Believe it or not, sometimes a person wants to unplug all the devices, except for the Kindle, and settle down with a good book. It used to be understood that people would generally read the books before someone made a movie, but these days that dichotomy has flipped, especially when it comes to big franchises.RELATED: Star Wars: The Most Powerful Sith Lords From The LoreStar Wars made the concept of the space opera genre into a basis for a blockbuster movie series. There are plenty of books that use a similar formula and setting, and others that are even part of the same universe. For aspiring Jedi who want to experience some literature that features themes and stories similar to Star Wars, there are plenty of great places to get started.

6 City of Illusions — Ursula Le Guin

Most of the books in Le Guin’s Hainish Cycle are ideal for Star Wars fans, but City of Illusions features more of the mystical angle and good-versus-evil dichotomy that’s present in in the earlier movies in the franchise. This book is chronologically one of the first in the Hainish Cycle series, and it lays the groundwork for the books that follow.

The evil empire, in this case, is the Shing, who have reduced the once technologically advanced people of Terra to prehistoric, warring tribes. 1200 years before the story begins, the Shing destroyed the League Of All Worlds and took over most of the universe. The protagonist of City Of Illusions, who is nicknamed Yellow by the kind tribe of humans that saves his life, came from another planet with the power to liberate Terra. The novel is about his journey back to his home planet with the message that Terra, formerly known as Earth, needs their help.

5 Foundation — Issac Asimov

It makes perfect sense that fans of Star Wars would want to read the science fiction that inspired part of the franchise, specifically the Jedi Order. Foundation is the name of the planet at the focus of this novel’s plot, where the first “psycho-historian” is trying to preserve the knowledge of the Galactic Empire before it is completely destroyed by barbarian hordes. If it sounds a lot like the story of the fall of the Roman Empire, that’s because Asimov deliberately based the book on that era in history.

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For those that like the books on the same epic scale as the Star Wars universe, Foundation has that dimension as well. This is the first book in a trilogy, and it’s a series of five stories that explain the basis and intent of the Foundation to lay the groundwork for future books in the series.

4 Dune — Frank Herbert

The recent Denis Villeneuve movie appears to have put the Dune series back on the pop culture map, but the truth is that it never really left. Dune has been described as science fiction’s answer to The Lord of the Rings in terms of scale and language, and “Star Wars for grown-ups” when it comes to demographics. The people of this universe have outlawed virtually all forms of externalized memory, relying instead on the abilities of the human mind as opposed to technology. The Bene Gesserit Order could be compared to either Sith or Jedi Orders, depending on who is asked.

More than 10,000 years into the future, human beings have colonized the known universe, which is controlled by an Emperor and a number of noble houses. In a bid to take the powerful and popular House Atreides down a few pegs, the Emperor forges a secret bond with House Harkonnen, the nobles who control the spice planet of Arrakis. The story isn’t just about Paul Atreides, the Chosen Messiah, but also his rule and dynasty.

3 Hyperion — Dan Simmons

Hyperion offers a mix of comedy, suspense, and classic storytelling that’s reminiscent of the earlier Star Wars movies. It has the mythology and drama of a space opera mixed with the ancient concept of a religious pilgrimage, which could also apply to the lives and training of both Jedi and Sith forcer-users.

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The story is about a group of pilgrims who are traveling to the titular planet. It’s broken into six parts, one for each traveler, mimicking the structure of The Canterbury Tales. The journey is a long one without the “farstriders,” or portals that connect many other planets. To pass the time, each pilgrim tells the story of how they were chosen for the journey. Each tale combines tragedy, comedy, and mysticism.

2 The Blazing World and Other Writings — Margaret Cavendish

A mix of fantasy and science fiction with a historical angle, The Blazing World And Other Writings is a great start for those looking for an introduction to the genre of speculative science fiction or proto-science fiction. It’s also a great example of literary space opera, and it’s impressive to think the concept existed centuries before movies or television were invented.

Margaret Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle, wrote The Blazing World and Other Stories in the year 1666, just as the Age of Exploration and the Age of Enlightenment were ramping up. No doubt this environment inspired this “new world,” which the main character finds by walking through a portal at the North Pole. Readers looking for a copy can find it bound with another work by Cavendish, Observations Upon Experimental Philosophy, which is a serious observation on contemporary science.

1 Splinter of the Mind’s Eye — Alan Dean Foster

Once upon a time, Star Wars fans thought that if George Lucas made another movie, it would have to be an adaptation of what could be the most popular book in the Star Wars franchise. Splinter of the Mind’s Eye was a fan favorite, critically acclaimed, and it was a must-read for anyone who considered themselves a hard-core fan in the days before the prequels. It was also the first book in what would become a huge library of media based in the Star Wars expanded universe.

It was not to be, because George Lucas wanted a kid and a Gungan instead, and legions of bitter fans will never forgive him. In the new age of stand-alone movies and streaming services, however, this novel might still have a chance. Before that day comes, though, fans of the franchise should give it a read.

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