Star Wars

[The Batman]

Agreed, this is all going to hang on how they play it out because that character hardly seems like a sacrifice for Jacen if it's just them on their own.

I can't wait for this to come out, Traviss's stuff has so far been my favourite part of this series.

[saintsaucey]

i think i may wait till all the legacy books are out and then get them. a can't believe i read that spoiler. stupid stupid stupid

[Green Goblin]

How did you like it? It's my favourite SW book.

I actally enjoyed it very nice bridge between empire and jedi , I also like the computer game of i.

[Lester C.]

I bought my copy of Sacrifice today. I can't wait until I get to work so I can read it.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

i like alot of the dark horse comics,those are my primary star wars lit.

[The Batman]

I bought my copy of Sacrifice today. I can't wait until I get to work so I can read it.

I'll probably get it this week and read it as soon as I'm done with The Yiddish Policeman's Union.

[Lester C.]

i like alot of the dark horse comics,those are my primary star wars lit.

I don't know if it matters but most of the Dark Horse stuff is non cannon, which is good because they have more freedom to tell kick ass stories that don't fit into continuity.

[Karl H]

I don't know if it matters but most of the Dark Horse stuff is non cannon, which is good because they have more freedom to tell kick ass stories that don't fit into continuity.

I'm loving KOTOR and Legacy. To me they capture the essence of the OT much better than the PT.

[Lester C.]

I'm loving KOTOR and Legacy. To me they capture the essence of the OT much better than the PT.

Speaking of the games most of them are cannon until the ending, which makes sense as there are often light and dark endings.

[JonBidinger]

I don't know if it matters but most of the Dark Horse stuff is non cannon, which is good because they have more freedom to tell kick ass stories that don't fit into continuity.

Nearly all of the Dark Horse material is completely within continuity, with the exception of stories marked infinities. Though I agree they are kick ass.

[Armless Penguin]

In regards to the ending of Sacrifice, that was certainly rather depressing. I'm certainly not seeing anyway for Jacen to survive after the series ends. But they did go with the Sith name I voted for, so all was good.

I'm loving KOTOR and Legacy. To me they capture the essence of the OT much better than the PT.

I love Knights of the Old Republic, but I ended up dropping Legacy. It's not that I disliked it, but that I feel it'll be a better read in trade form than it is in monthly. But maybe that's just me.

[Sabrina_Fried]

I don't know if it matters but most of the Dark Horse stuff is non cannon, which is good because they have more freedom to tell kick ass stories that don't fit into continuity.

From what I've heard, everything except the Infinities stuff is entirely canon. The main difference is that Dark Horse at the moment is deliberately going out of their way to focus on characters and time periods where there isn't much other canonical work out there yet.

Personally I'm enjoying all the Star Wars comics right now, even KOTOR, which I nearly dropped because I originally found it boring, but is starting to grow on me. Deliberately avoiding the "crowded" eras and characters allows them to focus on telling good stories instead of just following a checklist of events that have to be covered in their books so that they are canonically "kosher."

Probably the only thing Dark Horse could do right now to improve their comics further is do more Infinities stuff and say "fuck canon" every now and then. But that's just me.

Sabrina

[Lester C.]

I just read Sacrifice and I think Jacen committed self defense rather than murder. The character who got killed hunted him down, and was planing on murdering him. He killed a would be assassin rather than an innocent victim.

[Karl H]

Speaking of the games most of them are cannon until the ending, which makes sense as there are often light and dark endings.

I was talking about the comic series!

I read somewhere (theforce.net probably) that apparently the light-side endings for all the games are canonical - although how the new star wars game coming out fits in is anyone's guess given that you play a Dark Sider!

[Chip Whitley]

Hi all, longtime Star Wars reader here. About the only things I haven't read are the young adult novels and some prequel-era stuff. I'm liking LotF, and am midway through Exile right now. Just got Sacrifice at my LCS and can't wait to read it. Favorite novels would have to be the X-Wing series (slight edge to Allston), and least favorite... well just take your pick of anything between the Jedi Academy and Corellian trilogies. Oh, and the Lando Adventures, stupid Vuffi Raa! :mad:

although how the new star wars game coming out fits in is anyone's guess given that you play a Dark Sider!
The Force Unleashed is being planned as a multi-media blitz (think Shadows of the Empire), so in addition to the game, we're getting a novel and comic with the canon version of the story.

