Star Wars Novels/Series

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I love Star Wars. I can watch the original trilogy literally any time. It's just wonderful. When I was younger, pretty muh my years from Jr. High through High School, I read a lot of the novels and series the SW universe has spawned. Even then I knew they weren't anything special in terms of literary merit--some of them are good and well written, and some of the are atrocious (it's a mixture of commissioned authors who write them). But, if it had a lightsaber in it, that was enough to keep me reading.

My best friend still reads them. He is in no way the literature fan I am--quite the opposite, despite my best efforts. So, I agreed I read a few of the newest ones. I couldn't get past the first few pages. The dialogue was just too horrid. And the stories are just so convoluted, it's embarrassing. There's always a new sith lurking, or a new alien species with empirical aspirations, and only Luke Skywalker et al can save the galaxy.

So, does anyone else read SW novels? Or, did anyone in the past? Would just like to get some thoughts.

[OrphanPip]

Those books, and video games inspired ones, or the massive fantasy franchises (Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance), are essentially officially sanctioned fanfiction.

My dark literary past lies with Dragonlance, I could never stomach Salvadore and the even worse Forgotten Realm novels. I shouldn't admit it, but I think I must have around 30-40 Dragonlance franchise novels in my house. A large number of them I inherited from a tenant who fled with massive debt to my parents and left a letter saying we could sell off his stuff (we kind of suspect he offed himself somewhere but were never sure, the ex-wife said she never heard from him again), anyway I absorbed his books and music into my own collection. They're not even good books, even as a boy I knew that, but they were a bit entertaining in the way a brainless re-hash of archetypal heroic plots can be. I also have an OCD/autistic like obsession with gathering minutia on irrelevant subjects (helpful for my education as a microbiologist though), so those books can be a dangerous drug for me.

[Paulclem]

Those books, and video games inspired ones, or the massive fantasy franchises (Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance), are essentially officially sanctioned fanfiction.

My dark literary past lies with Dragonlance, I could never stomach Salvadore and the even worse Forgotten Realm novels. I shouldn't admit it, but I think I must have around 30-40 Dragonlance franchise novels in my house. A large number of them I inherited from a tenant who fled with massive debt to my parents and left a letter saying we could sell off his stuff (we kind of suspect he offed himself somewhere but were never sure, the ex-wife said she never heard from him again), anyway I absorbed his books and music into my own collection. They're not even good books, even as a boy I knew that, but they were a bit entertaining in the way a brainless re-hash of archetypal heroic plots can be. I also have an OCD/autistic like obsession with gathering minutia on irrelevant subjects (helpful for my education as a microbiologist though), so those books can be a dangerous drug for me.

:lol:

Is it the gathering - net, jar, syringe, or the minutae that helps with the microbiology?

[Mr.lucifer]

Sturgeon's law.

[Helga]

I love Star Wars and I can watch the original trilogy a million times and never be bored. I have only checked out a few of the books but for some reason I can't imagine them being very good if not written by Lucas.... I read alot of the Star Trek books and it's a similar thing when it comes to the authors some are good and some are terrible.

I have been enjoying a few websites that tell us what happened after Return of the Jedi and that is enough for me.

oh but I love the toys, I have a lot of SW toys and my son is always asking if he can play with them but I just can't let him unless I am supervising.

[billl]

Just in case, Helga, here's links to some (but not all, they rotate the episodes) of the Clone Wars cartoons. Don't know if you can get them from these sites in your country, though..

http://www.starwars.com/theclonewars/
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/starwars/index.html

[Helga]

ah, thanks bill, I have only seen 2 of them on Cartoon network.

I'll definetly check them out

[sithkittie]

^__^ I love Star Wars!! I'm not too big on the newer three, or the cartoon, but I still love the originals and the universe. I've read a bunch of the novels, though none of the post-original trilogy ones. I think my favorite (and I forget the names, of course) was the trilogy about Han Solo. Those I've read a couple of times each. Honestly, for the sake of giving credit where credit is due, Lucas had an amazing idea, but as far as the novels go, the EU novels are worlds better than the original trilogy novels (in my opinion). I've started a few of the ones having to do with the Jedi, and I didn't really like them very much. Helga's definitely right. Some authors are awful, but some are really good. I recommend that Han Solo trilogy anyway. Shadows of the Empire was pretty good too. That one got turned into a novel, comic book, and a game. Does anybody remember that game?

*edit*

Paradise Snare (http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Snare-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553574159), there's the first one.

[Lokasenna]

I enjoyed the original three films, but I wouldn't rave over them. It really surprises me that they spawned such a strong and enthusiastic following - but I suppose that's just me.

The prequel trilogy was shockingly bad though. Everything from Jar-Jar Binks to Vader screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" just reaked of lazy writing. I rather think Lucas has lost the plot (quite literally).

