Latest Movies

Star Wars: 10 Best Jedi Vs. Sith Novels | Screen Rant

Published

3 weeks ago

May 10, 2022

By their literal nature, the light side and the dark side of the force have been at odds since the creation of the galaxy far, far away. Whether the conflict is set during the time of the Galactic Republic and the Trade Federation, the Rebels and the Galactic Empire, or the Resistance in the First Order, one common factor still remains. The Jedi will always be locked in an eternal battle with the insidious ways of the Sith.

Images of the heroic Jedi Knights clashing sabers with the dark lords of the Sith have graced movie screens for decades, but the extended universe has even more epic tales to offer. For fans of lightsabers, force powers, and the ongoing battle of good and evil, the literary world of the Star Wars universe has more than enough to satisfy.

Set after the events of the fall of the first Death Star, this standalone novel puts Luke Skywalker, Leia, and the rest of their Rebel Alliance against a new threat as the Emperor dispatches Mara Jade and her stormtrooper entourage to crush the head of the rebellion.

In the book series, Mara Jade is one of the most dangerous Sith enforcers under the command of the Empire, and she has her sights set on the galaxy’s beloved heroes. The fate of the rebellion rests with Luke and his companions, but his blossoming Jedi powers might not be enough to overcome such a skilled and deadly threat.

Although movie novelizations aren’t for everyone, Matthew Stover’s adaptation of Revenge of the Sith comes highly recommended. Not only does the novel follow the events of Episode III, but it expands and explores deeper themes not fully realized in the film.

The main focus is Anakin’s total turn to the dark side, but the relationship between him and his master is also greatly explored. This isn’t just a Star Wars novel, it’s an epic tragedy leading to one of the greatest stories ever told in science fiction.

Anything by Alan Dean Foster, known for his work on both Star Trek and Star Wars, is typically a solid read. Set during the Clone Wars era, The Approaching Storm teams Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi with Master Luminara and her Padawan, Barriss Offee, together as they try to stop the planet Ansion from joining the Separatists.

Although the Separatists are more of the antagonists in this rendition than the Sith, the connection to the dark side of the Force is still present. As with any Jedi-focused adventure, it’s an action-packed and mystifying journey worthy of any episode of the Clone Wars series.

This graphic novel series deals with the history of the Jedi and their growing conflict with the Sith, and readers will be in for multiple tales of good versus evil with that epic Star Wars flair. From early Jedi discovering the mystical ways of the Force to battles against the backdrop of ancient ruins, it’s a different way to experience the expansive universe.

Famous characters like Luke, Yoda, Obi-Wan, and so on are all well and good, but seeing a new cast of characters locked in the tried-and-true formula of Jedi fighting Sith is certainly refreshing. Seeing both sides of the Force in an ancient setting is also something that should be explored more in the extended universe.

James Luceno’s novel not only sets the scene for a battle of Obi-Wan and Anakin Vs. Grievous and Darth Sidious, but a character-defining adventure that shifts Skywalker one step closer to the dark side of the Force. It’s a thrilling story in the last days of the Clone Wars where the tide of victory begins to sway.

While it’s not the first time the two Jedi have persued Grievous into a shadowy place, Luceno’s gift for suspense is well-displayed as Obi-Wan and Anakin pursue him to the droid factories of Charros IV. Tensions and emotions run high as stakes are raised in this sci-fi manhunt.

Origin stories are a big part of the Star Wars mythos, and Count Dooku’s is no exception. As one of the most enigmatic figures of the Sith, just about anything with the infamous count in the spotlight is almost guaranteed to be something special. A nobleman turned Jedi turned Sith Lord certainly fits that description.

Both the audio drama and the novelization depict the rise and fall of Dooku from promising Jedi to politician to his turn towards the dark side in graphic detail. With appearances from Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, and even Asajj Ventress, it’s a well-rounded story that shows the nuances of the Jedi/Sith ways.

From a Certain Point of View is a series of anthology books set within the Star Wars mythos that offers a little bit of everything for fans of the franchise to enjoy. Not including at least one mention of the books would be an outright insult to any fan of the Jedi or the Sith.

Spending across the original trilogy and even including a Clone Wars spinoff collection, the stories contained within these volumes involve the best the galaxy has to offer. Jedi, Sith, pilots, clones, anything a Star Wars fan can think of. Simply put, it’s a well-rounded collection for any reader’s Star Wars needs.

Once more, James Luceno demonstrates his gift for writing villains by tackling perhaps the best villain in Star Wars mythology, Darth Vader. This novel is more than a newly formed Vader wreaking havoc in the galaxy, it’s a survivor story with the remaining Jedi being hunted down by the Empire’s deadliest enforcer.

The Jedi temple has fallen, Palpatine has won, Anakin Skywalker is dead, and in his place stands for cybernetic Sith Lord who searches to destroy any remaining survivors. Seen through the eyes of Jedi Masters Roan Shryne, Bol Chatak, and Padawan Olee Starstone, Vader is like a predator seeking his next prey as they try to escape the shadowy clutches of the victorious Sith.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend is a phrase that perfectly describes the events of Dark Disciple. At its core, the novel by Christie Golden is one that concerns relationships, primarily the ones between the Jedi and the Sith. But when the rogue Jedi Quinlan Vos has to partner up with the assassin Asajj Ventress to pursue her former master, Count Dooku, lines and loyalties begin to blur.

Jedi and Sith do not work together very often, but when pursuing a character like Dooku, a little help goes a long way. Both Vos and Ventress are complex characters, and both have their own reasons to distrust the other, but they might form a bond over their mutual hatred for the nefarious count.

Master Yoda is one of the most gifted Force-users in the known got galaxy, and arguably the most powerful Jedi in existence. His relationship with Count Dooku is certainly one of the most intriguing. A promising Jedi apprentice turned Sith Lord is a concept that is haunted the old master for years, a notion clearly demonstrated in Sean Stewart’s novel.

Set against the dark planet, Djun, Yoda is tasked to meet with his former apprentice at a secret rendezvous point in the hopes of promising negotiations. However, it’s obviously a trap that will put Yoda’s strength in the Force and emotional fortitude to the test.

NEXT: The 10 Best Star Wars Novels For Jedi Fans (According to Youtini)