Look, let’s be honest. Navigating the Expanded Universe—now rebranded as "Legends"—is basically like trying to fly a beat-up YT-1300 light freighter through an asteroid field without a navicomputer. You’re going to hit something eventually. If you're looking for the star wars the old republic book series order, you probably realized pretty quickly that "release date" and "chronological order" are two very different beasts. One makes sense for the publishers; the other makes sense for your brain.
The Old Republic era is special. It’s set thousands of years before Darth Vader ever breathed through a mask or Luke Skywalker complained about power converters. This is a time of massive wars, thousands of Jedi, and an actual Sith Empire that wasn't just two guys hiding in a basement. Because these books tie directly into the BioWare MMORPG (Star Wars: The Old Republic), the reading order can get messy if you don't know which game expansion or character arc you’re supposed to be following.
Chronological vs. Release: How to Actually Read These
If you want to experience the story as it happened in the galaxy's history, you start with the ancient stuff. But here's the kicker: the books weren't written that way. Drew Karpyshyn, the lead writer for the Knights of the Old Republic game and the first Darth Bane book, didn't just sit down and write a linear history. He jumped around. Most fans find that reading chronologically helps the lore "stick" better, especially if you’re trying to understand the evolution of the Sith.
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The Dawn of the Jedi Era
Technically, the very first thing you should pick up is Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void by Tim Lebbon. It’s set roughly 25,000 years before the movies. It’s weird. It’s different. The Jedi aren't even called Jedi yet; they’re "Je’daii." They use metal swords. They balance light and dark. It’s a bit of a departure from the classic lightsaber duels, but it sets the stage for why the galaxy looks the way it does later on. Honestly, it’s a standalone experience, so if you skip it, you won’t be lost, but you’ll miss the "why" behind the Jedi Code.
The Revan Era
Now we’re getting into the meat of it. Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan is the bridge. People have strong opinions about this book. Like, very strong. If you loved the KOTOR games, this book by Drew Karpyshyn is the direct sequel. It explains what happened to Revan and the Exile (from KOTOR II) after the games ended.
It takes place over several years. It starts right after the first game, jumps forward, and then lands right in the middle of the cold war between the Republic and the Sith Empire. It’s the essential connective tissue. Without it, the "Old Republic" game world feels empty. You see the Emperor—Vitiate—and realize just how terrifyingly powerful the Sith used to be.
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The Tie-In Novels for the MMO
The following three books were specifically marketed as tie-ins for the SWTOR game. They’re great because they give flavor to the different factions you can play.
- Deceived by Paul S. Kemp: This one is a banger. If you’ve seen the "Deceived" cinematic trailer (the one where the Sith smash a ship into the Jedi Temple), this is that story. It follows Darth Malgus. He’s a beast. Kemp writes combat better than almost anyone else in the Star Wars universe. It’s gritty. It’s fast.
- Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams: This is the "big ensemble" book. You’ve got a Jedi, a Sith, a Smuggler, a Trooper—basically one of every character class from the game—forced to work together against a common threat. It’s a bit longer and more "galactic politics" heavy. Some find it slow; I think it builds the world well.
- Annihilation by Drew Karpyshyn: This focuses on Theron Shan, a Republic spy who can’t use the Force even though his mom is the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. It’s a spy thriller in space. It takes place after the main events of the initial game story, so read this one last among the "Old Republic" labeled books.
Why the Darth Bane Trilogy is the Real Finale
Wait. Why are we talking about Darth Bane? He lives about 1,000 years before the movies, which is roughly 2,500 years after the SWTOR game. But you cannot understand the star wars the old republic book series order without finishing here.
The Old Republic era ends because of Bane. The constant wars between the Jedi and the Sith legions eventually led to the Sith almost wiping themselves out. Bane saw the weakness in numbers and created the "Rule of Two." The trilogy—Path of Destruction, Rule of Victory, and Dynasty of Evil—is widely considered the best writing in the Legends era. It’s the "villain's journey." It shows how the galaxy transitioned from the "Old Republic" (thousands of Sith) to the "Rise of the Empire" (just two Sith).
Breaking Down the "Official" List
If you want a checklist to keep on your phone while you’re at the used bookstore, here is the chronological flow that makes the most sense for a narrative arc.
- Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void (The Origin)
- The Old Republic: Revan (The Link)
- The Old Republic: Deceived (The Conflict)
- The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance (The Scale)
- The Old Republic: Annihilation (The Aftermath)
- Darth Bane Trilogy (The Conclusion of the Era)
There are also some short stories and comics, like Lost Tribe of the Sith, which covers a group of Sith stranded on a primitive planet for thousands of years. It’s a cool side-story, but not "mandatory" for the main plot.
Real Talk: Is it worth reading if it’s "Legends"?
Since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, these books aren't technically part of the "Canon" timeline that includes the Mandalorian or the Sequel Trilogy. Does that matter? Not really. The Old Republic is so far removed from the modern movies that it basically exists in its own bubble anyway.
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The storytelling in these books is often darker and more complex than what we see on screen. You get to see the Sith perspective. You see their internal politics, their philosophy on power, and their absolute dysfunction. It’s fascinating. Plus, many elements from these books—like the name "Darth Bane" or the planet Tython—have been brought back into the official canon because they’re just too good to leave behind.
Common Pitfalls for New Readers
Don't make the mistake of reading Annihilation first just because you like spies. You’ll be confused about why the galaxy is in a "Cold War" state. The politics of the Treaty of Coruscant (which is detailed in Deceived) are the backbone of this whole era. If you don't understand the treaty, the motivations of the characters in the later books will feel hollow.
Also, prepare yourself for the "BioWare" feel. Because these were written to support a video game, the world-building is very structured. You’ll recognize locations like Dromund Kaas or Coruscant immediately if you've played the games. If you haven't played the games, don't sweat it. The books stand on their own, though you might find yourself googling what a "Sith Pureblood" looks like (hint: they’re red and have weird face-tentacles).
How to Get Started Today
Stop overthinking it. If you want the best experience, grab Revan or Path of Destruction.
- Step 1: Decide if you care more about the origins of the Sith or the story of the games.
- Step 2: If you want Sith lore, start the Darth Bane Trilogy. If you want game lore, start with Revan.
- Step 3: Use a digital library app like Libby or Hoopla. Most of these "Legends" books are readily available for free through local libraries because they've been out for a decade.
- Step 4: Don't ignore the comics. Tales of the Jedi (the 90s comic series) actually happens before the SWTOR books and provides a lot of the backstories for characters like Exar Kun who are mentioned as legends in the novels.
The Old Republic is arguably the most creative period in Star Wars history. It’s a time when the stakes felt massive because the Jedi could actually lose. Dive into the books, start with the era that interests you most, and remember that even if it's "Legends," the stories are still very real for the fans who grew up with them.