Well Happy New Year out there all you dungeon crawlers! It’s officially 2024 but before we start off the new year for real, I thought I would give a little wrap up about what happened here on my blog this year. I’ll also give you a little peek into a few of the things you might see on here in 2024. If you can’t stand this kind of a post, don’t feel like you need to read it, I just like to do a little reflection now and then. I’m just going to be talking about what happened on my blog more or less, not big news stories (for the most part) or anything like that. Let’s see what happened in the categories I covered.
film
I started off the year wanting to review every movie I saw. I failed on that goal because, well, you know, life and stuff. But I started out reviewing one of the oddest movies I have ever seen called Adult Swim Yule Log (AKA The Fireplace). It’s not for everyone but it’s definitely memorable. In January I also reviewed Prey which is best entry the Predator series has had in decades. Horror films in theaters started off fairly strong in the form of M3GAN about an android doll who does what android dolls do and tries to kill everyone. January also had a Friday the 13th in it so I reviewed the last of the Friday the 13th movies I can, Freddy vs. Jason. I’m still hopeful for a 13th movie in the series but we’ll see if that ever actually happens.
In February they rereleased Titanic for a limited time and made me ugly cry as always. On Valentine’s day I watched Picnic at Hanging Rock which is a quiet horror movie with a decidedly creepy vibe which also happens to take place on Valentine’s day. I also watched Tom Hanks be a grumpy old man in A Man Called Otto. February brought with it more Ant-Man in the form of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It was sort of okay but certainly not Marvel’s best.
In May it was the anniversary of Return of the Jedi so I wanted to give everyone a guide on how to go about watching, reading, playing etc. in the universe of Star Wars. I’ve got a lot left to review on that so stay tuned if you like Star Wars. Also in May I reviewed the entire Fast & Furious franchise starting with the very first movie, The Fast & The Furious. It’s mind boggling how far into ridiculousness these films get.
I didn’t really watch any movies in July actually so nothing to report here.
In August there was a refreshingly independent horror movie called Talk to Me. And a couple of box office juggernauts were launched with Oppenheimer and Barbie. I watched them both but only got around to reviewing the first one. They’re both worth watching though!
In October I reviewed the whole Psycho franchise (excluding the TV series Bates Motel) starting with the first film. I also reviewed the double feature slashers of X and Pearl.
I was a little burned out on movies so didn’t review any others until December when I watched what might have been my favorite film of 2023 and an absolute mastery of storytelling with Godzilla Minus One.
So, what’s coming up on this blog for film for 2024? Well, I can’t say I am overly excited about what is coming to theaters but I’m sure I will review a few things here. I’ll almost certainly review the Oscar picks for best picture. As far as film series to review I think I am going to go with the whole Halloween franchise and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies. We’ll see if I end up doing any others.
Books
It was a busy year in books for me. In February I read the second volume of the Time Corrector series, The Movement by Avi Datta. It’s a fantastic series and a beautiful book. And I am very excited that I have the third volume which I will be reviewing in early February. I also started reviewing the Empire series by Tim Goff.
In November I read Illyadra by Adriel Wallaker and Drakomunda by Guy Quarterly.
December I read The Badlander by Tom Golden which has an utterly unforgettable ending. I also read To the Solemn Graves which is a solid ghost story anthology by Kim Idynne.
In 2024 you can expect more reviews of independent author’s books from Reedsy. I’m also hoping to but in a few more Star Wars book reviews and couple of reviews for bigger name authors, especially in fantasy and science fiction. I am a slow reader so we’ll see how far I get.
Marvel
I continue my quest to review every Marvel 616 comic in order and I made some progress this year. There is still a ton to go.
I could link every post I did on these this year but my series of reviews is meant to be read from the beginning so I am going to cheat a little and just link you to that first post here. If you read through it, you can link to the next one at the bottom and go in order.
I love Marvel comics and for 2024 I plan to continue with these reviews. I have to take breaks from it here and there because as much as I do love them, these early issues can seem a bit repetitive. Once you’ve seen Thor beat up a bunch of communists you don’t really need to see it again but that just keeps happening. Anyway, as far as Marvel goes on this blog just watch for more of it!
Star Wars
As far as Star Wars goes, as I mentioned above I have a lot left to review. I did come up with a guide for how to get started here. And I managed to review The Light of the Jedi.
For 2024 I’ll be reviewing Into the Dark which is the next book in phase 1 of the High Republic series. I will also probably start reviewing the movies but those are going to be a super deep dive so I’m not sure if I will complete that this year. I’ll be consuming tons of Star Wars stuff as I always to but how much I review basically remains to be seen.
Role Playing Games
Oh boy did a lot happen in the world of TTRPGs this year! There were too many crazy things to cover but the year did not start off well for Wizards of the Coast who makes Dungeons & Dragons. They had a huge debacle in what came to be knows as the OGL well.. debacle. And a ton of other stuff happened too. At the end of 2023 I basically feel better about TTRPGs as a hobby as a whole but D&D really needs to figure itself out as soon as possible if it wants to stay the most popular TTRPG of all time.
