The 1990s was the decade where Star Wars returned from a lull after the original trilogy ended, and truly became a multimedia franchise. With so many new and inventive stories releasing during this time, the Star Wars Expanded Universe, or EU, was formally established. Some of these stories are even contending for the best that Star Wars has ever seen, all of them leading up to the prequel trilogy’s launch with Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 1999.
But long before that, there was a concerted effort to bring Star Wars back into the limelight, with books, comics, and even video games releasing in the 90s. On top of this, the Star Wars Special Editions of the original trilogy were also shown in theaters, bringing an entire new generation of Star Wars fans into the galaxy far, far away. But which original stories during this revival period for the franchise were the best? Here’s our top 10 best Star Wars stories of the 1990s.
10 The Hand of Thrawn Duology
Timothy Zahn
Starting off at the end, we have the Hand of Thrawn duology by Timothy Zahn. These two novels, Specter of the Past and Vision of the Future, take place in 19 ABY, and wrap up the conflict between the New Republic and the Empire in a beautiful way. Written as semi-sequels to Zahn’s original Thrawn Trilogy, the Hand of Thrawn brings many plot points of those books full-circle, leading to a very satisfying read.
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The books begin with the discovery that members of the Bothan species were complicit in the Empire’s genocide of the Caamasi people, a well-loved alien species in the galaxy. The Bothans are quick to fight these accusations, leading to a political firestorm that almost brings down the entire New Republic. Oh, also, Grand Admiral Thrawn is back from the dead, threatening the peace the Empire and New Republic are so close to achieving. Or is he?
9 The Jedi Academy Trilogy
Kevin J Anderson
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Immediately following the Thrawn Trilogy and the Dark Empire comics, the Jedi Academy trilogy, by Kevin J Anderson, was released in 1994. These books deal with the establishment of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4, and the struggles Luke has while trying to accomplish this. The books Jedi Search, Dark Apprentice, and Champions of the Force all became foundational for the EU as a whole going forward.
This trilogy significantly also introduced Kyp Durron and Natasi Daala to the Star Wars Expanded Universe, who would both become major players in events to come. Durron in particular drives much of these books’ plots, as he is one of Luke’s first students and falls to the dark side due to the manipulation of a Sith spirit. These three novels push the overall story into some incredible places, making it an absolutely essential 1990s Star Wars story.
8 The Crimson Empire Comics
Mike Richardson, Randy Stradley, & Paul Gulacy
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The first comic on our list is the Crimson Empire series, written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley, and penciled by Paul Gulacy. These comics released in 1997 were the first to really dig into the lore behind the Imperial Royal Guards. These red-cloaked individuals have captivated fans ever since they first appeared in 1983 in Return of the Jedi, but it wasn’t until Crimson Empire that they were able to peak behind the cloak.
Taking place solidly after the Emperor and Vader’s deaths, and after the death of the Emperor’s clones, Crimson Empire tells the story of what happened to these dedicated individuals with nothing more to dedicate themselves to. Kir Kanos, a former guard, allies with the New Republic, while Carnor Jax, his former friend, takes over a chunk of the Empire for himself. This all leads to an incredibly cinematic, action-packed, and very 90s adventure that is absolutely one of the most iconic Star Wars stories from the decade.
7 The Young Jedi Knights Series
Kevin J Anderson & Rebecca Moesta
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Next, we have the iconic and memorable Young Jedi Knights series by renowned and previously mentioned author Kevin J Anderson, and his wife Rebecca Moesta. These young-adult novels were published from 1995 to 1998, and chronicled the years 23 and 24 ABY. But more importantly, these 14 novels tell the story of Jacen and Jaina Solo, heirs of a proud Jedi legacy.
Being the children of Han and Leia, and training under Jedi Master Luke Skywalker at his Jed Praxeum on Yavin 4, these books are perfect for younger readers. It’s a school-like setting, with adventure, and Jedi abilities mixed in for good measure. The adventures that Jacen and Jaina go on with their friends Lowbacca, nephew of Chewbacca, Tenel Ka, Zekk, Raynar Thul, and even their younger brother Anakin are made even more important by how prominent these characters went on to be in the New Jedi Order series and beyond.
6 The X-Wing series
Michael A Stackpole & Aaron Allston
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Much like the Royal Guards, another core aspect of Star Wars that gets fully examined off-screen are the iconic pilots of the series. The X-Wing novels, written by Michael A Stackpole and Aaron Allston do just that, with their 9 novels released from 1996 to 1999 diving deep into what being a pilot for the New Republic actually looked like. These books are an absolute fan favorite, and when reading them, you can see why.
