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Which Star Wars novel or piece of fiction do you believe was most faithful to movie cannon?

In my opinion, the most "realistic" addition to the Star Wars canon would be Shadows of the Empire.

Dark Empire.

Either Shadows of the Empire or Zahn's novels.

I agree with IP on Dark Empire.

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Dark Empire.

You think that peice of garbage was faithful to canon?

Well, Lucas has said DE was his favourite piece from the EU.

Stormbringer wrote:

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Dark Empire.

You think that peice of garbage was faithful to canon?

It is good enough for George Lucas, who loved it, later advised Vietch on his Sith War projects, and bought a copy for all his employees that year for Xmas. Sorry, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have loved it if it totally perverted and ruined his "vision" (aka the fanwank that know-it-all fanboys think they've somehow extracted from GL while he sleeps).

It picks up straight after the end of the ROTJ in terms of plot, and places each of the main characters in the logical continuation/extension of their roles.

Dark Empire II and especially Empire's End were lacking by comparison. But Dark Empire remains the most attuned-to-the-canon and in my opinion, good EU in the post-ROTJ period.

Maybe it's just me.

The Thrawn trilogy. He gets the most little things right.

Ender wrote:The Thrawn trilogy. He gets the most little things right.

I would be inclined to agree. Except for Zahn's lack of humor. Star Wars, OT Star Wars anyways, is always good for a few laughs. Not these novels, although still very well done.

I never liked DE myself. Sorta minimalized everything Luke and Leia fought for and Anakin sacrificed himself for in ROTJ to have Palaptine come back with the lame clone cop-out (which set a dangerous precident throughout the rest of the EU).

I didn't think the Thrawn Trilogy was as true to the OT as some others have been. Zahn was too minimalist, a crime most EU authors committed, and as noted he lacked comedy moments, however they did have the swings back and forth in power that the OT had.

Lord Pounder wrote:I didn't think the Thrawn Trilogy was as true to the OT as some others have been. Zahn was too minimalist, a crime most EU authors committed, and as noted he lacked comedy moments, however they did have the swings back and forth in power that the OT had.

I disagree with the minimalist claims. He didn't make the Empire tiny, he just focused on a small portion of the action.

I think the most true to the original was the Allston series of X-Wing novels. They focused on a small, motely group with a larger mission fighting against an enemy they both won and lost to. It involves a lot of good folks dying (think Phannan vice Biggs) but in the end good triumphs. Oh yeah that and it has all the humor and improbable saves in the midst of being deep behind enemy lines that was a feature in both ANh and ROTJ.

Stormbringer wrote:I disagree with the minimalist claims. He didn't make the Empire tiny, he just focused on a small portion of the action.

This coming from an apologist for the pitifully small number of possible clones and the Dreadnoughts?

Illuminatus Primus wrote:

Stormbringer wrote:I disagree with the minimalist claims. He didn't make the Empire tiny, he just focused on a small portion of the action.

This coming from an apologist for the pitifully small number of possible clones and the Dreadnoughts?

Given that there were thirty or so major Imperial ships at Endor and a million clones is an impressive army for the Republic, I'd take Zahn's over those that over inflate the Empire's might.

You think ~30 Imperial ships at Endor is an over inflation?

Ender wrote:The Thrawn trilogy. He gets the most little things right.

Yeah, Zahn's novels hands down. Still my favorite SW author, even after a decade. Can't wait to see the new 2 SW books he's got ready.

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:You think ~30 Imperial ships at Endor is an over inflation?

No, that's more or less what they had. I know there's 27 confirmed and few more possibles.

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:You think ~30 Imperial ships at Endor is an over inflation?

Given that a a single ISD can take on a task-force and still come out is bad enough. Multiply that by 30, then take into account the SSD and yes, it does seem to be inflation.

Then again, it's understandable. The Rebel fleet had been on the move for four years, always one step ahead of the Imperial Navy. The threat of a 2nd DS would have to draw out all of their ships. If the Empire one, the Rebellion would cease to exist and thus, it does make sense - he wasn't taking any chances.

Too bad he didn't take into account walking, sentient teddy bears attacking his shield generator...

JME2 wrote:

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:You think ~30 Imperial ships at Endor is an over inflation?

Given that a a single ISD can take on a task-force and still come out is bad enough.

