There is no single required order for reading Star Wars books. First choose a continuity—current canon or Legends—then decide whether you want publication order or the order of events in the galaxy. Also decide whether your list means novels only or includes comics and other formats. For most readers, a focused starting path is more useful than a purported list of “every Star Wars book”: the official High Republic guide is one well-defined example, but it covers that initiative rather than the entire publishing catalogue.
Choose the continuity before choosing an order
Canon and Legends are separate Star Wars continuities. In 2014, Lucasfilm announced that future novels from Disney Publishing Worldwide and Del Rey Books would be part of official canon, while the existing Expanded Universe backlist would continue under the Star Wars Legends brand. That announcement explains the continuity distinction; it is not proof that any particular later title is canon, so check a book’s status rather than relying on its publication date alone. Read Lucasfilm’s 2014 publishing announcement.
Keep the two continuities separate when you build a reading list. A combined list can be useful for comparing versions of the galaxy, but label it clearly: a Legends novel does not become part of the current canon simply because it shares characters or events with a canon book.
Decide what “in order” means
| Reading approach | What it orders | Useful when | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publication order | The sequence in which the selected works were released. | You want to follow how a series or publishing initiative unfolded for readers. | Publication order is not necessarily the sequence of events in the story. |
| In-universe chronology | The sequence of story events within the chosen continuity and scope. | You want a timeline-led reading experience. | Stories can overlap, particularly across formats, so a single linear sequence may simplify concurrent events. |
| Format order | Works grouped by format, such as novels or comics. | You want to read only formats you enjoy or have access to. | A novels-only list leaves out story material published in other formats. |
These choices answer different questions. A publication-order list is not a failed chronology, and a chronology is not a complete bibliography unless its continuity and included formats are specified.
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Set the scope of your list
“Star Wars books” may mean adult novels only, or it may include young-reader books, comics, audiobooks, and reference works. State the scope before following a list: otherwise two lists that appear to disagree may simply be counting different kinds of material. For a lower-friction start, choose one continuity, one format, and a contained series or era. For a comprehensive sequence, account for cross-format stories and overlaps instead of assuming novels tell the whole story.
Use the High Republic as a contained example
The High Republic is a clear example of why there can be more than one sensible order. StarWars.com’s High Republic reader guide, updated July 2, 2025, offers a chronological guide and also lets readers approach the initiative by release order or format. It includes books, comics, and other formats, and cautions that stories overlap and important events can happen concurrently. The guide’s ordering is for this initiative, not a complete order for every Star Wars book.
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| Phase | Story placement | What that means for a reader |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I: Light of the Jedi | Set about 200 years before the Skywalker saga. Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi is listed as a Phase I title and was released January 5, 2021. | A practical entry point if you want to begin with Phase I; the guide also supports other approaches. |
| Phase II: Quest of the Jedi | A prequel set about 150 years before Phase I. | For broad story chronology, this phase comes before Phase I, even though it is a prequel phase in the initiative. |
| Phase III: Trials of the Jedi | Returns to the year after the events of Phase I. | Read after Phase I for that story progression; use the guide for the sequence across individual works and formats. |
If you want a broad phase-level story sequence, the dates point to Phase II, then Phase I, then Phase III. If you prefer to follow how the initiative appeared to readers, use the guide’s release-order option. Neither phase sequence replaces the guide’s more detailed ordering across individual books and comics. As StarWars.com puts it: “Jump to the phase that sparks your interest, read them in story order, or experience them as released.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Make a useful reading list without mistaking it for a complete catalogue
- Choose canon or Legends. Do not silently mix the continuities.
- Choose the order. Pick publication order for release history, or in-universe chronology for story events.
- Set the format boundary. Decide whether the list covers novels alone or also comics, young-reader books, audiobooks, and reference works.
- Pick the experience you want. A focused starter path can be easier to follow; a comprehensive multi-format sequence needs to account for overlap and concurrent events.
- Check the list’s coverage. Treat a series guide as a guide to that series, not as a claim to include every book across the franchise.
The publishing slate continues to change. A Lucasfilm Publishing panel update dated July 24, 2026, reported new and upcoming books and comics, including Star Wars: Twin Crossroads, described as an adult novel following Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, and unabridged audiobook editions of the original-trilogy novelizations scheduled for February 2, 2027. Those announced audiobook editions are future releases as of this article’s October 2026 date; check release status before treating an announced title as available.
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