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Thanks to its widespread success, The Mandalorian is finally back for season three, after what felt like an eternity. After waiting more than two years, Mando and Grogu are finally ready for some action. Sure, we got a glimpse of our armored hero during The Book of Boba Fett, but it’s not the same. No offense Boba Fett.
Introducing a brand new character, Din Djarin, was the perfect way to dive into the first-ever Star Wars live-action series. It feels new and fresh. It also doesn’t hurt that the show is made really well – with a gigantic budget.
The series has been so popular that people are clamoring for more Mando. And while I appreciate that they take the time to do it right, it did drive me a little batty waiting for so long! Luckily, there are tons of books out there that provide plenty more Mandalorian stories.
This is clearly not an exhaustive list of every novel to include Mandalorians. However, these are my top picks for fans of The Mandalorian that are itching for more Mando-related content. These books will at least help fill some time while you’re waiting for next week’s episode to drop.
There are several books in The Art of Star Wars series. The first one was published back in 1979, giving a behind-the-scenes look into the making of Star Wars: A New Hope. Since then, additional books have dropped after each movie. Similarly, The Art of Star Wars: The High Republic dives into the details of the bestselling book series with concept art, character sketches, and vehicle and creature designs.
Now, we can get that same look behind the scenes for the very first live-action Star Wars TV series, The Mandalorian. This official companion to the show features tons of exclusive sketches, concept art, and interviews with cast, crew, and creatives. It’s a must-have for Mandalorian fans who want more of Din Djarin, the Child, and all the other new Star Wars characters.
A second book that covers season two of the fan-favorite series was released just last year. I’m willing to bet that a third The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian is in the works already.
Related: Best Star Wars Books for Your Padawan
The Empire Strikes Back left fans hungry for more bounty hunters, and The Bounty Hunter Wars is ready to deliver. The first book in the series is The Mandalorian Armor, written by K. W. Jeter. Taking place during the events of Return of the Jedi, Dengar discovers Boba Fett has survived his fall into the Sarlacc Pit.
The story is told through Boba Fett’s flashbacks while in a vegetative state, and Dengar’s activities while caring for him. Fett was a freelance bounty hunter at odds with the Bounty Hunters Guild until pressures in the galaxy forced him to change his stance.
Fett joining the guild was really a plan that Prince Xizor put into place, though. He was hoping to pit members against each other to eliminate “dead weight,” keeping on the best bounty hunters for the Empire to contract. Xizor says they need the best of the best to fight the Alliance, but Vader isn’t convinced and thinks Xizor has ulterior motives.
Boba Fett ends up a pivotal player in the dissolution of the infamous guild of bounty hunters but soon realizes the game is rigged. He discovers himself the target of murderous factions, criminal conspiracies, and the true evil at the heart of the Empire.
The Mandalorian Armor is the first in a trilogy. These are the other two titles:
Jango Fett was a renowned Mandalorian bounty hunter, but the movies never do a deep dive into his story. We know that before his death in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Jango had become one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy. But how did he end up in such a dangerous profession to begin with? Jango Fett: Open Seasons is in many ways a Jango Fett origin story.
This comic miniseries recounts Jango’s story from his early days. He was once just a poor boy on a farm on a forgotten planet. After his family was murdered and he was taken in by Mandalorians, he eventually rises up and transforms into that feared bounty hunter we all know and love.
Open Seasons features other staples such as the Death Watch, clan Visla, and Concord Dawn.
Karen Traviss’ Republic Commando series has become the holy grail for fans of the Mandalorian way. Before The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Traviss was already deep into developing Mandalorian lore. These books showed the Mandalorian language, culture, characters, and legends that didn’t appear on the big screen.
Released a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (aka in the pre-Disney days), these stories have now been classified as Legends. But just because they’re not Canon, don’t let that prevent you from reading them – especially if you’re dying for more Mandalorian lore.
For more information about Canon vs. Legends, check this out. Craving even more? Here’s a complete timeline of where everything fits in the Star Wars universe, both Legends and Canon.
Republic Commando: Hard Contact is the first in the series, and is also a tie-in novel to the Republic Commandos video game. The book takes place during the Clone Wars. It introduces a squad of clone troopers, created as copies of Mandalorian Jango Fett, as they set out to sabotage a Nanovirus research facility on a Separatist-controlled planet.
Here’s a list of each book in the series:
I have to admit… I always felt like Darth Maul got the short end of the stick. When George Lucas announced the prequels were coming, Darth Maul was hyped as the next big Star Wars baddie.
He was mysterious and sinister-looking and was portrayed by a martial artist with amazing physical abilities. Plus, he had that double-bladed lightsaber, the first we had ever seen. He had all the potential to be a really, really awesome villain throughout the prequel trilogy. And then he gets only six minutes of screen time. There’s a visually stunning battle, and then Obi-Wan Kenobi kills him off. Talk about disappointing!
Luckily, we’ve seen Darth Maul pop up a few more times since then. He somehow came back from the dead for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and he gets plenty of spotlight in books, including Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir by Jeremy Barlow. Maul is even cooler than The Phantom Menace promotions made him out to be, too. We now know he once wielded the darksaber and held leadership over Death Watch.
Clearly, if we want more Mandalorians, Maul’s story is definitely intertwined more than many other Star Wars characters. This Canon comic series fills in a lot of gaps in Maul’s relationship with the Mandalorians during the Clone Wars. Maul forms the Shadow Collective, an army of underworld organizations like Death Watch, the Nightbrothers, Black Sun, and the Hutt Clan. He murders Duchess Satine and throws Mandalore’s government into turmoil. He’s caught in a power play between Sidious, Cout Dooku, and the Death Watch.
Unlike other books on this list, The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett isn’t a traditional novel that follows characters. Instead, it’s a handbook that any good bounty hunter should have! It consists of two volumes that were of great personal significance to legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett: an edition of The Bounty Hunter’s Guide Handbook, and a recruiting booklet issued by the Death Watch. Each of these is even made to look different, to really give it the feel of having two volumes bound together. The ragged, worn edges are a nice touch!
Peek inside, and you’ll find pictures and detailed text about armor, weapons, vehicles, hunting beasts, and more essentials found in the Star Wars bounty hunter’s life. The book details the skills needed to make a living by anyone a little morally grey. It also dives into the little-known history, philosophy, and gear of Death Watch. As an added bonus, Boba Fett himself has written notes throughout the handbook.
The Bounty Hunter Code is one of a series of simulation reference handbooks. You can also find The Imperial Handbook, Book of Sith, and The Jedi Path to complete your collection. I’ve personally got all four of them on my bookshelf!
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