With more than 150 books in the Star Wars audioverse alone, there's certainly no shortage of adventures in our favorite galaxy far, far away. But let's say you've absorbed the very best of both Canon and Legends, watched the films and television shows time and again, and have exhaustively played through extended universe games (video and tabletop alike). Or perhaps you just love the unique magic of the Star Wars universe and would like to spend a little more time in a different world with a familiar feel.
If you're a Star Wars fan looking for something new, our Audicted to Sci-Fi editorial team has you covered. In honor of Star Wars Day, here are their recommendations for series that listen like your favorite universe. May the Fourth be with you!
The Expanse Series
In this epic series—spanning eight books narrated by Jefferson Mays and a fan-favorite television series—Earth, Mars, and the Belt vie for power over humanity’s fate in the solar system. And that’s all before a mysterious alien entity lands on the scene, threatening the very survival of the human species while offering unprecedented and dangerous power to whoever can wrest control of it.
Why it’s perfect for Star Wars fans: While a grittier take on post-Earth adventure, the rich world-building in this series will appeal to Star Wars fans eager for more space-based action and adventure. Plus, the protomolecule can give the Death Star a run for its money. – Editor Sam
The Wayfarers Series
Becky Chambers’s series explores the many ways in which different lifeforms may interact, form bonds, and work together across intergalactic adventures. This delightful trilogy is like experiencing the phenomenon of summer-camp-level friendship as an adult. As her motley crew of intrepid characters roam the stars, Chambers highlights the importance of found family—and the many forms in which friendship and romance can come.
Why it’s perfect for Star Wars fans: If your favorite parts of the Star Wars universe are discovering new species and experiencing the deep, intricate relationships that build between characters—human and nonhuman—Chambers’s series scratches that same itch. – Editor Sam
Red Rising Series
Pierce Brown’s Red Rising is an unforgettable listening experience. The political intrigue spans entire planets, house colors, and personal alliances. The iconic characters fight to the death and fall madly in love—sometimes all at once. The wildly creative combat—both spacefaring and hand-to-hand—is among the best in the Sci-Fi genre. But what elevates Pierce Brown’s epic saga to the highest heights is Tim Gerard Reynolds's impeccable voice work. Somehow, Reynolds manages to bring even more life to these deep and complicated characters, making their earnest losses and grandiose victories sink and soar accordingly.
Why it’s perfect for Star Wars fans: Darrow, the central character, has an incredible hero’s journey from the lowest social caste to leader of the rebellion—and the whip-like razors they use in combat feel like natural analogues for lightsabers. - Editor Sean
Aurora Cycle Series
This new series, a collaboration from Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, is set in 2380 and follows a squad of recently graduated cadets who have stumbled upon an artifact
from the past: a girl from one of the earliest failed deep space missions who has been cryogenically frozen all this time. Unbeknownst to her, this girl holds the clue to a criminal and political conspiracy hundreds (or possibly millions) of years in the making.
Why it’s perfect for Star Wars fans: The rich universe that the authors have developed is reminiscent of the nascent Star Wars universe: there are multiple alien species all working, collaborating, and governing together. The known and habitable universe has expanded almost infinitely with the advancement of technology, yet we find ourselves on an adventure with a band of misfits with very recognizable motivations and personality quirks. And they just may be the entire hope for the future of the human (and alien) race(s). – Editor Emily