In January I gave my recommendations for the Top 5 TTRPGs to play in 2023. Also in January things started happening with the OGL (Open Gaming License) which allows creators to make third party stuff for D&D. But you know what? There are other rules systems and companies out there and people who want to make stuff for TTRPGs can use them. One of my favorites is the Basic Role Playing system by Chaosium. January just went crazy with the whole OGL thing and another company who I would say proved to be one of the best in 2023 was Paizo who makes Pathfinder. I wrote about that here.
In February I gave my picks for great gifts for any game master here. I know, it’s not romantic or whatever but hey, everyone can use dice and stuff like that. There were also a lot of play tests of new games happening in 2023. In particular in February there was the first play test of what was called Project Black Flag but will be known as Tales of the Valiant. It’s got the potential to be a D&D rival but it remains to be seen how popular it ends up becoming.
One of the things I find most difficult about TTRPGs is just finding a group to play consistently. A great way around that is to play solo TTRPG games which is why I cam up with my list of Top 5 Solo TTRPGs in April.
In August I got my hot little hands on a game I am super excited about which combines my love of Marvel comics with my love of TTRPGs. That’s right, I wrote about everything you need to know about the Marvel Multiverse Tabletop Role Playing Game. I also did a review of the core rulebook here and did a breakdown of the first chapter here. I’ll be doing a lot more with this book and this game in 2024 so if you are into Marvel TTRPGs watch for that.
In October I did one of the two things I am most proud of for 2023. I wrote my first scenario for Call of Cthulhu 7th edition called Fantastic Light Display. I worked for more than a month on it and I’m still just really excited to have published anything TTRPG related. This is definitely not for everyone but I had an absolute blast making it.
Also, because it was October, I couldn’t resist giving my recommendations for the Top 5 Monster TTRPGs to play.
In December, the MCDM TTRPG had a crowdfunding kick off and I have to say this is the game I am most excited for coming out in 2024 so expect a lot more written about it right here on this blog.
I had such a great time making my first Call of Cthulhu 7th edition scenario that I decided to do it again. This one is called Trouble on the Rock and is set on Alcatraz island just as the military prison is about to become a federal penitentiary. This is also just the first part as I intend to do two more in the On the Rock series. In February watch for the second in the series called Terror on the Rock. Just to be clear, these are related but stand alone scenarios so you don’t have to play one to enjoy the other. If you are into TTRPGs and like Call of Cthulhu it would be awesome if you could spread the word about it!
In 2024 you can expect more posts about how to play TTRPGs, more Top 5 lists, and definitely more scenarios, adventures etc written by yours truly!
Stories by Me
I definitely didn’t write as many short stories in 2023 as I intended to but I still got a few out.
In January I wrote Resolutions. Never try to grow tomatoes is my advice.
In February I wrote about Twenty Years of Walking Away and a story called Invasion. I also posted a story called Space Walk. That story actually first appeared in a collection called Flashbang! Volume II featuring a bunch of independent authors. I just wanted everyone to enjoy my story for free as well if they wished to.
In September I had another story featured in a collection called In a Flash. Again, it features a whole lot of independent authors and they are all flash fiction stories so it’s a nice small bite of fiction for when you don’t have a lot of time.
And as I said in the section above, I published my first two Call of Cthulhu 7th edition scenarios. These are not technically stories but they are written by me and I hope people enjoy them. I’m not trying to make anyone spend a dime on anything I write unless they want to but if you do, buying those scenarios is the best way currently to show your support for this blog.
In 2024 I definitely want to bring back my Flash Fiction Friday series and hopefully have a few good stories for you to read. I absolutely am not going to have one for every Friday of the year but I’ll do what I can!
I’m also working on a novel, but I’ll tell you more about that once I get to a point where I think it’s really worth sharing something. I’m not sure what all else I will get up to as far as writing goes this year but you can definitely expect more blog posts!
Heading into 2024
There are a lot of things I am excited for in the coming year and I hope you’ll decide to keep reading some of my posts whether you enjoy my fiction, my reviews of books and movies, my nerding out about Star Wars and Marvel and TTRPGs or all of the above. I hope everyone has an incredible 2024 and I wish all of you a Happy New Year!
It is a golden age. Intrepid hyperspace scouts expand the reach of the Republic to the furthest stars, worlds flourish under the benevolent leadership of the Senate, and peace reigns, enforced by the wisdom and strength of the renowned order of Force users known as the Jedi. With the Jedi at the height of their power, the free citizens of the galaxy are confident in their ability to weather any storm But the even brightest light can cast a shadow, and some storms defy any preparation.
When a shocking catastrophe in hyperspace tears a ship to pieces, the flurry of shrapnel emerging from the disaster threatens an entire system. No sooner does the call for help go out than the Jedi race to the scene. The scope of the emergence, however, is enough to push even Jedi to their limit. As the sky breaks open and destruction rains down upon the peaceful alliance they helped to build, the Jedi must trust in the Force to see them through a day in which a single mistake could cost billions of lives.
