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Departments => Books => Topic started by: ryos on July 06, 2010, 04:01:04 AM

Title: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: ryos on July 06, 2010, 04:01:04 AM
Hey guys,

So, I was thinking the other day (a dangerous pastime, I know) about how really awful the Star Wars movies are in so many ways, and how I love them anyway. The world is so rich and varied and deep and generally awesome, and the writing is atrocious.

Then I realized that there are a boatload of books set in the Star Wars universe and not written by Lucas. I've avoided them on the principle that movie to book adaptations are never worth reading, but maybe I've been wrong in this particular case. Are Star Wars books worth reading, and if so, which ones?

Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: Bejay on July 06, 2010, 10:58:19 AM
They are mostly mainstream and many are medicore at best. But, if you like the universe, there are some well worth picking up. Anything done bei Timothy Zahn is good, the X-Wing Rogue Squadron series is very enjoyable. That where I'd start if anywhere.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: guessingo on July 06, 2010, 12:28:02 PM
I read 2-3 star wars book. They took place after the empire fell, but it still existed. They came up with a very good bad guy. He was a military genious. I can't remember which ones they were. I thought the idea was good. I thought the ending to the 3 book arc was bad. I also thought the books felt hollow and lacked depth. It lacked a believability to them. I think they were by Timothy Zahn. Anyone familiar with the series will know what I am talking about it. Its the ones about the Grand Admiral who was the best military genious in the galaxy.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: Silk on July 06, 2010, 09:09:24 PM
I have a couple of friends who have both been really into the Star Wars books. They seem to think fairly highly of them, at least some of them; unfortunately, I never paid enough attention to those conversations to know which titles to recommend.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: daranthered on July 09, 2010, 12:46:49 AM
Star Wars books are a mixed lot.  Some are good, and some are bad.  A lot of the worst ones came after the movie prequels came out, when Lucas Arts started to exert more influence on the story lines.  This led to some decision making that many fans disagreed with. 

Timothy Zhan, Kevin J. Anderson, and Micheal Stackpole did some their best work in the Star Wars universe.  I really don't like anything of Anderson's outside of it, actually.  I would recommend them as a starting point.  You need the back story those provide to understand anything more recent anyway.  You can generally find the books very cheaply in used bookstores.  I see them all the time.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: Miyabi on July 13, 2010, 11:09:20 PM

IMO the best ones I've read are the Darth Bane books.  Karpyshian(sp?) wrote them extremely well.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: echigo109 on September 11, 2010, 06:35:02 PM
Honestyly there not great... once in a while you find a good one but for the most part i wouldn't bother. If you feel that you absolutely have to you should try ( again its not great ) the rogue jedi series.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: sortitus on September 12, 2010, 04:40:25 AM
Growing up, my house had every. single. book. I read quite a few. Grand Admiral Thrawn is pretty cool, and I agree on the X-Wing books. If you like novellas, the Tales of... series is a good starting point (esp. the bounty hunter one). I stopped enjoying them when the New Jedi Order series came out*.

If you're into SciFi, go ahead and read a spread of recommended authors to see if it's your cup of tea. The writing is varied, as has been said, and many famous authors have contributed to the series. Whether that's a good or bad thing is open to debate. I hated R.A. Salvatore briefly because of what he did to [spoiler]....

*Whether this is because they started sucking or because I grew tired of them is unknown to me. I haven't read one since 9th grade, so my opinion may have changed.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: HarryBlan44 on December 25, 2010, 07:48:52 AM
I like star wars...It's  dreadful collection of books written so deeply. I have watch The Clone War. I even read some books by Jude Watson and Kevin Anderson... and I like all of them..
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: Renoard on December 29, 2010, 07:03:56 PM
Personally I think only two of the Star Wars books are worth reading. The original film adaptation novel of "Star Wars" (I think it's now called episode 4 or some such) is one. The other is Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Foster.

In general franchise novel aren't the best work of an author. If he gets really creative there's the danger of introducing non- canonical elements --something I think is a serious error enough to spoil an otherwise good novel-- or to feel so constricted the narrative suffers. Either way, same author working his own patch is much more worthwhile.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: papaholmz on January 10, 2011, 03:17:54 AM
I'll echo what has already been said by a few: the SW books written by Timothy Zahn are really good... that's about it.

-papaholmz
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: Moggle on January 23, 2011, 05:45:55 AM
I read Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn; this book follows the adventures of Luke, Leia and Han Solo after the events of "Return of the Jedi."  If you're a big fan of Star Wars then you may want to read this trilogy, but I wouldn't go in expecting too much.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: The Jade Knight on January 24, 2011, 12:34:31 AM
When I was in High School I read The Courtship of Princess Leia and rather enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Are Star Wars books worth reading?
Post by: T-Square on March 11, 2011, 03:34:20 AM
My opinion:total yes. They are very entertaining, I think. All the action of the movies, except most of the time (when it's not an adaptation of the movies) they have different characters. And the authors are obviously tight with Mr.Lucas. I think you should really try it. If you like the movies, they are perfect for you ;)