An Unrevised Exploration of Star Wars Expanded Universe
With the introduction of Dark Empire and Heir to the Empire, Star Wars Expanded Universe became all one universe, one great history of a galaxy far far away. Each new element referenced past events in the media, be it books, comics, video games, movies, TV shows or roleplaying guides. Older works were gradually retconned in and explained to reduce contradictions. Over 30 years of stories became not separate stories or fan fiction based on Star Wars, but authors chosen and guided by Lucas’ company to tell the story that stayed true to his vision. It required question and answer sheets to Lucas, final approval on major character developments like deaths, marriages and children. The prequel era was not open for development until after the movies of that time were released. But ultimately, each story referencing the other makes for one vast galaxy, where you may enjoy one media or story or more with the joy of finding a favorite new character stars in other media as well.
The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour cartoons brought Star Wars to children’s animation. The same studio created them as the brief Boba Fett introduction in the Star Wars Holiday special (the only bit of that which was looked on in a positive light.) These cartoons were the most expensive produced at the time, and they … Read more
In the Aftermath of Order 66 and the declaration of Empire, every being, from smugglers to surviving Jedi, to separatists to refugees, find the galaxy changed. The Dark Times are here, in spite of Palpatine’s promises of peace and order, the galaxy is more dangerous than ever. This is not an era of happy endings. … Read more
Dark Horse comics was finally unleased in 1999 before The Phantom Menaces The comics, eventually named Star Wars Republic, expanded on characters that would appear in the movies and the elements that would lead to from right before The Phantom Menace to just after Order 66. Review: The stories in this series give a good … Read more
The Star Wars Holiday Special is infamous for how corny it is. George Lucas has said if he had time, he’d go smash every copy with a hammer. While Lucas did supply the original story, the timing didn’t allow him to continue to manage it. Perhaps it was this which had him keep all Star … Read more
Most people first saw Boba Fett in the Empire Strikes Back, a few in the Holiday Special. But few imagined the child he must’ve once been, or how he became the ruthlessly efficient hunter he was. This is how he got that way. Orphaned by the swing of a Jedi lightsaber and seeing only the … Read more
“Only two there are, Master, and apprentice” ~ Yoda and Darth Bane: the Path of Destruction is where it begins. While he first appears in the Jedi VS Sith comics, this story fills out his backstory up until the ending where he is set to establish the Rule of Two. Darth Bane Lore and Continuity … Read more
X-Wing Rogue Squadron fires up an adventure that catapults Wedge Antillies and the new hero, Corran Horn, into star status. Wedge already survived 2 Death Stars and Hoth, Corran is a (almost) new character. But now, Luke Skywalker’s legendary squadron has been officially handed over. Rogue Squadron is being rebuilt with the best of the … Read more
It’s easier to say with the first part of the Force Unleashed game, since the second was a cliffhanger that went unfinished. The first part storywise is excellent. The game mechanics are (naturally) overpowered, and it’s clear that it was designed for a controller, not a keyboard. There are variances in game versions, but the … Read more
Patterns of Force doesn’t just wrap up the Coruscant Nights trilogy, but several plotlines from previous Michael Reaves’s stories and finishes in a satisfying way. It is a fun adventure, but a bit frustrating because it doesn’t so much explain all it’s own started threads as well. I love the general story I just do … Read more
Spoilers for the previous books. Jedi Academy: Champions of the Force by Kevin J. Anderson story itself does reiterate and repeat certain points, as a refresher for those who haven’t read them in awhile. It’s an action packed finale to the series. It was a bit overwhelming at times but did get a great thrill … Read more
The inspiration for this era comes of Star Wars the Old Republic game’s Tython and it’s ancient Jedi lore, as well as Knight’s of the Old Republic’s Rakata. Who were the Jedi, before their were Jedi, or a Republic? Dawn of the Jedi comics answer this. They were the Jedaii Rangers, originating from Tython where … Read more
In 2003 George Lucas decided to hire Genndy Tarkovsky to create a series of animated shorts of the Clone Wars. Originally it aired in the commercial break, during cartoons on the Cartoon Network channel. Eventually these shorts were put together into DVDs. The first set of animation featured various battles throughout the galaxy. Genndy had … Read more
Story by Kevin J. Anderson, original cover art was by John Alvin. It was released in 1996. This is an amazing piece of galaxy building and I can’t overestimate it’s importance to the mythos of Star Wars. This was the book that starts the massive multimedia project, where game, comic and novels would tie together … Read more
Jax Pavan had barely made knighthood when Order 66 or ‘Flame Night’ went down. Now in Jedi Twilight, he’s finding that being on the run has compromised his morals as well as his ability to access the Force. To top it off, Vader for some reason is looking for him, him personally, with more interest … Read more