Even as the Jedi battle valiantly against calamity, something truly deadly grows beyond the boundary of the Republic. The hyperspace disaster is far more sinister than the Jedi could ever suspect. A threat hides in the darkness, far from the light of the age, and harbors a secret that could strike fear into even a Jedi’s heart.
REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule is the first book in the first phase of what is known as The High Republic in Star Wars lore. This means the book takes place thousands of years before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. To make things more confusing in the timeline (as Star Wars is fond of doing) the second phase of the High Republic books takes place chronologically before Light of the Jedi. But, as this is the first book in a first phase for Star Wars books, it’s a good entry point for anyone who hasn’t read Star Wars books before. It’s also a great book for long time fans of Star Wars.
Be warned there will be some spoilers below for the book but I will try to keep them light.
It’s a time of prosperity and peace in the Republic. Most worlds in the galaxy are part of the Republic and benefit from the governance on Coruscant and the protection of the Jedi order. Only the outer rim territories, on the edge of the galaxy, are yet to join. And the Jedi and the Republic have worked together to bring online a new station and signal of hope known as the Starlight Beacon. This is meant to be a place where world representatives can come and find common ground, as well as a place for Jedi to be able to gather and protect citizens when needed.
Just as this new symbol of hope for the galaxy is about to be opened, unimaginable disaster threatens the galaxy. Something impossible is coming out of hyperspace. It seems there was a collision of some kind as a ship was traveling through hyperspace. This should not be possible according to everything the Senate and the Jedi know to be true.
Yet this event, known as the Emergence is happening and at the speed the debris of this wreck is happening, it could shatter worlds, and even whole systems of planets, to dust. If the Jedi cannot coordinate a response fast enough to prevent the damage, countless worlds will be lost and the lives of trillions of beings will be forfeit.
Even as the Jedi work together with the Republic and with brilliant and courageous beings across the galaxy to prevent damage or aid in rescue efforts, a threat is brewing behind the scenes.
It seems not everyone is on board with the Republic and the Jedi enforcing their version of peace on all beings in the galaxy. There is a secretive, yet powerful, group called the Nihil who are making moves behind the scenes which may disrupt the peaceful way of life in the galaxy.
Are the emergences unrelated to this new threat, or is there something more going on? Can the Jedi prevent casualties while uncovering the truth? And, even if the Jedi do find out the truth, will their power be enough to slow the tide of destruction?
If you’re expecting a book full of characters from Star Wars you are familiar with, this book will disappoint you. Yoda is mentioned a few times but he’s not in any way a main character here. This comes as a bit of a mixed blessing.
On the one hand, new characters are built up and we get to know them a bit, and it’s refreshing to see something we haven’t before. On the other hand, since we don’t know a lot about them yet, when they are in danger or killed, we don’t care as much as we would for an established character.
Some of the really interesting things in this book are new uses of the Force, a really interesting way to use astromech droids, and one of the most memorable endings of a Star Wars book I have seen in a really long time.
There are a few standout new characters here and I think two to watch will be Avar Kriss who is known as the best of the best of the Jedi (my vote is still for Yoda in that department though) and Loden Greatstorm who is willing to be a lot more experimental with the force.
There’s also a good bit of explanation about hyperspace and how that came to be in this book but telling much more than that would be a pretty heavy spoiler here. The Nihil are introduced as bad guys. I’ll admit I was not entirely on board with them being interesting until near the very end of the book. But the ending completely changed my mind and now I find them fascinating.
The action is fast paced but oddly, at the beginning where the biggest threats are, the story feels a little slow. I think that’s just because we don’t actually know these characters yet so it’s hard to care what happens to them until further along. If you can make it through the beginning of the book, the end has a fantastic pay off so it’s completely worth the read whether you are a long time Star Wars fan or not.
I’m looking forward to seeing what other surprises are in store for this phase of Star Wars. If the quality of the writing is as good as it is in Light of the Jedi there will be a lot to like.
Have you read this book? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments! Also, if you think I should do more of a deep dive review for this book where we break down characters, force powers, etc. let me know that too!
The first Star Wars film was Star Wars: A New Hope debuting 1977
Hello internet, it’s Slick Dungeon here!
This week marks a special treat for Star Wars fans. I, myself, am a huuuge Star Wars fan so I’m pretty pumped about the fact that Return of the Jedi is playing in my area. For those of us who are big Star Wars fans this is something fun to go do and we always get a kick out of seeing some of our favorite films back in theaters. But, what I realized recently after talking to someone who has never seen any of the Star Wars movies is if you are new to Star Wars you might have no idea where to start.
I’m the type of Star Wars fan who loves it all. Yes, even that one that you’ve heard is terrible, or that other thing people are arguing about online. I find at least some entertainment value in everything Star Wars I have ever consumed. Yes, including that other one you heard not even Star Wars fans like. I like it. What this means is I have a pretty big base of knowledge when it comes to my favorite fandom. And that makes me the perfect person to guide someone who is overwhelmed by the sheer amount of Star Wars out there. You may not know how to begin and feel like there is so much media, it’s pointless to even try.
