Are there authoritative (canon) sources outside the movie for information about the new Star Wars narrative? [duplicate]

Question

After having watched the new Star Wars movie, I looked up info about the new storyline, and found some articles with details --for example, that Kylo Ren's lightsaber was made from a cracked crystal --that I don't recall from the movie itself. Are there other canon sources (outside the movie itself) for information about the new Star Wars continuity?

Answer 1

Yes.

There are (source: starwars.com):

• Official novelizations

  • Alan Dean Foster novelization

  • Michael Kogge "Junior" novelization

• Reference materials

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens Visual Dictionary

  • The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens Incredible Cross-Sections

• "Let's make more money for Disney" books

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens Ultimate Sticker Collection

  • Star Wars: Droid Factory

• Multiple Disney books for kids

  • Star Wars: Rey Meets BB-8 (Level 1 Reader)

  • Star Wars: Finn & Rey Escape! (8×8, w/stickers)

  • Star Wars: Han & Chewie Return! (8×8)

  • 5-Minute Star Wars Stories

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens Flashlight Adventure Book

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Lightsaber Rescue

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens Mix & Match

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Rey’s Survival Guide

  • Star Wars: Finn and the First Order

  • Star Wars: Look and Find

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens New Adventures

• Prequel books

  • Aftermath (way way prequel)

  • Star Wars: Before the Awakening

  • 2016 New Republic: Bloodline book

• General canon novels

  Too many to list, see Wookieepedia.

  However, most of that list is either kid books, and/or set before Endor or its immediate aftermath.

• More Marvel comics than you can shake your gaffa stick at

  However, none of them are describing the events at the time of The Force Awakens yet - the latest ends around Battle of Endor or soon after.

• Star Wars Databank on starwars.com has articles with some info