In a galaxy far, far away….there’s organized gangs, smuggling, bounty hunting and a sprawling criminal underworld. As a lifelong Star Wars nerd, I only recently got into exploring the rather epic universe of Star Wars novels. This can be a bit confusing to newbies, as the books are divided into “Legends” and “canon” – the Legends were published prior to Disney’s takeover of the franchise, and the canon books thereafter, which follow the newer sequels films and disregard the original Legends books for the most part. Both categories are admittedly vast, and the books considered canon also offer up a number of plotlines and themes in the crime category.
What can make the Legends books particularly appealing, though, is their sometimes campy, goofy and reassuring nature. Despite the odds, a reader can go into one knowing that all will come right with our intrepid heroes (or, well, criminals) in the end. At times, graphic or emotionally intense crime writing can feel overwhelming, so many of these books provide a fix of thrills along with a dose of hopeful escapism. The world building is a massive bonus – from developing the atmospheres of various planets in the galaxy to the shady mainstay staples like Mos Eisley Cantina of Tatooine, this is an area where the books tend to excel.
If you’re both a Star Wars devotee as well as a lover of crime and mystery reads and have your curiosity piqued about this literary niche, here are some attention-grabbing, entertaining and action-packed choices from the Legends era of Star Wars books that dive into crime.
Jabba the Hutt is one of the Star Wars characters that springs to mind even for casual fans when it comes to shady dealings, and for good reason: he’s a slimy gangster with a lot of wealth and power. Despite his slithery and slow method of getting around, he’s pretty fierce. In the short story compilation Tales From Jabba’s Palace, a colorful cast of characters give their perspectives on everyday life amongst his syndicate dwellings, ranging from monster owners and slaves to a cook in his employ.
Another short story compilation, Tales of the Bounty Hunters is an ideal choice for anyone fascinated by the exploits of bounty hunters in the Star Wars universe: those galactic denizens who are in it for the money to bring back fugitives and criminals on the run. In the iconic Empire Strikes Back, viewers are shown a number of bounty hunters aboard Darth Vader’s ship. Though the glimpse is brief, the bounty hunters have been an endless source of fascination and lore in the Star Wars fandom, and in this anthology, they’re given backstories. Some bounty hunters are motivated by love (yes, really), others are out for revenge. In the case of the most famous Star Wars bounty hunter, Boba Fett, at his core he’s still in it for the money – and the glory, and the reputation. He is, of course, a legend among Legends.
For those who enjoy their crime fiction more of an Ocean’s Eleven heist-style read, Star Wars novels have you covered with Scoundrels, a Han Solo-centric tale set during the original trilogy era. While in debt to Jabba, Han Solo and his trusty partner Chewbacca embark on an epic quest to obtain stolen money from a vault – with a team of con artists and criminals to assist them.
Regarding Han Solo, admittedly one of my all time favorite characters, he has more smuggling and criminal underworld exploits in the Han Solo trilogy, which explores his backstory prior to the events of the original Star Wars films. If you can’t get enough of the loveable rogue as a fugitive on the run (as he tends to be), this trilogy fleshes out his challenging childhood on Corellia and how he deserted the Imperial Navy and teamed up with Chewbacca. Crime lords, gambling and, as one might expect, bounty hunters abound.
Surprisingly, Star Wars Legends books even dive into neo-noir exploits with Coruscant Nights. This trilogy is set shortly after the prequel films and delves into the underbelly and dangerous slums of the urban planet Coruscant, with an undercover Jedi knight acting as a private investigator with Darth Vader’s presence looming throughout the plot.
Possibly even more unlikely as a mystery/crime genre within the Star Wars universe, Tatooine Ghost’s plot centers around a work of art on the black market that contains vital clues for the post-Return of the Jedi New Republic’s undercover agents. (Almost strangely, there’s quite a few Star Wars Legends that focus on visual art pieces).
All of the more unlikely genres and plot points, though, simply prove the point that the Star Wars books actually have quite a bit to offer to crime and mystery fans – I can only say it’s worth a deep dive, and may the Force (and perhaps also winning a sabacc game or two) be with you on your journey!
