Return of the Jedi
A Youtini Collection

Star Wars books you should read if you like
Return of the Jedi

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Return of the Jedi
"You were right about me. Tell your sister, you were right."
W

hen fans flocked to theaters to view what was thought to be, at the time, the end of the Star Wars saga, they had high hopes for answers to many outstanding questions. But most importantly, they counted on seeing Luke’s Jedi powers come to full fruition for the first time. 

This would be the event all had been waiting for -- Vader and Skywalker, supposed father and son, in a duel for not the first but perhaps the final time. And the movie, as it turns out, delivered on its promises.

Whether Return of the Jedi is your favorite Star Wars movie or simply in your top five, a two-hour film can only tell so much of the story. If you’ve ever reached the end of the original trilogy and found yourself hungry for more, don’t worry. The expanded universe can provide the literary satisfaction you’ve been craving.

Return to one of your favorite classic Star Wars films by checking out the stories surrounding and leading up to the film. This may not be the conclusion of your grandest reading adventure, but it will be worth every page.

This reading guide is
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Books in this Collection

The Youtini Collections team has hand-selected the books in this collection
Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Alphabet Squadron

Written by
Alexander Freed
Artwork by

The Emperor is dead. But the Empire is still clinging to what remains of its resources to survive. It’s up to a mismatched team of pilots to finish chipping away at what remains of one of the worst threats the recent galaxy has ever known.

If you’re a fan of the X-Wing books on the legends timeline, you will love the debut novel in this trilogy set just after the events of Return of the Jedi. With so little known about the events leading up to The Force Awakens, this is the perfect book to introduce you to the Galactic Empire’s final end.

The first novel in a new trilogy starring veteran New Republic pilots.

On the verge of victory in a brutal war, five New Republic pilots transform from hunted to hunters in this epic STAR WARS adventure. Set after Return of the Jedi, Alphabet Squadron follows a unique team, each flying a different class of starfighter as they struggle to end their war once and for all.
 
The Emperor is dead. His final weapon has been destroyed. The Imperial Army is in disarray. In the aftermath, Yrica Quell is just one of thousands of defectors from her former cause living in a deserters’ shantytown—until she is selected to join Alphabet Squadron.
 
Cobbled together from an eclectic assortment of pilots and starfighters, the five members of Alphabet are tasked by New Republic general Hera Syndulla herself. Like Yrica, each is a talented pilot struggling to find their place in a changing galaxy. Their mission: to track down and destroy the mysterious Shadow Wing, a lethal force of TIE fighters exacting bloody, reckless vengeance in the twilight of their reign.
 
The newly formed unit embodies the heart and soul of the Rebellion: ragtag, resourceful, scrappy, and emboldened by their most audacious victory in decades. But going from underdog rebels to celebrated heroes isn’t as easy as it seems, and their inner demons threaten them as much as their enemies among the stars. The wayward warriors of Alphabet Squad will have to learn to fly together if they want to protect the new era of peace they’ve fought so hard to achieve.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Written by
James Kahn
Artwork by

Return of the Jedi was the conclusion to a trilogy many never thought would take off the way it did. But seeing the final duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker and the destruction of the Empire -- and so much more -- made it one of the biggest events of its era. You've seen the movie a dozen, if not a hundred times. You can experience it again in the form of a book.

In the original novelization of the movie Star Wars fans are treated to what is claimed to be one of the best film-to-book adaptions in the franchise.

It was a dark time for the rebel alliance...Han Solo, frozen in carbonite, had been delivered into the hands of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt. Determined to rescue him, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Lando Calrissian launched a hazardous mission against Jabba's Tatooine stronghold.

The Rebel commanders gathered all the warships of the Rebel fleet into a single giant armada. And Darth Vader and the Emperor, who had ordered construction to begin on a new and even more powerful Death Star, were making plans to crush the Rebel Alliance once and for all.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Shadows of the Empire

Written by
Steve Perry
Artwork by

The Empire Strikes Back was a big hit, as was Return of the Jedi. But many fans wondered what our heroes were up to in preparation for Han’s rescue at Jabba’s palace. Shadows of the Empire fills the blanks in between the two films and gained enough popularity to be released in various media like comic adaptations, video games, and action figures.

