Star Wars books in the New York Times Best Seller List

On August 16, 2019, the Star Wars Books (@DelReyStarWars) created an impromptu AMA (Ask Me Anything), and I asked if there was a list of the Star Wars books that ever reached the New York Times Best Seller List. They answered:

Probably somewhere in the NYT archive. Or some enterprising fansite. We don't keep one of those.

— Star Wars Books (@DelReyStarWars) August 16, 2019

Well, this is now that enterprising fansite. After reviewing more than 4 decades of public NYT records, below is the compilation of all the Star Wars related books that have made the coveted Fiction Best Seller List.

Amazingly enough, the most successful book ever is not a novel, but the storybook for "The Return of the Jedi", written by Joan D. Vinge, which besides being also the first ever book to reach the list, peaked at #1 for 8 of the 32 weeks it was featured in the list.

The most successful year has been 2017, when seven books were featured at one point in the list: Catalyst, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Aftermath: Empire's End, Thrawn, Battlefront II: Inferno Squad, Phasma and From A Certain Point of View.


Besides the ROTJ Storybook, the only non-novels to appear in the list are Ian Doescher's books: William Shakespeare's Star Wars (2013) and its sequels: The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Return (2014).

Whereas the only time that two books have been featured in the list at the same time was in January 8th, 2017, where Catalyst was in the 15th place and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story debuted in the 16th position.

Number of Books featured in the Best Seller list per Year

Number of Books per Highest Position in the list

Information updated as of February 4, 2021. This information is taken only from the current Fiction available records, which crop the list up to the first 15 places.

THE RETURN OF THE JEDI, adapted by Joan D. Vinge. (Random House, $6.95.) Profusely illustrated storybook based on the latest ''Star Wars'' film.

Week	Position
June 12, 1983	1
June 19, 1983	1
June 26, 1983	1
July 3, 1983	1
July 10, 1983	1
July 17, 1983	1
July 24, 1983	1
July 31, 1983	1
August 7, 1983	2
August 14, 1983	2
August 21, 1983	2
August 28, 1983	2
September 4, 1983	5
September 11, 1983	5
September 18, 1983	6
September 25, 1983	6
October 2, 1983	7
October 9, 1983	7
October 16, 1983	10
October 23, 1983	11
October 30, 1983	10
November 6, 1983	14
November 13, 1983	12
November 20, 1983	14
November 27, 1983	13
December 4, 1983	12
December 11, 1983	9
December 18, 1983	10
December 25, 1983	5
January 1, 1984	10
January 8, 1984	9
January 15, 1984	14

HEIR TO THE EMPIRE, by Timothy Zahn. (Spectra/Bantam, $15.) The survival of the "Star Wars" galaxy is menaced by new forces in the first volume of a trilogy.

Week	Position
May 26, 1991	11
June 2, 1991	6
June 9, 1991	5
June 16, 1991	2
June 23, 1991	2
June 30, 1991	1
July 7, 1991	2
July 14, 1991	3
July 21, 1991	3
July 28, 1991	3
August 4, 1991	4
August 11, 1991	3
August 18, 1991	5
August 25, 1991	6
September 1, 1991	6
September 8, 1991	7
September 15, 1991	6
September 22, 1991	8
September 29, 1991	13

DARK FORCE RISING, by Timothy Zahn. (Spectra/Bantam, $18.50.) An insane Jedi threatens Luke Skywalker in the second volume of a "Star Wars" trilogy.

Week	Position
June 7, 1992	3
June 14, 1992	3
June 21, 1992	2
June 28, 1992	4
July 5, 1992	5
July 12, 1992	4
July 19, 1992	5
July 26, 1992	5
August 2, 1992	7
August 9, 1992	9
August 16, 1992	9
August 23, 1992	7
August 30, 1992	11
September 6, 1992	15
September 13, 1992	15

THE LAST COMMAND, by Timothy Zahn. (Spectra/Bantam, $21.95.) The final volume of the "Star Wars" trilogy begun in "Heir to the Empire" and "Dark Force Rising."

