[EU] So, what in EU is worth it

[Dark Jezter]

I recommend the Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn. I've read a few EU novels over the years, but the Thrawn Trilogy is the only one that really stands out in my mind as being memorable. Although judging by the recommendations in this thread, I may have to check out the Han Solo trilogy someday.

Definately avoid the Courtship of Princess Leia. I couldn't believe how out-of-character Leia acted in that novel. The book basically turns her into a shallow, flighty woman who dumps Han Solo because another man saved her life from an assasination attempt (did Leia just suddenly forget all of the times that Han saved her life over the years?) and Han then kidnaps her and spends the rest of the book trying to win her back.

Shadows of the Empire was okay, but I really didn't like the character of Dash Rendar; who is a Han Solo clone who outshines Han in every way. He has a better ship, he's smarter, tougher, etc. Among fan fiction writers, such a character is known as a Mary Sue character.

 

[Henry]

I'll add another positive voice for the Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command), because it was well done. The characters were believable (except for a couple of things in the last book I didn't like), the new additions to the aliens and characters (The Noghri, Talon Karrde) were quite good, and the series did seem to fit the Star Wars Universe.

The Rogue Squadron books I can recommend on reputation; I've not had a chance to read them myself.

I'd probably stay away from the New Jedi Order series (about 9 books, I believe?) because if you stayed away from the EU because of its difference with the original films, then you'll NOT like the NJO, I think. It's VERY different from the Star Wars of the 70's and early 80's.

 

[Psion]

I'd probably stay away from the New Jedi Order series (about 9 books, I believe?) because if you stayed away from the EU because of its difference with the original films, then you'll NOT like the NJO, I think. It's VERY different from the Star Wars of the 70's and early 80's.

Yeah, well, I like the idea of NJO, but the idea of an alien invasion is so ... not Star Wars, so ... pedestrian Sci-Fi.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Yeah, well, I like the idea of NJO, but the idea of an alien invasion is so ... not Star Wars, so ... pedestrian Sci-Fi.

That's the crux though. The "Star Wars feel" is so finite. There comes a time when the SW universe is going to have to go into arenas that aren't really in the same vien of Star Wars. There are only so many times that Luke and the gang can fight the Sith, Imperial remnants, or gangsters before new elements are going to have to be added to keep the series going. Not that I think that alien invasion is really the way to go.

Kane

 

[fett527]

Zahn trilogy definitely

I read most of the X-Wing books and I would recommend them as well.

I will echo staying far, far away from Truce at Bakura and Barbara Hambly as well.

I will disagree with some others that I enjoyed all of the Tales of... books. Let's see Tales from Mos Eisley, Tales of Jabba's Palace, Tales of the Bounty Hunters, and Tales of the Empire. I think I liked these since they dealt with recognizable characters form the movies and expanded upon them. Some of the stories are far-fetched (such as the IG-88 story), but overall I really enjoyed the exposition.

 

[Klaus]

Another vote for the Thrawn trilogy (by Zahn).

Another vote to avoid Dark Empire I and II.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Shadows of the Empire was okay, but I really didn't like the character of Dash Rendar; who is a Han Solo clone who outshines Han in every way. He has a better ship, he's smarter, tougher, etc. Among fan fiction writers, such a character is known as a Mary Sue character.

That is a good point. The author apparently thought he needed a Han Solo type to counter Luke, and since Han was in deep freeze he created Dash. At least

Spoiler

Dash gets blown up in the end.

 

[Taelorn76]

Count me in for the Thrawn trilogy as well. Those books introduced me to the EU and open up a whole other side of Star Wars to me.

 

[Eosin the Red]

You might give Shatterpoint a try - it is written by Matthew Stover an excellent up and coming author.

I liked the Zhan books but most of the rest left me non-plussed.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

That's the crux though. The "Star Wars feel" is so finite. There comes a time when the SW universe is going to have to go into arenas that aren't really in the same vien of Star Wars. There are only so many times that Luke and the gang can fight the Sith, Imperial remnants, or gangsters before new elements are going to have to be added to keep the series going. Not that I think that alien invasion is really the way to go.

Kane

I don't think it was just that, it was the whole heavily tattoed and loaded with pierecings, sado masochistic aliens that are outside the Force thing that just jarred me. Then they decided that GL's descriptions of the nature of the Force from the movies was wrong to top it off. I quit after Dark Journey myself. I slogged through the rest, some moments were good, but some were just bleh. Luke was largely ineffectual as well. He was like some soft spined chump who got brushed aside by the Kyp Durron Jedi. I think the man who faced down Vader and had the fortitude to face the Emperor weaponless would have aquitted himself better. Then you have the different authors which led to vast differences in quality of writing from book to book. The Vong don't fit Star Wars IMO so that is a big problem for me. I can see a new enemy and I can see fighting other than the Imperial Remenant, but they went the wrong way with the Vong.