I only ever read the prequel EU to be honest, where Obi-Wan is first joining the Jedi Order. So what should I start with?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Zahn (not Scoundrels) and Stackpole. Arguably Allston and Traviss.
Posted by C3PO the Dragon Slayer (Member # 10416) on :
These are the books I would recommend to anyone who was ever a fan of the original movie trilogy:
Heir to the Empire/Dark Force Rising/The Last Command Aka The Thrawn Trilogy. Probably the best any of the EU has attempted at capturing the feel of the original movie trilogy. The main protagonists are the ones you know from the films (Luke, Leia, Han, etc), joined by some fantastic characters who show up all over the rest of the EU (which is why you should start with these). If you like the original characters and the author's style, you can check out the other books by Timothy Zahn.
I, Jedi One of the only Star Wars books told in the first person, which gives us access to the delightful sarcastic musings of Corran Horn, a Rebel and Jedi-in-training on a mission to save his kidnapped wife.
Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor Probably the best Star Wars book ever written. Clever, funny, dark, and self-aware. Not as many people seem to know about this one, but I enjoyed this one immensely.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
As mentioned, Zahn's books (Heir/Dark Force/Last Command).
I really enjoyed Tales from Mos Eisley Cantina (apart from the Dr. Evezan chapter... what was that about?)
I also enjoyed Courtship of Princess Leia.
Never got around to reading I, Jedi or the Stackpole X-Wing books.
Hands down the worst two I've ever read are Crystal Star and Truce at Bakura.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
quote:Originally posted by FlyingCow: Hands down the worst two I've ever read are Crystal Star and Truce at Bakura.
Children of the Jedi was worse than Bakura, and probably a tiny bit worse than Crystal Star (but not by much).
For best, I'd also endorse the Zahn/Stackpole/Allston books. They're all pretty well written, and tie in together. Best bet is probably published order: Thrawn Trilogy, Rogue Squadron 1-4, Wraith Squadron, Hand of Thrawn Duology.
For the prequel era, I'd strongly recommend Darth Plagueis. It's a really fascinating look at the backstory of the Sith during the prequel trilogy, telling the tale of Plagueis and Sideous from the last day of Plagueis's apprenticeship until the day of his death.
The Revenge of the Sith novelization is also extremely good. It's the only novelization I've ever read that I would consider a genuinely good book in its own right.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
I really don't like rots as a movie at all, except for get plaguis thing.
Some people think snoke is going to be plaguis
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
I would definitely suggest giving the book a try. There's no guarantee you'll still like it, but it stands so far above the movie in terms of quality that I think it's worth a try.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Zahn Trilogy is a good place to start. The X-Wing books are maybe a tad more accessible and easy to cruise through.
But in general I recommend the Zahn Trilogy, all the Stackpole books (except his New Jedi Order stuff), so X-Wing books followed by I, Jedi. I'd suggest reading them in order, which means some X-Wing and then an I, Jedi interlude and then back to X-Wing again. The Allston X-Wing books are also a lot of fun.
Those are the only ones I really reread on occasion.
The later Thrawn duology is okay to read as well. Not as good as the others, but pretty good.
I'm a little annoyed that not only did Disney throw out all the old books, they replaced them with dozens of new ones overnight. I still don't see why they couldn't keep the best the EU had to offer (which totaled maybe 10 books) and got away with the rest, then built the series around that great starting material. But either way, I have no interest in getting involved in another 100 book series that exists in an alternate universe.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
quote:Originally posted by ricree101: Children of the Jedi was worse than Bakura, and probably a tiny bit worse than Crystal Star (but not by much).
I skipped that one and Darksaber, thankfully. They were published toward the end of my Star Wars EU binge reading from 1993-1996.
The only books I've read that were published from 1995 on were the Corellian Trilogy, the three "Tales" books, and Shadows of the Empire.
Posted by theamazeeaz (Member # 6970) on :
I was probably the only person who liked that book. Then again, I *was* 10.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
I have to admit that I remember enjoying Kevin J. Anderson's books when I was young, but even I could tell that The Crystal Star was a steaming pile. It's not just the worst Star Wars book I ever read, but one of the worst books I've read, period.
I skipped Children of the Jedi but read Planet of Twilight, and it was pretty bad too.
I don't trust my memory well enough to recommend anything, but I remember the Thrawn duology being a disappointment, and then the whole universe jumped the shark when the Yuuzhan Vong invaded.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
I read the original Zahn trilogy first, at the end of 1993, and was totally hooked.
Of course, at that time, there wasn't a lot out there. So I read the Han Solo Adventures and Lando Calrissian Adventures, which were fun, and Splinter of the Mind's Eye, which was very weird (since it was written before the release of Empire and Return).
Then 1994 hit, and I read everything that was released as it came out. Anderson's trilogy was... not great, but enjoyable enough. I really enjoyed Courtship of Princess Leia. Bakura and Crystal Star were brutal, and largely shook me from reading Star Wars novels
(I switched from SW to consuming every OSC book I could find at that point).
In 1995, I was more leery after how bad Bakura and Crystal Star were, and was more selective.. I read the Corellian trilogy (which was fun), and Tales from Mos Eisley which was awesome.
By 1996, I was pretty much out. I missed the X-Wing series (which I've later heard was great, and I actually own but still haven't read). I did read Shadows of the Empire, which was supposed to be "officially" part of canon, which was a hot topic of discussion at the time, and was disappointed. Read the next two Tales books (Jabba's Palace and Bounty Hunters) and was also disappointed.
That pretty much put the final nail in it for me for SW EU novels.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Oh, the other book I read was a bounty hunter anthology book and enjoyed it.
Bounty Hunters are awesome. They might save the world, but not for free.
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
quote:Originally posted by ricree101: For the prequel era, I'd strongly recommend Darth Plagueis. It's a really fascinating look at the backstory of the Sith during the prequel trilogy, telling the tale of Plagueis and Sideous from the last day of Plagueis's apprenticeship until the day of his death.
I'm trying to read this now. It's Ep 1's opening scrawl stretched to 300 pages! Good lord! It's just business deal after business deal. Who thought this was a good idea for a book?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I've been waiting for someone to write a financial history of the Old Republic.
Workers of the Galaxy unite!
Posted by Arjen (Member # 12980) on :
I've enjoyed the Thrawn Trilogy. The Darth Bane Trilogy is good as well. Takes place after the events of Knights of the Old Republic, and has the main characters as Sith. The X-Wing books are pretty good, as is I Jedi. The Legacy of the Force series is fairly good since you get to be inside the head of the antagonist for a good portion of it. Now take this all with a grain of salt, since my wife and I have a full book case of star wars book.
Edited post because apparently writing English is not my forte this morning.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
So, watching The Force Awakens rekindled my Star Wars interest, and I've gone back to finally read the Stackpole Rogue Squadron books.
Have been enjoying the first one so far, half way through.
I know I'm reading them 20 years after they were written.... but I can't help seeing/hearing Wedge as Agent Coulsen. Right now, Clark Gregg is totally playing the part of Wedge Antilles in the film version of the book that's playing in my head.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :