Short Stories
A Youtini Collection

Star Wars books you should read if you like
Short Stories

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Short Stories
“Indeed, true power resides not in armies and empires, or in blasters and ancient weapons of light, but in the tales we share with one another.”
T

hey’re fun-sized versions of the tales we know and love, a great way to get your fix when you don’t quite have the time, and a haven for characters who don’t usually get their chance in the spotlight.

Short stories offer so much for you to enjoy no matter what aspect of the Star Wars saga tickles your fancy.

Don’t be fooled by the width of a few small pages. Many anthologies are written by talented authors, some already well-known and some who use this chance to prove their worth. These writers don’t skimp on the details just because there’s less room to work with. Every story is treated with special care and that’s why we gladly welcome these collections on our prized bookshelves.

Rae Carson, Zoraida Córdova, and Daniel José Older all took their first steps into the Star Wars publishing world through From a Certain Point of View. Since then, they have written incredible full-length novels such as Most Wanted, A Crash of Fate, and Last Shot.

Reading their original short stories is like catching a glimpse of their transcendence into a larger world, and many more authors will continue to find their way to this galaxy through the same means as their predecessors.

It’s safe to say that these precious little adventures are in good hands, but what’s even more to love about Star Wars short stories? The focus of these narratives is nearly a free-for-all. Not enough Dengar in your life? Well you’re in luck. Want to hear the sentient thoughts of a giant space slug? Yes, someone actually wrote about that. Did you know R5-D4 blew himself up on purpose so Artoo could fulfill his mission to the princess? There’s a story that explains that, too.

Just like the book collections featured on our very own website, these anthologies typically follow a certain theme. The stories found within may seem a bit bizarre and even outlandish at times, but they’re still written with a purpose intended to give the reader something they would never be able to witness otherwise.

How would you like to take a special trip to the Mos Eisely cantina, or indulge yourself in the luxuries at Canto Bight just to hear unique tales from the locals? Maybe you have a peculiar interest in bounty hunters, or just love a particular film in the original Star Wars trilogy. No matter your niche, there is an anthology waiting for you.

The next time you’re looking for a gateway to a good night’s sleep or have some other reason to kill a few spare minutes, reaching for one of these treasured compilations is surely the way to go. You never know what you’re going to find but that’s the fun of it all.

This reading guide is
Coming Soon
Our team is hard at work building out this collection. Stay tuned!

Books in this Collection

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

From A Certain Point of View

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by

A truly unique and heroic feat in Star Wars publishing, From a Certain Point of View is a compilation of forty short stories by more than forty incredible authors to retell the story of A New Hope in celebration of its fortieth anniversary. Not only did Del Rey assemble a massive team consisting of their catalog of regular Star Wars writers such as Chuck Wendig, John Jackson Miller, and Claudia Gray, they managed to rope in many award-winning authors to pen their first stories in a galaxy far, far away. Such authors include Ken Liu, Sabaa Tahir, Zoraida Córdova, and Rae Carson. All of the book’s authors donated their pay to First Book, a nonprofit dedicated to improving literacy.

The stories represent the points of view of many of the notable side characters from A New Hope, such as Wedge Antilles, Greedo, and Grand Moff Tarkin. But they don’t stop there. The book benefits from forty years of expanding the Star Wars universe, and as such many characters not originally in the original film provide perspective in creative ways–Lando Calrissian, Yoda, Breha Organa, and even Qui-Gon Jinn! It is a compilation not only of characters and authors, but also styles and tones. At times heartbreaking, hilarious, and head-scratching. Some stories will connect differently with different readers. It certainly has something for everyone and is a remarkable read.

Forty years. Forty stories.

In honor of the fortieth anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope, this collection features Star Wars stories by bestselling authors, trendsetting artists, and treasured voices from Star Wars literary history. More than forty authors have lent their unique vision to forty "scenes," each retelling a different moment from the original Star Wars film, but with a twist: Every scene is told from the point of view of a background character. Whether it's the X-wing pilots who helped Luke destroy the Death Star or the stormtroopers who never quite could find the droids they were looking for, Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View places the classic movie in a whole new perspective, and celebrates the influence and legacy of the unparalleled cultural phenomenon, Star Wars.

Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

From A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by
The first iteration of this tubular collab was so well-received that readers were eagerly anticipating its sequel. The From a Certain Point of View series welcomes so many new authors to the Star Wars Expanded Universe in a way that allows them to extend their reach to other parts of the galaxy while also treating us with stories from well-known authors of the beloved franchise. To all of the new contributors making their debut in this book, we will be watching your career with great interest.
Press Release:On May 21, 1980, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back made its theatrical debut. To celebrate the classic film’s landmark 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Empire at 40,” a special series of interviews, editorial features, and listicles.Forty years of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, 40 authors retelling its stories? Sounds good to us.The anthology series From a Certain Point of View is set to return with From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back, celebrating 40 years of Episode V and arriving November 10. Like its predecessor, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back will feature 40 stories by 40 authors reimagining the classic sequel through the eyes of background characters — heroes, villains, droids and creatures. Check out the cover below!All participating authors have generously forgone any compensation for their stories. Instead, their proceeds will be donated to First Book — a leading nonprofit that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to educators and organizations serving children in need. To further celebrate the launch of this book and both companies’ longstanding relationships with First Book, Penguin Random House will donate $100,000 to First Book, and Disney/Lucasfilm will donate 100,000 children’s books — valued at $1,000,000 — to support First Book and their mission of providing equal access to quality education.Always in motion is the future…but follow the hashtag #FromaCertainPOVStrikesBack to get an early sneak peek at some of the authors participating, and come back to StarWars.com on Monday, June 16, for a reveal of the entire author roster.Authors:Tom Angleberger Sarwat ChaddaS.A. Chakraborty Mike ChenAdam ChristopherZoraida Córdova Delilah S. Dawson Tracy Deonn Seth DickinsonAlexander Freed Jason FryChristie Golden Hank GreenRob Hart E. K. Johnston Lydia KangMichael Kogge R.F. Kuang C.B. Lee Mackenzi Lee John Jackson Miller Michael MoreciDaniel José Older Mark OshiroAmy Ratcliffe Beth Revis Lilliam Rivera Cavan Scott Emily Skrutskie Karen Strong Anne Toole Catherynne M. Valente ​Austin WalkerMartha WellsDjango Wexler Kiersten White Gary Whitta Brittany N. WilliamsCharles YuJim Zubkavich
Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Canto Bight

Written by
Jackson Miller, Saladin Ahmed, Rae Carson, and Mira Grant
Artwork by
Part of the publishing program in preparation for The Last Jedi, Canto Bight comprises four novellas focusing on various characters in the casino city to be featured in the film. This book, while not essential for viewing The Last Jedi as opposed to other Saladin Ahmed wrote his first Star Wars story, “Rules of the Game.” It sees Kedpin Shoklop, the unassuming red-skinned cyclops-like Wermal character from the film, on vacation to Cantonica but who quickly ends up in a mess of trouble. Mira Grant’s one and only Star Wars story, “The Wine in Dreams” where mysterious sisters attempt a heist for a priceless bottle of wine for their deep-pocketed master. Up-and-coming Star Wars writer, Rae Carson (Most Wanted, Rise of Skywalker novelization), writes “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing.” The story is about Lexo Sooger, Canto Bight’s finest masseur, who has access to secrets of his prestigious clients. A notorious gangster kidnaps his daughter in demand for the secrets he desires. Finally, renowned writer John Jackson Miller lends his experience to the stable of writers with “The Ride.” He focuses on a professional gambler named Kal who falls on hard times until he meets three frog-like lucky gambling brothers, Dodi, Thodi, and Wodi.

Soon to be seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, welcome to the casino city of Canto Bight. A place where exotic aliens, captivating creatures, and other would-be high rollers are willing to risk everything to make their fortunes. Set across one fateful evening, these four original novellas explore the deception and danger of the lavish casino city.

- An honest salesman meets a career criminal as a dream vacation turns into the worst nightmare imaginable in a story by Saladin Ahmed.

- Dreams and schemes collide when a deal over a priceless bottle of wine becomes a struggle for survival as told by Mira Grant.

- Old habits die hard when a servant is forced into the mad struggle for power among Canto Bight's elite in a tale by Rae Carson.

- A deadbeat gambler has one last chance to turn his luck around, all he has to do is survive one wild night as told by John Jackson Miller.

