Reapy Posted April 29, 2002 Share Posted April 29, 2002 I have always loved the starwars movies. I have never read any of the many books that that exist in the star wars universe though. So here are a few questions I have when going out to start reading some... First off, which came first, the books or the movies? Are all starwars books part of a main timeline. I read a lot of fantasy novels, and each world is a creation of one author and the worlds history is easily accessable reading his books in one of two ways. Chronologically by release. Or chronologically by events that have occured in the world. (This order is fun sometimes if there are a lot of prequils). What I am guessing though is that there are many authors who write about the star wars universe. Is there a core set of books that came first, which first showed up starwars? (or was this in fact the movie that showed us starwars). Where should i start? Do you guys have any suggestion as to the order I should read them, or where I can look to find out? Thanks much in advance for any information Sundevil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewBJedi Posted April 29, 2002 Share Posted April 29, 2002 But with the books how will you get THX - Dolby 5.1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestril Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 All of the books are together on a timeline and they all match up with the original trilogy. Unfortunately the recent trilogy has contradicted a few things from the books, but that only makes it bad for the purists... The Star Wars Movies came out before the books, as I understand it the first EU book was Splinter of the Mind's Eye...which isn't apparently very good... The majority of the EU books came out after '91 when a fellow named Timothy Zahn wrote a story that happened about 5 years after the Battle of Endor. After that it kind of snowballed into a bunch of books. Some are good and some really aren't. Recently a new Series called the New Jedi Order has come out and it has changed a lot, a lot of things have happened (reminder to anyone who posts after this, Reapy hasn't read anything so warn about spoilers...) that some people didn't like. Its basically a major story arc that many authors have collaborated on. It started in 99 and will end in 03 (as I understand it). I personally think it is an interesting series and one of the more original concepts for a book series. Here is a link that gives you the complete listing of the books and the order they're in (no spoilers): http://www.starwars.com/eu/news/2001/12/news20011204.html Here is, I belive, a complete listing of all of the SW books, I would recomend the Heir to the Empire, X-Wing, and Hand of Thrawn series's, they are the only ones (besides the NJO) that were really good, in my opinion--though I did enjoy some of the others (some, like the Jedi Academy Series or Yeveathen Crisis made me reconsider reading SW books...) http://cargobay.starwars.com/webapps/cargobay/browse/87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi_Monk Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 Splinter of the Mind's Eye was an incredible book. It's basically a 70s pulp-fiction based in the SW universe, but it was based on a storyline that Lucas came up with for the movies (but rejected). You see your first example of a Force-augmenting crystal, and, best of all, Darth Vader is a major player. Personally, though, I'd say ignore the majority of SW books and go for the comics. SW is a visual universe that books just can't do justice. I also think Lucas, himself, pays more attention to the comics, seeing as several things from them have been portraid in the recent movies (the double-bladed lightsaber, the Jedi Holocrons...). All of the good books have been converted into comics (Zahn's trillogy, Perry's Shadows of the Empire and Foster's Splinter of the Mind's Eye). Someone said that the books are more conanical than the comics, but I disagree. Lucas has probably only read a handfull of the books because of his busy life (Again, Zahn's, Perry's and Foster's), but I bet he rifles through the comics every once in a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Legolas Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 Stay away from the new jedi or young jedi books aparantly. People say they are horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestril Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 Splinter of the Mind's Eye was an incredible book. It's basically a 70s pulp-fiction based in the SW universe, but it was based on a storyline that Lucas came up with for the movies (but rejected). You see your first example of a Force-augmenting crystal, and, best of all, Darth Vader is a major player. Well I was just responding to the majority of the critisicm on the book...I don't have too huge of an interest in reading it though I might one day. Anyway I didn't mean to be