His name is Xizor, Underlord of a galaxywide criminal organization called Black Sun. He seeks to displace Darth Vader as Emperor Palpatine's right hand. To do so, he will hatch a brilliantly evil plan to discredit Vader in the Emperor's eyes. But in the meantime he will join the Dark Lord in an unholy alliance whose common target is the young Rebel hero, Luke Skywalker.

While Vader and Xizor bait their trap for Luke, Han Solo is being held captive, flash-frozen in a carbonite slab. Mourning the loss of the man she loves, Princess Leia mounts a rescue mission to free Han. She enlists the aid of Luke, who is sharpening his skill in the Force at Ben Kenobi's home on the edge of Tatooine's Western Dune Sea. Skywalker organizes a crack fighting force, including Wedge Antilles and his famous X-wing squadron; Lando Calrissian; and the mercenary Dash Rendar. Yet the fierce battle that ensues to rescue Han will not go according to plan. For the Empire's spies are everywhere.

What's worse, though he is cold and reptilian, Xizor has a certain predatory charisma that not even Leia can totally resist. Against the judgment of Chewbacca, who has promised Han to keep her from harm, Leia walks willingly into Xizor's lair in a dangerous play of passion and willpower to get the information she needs to defeat him. At the same time, Luke stands in the crosshairs of a conspiracy of assassins and bounty hunters recruited by Xizor's lieutenant, the beautiful but lethal Human replicant Guri. As the struggle between Xizor and Vader intensifies, Luke finds himself the potential prize of the two most evil entities in the galaxy — one who wants him alive, and one who wants him dead.

In a final, explosive showdown, the Rebels must infiltrate Xizor's impregnable stronghold and fight the combined forces of Black Sun and the Empire in deep space. With death and betrayal looming on every side, Luke, Leia, Lando, and Chewie must use every weapon and resource at their disposal, including the Rebel fleet and some intriguing new allies, if they are to prove victorious. In Shadows of the Empire, Steve Perry adds an exciting new chapter to the Star Wars saga and introduces important new characters and situations no Star Wars fan will want to miss.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Tales from Jabba's Palace

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by
Part of the
Tales Series
From the infamous Boba Fett to the pitiful Malakili, Tales from Jabba's Palace has a story for everyone. The "Tales from..." collections are classic Legends adventures, taking the reader on a roller coaster of emotions as the short stories range from wacky to thrilling to bizarre! Tales from Jabba's Palace is no exception, featuring an incredible cast of Legends authors.

In the dusty heat of twin-sunned Tatooine lives the wealthiest gangster in a hundred worlds, master of a vast crime empire and keeper of a vicious, flesh-eating monster for entertainment (and disposal of his enemies). Bloated and sinister, Jabba the Hutt might have made a good joke -- if he weren't so dangerous. A cast of soldiers, spies, assassins, scoundrels, bounty hunters, and pleasure seekers have come to his palace, and every visitor to Jabba's grand abode has a story. Some of them may even live to tell it. . . .

Featuring original stories by: Kevin J. Anderson, M. Shayne Bell, John Gregory Betancourt, Mark Budz and Marina Fitch, A.C. Crispin, Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, George Alec Effinger, Kenneth C. Flint, Esther Friesner, Barbara Hambly, Daryl F. Mallett, J.D. Montgomery, Judy and Gar Reeves-Stevens, Jennifer Roberson, Kathy Tyers, Deborah Wheeler, Dave Wolverton, William F. Wu, Timothy Zahn.

Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Aftermath

Written by
Chuck Wendig
Artwork by

What many still don't know about the Empire is that it did not instantly crumble with the destruction of the second Death Star. For a long time, those who remained loyal to the Emperor held on, refusing to surrender and accept defeat. In the aftermath of the Battle of Endor, there is still a war to be won. And it's not just up to the high-profile heroes we know and love to get the job done.

Follow an unlikely team of rebel heroes, from old heroes like Wedge Antilles to new ones like Temmin Wexley, as they struggle against what remains of Palpatine's forces and try to save the galaxy from coming undone again.

As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance—now a fledgling New Republic—presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy's scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy's strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but is taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.

Meanwhile, on the planet's surface, former Rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world—war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles's urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn't know is just how close the enemy is—or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be.

Determined to preserve the Empire's power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit—to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven't reckoned on Norra and her newfound allies—her technical genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector—who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire's oppressive reign once and for all.