Focusing on the famous original trilogy background character Wedge Antilles, and the Force-sensitive pilot Corran Horn, who was created for the series, these books are top-notch pilot tales. Dealing with loss, strategy, politics, and other complicated ideas, the X-Wing series also proved to be foundational for the Expanded Universe going forward. If a fan is even slightly interested in pilots in the Star Wars universe, X-Wing: Rogue Squadron is the place to start for this iconic series.
5 The Dark Empire Comics
Tom Veitch & Cam Kennedy
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Dark Empire, written by Tom Veitch and illustrated by Cam Kennedy, is simply unforgettable. The first Star Wars comic series published by Dark Horse, Dark Empire was controversial at first, yet has proven to have staying power because of its sheer imagination and beauty. The entire series is visualized by renowned and very stylistic artist Cam Kennedy, including his wonderful watercolors on every single page.
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Dark Empire is a story that truly feels galactic in scale, which makes sense considering its story. Emperor Palpatine has returned from the dead in a clone body, leading legions of new ships in a bid to conquer the galaxy and destroy the New Republic once and for all. An eerily similar story to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Dark Empire is a unique experience, bringing back fan favorites like Boba Fett, while also pushing the galaxy in new directions with elements like Leia finally pursuing the Jedi path herself.
4 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
George Lucas
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How can a list of the best Star Wars stories from the 1990s not include the one Star Wars movie released in that decade? Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace started the prequel trilogy in 1999, and tells the story of Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi fighting the forces of the greedy Trade Federation who have taken the planet Naboo captive. Along the way, they meet Anakin Skywalker, and visit several beautiful locations in an odd yet charming film.
At first being maligned, but receiving much more grace from fans of the modern age, The Phantom Menace is an absolutely essential part of the Star Wars saga. The real beginning of it all, the introduction of everything one needs to know to watch the saga. But besides its impact on the Star Wars universe, it’s also just an incredibly technically impressive film, with Jar Jar Binks’ motion-capture performance, the CG environments, and the Pod Race sequence sticking out prominently.
3 Thrawn Trilogy
Timothy Zahn
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Releasing in 1991, the Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn is one of the most important Star Wars stories ever told. The near-foundational text of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, the books Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command were essential to proving that Star Wars can exist on the page as well as the screen. And because of this trilogy, it did for years to come.
Heir to the Empire famously introduces Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade, two major players in the EU to come, and even impacting canon. Thrawn has become a prominent and important figure in canon stories as well, all thanks to the sheer success, popularity, and quality of these three books. A true successor to the original trilogy of films, maintaining their tone, scope, and sense of humor, the Thrawn trilogy is worth a read for every Star Wars fan.
2 The Tales of the Jedi Comics
Tom Veitch, Kevin J Anderson, & More
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A maxi-series consisting of several miniseries by different artists, Tales of the Jedi has to be mentioned in any list of the greatest Star Wars stories ever told. The first ever ongoing story told taking place before the Empire, Tales of the Jedi was Star Wars‘ original look into the Old Republic era, even coining the name Knights of the Old Republic for its first two story arcs, illustrated by David Roach. But what’s best about these stories is not the era, it’s the complexity of the tales they tell.
For example, the arc The Golden Age of the Sith, illustrated by Dario Carrasco, Jr, introduces the Sith species and all of their internal politics. Its follow-up, The Fall of the Sith Empire, then depicts one of the largest wars of the era, the Great Hyperspace War, and how it came about. Later stories like Dark Lords of the Sith, illustrated by Chris Gossett and Art Wetherell, dive into the nature of the dark side, and how it affects the Jedi, leading to the wonderful stories of Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma.
1 Shadows of the Empire
Steve Perry, John Wagner, LucasArts, & More
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Finally, we have reached Shadows of the Empire. The 1996 multimedia project is undoubtedly the best Star Wars story of the 1990s because of its sheer scope, variety, quality, and more. Spanning muliple mediums, Shadows of the Empire was a book by Steve Perry, a comic series by John Wagner and Kilian Plunkett, and even a video game by LucasArts. But more than that, Shadows of the Empire told a story that filled in the gap between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in a beautiful way.
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Han Solo has been captured, the Empire is at its most violent, and Leia, Luke, & Chewie are at odds with the galaxy. But beyond this, the Emperor’s confidant in the criminal underworld, Prince Xizor, is plotting to capture and kill Luke Skywalker to usurp Vader’s place at the Emperor’s side. This captivating story spans the galaxy, and dives deep into the characters of Luke, Leia, Vader, and even new smuggler character Dash Rendar.
Shadows of the Empire is truly a special moment in the Star Wars franchise’s past, solidified by its popularity among fans of all ages. Trading cards, toys, and other merchandise marked its released, fitting what Star Wars intended with the project: a movie without a movie. Inseparable from many fans’ view of the original trilogy, Shadows of the Empire is the best Star Wars story of the 1990s.
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