Week	Position
April 25, 1993	3
May 2, 1993	3
May 9, 1993	3
May 16, 1993	4
May 23, 1993	6
May 30, 1993	7
June 6, 1993	9
June 13, 1993	9
June 20, 1993	9
June 27, 1993	10
July 4, 1993	12
July 11, 1993	13

THE TRUCE AT BAKURA, by Kathy Tyers. (Spectra/Bantam, $21.95.) The "Star Wars" Rebel Alliance responds to a call for help from a threatened outpost.

Week	Position
December 5, 1993	7
December 12, 1993	5
December 19, 1993	10
December 26, 1993	12
January 2, 1994	13
January 9, 1994	15
January 16, 1994	12

THE COURTSHIP OF PRINCESS LEIA, by Dave Wolverton. (Spectra/Bantam, $21.95.) Romance and the balance of power in the "Star Wars" universe.

Week	Position
April 24, 1994	7
May 1, 1994	7
May 8, 1994	12

THE CRYSTAL STAR, by Vonda N. McIntyre. (Spectra/Bantam, $21.95.) A "Star Wars" novel in which Princess Leia tracks the kidnappers of her children.

Week	Position
November 27, 1994	8
December 4, 1994	13

CHILDREN OF THE JEDI, by Barbara Hambly. (Spectra/Bantam, $21.95.) The "Star Wars" New Republic sends a mission to find long-lost people in a distant, frozen world.

Week	Position
April 30, 1995	6
May 7, 1995	7
May 14, 1995	10
May 21, 1995	13

DARKSABER, by Kevin J. Anderson. (Spectra/Bantam, $22.95.) Luke Skywalker and Han Solo of "Star Wars" encounter new challenges on returning to a desert planet.

Week	Position
October 22, 1995	15
October 29, 1995	12
November 5, 1995	13

SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE, by Steve Perry. (Spectra/Bantam, $22.95.) A criminal organization undertakes to obtain control of the "Star Wars" empire.

Week	Position
April 21, 1996	9
April 28, 1996	6
May 5, 1996	5
May 12, 1996	9
May 19, 1996	11
May 26, 1996	15

PLANET OF TWILIGHT, by Barbara Hambly. (Spectra/Bantam, $22.95.) The ''Star Wars'' battle between the New Republic and the Empire takes a new turn.

Week	Position
April 20, 1997	15
April 27, 1997	13
May 4, 1997	14
May 11, 1997	15

VISION OF THE FUTURE, by Timothy Zahn. (Spectra/ Bantam, $24.95.) Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia of ''Star Wars'' struggle to prevent a civil war.

Week	Position
September 20, 1998	13
September 27, 1998	15

STAR WARS: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace, by Terry Brooks. (Lucas/Ballantine, $25.) How it all began for Anakin Skywalker (a k a Darth Vader).

Week	Position
May 23, 1999	1
May 30, 1999	1
June 6, 1999	1
June 13, 1999	1
June 20, 1999	3
June 27, 1999	4
July 4, 1999	7
July 11, 1999	7
July 18, 1999	12
July 25, 1999	8
August 1, 1999	13

THE NEW JEDI ORDER: Vector Prime, by R. A. Salvatore. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $24.95.) A "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
October 24, 1999	11
October 31, 1999	10
November 7, 1999	11
November 14, 1999	13

STAR WARS: Rogue Planet, by Greg Bear. (Lucas/ Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.) ObiWan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are swept up in a world of deadly intrigue.

Week	Position
May 21, 2000	9
May 28, 2000	9
June 4, 2000	11
June 11, 2000	13
June 18, 2000	14

THE NEW JEDI ORDER: Balance Point, by Kathy Tyers. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) A "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
November 19, 2000	13

DARTH MAUL: Shadow Hunter, by Michael Reaves. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.) A new "Star Wars" novel whose events take place just before those of "Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace."

Week	Position
February 18, 2001	9
February 25, 2001	11
March 4, 2001	9
March 11, 2001	12

CLOAK OF DECEPTION, by James Luceno. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.) A new "Star Wars" novel that takes place before "Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace."

Week	Position
June 17, 2001	12
June 24, 2001	13

THE NEW JEDI ORDER: Star by Star, by Troy Denning. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.) A new "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
November 18, 2001	11

THE APPROACHING STORM, by Alan Dean Foster. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.) In a new "Star Wars" novel, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker must protect the Republic from secessionists.

