Is the NJO worth it?

Post by **Dalton** » 2005-12-26 05:17am

I've been considering picking up the NJO for a while now, because a lot of shit happens throughout the series and I want to see just how badly the plots got screwed up by mediocre authors.

So, in your estimation, fellow nerds, is it worth the time and money?

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2005-12-26 07:20am

Dalton wrote:I've been considering picking up the NJO for a while now, because a lot of shit happens throughout the series and I want to see just how badly the plots got screwed up by mediocre authors.

So, in your estimation, fellow nerds, is it worth the time and money?

No, no..and FUCK no. Worst garbage to ever happen to Star Wars. I can't give two shits about the Solo brats, I'm sick and tired of Luke acting like Kwai Chang Caine on vallium, and the extremely inconsistent Jedi vs Vong fights. Jedi shouldn't sweat the Vong for a second, but because they can't be "read" in the Force, suddenly that's a Jedi achilles heel.

Do yourself a favor and find the latest "Time Tales" online, or if you must, buy the latest SW Chronology. If all that fails, go to the cheapest used bookstore you can find, and buy the novels themselves.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2005-12-26 07:39am

I rather liked it, sure, it has its very large weakspots but overall I enjoyed the read.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2005-12-26 08:01am

I Wouldn't buy the whole set. If you really want to read it, and i think some of the books wheren't that bad, just read the highlights, which are basically all the books that where originally released in Hard cover.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2005-12-26 08:13am

The SW Wiki has a general outline of events and battles, if you're not interested in actually going through all the stories just to see what happens. Some cool pictures as well.

[/blatant advertizing]

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2005-12-26 08:24am

Not all of it, but some bits were'nt bad, the early stuff really is crap though.
The unifying force is quite good especially since it has the jedi regain their dick's (or equilevant).
So if you mean all of it- No

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2005-12-26 09:25am

Dalton wrote:I've been considering picking up the NJO for a while now, because a lot of shit happens throughout the series and I want to see just how badly the plots got screwed up by mediocre authors.

So, in your estimation, fellow nerds, is it worth the time and money?

It depends, what are we discussing here; owning or renting? 'Fuck no!' For the former, and 'maybe' for the latter.

Mange · Post by **Mange** » 2005-12-26 09:29am

I'm also considering picking up the NJO, in English paperback. They cost around 70 Swedish kronor (~$8.60) apiece and I can live with that cost (oh, the cheapest cost 55 Swedish kronor ~$6.80).

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2005-12-26 12:16pm

It had its weak points (cough * Dark Journey * cough), but for the most part it was far better reading then the crap Bantam was putting out towards the end of their publishing run.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2005-12-26 12:22pm

JME2 wrote:It had its weak points (cough * Dark Journey * cough), but for the most part it was far better reading then the crap Bantam was putting out towards the end of their publishing run.

Books with nothing but photocopies of dead animals on every page would be better than some of the crap Bantam put out...

General Soontir Fel · Post by **General Soontir Fel** » 2005-12-26 12:33pm

JME2 wrote:It had its weak points (cough * Dark Journey * cough), but for the most part it was far better reading then the crap Bantam was putting out towards the end of their publishing run.

Dark Journey was hardly the worst. Try the Force Heretic trilogy. The bits with Pellaeon are the only redeeming qualities of that dreck.

There are plenty of summaries available, so you can either ignore the whole thing or pick out any bits and pieces. You absolutely have to read Star by Star.

But most of these books are something you read once and file away. I bought Star by Star and Traitor, but got the rest from the library.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2005-12-26 12:35pm

General_Soontir_Fel wrote:
JME2 wrote:It had its weak points (cough * Dark Journey * cough), but for the most part it was far better reading then the crap Bantam was putting out towards the end of their publishing run.
Dark Journey was hardly the worst. Try the Force Heretic trilogy. The bits with Pellaeon are the only redeeming qualities of that dreck

I know I'm in the minority here, but I actually liked Force Heretic I: Remnant. It was Refugee that really sucked ass for me.

General Soontir Fel · Post by **General Soontir Fel** » 2005-12-26 12:39pm

JME2 wrote:
General_Soontir_Fel wrote:
JME2 wrote:It had its weak points (cough * Dark Journey * cough), but for the most part it was far better reading then the crap Bantam was putting out towards the end of their publishing run.
Dark Journey was hardly the worst. Try the Force Heretic trilogy. The bits with Pellaeon are the only redeeming qualities of that dreck
I know I'm in the minority here, but I actually liked Force Heretic I: Remnant. It was Refugee that really sucked ass for me.

Remnant was the one with Pellaeon.

Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon wrote:Words, Vorrik! Tell Shimmra that if he intends to conquer us, he is going to need a bigger fleet--and a more competent commander to lead it!

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2005-12-26 12:44pm

Meh, I'll have to dregde up my recommendations to Stravo when he asked the question about a year ago.

The NJO is odd, it's a series of books that deals with a war, but the war is hardly ever shown in the damn things. When the war is in fact in the particular book, it is indeed interesting. Those books who go off in a tangent, usually suck.

