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Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:41 pm
by Fistful of Energon
But i really dont know where to begin.

doesn't necessarily need to be "the beginning". Just what are considered the best by you or the general fandom.

did some googling and looks like heir to the empire is one, I jedi, dark empire...

Just wanted to see if anyone here has some opinions.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:51 pm
by Burn
Timothy Zahn books are always a good read.

The X-Wing series (specifically the Aaron Alston books) were always favourites of mine

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:01 pm
by SlyTF1
I used to read Star Wars novels all the time...until reading began to bore me.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:26 pm
by Burn
SlyTF1 wrote:I used to read Star Wars novels all the time...until my attention span only became interested in shiny objects.


Fixed that for you.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:48 pm
by Skyfire77
Second both of Burn's recommendations. Zahn's books are amazing reads, and are leagues better than anything Lucas has done post ROTJ. (Side note: It's been 20 years since the Thrawn Trilogy was published? Christ, I'm getting old. :sad: )

I like the "Tales Of.../Tales From..." books too, they're nice compilations of stories involving background characters from the first movies, though newer works conflict with some of them (mostly the Bounty Hunters tales, and especially anything involving Boba Fett).

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:55 pm
by Darth Bombshell
I agree with the above. Anything written by Zahn, Stackpole or Allston is a great way to start reading. However, if you happen to enjoy the movie and those books, I would suggest that you do not read anything that takes place after the New Jedi Order. These novels take everything good about Star Wars and destroy it from the ground up (especially Fate of the Jedi, the very existence of which confuddles me.)

Also avoid anything written by Karen Traviss...unless you like stories written by an author with an obvious distain for the franchise she's working in and an inability to work around it.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:38 pm
by Fistful of Energon
thanks everyone for your input! I will be heading towards the Library tomorrow with a list.

I typically read only comics anymore (all the time) and my wife started reading novels and it inspired me to read actual books again. :lol:

I figured star wars was a good place to start as i am a huge fan of the franchise and have always been interested in the books.

Anyone read that new Darth Revan book based on the game? I saw a guy at work reading it but was on my way out and haven't seen him again to get his opinion

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:39 pm
by Fistful of Energon
Burn wrote:
SlyTF1 wrote:I used to read Star Wars novels all the time...until my attention span only became interested in shiny objects.


Fixed that for you.


nice! this gave me a genuine chuckle fit :lol:

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:52 am
by Overwatch
Fistful of Energon wrote:Anyone read that new Darth Revan book based on the game? I saw a guy at work reading it but was on my way out and haven't seen him again to get his opinion


Listened to the audio book about two weeks ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it, though the ending didn't do it for me. Look out for SWTOR:Deceived as well. It's the story of Darth Malgus. I really enjoyed it, more than Revan actually.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:57 am
by SlyTF1
Burn wrote:
SlyTF1 wrote:I used to read Star Wars novels all the time...until my attention span only became interested in shiny objects.


Fixed that for you.


It's the truth.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:27 am
by Skyfire77
Darth Bombshell wrote:I agree with the above. Anything written by Zahn, Stackpole or Allston is a great way to start reading. However, if you happen to enjoy the movie and those books, I would suggest that you do not read anything that takes place after the New Jedi Order. These novels take everything good about Star Wars and destroy it from the ground up (especially Fate of the Jedi, the very existence of which confuddles me.)


I'd stop after Vision of the Future, myself. I personally avoid anything to do with the Yuuzhan Vong.

Darth Bombshell wrote:Also avoid anything written by Karen Traviss...unless you like stories written by an author with an obvious distain for the franchise she's working in and an inability to work around it.


This. Oh my god This. You can at least explain Lucas doing stuff that doesn't agree with other books, he gets to decide what's canon, after all. Traviss is just a hack. It's like Stephenie Meyer was writing Star Wars.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:56 am
by Burn
You guys have read the crap by Barbara Hambly?