Week	Position
February 17, 2002	12
February 24, 2002	12
March 3, 2002	13
March 10, 2002	16

STAR WARS: EPISODE 2 -- ATTACK OF THE CLONES, by R. A. Salvatore. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.) As the Republic edges toward disaster, Anakin Skywalker falls for Senator Padmé Amidala.

Week	Position
May 12, 2002	2
May 19, 2002	3
May 26, 2002	3
June 2, 2002	4
June 9, 2002	4
June 16, 2002	5
June 23, 2002	10

THE NEW JEDI ORDER: DESTINY'S WAY, by Walter Jon Williams. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) A new "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
October 20, 2002	7
October 27, 2002	9

TATOOINE GHOST, by Troy Denning. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) Han Solo and Leia Organa of "Star Wars" confront threats to the New Republic.

Week	Position
March 23, 2003	8
March 30, 2003	14

THE NEW JEDI ORDER: THE UNIFYING FORCE, by James Luceno. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.95.) A new "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
November 23, 2003	10
November 30, 2003	13

SURVIVOR'S QUEST, by Timothy Zahn. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) In a new ''Star Wars'' novel, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker combat a sly enemy.

Week	Position
February 22, 2004	9
February 29, 2004	14

LABYRINTH OF EVIL, by James Luceno. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) A new "Star Wars" novel, featuring Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Week	Position
February 13, 2005	9
February 20, 2005	9
February 27, 2005	12

REVENGE OF THE SITH, by Matthew Stover. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) A new "Star Wars" novel, featuring Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Week	Position
April 17, 2005	2
April 24, 2005	3
May 1, 2005	3
May 8, 2005	4
May 15, 2005	5
May 22, 2005	7
May 29, 2005	7
June 5, 2005	7
June 12, 2005	10
June 19, 2005	10

DARK LORD: THE RISE OF DARTH VADER, by James Luceno. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) How the Jedi knight Anakin Skywalker crossed over to the dark side: a Star Wars novel.

Week	Position
December 11, 2005	11
December 18, 2005	11

OUTBOUND FLIGHT, by Timothy Zahn. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $26.95.) In a new "Star Wars" novel, a Jedi mission to colonize worlds beyond the known galaxy becomes a fight for survival.

Week	Position
February 19, 2006	7
February 26, 2006	9
March 5, 2006	11
March 12, 2006	12

DARTH BANE: PATH OF DESTRUCTION, by Drew Karpyshyn. (Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) A young warrior gifted in the Force struggles to become lord of the Siths: a ''Star Wars'' novel.

Week	Position
October 15, 2006	11
October 22, 2006	14

ALLEGIANCE, by Timothy Zahn. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) Events that occurred between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” : a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
February 18, 2007	10
February 25, 2007	13

SACRIFICE, by Karen Traviss. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) Jacen, the son of Han and Leia Solo, must murder someone close to him to become a Sith lord; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
June 24, 2007	13

DEATH STAR, by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) The back story of the construction of the Death Star ultimately destroyed by Luke Skywalker; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
November 4, 2007	15

DARTH BANE: RULE OF TWO, by Drew Karpyshyn. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $25.95.) The last of the Siths trains an acolyte; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
January 13, 2008	14
January 20, 2008	12

INVINCIBLE, by Troy Denning. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $27.) The New Jedi order battles Darth Caedus, Darth Vader’s grandson; a “Star Wars: Legacy of the Force” novel.

Week	Position
June 1, 2008	5
June 8, 2008	11
June 15, 2008	15

THE CLONE WARS, by Karen Traviss. (Del Rey, $20.) In the years before “Revenge of the Sith,” the Republic does battle with an army of cloned soldiers; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
August 17, 2008	13
August 24, 2008	16

THE FORCE UNLEASHED, by Sean Williams. (Del Rey, $26.) An apprentice to Darth Vader is dispatched to kill the last of his master’s enemies; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
September 7, 2008	1
September 14, 2008	9
September 21, 2008	12
September 28, 2008	14

ORDER 66, by Karen Traviss. (Del Rey, $27.) The Republic’s clone forces fight against treacherous odds; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
October 5, 2008	12

MILLENNIUM FALCON, by James Luceno. (Del Rey, $26.) Jacen Solo’s daughter, Allana, discovers a curious device aboard her grandfather Han’s beloved spacecraft; a “Star Wars” book.

