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Star Wars Books?
- Thread starter Zaukrie
- Start date
kingpaul
First Post
Anything by Zahn.
I also liked the Han Solo trilogy. Did a good job, IMO, on his back ground. Last book ended in the Cantina in ANH.
Depending upon his age, the Young Jedi books (specifically geared to kids) were good. They were quick reads for me, and focused on Han and Leia's children.
I also liked the Han Solo trilogy. Did a good job, IMO, on his back ground. Last book ended in the Cantina in ANH.
Depending upon his age, the Young Jedi books (specifically geared to kids) were good. They were quick reads for me, and focused on Han and Leia's children.
trancejeremy
Adventurer
I actually probably read all of the ones that existed before The Phantom Menace came out. (I stopped because most of the newer ones after that dealt with that super-evil race on the outer rim, which didn't do much for me. Plus as a fan of the WEG game, I was irked at LFL)
Out of those, I really liked the Zahn, Allston and Stackpole (The later two writing the X-wing books. Although I could have done without the Human-Bothan romance stuff. Ick). Your son would probably like the Jedi Academy stuff, though like everything by Kevin Anderson, they are far from well written. (Stay away from the stuff by Steve Perry though. He's the worst author in existance)
I also liked William C. Dietz's stuff. Though I think that's before ANH. The Corellion Trilogy by Roger Allen was okay.
Ones I thought were bad were the Courtship of Princess Leis and the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy.
Anyway, Wikipedia has a list, if nothing else
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_books
Out of those, I really liked the Zahn, Allston and Stackpole (The later two writing the X-wing books. Although I could have done without the Human-Bothan romance stuff. Ick). Your son would probably like the Jedi Academy stuff, though like everything by Kevin Anderson, they are far from well written. (Stay away from the stuff by Steve Perry though. He's the worst author in existance)
I also liked William C. Dietz's stuff. Though I think that's before ANH. The Corellion Trilogy by Roger Allen was okay.
Ones I thought were bad were the Courtship of Princess Leis and the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy.
Anyway, Wikipedia has a list, if nothing else
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_books
possum
First Post
trancejeremy said:
If you're talking about the Dark Forces trilogy of illustrated novels, only the first one takes place before ANH, and then only by a year or two. I also reccomend these if you can find them, but I may be biased since Kyle Katarn is my favorite Star Wars character.
Stackpole and Allston's work cannot be praised enough. They're probably the best EU wroters, in my opinion. Zahn's excellent as well.
I personally liked the NJO, Dark Nest, and Legacy of the Force books.
You might want to pick him up some comics as well if he likes that medium. I'd suggest the Rogue Squadron series by Stackpole.
kingpaul said:
I will second this. In fact, I actually dislike most of the stories that take place after the Thrawn trilogy.
Darrin Drader
Explorer
Yep, Zahn is the man who launched the Star Wars novels, and while the feel is a little different than the movies, he stays true to the characters. The novels themselves are excellent.
I have to admit that I ended up not caring too much for the New Jedi Order. I mean it was good that they finally had a good series where they weren't hitting the reset button after every story, but I think they changes they made to the galaxy were a little too drastic. I also wasn't thrilled with the Yuzhon Vong as an enemy.
I haven't read the Allston novels, but I have a couple sitting on the shelf waiting to be read. I'll get to them soon enough.
I have to admit that I ended up not caring too much for the New Jedi Order. I mean it was good that they finally had a good series where they weren't hitting the reset button after every story, but I think they changes they made to the galaxy were a little too drastic. I also wasn't thrilled with the Yuzhon Vong as an enemy.
I haven't read the Allston novels, but I have a couple sitting on the shelf waiting to be read. I'll get to them soon enough.
jonathan swift
First Post
Zahn's stuff is, as everyone else has said, pretty much amazing.
In addition the X-Wing novels are a whole lot of fun. Everything else is pretty much hit or miss, and probably more miss than hit.
In addition the X-Wing novels are a whole lot of fun. Everything else is pretty much hit or miss, and probably more miss than hit.
Ankh-Morpork Guard
First Post
People have pretty much nailed it with saying to read Zahn's stuff first. That's the series that most everyone loves.
After that, its really going to be some serious personal preference. I, myself, have loved most all of the other books(save the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy), and I know a great many others that have, too. BUT, there's just as many who don't. So what I'd suggest is just an echo of what's been already said.
Zahn first, then try Stackpole and Allston's stuff...from there, its hard to say what you'll enjoy, sadly.
After that, its really going to be some serious personal preference. I, myself, have loved most all of the other books(save the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy), and I know a great many others that have, too. BUT, there's just as many who don't. So what I'd suggest is just an echo of what's been already said.
Zahn first, then try Stackpole and Allston's stuff...from there, its hard to say what you'll enjoy, sadly.
BrooklynKnight
First Post
If you pick up one of the latest novels at any book store (The Legacy of the Force books... Exile i think is the most recent) you'll see the complete and comprehensive timeline of all the canon novels in the EU. From there you can chose to read them chronologically or do some on line research and read them in the order of publication.
I've read just about every EU novel that ties in to the original trilogy characters. I've avoided most of the novels that tie into the Clone Wars and the Old Repulbic and stuff. Though there are a few that tie into the EU decades later.
In any case....the books vary greatly in quality. If you're gonna be selective then I strongly recommend you ready any books by Timothy Zhan, Kevin J Anderson, Troy Denning, Micheal A Stockpole and I think I'm forgetting two others. I know R.A. Salvatore did the opening hardcover for New Jedi Order but i'm not sure if he did anything else.
Personally If I was in your position, I'd read them chronologically. That means you'd have to start with the few books taking place BEFORE ANH. The original Han Solo and Lando Calrissian Trilogies originally released by Del Rey (they weren't originally canon but at some point they WERE brought into the time line and their details worked into the EU).
In any case, use the timeline. And do NOT discount the Young Jedi Knights and Junior Jedi Knights novels that focus on the Solo kids. They're gonna be essential reads if you're gonna continue on into the New Jedi Order and Legacy of the Force series.
Also. I'm fairly sure MOST of the Dark Horse Comics are cannon. Luke's fall and redemption from the Darkside is mentioned often and they directly impact the events in two of Zhan's trilogies and some of Andersons books.
GOOD LUCK, ENJOY AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!
I've read just about every EU novel that ties in to the original trilogy characters. I've avoided most of the novels that tie into the Clone Wars and the Old Repulbic and stuff. Though there are a few that tie into the EU decades later.
In any case....the books vary greatly in quality. If you're gonna be selective then I strongly recommend you ready any books by Timothy Zhan, Kevin J Anderson, Troy Denning, Micheal A Stockpole and I think I'm forgetting two others. I know R.A. Salvatore did the opening hardcover for New Jedi Order but i'm not sure if he did anything else.
Personally If I was in your position, I'd read them chronologically. That means you'd have to start with the few books taking place BEFORE ANH. The original Han Solo and Lando Calrissian Trilogies originally released by Del Rey (they weren't originally canon but at some point they WERE brought into the time line and their details worked into the EU).
In any case, use the timeline. And do NOT discount the Young Jedi Knights and Junior Jedi Knights novels that focus on the Solo kids. They're gonna be essential reads if you're gonna continue on into the New Jedi Order and Legacy of the Force series.
Also. I'm fairly sure MOST of the Dark Horse Comics are cannon. Luke's fall and redemption from the Darkside is mentioned often and they directly impact the events in two of Zhan's trilogies and some of Andersons books.
GOOD LUCK, ENJOY AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!
