Worst SW EU book

Talon Karrde · Post by **Talon Karrde** » 2002-08-09 09:54pm

Well, I hate to admit it, but I went today to Barnes and Noble and bought The Approaching Storm. Sorry Ossus.

The reason I bought the book was to get some more information, however little, about the time of the Old Republic. But then of course I also bought Darksaber, and the first 2 books of the Correlian series. So I could avoid that book for awhile

As for the Black Fleet Crisis, I can only say those God-forsaken books are the worst the Star Wars EU has ever seen. I'm embarrased for the author who thought those books were good. We Star Wars fans don't want to see Luke Skywalker having sex with some no-name phsycho woman, and we sure don't want to be led on some wild frickin' goose chase to find Luke's mother when it isn't his mother!!!

Those were the absolute worst books I have ever read, PERIOD! Inside or outside the Star Wars universe.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-08-09 11:04pm

Talon Karrde wrote:Well, I hate to admit it, but I went today to Barnes and Noble and bought The Approaching Storm. Sorry Ossus. The reason I bought the book was to get some more information, however little, about the time of the Old Republic. But then of course I also bought Darksaber, and the first 2 books of the Correlian series. So I could avoid that book for awhile

As for the Black Fleet Crisis, I can only say those God-forsaken books are the worst the Star Wars EU has ever seen. I'm embarrased for the author who thought those books were good. We Star Wars fans don't want to see Luke Skywalker having sex with some no-name phsycho woman, and we sure don't want to be led on some wild frickin' goose chase to find Luke's mother when it isn't his mother!!! Those were the absolute worst books I have ever read, PERIOD! Inside or outside the Star Wars universe.

You recently admitted that you have not yet read The Approaching Storm. Mind you, I'm not saying that I liked BFC, I hated it but... There's nothing I can do about it. And it wasn't in the same LEAGUE of craptaculence that Approaching Storm demonstrates.

BTW, if you are looking for info on the OR era, Approaching Storm really isn't the place to get it. It spends almost all of its time reading like a travel brochure for a single planet, instead of the epic and sweeping focus of most EU books. It really didn't tell me much of anything about the OR, other than that the Jedi are always good but are also incredibly weak, and that the Force is no special talent. It seemed unbelievably crappy. I could write better. In fact, I am!

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2002-08-10 02:22am

Rogue Planet was like that too. However it had more action and somewhat suspense in it as well. Darth Maul Shadow Hunter was pretty crappy. Who am I kidding. Here is a list of Star Wars books that DO NOT SUCK! (to me that is. heh)

Cloak of Deception
Shadows of the Empire
Solo Command
Thrawn trilogy (mainly the last book, last half. That's were it all falls together and most movie contradictions end.)
Hero's Trial
Jedi Eclipse
Rebel Dream
Rebel Stand

Man, I used to be an Allston hata, and a Stackpole playa, but go back and re read thier books and be amazed. Wraith Squadron to me seemed like a ghetto Rogue Squadron, but going back on it, was a lot better. When I read a lot of these books though, I just hollar out, FUCK MAN watch the damned movies!!! Stop using bull shit WEG, other fucked up EU material and the crap they call video games.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-08-10 01:51pm

Yeah, Rogue Planet sucked ass, but it wasn't nearly as bad as The Approaching Storm. Not even the little kiddy books are as bad as The Approaching Storm.

Bob McDob · Post by **Bob McDob** » 2002-10-26 12:29am

For some reason everyone uses Y-Wings in the kiddie books (even Luke) and Lando runs a space theme park.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-10-26 01:55am

Bob McDob wrote:For some reason everyone uses Y-Wings in the kiddie books (even Luke) and Lando runs a space theme park.

That's true. Maybe they find the X-Wing too cool to put in a book like that.... or something.

Incidentally, I went to the library today and I realized that I owed them 20 cents for an overdue Greg Bear book entitled Dinosaur Summer. I figured that he had had a bad day with Rogue Planet, as he DID win a Hugo. That book was absolutely horrible. NOTHING happens in Greg Bear books (incidentally, his Hugo book was entitled Eon, perhaps because it takes an eon to read). I then checked out Lord of the Flies, and the librarian told me that I would have much more fun with that one. Apparently Bear is starting a reputation for craptaculence amongst the literary community.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2002-10-26 02:05am

Master of Ossus wrote:Yeah, Rogue Planet sucked ass, but it wasn't nearly as bad as The Approaching Storm. Not even the little kiddy books are as bad as The Approaching Storm.

Please be joking. Worse than the kiddie books?

I have the kiddie books, and they are horrible. Sucked more than the Superman game on the N64!

