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Quick answer: If you liked I, Jedi, read Michael A. Stackpole's Rogue Squadron books, then try Heir to the Empire, Shatterpoint and Allegiance. All focus on pilots, Jedi and covert missions in the Star Wars galaxy.
Stackpole's 1998 Star Wars Legends novel follows Corran Horn, a former Corellian security officer who becomes a Jedi. It combines mystery, flying and Force training. The books below include more Stackpole and other Legends stories about pilots, spies and Jedi. Most are for older teens and adults, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-Wing: Rogue Squadron | Michael A. Stackpole | Teen and adult | the pilots' series |
| X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble | Michael A. Stackpole | Teen and adult | series readers |
| X-Wing: The Krytos Trap | Michael A. Stackpole | Teen and adult | spy and pilot mix |
| Heir to the Empire | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | Legends classics |
| Shatterpoint | Matthew Stover | Adult | Jedi stories |
| Allegiance | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | between the films |
| The Courtship of Princess Leia | Dave Wolverton | Teen and adult | romance and adventure |
| Specter of the Past | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | Zahn's sequel |
| The Truce at Bakura | Kathy Tyers | Teen and adult | early Legends |
| Shadows of the Empire | Steve Perry | Teen and adult | between the films |
| Vector Prime | R.A. Salvatore | Teen and adult | alien war |
| Darth Plagueis | James Luceno | Adult | Sith history |
| Thrawn | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | canon fans |
| Lost Stars | Claudia Gray | Teen | YA readers |
| Starship Troopers | Robert A. Heinlein | Adult | military sci-fi |
1. X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole
A new group of pilots, including Corran Horn, form an elite squadron after the Battle of Endor. Fast, funny and full of dogfights.
Best for: the pilots' series.
2. X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble by Michael A. Stackpole
Rogue Squadron attempts to retake Coruscant. Tense and clever.
Best for: series readers.
3. X-Wing: The Krytos Trap by Michael A. Stackpole
The squadron faces a plague and spies. Smart and action-packed.
Best for: spy and pilot mix.
4. Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
Grand Admiral Thrawn returns to threaten the New Republic. The book that revived Star Wars fiction.
Best for: Legends classics.
5. Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover
Mace Windu returns to his home planet during the Clone Wars. Dark and thoughtful.
Best for: Jedi stories.
6. Allegiance by Timothy Zahn
Stormtroopers and rebels meet in a story set after A New Hope. Action and politics.
Best for: between the films.
7. The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton
Han and Leia's romance leads to a Hapes Consortium plot. Fun and adventurous.
Best for: romance and adventure.
8. Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn
The Empire's old forces return after Thrawn's trilogy. Politics and secrets.
Best for: Zahn's sequel.
9. The Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyers
Heroes face an alien threat soon after Endor. Short and adventurous.
Best for: early Legends.
10. Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry
A story set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, with a new crime lord. Action and intrigue.
Best for: between the films.
11. Vector Prime by R.A. Salvatore
The first New Jedi Order book introduces the Yuuzhan Vong and a shocking loss.
Best for: alien war.
12. Darth Plagueis by James Luceno
The story of Palpatine's master and his plot to take power. Political and dark.
Best for: Sith history.
13. Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
The canon story of Thrawn's rise in the Empire. Smart and strategic.
Best for: canon fans.
14. Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
Two friends from a planet join the Empire and then diverge. A love story across the original trilogy.
Best for: YA readers.
15. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
A young man joins the Mobile Infantry and fights alien bugs. Controversial and influential.
Best for: military sci-fi.
How to Choose
For more Stackpole, read X-Wing: Rogue Squadron. For Zahn and Thrawn, Heir to the Empire. For Jedi, Shatterpoint. For canon, Thrawn and Lost Stars. Many of these books are Legends, no longer part of the official canon, but popular with fans. Legends novels can be hard to find in print, but ebooks and libraries often have them. A fan-made timeline online can help you plan an order. Stackpole's books are good starting points, since they stand on their own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is I, Jedi about?
Corran Horn searches for his wife while being trained as a Jedi, mixing detective work with Force lessons.
Who wrote I, Jedi?
Michael A. Stackpole, who also wrote several X-Wing novels.
Do I need to read X-Wing first?
It helps but is not required, since I, Jedi retells events from Corran's viewpoint.
Is I, Jedi canon?
No. It belongs to the Star Wars Legends continuity.
Which Star Wars novel should I read first?
Heir to the Empire is the standard starting point for Legends.
Who is Corran Horn?
A former CorSec officer and Jedi, famous in the Legends canon.
Does Corran Horn appear in other books?
Yes. He appears in the X-Wing series, the New Jedi Order and other Legends novels.
Is I, Jedi easy to follow?
Yes, though it helps to know the X-Wing books.
How long is it?
About 400 pages.
Is there a good order for the Rogue Squadron books?
Start with Rogue Squadron, then Wedge's Gamble, The Krytos Trap and the rest of the X-Wing series.