Well, good news if that’s you. I have you covered. I’m going to throw a lot of information at you here but if you stick with me through this post I’ll tell you the only way to get started with Star Wars.
I’m going to go through what Star Wars has to offer in all kinds of media, including film, television, books, video games and more. I’ll focus on the films mostly because that’s how 90% of people are introduced into the storylines but if you’d rather see what there is in the way of books, games, or whatever, I’m going to throw those in there as well.
The MOvies
As of this writing there are eleven live action films that have been released and it can be daunting to figure out what order to watch them in. There is an original trilogy, a prequel trilogy, a sequel trilogy and two spin off movies which don’t have to be watched to get the larger context but can be fun to fill in gaps. There is also an animated movie that debuted in theaters but doesn’t really belong in the list when you’re first trying to watch the main story. We’ll cover that one in the television section.
With these films there are two basic ways to watch. One way is in release order, as in, you watch them based on what year the film released. The other way is in chronological order. This would be going through the movies by episode number, with the spin offs squeezed in roughly around the time periods they would happen in the larger storyline.
With either method, the spin offs are technically optional, but I still recommend watching them.
Also, there are a couple of other methods some Star Wars fans use to watch the movies but that’s more advanced level watching so I’m just sticking to the two methods here.
Chronological Order
If you watch the movies in chronological order you get a fairly linear storyline and it’s pretty easy to follow the events in the films. It won’t be hard to keep track of the characters and you’ll know who the good guys and bad guys are. The problem with this method is it’s not very adventurous and it will make what would have been original twists in the movies seem like mundane facts everyone should know. I’ll give you the chronological order but I will say it is not my recommended way of watching for the first time.
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Release Order
Using the release order method you’ll feel like you were dropped into the middle of an episodic drama where there is missing information but you’ll still get a sense of the larger story. As you go through all of the films, many of the gaps will be filled in and a lot of the drama is intensified. It’s the way us original Star Wars fans saw them after years of speculating what would happen while we waited for the next installment. There are plot holes the size of a spaceship in some of these movies but they get filled in eventually either with other films in the series or through television, comic books, novels, and other media. Watching in release order will allow the viewer to have a lot more questions about the story and the twists and turns are a lot more fun to see unfold this way. I highly recommend using this method if you are new.
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Television
It used the be the case the only way to consume Star Wars was through film. Then came novelizations, comic books and video games. But recently there is a new Star Wars phenomena. Television. There are live action shows and animated shows. These shows take place during different periods in the larger storyline but in general, the television shows tend to fill in gaps in time between films. If you put the films and shows together, you start to get a massive storyline with hours and hours of stuff to watch. You can, in fact, just watch the television shows if you want to and not see the films. But, if you do that, you’re missing the most vital part of the story. While I don’t recommend it to someone new to Star Wars, television can be an entry point. I’m going to list the shows here and tell you how they fit in with the movies. Some shows are better than others but it also depends on what kind of show you like. There are shows full of action and cameos and fun easter eggs for hardcore fans. There are also shows that are slow burn character dramas. Whatever you like in the way of television, you can probably find a Star Wars show that fits your preferences.
I’ll give you the list of live action shows and the list of animated shows. As a rule of thumb the live action shows tend to lean toward a more adult audience and the animated shows are geared a bit more towards the younger crowd. There’s really only one show on here, Andor which you might think twice before showing to kids. Everything else is generally family friendly, depending on your viewing preferences.
Live Action Television Shows
Obi-Wan Kenobi – This focuses on a singular character and takes place between Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Andor – This also focuses on a singular character and it’s more of a slow burn character drama. It takes place after Obi Wan Kenobi but it is also between Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Star Wars: Holiday Special – This was a live action holiday special variety show George Lucas was contractually obligated to make. Not recommended to anyone but a superfan and it’s hard to find. It takes place between Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure – This is actually a movie made for television in the 1980’s and it takes place on the planet Endor which is featured in the movie Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. It’s made for kids and has a bit of a cult following but definitely looks like it was made in the 1980’s for television. It takes place after Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back but before Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor – This is a sequel to Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure. It was also made for television and takes place in the same time period as the first Ewok movie.
The Mandalorian – The most well known of all the live action shows. This is the one that stars Pedro Pascal and if you are going to start watching Star Wars through a television series, this would be my recommended entry point. It takes place between Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens. It connects to the larger stories but you can follow this story without knowing a lot about Star Wars to begin with.
The Book of Bobba Fett – This show has strong connections to The Mandalorian and they tie in together but the focus of this show is on a character from the movies. This takes place in the same relative time period as The Mandalorian.
Some of these shows are better than others but as I said above, the best entry point in TV shows for a new fan is far and away The Mandalorian. There is some question as to whether numbers 3, 4, and 5 on the list above count as “cannon” to the main story. I included them just because they are live action shows you could watch. One thing to make clear here is that you do not have to watch any of these shows for the films to make sense. Instead, the shows tend to do the job of filling in story gaps for the movies rather than being a launchpad for any of the films.