Don't buy the EU hype about ISDs. they are not the end all be all, and the Rebellion had plenty of firepower there.

Ender wrote:

JME2 wrote:

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:You think ~30 Imperial ships at Endor is an over inflation?

Given that a a single ISD can take on a task-force and still come out is bad enough.

Don't buy the EU hype about ISDs. they are not the end all be all, and the Rebellion had plenty of firepower there.

Well, here's an amusing thought - At Endor, what if there had been no 30-esque ISD's and one SSD, but instead a single Eclipse-class SSD? Hmm? The possibilities are limitless...

Stormbringer wrote:Given that there were thirty or so major Imperial ships at Endor and a million clones is an impressive army for the Republic, I'd take Zahn's over those that over inflate the Empire's might.

Nice dodge.

You're still one of the first who was leaping to call Mara's figure bullshit and suggest numbers orders of magnitude greater--and Thrawn's clones and Dreadnoughts were supposed to turn the tide of the war--the Kaminoan clones are said to do no such thing. In fact, they're said to not be enough, and that the common man will fight this war.

Ender wrote:

JME2 wrote:

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:You think ~30 Imperial ships at Endor is an over inflation?

Given that a a single ISD can take on a task-force and still come out is bad enough.

Don't buy the EU hype about ISDs. they are not the end all be all, and the Rebellion had plenty of firepower there.

I agree that the ISD is good, but only in that when thrown against backwater patrol craft and picket fleets does it kickass--it had a good intended purpose, but is not a true hardcore combat vessel: imagine the amount of firepower and speed if the bridge tower was pressed into the superstructure, the troops were removed, and more guns and shields added?

Here in lies the superiority of some of the Mon Calamari cruisers, despite lower LOA and with possibly less-experienced warship-production: the Mon Calamari did not try and make ships to preform every other mission under the sun. It had heavy broadsides and a token fighter complement to defend itself--it was much more a pure-combat vessel.

Illuminatus Primus wrote:

Stormbringer wrote:Given that there were thirty or so major Imperial ships at Endor and a million clones is an impressive army for the Republic, I'd take Zahn's over those that over inflate the Empire's might.

Nice dodge.

You're still one of the first who was leaping to call Mara's figure bullshit and suggest numbers orders of magnitude greater--and Thrawn's clones and Dreadnoughts were supposed to turn the tide of the war--the Kaminoan clones are said to do no such thing. In fact, they're said to not be enough, and that the common man will fight this war.

Actually, my arguement was that all we have is Mara estimate and the assumptions of New Republic Intelligence and that we shouldn't take them as concrete given the prevelance of clone troops. The fact is Thrawn and NR alike expected the clones to be able to carry the fight. I'm saying in light of that, Mara's estimate and the conclusions based on it should be taken as an absolute minimum rather than the be all end all you make it out to be.


As for the Katana Fleet, my point was that one fleet, combined with the clones, could well tip the balance of power. It's pretty well clear that the Empire and New Republic were both very evenly matched at that point and a fleet or two would make a huge difference.

Stormbringer wrote:Actually, my arguement was that all we have is Mara estimate and the assumptions of New Republic Intelligence and that we shouldn't take them as concrete given the prevelance of clone troops. The fact is Thrawn and NR alike expected the clones to be able to carry the fight. I'm saying in light of that, Mara's estimate and the conclusions based on it should be taken as an absolute minimum rather than the be all end all you make it out to be.

Dressing up an attempt to contradict the numbers given by the author, which in themselves were thought to be dangerous to Leia and none of them found unrealistic. Not to mention their use in a few strikes and in a few light cruisers does not prevelence make.

Wedge and most of the fleet had never encountered them until a specific assault by Thrawn which he heard of through Commander Varth.

Stormbringer wrote:As for the Katana Fleet, my point was that one fleet, combined with the clones, could well tip the balance of power. It's pretty well clear that the Empire and New Republic were both very evenly matched at that point and a fleet or two would make a huge difference.

Actually the whole point at the beginning of the trilogy is that the Empire was inferior and simply lacked the ships to carry out Thrawn's campiagn. The two-hundred Dreadnoughts are obviously intended to do just that.

EDIT: Let's not continue this here. If you wish to continue debating the subject, split this tangent off as supermod.