Reddit reviews The Paradise Snare (Star Wars, The Han Solo Trilogy #1) (Book 1)

Star Wars Darth Bane Trilogy (Written by Drew Karpshyn):

1. Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
   
   
2. Darth Bane: Rule of Two
   
3. Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil
   
   This is the trilogy I recommend starting out on. It gives a lot of history and background on Sith culture and how modern Sith philosophy was (this would be Old Republic Era, just so you understand what I mean by modern) and towards the end of the trilogy brings about the creation of the rule of two and the revolutionized Sith philosophy created by Darth Bane (which would be the Sith you see in the movies and anything in the books after that).
   
   Then I would recommend reading this. This book takes place about a millennium after the events of the Darth Bane trilogy were set in motion and will help you see how the Sith in the movie plot are connected to the Sith in history. I think reading these four books will help anyone interested in the Sith make the transition from "Evil villian bad guys that hurl lightning at Jedi just because" to "Human beings with feelings, goals, plans, and standards who are trying to achieve universal conquest at all costs" and bring Sith from other books you might read in full circle from being labeled as "psychotic evil sadist" to "unconventional anti-hero that probably has an actual story besides being conveniently evil for dat plot".
   
   If you're asking about Star Wars books in general I still recommend reading the books I listed before first just because they give so much depth to a mostly uncovered concept in the Star Wars universe that many authors don't bother going into. You can read any series as long as you start at "Book One" of the series (to avoid confusion) and know where in the timeline the book you're reading is taking place (there is a timeline in the front of just about every Star Wars book that will tell you when the book takes place in relation to the movies and other series. I'll list a few series that I think everyone should read right now in preparation for the Disney Star Wars Movie (Sith help us, please let it be good).
   
   First off and by far my favorite series is the Darth Bane into Darth Plagueis series (the ones I listed before). There will be a lot of Sith stuff going on in the new movie so it'd be important to have an understanding of them or at least get references, and this series is where you will learn that from.
   
   The next series is the Han Solo Saga. These are two separate trilogies about Han Solo's adventures before the movies that were written by two different authors but one is written to follow and compliment the other trilogy, making it a full saga. This is a book of three short stories. Start out reading the first book in this trilogy: (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3) then alternate between book and trilogy story respectively.
   
   The last one is what the new movie will actually be based off of and it isn't a series I enjoyed too much but wasn't bad either. Here it is, The Jedi Academy Series: (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3).
   
   There it is, this is my list of "must reads" but you can really throw a dart at a list of all of the Star Wars books and find a good series. A lot of people really like the Republic Commando series (I have not yet read it) and a lot like the Red Squadron series, so it's really preference. The stuff they made to history-fill for SWTOR release is pretty good too and most are singles and not in a series if you don't like to read much. Enjoy! :)

I really enjoyed the Han Solo trilogy myself. I really liked these (they even have a Kal'rathi / Vanduul type alien species): http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Snare-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553574159/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375057832&sr=1-2&keywords=HAN+SOLO

http://www.amazon.com/Hutt-Gambit-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553574167/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375057832&sr=1-3&keywords=HAN+SOLO

http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Dawn-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553574175/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375057832&sr=1-4&keywords=HAN+SOLO

The Han Solo trilogy is a very good series for showing how the Underworld works for smugglers. It follows Han from his childhood, his rocky start into smuggling, joining and then leaving the Empire, acquiring the Falcon, all the way up until he sits down at the table with Obi-wan and Luke. The trilogy gives a look into the shady underbelly of the galaxy.

Scoundrels: A book more in line with a heist film, follows Solo again but this time after the destruction of the first Death Star. Trying to get credits to save his neck from Jabba he accepts a job to infiltrate a fortress and steal from a Black Sun Underboss. It is slow at times and not the best read but it is still a good resource for inspiration.

Highly recommend reading the Han Solo Trilogy for a really good look into what a younger Han could be like.

Ah, in that case:

Clone Wars Era:

Shatterpoint

The Cestus Deception

Darth Vader (and other Darth) Flavored:

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Darth Bane Trilogy

Shadow Hunter: Darth Maul

Original Trilogy Era

Han Solo Trilogy

Lando Trilogy

Don't worry guys, I'm here for the ultra-nerdy Extended Universe explanation of why, despite this not being at all the point, this post defies the true nature of Han and Chewie's brohood.

You see, before his days of lawless smuggling and being a handsome vagabond, Han Solo was an officer in the Imperial Navy. Han was given an order to execute Chewbacca, a 200+ old Wookiee Imperial slave. Han refused and was summarily discharged from his military service. According to the customs of the Wookiees of Kashyyyk, Chewbacca swore a "life debt" to Solo to the point where he would readily surrender his own life to spare that of his friend's.

All this, and many other nerdgasmic details are described or alluded to in the very enjoyable Han Solo Trilogy by the talented author Ann C. Crispin.

You're welcome.