It's been over a decade since the Legends continuity of Star Wars books closed out to make way for new stories in the Canon timeline. Legends, sometimes still called the Expanded Universe, encompasses all the Star Wars tie-in media released prior to the Canon changeover, which officially happened in publishing starting the back half of 2014. But just because Legends books are finished doesn't mean they're no longer worth reading.
In fact, Star Wars fans who read Legends books are actually doing themselves a favor. From Heir to the Empire to the X-Wing books, the New Jedi Order series and more, Legends are still here. They're still widely accessible and available to read. And there are a few good reasons why you should.
Legends books are (literally) where the Expanded Universe began
The Star Wars books publishers such as Random House Worlds, Disney Books, and others are releasing today would not exist if it weren't for "Legends." Many still know them best as the "Expanded Universe (EU)," and that's because the name reflects the purpose these books had back then -- and still have today. Star Wars books literally expand the Star Wars universe. It all started with the books and comics.
Whether you go way back to the beginning with the A New Hope novelization from 1976 or start with Timothy Zahn's groundbreaking Heir to the Empire trilogy, reading Legends is a little bit like studying Star Wars history. To best understand the books coming out today, it helps to start with the stories that built their foundation.
Sci-fi inspired Legends, which inspire Star Wars Canon
The earliest books and comics published in the late 1970s and early '80s are heavily inspired by science fiction. Many of the authors penning these books were seasoned sci-fi and fantasy writers themselves; they brought their storytelling finesse to a galaxy far, far away and paved the way for all the Star Wars stories that have been written since.
Many of the Star Wars books that have been published over the past 10 years or so draw much of their inspiration from Legends. Many of the Star Wars authors writing today were Legends book readers before they were professional writers. That's why you'll find subtle Legends references in Star Wars books by authors such as Mike Chen, Cavan Scott, and Justina Ireland. In a way, they're honoring the stories that have come before by referencing them in the stories they write today.
When it comes to Star Wars books, Legends are just as important now as they have ever been. Don't count them out just because they're "old" or "not canon." They're still relevant, worthwhile, and in some cases, so wacky you'll fall in love with them. Don't ask me to explain that; it's better if you make that discovery on your own. Happy reading!