Week	Position
November 9, 2008	14

OUTCAST, by Aaron Allston. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $27.) The start of a new series about the extended Skywalker family; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
April 19, 2009	11
April 26, 2009	15

OMEN, by Christie Golden. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $27.) Luke Skywalker confronts a crisis in the Jedi order; a "Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi" book.

Week	Position
July 12, 2009	4

DEATH TROOPERS, by Joe Schreiber. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $24.) Survivors of an Imperial prison barge must contend with a plague and the undead aboard a Star Destroyer; a “Star Wars” book.

Week	Position
November 1, 2009	13

BACKLASH, by Aaron Allston. (Del Rey/Ballantine/Lucas, $27.) In the second novel in the “Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi” series, a being of pure dark-side energy looms.

Week	Position
April 4, 2010	11

ALLIES, by Christie Golden. (Del Rey/Ballantine, $27.) The Skywalkers and the Sith undertake an unprecedented joint mission; a “Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi” book.

Week	Position
June 13, 2010	8
June 20, 2010	14

THE OLD REPUBLIC: FATAL ALLIANCE, by Sean Williams. (LucasBooks, $27.) The Jedi and the Sith must join forces to stop a threat to the galaxy; a "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
August 8, 2010	12
August 15, 2010	13

DECEIVED, by Paul S. Kemp. (Ballantine, $27.) The second novel set in the Old Republic era and based on the “Star Wars” videogame from BioWare and LucasArts.

Week	Position
April 10, 2011	13

CONVICTION, by Aaron Allston. (Del Rey/Ballantine/LucasBooks, $27.) The Jedi Order has taken control of the Galactic Alliance. Meanwhile, Luke and Ben Skywalker are pursuing the evil entity Abeloth; a "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
June 19, 2011	11

STAR WARS-FATE OF THE JEDI-ASCENSION, by Christie Golden. (LucasBooks, $27.) The Jedi face the Sith, a deposed dictator and an evil entity hungry to become a god; a “Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi” book.

Week	Position
August 28, 2011	7
September 4, 2011	16

STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC : REVAN, by Drew Karpyshyn. (LucasBooks, $27.) A Jedi stumbles upon a terrible secret that threatens the Republic; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
December 4, 2011	8

DARTH PLAGUEIS, by James Luceno. (LucasBooks, $27.) The Sith legend of Darth Plagueis, the most powerful Dark Lord of the Sith, who could keep the ones he cared about from dying; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
January 29, 2012	4
February 5, 2012	13

FATE OF THE JEDI: APOCALYPSE, by Troy Denning. (LucasBooks, $27.) Jedi and Sith reach the endgame in the finale of the Fate of the Jedi series; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
April 1, 2012	2
April 8, 2012	9
April 15, 2012	16

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S STAR WARS, by Ian Doescher. (Quirk Books.) Verily, a new hope: The story of a beautiful princess, a hero coming of age, a wise knight and an evil lord, retold in iambic pentameter.

Week	Position
July 21, 2013	12
July 28, 2013	10
August 4, 2013	15
August 11, 2013	-
August 18, 2013	-
August 25, 2013	15
September 1, 2013	11
September 8, 2013	15

KENOBI, by John Jackson Miller. (Del Rey.) The enigmatic stranger on the desert planet of Tatooine is the Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi; a “Star Wars” novel.

Week	Position
September 15, 2013	12

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S THE EMPIRE STRIKETH BACK, by Ian Doescher. (Quirk Books.) ’Tis for the Rebellion a dark time: “Star Wars” Part V, in iambic pentameter.

Week	Position
April 6, 2014	12
April 13, 2014	16

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S THE JEDI DOTH RETURN, by Ian Doescher. (Quirk Books.) Jabba the Hutt, Ewoks and the redemption of Anakin Skywalker, all in iambic pentameter.

Week	Position
July 20, 2014	12

STAR WARS: AFTERMATH, by Chuck Wendig. (Del Rey.) In this continuation of the ‘Star Wars’ series, the Imperial elite haven’t reckoned on the former rebel fighter Norra Wexley.

