Star Wars Novels

Dr. Baltar

Hi,

I'm interested in reading some of the Star Wars novels (particularily those set after Episode VI).

However, after doing a little bit of Research, I'm totally lost. Where do I begin? Which of the books are considered canon?

I'd also be interested in reading some SW books based during the first Sith Empire/A millenium befire Episode 1.

Thanking you in advance!

Dr. Baltar

evil-monkey

Dr. Baltar wrote: »

Hi,

I'm interested in reading some of the Star Wars novels (particularily those set after Episode VI).

However, after doing a little bit of Research, I'm totally lost. Where do I begin? Which of the books are considered canon?

I'd also be interested in reading some SW books based during the first Sith Empire/A millenium befire Episode 1.

Thanking you in advance!

Dr. Baltar

Bane is the earliest as far as literary novels are concerned. There may be graphic novels or comics that go back earlier but I ain't so sure as I stick with the novels. The Bane books are set about 1000 years BBY (Before Battle of Yavin - the novel timeline standard. ABY Being After Battle of Yavin). They are a great read; I suggest starting there. First one is Darth Bane: Path of Destruction. Inside the cover of that book there should be a timeline with all of the novels listed chronologically. Once you have that you're set...

Mr. K

The best place to start is Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy, which consists of Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising and The Last Command. This trilogy is credited with revitalising the Star Wars franchise. Set five years after ROTJ, it's also one of the first Expanded Universe stories to be released, so it's not too confusing.

In my opinion, it's one of the best EU stories. Thrawn and Mara Jade are really cool characters. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the OT.

Jaxxy

Mr. K wrote: »

The best place to start is Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy, which consists of Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising and The Last Command. This trilogy is credited with revitalising the Star Wars franchise. Set five years after ROTJ, it's also one of the first Expanded Universe stories to be released, so it's not too confusing.

In my opinion, it's one of the best EU stories. Thrawn and Mara Jade are really cool characters. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the OT.

Completely agree, Zahn's Thrawn trilogy is a great place to start if you want to read any books based ABY. I'd also highly recommend the X-wing series; the first arc by Michael A. Stackpole (focusing on Rogue Squadron - four books) and the second by Aaron Allston (focusing on Wraith Squadron - three books).

I'm a big fan of Stackpole's so I'd also recommend reading I, Jedi.

The Han Solo trilogy by Ann C. Crispin is another favourite of mine. Well written and gives a great insight into the character of Solo.

mikhail

I'd add another vote for Zahn's Empire trilogy. They're pretty good, and Heir to the Empire was the first original novel (officially sanctioned at any rate).

I had a lot of fun with Stackpole and Alliston's X-Wing books too.

AnCapaillMor

Dr. Baltar wrote: »

Hi,

I'm interested in reading some of the Star Wars novels (particularily those set after Episode VI).

However, after doing a little bit of Research, I'm totally lost. Where do I begin? Which of the books are considered canon?

I'd also be interested in reading some SW books based during the first Sith Empire/A millenium befire Episode 1.

Zahns 3 are the ones to start with. The jedi acedemy trilogy and the Rogue Squadron books. There's alot of other books but they're pretty bad. Once you finish those i highly advise starting the new jedi order series, good series but the other boos will introduce you to alot of the characters.


Pre empire, try the darth bane books but i was'nt really impressed by them. If you want an all out Jedi\sith war, get the tales of the jedi graphic novels.

KerranJast

Yeah definately Thrawn Trilogy, Rogues, Wraiths, Jedi Academy, I,Jedi, NJO in that order. NJO is very good and very dark but you'd need to read the others to understand the background. The more recent Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi series are pretty good too but patchy in parts.

Edit: I forgot Shadows of the Empire which is a top notch standalone novel set between ESB and RotJ.

Anakin.S

JaxxYChicK wrote: »

I'd also highly recommend the X-wing series; the first arc by Michael A. Stackpole (focusing on Rogue Squadron - four books) and the second by Aaron Allston (focusing on Wraith Squadron - three books).

I think the x-wing books would stand alone even if they didn't have star wars characters in them

AnCapaillMor

Forgot about i,jedi, great bloody book.

Legacy of the force was bleh, fate of the jedi has potential, its good so far but i refuse to pay for hardback books. All the books so far in it are hardback which is a rip off.

The authors you want to look for are Michael A stackpole(x-wing series and few more), Kevin J anderson(jedi academy), Aaron allston(xwing, very funny guy) and Troy Denning. Any other author is hit and miss with star wars. Oh yeah and Zahn, altho the 2nd thrawn series was a bit boring.

evil-monkey

I'm just going to throw this out there and see, but I thought that the X-Wing series was a tad mundane. 7-books worth of my life I'll never get back. There, I said it.

Dark Rendezvous - now there's a great Star Wars novel.

This could really be a sticky. Every 3/4 months there is someone asks about where to start with the novels. Might be worth replacing some of those stale swordsman threads etc with this. Just a thought...