The final chapter of the Bounty Hunter Wars is an action packed story of survival set during the events of Return of the Jedi. Hard merchandise is the cold term that bounty hunters use for the people they hunt and treat as products to profit off of. And sometimes, the hunter themselves may become the … Read more
I’m writing this coming up on it’s 40th anniversary! Growing up on the original trilogy, this was my hands down favorite even though as a kid, I wasn’t sure what moved me so strongly. It left me speculating on who Anakin Skywalker was before his fall and I was eager to see it. It was … Read more
I,Jedi is by Michael Stackpole and he is the primary author of most stories (but not all) stories involving Corran Horn and his family. Warning going in: this book I,Jedi contains a few spoilers for the X-Wing Rogue Squadron Book Series. It also has spoilers for the Jedi Academy series. This book does stand alone … Read more
This game is a challenge but has a great story. It’s quite a thrill to defeat it at all, even for one like me, who fails at hitting bonus goals. The Clone Wars video game is a blast if you love playing as a heroic Jedi Knight, flying fast vehicles and enjoy the Tales of … Read more
Padmé’s death dissatisfied many people. They felt it took away from her ‘strong woman’ status that she simply died when Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. Or they felt betrayed she died then at all, given that it was suggested that Leia had some memory of her. But while screen time limited an explanation and story … Read more
The plans for and initial construction of the Death Star is told in bits and pieces throughout the saga. This is how it fits together. It truly was an engineering marvel, and its a shame the technological advancements made for it were put to such an evil goal. Early Years of the Death Star – … Read more
My Thoughts I absolutely love this book, Star Wars the New Rebellion. It’s by far one of my favorites of the post Return of the Jedi era. All the heroes of the movies have a part to play with the same sense of adventure, danger, humor and heroism. This isn’t always so in the books, … Read more
The story of Choices of One goes that an Imperial Governor is offering the Rebels safe haven for a base, in part, in hopes they’ll help guard the system from alien attack from outside the Empire. This is being investigated by our heroes among others. It’s also known by the Emperor, hence his sending Mara … Read more
The classic hum of lightsabers being activated tends to mesmerize or terrify the citizens of the galaxy. The Jedi are a symbol of peace and to those supporting them it signifies hope, unless of course, you are a criminal. To the Sith, it’s merely a tool and symbol of power. This weapon is your life! … Read more
Razor’s Edge surely implies where Leia finds herself as a mission to trade for supplies for the new Hoth base takes a dark twist. Between being attacked by the Empire, an Imperial spy among the rebels, and just to top it off, a band of pirates, Leia, Han and her crew are now in terrible … Read more
The Comics It would be difficult to overstate the importance of Tales of the Jedi comics, both to me and the expanded universe. It opened up a whole new era of storytelling in a galaxy far far away. The characters for the first time were not our old familiar heroes of the original trilogy. The … Read more
Incompatibility with Disney’s Timeline There are several reasons why the very founding of the KOTOR and SWTOR games prevent them ever fitting into the Disney’s new canon. When Disney’s LFL announced they would not be continuing the old Expanded Universe, they claimed several things. One that all new stories would be equal in the new … Read more
In Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn, It’s time for our heroes to step up and break through the morass of red tape, fear, and political hatreds stirred up first by the discovery of the Caamas document and then by the alleged re-appearance of Thrawn. (This is in Specter of the Past. Read that … Read more
My rating: 4 1/2 Stars Overview: Our heroes are in a bit of transition from their usual jobs. But the past is a specter that haunts them, both individually and as a united government. They won’t be allowed much down time as an old document has resurfaced that holds clues to a decades old vicious … Read more
Some worlds were invented just for Star Wars the Old Republic, such as Quesh, Voss and Odessan. But others had their origins in other media. Some were in the movies but others were in the books, comics, and other video games before they are visited in this era. The game does an impressive job bringing … Read more
“He’s just been on Ansion dealing with a border dispute.” It’s a simple statement at the beginning of the movie, hinting at what Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice did right before Attack of the Clones. But the mission to Ansion entails a planet spanning adventure in the Approaching Storm. Along with Master Luminara Unduli and … Read more
The Ewok Adventure was released on TV in the US and in overseas theaters as ‘The Caravan of Courage’. Two human children are searching for their missing parents after a starship crash leaves them stranded on Endor. Who should show up to help…but Wicket the Ewok’s family. The story: In the Ewok Adventure, Mace and … Read more
When The Clone Wars was released there were two types of fans. The movie fans and those who delved deeper into the Expanded Universe. The former would’ve been thrilled with anything based on the movies. The latter naturally expected it would follow the foundational rules that all the other media had too. In Doctor Who, … Read more