Animated Television Shows
Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles – A fun, silly show perfect for young kids and Lego enthusiasts. It talks about things in the movies but doesn’t count towards the larger story.
Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace – Similar to the above, this is a silly Lego version that relates to Episode I but is not actually part of the main story. Lots of fun to watch.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – This is an animated film which takes place between Episode II and Episode III. The movie itself wasn’t well received but it is the official start to the fantastic animated series The Clone Wars.
The Clone Wars – This is a series that ran from 2008 – 2014. It’s a great show full of intense action and intriguing drama. This is not only great for kids but adults can find a lot of value in this show as well. It does a great job filling in a lot of the blanks between Episode II and Episode III and really adds context to the story. If you are going to begin watching Star Wars through animated television, I highly recommend starting with this series.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – This is a series that follows The Clone Wars which focuses on a few characters. It’s still going on but it started in 2021. I don’t recommend watching it until you have seen The Clone Wars but once you have seen that one, it’s a great follow up.
Star Wars Rebels – This is a Disney series that takes place between Episode III and Episode IV. It shows the beginnings of the rebellion we see in Episode IV but it doesn’t focus on the characters from that film. The animation leaves a bit to be desired but the storylines are great and it’s definitely a good one for kids.
Star Wars Droids – This was a cartoon from the 1980s and it focuses on the droids from the Star Wars films. It takes place between Episode III and Episode IV but doesn’t really count towards the larger story. It’s fun to watch if you like 80’s cartoons but otherwise, definitely skippable.
Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out – Another Lego movie, pretty fun and it obviously lampoons Episode V but again, doesn’t count towards the larger story.
Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures – This was a series that aired from 2016-2017. It’s a bit of an outlier in that it is a Lego show that is episodic. At one point it was supposed to count towards the larger story but it doesn’t really fit. It’s still a fun watch, especially for kids, though.
Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales – This is another Lego special which focuses on the droids. And again, like the other Lego shows doesn’t really count for the whole story but is sure fun to watch.
Ewoks – This was the partner show to Star Wars Droids in the 1980s. This show focuses on the furry creatures known as Ewoks from Episode VI. I liked it as a kid but this probably doesn’t hold up that well compared to other cartoons of the time.
Star Wars Resistance – This is an animated series that takes place between Episode VI and Episode VII and focuses on a group of pilots. It’s a fun show but definitely geared towards the younger crowd. It does follow a bit of a story similar to how The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, and Rebels do.
Lego Star Wars: The Resistance Rises – Another Lego special. This takes place just before Episode VII but again doesn’t count towards the larger story.
I’ve left off several shows that are either upcoming, anthology series, or don’t count as cannon to the story. Those have their merits but most of the ones on the list above are worth watching (although if you hate Lego stuff don’t watch those). For my money, the best shows to watch on this list are The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, and Rebels. The rest are fun but those three have really engaging stories and there is some top notch animation in Clone Wars and Bad Batch. If you want to start watching Star Wars with animated series, I strongly recommend starting with Star Wars: The Clone Wars and then watching the follow up The Clone Wars series.
Video Games
Video games are a bit tougher to categorize. In order to give you all the possible games you could play that were related to Star Wars in some way, I’d have to practically give you a history of video game consoles. Instead, I will keep this simple and just include the ones that are now considered cannon. Just know there are a whole lot more games I could have put here.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) – This one is a cannon game. It’s a fun game and it does count toward the larger story though you don’t have to play it to understand the movies. It’s basically a first person shooter in space.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – This is an action adventure style game which focuses on a character who is not in the movies but does fill in some gaps between Episode III and Episode IV. It’s not only a great Star Wars game, it’s a great game. If you want to start your Star Wars journey with a video game, I recommend this one.
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars Series – This is a virtual reality game where it tells a little side story about someone Darth Vader hires. But mostly it’s fun because you get to pretend to swing around a lightsaber.
Star Wars Battlefront (2015) – This is fourth on the list, after Star Wars Battlefront because the main story happens in a time period later in the Star Wars universe. But technically both games cover multiple time periods so it’s a little confusing. Also, this is actually a reboot of a different Star Wars Battlefront just to make it even more confusing. But like the other one on this list, it’s an FPS style game with a bit of story that relates to the movies.
Star Wars Squadrons – This is a space battle game where you get to fly different kinds of ships and blow stuff up. It’s got a decent story as well. It’s a fun game but I wouldn’t recommend starting here as an entry point.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – This is the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and it counts toward the story. I wouldn’t play this one without playing the first one but this is the newest Star Wars game out there. The gameplay is fun and the story is as interesting as the first one (though I have not played to the end yet)
There are a few more games slated to come out but I won’t get into those here. If you just have to get started with Star Wars through video games, then I definitely recommend Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. But if you love FPS games, the Battlefront ones are good too.
