I am a lifelong Star Wars fan...but I've read very few of the novels. Where should I start?

dartmanx · 3 months

Definitely the Thrawn series. Then, for a happy, feel-good story, go with Vector Prime.

rhtufts · 3 months

Cant go wrong with Timothy Zahn.

Zaygr · 3 months

I would suggest the X-Wing novels by Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston. Light on the Jedi, heavy on the dogfighting and characters.

TabascoQuesadilla · 3 months

Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster (1978) - takes place between Star Wars and Empire. It was originally written immediately after Star Wars' release in case the movie did poorly, so they could film a low-budget sequel. Because of this, it's pretty much just Luke, Leia and Vader, with R2 and 3PO playing a smaller role, and Han and Chewie absent entirely. It's still quite good, though.
The Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command) by Timothy Zahn (1991-93) - Essentially, this is Episodes VII, VIII, and IX. Several aspects of the books are directly contradicted by the prequels, but that's fine with me since I ignore said prequels (for example, clones feel like a sort of vacuum in the Force to Luke, and it's strongly implied - if not outright stated - that the Clone Wars were the Republic against the clones).
The X-Wing Series by Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston (1996-99) - these are more like a series of "side stories" involving Rogue Squadron, focusing on Wedge. I think they're fantastic, but they don't really deal with any major characters or plot points.
The Han Solo Adventures by Brian Daley (1979-80) - Focuses on Han's life before Star Wars. Love them a bunch. There's also A. C. Crispin's Han Solo trilogy from 1997-98 that take place before and during these, but I didn't like them nearly as much (too bogged down by trying to make everything fit into established EU canon), and a Lando Calrissian Adventures series from 1983 by L. Neil Smith that I also didn't like too terribly much. But if you want the "full canon experience," read all three - the '97-'98 Han Solo books make the '77-'80 Han and '83 Lando books fit together better, I will admit that.

That's pretty much the extent of my appreciation for the Star Wars EU. I can't stand the NJO stuff, and I aggressively ignore any and all prequel nonsense. Shadows of the Empire is okay, but suffers from the same "We have to explain everything!!!" mentality that the prequels suffered from; I've never read the Jedi Academy Trilogy; and I was sadly disappointed with the Hand of Thrawn duology. Pretty much every other EU novel I've read has been complete garbage.

So, there you have it, from an extreme purist who only ever watches the original, non-Special Edition versions of Star Wars and Empire (and, to a lesser extent, Jedi).

justkirk · 3 months

My favorites have always been the collections of short stories about the tertiary characters. One is about the patrons of the Mos Eisley Cantina, another is about the Bounty Hunters employed by Vader to find Han, and the third is about the inhabitants of Jabba's Palace. Mind you I have not read these in like 17 years, but they definitely enhanced the original films for me, and every time I watch them I remember stories from these books about characters that may only be on screen for a few seconds.

EDIT: The title of these books follow the format "Star Wars: Tales from ______"

speedyjonzalas · 3 months

I quite liked the ones by Kevin J Anderson though other people have said otherwise.

PowderblueKes · 3 months

The Thrawn Trilogy
The Jedi Academy Trilogy
I, Jedi
The Thrawn Duology
Rogue Squadron series (or just Starfighters of Adumar)
New Jedi Order Series
Outbound Flight
Dark Nest Crisis Series
The Legacy Series
Fate of the Jedi Series
Darth Bane Series

In that order.

Also, a shoutout for /r/starwars where I'd suggest you xpost for more opinion.

yubbermax · 3 months

The Bane series was pretty good as far as SW novels go. The Thrawn trilogy was pretty good and the Old Republic books had some cool lore too.

flyingwok · 3 months

I really enjoyed the X-Wing novels written by Michael A. Stackpole. That'll include the first three Rogue Squadron novels and Wraith Squadron, I think. It was refreshing to not have a focus on Jedi and have a nice, diverse cast of characters.

I've read the main bits of the NJO and there are some good books, and some bad books -- since they were written by different authors. Overall, quite the epic ride.

The Thrawn trilogy has already been mentioned but I'd throw my vote in there too. Those were the first Star Wars novels I read and they were very good.

One I haven't seen mentioned is "The Courtship of Princess Leia". It's been many years since I've read it (decades even maybe?) but I remember enjoying it. It's a nice standalone book that focuses on Leia, Han, and Luke and felt like a nice side-story to their usual galaxy shattering antics.

Oh! Almost forgot -- I would also highly recommend the Han Solo trilogy by A.C. Crispin. It's a great series of books detailing Han's early life with equal parts romance and adventure. Bonus points that it leads directly into A New Hope as well.

Canopyflyer · 3 months

Anything by Alan Dean Foster, or Timothy Zahn.

Remember, Star Wars has been out since 1977, the latest series of books is just that, the latest. There are a lot of older books too.

One that I highly recommend is; "Splinter of the Minds Eye" by Foster. It takes place between; "A New Hope," and "Empire Strikes Back."

cbann · 3 months

Having been in your shoes just recently, I was introduced to "Heir to the Empire" (first of the Thrawn Trilogy). It was entertaining, but it did not live up to my expectations. I prefer books to film in most cases, but this one read like a screenplay and a B+ one at that. I found the plot, character development, and narration unsubstantial. Maybe my perspective was skewed by high expectations...

duglock · 3 months

Bane trilogy is pretty good. I've read pretty much all of them and that was my favorite.

Ironguard · 3 months

Black fleet crisis is pretty good

knifie_sp00nie · 3 months

No love for the Han Solo Adventures? I enjoyed them. Pulpy fun and written before the explosion of all the other novels and expanded universe.

Ironshovel · 3 months

I recommend "Truce at Bukura" -it takes up the storyline on the day after the victory celebration on Endor.

Anakedmanatee · 3 months

I read almost all of the New Jedi Order series. They take Star Wars to a slightly darker place.

bloodfyr · 3 months

The New Jedi Order is...hit or miss at best. Read the Zahn books first, specifically the Thrawn ones. There are five and are easily the best ones written. Most of the X-wing series is fantastic. I, Jedi is a spin off from that series and is excellent. I remember liking Truce at Bakura .

DasNeueFleisch · 3 months

I always liked the Tales of the Jedi series, particularly The Golden Age of the Sith. If you've played KotOR as well, you should like them.

davincih · 3 months

First three Thrawn books by Zahn. Feel free to skip the later ones.

antjanus · 3 months

I'm definitely in the same boat as you! I've been reading Wookiepedia like a damn book so there are few surprises. That said, there are a few really cool books you can start with.

The aforementioned Thrawn series was always seen as the "Star Wars sequel" in that it was very much like the original trilogy but at the same time innovative. It also has a continuation (starting with "Specter of the Past").

The next one I'd recommend is the Darth Bane trilogy, it describes the beginning of Sith's modern philosophy. It's pretty cool and you get to see the first beginnings of the Star Wars movie saga plot as well as a venture into the past of the first Sith lords.

I'm about to start reading according to the timeline on Wookiepedia, skipping some of the young adult novels (basically any novel 50 years before the Episode I and during the prequel era).

bobtheplanet · 3 months

"A Princess of Mars" by ERB

Zach_Attack · 3 months

Shatterpoint. It has the one character from the prequels i didn't hate and it really does take star wars to new depths of dark.

yourfaceisannoying · 3 months

Don't. Especially if you've already read up on the developments. The quality of the writing ranges from dull genre novels adapted to starwars environs, to embarrasingly bad fanfic.
there's a few good ones in there, but it's like panning for gold in rivers of shit.

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