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I've always been interested in reading the SW books. About 5 years ago I read the X Wing series and liked it a lot. So about 2 weeks ago I asked some friends which novel series I should start reading. I got a bunch of different answers, but ended up with the Hand of Thrawn series. Unfortunatly, not knowing much about the EU, I didn't know that the Hand of Thrawn series came AFTER the original thrawn trilogy. So basically my question is, should I stop reading Spectre of the Past and start with the original Thrawn series? Or should I just finish the whole Hand of Thrawn series and then go back and read the original thrawn series?

Thanks

Read the original then Hand...gives some better background on the people in question.

Agree. Reading the major books in order does help quite a bit. They do tend to recap stuff in the beginnings, so if you really wanted to skip Kevin J. Anderson's stuff, you could get away with it. I wouldn't recommend getting away with it, but it's possible.

Did you just recommend that he read KJA?! What dark creature of the night are you?

The only EU stuff worthwhile is Zahn's stuff, even though he really minimalizes the conflict at times its at least interesting to read.

Anderson's stuff demeans the Star Wars Franchise, and Stackpole at times deosnt know what the hell he is talking about. I did however like Aaron Alston's first two Wraith Squadron Books, the thrid was ok at best.

Avoid all of Barbra Hanely's stuff. The Black Fleet Crisis was good, so I am told.

For the EU novels there are three core authors you should read. Stackpole, Allston, and Zhan. Since you already are on your way into them, that is good. Here is my only recomendation.

Read the first seven X-Wing books first. The first four are by Stackpole and the last three are by Allston. Then read the Thrawn Trilogy by Zhan. From here read the next two Stackpole books (One X-Wing, one a standalone about Corran). Now read the final X-Wing book by Allston. Last of all read the Hand of Thrawn Duology. At this point you will have a fairly good grounding on the entire EU. There are some other trilogies and duologies out there, read what seems most interesting. If you are interested in the NJO series, here is my recomendation. Read the two Stackpole books (Dark Tide series) then read the two Allston books.

Ugh, Stackpole. He fucking uses GAMES for info!

Why do people keep saying that? In an interview that was on rebelsquadrons.org a few years ago he claimed that the only contact with the games he's ever had was that he played X-Wing once.

Seggybop wrote:Why do people keep saying that? In an interview that was on rebelsquadrons.org a few years ago he claimed that the only contact with the games he's ever had was that he played X-Wing once.

Then why the hell does he mention them in the Acknowledgments of Rogue Squadron?

Alyeska wrote:For the EU novels there are three core authors you should read. Stackpole, Allston, and Zhan. Since you already are on your way into them, that is good. Here is my only recomendation

Matthew Stover is also good, the guy who wrote Traitor.

I wish he'd write more SW books.

Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote:Ugh, Stackpole. He fucking uses GAMES for info!

So? I keep hearing people claim this and that he made it easy for Fighters to take on capitalships. I have repeatedly shown where this is plainly false. He used the games for inspiration (hell, he did the Redemption Scenario) but he wrote the books in a fairly proper fashion. Heck, Allston used games to, he even worked on some of the games. They still wrote good books and it was about more then just X-Wings flying about.

Who said anything about taking on cap ships? I'm talking about general combat.

But whatever you do, NEVER read Darksaber. I still have nightmares about that book. The Black Fleet Crisis was a good read, if you skip the fallanese shit and the Lando shit and just read about the fleet actions.

I liked the Lando parts actually, it was very interesting.

Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote:Who said anything about taking on cap ships? I'm talking about general combat.

His writing is pretty damned good and he certainly expands much more beyond the games.

Alyeska wrote:For the EU novels there are three core authors you should read. Stackpole, Allston, and Zhan. Since you already are on your way into them, that is good. Here is my only recomendation.

Key authors: Allston and Zahn and (recently) Denning

Secondary: Stackpole, Crispin, and the author of Traitor which my brain has apparently deleted.

Illuminatus Primus wrote: Key authors: Allston and Zahn and (recently) Denning

Secondary: Stackpole, Crispin, and the author of Traitor which my brain has apparently deleted.

Matthew Stover

Thank you.

Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry was a pretty good book too IMHO.