Books
There are soooo many Star Wars books out there. Broadly they can be divided into two types, Cannon and Legends. Cannon means they count towards the current Star Wars stories. Legends means they once did but no longer do, or were written as something as a fun book but not meant to count towards the bigger story. To save us from the longest blogpost in human history, I am going to just put the Cannon books here. There are tons of Legends books I recommend people read but it really helps if you’re familiar with Star Wars at large before diving into those.
Also, there are many eras in the Star Wars timeline. The one that goes farthest back is called The High Republic. The thing with these books is they are coming out in phases and we are currently on phase 2. And in Star Wars tradition, phase 2 jumps even further back in time than phase 1. So I am putting these in order by chronology, not phases. Just know there are more books to come for phase 2.
The High Republic Phase 2
The High Republic: Path of Deceit
The High Republic: Convergence
The High Republic: The Battle ofJedha
The High Republic: Cataclysm
The High Republic: Path of Vengeance
I wish I could tell you what all those books are about but I have not yet read them. (Watch this blog for reviews on them eventually) But I can tell you these books do not focus on the characters from the movies with the exception of a character named Yoda. If you know nothing about Star Wars and want to start with the books to get the story from the very beginning, these are the ones to start with. They are a mix of books made for adults and kids though. And one of them is an audio drama. What I like about the High Republic books is they tell a big, connected story, but you get different types of media to enjoy it in.
Star Wars Insider: The High Republic: Starlight Stories
The High Republic: The Fallen Star
The High Republic: Midnight Horizon
The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life
Again I have not read all of these but what I have read so far I have enjoyed. If you want a real Star Wars experience without watching the movies, read phase 1 first and then read phase 2 which is the order they were released in.
Fall of the Jedi Era
Padawan
Master & Apprentice
Queen’s Peril
Queen’s Shadow
Dooku: Jedi Lost
Queen’s Hope
Brotherhood
The Clone Wars Anthology: Stories of Light and Dark
Dark Disciple
Thrawn: Ascendancy: Chaos Rising
This era takes place just before and during Episodes I, II, and III. You’ll notice I’ve left out the novelizations of the films on this list. That’s for two reasons. First, they are constantly printing new books so where those go in the list of books is constantly changing. Second, you may only want to read and not watch the movies, in which case you wouldn’t be interested in the novelization of the films. The movies are meant to be experienced visually first.
This is one of the most interesting eras in Star Wars as wars are burgeoning and plots are being hatched in the shadows which will lead to a calamity of war and destruction.
Reign of the Empire Era
Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good
Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil
Ahsoka
Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade
Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
Lords of the Sith
Tarkin
Most Wanted
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars
A New Dawn
Crimson Climb
This era is set between Episodes III and IV. Things start to take a darker turn here as a new power rises in the galaxy but with this rise also comes rebellion against those in control.
Age of Rebellion Era
Leia: Princess of Alderaan
Thrawn
Thrawn: Alliances
Thrawn: Treason
Guardians of the Whills
Rebel Rising
Rogue One
From A Certain Point of View
Battlefront II: Inferno Squad
Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure
Heir to the Jedi
The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure
Doctor Aphra: An Audiobook Original
From A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure
Battlefront: Twilight Company
These books take place in and around the time of the first three movies released. You have an evil empire in control with a small band of rebel fighters trying to overcome the powers that be. It’s my favorite era of Star Wars.
New Republic Era
The Princess and the Scoundrel
Alphabet Squadron
Aftermath
Alphabet Squadron: Shadow Fall
Aftermath: Life Debt
Aftermath: Empire’s End
Alphabet Squadron: Victory’s Price
Lost Stars
Last Shot
Poe Dameron: Free Fall
Shadow of the Sith
Bloodline
This era happens between Episode VI and Episode VII. It focuses on a time where it looks like the good guys have won but there are secret plans for a new evil power to rise. It’s one of the less explored eras in Star Wars which makes it pretty fun.
Rise of the First Order Era
Force Collector
Phasma
Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Aliens
Before the Awakening
The Legends of Luke Skywalker
Canto Bight
Cobalt Squadron
Resistance Reborn
Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire
Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate
These books take place before and during the so called sequel saga which comprises Episodes VII, VIII and IX. There is still a lot of territory to explore here so I am sure we’ll see more books to fill in here.
As you can see, there is no shortage of printed material to choose from when it comes to Star Wars. Most of the stories are self contained but connect to the larger story. You don’t have to read any of them to get into the movies. As far as quality of the writing goes, it varies, as does the subject matter. These are all generally kid friendly but some of them are slower and some of them are non-stop action. If you like to read, Star Wars will provide you with hours and hours of reading material.
Comic Books
I love a good comic book. And if it’s a good Star Wars comic book? Sign me up! There are tons of series out there and like the books they fall into legends and cannon. I’m only going to list the series that are cannon here. I’ll do my best to list them in order chronologically to the story, but these tend to jump around a bit. Pro Star Wars comics reading tip though – my favorite way to read this is to throw on the Star Wars soundtracks on a loop as I read them. That just makes it feel more like the films and gives me that good ol’ Star Wars movie vibe.
