Steeped in lore and beloved by fans, the Star Wars universe has expanded vastly beyond the original trilogy. Nonetheless, some of the best stories still draw their essence from the time period of Episodes IV to VI, where rebels fought valiantly against the Empire. Here are the 10 best Star Wars stories set in the original trilogy era:

1.”The Empire Strikes Back” – Regarded by many as not just the best film in the original saga but as one of the greatest sequels ever made, this movie deepens every aspect of Star Wars, from the lore to character development.

2.”Return of the Jedi” – This film concludes the original trilogy with high stakes, as our heroes finally confront Emperor Palpatine and his massive Imperial forces in an epic showdown that couples space battles with personal redemption.

3.”Star Wars: A New Hope” – The film that started it all cannot be overlooked. It’s the quintessential story of good versus evil, introducing us to characters and a galaxy we’ve grown to cherish.

4.”Star Wars: Rogue One” – A gritty war film that seamlessly leads into “A New Hope”. It enriches the narrative of how the Death Star plans were acquired and features characters whose sacrifices become legendary.

5.”Star Wars Rebels” (TV series) – Set before “A New Hope”, this series follows a group of rebels who band together aboard a freighter starship, fighting against the growing influence and threat of the Empire.

6.”Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy” (Novel Series by Timothy Zahn) – Following the events post-“Return of the Jedi”, these books introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn, a strategic mastermind whose presence reinvigorates threats against our heroes and challenges their newfound peace.

7.”Star Wars: Darth Vader” (Comic series by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca) – Showing a side of Darth Vader seldom seen, this comic book series offers a closer look into Vader’s psyche and his actions between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back”.

8.”Star Wars Battlefront II: Inferno Squad” (Novel by Christie Golden) – This novel serves as a prelude to the video game’s campaign following an elite Imperial squad tasked with crushing the remaining Rebel forces after “A New Hope”.

9.”Shadows of the Empire” (Novel by Steve Perry) – Though now part of Legends, this novel fills in gaps between “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”, featuring familiar characters while introducing new ones like Prince Xizor.

10.”Star Wars: Bloodline” (Novel by Claudia Gray) – Offering insights into Princess Leia’s life before her leadership role in “The Force Awakens”, this novel tackles political intrigue set within a few years after “Return of the Jedi”.

These stories offer rich narratives that provide depth to well-known characters while introducing new ones, all set against a backdrop forever defined by George Lucas’ original masterpieces.