Canon
Canon
Graphic Novel

TIE Fighter (Trade Paperback)

Written by
Jody Houser
Artwork by
Roge Antonio
This miniseries is a compelling and sympathetic look at a devoted squadron of Imperial loyalists, loosely tying in to the book Alphabet Squadron. We see some fancy flying, tragic losses, and an examination of what really holds a squadron together. TIE Fighter is another solid Marvel miniseries, this side from the Imperial perspective.
Enter Shadow Wing! The Empire's salvation - the Rebellion's doom! As the war between the rebels and the Galactic Empire stretches on, it is the innocent people of the galaxy who are most at risk. An elite squadron of TIE fighter pilots is assembled to help protect Imperial interests - and hammer the Emperor's fury down upon the treasonous and violent Rebel Alliance. But how far is this untested team willing to go to preserve law and order? And are the pilots of Shadow Wing as loyal to the Empire as they seem?
Canon
Canon
Graphic Novel

Shattered Empire: (Trade Paperback)

Written by
Greg Rucka
Artwork by
Marco Checchetto
Shattered Empire was one of the momentous stories released just prior to The Force Awakens as part of the Journey to the Force Awakens publishing program. It begins right in the middle of the battle of the second Death Star above the Forest Moon of Endor. The miniseries follows Shara Bey, A-Wing pilot for the Rebel Alliance, who will become the mother to none other than Poe Dameron. The series follows her to several significant battles after Endor, including Operation Cinder’s razing of Naboo, and incredibly, in assisting Luke Skywalker in retrieving a Force-sensitive tree. . .

Emperor Palpatine's twenty-year reign of terror came to an abrupt and fiery end in the skies above the forest moon of Endor. A decisive victory for the Rebel Alliance, to be sure, but even with the loss of its leadership, the Empire's Moffs and regional governors retained their hold on important systems from the Core to the Outer Rim, thanks to the might of the Imperial Starfleet. Now, with a power vacuum atop the Empire, those Moffs will jockey for position and control, and the heroes of the Rebel Alliance will soon discover that a wounded and fractious Empire may be more dangerous than any threat they faced before! For the first time in the new Star Wars canon, journey with us into the time after the end of Return of the Jedi!

Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

The Princess and the Scoundrel

Written by
Beth Revis
Artwork by
The Princess and the Scoundrel is a Star Wars novel by Beth Revis, set shortly after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. The novel follows the story of Han Solo and Leia Organa as they embark on their honeymoon aboard the Halcyon Star Cruiser. Along the way, they must contend with the remnants of the Galactic Empire, as well as their own personal demons. The Princess and the Scoundrel is a fun and exciting read that will appeal to fans of Star Wars and romance novels alike. Revis does an excellent job of capturing the characters of Han and Leia, and she brings their relationship to life in a way that few other authors have been able to do. The novel is also full of humor, action, and adventure. If you're looking for a fun and exciting Star Wars story, then "The Princess and the Scoundrel" is definitely worth checking out.

The Princess and the Scoundrel

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo.

The Death Star is destroyed. Darth Vader is dead. The Empire is desolated. But on the forest moon of Endor, amongst the chaos of a changing galaxy, time stands still for a princess and her scoundrel.

After being frozen in carbonite, then risking everything for the Rebellion, Han is eager to stop living his life for other people. He and Leia have earned their future together, a thousand times over. And when he proposes to Leia, it’s the first time in a long time he’s had a good feeling about this. For Leia, a lifetime of fighting doesn’t truly seem over. There is work still to do, penance to pay for the dark secret she now knows runs through her veins. Her brother, Luke, is offering her that chance—one that comes with family and the promise of the Force. But when Han asks her to marry him, Leia finds her answer immediately on her lips . . . Yes.

But happily ever after doesn’t come easily. As soon as Han and Leia depart their idyllic ceremony on Endor for their honeymoon, they find themselves on the grandest and most glamorous stage of all: the Halcyon, a luxury vessel on a very public journey to the most wondrous worlds in the galaxy. Their marriage, and the peace and prosperity it represents, is a lightning rod for everyone in the galaxy—including Imperial remnants still clinging to power.

Facing their most desperate hour, the soldiers of the Empire have dispersed across the galaxy, retrenching on isolated worlds vulnerable to their influence. As the Halcyon travels from world to world, one thing becomes abundantly clear: The war is not over. But as danger draws closer, Han and Leia find that they fight their best battles not alone but as husband and wife.

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