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Quick answer: If you liked The New Jedi Order, read R.A. Salvatore's Vector Prime for the start, then try Heir to the Empire, Darth Plagueis, Thrawn and Lost Stars. All bring the Star Wars galaxy to life with political plots, battles and new heroes.
The New Jedi Order is a nineteen-book Star Wars series in which an alien invasion threatens the galaxy and changes the heroes. The books below offer more Star Wars novels, from the older Legends line to newer canon, plus similar space opera. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vector Prime | R.A. Salvatore | Teen and adult | the series starter |
| Heir to the Empire | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | Legends classics |
| Dark Force Rising | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | Thrawn series |
| The Last Command | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | trilogy finale |
| Darth Plagueis | James Luceno | Adult | Sith history |
| Shadows of the Empire | Steve Perry | Teen and adult | between the films |
| Dark Disciple | Christie Golden | Adult | The Clone Wars fans |
| Thrawn | Timothy Zahn | Teen and adult | canon fans |
| Lost Stars | Claudia Gray | Teen | YA readers |
| Tarkin | James Luceno | Adult | villain studies |
| Revan | Drew Karpyshyn | Adult | game fans |
| Knight Errant | John Jackson Miller | Adult | ancient Jedi |
| Outbound Flight | Timothy Zahn | Adult | early Thrawn |
| Rogue Planet | Greg Bear | Adult | prequel fans |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Adult | epic space politics |
1. Vector Prime by R.A. Salvatore
The first New Jedi Order book introduces the Yuuzhan Vong and a shocking loss. Start here if you have not read it.
Best for: the series starter.
2. Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
Five years after Return of the Jedi, Grand Admiral Thrawn returns to threaten the New Republic. The book that revived Star Wars fiction.
Best for: Legends classics.
3. Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn
The second Thrawn book brings a hunt for a lost fleet. Fast and clever.
Best for: Thrawn series.
4. The Last Command by Timothy Zahn
The conclusion of the Thrawn trilogy. Strong and satisfying.
Best for: trilogy finale.
5. Darth Plagueis by James Luceno
The story of Palpatine's master and his plot to take power. Political and dark.
Best for: Sith history.
6. 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.
7. Dark Disciple by Christie Golden
Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Vos pursue Count Dooku. Based on scripts from The Clone Wars.
Best for: The Clone Wars fans.
8. Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
The canon story of Thrawn's rise in the Empire. Smart and strategic.
Best for: canon fans.
9. 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.
10. Tarkin by James Luceno
A portrait of Grand Moff Tarkin and the Empire's early days. Cold and sharp.
Best for: villain studies.
11. Revan by Drew Karpyshyn
A hero of the Old Republic returns after losing his memory. Based on the Knights of the Old Republic games.
Best for: game fans.
12. Knight Errant by John Jackson Miller
A Jedi wanders a world of Sith lords thousands of years before the films. Adventure and politics.
Best for: ancient Jedi.
13. Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn
A giant ship leaves the galaxy, and Thrawn is its adversary. Slower and political.
Best for: early Thrawn.
14. Rogue Planet by Greg Bear
Obi-Wan and Anakin visit a planet of living ships. Atmospheric and strange.
Best for: prequel fans.
15. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes over a desert planet and its spice. Political, philosophical and vast.
Best for: epic space politics.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The New Jedi Order: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
To continue the story, read the New Jedi Order in order. For classic Legends, Heir to the Empire. For villains, Darth Plagueis and Tarkin. For canon, Thrawn and Lost Stars. For epic space politics beyond Star Wars, Dune. Many Legends books are no longer canon, but remain popular. Star Wars novels are a good way to explore side stories. Pick one era and read in order. Fans often use online timelines to organize their reading, and the Legends line has a large community, so you can find recommendations by character and period.
Related: Women’s Murder Club Books In Order Printable List · William Johnstone Books in Order Printable List
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The New Jedi Order about?
The Yuuzhan Vong, an invading species from beyond the galaxy, attack the New Republic and test the Jedi.
How many books are in it?
There are nineteen books published between 1999 and 2003.
Is it still canon?
No. It is part of Star Wars Legends, the former expanded universe.
Where should I start?
Vector Prime is the first, but Heir to the Empire is an easier entry point to Legends.
Are the books violent?
Yes. The war with the Yuuzhan Vong includes deaths of major characters.
Who are the Yuuzhan Vong?
An alien species that invades the galaxy and rejects technology, using living tools and weapons instead.
Who wrote The New Jedi Order?
Several authors contributed, including R.A. Salvatore, Michael Stackpole, Kathy Tyers and Troy Denning.
Is Thrawn canon?
Thrawn was reintroduced into canon in the TV series Star Wars Rebels and in new novels.
Which book is best for new readers?
Heir to the Empire is a good starting point.