The announcement of the relaunching for the Star Wars publishing line means that we are seeing a page being turned on characters that many of us have grown to love. Everyone has their personal favorites from the Expanded Universe and before we look forward to the new films, novels, comics, and television shows, I think it is good to look back and celebrate what has been created in almost four decades of Star Wars entertainment.
Below you will find some characters that have been very prominent and some that have been frankly very minor, but for various reasons they are characters that I love. While their stories may no longer fit into the continuity, they will always occupy a spot on my bookshelf and my literary heart.
I have included 15 of my favorite Expanded Universe characters in no particular order. I also have included books that I feel are crucial entry points into learning about the characters. These entry points are not necessarily the first appearance of the character but what I feel is a good jumping off point if you are interested in following that character’s story. It is my hope that you will find through one of these characters an entry point into the Star Wars stories that have become Legends, or perhaps rediscover an old friend you may have forgotten.
The Sword of the Jedi is the leader of the next generation of Star Wars characters. Early in her development she took a relative back seat to the stories of her brothers Anakin and Jacen. To often early on Jaina was stuck in the middle of a love triangle. Once she was allowed to take center-stage Jaina became a character that fans grew to love combining the mechanical aptitude and attitude of her father and the strength of her mother. Jaina’s story was left untold with the cancellation of a trilogy of books about her.
Recommended Entry Point: Dark Journey by Elaine Cunningham
Now technically Wedge isn’t an Expanded Universe creation, but he is a de facto Expanded Universe character. In the films Wedge is the survivor, the familiar face on Luke and Lando’s wings. In the Expanded Universe Wedge becomes a fully developed and fleshed out character, he gets a back story, a love life, a family and a career that have galactic import. At his heart Wedge is a man who is at home in the cockpit of a star-fighter and constantly has to stave off promotion to keep doing what he is best at. His managerial and strategic skills are too much for that role and he eventually has to submit to more responsibility and other roles. In the X-Wing series of novels he often plays the straight-man to the hijinks of his subordinates, but along the way he gives it as good as he gets. His honorable and good character are always on display and never more so than in his pursuit of the love of his life Iella. His legacy continued in the stories of two fun daughters Myri and Syal.
Recommended Entry Point: X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole
A creation of one of the most polarizing EU authors, Kal Skirata is one of my favorite paternal characters from the EU. Kal was a flawed man who was estranged from his own family, but found a new purpose and a new family among the clones of the Grand Army of the Republic. Kal and his fellow Cuy’val Dar introduced Mandalorian culture and practices to the clone troopers and helped develop the clones sense of both individuality and family. Kal’s devotion to his adopted children leaps out from the page, he makes hard choices, takes severe action and isn’t always correct, but it is his flaws as much as his strengths that bring Kal to life.
Recommended Entry Point: Republic Commando: Hard Contact by Karen Traviss
The cop turned fighter pilot turned Jedi. Corran Horn is not only a great character but he was a landmark character in the Expanded Universe. The novel I, Jedi served as proof that a Star Wars novel could be carried by a wholly original character. I, Jedi is a massive book and also is different from most Star Wars fiction in that it is told in first-person from Corran’s perspective. We follow Corran on his path to rescue his love Mirax at the same time he learns about his past and learns to become a Jedi. The story of Corran gives us a ton of expansion on what we know about Corellia and Jedi. It also gives us one of the strongest relationships in the Expanded Universe in his marriage to Mirax Terrik, who is one of the most kick-butt women in the Expanded Universe.
Recommended Entry Point: I, Jedi by Michael Stackpole
I had to include a character from the late Brian Daley’s classic Han Solo trilogy of novels. Bollux was one of the first droids other than C-3P0 and R2-D2 that was created with individual personality in Star Wars. An out-dated model, Bollux continually sought to upgrade himself to remain relevant and partnered with the tiny little droid Blue Max. I like to think that Bollux is the spiritual father of fan favorite EU droid I-5YQ.
Recommended Entry Point: Han Solo at Stars’ End by Brian Daley
Corellians are a stubborn lot, and none more so than Garm Bel Iblis. The former Senator was one of the founding members of the a Rebellion before breaking away to wage his own personal war against the Empire. He brings up interesting questions about Mon Mothma and power. He also plays off of Han Solo’s planetary pride.
Recommended Entry Point: Interlude at Darkknell by Timothy Zahn and Michael Stackpole.
