Existing Star Wars Expanded Universe passes into ‘legend’

April 25, 2014
3 Comments
Dustin Diehl
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via StarWars.com
via StarWars.com

Well, this was inevitable (and it makes logical sense), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t mixed emotions associated with this morning’s news from StarWars.com. In an announcement posted on their website, the Star Wars Story Group has officially placed all existing Expanded Universe material under the “Legends” banner in an effort to “give maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience.”

And of course the point is made that anything from the EU is fair game and can be incorporated into any new content (as we’ve seen many times in The Clone Wars, and as we’re sure to see in Rebels).

Take a few minutes and watch the video they put together for this announcement. It includes interviews with major contributors to the rich storytelling history of Star Wars, reminiscing about their first encounters with the EU and generally geeking out. As sad as this might be for EU fans, you have to admit, the folks at Disney and Lucasfilm truly do understand our love for these stories, and I think they’ve given it a wonderful send-off. And the fact that they’ve created a banner where these stories can live on is testament to that.

For me, my first EU experience was the Young Jedi Knight series. I instantly fell in love with the Solo twins, the stoic Tenel Ka, the loyal Lowie, the brooding Zekk. And the rest, for me, was history. In many ways, the Star Wars EU IS my Star Wars. While the movies created the backbone for my experience, the countless talented artists, storytellers, writers and creators who painted an impossibly rich and deep world … they were the ones that opened up the galaxy far, far away in ways that would change my life and continue to change and enrich it today. So thank you Tim Zahn, Michael Stackpole, Aaron Allston, Kevin Anderson, Rebecca Moesta and all the other amazingly talented people who crafted the experiences of generations of Star Wars fans, me included. While I’m sad your work is passing into a new era, I’m so thrilled to see it respected and preserved.

So here’s to you, Expanded Universe. It will be a day long remembered. And may the Force be with you … always.

The new Star Wars canon literature:

