When Del Rey Books reacquired the Star Wars publishing license in 1999, it sought to expand the universe with a new approach different from what had come before. The books set in the prequel era would be new by virtue of its previously unexplored chronological setting. But what of the books featuring the classic trio of Han, Luke and Leia? What new situations could challenge the heroes that had faced everything unscathed?

The answer was The New Jedi Order series of novels. Unlike the Bantam novels that had preceded them, these books would be produced in chronological order, and would cover a single, major storyline. They would shake up the status quo, irrevocably changing the cast of characters and setting.

The galaxy was given a breather, an unchronicled span of a year to set up for these momentous events. In that year between stories, Mon Mothma would die peacefully, and Borsk Fey'lya would ascend to the position of Chief of State. Nom Anor would emerge to rouse trouble on Monor II, and Mara Jade would be infected with a mysterious illness. Don't go looking for books that tell these particular tales -- they are back-story to The New Jedi Order, and have not been told as unfolding events. (Though the Jubilar incident was from a published story, found in Tales of the Bounty Hunters in 1995 from Bantam Books).

The Invasion Begins in Vector Prime (1999, Del Rey Books). The first book of the series does not provide that much information about the Yuuzhan Vong. Though the Chronology provides the complete history of the alien invaders, including their initial prequel-era stabs into the galaxy and the coup that toppled Supreme Overlord Quoreal, these vital pieces of information were not revealed until much later in The New Jedi Order's run. The Chronology pieces together the tale here, but multiple books paint the complete picture. Zonama Sekot, for example, is from the prequel-era Rogue Planet (2000, Del Rey Books), while no one who read about the slivilith in Star Wars #55 (1981) could have known the creature was actually a Yuuzhan Vong creation -- this was revealed in the roleplaying supplement Alien Anthology (2001, Wizards of the Coast). Quoreal's history would not come to light until the last books of the series, The Final Prophecy (2003, Del Rey Books) and The Unifying Force (2003, Del Rey Books).

Vector Prime tells of Yomin Carr's actions on Belkadan, and Nom Anor's rabblerousing on Rhommamool-Osarian. The book also made history by depicting The Death of Chewbacca, a shocking move that made it clear that this book series was playing for keeps. C-3PO and R2-D2's compilation of a testimonial memorial of Chewbacca was the basis for the comics series Chewbacca #1-4 (2000, Dark Horse Comics).

The next book, Dark Tide I: Onslaught (2000, Del Rey Books) chronicles the Dantooine Onslaught, introducing the Jedi hero Ganner Rhysode and establishing Jaina Solo as one of the pilots of Rogue Squadron. In the sequel, Dark Tide II: Ruin (2000, Del Rey Books), another world is sundered by the Yuuzhan Vong, as told in The Ruin of Ithor. It also saw the death of Elegos A'Kla and introduced the character of Jagged Fel.

The Peace Brigade emerged as a new threat amid the Yuuzhan Vong invasion in Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial (2000, Del Rey Books). The book is noteworthy for introducing Vergere to the storyline, as well as such recurring characters as Harrar and Droma. In the following book, Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse (2000, Del Rey Books), The Battle of Fondor occurs.

The Fall of Duro takes place in Balance Point, the second hard-cover of the series (the books between it and Vector Prime were in paperback). Warmaster Tsavong Lah, a major villain the heroes would contend with for much of the series, debuted in this book. It is also in Balance Point that Mara Jade discovers she is pregnant. Han and Leia's trip to the medcenter on Corellia, recounted in the Treachery in the Senate segment, was told in the e-book release, Recovery (2001, Del Rey Books). It was included in the paperback version of Star by Star.

The Birth of the Heretic Movement was told in the first book of the Edge of Victory duology, Conquest (2001, Del Rey Books). It showcased Anakin Solo as a hero, and brought back Tahiri from the Junior Jedi Knights series. The Great River storyline was told in the six-part Emissary of the Void serial. Its publication history is complicated. The first three parts of the story were told in Star Wars Gamer magazine issues #8-10 (2002, Wizards of the Coast). However, Gamer stopped publishing before the story could be finished, so the first three parts were moved online, here, at starwars.com. The last three parts were then published in Star Wars Insider #62-64 (2002, Paizo Publishing). All six parts will eventually make their way to the fiction section of starwars.com Hyperspace.