What Karen Traviss does has nothing on her.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:13 am
by Overwatch
Read Darksaber by Kevin J Anderson years ago. Not sure f you guys have read it/what you think of it, but I thought it was good.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:23 am
by Darth Bombshell
Skyfire77 wrote:I'd stop after Vision of the Future, myself. I personally avoid anything to do with the Yuuzhan Vong.


I'll be honest. Even though I have a utter dislike for every thing post-NJO, I don't have a problem with the NJO itself. It was a story that needed to be told, and I'm glad Lucas/Del Rey told it. Who I blame for what came after are those responsible for it.

Darth Bombshell wrote:This. Oh my god This. You can at least explain Lucas doing stuff that doesn't agree with other books, he gets to decide what's canon, after all. Traviss is just a hack. It's like Stephenie Meyer was writing Star Wars.


Indeed. Revelation and 501st are little more than adventures in the Star Wars Parallel Universe.

Burn wrote:You guys have read the crap by Barbara Hambly?

What Karen Traviss does has nothing on her.


Except the "crap" by Barbara Hambly usually has something about it I like. Traviss' novels don't.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:43 pm
by Skyfire77
Darth Bombshell wrote:Except the "crap" by Barbara Hambly usually has something about it I like. Traviss' novels don't.


Yeah, I can read Children of the Jedi or Planet of Twilight and enjoy it. Traviss' books on the other hand read like bad fanfic.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:12 am
by Fistful of Energon
I picked up the 3rd book in the Darth Bane series and I am really enjoying it. I also got his Revan book and plan to read that next. It looks like it got mixed reviews but Ill be going into it unbiased as I really dont know anything of the character or the KOTOR game/lore.


any thoughts on Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived?


thanks for all your help again guys!

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:12 pm
by Overwatch
Overwatch, 3 days ago wrote:
Fistful of Energon wrote:Anyone read that new Darth Revan book based on the game? I saw a guy at work reading it but was on my way out and haven't seen him again to get his opinion


Listened to the audio book about two weeks ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it, though the ending didn't do it for me. Look out for SWTOR:Deceived as well. It's the story of Darth Malgus. I really enjoyed it, more than Revan actually.


edit:
Fistful of Energon wrote: I really dont know anything of the character or the KOTOR game/lore.


It might help your understanding if you found out the basic facts at least :D

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:00 am
by Fistful of Energon
It might help your understanding if you found out the basic facts at least :D


thats...kinda what I doing :lol:

I was just saying that I dont play the game, so I will be going into the book unbiased w/out expectations.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:53 pm
by Darth Bombshell
Fistful of Energon wrote:I really dont know anything of the character or the KOTOR game/lore.


Oh, dude. You're missing out on one of the great era of the SW Timeline.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:29 pm
by Fistful of Energon
Darth Bombshell wrote:
Fistful of Energon wrote:I really dont know anything of the character or the KOTOR game/lore.


Oh, dude. You're missing out on one of the great era of the SW Timeline.


Im getting that impression!

I have always been interested in it though. The Darth Bane books will be my introduction, and Im sure like everything else i am into, I will delve deep into the depths and learn all I can

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:36 am
by Darth Bombshell
Fistful of Energon wrote:The Darth Bane books will be my introduction


They're not a particularly good one though, since they take place at the end of the Republic era. If you wanna go in some sort of chronological order, pick up the TPB's of the Knights of the Old Republic comic series, then read Fatal Alliance, Decieved and Revan. Red Harvest takes place during that time period, too, but isn't really an essential read. I mean, it's good, but you miss nothing by not reading it.

Here's a complete list of all the works that take place during the Republic era. Happy reading. :)

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:29 pm
by MagnusPrimal
Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. Start there. Proceed with anything else that Zahn has written. Avoid Traviss like the plague. Bad, bad, bad.

I've only got the first Bane novel. I need to pick up the other two.

Re: Looking to read Star Wars novels...

PostPosted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:28 pm
by Chaoslock
MagnusPrimal wrote:Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. Start there. Proceed with anything else that Zahn has written.


This. The Thrawn-trilogy is the best.


I've only got the first Bane novel. I need to pick up the other two.


The second is not that good- Bane is just a typical sith there. The third is better, though.