Between 1991 and 1998, Star Wars fans were left in a void as creator George Lucas stepped away from the franchise after Return of the Jedi in 1983. The refusal to allow new creations led to a decline in Star Wars related content, except for some fundraising projects. The Expanded Universe was finally revived in 1991 with Timothy Zahn’s novel, Heir to the Empire, sparking a renewed interest in the Star Wars universe. The Expanded Universe allowed fans to contribute their own stories, influencing novels, comic books, and video games. Despite some missteps, the Expanded Universe offered a freer, more joyful exploration of the Star Wars universe.
https://www.filfre.net/2024/04/jedi-knight-plus-notes-on-an-expanded-universe/