6. Phasma and Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson

What We Learn: Vi Moradi’s fascinating story, including her crucial role in setting up the Resistance base on Batuu.

Vi Moradi (aka Vi-the-Spy) is one of the most enigmatic contradictions within the Black Spire Outpost. On one hand, she’s almost impossible to miss with her blue hair, bright orange jacket, and getting-things-done demeanor as she regularly patrols the streets. On the flip side, most guests have no idea who she is and completely miss her—I even saw one fellow ask her for directions once.

In short, she’s kind of the perfect spy for a place like Batuu—and she’s pretty much the whole reason in-world why any of us get to partake in the adventures of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Vi’s story begins some time before her arrival on Batuu in Phasma. After being captured by the First Order, she endures a long and brutal interrogation under the watch of a stormtrooper captain (who becomes rather important to Vi’s ongoing story). While that novel focuses mostly on the backstory of Captain Phasma, Vi’s part in the Galaxy’s Edge mythos comes into fuller view in Black Spire. In this story, we learn how General Leia sent Vi to search out recruits, supplies, and a good hiding place for the Resistance following the devastating losses of the Battle of Crait (where The Last Jedi ended). Vi locates all three on Batuu, where she sets to work attempting to establish a Resistance base on the world. Through many trials and mishaps, she ends up playing a crucial role in ensuring the survival of the Resistance, all thanks to events that take place on Batuu. The novel also explains just what the First Order are doing on the planet, as well as setting up events related to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

7. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker The Visual Dictionary by Pablo Hidalgo

What We Learn: That your day on Batuu--particularly the events of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and especially Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance-- play an important role behind the scenes in The Rise of Skywalker.  

Along with fiction-centered works, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge also ties into several reference books which give a broader perspective on the stories surrounding the Black Spire Outpost. You wouldn’t think The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary would be a particularly exciting place to look, but we were surprised how many major details we learned about Batuu from this innocuous book.

We’ve detailed many of these tidbits in our exploration of the lore of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but the Visual Dictionary was the first place where fans started to realize just how the events of your day at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge set up The Rise of Skywalker. For one thing, we learn that a number of Batuu locals end up playing prominent roles in the war between the First Order and the Resistance, particularly in The Battle of Exogol. We also learn about why the Resistance left Batuu in such a hurry and relocated to Bakura, followed by Ajun Kloss.

Most importantly, the Visual Dictionary fills us in on a detail that has major implications for the story of The Rise of Skywalker. Apparently, your little sabotage job inside a Star Destroyer in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance during the Battle of Batuu results in the destruction of one of the First Order’s most important ships—a catastrophe for General Hux that ultimately lands him in hot water with Kylo Ren. The events of The Battle of Batuu cast a shadow over his career, and he ends up losing much of his authority to a rival.

8. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook

What We Learn: An astonishing amount of trivia about Batuu’s food scene…

The food scene at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ended up being a truly pleasant surprise, particularly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where dining variety has always felt a little lacking compared to other parks. You wouldn’t think a cookbook would be able to offer much in the way of lore to bolster immersive storytelling, but the Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook manages to do just that.

Along with giving guests some great recipes to make their favorite Galaxy’s Edge treats at home (though I do find that blue milk recipe to be a bit over-simplified), the Black Spire Outpost Cookbook does a commendable job offering guests some really fun trivia about food and drinks on Batuu, and more importantly, where they come from. Every recipe is described as if in-world which gave the author some room for creative storytelling. You won’t find any deep backstories here, but the trivia can prove quite the entertaining read.

9. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu by Cole Horton

What We Learn: Everything… just everything you could ever want to know about Batuu

Of all the essential books for enjoying a trip to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, none is likely to be more useful than the Traveler’s Guide to Batuu—indeed, it’s sort of the book we’ve all been waiting for since the land opened.

The book is exactly what it sounds like—an in-world guidebook to Batuu, the Black Spire Outpost, and Wild Space beyond. Every bit of random trivia your heart could desire on local customs, notable persons, curious history, politics, culture, unique landmarks, and more related to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you can find in this book. It is, essentially, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy’s Edge, and it will undoubtedly prove an essential keepsake for frequent Black Spire visitors. The author even writes in the voice of an intergalactic adventurer while the cover includes Aurebesh writing to keep an authentic feel. Pity it took a lockdown to finally get this gem into our hands!

10. The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge by Amy Ratcliffe (Coming Soon)

What We Learn: We’ll find out, but it looks like this book is going to include some incredibly detailed concept art surrounding the land.

There will undoubtedly be many more novels, comics, and volumes related to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to come in future years, but we are already aware of one on the way. The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will offer guests a visual perspective on life in the Black Spire outpost in a collection of beautiful concept art. While fans may have already seen some of these pieces, the book is likely to offer a lot of new material, including some behind-the-scenes perspective from the Imagineers and artists that brought the Black Spire Outpost to life.

In short, there really is something for everyone in the vast library of tie-ins to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Which one will you be reading first?

Enjoy this article? Keep reading to learn about the most immersive attraction in Orlando you may have never heard of (but that theme park fans will love!)…