The Battle of Yag'Dhul occurs in the second book of the Edge of Victory duology, Rebirth (2001, Del Rey Books). This book had the birth of Ben Skywalker.

The Death of Anakin Solo was another major blow to the heroes of the galaxy. It was told in the massive novel, Star by Star (2001, Del Rey Books). That book also chronicled The Fall of Coruscant, in which the Yuuzhan Vong conquered the New Republic capital. Borsk Fey'lya, known to readers as an irritating thorn for the past 10 years, managed to go out a hero in his final moments.

The next book in the series, Dark Journey (2002, Del Rey Books) followed Jaina Solo through the Intrigue on Hapes. Set concurrently with that novel was the short story, "The Apprentice," which was first published in Star Wars Gamer #8 (Wizards of the Coast, 2002). That story has since been reprinted online for Hyperspace members here.

The Struggle for Borleias and Behind Enemy Lines occur in the Enemy Lines duology, consisting of Rebel Dream and Rebel Stand (2002, Del Rey Books). The existential journey of Jacen Solo, and the heroic sacrifice of Ganner Rhysode, recapped in In the Belly of the Beast, were originally told in Traitor (2002, Del Rey Books).

The Victory at Ebaq 9 occurred in Destiny's Way (2002, Del Rey Books), the hardcover New Jedi Order release of the year. This was accompanied by the e-book Ylesia (2002, Del Rey Books), which told of the liberation of that world and capture of Thrackan Sal-Solo. Ylesia would eventually make its way to print as a bonus story found in Dark Nest I: The Joiner King.

What followed next in The New Jedi Order was a paperback trilogy, Force Heretic. In it, the Falcon and its crew proceeded in a series of missions while Luke, Mara and Jacen ventured into the Unknown Regions. Across the Stars summarizes the Falcon's adventures. The voyage to Galantos told in the first book, Remnant (2003, Del Rey Books), the trip to Bakura in the second, Refugee (2003, Del Rey Books) and the Battle of Esfandia in the third, Reunion (2003, Del Rey Books). Throughout this trilogy, Nom Anor reinvented himself, from a fugitive of the Warmaster to "Yu'Shaa the Prophet," beacon of hope to the Shamed Ones. It should also be noted that this trilogy introduced the Galactic Alliance as the new government following in the wake of the collapse of the New Republic.

Into the Unknown Regions tells the other half of the Force Heretic trilogy. In Remnant, the crew of the Jade Shadow find the Imperial Remnant under Yuuzhan Vong attack. With the help of Pellaeon's Imperials, they begin their next leg of their journey into Chiss Space in Refugee. They discover the wounded Zonama Sekot in Reunion.

This segment also encapsulates the events of The Final Prophecy (2003, Del Rey Books), the penultimate book of the New Jedi Order. In it, Nen Yim and Harrar also seek out Zonama Sekot, accompanied by Nom Anor, Corran Horn and Tahiri. The book also has the debacle at Bilbringi, that resulted in the capture of Pash Cracken and Judder Page.

That sets up events for the final book, The Unifying Force (2003, Del Rey Books). The Defense of Mon Calamari, and The Recapture of Coruscant summarize the epic events that brought The New Jedi Order to a close.

The Killik Expansion brings us to the present of Star Wars publishing. On the eve of the Legacy of the Force era, the new book series that will push beyond the current boundaries of the timeline into the unknown futures of the galaxy, is the Dark Nest trilogy. The events of the three novels, The Joiner King, The Unseen Queen and the forthcoming Swarm War are summarized here for the first time anywhere.

This is the history of the Star Wars universe, and the essential back-story of the remarkable heroes and villains whose stories have enthralled us for nearly 30 years.