21 Star Wars Books You Should Read

Cover to Tarkin by James Luceno. Image via publisher Del Rey

5. Tarkin

Remember James Luceno’s Darth Plagueis appearing on this list? Remember how it isn’t canon anymore?

Tarkin essentially takes Darth Plagueis‘ role in the new canon as “book about a villain done by James Luceno, expanding said villain’s background,” only it focuses on Grand Moff Tarkin and shows how he earned his promotion to the title, the very first time it was given out.

Set just five years after Revenge of the Sith, Tarkin tracks down just who attacked the base he was stationed at. However, he loses his ship, Carrion Spike, during a related mission. He also happens to work with Darth Vader while on the case.

Of course, expect flashbacks to fill out Tarkin’s character and personal history. It also links up the new canon materials with the old, again showing off Luceno’s strength in that area.

Goodreads praises the character study done as well as the new look at the fall of the Republic, the Jedi, and the dynamic between Tarkin and Vader.

Sometimes you need to head over to the Imperial side, and sometimes you even get to head over to the canon Imperial side. This one stands alone, though it has been paired with the next entry on the list as an omnibus titled The Rise of the Empire.