Where to start? Well, the series’ whole title, for one…
The Talon is basically a lightsaber with actual edges to its blade, slightly different technology, and the ability to convert into a blaster.
The A-32 Starcraft looks a LOT like an X-Wing, although some of the design was clearly inspired by the real-life F-16 Fighting Falcon (the plane the author flew during his time in the U.S. Air Force).
Starlore has the A.I. Wars instead of the Clone Wars and the Galactic Alliance instead of the Planetary Alliance.
There’s a flight through an asteroid field in the first book.
…And a flight through a canyon in MERCHANT.
Tig loses a limb in LORE.
Brae’s and Daeson’s relationship in MERCHANT is very much like Luke’s relationship with Rey—a Scrap Heap Hero being forced back into his former life of adventure by a young, enthusiastic female apprentice and eventually dying in combat from it.
While we’re at it, the very names Brae and Rey.
To Other Media
The name of the planet Jypton sounds suspiciously like “Krypton.”
There are Rayleans in Real Life. Except it’s spelled “Raëlians”—and they’re a UFO religion.
Averted with the Navi. The name might look like the Na’vi from Avatar, but it’s actually borrowed from the Hebrew word for “prophet” (since the Navi are allegories for, among other things, prophets).
—and they’re a UFO religion.