Pardon the Harry Potter reference, but Scout is about as close to a Squib as you can be and still be a Jedi. Scout may not have had the highest midi-chlorian count or the strongest connection to the force but she made up for it with ingenuity and stick-to-itiveness. When we meet Scout she is afraid that she will be re-assigned to the Jedi Service Corps, but that fear is misplaced as Master Yoda says, “”Too few Jedi have I already. But even had I a crop of thousands, small one, I would not let you go without a fight. Spirit and determination you have. Between the stars, so much darkness there is. Why would I throw away one who burns so bright?”
Recommended Entry Point: Yoda: Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart
Grand Admiral Thrawn casts a large blue shadow and it would be easy to overlook Pellaeon if not for how interesting the character is. Pellaeon is the “good” Imperial, an honorable man who just happens to be fighting for the bad guys. He goes on to play a major role in the Expanded Universe but I’ll always love his Dr. Watson to Thrawn’s Sherlock Holmes in the Thrawn trilogy.
Recomended Entry Point: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
If you have heard of the Expanded Universe than you have almost certainly heard of Mara Jade. Mara has one of the longest and most detailed story arcs in the Expanded Universe, the Emperor’s Hand, the smuggler leader, the Jedi, the wife, and the mother. There is a lot to like about Mara, but I think my favorite aspect of the character is that she is the one person in the galaxy who can really ground Luke. The Luke Skywalker of the Expanded Universe becomes the Grand Master of a reborn Jedi Order and the most powerful Force-user in the galaxy. Yet Mara’s playful teasing of her “farmboy” humanizes this super-powered version of Luke and provides a sense of happiness in the midst of continuing galactic conflict.
Recommended Entry Point: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
At last a villain or perhaps more technically an anti-hero. Bane is the subject of his own series of novels that tell the tale of a boy toiling in mines who goes on to become the father of the modern Sith. The Sith are often defined by their emotions because that is the source of their power in the Force, but while he certainly had these passions Bane balanced it with a look towards the future and was the architect of the Sith Grand Plan which would culminate in Palpatine’s victory in Episode III. Understanding Bane gives depth to the long-con that the Sith played on the galaxy.
Recommended Entry Point: Darth Bane: Path of Destruction by Drew Karpyshyn
Loyal friend, Rebel spy, surrogate mother. Winter was a very interesting addition to the Expanded Universe. Her photographic memory and white hair make her a distinctive character in the mind of the reader. Her relationship with Princess Leia gives us a female peer for Leia to interact with and her relationship with Tycho let’s us explore more of the aftermath of the destruction of Alderaan on its survivors.
Recommended Entry Point: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
Tenel Ka is one of the most pivotal figures in the modern Expanded Universe. Her story really begins in a book that she doesn’t appear in. The Courtship of Princess Leia introduces us to the Hapans and the witches of Dathomir. Born of a Dathomiri mother and a Hapan Prince father, Tenel Ka was created for Young Jedi Knights series. Maimed by a tragic training accident, Tenel Ka is a character that refused a cybernetic replacement arm and lived life without her disability holding her back. Her relationship with Jacen Solo would be central to that character’s story arc and the plot of the greater Expanded Universe. She is another strong female character that just happens to have the coolest lightsaber hilt ever, yes it is a rancor tooth.
Recommended Entry Point: The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton
I am a sucker for romance and the burgeoning romance of Tahiri and Anakin Solo is one of my favorite relationships in the Expanded Universe. Tahiri lives a very hard life not only dealing with the torture of the Vong and what that does to her psyche, but the loss of her love and losing her way. She is a broken character who takes a long time to become whole again. She does some bad things along the way, but the barefoot Jedi will always be one of my favorites.
Recommended Entry Point: The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest by Greg Keyes or Junior Jedi Knights: The Golden Globe by Nancy Richardson
If you have seen Gungi on The Clone Wars and thought that a Wookiee Jedi was awesome, then you need to meet the OG Wookiee Jedi, Lowbacca.
Recommended Entry Point: Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta
A bounty hunter with a blaster for a head. Simultaneously embodying the awesomeness and absurdity of the Expanded Universe, D’harhan is one of the most minor and one of the most memorable Star Wars characters ever created.
Recommended Entry Point: The Bounty Hunter Wars Book I: The Mandalorian Armor by K.W. Jeter
For more Star Wars conversation, follow me on Twitter @PeteMorrisonLR For more information on the books and stories that these characters come from, The Essential Reader’s Companion by Pablo Hidalgo is an invaluable resource and shopping list for Star Wars fans.
I started Lightsaber Rattling in 2010 to spread my love of Star Wars and stories. Nothing beats a good story.
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