There are, of course, some things that are in all of the books that take a hard swallow to take, (super pussy Luke who doesn't want to hurt anything for risk of falling to the darkside-shit), but there are some jems in there.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2005-12-26 12:45pm

Ah, yes, forgive me; too much bush de noel last night, you understand.

Words, Vorrik! Tell Shimmra that if he intends to conquer us, he is going to need a bigger fleet--and a more competent commander to lead it!

Doesn't beat:

"You may win the occasional battle against us, Vorrik, but the Empire will always strike back."

Post by **Dalton** » 2005-12-26 01:09pm

That's a great quote.

So, OK, Star by Star. I heard it was good. Denning, right? How about Allston's NJO books? They any good?

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2005-12-26 01:13pm

Dalton wrote:That's a great quote.

So, OK, Star by Star. I heard it was good. Denning, right? How about Allston's NJO books? They any good?

Um, Rebel Stand and Reble something or other. Yeah, quite good, acutally. Once again, it deals with the war, so makes sense.

It did start up a plot line that was not used in other books though, and a plot line that I thought was interesting.

On top of all that, it has Wedge as a serious character, which tickles me something good.

General Soontir Fel · Post by **General Soontir Fel** » 2005-12-26 01:20pm

Dalton wrote:That's a great quote.

So, OK, Star by Star. I heard it was good. Denning, right? How about Allston's NJO books? They any good?

They are not the worst of the bunch, if you can get through the Corran Horn wanking. Among other things, it introduces Jag Fel, and there is this great scene, where a bunch of NR Senators arrive on Ithor, along with Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya. Then Jag and his Chiss squadron enter.

Jag bows to the Ithorian host, to Admiral Pellaeon, to Admiral Kre'fey of the NR, to Wedge (his uncle)... and ignores the Moffs and the NR Senators. And when Wedge mentions it, Jag's reply:

Jag: They're politicians.
Wedge: The impression is that you didn't bow to them because they aren't human.
Jag: If they're stupid enough to believe that, let them. I didn't bow because they're politicians.

I don't like politicans either. Forgive me.

Oops... confused Allston with Stackpole. Sorry.

Allston... Rebel Dream and Rebel Stand. They are not bad, and I would say they are among the least minimalist books in the entire EU.

Traitor bitch Viqi Shesh finally dies... although it was sort of disappointing that she did it herself. Being sacrificed to the Yuuzhan Vong gods would be sweetly ironic.

They destroyed the Lusankya! The bastards!

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2005-12-26 01:27pm

Anything as large and complicated as the NJO (okay, it tried to be complicated) should NOT be handled my multiple authors in the way it was.

A master author and lots of co-authors, yes, but not multiple authors.

That being said.
Not bad, could have been worse. You can skip the non-hardbacks without any problems.

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2005-12-26 01:58pm

I'd recommend borrowing the series from the library (since even the boring ones unfortunately contain important plot points), and then coming back and buying the ones you liked (ie. Agents of Chaos, Star by Star, Destiny's Way, Traitor, and so on).

JediMaster415 · Post by **JediMaster415** » 2005-12-26 03:24pm

I think I am definitely in the minority when I say that I liked the entire NJO. I own every book of the series and I'm contemplating re-reading them.

I liked the Allston books because we got a cameo for three Wraiths and it figured Wedge prominently.

I like Dark Journey because Jaina is my favorite book character and Tenel Ka loses control.

Every book has something I like, if its Star Wars.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2005-12-26 03:27pm

JediMaster415 wrote:I think I am definitely in the minority when I say that I liked the entire NJO. I own every book of the series and I'm contemplating re-reading them.

I liked the Allston books because we got a cameo for three Wraiths and it figured Wedge prominently.

I like Dark Journey because Jaina is my favorite book character and Tenel Ka loses control.

Every book has something I like, if its Star Wars.

I'll join in the minority, but I have to admit looking from someone used to very good stuff, NJO falters sometimes, yet I've still read them all atleast 4-5 times.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2005-12-26 03:51pm

not worth it. Denning and Allston write some good stuff, and Traitor was interesting if trippy, but on the whole... no.

LongVin · Post by **LongVin** » 2005-12-26 04:12pm

It varies book to book. Some of the books were really good and others were pure trash.

My main problem with the books is one author would pick something up in his book and run with it. Then in the next book with a new author completely forgets about that aspect and moves onto something else. There is no closure for alot of the stuff thats happening.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-12-26 08:23pm

No.

Denning, Allston and occasionaly Luceno puts out a decent book, but far too many of them are "Vong are badass, Jedi dumbzor, cheap shot FTW!" The Vong are pathetic opponents who survive because the sheer incompentence of most of the NR that you just sit and groan. Luke varies between bad ass Jedi, and whiny whorebitch, the Solo twins are annoying and lack any real characterization, and hell by the time they give something to Anakin...well it's in the time line.

The whole thing starts off bad, get worse, and just ends with a villain nearly out of left field.

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