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Star Wars Expanded Universe Books


Tysyacha

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LYIAD, let Tsycacha make up their own mind. Im not even going to bother debating the NJO, there is a very extensive thread on it at the EU forum:

http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?t=141810

 

The 'where to start' question is commonly asked at the EU forum. Heres is a neat older thread that did the same:

http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?t=133908

 

the general consensus seems to be starting with Timothy Zahns "Thrawn Trilogy" I think it is because it is where we all started, as they were the first 'modern EU' books, being published in 1990. They also give you a storyline that feels 'movie-like' . These books are set aprrox 9 years after ANH.

 

If you like deeper characterisations(which The Thrawn trilogy does NOT offer), then perhaps miss it for now, and read something like 'The Han Solo Trilogy' first, giving you an account of a younger Han, leading up to ANH :)

 

However, since you asked about post ROTJ era, you may even want to check out Kathy Tyers "The Truce at Bakura", which commences the day after the events of the ROTJ.

 

we'd be glad to answer any further/specific questions you have at the EU forums. feel free to come by!! :)

 

mtfbwya

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I think I'm the leader of the detractors. :)

 

hehe, I was thinking that, but didnt write it down.. It actually used to be Rhett & Sivy before you, so you have a high standard of cynicism and mockery to uphold !!

 

if you want a more dramatic title, we could call you the Arch Nemesis of the NJO or the Clown Prince of Cristicism or for something a bit more subtle, The Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan [is] Wrong :p

 

mtfbwya

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I hate all the EU novels. Can't stand 'em. I don't even like what GL did with the prequels, I think he sold out to Kellogs and now makes breakfast cereal. The Dark Horse comics are where it's at.

Tales of the Jedi is where KotOR came from. Post Trilogy stuff is Dark Empire, Dark Empire II and Crimson Empire. It's the only EU that even tries to capture the original themes.

Forget the novels, they're wack and it's not like LF Ltd isn't rich enough.

 

edit: oh except Rogue Squadron. They might be worth a look at.

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I hate all the EU novels. Can't stand 'em. I don't even like what GL did with the prequels, I think he sold out to Kellogs and now makes breakfast cereal. The Dark Horse comics are where it's at.

Tales of the Jedi is where KotOR came from. Post Trilogy stuff is Dark Empire, Dark Empire II and Crimson Empire. It's the only EU that even tries to capture the original themes.

Forget the novels, they're wack and it's not like LF Ltd isn't rich enough.

 

edit: oh except Rogue Squadron. They might be worth a look at.

 

Dont be so quick to dismiss things youve never read!! Sure those comics you mentioned are cool, I have pretty much all the ones youve mentioned :)

 

Granted, the NJO is a departure from tradional SW, but so many of the other novels have a true SW feel reminiscent of the OT. Yes, the Rogue Squadron, and the Wraith Squadron series is definitely one of them. Then there the Thrawn Trilogy, and even more impressive is the 'Hand of Thrawn" duology.

 

Last but not least, one of the most impressive non NJO characterisation novels ever written is "I, Jedi" by Mike Stackpole. Awesome, first person perpective story old by Corran Horn(one of the pilots from the Rogue Squadron novels), who takes part in Jedi Training at Lukes Academy on Yavin IV....

 

It's a great read, highly recommended !!

 

mtfbwya

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Dont be so quick to dismiss things youve never read!!

Like any consumer, I take a flick through something and decide if it's something I'll like or not. I've EU books sitting on my shelf people buy for me, but I just can't get into them, have no interest, find no lines or pages which grab me, no writing style that particularly impresses me...

 

I just don't like EU. I like originality better in novels and choose the ones I read fairly sparingly. It's gotta have something which grabs me in a flick through and EU novels definitely don't have it.

 

I ate up a rewriting of Star Wars by fantasy novelist Margaret Weiss, because it was original and yet had all the themes SW has simply abandoned, save for a bare one or two Trilogy scenes, from the original concept (of a rebellion by the royal guard against an unjust galactic rulership).

 

EU is like a GL fan club, like those guys who hang around outside the domiciles of movie stars professing their undying love and never exploring another original thought again. The only deviation from this is the Dark Horse comics, who even with their strict LA licensing immediately set about to explore the rawer themes of SW, which fortunately involved some of the better elements.

The godlike Emperor, the rough and ready Jedi. A galaxy you get cuts and abrasions in.

 

This whole Han Solo/Chewbacca worship, Leia is an Earth Mother oh Luke you are so human and have such character-depth, now let's explore all the interesting nobody's in the galaxy is just wack. Kill the hairy monkey already! WTF is this C'baoth so developed for, have him waltz in and off the set and be done with it for chrissake!

 

They're all 200 pages for every time somebody lights a cigarette, too much plot to flush the toilet and absolutely no interesting character evolution whatsoever. An interesting character is a pinion, an identifiable fascination. Luke the farmboy with a lightsabre and heritage. Darth Vader the evil leader of the Emperor's guard, the veritable Black Knight. Obi Wan, once highly ranked and renouned guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy now a hermit in exile.

These are pivotal, original and epic characters. How can you match them? Democratically elect a new Emperor and have his Grand Vizier start a plot against him (the Bloodsword Trilogy). Have Luke fall like his father and take command of the Imperial Remnant (Dark Empire). None of this "ohh artsy alien from the outer regions hides with defunct second super star destroyer and rebuilt fleet, ooh he is such an intellectual strategist." Where's his goddamn lightsabre for a start?

 

I want to read about the "little guy who's really just as big as the big guys" I'll buy Cleo and hear Oprah talk all about it. I'm into fiction to get away from all that.

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Meh, I reckon the Rogue Squadron books would be good, but just can't grab onto the rest. A comic version of NJO would be good.

 

Seriously, have a read of Margaret Weiss' the Bloodsword Trilogy, it's an excellent rewriting of Star Wars, original enough not to breach any copyrights but really gets back to the original theme of the opening sequence in A New Hope.

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