The High Republic Phase 2
Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II Vol. 1 – Balance of the Force
The High Republic: The Edge of Balance: Precedent
These are still being released so there’s not too much to catch up on here. It takes place thousands of years before most of the events in the movies.
The High Republic Phase 1
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, Vol. 1
Star Wars: The High Republic Vol. 1: There is No Fear
Star Wars: The High Republic: The Edge of Balance, Vol. 1
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, Vol. 2
The High Republic: Trail of Shadows
Star Wars: The High Republic Vol. 2: The Heart of Drengir
The High Republic: The Edge of Balance Vol. 2
The High Republic Vol. 3: Jedi’s End
These are all a fun read but again, not really connected to the movies… yet.
The Fall of the Jedi Era
Star Wars: Age Of Republic – Qui-Gon Jinn #1
Darth Maul
Star Wars: Age Of Republic – Darth Maul #1
Star Wars: Age Of Republic Special #1
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Graphic Novel Adaptation
Star Wars: Age Of Republic – Obi-Wan Kenobi #1
Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin
Star Wars: Age Of Republic – Jango Fett #1
Star Wars: Age Of Republic – Count Dooku #1
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Graphic Novel Adaptation
Jedi of the Republic: Mace Windu
Star Wars: Age Of Republic – Anakin Skywalker #1
Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales
Star Wars: Age Of Republic Special #1
Star Wars: Age Of Republic – General Grievous #1
Forces of Destiny: Ahsoka & Padmé #1
Star Wars: Age Of Republic Special #1
Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005))
You’ll notice here that I did put in the movie adaptations. That’s because in my opinion the comics do a great job of translating the films, better than the novels do. But, if you don’t want to read those, feel free to skip and watch the movies instead!
Reign of the Empire
Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 1: Imperial Machine
Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 2: Legacy’s End
Age of Rebellion: Darth Vader #1
Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 3: The Burning Seas
Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 4: Fortress Vader
Jedi: Fallen Order: Dark Temple
Han Solo: Imperial Cadet
Lando: Double or Nothing
Star Wars: Solo Graphic Novel Adaptation
Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca Vol. 1: The Crystal Run
Age of Rebellion
Star Wars: Age Of Resistance Special #1
Star Wars Rebels Manga Vol. 1
Star Wars Rebels Manga Vol. 2
Star Wars Rebels Manga Vol. 3
Kanan Vol. 1: The Last Padawan
Kanan Vol. 2: First Blood
Forces of Destiny: Hera #1
Leia, Princess of Alderaan Vol. 1
Rogue One: Cassian & K-2SO Special
Star Wars: Thrawn
Vader: Dark Visions
Star Wars: Obi-Wan — A Jedi’s Purpose
Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader’s Castle
Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader’s Castle
Guardians of the Whills: The Manga
Star Wars: Age Of Rebellion Special #1
Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation
Star Wars: A New Hope Graphic Novel Adaptation (Star Wars Movie Adaptations)
Age of Rebellion: Grand Moff Tarkin #1
Princess Leia
Star Wars Adventures: Smuggler’s Run
Age of Rebellion: Han Solo #1
Chewbacca
Han Solo
Star Wars: Age Of Resistance Special #1
Target Vader
Star Wars: Age Of Rebellion Special #1
Star Wars Adventures: The Weapon of a Jedi
Star Wars (2015) Annual #4
Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes
Darth Vader Vol. 1: Vader
Star Wars Vol. 2: Showdown on the Smuggler’s Moon
Darth Vader Vol. 2: Shadows and Secrets
Vader Down
Star Wars Vol. 3: Rebel Jail
Darth Vader Vol. 3: The Shu-Torun War
Darth Vader Vol. 4: End of Games
Star Wars Vol. 4: The Last Flight of the Harbinger
Doctor Aphra Vol. 1: Aphra
Star Wars Vol. 5: Yoda’s Secret War
The Screaming Citadel
Doctor Aphra Vol. 2: Doctor Aphra and The Enormous Profit
Star Wars Vol. 6: Out Among the Stars
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Storms Of Crait #1
Doctor Aphra Annual #2
Lando
Star Wars Vol. 7: The Ashes of Jedha
Star Wars Vol. 8: Mutiny at Mon Cala
Doctor Aphra Vol. 3: Remastered
Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: The Catastrophe Con
Doctor Aphra Vol. 5: Worst Among Equals
Star Wars Vol. 9: Hope Dies
Star Wars Vol. 10: The Escape
Star Wars Vol. 11: The Scourging of Shu-Torun
Doctor Aphra Vol. 6: Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon
Age of Rebellion: Lando Calrissian #1
Star Wars Vol. 12: Rebels and Rogues
Star Wars Vol. 13: Rogues and Rebels
Doctor Aphra Vol. 7: A Rogue’s End
Age of Rebellion: Boba Fett #1
Age of Rebellion: Jabba the Hutt #1
Star Wars: Age Of Rebellion Special #1
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Graphic Novel Adaptation
Lost Stars Vol. 1
Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path
Darth Vader Vol. 1: Dark Heart of the Sith
Bounty Hunters Vol. 1: Galaxy’s Deadliest