KerranJast

evil-monkey wrote: »

I'm just going to throw this out there and see, but I thought that the X-Wing series was a tad mundane. 7-books worth of my life I'll never get back. There, I said it.

Dark Rendezvous - now there's a great Star Wars novel.

This could really be a sticky. Every 3/4 months there is someone asks about where to start with the novels. Might be worth replacing some of those stale swordsman threads etc with this. Just a thought...

:eek: The assault on Coruscant was probably one of the most entertaining books I've ever read tbh. Very "filmic".

dyl10

Without sounding like a sheep, the Thrawn trilogy is the place to start. I'm thinking of reading it again actually...

PokerManAA

star wars in a book I´ve alredy seen it on sale but the trilogy was too expensive............

chopperbyrne

I enjoyed the New Jedi Order series a lot, but it is quite long.

Haven't read any of the following series yet.

AnCapaillMor

Did't miss much with the nest trilogy and the legacy of the force. The new one shows promise, but they're taking the p1ss so far all the books have been hardback.

BTW there's a good comic going around, StarWars legacy, follows Lukes grandson around 100 years into the future.

Jaxxy

evil-monkey wrote: »

I'm just going to throw this out there and see, but I thought that the X-Wing series was a tad mundane. 7-books worth of my life I'll never get back. There, I said it.

Dark Rendezvous - now there's a great Star Wars novel.

Nooo! Space ships, dogfights, skirmishes, flyboys! (Oh my!?) Had plenty to keep my interest anyway, but then again the X-wing series had few actual canon characters, which (among others) could be one of the reasons why I enjoyed it so much. Huzzah for original characters and less of Luke!

But indeed, for a Clone Wars novel I did also enjoy Dark Rendezvous. I think my opinion is fairly biased though since I got into the books long before the release of Episode 1 and will probably always prefer the ABY EU novels.

chopperbyrne wrote: »

I enjoyed the New Jedi Order series a lot, but it is quite long.

Haven't read any of the following series yet.

I liked the New Jedi Order books too, but would recommend reading a few of the other trilogies first to get a better idea of the characters, settings and general infrastructure of the universe. The NJO books introduce the Vong to us and their invasion takes place twenty-five years ABY, so there's a big gap there. The Vong are a completely different discussion though.

AnCapaillMor wrote: »

BTW there's a good comic going around, StarWars legacy, follows Lukes grandson around 100 years into the future.

Heard about that, must see if I can get my hands on it. And OP, be sure to tell us which ones you went with and what you thought!

Mr. K

I, Jedi is brilliant. It takes place at the same time as the Jedi Academy Trilogy, telling some of the events from Corran Horn's perspective. The JA Trilogy isn't as well written, but it adds to I, Jedi. I'd advise reading JA before I, Jedi.

This thread should be a sticky alright!

dazza_480

all of them are great books but stay away from the ones that are about the Yuuzhan Vong,

the sky walker,mara jades children, death of chewie

or any books that take place more than 25 after ABY

AnCapaillMor

No way dude apart from 1 or 2 books from the NJO, it was a great series.I was getting sikc of only luke saving the day in the others.

Mr. K

I wouldn't suggest jumping straight into the New Jedi Order series; they rely too much on the reader having a knowledge of the EU up to that point. But once you've got that knowledge, read them. They aren't all brilliant, but some are excellent. I particularly liked Star By Star, Traitor and Destiny's Way.

AnCapaillMor

Traitor was a fantastic book. "None shall pass". Loved the enemy line duology, wedge is one of my favourite characters from the EU.

funky penguin

Not to hi-jack a thread, but I think I'll get a good response here......

I enjoy graphic novels, and I'm interested in reading some from the Star wars universe. I'm partial to all the eras, but I love the old republic stuff. Are the JJ Miller Volumes any good?

Away from that, how about the Clone Wars volumes? Worth a look?

Thanks in advance guys.

PS from reading this thread, I'm now getting the Thrawn Trilogy!

AnCapaillMor

JJ Miller never heard of him. authors to look for Stackpole, Kevin J Aderson(did a fantastic non starwars series called the saga of the 7 suns), Aaron Allston is good too, did some of the x-wing and has good humour and Troy Denning.

Clone wars books; anyones i read were meh. On the other hand the clone wars 10 graphic novels series was pretty good.

Definately start with thrawn, then the x-wing series along with the jedi academy trilogy, you can try the others but i fif'nt really enjoy them. New jedi order is well worth checking out but read the others first.

Old republic anyones i read were bad, again like the clonewars check out the tales of the jedi graphic novels, very good. Did'nt enjjoy the bane books at all but the Jedi Vs Sith novel is good, shows banes rise to power.

49ers fan

Another vote for Timothy Zahns 'Thrawn Triology' Great set of books to start of with, also as someone else posted, 'Shawdows of the Empire' is a class stand alone novel, Xizor, great character....Hope this helps