The nostalgia I felt coursing through my veins as I sat in a (full) showroom for the theatrical re-release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was surreal: nerds in costumes or bath robes, chanting lines from the script in time with the film, laughing at all of the iconic prequel moments that made it into memes. There is something to be said about the uniting of a community for something you’re all passionate about. In the years since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’d all but forgotten the thrumming energy of a crowd that feels as deeply about something as I do.

Maybe movies aren’t your thing; I get it! You’re probably on the OFPL blog because you have some affinity for books, anyway. As your humble Jedi librarian – Jocasta Nu is such a vibe honestly – please accept some literary pairings to deepen the connection between you and your favorite characters.

Luke Skywalker → Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

Luke’s hero’s journey is iconic—farm boy, pilot, Jedi, legend. But beneath the lightsabers and space battles lies a deeply spiritual arc: questioning tradition, rejecting the strict binaries of good and evil, and ultimately forging his own path. Siddhartha, the 1922 philosophical novel by Hesse, follows a young man seeking spiritual fulfillment in a world of dogma, conflict, and illusion. Like Luke, Siddhartha finds that wisdom doesn’t come from systems—it comes from inner clarity. If Luke ever wrote a memoir, it might read a lot like this.

Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader → Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Shelley’s classic tale of creation, ambition, and monstrous transformation feels almost tailor-made for Anakin Skywalker. A gifted man trying to defy nature—creating life, preventing death—ends up becoming the very thing he fears. Both Frankenstein and Anakin begin with noble intentions, but their hubris and inability to manage grief lead to ruin. Frankenstein is a cautionary tale, but it’s also empathetic: much like how we come to understand the pain and loss behind the mask of Vader.

Yoda → Tao Te Ching by Laozi

If you’ve ever thought Yoda sounded like a 2,500-year-old Chinese philosopher, that’s because he kind of is. The Tao Te Ching, foundational to Taoism, emphasizes balance, humility, the power of yielding, and the interconnectedness of all things—ideas that echo in almost every piece of Jedi wisdom. Lines like “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom” could come straight from Yoda’s hut on Dagobah. It’s short, poetic, and endlessly rereadable throughout one’s life.

Rey → Educated by Tara Westover

Rey’s journey is about identity, legacy, and the courage to write your own story. Tara Westover’s memoir charts her escape from an isolated, survivalist upbringing to earning a PhD from Cambridge. Like Rey, she must confront where she came from while deciding who she wants to become. Both are stories of transformation—not through violence or fate, but through knowledge, inner strength, and refusing to accept someone else’s story as your own.

C-3PO & R2-D2 → Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

C-3PO and R2-D2 are the original odd couple—neurotic, loyal, bickering, and constantly stumbling into cosmic-scale trouble. That same chaotic energy radiates from Good Omens, in which an angel (C-3PO?) and a demon (R2-D2?) team up to prevent the apocalypse. It’s sharp, silly, and full of affection for humanity’s contradictions. This is the buddy-comedy side of Star Wars—and it’s absolutely delightful.

Ahsoka Tano → The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ahsoka walks away from the Jedi not in anger, but in clarity. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness similarly challenges institutions and binaries—particularly around gender, politics, and loyalty. It follows a lone envoy trying to understand a society utterly unlike his own, and it’s a perfect companion for Ahsoka’s arc: forging identity beyond dogma, seeing others as more than categories, and fighting for peace in morally-gray spaces.

Captain Rex → All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

Rex is a soldier bred for war, but with a strong moral compass and emotional depth. All Quiet on the Western Front is a searing anti-war novel told from the POV of a young German soldier in WWI. It’s about the trauma, loyalty, and disillusionment that come from being used by systems of power. Rex, like the narrator Paul, is not just a number—he’s a person caught in something far bigger than himself. His struggle for humanity in a dehumanizing world is painfully resonant.

Cassian Andor → The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré

Cassian Andor is the epitome of a morally complex anti-hero, someone shaped by the harsh realities of war and espionage. Le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold explores similar themes—betrayal, sacrifice, and the cost of working in the shadows. The protagonist, Alec Leamas, is a burned-out spy who’s tasked with one final mission, but his personal moral compass constantly collides with the cold, calculating world of intelligence. Like Cassian, Leamas wrestles with his conscience, questioning where loyalty truly lies. This book brings that gritty, realist spy vibe right into the world of Cassian’s struggle between doing what’s right and doing what’s necessary.

Chirrut Îmwe → The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

Chirrut is the embodiment of the unshakable faith that guides him, despite not being a Jedi. He’s driven by a belief in the Force, and his abilities as a warrior are almost mystical. The Book of Five Rings is a philosophical text by the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, focusing on strategy, discipline, and the deep connection between mind, body, and the environment. Musashi’s teachings, like Chirrut’s, emphasize intuition over rigid technique—becoming one with the Force of the situation. Both men share a quiet yet profound wisdom and a belief that spiritual connection leads to mastery.

Would you like to see a literary pairing based on your favorite character that might not have been listed above? Leave them in the comments, and I’ll send a little bit of bespoke Star Wars love your way. May the Force be with you all!