As for expanded universes in general, they can definitely work. Fanfiction usually seems rather tired or trite, but it can work. However, I'm inclined to think that they work best when there isn't an obvious progenitor - for example, any piece of Star Wars media is always going to be in the shadow of the three original films. On the other hand, the Cthullhu Mythos, as brought into being by Lovecraft, Derleth et al, has no noticable starting point, and thus every text can stand on its own.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

The New Jedi Order series isn't bad, if not overly long. It's really the only unique story arc to be created exclusively for the books. Basically, the SW galaxy is invaded by an 'alien' race, the Yuuzhan Vong (alien to the SW galaxy, that is), and what throws the Jedi (as, by this time, around 20 or so years after Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker has established a new Jedi order) is that this alien race is not a part of The Force. I enjoyed it.

[keilj]

The prequel trilogy was shockingly bad though. Everything from Jar-Jar Binks to Vader screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" just reaked of lazy writing. I rather think Lucas has lost the plot (quite literally).



Try the Plinkett reviews on Youtube. They are hilarious (and spot on)

To answer the OP: I have tried to read a couple of the Star Wars novels, such as one about the bounty hunters - but the prose was pretty painful and even the stories themselves were pretty boring

The best other media to spin out of the movies are the Marvel Star Wars comics

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I'll agree that Episodes I and II are horrible, but I thought Episode II wasn't too bad. Dark, good action, nice wrap up towards the original three.

I agree about Lucas, though. I've never bought into the whole :I had all six movies written the whole time" crap. He just pulled most of it out of his *** for the prequels. He's nothing but a money grabber now, as evidenced by the upcoming re-release of the original trilogy in 3D (oh, Joy!).

[Drkshadow03]

I love Star Wars. I can watch the original trilogy literally any time. It's just wonderful. When I was younger, pretty muh my years from Jr. High through High School, I read a lot of the novels and series the SW universe has spawned. Even then I knew they weren't anything special in terms of literary merit--some of them are good and well written, and some of the are atrocious (it's a mixture of commissioned authors who write them). But, if it had a lightsaber in it, that was enough to keep me reading.

My best friend still reads them. He is in no way the literature fan I am--quite the opposite, despite my best efforts. So, I agreed I read a few of the newest ones. I couldn't get past the first few pages. The dialogue was just too horrid. And the stories are just so convoluted, it's embarrassing. There's always a new sith lurking, or a new alien species with empirical aspirations, and only Luke Skywalker et al can save the galaxy.

So, does anyone else read SW novels? Or, did anyone in the past? Would just like to get some thoughts.

I started reading these in middle school (7th grade). Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy and Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy Trilogy and a bunch of others. Some of the Dark Horse comic books.

They were fun at the time. I don't know if I would spend my time reading them now.

[togre]

I've read a number of Star Wars novels and you really do find there to be a broad range in their quality. You have some that are just quick back stories of characters you vaguely glimpse in the films. You have some that are stilted attempts to recapture the magic of the characters we love but come of trite and wooden. There are some that just use the the universe as a background to tell their own little story (btw--I think the universe Lucas created in the original trilogy is the single most spectacular aspect of Star Wars--the story he tells is great, but the stories the remain untold are unbelievably alluring).

I've heard there is a consensus that novels written by Timothy Zahn are a cut above the rest. My personal opinion agrees with that. I also remember enjoying I, Jedi as a quality novel that in no way resembled a cheesy fan fiction.


OrphanPip--your assement of Dragonlance is spot on and takes me back to the semester of high school I read every one our library had. Glad I did. Wouldn't do it again.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Funny you mentioned I, Jedi, togre, as I was just planning to. That is probably the best SW novel I've ever read--it's quite good. That it is a singular story starring a non-movie character is what really helps it. The author (Michael A. Stackpole, I believe) really shines when he isn't trying to live up to the already established characters.

[mtpspur]

The only Star Wars novel I ever read was The Empire Strikes Back--got a hold of it about a week before the film debuted in Grand Forks ND. Back then movie novelizations were (and are) still suspect to expect little beyond a replay of the screenplay though Peter David tries to add depth to his works for example The Rocketeer. I started to collect the novels as they appeared but never could finish Splinter of the Mind's eye for instance so quit. There was a period when no novels were beign written and now they are almost monthly--time flies indeed. So sorry not really much help here. In fairness TV novels have improved by leaps and bounds--Highlander and Quantum Leap were two excellent series to read.

[Miki2502989]

there is a whole lot of books and cartoons and everything about star wars. it kinda ruined it.still,i like the clone wars cartoons because it so humoresk,i enjoy it

[lichtrausch]

During my teenage years I loved Star Wars novels. I devoured around a dozen of them. Last year I tried re-reading a couple of my favorites such as "Shadows of the Empire", "I, Jedi", and "Heir to the Empire" and was thoroughly disappointed. The stories were shallow and predictable and the writing was poor. I guess my reading tastes have matured since my teenage years.

[JamesRhodes]

Have you listened to the NPR audio dramas of the original three films? They flesh out a lot of the characters and back story. They are Lucas authorised and feature a lot of the orignal cast members. Some great moments of cheesiness with Luke hanging out with his friends at the Tosche Station and dreaming of becoming a pilot.