Scum & Villainy: 10 Best Books About Star Wars Villains
The galaxy far, far away is home to some of the most famous villains in all of fiction. Names like Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Boba Fett are just a few that have sparked fear and infamy in the Star Wars universe for years, and that can also be said for the extended universe as well.
The legions of spinoff novels concerning George Lucas's space opera cover a wide variety of subjects spanning across the existence of the galaxy and beyond, and there have been several complex and interesting villains and antiheroes along the way. The universe is home to Sith Lords, bounty hunters, and more sinister subjects beyond the stars, and there's a book for every occasion and taste.
When it comes to classic Star Wars villains, there are perhaps no finer examples than that of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader. Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp delivers exactly what the title suggests, Sith Lords doing Sith Lord things, and that's all the reader really needs from it.
The novel essentially covers the duo's acts of evil and chaos seen through the eyes of a rebel survivor, diving deep into just how destructive and devastating the Empire's grip on the galaxy can be. Palpatine is more than just an elderly puppetmaster and Vader is far from just a Force-gifted enforcer, as Cham Syndulla soon learns on her own.
The Star Wars book series has tons of anthology volumes, and they're a wonderful way to experience a sampling of what the extended universe has to offer. One such example is Tales From Jabba's Palace, a collection of stories surrounding the infamous Hutt and those that call his mansion on Tatooine home.
If variety is the spice of life, fans of the galaxy are in for a well-seasoned meal. The book contains a variety of stories and characters each with ties to Jabba's less-than-savory doings. From dealings with bounty hunters like Boba Fett to assassination plots concocted by Jabba's own majordomo, the anthology offers a little bit of everything to satisfy those mildly curious about the book series as a whole.
Asajj Ventress is one of the most infamous villains of the Clone Wars, and Dark Disciple shows what can happen when a sci-fi romance mixes with a fiendish assassination plot. The book not only uncovers the past of a ruthless Sith apprentice, but develops her more on an emotional level when Jedi Quinlan Vos is brought to the scene.
In order to track down and neutralize the shadowy Count Dooku, Vos and Ventress must join forces to take on one of the Sith's most prolific and dangerous Lords. Passions and furies run high in this tale of intrigue, death, and vengeance.
Political thrillers aren't for everyone, and the Star Wars book series has more than an elephant's share of them. But even those not even remotely interested in the goings-on of the politicians of the Galactic Senate might want to at least give Tarkin a try.
James Luceno weaves an almost Shakespearean origin and background for one of the most infamous commanders of the Galactic Empire. And while Grand Moff Tarkin boasts no lightsaber, Force sensitivity, or cosmic power, he is one of the few non-Jedi who is on equal footing with Lord Vader himself.
Picking up right after the events of Revenge of the Sith, this entry into Darth Vader's mythos explores the early days and dark deeds of a newly turned Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi have fallen, the Empire is on the rise, and legions of Stormtroopers march ever onward as a group of survivors flee towards the Outer Rim, longing to escape Vader's wrath.
While he has donned the mask and mechanized suit, Vader is not yet at his most powerful as he still deals with the internal turmoil after losing his beloved Padme. As Anakin dies behind that mask, a new and more dangerous Sith Lord rises from the ashes of a fallen Republic.
Count Dooku is one of the most complex and interesting characters on either side of the Force. This book and its audio drama by Cavan Scott present a different look at the leader of the Separatists. Drawing back the curtain on one of the most enigmatic figures in the galaxy, readers and listeners are treated to an intriguing tale that gives rise to an infamous Sith Lord.
After taking Asajj Ventress under his wing, he sends her on a mission that calls him back to his past, a past that begins to unfold itself before the reader. Having been a Jedi, an actual count, a politician, and more before taking the path of the Dark Side, there are decidedly more layers to Dooku than meet the eye.
"Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?" While many fans have undoubtedly heard this line or seen it memed to death, only those who have read this novel truly know the figure behind that name. Providing both answers to an iconic question and the origins for some of the Dark Side's biggest players, it's a book that knows how to treat its villains well.
The book explores the character of Plagueis and his relationship with a young Palpatine as he teaches his apprentice the dark and sinister ways of the Sith. What transpires is a story that lays the foundations for the rise of a greater and familiar evil.
Amongst the ranks of criminally underused Star Wars characters, Captain Phasma is in the top-tier. As one of the most mysterious and recognizable faces of the First Order, Phasma left a lot of empty spaces that needed to be filled after meeting her fate in The Rise of Skywalker. Fortunately, Delilah S. Dawson helps fill most of those blanks.
Perhaps taking a page from her actress, Gwendoline Christie, there's a definite Game of Thrones influence to this work. There are gladiator battles, deadly space parasites, and a surprising amount of bloodshed along the way.
The saga of Darth Bane is truly a fan favorite amongst those well-versed in the Star Wars extended universe. Set during the age of the Old Republic, the series shows the rise and creation of one of the Sith's most influential figures as he uses his position and power to shape a new empire.
Darth Bane is a cornerstone of the Sith's mythos and history, laying the foundations and structure that would shape them into the infamous Galactic Empire, such as establishing the Rule of Two. Sith Lord enthusiasts will want to experience this trilogy.
According to Youtini, this is practically mandatory reading for anyone looking to explore the books or the extended universe. Not only does this book essentially act as the springboard for the book series, but introduces the realms of Star Wars to one of its fan-favorite villains, Grand Admiral Thrawn.
The second Death Star has been blown to smithereens, the Emperor has been vanquished, and peace finds its way across the galaxy, for a while. From the ashes of the Empire rises a new threat, Thrawn, armed with the remnants of the Imperial Army and a brilliant tactical genius. It will take Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie using all the power of the Force to combat this new and dangerous enemy.