In Canto Bight, one is free to revel in excess, untouched from the problems of a galaxy once again descending into chaos and war. Dreams can become reality, but the stakes have never been higher–for there is a darkness obscured by all the glamour and luxury.

Canon
Canon
YA Novel

The Clone Wars Anthology: Stories of Light and Dark

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by
Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is a fresh take on the animated series that has become a often-binged staple of Star Wars fans young and old. A talented stable of authors has adapted iconic episodes and story-arcs for inclusion in this anthology. Some are from a different character’s perspective from what we see in the tv show: the Senate hostage crisis is told from Anakin’s point of view rather than Padmé’s, for example. Other stories are told in a first-person-POV so as to lend a heavily-stylized slant to the familiar story. This is at the same time interesting, entertaining, and surprising—especially when we get inside the mind of a character such as Count Dooku! Plus, it includes one original story written exclusively for inclusion in this collection. Great for Clone Wars fans or for young readers looking to get started with Star Wars books.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Anthology is a canon short story collection. Written by Lou Anders, Tom Angleberger, Preeti Chhibber, Zoraida Córdova, Jason Fry, Yoon Ha Lee, Rebecca Roanhorse, Anne Ursu and Greg Van Eekhout.each story adapts episodes or story arcs from Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series from the point of view of one main character.
Canon
Canon
Junior Reader

Stories of Jedi & Sith

Written by
Various
Artwork by
Part of the

Stories of Jedi & Sith is a canon middle-grade short story anthology focusing on the Jedi and Sith.

The battle between good and evil never ends....

The brave Jedi. The devious Sith. These iconic heroes and villains embody the struggle between light and dark that is at the very heart of Star Wars. In this exciting middle grade anthology, ten acclaimed authors imagine all-new tales for some of the saga's most popular characters, from Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader, from Obi-Wan Kenobi to Asajj Ventress, and beyond, complete with beautiful spot illustrations. Epic stand-offs, cunning plots, courageous action and ruthless anger are all here in this showcase of the enduring power of one of the greatest movie sagas of all time

Titles announced so far

  • Untitled Rey short story by Roseanne A. Brown
  • Untitled Obi-Wan and Anakin short story by Sarwat Chadda
  • Untitled Asajj Ventress short story by Delilah S. Dawson
  • Untitled Emperor Palpatine short story by Tessa Gratton
  • Untitled Yoda short story by Michael Kogge
  • Untitled Luke Skywalker short story by Sam Maggs
  • Untitled Darth Maul short story by Michael Moreci
  • Untitled Qui-Gon Jinn short story by Alex Segura
  • Untitled Darth Vader short story by Vera Strange
  • Untitled Barriss Offee short story by Karen Strong
Untitled Barriss Offee short story Karen Strong Barriss Offee
Canon
Canon
YA Novel

Myths & Fables

Written by
George Mann
Artwork by
When looking for a good bedtime story, this anthology will be the first book you reach for. Each epic tale radiates magic and wonder that’s sure to give you the sweetest dreams. Are these legends true? That depends on how far you’re willing to believe.

Myths & Fables

A canon short story collection written by George Mann and illustrated by Grant Griffin. It comprises a number of in-universe stories, and it is part of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge media project.

A Target-exclusive edition containing three new stories was released on August 30, 2020. and an additional three new stories were released on October 7 2020 in the exclusive Galaxy's Edge edition

Beautifully illustrated, this unique treasury of in-world space tales takes readers to the far reaches of the Star Wars universe…including to the remote outer rim world of Batuu from Galaxy's. Edge.

Short Stories

  • The Knight & the Dragon
  • The Droid with a Heart
  • Vengeful Waves
  • The Wanderer
  • The Black Spire
  • Gaze of Stone
  • The Witch & the Wookiee
  • The Dark Wraith
  • Chasing Ghosts
  • The Sleeping Eye (Target-exclusive edition)
  • The Leviathan (Target-exclusive edition)
  • The Golden One (Target-exclusive edition)
  • An Unwilling Apprentice (Galaxy's Edge edition)
  • The Silent Circle (Galaxy's Edge edition)
  • The Skiff & the Galleons (Galaxy's Edge edition)
Canon
Canon
YA Novel

Dark Legends

Written by
George Mann
Artwork by
Grant Griffin
Follow the success of his popular Myths and Fables short story collection, George Mann is back with another exciting, albeit chilling, entry into the EU. Dark Legends is a fascinating collection of stories featuring the spooky, scary, and downright creepy corners of the galaxy we all know and love.