Boba Fett and his Mandalorean introduction came even before Return of the Jedi Initially we only got the briefest of hints from the Empire Strikes Back that his armor was Mandalorean. We get the news he was a Mandalorean Protector from Fenn Shysa, one of the only three surviving members. He encounters Leia Organa on … Read more
People often seem to assume the Expanded Universe’s early works contradict the movies and use it as an excuse to say they are not canon. However, we can demonstrate how the movies themselves prove they do not contradict. The movies are a window to the galaxy. In the prequels that window is centered at a … Read more
The Phantom Menace is integral to the Star Wars saga, because it foreshadows Anakin’s entire journey. It reveals his strength that saved a galaxy, and his love that brought it hope. It also shows that his weakness isn’t a penchant for sadism, or mere raw anger or hatred. The Phantom Menace explains how Anakin could … Read more
Splinter of the Mind’s Eye often pops up when people complain about contradictions in the Expanded Universe. However, people perhaps aren’t noticing the publishing date. Splinter of the Mind’s Eye was written before The Empire Strikes Back, and is the story Lucas considered doing if Star Wars initial movie had not made enough for the … Read more
This is one of the most amazing trilogies ever regarding continuity. Han Solo’s story is followed from his childhood taken in by a thief to right before A New Hope. It’s also one of my favorites. The Han Solo trilogy explains many things never seen but clearly implied by the movies. Less a case of … Read more
Dark Forces: The first video game. Dark Forces primarily starts life as a video game. Built on the old Dos System, by modern standards its pretty out of date. But this pixelated adventure starring Kyle Katarn (the player) is the first critical movie tie in. That’s because it is Kyle Katarn who steals the primary, … Read more
Medstar 2 picks up the pace from the first book. Barriss makes a startling discovery about the Bota that brings her to face the real, subtle temptations of the Dark Side. Her questioning is a serious question on what one should do for the greater good. It also gives a great arc for Jos Vondar. … Read more
Star Wars games have a continuity set in the Expanded Universe. Some would prefer to assume that they have no game canon versions since there are many different endings. There are even some that are determined to believe that game mechanics mean the games contradict any other source and try and use it to give … Read more
The early Marvel comics were a huge part of helping Star Wars become a success. 20th Century Fox’s reluctance to promote the film meant that Lucas had to do it himself. This included setting up comics to whet fans appetites for a new sci adventure that would change the face of film making in spite … Read more
The Star Wars Sourcebook by West End Games even predates Heir to the Empire. merchandise, the first new companies to put out new products. It came out in 1987. Coming out even before Heir to the Empire, let alone the prequels, there were a lot of unknowns. Some might assume the later works are contradictory. … Read more
Tales of the Jedi is one of the biggest tie-ins to the Expanded Universe. The Dark Horse Comics story was later subtitled ‘Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic’ and was followed three sequels arcs: Dark Lords of the Sith, The Sith War and Redemption. It also had a prequel, Golden Age of … Read more
Continuity and the Story Obi-Wan plays. In between the story bits there are training / sparring levels in between the main ones. The game starts out before The Phantom Menace, and has Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon investigating the Black Heth gang and their Jin Ha allies. It starts on Coruscant and moves to Obredaan. On Coruscant … Read more
I expect this to get long as I am still playing the Star Wars The Old Republic game and I can’t walk a few steps without running into references. This isn’t surprising as its a follow up to the Knights of the Old Republic series which itself was based on the Tales of the Jedi … Read more
The Last Adventure Of Han, Luke, Leia and Lando – the Original Trilogy Heroes Crucible the culmination of a lifetime of service that began with the Original Trilogy, as well as a chance to unexpectedly reflect on the past and decide on the future. Youth has been replaced with age, but also with wisdom and … Read more
In the Star Wars Galaxy, Kaminoans are the most famous cloners but not the only ones. The Clone Armies of the Republic too, are famous. But again, they are not the only clones. Clones: Jango Fett clones: While the first clones were born on Kamino and trained by mostly Mandaloreans, later clones were born on … Read more
The Jedi Academy Game is a tie in that goes in all directions. By this I mean previous games, comics and books, as well as those that come after. For that alone I would love it. I also find it most helpful in that I had previously been stuck on Jedi Outcast. After playing this … Read more
Medstar, Battle Surgeons is not an adventure in the sense where the heroes are running from or blasting bad guys. These are the kind of heroes who fight to save lives with medical supplies. This is the Star Wars version of M*A*S*H with a mystery twist set during the Clone Wars. Barriss Offee is sent … Read more
If one has seen Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and realizes where Darth Maul: Shadowhunter lies in the timeline, one might assume one knows how it ends. If Darth Maul gets halved by Obi-Wan there, he clearly doesn’t die here. But sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. Sometimes, things don’t turn out … Read more