TitleAuthor(s)Release dateAmazon order linkSupport local
A NEW DAWNJohn Jackson MillerSept. 2, 2014https://amzn.to/2QR3hnrhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780553391473
TARKINJames LucenoNov. 4, 2014https://amzn.to/2Didb9thttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780553392906
HEIR TO THE JEDIKevin HearneMarch 3, 2015https://amzn.to/2KWSlkahttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780345544865
LORDS OF THE SITHPaul S. KempApril 28, 2015https://amzn.to/33pL6HWhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780345511454
DARK DISCIPLEChristie GoldenJuly 7, 2015https://amzn.to/2rsPubZhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101884959
AFTERMATHChuck WendigSept. 4, 2015https://amzn.to/37EeVrGhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101885925
LOST STARSClaudia GraySept. 4, 2015https://amzn.to/2QVV6WShttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781484724989
BATTLEFRONT: TWILIGHT COMPANYAlexander FreedNov. 3, 2015https://amzn.to/2pQ08cihttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101884768
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (film novelization)Alan Dean FosterJan. 15, 2016https://amzn.to/37GdhGchttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101966990
BLOODLINEClaudia GrayMay 3, 2016https://amzn.to/34oXMjFhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101885260
AFTERMATH: LIFE DEBTChuck WendigJuly 12, 2016https://amzn.to/2OMCVjVhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101966952
AHSOKAE.K. JohnstonOct. 11, 2016https://amzn.to/2XNxIfNhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781484782316
CATALYST: A ROGUE ONE STORYJames LucenoNov. 15, 2016https://amzn.to/2OoupbWhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101967003
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (film novelization)Alexander FreedDecember 2016https://amzn.to/2OnrwYDhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780399178474
AFTERMATH: EMPIRE’S ENDChuck WendigFeb. 21, 2017https://amzn.to/2DlaZ18https://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101966983
THRAWNTimothy ZahnApril 11, 2017https://amzn.to/2XO0nRXhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781101967027
GUARDIANS OF THE WHILLSGreg RuckaMay 2, 2017https://amzn.to/2L0qqjkhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781484780817
REBEL RISINGBeth RevisMay 2, 2017https://amzn.to/2Dkpq5whttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781484780831
BATTLEFRONT II: INFERNO SQUADChristie GoldenJuly 25, 2017https://amzn.to/2OmuKvEhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781524796822
PHASMADelilah S. DawsonSept. 1, 2017https://amzn.to/2slfqH3https://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781524796334
LEIA: PRINCESS OF ALDERAANClaudia GraySept. 1, 2017https://amzn.to/34prfKuhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781484780787
FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW(Anthology)Oct. 3, 2017https://amzn.to/2OTD8Suhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780345511478
CANTO BIGHT(Anthology)Dec. 5, 2017https://amzn.to/2DgKUQThttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780525478768
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (film novelization)Jason FryMarch 6, 2018https://amzn.to/2pSZuuDhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781524797133
LAST SHOT: A HAN AND LANDO NOVELDaniel Jose OlderApril 17, 2018https://amzn.to/2qNN1sIhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780525622147
MOST WANTEDRae CarsonMay 25, 2018https://amzn.to/2L2Ba0Lhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368016308
THRAWN: ALLIANCESTimothy ZahnJuly 24, 2018https://amzn.to/2sm52ifhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780525481287
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: EXPANDED EDITION (film novelization)Mur LaffertySept. 4, 2018https://amzn.to/2Dj7yIrhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781984819284
QUEEN’S SHADOWE.K. JohnstonMarch 5, 2019https://amzn.to/2OnM0AFhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368024259
MASTER AND APPRENTICEClaudia GrayApril 16, 2019https://amzn.to/2KXsVmShttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780525619376
ALPHABET SQUADRONAlexander FreedJune 11, 2019https://amzn.to/2R51X0vhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781984821980
THRAWN: TREASONTimothy ZahnJuly 23, 2019https://amzn.to/33oFhdYhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781984820983
STAR WARS MYTHS & FABLESGeorge MannAug. 1, 2019https://amzn.to/2tW4YGxhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368043458
GALAXY’S EDGE: BLACK SPIREDelilah S. DawsonAug. 27, 2019https://amzn.to/33oFsGahttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593128381
DOOKU: JEDI LOSTCavan ScottOct. 1, 2019https://amzn.to/2pYcbEEhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593157664
JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER: RESISTANCE REBORNRebecca RoanhorseNov. 5, 2019https://amzn.to/2DkB7cvhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593128428
JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER: FORCE COLLECTORKevin ShinickNov. 19, 2019https://amzn.to/2sjgfjthttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368045582
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (film novelization)Rae CarsonMarch 17, 2020https://amzn.to/2OoI2HWhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593128404
QUEEN’S PERILE.K. JohnstonJune 2, 2020https://amzn.to/2Oq6MiUhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368057141
SHADOW FALL: AN ALPHABET SQUADRON NOVELAlexander FreedJune 23, 2020https://amzn.to/2pYc5Nihttps://bookshop.org/shop/nerdvana
DOCTOR APHRA: AN AUDIOBOOK ORIGINALSarah KuhnJuly 21, 2020https://amzn.to/3ikqEkohttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593157251
STAR WARS DARK LEGENDSGeorge MannJuly 28, 2020https://amzn.to/36Nd03jhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368057332
POE DAMERON: FREE FALLAlex SeguraAug. 4, 2020https://amzn.to/2ScWOCuhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368051668
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS — STORIES OF LIGHT AND DARK ANTHOLOGYLou Anders, Tom Angleberger, Preeti Chhibber, Zoraida CĂłrdova, Sarah Beth Durst, Jason Fry, Yoon Ha Lee, Rebecca Roanhorse, Anne Ursu, Greg van EekhoutAug. 25, 2020https://amzn.to/36OzwbUhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368057295
THRAWN: THE ASCENDANCY TRILOGY BOOK 1: CHAOS RISINGTimothy ZahnOct. 6, 2020 Sept. 1, 2020https://amzn.to/34uWOmghttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593157688
FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK(Anthology)Nov. 10, 2020https://amzn.to/2YMPsdphttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593157749
HIGH REPUBLIC: LIGHT OF THE JEDICharles SouleAug. 25, 2020 Jan. 5, 2021https://amzn.to/32WHZc4https://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593157718
HIGH REPUBLIC: A TEST OF COURAGEJustina IrelandJan. 5, 2021https://amzn.to/2TFi4lThttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368057301
HIGH REPUBLIC: INTO THE DARKClaudia GrayOct. 13, 2020 Feb. 2, 2021https://amzn.to/381m5VQhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368057288
VICTORY’S PRICE: AN ALPHABET SQUADRON NOVELAlexander FreedMarch 2, 2021https://amzn.to/3iIj3f6https://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781984820075
SKYWALKER: A FAMILY AT WARKristin BaverApril 26, 2021https://amzn.to/3otrTQfhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780744027310
THRAWN: THE ASCENDANCY TRILOGY BOOK 2: GREATER GOODTimothy ZahnMay 4, 2021 April 27, 2021https://amzn.to/3hqOhYIhttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593158296
HIGH REPUBLIC: THE RISING STORMCavan ScottJuly 6 June 29, 2021https://amzn.to/3pvFdV2https://bookshop.org/a/1125/9781368069830
HIGH REPUBLIC: OUT OF THE SHADOWSJustina IrelandAug. 3 July 27, 2021https://amzn.to/3cDx11w
TEMPEST RUNNER (AUDIO ORIGINAL)Cavan ScottAug. 31, 2021https://amzn.to/3dUWzXe
LIFE DAY TREASURY: HOLIDAY STORIES FROM A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAYCavan Scott, George MannSept. 7, 2021
STAR WARS VISIONS: RONINEmma Mieko CandonOct. 12, 2021https://amzn.to/3uQU13e
QUEEN’S HOPEE.K. JohnstonNov. 2, 2021https://amzn.to/3f5E1pG
THRAWN: THE ASCENDANCY TRILOGY BOOK 3: LESSER EVILTimothy ZahnNov. 16, 2021https://amzn.to/3uZwI7o
THE MANDALORIAN: ORIGINAL NOVELAdam ChristopherCANCELED Fall 2021https://amzn.to/31DG0KShttps://bookshop.org/a/1125/9780593355619
HIGH REPUBLIC: THE FALLEN STARClaudia GrayJan. 4, 2022https://amzn.to/3ElFxhG
HIGH REPUBLIC: MIDNIGHT HORIZONDaniel Jose OlderFeb. 1, 2022https://amzn.to/3lvIgw6
QUEEN’S HOPE E.K. JohnstonApril 5, 2022 Nov. 2, 2021 https://amzn.to/3f5E1pG
Nerdvana may earn a small share of sales made via links from this article.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away …

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About the author

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Dustin Diehl

An avid reader, freelance writer, content strategist and traveler, Dustin Diehl is a longtime Nerdvana contributor with sources placed deep in the heart of the Star Wars universe. No Bothans died to bring you this information.

3 Comments

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  • “I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.”

  • Wow. What a way to tell your most hardcore fans to “piss off”

    EU saved the entire franchise from obscurity in the early 90’s and catapulted it to it’s success today and what do you do to say thank you? Throw it in the garbage and tell fans they have to buy another 36 years of stories because you want them spending their millions of dollars all over again.
    I didn’t want to count “hidden Mickey’s” in Episode 7 anyway.

    • I think Star Wars stands on it’s on merits and Disney will be the first to admit they will be happy to profit off the EU and the new movies in perfect harmony 🙂

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