8 Books That Will Scratch Your ‘Star Wars’ Itch
Image Source: IGN
With the overabundance of Star Wars shows on Disney+, some folks may be looking for additional content in a more static way. When George Lucas set out to create the universe we all know and love, he took inspiration from several classic science fiction books, amongst other things. So here are a few classics (in case you haven’t read them already) and some newer titles to fill your Star Wars void.
Dune - Frank Herbert
Image Source: Goodreads
A sci-fi staple that heavily influenced Star Wars, Frank Herbert’s Dune transported readers to a world where spice ruled, and computers didn’t exist. Herbert took the space opera, flipped it on its head, and created new rules that would have lasting effects on the genre to this day.
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Foundation - Isaac Asimov
Image Source: Goodreads
This book served as the inspiration for the Jedi Order, Hyperspace, and the Empire (it’s called the Galactic Empire in the book, so straight up “inspiration”). Asimov creates a world that is part-pulp and all political. If you’ve never read it before, check it out and see if you can guess how many other classics were inspired by this one. It literally is a foundation.
Icarus Hunt - Timothy Zahn
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A smuggler with an alien partner? Check. Skeezy spaceport? Check. Described as a book for people who don’t like the science fiction genre, Zahn writes a mystery space opera that checks all the boxes of a great story, including richly-detailed worlds, a complex plot, and plenty of aliens. Because who doesn’t want more aliens in their story?
A Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet- Becky Chalmers
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The entire Wayfarers saga is incredible, but its first book is fantastic. It gives off strong Firefly vibes but is written in a way that makes it much more believable, like it’s taking place in space as we speak.
Bloodline - Claudia Grey (Yes, It’s Star Wars W/O The Skywalker Drama)
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Technically, this is part of the Star Wars universe, but this book is so well-written that it could stand by itself if you took out the Star Wars names. Claudia Gray does a fantastic job showing us a side of a post-fall-of-the-Empire Leia.
Across The Universe- Beth Revis
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A common trope amongst sci-fi and fantasy books is heading towards an earth-like planet because you trashed regular earth. But Beth Revis starts this trilogy off with a murder mystery that keeps you hooked until you’re staring at the last page, leaving you wanting more.
The Darkness Outside Us - Eliot Schrefer
Image Source: Goodreads
Unfortunately marketed as a cute rom-com set in space, The Darkness Outside Us is far from it. Sure, it’s set in space, and there’s romance and comedy, but there’s also immeasurable grief, loss, heartbreak, and two people from warring planets stuck on a spaceship.
While plenty more titles would fit on this list, we have to get back to writing other awesome articles! These are a few to get you started and scratch your proverbial Star Wars itch. Happy Reading!
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Source(s): Polygon; Epic Reads; Game Rant; Early Bird Books; Goodreads