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2002-10-26 02:18am

Well, I've never read the kiddie books. However I will say that 'The Approaching Storm' sucked so bad, you could find more enjoyment from reading the Wong vs RSA debate after the twentieth time through when compared. That bad.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2002-10-26 02:22am

Good thing I didn't buy the Approaching Storm, in May I was considering, but I said no. The AOTC Novel is pretty good though, but as for worst their is so many.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2002-10-26 02:25am

I don't think that the novelisation for AotC was all that good. Which is amazing, because it should be almost impossible to screw it up. The other four novelisations seem highly entertaining and very insightful to Star Wars. The AotC novelisation doesn't really seem to have that spark. I will say I didn't expect it to be as good for the simple fact that Salvatore was writing it. After seeing how he handled the Star Wars universe in Vector Prime I wasn't surprised at all. Oh well.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2002-10-26 02:28am

Another thing, has anyone noticed that almost all of the titles kick unholy ass. What's really sad, is that usually the better the tilte the worse the novel. Those that seem mediocre in story have a similarly mild title. Truce at Bakura, Courtship of Princess Leia. Both are mild. Then look at The Last Command, how much ass does that book kick? But the title doesn't seem as griping or as climatic. Then, turn around and look Planet of Twilight, Darksabre, Destiny's Way, come on, awesome titles, shitty books.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2002-10-26 02:56am

Yeah, DG, I guess Zahn and a couple of the better writers let the work speak for itself. A good choice. But others like KJA had too make pretty titles too much his book interesting

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2002-10-26 11:23am

Bob McDob wrote:For some reason everyone uses Y-Wings in the kiddie books (even Luke) and Lando runs a space theme park.

As far as the Y-Wings are concerned, that is probably a carry-over from the Holiday Special cartoon. Just to this link and read about the Y-Wing from the show.

http://www.theforce.net/swtc/highlights/swhs.html#ywing

I don't know why they would have Lando running a space theme park.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 2002-10-26 12:14pm

I liked the Wraith Squardon books, Face and Ton where far too funny to be split up. Also the Wraith Squardon had the big battle scenes i liked so well. I, Jedi was an attempt to rationalize some of the fuckups KJA made during the Jedi Academy books. and i never understood the purpose of the tripple story line during the BFC, if i hadda been writitng them i'd have wrote 3 seperate books, that way they fans and just buy the one where the fleets fight, and for the recond the K-Wings didn't kill the thrust-ships because they were using human-shields, 2 rotten eggs would kill a thrust ships shields. But all in all the book that sucked most was the Crystal Star. for many many reasons. The EU spends so much time saying that you don't need jedi powers to weld a Lightsaber then this isiot suggests you do, where did the alien thing come from? and why would anyone wanna kidnap children with Jedi Powers?, it's be easier just to corrupt them when they get older. The New Rebellion came a close second, "oh i don't trust imperials, that why we've been employing them in the civil service of the NR for 15 years" bullshit and one hit one kill on a Vic Star Destroyer? piss off will ya.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2002-10-29 04:16pm

I thought BFC was ok. I hate Anderson. The Thrawn Trilogy was good, but the Hand of Thrawn was a "Zahn character-of-the-week" affair and was very contrived in parts. And the bit of the mission with Luke and Mara made no sense when they talked about Thrawn's motivations. Thrawn's a tragic anti-hero, not a villian, wtf? Crap.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2002-10-29 06:40pm

You people have all these opinions and you don't put them in my book section?

http://hisshadow.123hostnow.com/

Goto -> Novel Chronology

C'mon, I'd really like some additions to it.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2002-10-29 06:53pm

I'll just say two things:

1) BFC has two awesome books and one horrible book, Tyran'ts Test is still one of my favorite novels.

2) Nothing can ever equal the pain of trying to read through Crystal Star. I feel asleep so many times simply ebcause the lack of anythign interesting or reasonable at all. I swear the only way it could have been wrose woudl be if it was printed in eboncis...let me take that back because at least then it would have had some humor value.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-10-30 01:43am

Darth Yoshi wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote:Yeah, Rogue Planet sucked ass, but it wasn't nearly as bad as The Approaching Storm. Not even the little kiddy books are as bad as The Approaching Storm.
Please be joking. Worse than the kiddie books? I have the kiddie books, and they are horrible. Sucked more than the Superman game on the N64!

I've never played the Superman game, but yes. Read the exerpts that I provided from Approaching Storm, and then imagine 300+ pages of that. SW books generally take me between 2 and 4 hours to read completely. It took me a month to read AS, working my way through it a few pages at a time and then taking a well deserved break from the horror it represented. I would rather read the JUNIOR Jedi Knights than AS, again.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-10-30 01:44am

CmdrWilkens wrote: 2) Nothing can ever equal the pain of trying to read through Crystal Star. I feel asleep so many times simply ebcause the lack of anythign interesting or reasonable at all. I swear the only way it could have been wrose woudl be if it was printed in eboncis...let me take that back because at least then it would have had some humor value.