Week	Position
September 20, 2015	4
September 27, 2015	5
October 4, 2015	16

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, by Alan Dean Foster. (Del Rey.) Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises; an adaptation of the screenplay of the new “Star Wars” movie.

Week	Position
January 24, 2016	1
January 31, 2016	2
February 7, 2016	6
February 14, 2016	8
February 21, 2016	10
February 28, 2016	15

STAR WARS: BLOODLINE, by Claudia Gray. (Del Rey.) Leia Organa is urged to become First Senator of the New Republic.

Week	Position
May 22, 2016	5
May 29, 2016	14

LIFE DEBT: AFTERMATH, by Chuck Wendig. (Del Rey.) The continuation of "Star Wars: Aftermath" and the second book of the Aftermath trilogy is set between "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens." A "Star Wars" novel.

Week	Position
Jul 31, 2016	9

CATALYST, by James Luceno. (Del Rey.) This novel sets the stage for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," to be released this month.

Week	Position
December 4, 2016	10
January 8, 2017	15

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, by Alexander Freed. (Del Rey.) A novelization of the new movie, including additional scenes.

Week	Position
January 8, 2017	16
January 15, 2017	11
January 22, 2017	11

AFTERMATH: EMPIRE'S END, by Chuck Wendig. (Del Rey.) The conclusion to the Star Wars trilogy set in the years between “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens.”

Week	Position
March 12, 2017	3
March 19, 2017	11

THRAWN, by Timothy Zahn. (Del Rey.) The origins of Grand Admiral Thrawn, an iconic “Star Wars” villain.

Week	Position
April 30, 2017	2
May 7, 2017	4
May 14, 2017	12

BATTLEFRONT II: INFERNO SQUAD, by Christie Golden. (Del Rey.) A prequel to the “Star Wars” video game Battlefront II features the Imperial soldiers of Inferno Squad.

Week	Position
August 13, 2017	13

STAR WARS: PHASMA, by Delilah S. Dawson. (Del Rey.) Captain Phasma, officer of the First Order, battles a mysterious stormtrooper who is bent on unearthing her origins.

Week	Position
September 17, 2017	10

STAR WARS: FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW, by various authors. (Del Rey.) An anthology of short stories retells the original "Star Wars" from the point of view of supporting characters.

Week	Position
October 22, 2017	12

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, by Jason Fry. (Del Rey.) An adaptation of the film, written with input from its director, Rian Johnson, which includes scenes from alternate versions of the script.

Week	Position
March 25, 2018	2
April 1, 2018	11

STAR WARS: LAST SHOT, by Daniel José Older. (Del Rey.) Lando Calrissian seeks help from Han Solo to elude Fyzen Gor’s assassins.

Week	Position
May 6, 2018	15

THRAWN: ALLIANCES, by Timothy Zahn. (Del Rey.) A Star Wars saga. Darth Vader and Grand Admiral Thrawn join forces to serve Emperor Palpatine.

Week	Position
August 12, 2018	1
August 19, 2018	6

STAR WARS: MASTER & APPRENTICE, by Claudia Gray. (Del Rey.) The bond between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi is tested when they go on a mission to the royal court of Pijal.

Week	Position
May 5, 2019	5
May 12, 2019	15

THRAWN: TREASON, by Timothy Zahn. (Del Rey.) A Star Wars saga. Grand Admiral Thrawn must choose between his sense of duty to the Chiss Ascendancy and loyalty to the Empire.

Week	Position
August 11, 2019	5

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, by Rae Carson. (Del Rey) The Resistance goes on a new adventure as word of the re-emergence of Emperor Palpatine is sent across the galaxy.

Week	Position
April 4, 2020	5

THRAWN ASCENDANCY: CHAOS RISING, by Timothy Zahn. (Del Rey) In this Star Wars saga, a young military officer is sent to find the unseen enemies who attacked the Chiss capital.

Week	Position
September 20, 2020	9

STAR WARS: LIGHT OF THE JEDI, by Charles Soule. (Del Rey) In this installment of the High Republic series, a disaster in hyperspace may cause far greater damage.

Week	Position
January 24, 2021	1
January 31, 2021	4
February 7, 2021	10
February 14, 2021	15