"Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is a Disney/Lucasfilm publishing initiative to connect the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens with previous film installments in the Star Wars franchise. All titles under the program are canonical to the Star Wars universe.
The group of "at least" 20 novels and comic books from multiple publishers was announced in March 2015. The first novels, including Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig and Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, were published in September 2015, prior to the release of The Force Awakens in December 2015.
A large number of licensed novels and comics were produced between the originating 1977 film Star Wars and the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company, set in what was dubbed the Star Wars Expanded Universe. In April 2014, with The Force Awakens in production, Disney rebranded this body of work as Star Wars Legends and declared it non-canon to the franchise.
"Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens", consisting of "at least" 20 novels and comic books from multiple publishers, was announced in March 2015. All titles under the program are canonical to the Star Wars universe, and connect the previous films with The Force Awakens and its forthcoming sequels. The first novels, including Aftermath by Chuck Wendig and Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, were published in September 2015, prior to the release of The Force Awakens in December 2015.
At the October 2015 New York Comic Con panel for the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, more works were announced that would be released from November 2015 through Summer 2017.
Star Wars: Aftermath (September 2015) by Chuck Wendig
Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt (July 2016) by Chuck Wendig
Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire's End (February 2017) by Chuck Wendig
Aftermath (2015) is set shortly after the 1983 film Return of the Jedi and deals with the consequences of the deaths of Palpatine and Darth Vader, as well as the power vacuum formed in the Empire's rule over the galaxy and the actions of the Rebellion during the following months. It is the first of a planned trilogy of novels that will bridge the Star Wars timeline between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.
Star Wars: Lost Stars (September 2015) by Claudia Gray, set during the original film trilogy.
Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure (September 2015) by Greg Rucka, set between the films Star Wars (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure (September 2015) by Jason Fry, set between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.
Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure (September 2015) by Cecil Castellucci and Jason Fry, set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. In the novel, an older Leia Organa recounts a past mission for her memoirs. The book also features the character Nien Nunb and introduces the droid PZ-4CO.
Star Wars: Before the Awakening (December 2015) by Greg Rucka, an anthology book for young readers about the lives of Poe, Rey and Finn before the events of The Force Awakens.
Star Wars: Bloodline (May 2016) by Claudia Gray, set several years before The Force Awakens with Leia Organa as the protagonist.
"Star Wars: The Perfect Weapon" (November 2015) by Delilah S. Dawson, centered on the bounty hunter and First Order spy Bazine Netal.
"All Creatures Great and Small" (November 2015) by Landry Q. Walker
"High Noon on Jakku" (November 2015) by Landry Q. Walker
"The Crimson Corsair and the Lost Treasure of Count Dooku" (November 2015) by Landry Q. Walker
"The Face of Evil" (November 2015) by Landry Q. Walker
"A Recipe for Death" (April 2016) by Landry Q. Walker
"True Love" (April 2016) by Landry Q. Walker
Star Wars: Shattered Empire (2015), written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Marco Checchetto. The four-part limited series Shattered Empire was published by Marvel Comics between September 9 and October 21, 2015, and is set immediately after Return of the Jedi. It features the parents of Poe Dameron from The Force Awakens, who are members of the Rebel Alliance: his mother is Shara Bey, an A-wing pilot who adventures with Leia Organa, and his father is Kes Dameron, part of a special ground force known as the Pathfinders who are led by Han Solo. The story involves their adventures alongside Leia, Han, Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian and others in the aftermath of the Battle of Endor as the Empire attempts to avoid total defeat.
Star Wars: Poe Dameron (April 2016), written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Phil Noto. Set immediately before The Force Awakens, Marvel's Poe Dameron centers on the Resistance X-wing fighter pilot portrayed in the film by Oscar Isaac. It explores Poe's adventures before the start of the film, and includes appearances by Poe's astromech droid BB-8, new X-wing pilots and a new villain from the First Order positioned as Poe's nemesis and whom Soule describes as "fresh and cool". Noto patterned the character's look on Isaac.
Star Wars: Ships of the Galaxy (September 2015) by Benjamin Harper
Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need To Know (September 2015) by Adam Bray, Cole Horton, Michael Kogge and Kerrie Dougherty
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Incredible Cross-Sections (December 2015) by Jason Fry
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Visual Dictionary (December 2015) by Pablo Hidalgo
The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (December 2015) by Phil Szostak