condecending of THAT book Personally, though, I'd say ignore the majority of SW books and go for the comics. SW is a visual universe that books just can't do justice. I also think Lucas, himself, pays more attention to the comics, seeing as several things from them have been portraid in the recent movies (the double-bladed lightsaber, the Jedi Holocrons...). All of the good books have been converted into comics (Zahn's trillogy, Perry's Shadows of the Empire and Foster's Splinter of the Mind's Eye). Someone said that the books are more conanical than the comics, but I disagree. Lucas has probably only read a handfull of the books because of his busy life (Again, Zahn's, Perry's and Foster's), but I bet he rifles through the comics every once in a while. You're right, but in defense of the books the ideas Lucas takes from the comics are the inherently visual ideas that would be more difficult to borrow from the books. They also take things from the games (Special Edition ANH--that little probe fellow that was so annoying from JK 1). All in all I would suggest that the Zahn stuff and the NJO stuff is the closest cannon in the books you would find since Zahn was the opener and closely moderated as I understand it (which is why there is no Insane Obi-Wan clone ) and since the NJO stuff is a major Story Arc that was created by the head folks down there... I would still say, however that there isn't a whole lot of stock to be put into the Canon of comics, unless we learn that the Emperor keeps cloning himself and switching from body to body to stay alive... I'm also not a particularly huge fan of the Art of Star wars comics, particularly those adapted from books (ironic, given my Avatar, I know lol--but Heir to the Empire was an exception ). Tales of the Jedi Art was mostly interesting to me though... Dark Empire had a certain flair to it as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestril Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 Stay away from the new jedi or young jedi books aparantly. People say they are horrible. Kevin J. Anderson is evil... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispcarter Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 My faves are the X-Wing series, the Jedi Academy trilogy, and the Bounty Hunter Wars - and Kev is not evil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCanr2d2 Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 Hey, NewbJedi, If you are gonna mention about the standard in which The Phantom Menace was recorded, it was actually in Dolby Digital EX 6.1 and THX certified. How sad is that my souncard, Gametheatre XP supports Dolby Digital EX 6.1, and my Dolby Digital receiver only supports Dobly Digital 5.1 You are missing the experience of the extra rear speaker in your reading of the books!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispcarter Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 I buy my books in widescreen Dolby 7.8 format, they rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaguria Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 I can't get enough of the books. While I haven't read the Young jedi series (or whatever it's called) i've read almost all the others. I love the new jedi order series, Star by Star was a masterpiece IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wraith 8 Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 i onw a lot of books from star wars. the only thing i always regretted.. that i didnt read them in propper order. cause my first SW book was the corellian trilogy... those books rocked... and i mean ROCKED. they were awesome. the last SW book i read now was X-wing book number 9. starfighters of adumar. that book also was great. Aaron Allston is one of the greeatest writers ever. ill list the books i have right now and try to put them in the right order to read them. some of them are in Dutch... so if i dont have the right title in English.... sorry. Truce at Bakura (right after Return of the Jedi) X-wing book nr.1 Rogue Squadron X-wing book nr.2 wedge gamble X-wing book nr.3 krytos trap X-wing book nr.4 Bacta War X-wing book nr.5 Wraith Squadron <-- my favorite X-wing book nr.6 Iron Fist <-- favorite X-wing book nr.7 Solo command <-- favorite Courtship of prices Leia Zahn Trilogy <--realy good heir of the empire --forgot title-- last command X-wing book nr.8 Isards Revenge Jedi academi Trilogy Jedi search dark aprentice Champions of the force I, Jedi Childeren of the Jedi Dark Saber <-- favorite X-wing book nr.9 Starfighter of Adumar <--favorite The cristal star The Corellian Trilogy <-- Realy good ambush at Corellia attack at Selonia encounter at Centerpoint Im at work right now... ill have to check if i have more books than this. im now reading I,Jedi. but i want to buy the bountyhunter trilogy. but if you realy want to start reading book... read the first one of my list... The Bakura one.. that book is right after