Dark Legends

A canon short story collection written by George Mann and illustrated by Grant Griffin. It is a follow-up to the (2019) book Myths & Fables

A Target-exclusive edition containing three new stories was released on August 30, 2020.

Read on if you dare! This unique in-world collection hallows the spooky tales and ghost stories that would have kept young Luke and Leia up at night. Created by George Mann and Grant Griffin--the same team behind the stunning Star Wars: Myths & Fables--these frightful fables have been carefully woven from the expansive fabric that is the Star Wars galaxy (including the thrilling landscape from Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland and Disney World), and beautifully painted in a lush illustrative style that feels intergalactic yet innately archetypal and timeless.

Short Stories

  • The Orphanage
  • Buyer Beware
  • The Predecessor
  • Blood Moon
  • The Dark Mirror
  • The Gilded Cage
  • A Life Immortal
  • Sleep of Ages (Target-exclusive edition)
  • Bakurat (Target-exclusive edition)
  • A Bitter Harvest (Target-exclusive edition)
Canon
Canon
YA Novel

Life Day Treasury

Written by
George Mann & Cavan Scott
Artwork by
Grant Griffin
"Life Day Treasury" is an anthology of Star Wars stories released on September 7, 2021. Penned by renowned author George Mann, this book takes readers on a journey through the Star Wars universe, exploring the holiday known as Life Day. Through a collection of heartwarming tales, George Mann delves into the lives of various characters from the Star Wars universe, showcasing their experiences during this festive time. Readers will meet new characters and revisit old favorites, all while discovering the rich culture and traditions of Life Day.

Life Day Treasury

This is a canon short story collection written by George Mann and Cavan Scott featuring illustrations by Grant Griffin. It features winter-themed stories centered around the in-universe holiday of Life Day, as well as other holidays and festivals.

Stories and illustrations will be similar in format to those featured in previous short story collections, Myths & Fables and Dark Legends. A total of eight stories will be published in the collection.

Cozy up with this collection of holiday-themed midwinter stories from throughout the galaxy far, far away!

From George Mann and Grant Griffin, the same team that brought us the stunning Star Wars: Myths & Fables and Star Wars: Dark Legends–with the addition of best-selling author Cavan Scott–this collection of eight myths and fables told around winter fires and high-tech heating pods across the galaxy will bring holiday joy to young and old Star Wars fans alike. From Jedi in the city to Ewoks in the forest, from Wookiees to droids, in this charming collection you will find holiday feasts, ghostly apparitions, snowy adventures, and much more. Ultimately these are stories of hope in the darkest of days. Of family, found and otherwise. Of kindness. And of love

Titles announced so far

  • Heart of the Jedi by Cavan Scott
  • The Kroolok by George Mann & Cavan Scott
  • The Song of Winter's Heart
  • An Old Hope
  • Untitled Jedha short story
  • Untitled Kashyyyk short story
Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by
Part of the
Tales Series
Pulling together many of the most well-renowned Star Wars authors of the day, Kevin J. Anderson edited this compilation of the stories of the patrons of the infamous wretched hive of scum and villainy. It’s truly a wild tale disparate creatures and characters, humor and horror, triumph and tragedy. It kickstarted a series of five similar collections of short stories that spanned throughout the late ‘90s and stands out as one of the early examples of the EU doing exactly that—expanding the universe.

Sixteen stories from the most infamous cantina in the universe...by some of today's leading writers of science fiction.

In a far corner of the universe, on the small desert planet of Tatooine, there is a dark, nic-i-tain-filled cantina where you can down your favorite intoxicant while listening to the best jazz riffs in the universe.  But beware your fellow denizens of this pangalactic watering hole, for they are cutthroats and cutpurses, assassins and troopers, humans and aliens, gangsters and thieves....

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Tales of the Bounty Hunters

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by
Part of the
Tales Series

Since their debut in Empire Strikes Back, bounty hunters have taken the Star Wars fandom by storm with costumes and figurines expressing their love for the popular space profession. If you fit in with those fans and your favorite characters include Boba Fett, Bossk, IG-88, or dare I say, Dengar, then you will find plenty of joy in this timeless classic.

