A definitive guide to the Star Wars Universe

Representative image. Pic/iStock

Fans worldwide celebrated Star Wars Day on May 4 earlier this week. Enshrined in pop culture, the Star Wars Universe has extended well beyond George Lucas' original trilogy. From movies to books, fans are treated to diverse Star Wars media across platforms. It can be difficult to keep yourself updated due to the sheer volume of new titles every year. We have curated a list of podcasts, books, and media that every Star Wars lover must check out.

Star Wars Minute

Popular among fans, the ‘Star Wars Minute' podcast analyses, criticises, and philosophises Star Wars movies - minute by minute. If you are someone who is detail oriented or reflective, the podcast features guest commentators and notable guests as they indulge in vibrant discussions. Hosted by Peter Bonavita and Alex Robinson, each episode ranges between 20 to 45 minutes.

Star Wars Bookworms

If you're an avid reader and love to get to know more about the titles you read and the authors, ‘Star Wars Bookworms' is the perfect podcast for you. A monthly podcast discussing latest Star Wars releases from Disney to Marvel Comics is hosted by Aaron Goins and Teresa Delgado. Episodes range between 30 to 90 minutes and feature interviews with Star Wars writers and conversations with fans.

Rebel Force Radio: Star Wars

A long-running, award-winning podcast, ‘Rebel Force Radio: Star Wars' is regarded as a definitive guide to the Star Wars Universe. From the classic trilogy to the prequels, hosts Jason Swank and Jimmy Marc give listeners a healthy dose of information and entertain fans with celebrity guests, reviews, contests, and more. The interesting episodes, ranging between 1.5 hours to 2 hours, are well suited for commute. With over 550 episodes, the podcast is binge-worthy.

Empire of Dreams

A must-see for fans of the original trilogy, 'Empire of Dreams' is a feature-length documentary that takes an in-depth look at the making of these movies. Released in 2004, the documentary follows George Lucas and his team as they shoot iconic scenes and take viewers through the sets. Interviews with Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill are a major highlight of this feature.

Aftermath

If you find narrative gaps to be irksome, Chuck Wendig's ‘Aftermath' should be your next read. The gritty story fills in a huge narrative gap between The Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. The readers get to experience the aftermath of the overthrow of the Empire through Wedge Antilles who is taken hostage upon finding a cell of Imperial agents by Admiral Rae Slon, the leader of Outer Rim planet Akiva.

Bloodline

For fans of political drama, Claudia Gray has produced a gripping tale that gives readers a peek into the beginning of the First Order and the actions of the Republic. Bloodline follows Leia during her last days as a senator before she became a full-time leader of the Resistance. Even though lightsabers are nowhere to be found, this slow-burn drama brings to light the political devices and ploys central to the Star Wars Universe.

Dooku: Jedi Lost

Cavan Scott's Dooku: Jedi Lost is an origin story that delves into the early life of Darth Tyranus, when he was simply Count Dooku. Readers are introduced to the villain while he was training as a Jedi under Yoda and mentoring Qui-Gon Jinn and Asajj Ventress. Discovering the reason behind Count Dooku leaving the Jedi Order makes fans see the titular character in a sympathetic light.