the movie: Return of the Jedi. oh i just rememberred that i also have the book: Darth Maul Shadow Hunter The Phantom Menace Rogue Planet. /\ this book is right after TPM episode 1... you could try to read that aswell. and Shadow Hunter is just before Episode 1. Hope i helped you with this. -Wraith 8- ______________________ "You know, if I had even the tiniest control over the Force, What I,d do with it? I,d scratch that little spot in the center of my back I can never reach." -Garik Loran- X-wing book nr. 5. Wraith Squadron Rogue Squadron.net Give in to the insanity. It is unreasonable, but it is your destiny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caldera Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 I have read starwars books for quite a while, and i am only 15. I have read all of the trilogies, which kick some SERIOUS butt. I could never read that Bakura one, i always read a few pages and got so bored of it. But i have read most of the books, and they are really good. However, the new jedi order is bad. Like really bad. It has like a new biological race that mutulate themselves and fly around in biological spaceships. A bit too retro for me, but some might like it. I read 2 books of that series and put them down. I pretend NJO never happend lol. To most newb book - dudes i recommend the thrawn series, jedi academy series(these Kicked bantha bum), and the thrawn's return series(dunno the names, two books called Spectre of the Past, Vision of the Future). Can anyone tell me why they like NJO? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrEEpaGe Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 Originally posted by BCanr2d2 Hey, NewbJedi, If you are gonna mention about the standard in which The Phantom Menace was recorded, it was actually in Dolby Digital EX 6.1 and THX certified. How sad is that my souncard, Gametheatre XP supports Dolby Digital EX 6.1, and my Dolby Digital receiver only supports Dobly Digital 5.1 You are missing the experience of the extra rear speaker in your reading of the books!! --when the new dvd standard takes grip, 7.1 sound will take up much of hte space on a dvd =) it's awesome =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestril Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 However, the new jedi order is bad. Like really bad. It has like a new biological race that mutulate themselves and fly around in biological spaceships. A bit too retro for me, but some might like it. I read 2 books of that series and put them down. I pretend NJO never happend lol. To most newb book - dudes i recommend the thrawn series, jedi academy series(these Kicked bantha bum), and the thrawn's return series(dunno the names, two books called Spectre of the Past, Vision of the Future). Can anyone tell me why they like NJO? It is well written for the most part, well thought out, and it isn't just another 'impossible-to-beat-but-whoops-we-did-it-without-getting-hurt' 'threat.' Most of the books do the same thing--there's a new bad guy in town that can kick their butts!! They kick his butt, and 'barely' make it out alive. When you picked up a new book it just started to get too predictable. At the time Vector Prime came out I was unaware of the hype for the book, it was just a new SW book in stored for me, so when I read it--I was shocked. This was something new in Star Wars books for me, and it was well written, and what happened after it was the most shocking of all, because I had no idea still that this was a planned series (I lived under a rock) and that the bad guys would just keep winning, for the next two books I waited for things to turn around, but they didn't. When the good guys win it will be one of the most satisfying reads I've ever had, because it's something thats I'm already anxious for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engineerdude Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 Definitely read Splinter of the Mind's Eye. I believe it takes place between Star Wars (A New Hope) and Empire. Darth is still evil and Luke is battling him on another planet. Very dark book but a great read. I read it like 20 years ago. It was the first true novel after the first 3 movies but before everyone and their mother started writing other SW related books (Bounty Hunter tales, Han marries Leia and all that other crap). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrEEpaGe Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 Originally posted by Vestril It is well written for the most part, well thought out, and it isn't just another 'impossible-to-beat-but-whoops-we-did-it-without-getting-hurt' 'threat.' Most of the books do the same thing--there's a new bad guy in town that can kick their butts!! They kick his butt, and 'barely' make it out alive. When you picked up a new book it just started to get too predictable. At the time Vector Prime came out I was unaware of the hype for the book, it was just a new SW book in stored for me, so when I read it--I was shocked. This was something new in Star Wars books for me, and it was well written, and what happened after it was the most shocking of all, because I had no idea still that this was a planned series (I lived under a rock) and that the bad guys would just keep winning, for the next two books I waited for things to turn around, but they didn't. When the good guys win it will be one of the most satisfying reads I've ever had, because it's something thats I'm already anxious for... hmm...i have read all of the other books (i think that i have read all of them except the NJO boooks) and i had heard that the series was poor...i may have to pick up this series...hmm.... also, does anyone have a book chronology (ie the order in which the books should be read according to the sw timeline) url? i would very much like to see one, as the ones i used to go to are never updated... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissamies Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 Of the early EU books (early 80's), there is that already mentioned Alan Dean Foster's Splinter which isn't that good, IMHO. Then there's Brian Daley's Han Solo books which are pretty good, and L. Neil Smith's Lando Calrissian books which are bit Kevin J. Andersonish, but otherwise good. Of the books not already mentioned here I'd like to mention A. C. Crispin's Han Solo trilogy. I really enjoyed that and it has a lot of tie ins with other books too. Dave Wolverton's The Courtship of Princess Leia is pretty entertaining little story, IMHO. And Stackpole's I, Jedi is a really good book that even manages to make Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy look better. I haven't touched Ep 1 stuff except for Darth Maul - Shadow Hunter, which is decent. Of the general opinions about writers, I'd like to say that Timothy Zahn is great, of course. Only thing that sometimes annoys me is the "professionalism" of his characters. Michael A. Stackpole is good, but not great. He is probably the best author when it comes to describing space battles. Kevin J. Anderson does better with comic books, but even there he's blowing up stars. As for Steve Perry, its amazing how good Shadows of the Empire manages to be, as everything else by him that I have read is utter crap. Btw, us finns find the concept of teräs käsi fairly amusing as those are actually finnish words. Perry must have had a finnish dictionary at hand when he was trying to figure a cool sounding name for his hand of steel martial arts. I like Barbara Hambly better than most people, but her style is probably too heavy for most SW readers. I think there is very few SW EU books that are really bad as they won't let just anybody write the stories. The few Star Trek books I have read seem to have much larger variation on quality, for example. As for NJO, I really love it for most parts. The events in it really turn the known galaxy upside down and the authors finally dare to do something that should really have done much, much earlier. It really is silly when the heroes keep surviving all the end-of-the-galaxy-and-civilizaton-as-we-know-it threaths. Not to mention that Vector Prime was written by R. A. Salvatore and I am a huge RAS fan. He was slightly out of element on the scifi enviroment (though Star Wars is fantasy) but he pulled it out very nicely. [Edit: neurotically rushing in to correct some typos] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caldera Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 I think the bio enemies is what turned me off...i guess it was too weird for me (even for StarWars!!!). Anyways, I,Jedi was a very decent book, and that is why my fav saber color is now silver I have read Vector Prime, and it is definately a very well written book, but the story is a bit too extreme. I mean after all these years of ass whoppin and galaxy savin, where were these crazy bio guys? They are just to weird and secret to fit into starwars IMO, and luke is like 50 years old now lol. I prefer to think of NJO as an alternate storyline, because i like to think that after the thrawn and other series, the empire dies and never a foe of such might will be seen again (in luke's lifetime). However, that isnt to say the Jedi Academy will not be pumpin out dark jedi. This is how the sith were created, jedi gone bad, and there is no way you can prevent someone from turning to dark side. I guess im just a dirty old jedi lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestril Posted May 1, 2002 Share Posted May 1, 2002 I have read Vector Prime, and it is definately a very well written book, but the story is a bit too extreme. I mean after all these years of ass whoppin and galaxy savin, where were these crazy bio guys? They came from a different Galaxy, they knew about the SW galaxy for a while, and had been gaining intelligence about it, this is one of the reasons why they are pretty much able to roll right over the New Republic. It's kind of ironic though,m I have to imagine that if the Empire had still been in charge they wouldn't have gotten very far--'ol Palpy probably would have sent half of his fleet out there and destroyed anything that came into 'HIS' Galaxy... Another weird thing about the NJO is the big map at the beginning of the books...the SW universe is like thousands of years old but they only have half of the Galaxy explored?... Do any of the hardcore people know why that is? Is there some kind of barrier preventing them from looking through it? It seems like something someone would have gotten around to besides Thrawn's people... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caldera Posted May 2, 2002 Share Posted May 2, 2002 Yeah the map is pretty funky, it just shows the 'core' and the 'rim' , and beyond that, i guess its just unexplored. I am guessing thats where these bio guys came from. I actually liked it when i first read the books, because mara and luke got married at last! However, i now vaguely remeber a bio general (sorry i dont remember their race or names) who used a snake (or something like that) which straightened out like a STAFF and fought against a LIGHTSABER. I mean...come on !!! How tough can that snake's scale be to be able to clash with a lightsaber!!!! Oh well, I guess they need something to keep the fans busy. And i really didnt like the idea of mutilation and stuff, was just a bit too...umm...sick? Oh well, i guess im just an old fart who wants his good ol' jedi lightsaber duels (cant get enough of those!!!!)!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestril Posted May 2, 2002 Share Posted May 2, 2002 Yeah the map is pretty funky, it just shows the 'core' and the 'rim' , and beyond that, i guess its just unexplored. I am guessing thats where these bio guys came from. I actually liked it when i first read the books, because spoiler: mara and luke got married at last! However, i now vaguely remeber a bio general (sorry i dont remember their race or names) who used a snake (or something like that) which straightened out like a STAFF and fought against a LIGHTSABER. I mean...come on !!! How tough can that snake's scale be to be able to clash with a lightsaber!!!! Oh well, I guess they need something to keep the fans busy. And i really didnt like the idea of mutilation and stuff, was just a bit too...umm...sick? Oh well, i guess im just an old fart who wants his good ol' jedi lightsaber duels (cant get enough of those!!!!)!!! I can understand that POV, but there are some AWESOME duels in the books, in my opinion, thanks to the versatility of the Yuzzhan Vong. But you like what you like (you old folks get so set in your ways (just poking fun)) Also these guys didn't come from the unexplore regions, they came from a totally different Galaxy, a Galaxy that they already dominated. Lastly if you liked Luke and Mara being married You might like the comic series Union (you can figure out what happens in it, I'm sure;)). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caldera Posted May 2, 2002 Share Posted May 2, 2002 LOL! There is a comic about that? Oh man that is great stuff. I gotta get my hands on that. Me and my friends always thought 'Union' would have been a better name for Ep2 All i remember thinking after Ep1 movie was: So what they do in da next movie? And my friend said: Make babies! Those were great times. Anyway back on topic here, yes i am one of the 99% of the people who are Jedi fanatics, and just die for anything with 'light' and 'saber' in the same paragraph. I actually lied a bit that i put the books down because they were bad, i actually did because i didnt have time I am seriously thinking about getting started up again though, the storytelling, and the sense of utter doom was great in the NJO. Not to mention that i am dying to see Luke and Mara's baby! I bet that guy/gal is gonna be an interesting little dude. "I forsee s/he will become a great jedi knight!" Well, i better visit the local library soon. So how many books after Vector Prime have they made? I read it when it was fairly new and when it had come out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestril Posted May 2, 2002 Share Posted May 2, 2002 Here's a link to the Starwars.com official order for the NJO so far, as I understand it there will be a total of 22 books so that isn't actually all of them. The most recent one is Rebel Dream. I must admit, I didn't like the series that much from Onslaught-Balance Point, but I've pretty much appreciated it from Conquest on (and something special happens in Rebirth...try to guess what it is...lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispcarter Posted May 2, 2002 Share Posted May 2, 2002 Vestril! When you quoted that spoiler you un-hid it! Edit your post or ppl will be pissed off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.