by Andrew R. Cameron
The High Republic era is an opportunity for writers of fanfiction to create stories outside the timeframe of the Skywalker Saga. It is a time when the Jedi were still seen as the guardians of peace and justice, and the Republic was in a golden age of influence and power.
To celebrate the release of The Acolyte, we have put together a short list of reference books and other resources to help fanfiction writers who want to know more about the High Republic era.
The High Republic era occurs roughly 500 – 100 years before the Battle of Yavin (BBY).
During the early years of the High Republic, brave Pathfinder teams chart new hyperspace lanes, explore the Outer Rim, and bring new cultures into contact with the Republic. The Jedi are at the height of their power, and other Force religions thrive throughout the galaxy.
In 232 BBY, the Great Hyperspace Disaster brings the Republic into confrontation with a group of marauders known as the Nihil. The Jedi face an existential threat in the form of the Nameless, insidious creatures controlled by the Nihil who feast on the Force itself. Shortly after the Republic’s Starlight Beacon is destroyed, the marauders establish an Occlusion Zone in the Outer Rim, stranding hundreds of worlds behind their Stormwall.
In the closing years of the High Republic, the Jedi’s authority is beginning to wane and people are growing disillusioned with their power. The Republic is struggling with inertia and corruption.
In the real world, the High Republic is a multimedia project which began in 2021. It aims to tell overlapping and interconnected stories through novels, short stories, comics, and tv shows. Phase 1 of the High Republic began with the Great Hyperspace Disaster and ended with the destruction of Starlight Beacon. Phase 2 occurred 150 years earlier, during the era of hyperspace exploration, when the Jedi were challenged by a cult known as the Path of the Open Hand. The ongoing final phase, Phase 3, returns to events after the destruction of Starlight Beacon, as the Jedi try to rescue those stranded in the Nihil Occlusion Zone.
Fanfiction writers who have read the books and graphic novels and watched the tv shows will be familiar with these events, but if you want to know more about this era for your own fanfiction, we can recommend the following guides and resources…
Chronicles of the Jedi
Presented as an in-universe history book written by Jedi Master Harli Cobra, Chronicles of the Jedi is a comprehensive illustrated guide to the events of Phase 1. Readers who have no prior knowledge of the High Republic will find this to be a superb starting point, with its in-depth exploration of the events, characters, technology, and cultures which shaped the era. Even those already familiar with the material will find something useful here, particularly as the book weaves the myriad storylines told across the various forms of media into one coherent history. It allows readers to see the whole picture, whilst focusing on the important minutiae at the same time.
Its original illustrations are also worth checking out, capturing the grandeur and spectacle of the era.
The scope of Chronicles of the Jedi is somewhat limited by its publication date in early 2023, with its contents limited to Phase 1 and a few broad events from Phase 2. However, it is still the best guide for this material, and hopefully there will be a forthcoming sequel or second edition which covers the rest of phases 2 and 3.
Character Encyclopedia
With over 275 characters, the Character Encyclopaedia demonstrates the depth of storytelling behind the High Republic era. Each biography shows how the character fits into the overall picture and indicates where they first appeared. It also delves into the organisations like the Jedi, Republic, Nihil, and various Force religions, allowing a glimpse into the state of the galaxy beyond just specific characters.
The timeline at the beginning of the book does a great job of summarising the existing media; like Chronicles of the Jedi, it weaves a coherent thread through the myriad multimedia, but presents it in a more succinct and easy-to-digest form. This is a helpful snapshot of the era for aspiring fanfiction writers.
The 2023 publication date means the contents are limited to phases 1 and 2, but it hints at events to come in Phase 3.
Star Wars Timelines
A visual representation of the complete canon timeline, this comprehensive book has a number of pages dedicated to High Republic material, helping to put the events in perspective with the rest of the Star Wars canon.
The frustrating thing about any book which attempts to capture the entire Star Wars timeline is that it is out-of-date within months of publication. But Timelines continues to be a useful guide due to its simple arrangement and presentation of events, making them easy to understand and follow. Its deep focus on specific events, such as the Great Hyperspace Disaster or Republic Fair on Valo, make it valuable for any writer of fanfiction who wants to explore those events in their stories.
The Art of Star Wars: The High Republic
The series of Star Wars concept art books by publisher Abrams are some of the most beautiful additions to any fans’ library. The Art of Star Wars: The High Republic was chronologically the first of the books in this article to be published, so it focuses exclusively on Phase 1 material, but provides an incredible insight into how the entire High Republic multimedia project came to exist. No book better captures the aesthetic and design of the era, and the commentary from various artists and writers helps to see why specific design choices were made. Not only is this a wonderful book for fans of the High Republic, but it is a great resource for writers and artists in general, giving insights into the creative process and worldbuilding.
Online materials
For those of you looking to find information online, we have a number of recommendations.
The Star Wars Databank is the official canon reference guide, and although its entries are usually quite brief, they occasionally feature snippets of information which aren’t well-established in other material.
The fan-created Wookieepedia continues to be the most comprehensive online resource for Star Wars, with over 190,000 entries. Its High Republic material is being constantly updated. As with all wikis, the proliferation of links in each article mean this is one of those rabbit-holes that you can get lost in for hours.
There are a number of YouTube accounts which post guides to High Republic content. One of our favourites is Star Wars Explained, which offers a detailed and knowledgeable look at its topics without resorting to the kind of sensationalism with has divided the fandom. Their recap of phases 1 and 2 is particularly helpful.
We look forward to providing information about more High Republic resources in the future!
Coruscant Writers Club 