Star Wars Reads Day: Top 10 Star Wars Books

October 6th is Star Wars Reads Day! On this day, fans come together to celebrate reading and Star Wars. Star Wars and reading have been a big part of my life for a long time. As a life-long fan of Star Wars I started reading very early and Star Wars books were my gateway to reading more. And as a reader, writer and teacher, I have always heavily advocated reading. Most of the Star Wars books and comics are part of the "Expanded Universe" in the Star Wars canon. These deal with stories and characters created apart from the regular cast of characters, some have even grown in popularity equal to that of the movies. To celebrate Star Wars Reads Day, CHERNOBOG'S BLOG Presents: The Top 10 Star Wars Books! "May the Force Be With You!"

#10 Death Troopers (2009) by Joe Schreiber - the first horror story based in the Star Wars Universe since the "Galaxy of Fear" series in the 90's. A  deadly contagion infects the Imperial prison barge The Purge as survivors try to escape from legions of the undead!

#9 The New Jedi Order: Star By Star by Troy Denning - in the 10th installment of "The New Jedi Order" series, the Yuuzhan Vong have begun cloning voxyn, creatures capable of hunting Jedi through the Force and killing them.

#8 Rogue Squadron (1996) by Michael Stackpole - the first novel in the Star Wars: X-wing series. Wedge Antilles has gathered a group of pilots together to recreate the legendary Rogue Squadron, as a dual X-wing and commando squadron.

#7 The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime (1999) by R. A. Salvatore - the first installment of "The New Jedi Order" series this book features the controversial death of Chewbacca!

#6 "The Jedi Academy Trilogy" (1994) by Kevin J. Anderson - Part of a three-book series including Jedi Search, Dark Apprentice and Champions of the Force the series chronicles Luke Skywalker's early attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order after the defeat of the Emperor.

#5 Shadows of the Empire (1996) by Steve Perry - Shadows of the Empire was a multimedia project created by Lucasfilm in 1996 which included the novel, comic book series, video game and an accompanying soundtrack. The novel introduced Prince Xizor, an alien overlord of the largest criminal organization in the galaxy who's goal is to take Darth Vader's place at the Emperor's side. It also introduced another new character to the saga: Dash Rendar, a smuggler, who served as Han Solo's replacement.

#4 "The Thrawn Trilogy" by Timothy Zahn - One of the most popular book series in the Expanded Star Wars Universe, "The Thrawn Trilogy" includes Heir to the Empire (1991), Dark Force Rising (1992) and The Last Command (1993). The series introduced many popular characters, such as Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, and of course Grand Admiral Thrawn! As the Rebellion is now the New Republic, the remnants of the Imperial Resistance have chosen Admiral Thrawn to lead an attack on the New Republic with a Dark Jedi at his side!

#3 "The Han Solo Adventures" (1979) by Brian Daley - a trilogy of novels set in the Star Wars universe two years before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The novels include Han Solo At Star's End, Han Solo's Revenge and Han Solo and The Lost Legacy.

#2 Splinter of the Mind's Eye (1978) by Alan Dean Foster - originaly intended as a sequel, it was the first original full-length Star Wars novel to be published after the release of the original Star Wars film, it is also the first novel to be included in what was to be known as the Expanded Universe. Luke and Leia find themselves on the swampy planet of Mimban in search of the fabled Kaiburr crystal!

#1 Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker (1976) by George Lucas and Alan Dean Foster - While the book was based on the original screenplay of Star Wars written by George Lucas, the novel was actually ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster and was published almost six months before the May, 1977 release of of the movie. The book differs greatly from the movie in several ways including changes in names and new characters not in the film, as well as the destruction of Alderaan is nonexistent and the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi is changed.

LINKS: Star Wars.com, Star Wars Reads on Facebook, 501st Legion