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/) |
| High Republic conclusion | The adult High Republic novel line concluded with Charles Soule's *Trials of the Jedi*, June 17, 2025[4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books) |
| Inclusion rules differ | Official and fan lists disagree on what counts: the official guide excluded variable-outcome books; fan lists differ on short stories, bundled eBooks, audiobook-only titles, and the YA line[1](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut) • [3](https://www.yodasdatapad.com/booklist.html) |
## Publishing history and canon structure
*Star Wars: The Essential Reader's Companion* (Del Rey, October 2012) cataloged the prose fiction of the franchise's first 35-plus years: over 145 full-length novels, over 100 juvenile novels, and over 170 short stories.[1](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut) The guide applied editorial rules to what counted as prose fiction: variable-outcome books, such as "choose your own adventure," solitaire adventures, and decide-your-destiny titles, were excluded because their malleable stories raise questions about which version of events is the true canon version.[1](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut)
After Disney's acquisition of Star Wars, the existing "Extended Universe" novels were removed from canon, leaving readers and libraries seeking the current canon list separately.[2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/) The backlist is now customarily divided into two parallel continuities, the pre-2014 "Legends" Expanded Universe and the Disney-era Canon, which fan bibliographies present in side-by-side timelines so readers can compare what takes place at the same time in the alternate universes.[3](https://www.yodasdatapad.com/booklist.html) Institutional catalogs follow the same split: a 2024 state library listing organizes its Star Wars holdings into "canon" and "legacy" collections arranged chronologically by era.[2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/)
## Canon novels by era
Fan databases define Star Wars canon books as novels and stories officially declared canon to the franchise, and tabulate them with in-universe placements dated in BBY. On that timeline, *Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel* by James Luceno (published November 15, 2016) spans 22 BBY to 17 BBY; *Dark Disciple* by [Christie Golden](https://www.edgepedia.org/christie-golden) (July 7, 2015) sits at 19 BBY; *Tarkin* by James Luceno (November 4, 2014) and *Lords of the Sith* (April 28, 2015) sit at 14 BBY; and *Thrawn* by [Timothy Zahn](https://www.edgepedia.org/timothy-zahn) (April 11, 2017) sits at 2 BBY.[5](https://starwarsbooks.org/list-of-books-canon-1/) The list includes only novels; short stories, children's books, and comic books are excluded.[5](https://starwarsbooks.org/list-of-books-canon-1/)
**Imperial era.** [Library catalog](https://www.edgepedia.org/library-catalog) groupings of the Imperial Era include *Ahsoka* by E. K. Johnston, *Thrawn* by Timothy Zahn, *Tarkin* and other titles by James Luceno, *Lost Stars*, the Aftermath trilogy, Alphabet Squadron titles including *Shadow Fall*, *Catalyst*, *Heir to the Jedi*, and *Battle Scars* by Sam Maggs.[2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/)
**High Republic.** The High Republic adult line includes *Light of the Jedi* by Charles Soule, *Rising Storm*, and *Fallen Star*, alongside Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy (*Chaos Rising*, *Greater Good*, *Lesser Evil*).[2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/)
**Prequel and Jedi era.** Cataloged canon titles include *Padawan* by Kiersten White, *Master & Apprentice* by Claudia Gray, *Dooku: Jedi Lost* by Cavan Scott, *Brotherhood* by Mike Chen, *Dark Disciple* by Christie Golden, and *Shadow of the Sith* by Adam Christopher.[2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/)
## Notable series and authors
Two post-trilogy trilogies anchor the canon's Imperial collapse period: Chuck Wendig's Aftermath trilogy, which began with *Aftermath* on September 4, 2015, and Alexander Freed's Alphabet Squadron trilogy, closing with *Victory's Price* on March 2, 2021.[4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books) Timothy Zahn's canon Thrawn series continued with *Thrawn: Alliances* (July 24, 2018) and *Thrawn: Treason* (July 23, 2019), and his prequel-era Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy appeared alongside the High Republic line.[3](https://www.yodasdatapad.com/booklist.html) • [2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/) Recurring authors named across the catalogs include Timothy Zahn, James Luceno, Charles Soule, Alexander Freed, Chuck Wendig, Christie Golden, Claudia Gray, Adam Christopher, and Mike Chen.[2](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/) • [4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books)
## By the numbers
The 2012 official guide provides the latest count cited here for the prose catalog: over 145 full-length novels, over 100 juvenile novels, and over 170 short stories.[1](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut) Later totals are not comparable across sources because inclusion rules differ: fan bibliographies tabulate canon novels without stating a total and differ in whether they include short stories, bundled eBooks, audiobook-only titles, and the young-adult line, so no single post-2014 total can be stated.[3](https://www.yodasdatapad.com/booklist.html) • [5](https://starwarsbooks.org/list-of-books-canon-1/)
Ordering conventions also differ between lists. starwarsbooks.org places titles by in-universe BBY dating, while the yodasdatapad maintainer states that the recommended reading order is based on personal judgment and that US release dates may vary abroad.[5](https://starwarsbooks.org/list-of-books-canon-1/) • [3](https://www.yodasdatapad.com/booklist.html)
## What has changed since 2023
Post-2023 canon adult novels, as tabulated on one fan-maintained wiki, include *The Living Force* by John Jackson Miller (April 9, 2024), *Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss* by Steven Barnes (October 15, 2024), *Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear* by Alexander Freed (February 25, 2025), *Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel* by Lamar Giles (August 5, 2025), *Master of Evil* by Adam Christopher (November 11, 2025), and the video-game tie-in *Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon* by Mike Chen (February 3, 2026).[4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books)
The High Republic adult-novel initiative continued past late 2023 with *The Eye of Darkness* (November 14, 2023), *Defy the Storm* (March 5, 2024), *Temptation of the Force* (June 11, 2024), *Tears of the Nameless* (September 24, 2024), and *Into the Light* (April 1, 2025), before concluding with Charles Soule's *Trials of the Jedi* on June 17, 2025.[4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books) Tie-in novels for the 2024 television series *The Acolyte* followed: *The Acolyte: Wayseeker* by Justina Ireland (May 6, 2025) and *The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown* by Tessa Gratton (July 29, 2025).[4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books) Young-adult and middle-grade titles announced for 2025–2026 include *The Last Order* by Kwame Mbalia (October 21, 2025), *Eyes Like Stars* by Ashley Poston (July 21, 2026), and *Legacy* by Madeleine Roux (July 28, 2026).[4](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books)
## References
1. [The Essential Reader's Companion: Making the Cut, StarWars.com](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-essential-readers-companion-making-the-cut)
2. [Star Wars Books Available in TBP Collection, Texas Talking Book Program](https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/2024/05/04/star-wars-books/)
3. [Simple Star Wars Book List (Legends and Canon Timelines Side-by-Side), yodasdatapad.com](https://www.yodasdatapad.com/booklist.html)
4. [List of books, Wookieepedia](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_books)
5. [List of Star Wars Books – Canon #1, starwarsbooks.org](https://starwarsbooks.org/list-of-books-canon-1/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Creative written works and worlds › Adaptations, tie-ins, and fictional worlds › Tie-in and franchise novels › Star Wars novels and novelizations*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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