[EU] So, what in EU is worth it

[Psion]

Okay, I've avoided EU for some time. I read Dark Empire and it did nothing for me, and I find it annoying that they brought Boba Fett back in other books.

Now that we know which EU books are abolutely invalidated and which are not (if any), which EU books/comics/whatever are worth taking a look at (esp with an eye toward plunderable game material)? I'm willing to give it a second chance...

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I can't recall any off the top of my head that I'd really recommend, though I gave up years ago. The Brian Daley 'Han Solo' books are still the only ones for me that capture the 'Star Wars' feeling. The AC Crispin Han Solo books aren't bad. The Zahn 'Thrawn Trilogy' are Ok, but I might be subconsciously elevating them since they were the first new Star Wars books after a long drought. The 'Corellia Trilogy' was also merely Ok.

I would not recommend: Shadows of the Empire, Truce at Bakura, Tales from Mos Eisley, Courtship of Princess Leia, or The Crystal Star.

 

[Kanegrundar]

I'm going to have to disagree with Rodrigo. I enjoyed all the books he mentioned (except Tales of Mos Eisley which wasn't that good and THe Crystal Star since I haven't gotten to that one yet). So far, each book I've read (all the post Jedi material up to The Last Command) have had some great material in them. However, the EU (I don't care if it comics, books, cartoons etc.) do suffer from the same syndrome as most book series do: invincible characters and inconsistencies. The prequels cause many of the inconsistencies, but they are easily ignored since (so far) they have had little to no impact on the overall story. YMMV, of course.

In all honesty, I would focus on the novels with the exception of the Tales of series, and the Old Republic comics. Beyond that I would likely steer clear of it. Dark Empire 1 and 2 both kinda sucked. Although the CLone Wars cartoon was excellent, so I would have to add that to the recommended list.

Kane

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I haven't looked at the EU either but I've heard the Rogue Squadron novels are supposed to be good.

 

[Captain Tagon]

Ones I can remember off hand:

The Thrawn trilogy was brilliant
The first Han Solo trilogy
I really enjoyed all the X-Wing books
part of the NJO
Shadows of the Empire was the first book I ever read in one day
I, Jedi was my favorite novel for like five years

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

This is something you're not going to get any real sweeping answers on. For me, pretty much all of it is good.

Notable exceptions being the Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy(I could barely finish those), The Crystal Star(not as bad as BFC, but not great), Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy and Darksaber(still not the worst, but definitely pushing it).

Beyond those, pretty much the rest of the EU novels are worthwhile if you can accept the continuity. Of course, that's a major hangup for many.

Comic wise...well, pretty much anything but Dark Empire and Dark Empire II. Crimson Empire I and II are amazing, as are the Tales of the Jedi comics and the Infinities/Tales lines.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Shadows of the Empire is a good book that does Vader pretty good.
The Zahn trilogy with Thrawn is good.

I'd stop there.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I've enjoyed the Rogue Squadron books, and the various short story collections. Zahn's trilogy was OK. The series of Boba Fett stories was pretty cheesy, but fun.

Most of it is just pulp fiction -- enjoyable enough if you don't care much about consistency or repetitiveness. Some of it, of course, is crapola. I put it in the same category as gaming fiction.

 

[mojo1701]

Recommend:

Both Zahn's Trilogy and Duology
New Jedi Order
Shadows of the Empire

Avoid:

Black Fleet Crisis trilogy
Children of the Jedi
the other Barbara Hambly book...

 

[wingsandsword]

Recommend:
Shadows of the Empire (an enjoyable read which details the events between the end of ESB and the beginning of RotJ, most notable for the very good depiction of Vader.)

Thrawn Trilogy (Seen by many as the quintessential Star Wars novels. Cool villains, exotic places, neato space battles, good depictions of the main characters everybody knows. These are the novels that really started the Expanded Universe as we know it now.)

Jedi Academy Trilogy (If you didn't like Dark Empire, be warned that it takes place right after and deals with the aftermath of those events, but it is very cool to finally see Luke act as a Jedi Master and be able to actually teach others.)

Not Recommend:
The Crystal Star (Just didn't feel like Star Wars, more like a cheesy bad pulp sci-fi novel shoehorned into the Star Wars universe)

Black Fleet Crisis (It just lacked a certain spark, I just couldn't bring myself to enjoy it.)

Truce at Bakura (while the first few chapters are notable for depicting the events immediately after Return of the Jedi, and both sides coming to terms with what just happened, weird reptilian aliens who suck the lifeforce out of people and use it to power their ships invading from beyond known space just didn't feel like Star Wars.)