The Complexity of Star Wars Expanded Universe: Prequels, Legends, and Beyond

The Star Wars expanded universe has long been a topic of intrigue for fans, with its numerous novels, comics, and series expanding the scope and depth of the Star Wars universe. A central question for many has always been: were there any prequels in the expanded universe?

Prequels in the Expanded Universe

There have been instances where old novels in the expanded universe provide accounts of events before the original trilogy. While these were not part of the official canon, some works, such as the 'Tales of the Jedi' series, detailed events and characters before the films.

Lucas's Decisions and the Prequel Period

Luke Skywalker, the creator of the Star Wars franchise, had his own vision for the prequel period. He had locked off that period, giving it to prequel films and not allowing the expanded universe (EU) to explore it.

Content Before the Prequels

Despite the limitations set by Lucas, the expanded universe was rich with content depicting events before the original trilogy.

Comics detailing the rise of the Rakatan Empire and the Sith Wars.

Stories of the High Republic, currently being released in the form of graphic novels and novels.

The Legends book The Veil of Deception, which sets up the events of The Phantom Menace.

For fans interested in more content before the prequels, there are other options available such as the Tales of the Jedi streaming series, which tells the stories of the Jedi before A New Hope and The Phantom Menace.

Understanding Sequels and Prequels

The terms 'sequel' and 'prequel' refer to media that concerns events preceding or following an already existing work. However, the criteria for a prequel often include being connected or involved with the narrative of the existing works, similar to a sequel.

For example, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is considered a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark as it chronologically takes place before the first film and involves the same main character. Conversely, the Predator films, while sequels, do not necessarily form a sequential narrative due to their different time periods and characters.

Many works in the expanded universe fit the criteria for prequels, for instance, the stories of the Jedi and Sith from Brian Daley's 'Tales of the Jedi' series, which provided accounts of events before the original trilogy.

Conclusion

The Star Wars expanded universe remains a vast and intricate tapestry, with its prequels and Legends providing a wealth of information for fans. Whether it be understanding the complex timeline or exploring new characters and storylines, there is always something new to discover in this richly detailed universe.