In a wild and battle-scarred galaxy, assassins, pirates, smugglers, and cutthroats of every description roam at will, fearing only the professional bounty hunters-amoral adventurers who track down the scum of the universe...for a fee. When Darth Vader seeks to strike at the heart of the Rebellion by targeting Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon, he calls upon six of the most successful-and feared-hunters, including the merciless Boba Fett. They all have two things in common: lust for profit and contempt for life... Featuring original stories by Kevin J. Anderson, M. Shayne Bell, Daniel Keys Moran, Kathy Tyers and Dave Wolverton.

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.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Tales from the Empire

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by
Part of the
Tales Series
Tales from the Empire continues the anthology of 90s short stories after Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, Tales from Jabba’s Palace, Tales of the Bounty Another massive mid-90s collaboration of Star Wars storytelling is Tales from the Empire. Enlisting many notable authors including Timothy Zahn and Michael Stackpole, Tales from the Empire features fan-favorite Legends characters Talon Karrde, Mara Jade, Corran Horn, and Boba Fett!

Culled from the pages of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, one of the most popular Star Wars magazines in the field today, comes this exciting new short-story collection. Here are stories from such award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors as Timothy Zahn, Michael A. Stackpole, and Kathy Tyers as well as exciting newcomers, including Erin Endom, Laurie Burns, and Patricia A. Jackson. From the desperate flight of a civilian mail courier carrying vital Rebel intelligence through an Imperial blockade, to a suicidal commando raid on an impregnable Imperial prison, to a Corellian smuggler mysteriously hired by an actor turned Jedi Knight turned Imperial assassin for one final transformation, these tales capture all the high adventure, imaginative genius, and nonstop action that are the hallmarks of the Star Wars saga.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Tales from the New Republic

Written by
Various Authors
Artwork by
Part of the
Tales Series
With a new era comes more grand adventures. Each story in this collection is told from the perspective of an inhabitant of the New Republic which was brought to life from the destruction of the second Death Star and the majority of the Empire along with it. Pick up Tales From the New Republic for a glimpse into the New Republic’s impact on the galaxy.

On Zelos II a man and a woman are held prisoner in a dark cell, each fighting their way for survival at the hands of Imperial captors-and a chance for escape that could cost one of them their life. On the tortured landscape of Ryloth, Fenig Nabon awaits a ship of women warriors to complete a dangerous deal: the smuggling of a troupe of dancers to the homeworld of the Hutts-only to get more than she bargained for. And in a stunning new novella written especially for this collection by Hugo-Award winning, New York Times bestselling author Timothy Zahn and Michael A. Stackpole, Senator Garm Bel Iblis, believed dead at the hands of an Imperial assassin, teams up with Hal Horn in a duel against the Empire's most dangerous agent. At stake are the plans for a terrifying new weapon called the Death Star-and the fate of both the Empire and the New Republic.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories

Written by
John Jackson Miller
Artwork by

The Lost Tribe of the Sith was formed in 5000 BBY. The cult had spent thousands of years hiding on the planet Kesh to build up their numbers in preparation for their triumphant return to the known galaxy. Shortly after the Second Galactic Civil War (41 ABY), they were discovered by a Sith Meditation Sphere named Ship who informed the tribe of the Jedi’s rise to power. Determined to keep the Sith legacy strong, the Lost Tribe sets out to eliminate Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker.

Five thousand years ago. After a Jedi ambush, the Sith mining ship Omen lies wrecked on a remote, unknown planet. Its commander, Yaru Korsin, battles the bloodshed of a mutinous faction led by his own brother. Marooned and facing death, the Sith crew have no choice but to venture into their desolate surroundings. They face any number of brutal challenges—vicious predators, lethal plagues, tribal people who worship vengeful gods—and like true Sith warriors, counter them with the dark side of the Force.

The struggles are just beginning for the proud, uncompromising Sith, driven as they are to rule at all costs. They will vanquish the primitive natives, and they will find their way back to their true destiny as rulers of the galaxy. But as their legacy grows over thousands of years, the Sith ultimately find themselves tested by the most dangerous threat of all: the enemy within.

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