Doctor Aphra Vol. 1: Fortune and Fate
Darth Vader Vol. 2: Into the Fire
Star Wars Vol. 2: Operation Starlight
Bounty Hunters Vol. 2: Target Valance
Doctor Aphra Vol. 2: The Engine Job
War of the Bounty Hunters
War of the Bounty Hunters Companion
Darth Vader Vol. 3: War of the Bounty Hunters
Star Wars Vol. 3: War of the Bounty Hunters
Bounty Hunters Vol. 3: War of the Bounty Hunters
Doctor Aphra Vol. 3: War of the Bounty Hunters
Star Wars: Crimson Reign
Star Wars Vol. 4: Crimson Reign
Darth Vader Vol. 4: Crimson Reign
Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: Crimson Reign
Bounty Hunters Vol. 4: Crimson Reign
Star Wars Vol. 5: The Path to Victory
Doctor Aphra Vol. 5 — The Spark Eternal
Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 5 — The Shadow’s Shadow
Star Wars: Bounty Hunters Vol. 5 — The Raid on the Vermillion
Lost Stars Vol. 2
Age of Rebellion: Luke Skywalker #1
Age of Rebellion: Princess Leia #1
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Graphic Novel Adaptation
TIE Fighter
I know this is a looong list. But remember, comics are fast, light reads. And while I enjoy most of these, I think the Darth Vader and Dr. Aphra comics are some of the best comics (not just Star Wars comics) I have ever read. You definitely don’t have to read them all but a lot of them interconnect and make the stories more fun.
The New Republic
Star Wars Adventures: Shadow of Vader’s Castle #1
Star Wars Adventures: Ghosts of Vader’s Castle
Shattered Empire
Lost Stars Volume 3
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Vol. 1: Season One Part One
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Vol. 2 – Season One, Part Two
The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga
The Rise of Kylo Ren
Life Day #1
As you can see from the short length of this list, this is some of the less explored territory in the Star Wars timeline. There are some great stories here and anything with The Mandalorian is usually worth a look.
Rise of the First Order
Age of Resistance: Supreme Leader Snoke #1
Age of Resistance: Captain Phasma #1
Age of Resistance: Finn #1
Age of Resistance: General Hux #1
Age of Resistance: Kylo Ren #1
Age of Resistance: Rose Tico #1
Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down
Age of Resistance: Poe Dameron #1
Poe Dameron Vol. 1: Black Squadron
Age of Resistance Special #1
Poe Dameron Vol. 2: The Gathering Storm
Poe Dameron Vol. 3: Legend Lost
Poe Dameron Vol. 4: Legend Found
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Graphic Novel Adaptation
Captain Phasma
The Last Jedi: DJ #1
Age of Resistance: Rey #1
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Graphic Novel Adaptation
Poe Dameron Vol. 5: The Spark and the Fire
Allegiance
Galaxy’s Edge
Halcyon Legacy
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Graphic Novel Adaptation
These are decent comics but most of them are here just to get the audience geared up and excited for the sequel trilogy movies.
I think comic books can be a great way to get into Star Wars. If you’re not going to go with the movies, I think comics are the next best avenue for exploring the universe.
Tabletop Role Playing Games
This list would be incomplete without me at least mentioning some Table Top Role Playing Games (TTRPGs). If you are not into movies, video games, books or comic books, you can still enjoy the Star Wars universe. It certainly helps to at least have seen the movies but it’s not a requirement if you want to play these.
Star Wars: Edge of the Empire
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion
Star Wars: Force and Destiny
There are a bunch more Star Wars TTRPG’s than these but these three are pretty easy to find and get a group together to play. They let you be in charge of the story. It’s a lot like playing Dungeons & Dragons, only it’s in the Star Wars universe. I’ve spent a lot of hours playing these so I won’t bore you with the details but the only real difference between the three is at what time period in the Star Wars universe these things happen. I recommend them all if you do like TTRPGs.
The ONly Way to Get Started with sTar Wars
I’ve hit you with a lot of information here and you’re probably wanting me to get right to the point. Well, here’s the thing, there are tons of ways to get into Star Wars. I strongly suggest watching the movies in release order to begin with. But if you would rather read, watch TV shows or play video games, that’s totally fine. There is no wrong way to get into Star Wars.
So what’s the only way to get started with Star Wars? The way you want to! You might take a look and not like it at all. That’s totally fine. Some of the stuff on here is not for everyone’s taste. But I hope you give it a shot with one or more of the myriad avenues available to you. If you do get into Star Wars, I’ll have plenty to talk about with you.
Expect more Star Wars related content to pop up on this blog. If that’s not for you, no worries, I’ll still blog about other stuff.
Slick Dungeon's Dusty Tomes and Terrible Films 