Three Cs

My parents introduced me to Star Wars when I was young, and I have been a fan as long as I can remember. I was thrilled when the prequels came out, but when they were over, I was left wanting more. When I found out there were Star Wars books, I thought I might give them a try. Then, I looked online and found out that there were dozens, maybe even hundreds, of books in the “Expanded Universe.” I was so overwhelmed that I decided to give up on reading the books altogether.

I avoided the books for years until I met my husband. He was a fan of the books and recommended I read The Thrawn Trilogy, the first authorized books set after Episode VI. After devouring all three of them, I branched out to other Star Wars novels. I discovered that each series in the Star Wars universe was separate, and as long as I had knowledge of the movies, I could enjoy the books without reading every single book that was set before them. I felt like I’d found a treasure trove, and since new books were constantly being published, I thought it would last forever.

Then, Disney bought the rights to Star Wars, and all the books in the Expanded Universe were put under the Legends banner. The new movies have had a lot of things going for them, but for me, they fall short of the Expanded Universe timeline. So, I’d like to share my top 10 reasons that everyone should still read the Star Wars Legends books, even though they’re no longer considered “canon.”

1. Luke Skywalker becomes Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order. Looking at how Return of the Jedi ends, I always thought Luke would successfully establish and lead a new order of Jedi. In the Legends timeline, this happens. Luke establishes a Jedi Academy and trains many new Jedi. Eventually, he becomes the wise, powerful Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order and is as respected as Master Yoda was in the prequels. Personally, I like that idea a lot more than what is shown in the Disney timeline, and I find it a lot truer to his character. I just can’t wrap my mind around the idea of Luke there’s-still-good-in-my-father-even-though-he-is-the-second-most-evil-man-in-the-galaxy Skywalker even considering killing his nephew simply for having darkness within him.

2. Han and Leia stay happily married. I’ve always thought Han and Leia make a great couple. After Leia revealed that Luke was her brother and kissed Han at the end of Return of the Jedi, I assumed the two of them would be together forever. In the Legends timeline, that is exactly how the story goes. Han and Leia face a lot of heartache, including one of their children turning to the Dark Side, but they cling to each other, rather than letting it pull them apart. That is what I always wanted and expected for them.

3. Leia becomes a Jedi Knight. From the moment Leia said, “He is…I can feel it” at the end of Episode VI, I wanted Leia to become a Jedi. Not a Force-sensitive being who could occasionally use inexplicable powers in times of desperate need. A real Jedi who could fight beside Luke. Though it takes many years due to her responsibilities as a politician and a mother, this does eventually happen in the Legends books, and it’s satisfying.

4. Mara Jade. One of my favorite Star Wars characters never appears in any of the movies. Her name is Mara Jade, and she is amazing. Timothy Zahn first introduced her in Heir to the Empire, the first book in The Thrawn Trilogy. Formerly known as the Emperor’s Hand, Mara Jade is a fiery, independent spirit who eventually captures the heart of Luke Skywalker. For me, the Star Wars universe just isn’t complete without her.

5. In the New Jedi Order, Jedi are allowed to marry. As much as I enjoy the prequel trilogy, I sometimes get frustrated with the Jedi Order when I watch it. Anakin Skywalker struggled with attachment from the moment he left Tatooine, and the Jedi philosophy of letting go “of all he feared to lose” just didn’t work for him. If the Jedi Order had helped him deal with his feelings, rather than telling him to suppress them, he probably never would’ve become Darth Vader. In the New Jedi Order, Luke changes the rules. He allows Jedi to marry and teaches them the importance of putting the greater good above the good of their loved ones. It comforts me to know that the Jedi Order changed so that the tragedy of Anakin’s fall the to the Dark Side doesn’t have to repeat itself.

6. Grand Admiral Thrawn. In the Legends timeline, Emperor Palpatine’s successor is a blue-skinned, red-eyed Chiss by the name of Thrawn. He is a brilliant tactician who has no Force powers whatsoever, a refreshing change after the Emperor and Vader. Thrawn was such a beloved character that Disney has actually included him in their books as well, but nothing beats seeing him in his original role as the heir to Palpatine’s empire.

7. The three Solo children. I really don’t like Kylo Ren, formerly known as Ben Solo. To me, his character seems to have all of Anakin’s/Vader’s worst qualities and none of his redeeming ones. In contrast, Han and Leia have three children in the Legends books: Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin. All three of them are original, intriguing characters. I especially enjoy the snarky, powerful Jaina who is eventually given the title “The Sword of the Jedi.”

8. Ben Skywalker. While I’m thinking about children, Luke and Mara Jade have a son named Ben in the Legends timeline. Ben is an interesting character who at one point comes close to falling to the Dark Side. Watching Ben grow up and seeing his relationship with his father develop is awesome, especially in the Fate of the Jedi series. The first book in that series is Outcast by Aaron Allston. Side note: I think it makes a lot more sense for Luke to name his son Ben since he actually admired and would want to honor “Ben” Kenobi.

9. The New Republic flourishes. The first time I watched The Force Awakens, it broke my heart when the First Order used Starkiller Base to blow up the entire New Republic. It seemed to negate everything that our heroes accomplished in Episodes IV-VI. In the Legends books, the New Republic, later renamed the Galactic Alliance, is much too large to be destroyed by a single shot from any weapon. It includes hundreds of planets, and though it has its issues, it remains a strong, democratic entity.

10. The new Jedi Council. The Council of the New Jedi Order has some fascinating members. There’s Cilghal, a Mon Calamari who specializes in healing; Saba Sebatyne, a lizard-like Barabel who is ferocious in combat; and Kyp Durron, a human male who was previously under the influence of a Sith lord. In the Legends timeline, you get to know the Masters on the Council and see how they operate, which helps you understand the Jedi Order much better.

So, those are my top ten reasons that I prefer the Legends timeline over the Disney one. I think every Star Wars fan should read at least a few of the Legends books, regardless of how you feel about the movies. If it helps, just think of them as an alternate timeline, or as Disney calls them “legends.”

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