You lucky bastard. You clearly have never read The Approaching Storm. I suggest you keep it that way.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2002-10-30 01:56am

Master of Ossus wrote:
Darth Yoshi wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote:Yeah, Rogue Planet sucked ass, but it wasn't nearly as bad as The Approaching Storm. Not even the little kiddy books are as bad as The Approaching Storm.
Please be joking. Worse than the kiddie books? I have the kiddie books, and they are horrible. Sucked more than the Superman game on the N64!
I've never played the Superman game, but yes. Read the exerpts that I provided from Approaching Storm, and then imagine 300+ pages of that. SW books generally take me between 2 and 4 hours to read completely. It took me a month to read AS, working my way through it a few pages at a time and then taking a well deserved break from the horror it represented. I would rather read the JUNIOR Jedi Knights than AS, again.

Christ, MoO WHY subject yourself to that? Are you one of those folks who once you pick up a book you refuse to put it down no matter what? Most EU books should break you of that habit.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-10-30 01:59am

Stravo wrote: Christ, MoO WHY subject yourself to that? Are you one of those folks who once you pick up a book you refuse to put it down no matter what? Most EU books should break you of that habit.

It's really a matter of pride. I've read, and own, every single SW book ever published in the United States (except for some softcovers, which I own, but have only read the hard cover versions). I have something of a reputation to keep us as the biggest SW nerd in the office, so it's something I have to do. Also, I consider it part of the research I'm doing for an eventual SW book I've been planning to write for some time.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2002-10-30 05:39pm

Master of Ossus wrote:
CmdrWilkens wrote: 2) Nothing can ever equal the pain of trying to read through Crystal Star. I feel asleep so many times simply ebcause the lack of anythign interesting or reasonable at all. I swear the only way it could have been wrose woudl be if it was printed in eboncis...let me take that back because at least then it would have had some humor value.
You lucky bastard. You clearly have never read The Approaching Storm. I suggest you keep it that way.

I've read it, Crystal Star is FAR worse. At least the entire Leia segment was decent and the Luke part was almost viable. Basically it had one ok segment, one poor segment, and one atrocious segment. Crystal Star was just 100% atrocious with no reedeming qualities.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-10-31 07:30pm

CmdrWilkens wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote:
CmdrWilkens wrote: 2) Nothing can ever equal the pain of trying to read through Crystal Star. I feel asleep so many times simply ebcause the lack of anythign interesting or reasonable at all. I swear the only way it could have been wrose woudl be if it was printed in eboncis...let me take that back because at least then it would have had some humor value.
You lucky bastard. You clearly have never read The Approaching Storm. I suggest you keep it that way.
I've read it, Crystal Star is FAR worse. At least the entire Leia segment was decent and the Luke part was almost viable. Basically it had one ok segment, one poor segment, and one atrocious segment. Crystal Star was just 100% atrocious with no reedeming qualities.

No, no, no. You're describing "BEFORE the Storm." I was referring to "The APPROACHING Storm." If you haven't read it, then don't bother.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2002-10-31 09:04pm

Master of Ossus wrote:
CmdrWilkens wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote: You lucky bastard. You clearly have never read The Approaching Storm. I suggest you keep it that way.
I've read it, Crystal Star is FAR worse. At least the entire Leia segment was decent and the Luke part was almost viable. Basically it had one ok segment, one poor segment, and one atrocious segment. Crystal Star was just 100% atrocious with no reedeming qualities.
No, no, no. You're describing "BEFORE the Storm." I was referring to "The APPROACHING Storm." If you haven't read it, then don't bother.

Oh wait...that one, sorry I've got my "Storms" mixed up and I'm actually thinking of Shield of Lies which was plain ol' horrible (with one semi-decent part).

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2002-11-01 01:34pm

CmdrWilkens wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote: No, no, no. You're describing "BEFORE the Storm." I was referring to "The APPROACHING Storm." If you haven't read it, then don't bother.
Oh wait...that one, sorry I've got my "Storms" mixed up and I'm actually thinking of Shield of Lies which was plain ol' horrible (with one semi-decent part).

Understandable. When there are two books with similar titles and both of them share the blanket-attribute of sucking it's easy to get confused. If you want a taste of Approaching Storm without suffering too much, you can read my exerpts from the book earlier in the thread. They're actually pretty representative of the book as a whole. It's really horrible, but I didn't have to make anything up to point out how much the book sucked.