I like reading the corny video game books that are out before any rpg I really want to get into. I read all the warcraft books back before the WoW launch.  I've read all the Mass Effect and Dragon Age books, the Witcher books, some Starcraft books etc etc. 
 
I wanted to read some Star Wars books before the MMO is out but I have no idea where to even begin. There are tons of star wars books out there, so i thought I'd ask if any of you fine gentlemen could give me a list.

Play the kotor games instead, that'll lead into the Old Republic.  They're also fucking amazing.

" @Skytylz: Seriously go on steam and buy at least the first KOTOR at least. You could run that game on modern hardware and it's still fun. I still play it from time to time.  "

The majority of the expanded universe novels are set thousands of years after the events of the KOTOR games.  With a few exceptions, the books can be divided into three categories ; those that follow on from the classic trilogy; those set around the events of the prequel trilogy; and the New Jedi Order series, beginning many years after Return of the Jedi and focusing heavily on Han and Leia's children.  Most of the novels are of a MUCH higher standard than your typical movie/game spin-off literature. I can highly recommend Timothy Zahn's Heir to The Empire trilogy, which has a much better plot than any of the movies, in fact you should probably start here.  I also really enjoyed the Mandalorian Wars trilogy (Three books about Boba Fett!) and the Jedi Academy trilogy, whose authors name escapes me right now.  There are a few books dealing with the time period that the MMO is set in but to be honest I haven't read them.  Oh and one more thing - The New Jedi Order is heavy stuff, one of the lead characters from the original movies is killed in the first book! :-)

3600BBY (Before Battle of Yavin - 1st Death Star blowing up. Star Wars: A New Hope) is roughly the time of comic book series only when it comes to the expanded universe/fiction. I don't think there were any big books published about this era.
 
Here is the timeline from Bioware's point of view. They use a point in the timeline which is correct when it comes to the current point in the universe (being so far 'back' in history, the Battle of Yavin has no place in the timeline, so they use the Treaty of Coruscant as their basing. I don't know about that, I'm a book guy, never really got into the comics/graphic novels) called BTS (Before Treaty of Coruscant) which happens about 3600BBY, or in this case, 0BTS. 
 
Here is the timeline from an expanded universe point of view. It takes into account all books, movies, audio dramas, etc. that have ever come out. This is the timeline I'm much more familiar with, simply due to me knowing more about the books, not really touching the other forms of print. 
 
Probably a bit confusing to you, but I'm a bit rusty. Haven't bought an expanded universe book in over 3 years, so let me know if I can clarify anything from up there.

" The majority of the expanded universe novels are set thousands of years after the events of the KOTOR games.  With a few exceptions, the books can be divided into three categories ; those that follow on from the classic trilogy; those set around the events of the prequel trilogy; and the New Jedi Order series, beginning many years after Return of the Jedi and focusing heavily on Han and Leia's children.  Most of the novels are of a MUCH higher standard than your typical movie/game spin-off literature. I can highly recommend Timothy Zahn's Heir to The Empire trilogy, which has a much better plot than any of the movies, in fact you should probably start here.  I also really enjoyed the Mandalorian Wars trilogy (Three books about Boba Fett!) and the Jedi Academy trilogy, whose authors name escapes me right now.  There are a few books dealing with the time period that the MMO is set in but to be honest I haven't read them.  Oh and one more thing - The New Jedi Order is heavy stuff, one of the lead characters from the original movies is killed in the first book! :-) "

I think there are a few Dark Horse comics that cover that time period, but the best thing is just to play (or replay) KOTOR 1 and maybe 2.

You should go find some good star wars fan fiction, read it and then hang yourself.

5,000 BBY

• Tales of the Jedi: Golden Age of the Sith by Kevin J. Anderson
• Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire by Kevin J. Anderson

3,998 BBY

• Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic by Tom Veitch
• Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising by Tom Veitch

3,997 BBY

• Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith by Tom Veitch and Kevin J. Anderson

3,996 BBY

• Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War by Kevin J. Anderson

3,993 BBY

• Shadows and Light by Joshua Ortega (published in Tales #23)

3,986 BBY

• Tales of the Jedi: Redemption by Kevin J. Anderson

There are books based on the MMO.  Deceived and Fatal Alliance.  Just read them. 
 
Everything else takes place before or after.

" There are books based on the MMO.  Deceived and Fatal Alliance.  Just read them.  Everything else takes place before or after. "