[Armless Penguin]

Hi all, longtime Star Wars reader here. About the only things I haven't read are the young adult novels and some prequel-era stuff.

You should give the Young Jedi Knights books a try. Lighter and Young Adult, yes, but also quite fun reads. I've actually gone back and read some of them to get away from the tone that Legacy of the Force casts over the series.

[Sabrina_Fried]

Hi all, longtime Star Wars reader here. About the only things I haven't read are the young adult novels and some prequel-era stuff. I'm liking LotF, and am midway through Exile right now. Just got Sacrifice at my LCS and can't wait to read it. Favorite novels would have to be the X-Wing series (slight edge to Allston), and least favorite... well just take your pick of anything between the Jedi Academy and Corellian trilogies. Oh, and the Lando Adventures, stupid Vuffi Raa! :mad:

With the exception of the Episode III novel which was amazing (better than the movie IMHO), I haven't been really thrilled at all with the prequel-era novels. They just take themselves WAY too seriously.

That said, the prequel era comics of the past few years are some of the best Star Wars stuff Dark Horse has ever published.

As for the YJK series, I've read through it once, and it was OK, some of Kevin Anderson's better stuff actually, but I really don't feel the need to reread it.

Sabrina

[Armless Penguin]

With the exception of the Episode III novel which was amazing (better than the movie IMHO), I haven't been really thrilled at all with the prequel-era novels. They just take themselves WAY too seriously.


I thought Shatterpoint was really good, but other than that I'd agree that the Prequel-Era books range from bad to ok.

[UniqueFrequency]

I thought Shatterpoint was really good, but other than that I'd agree that the Prequel-Era books range from bad to ok.

i think approaching storm, labrynth of evil and the med-healer duology are pretty good. as well as the Darth Maul book

[ChrisIII]

"Hard Contact" was pretty good as well, although the "Clones are people too!" plotline was also done before in "Cestus Deception".

[Karl H]

The only PT book I liked was Shatterpoint. Then again, Stover is comfortably my favourite SW author at the moment. Traitor was comfortably the best book from a character viewpoint in the whole NJO. Shame he's not writing any of the LoTF stuff.

[jwd]

I just read Sacrifice and I think Jacen committed self defense rather than murder. The character who got killed hunted him down, and was planing on murdering him. He killed a would be assassin rather than an innocent victim.


That character also tried talking to Jacen first and confronted him about his recent actions. Jacen wasn't going to change. The character also believed Jacen was a threat to someone they cared about. Even if that character had never gone after Jacen it was obvious Jacen was going to go after someone and kill them.

The character wasn't innocent either and screwed up in they should've talked with the other Jedi first and confronted him as a group.

[Lester C.]

That character also tried talking to Jacen first and confronted him about his recent actions. Jacen wasn't going to change. The character also believed Jacen was a threat to someone they cared about. Even if that character had never gone after Jacen it was obvious Jacen was going to go after someone and kill them.

The character wasn't innocent either and screwed up in they should've talked with the other Jedi first and confronted him as a group.

All I'm saying is that it was premediated murder on her part and she fired first and kept on attacking him. In a court of law he'd win.

[Karl H]

Made for a cracking read though. This series gets better with each successive book.

[Lester C.]

Made for a cracking read though. This series gets better with each successive book.

The quality has been consistent unlike NJO which had its ups and downs.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

there was this cancelled book called Alien Exodus that would have linked all of Lucas films together ala the dark tower.In the outline and sample chapters for the cancelled novel Alien Exodus, Earth is revealed in a flashback story to be the original home of the Human species. A group of refugees and dissidents from Earth commandeer a spacecraft and flee a computer-controlled society (a society which, apparently, will later become the setting of George Lucas's first film, THX 1138). They accidentally travel backwards through time and through intergalactic space to arrive in the Star Wars galaxy.

In addition to exploring the prehistory of the Star Wars galaxy, and featuring the ancestors of the Skywalker and Solo families, Alien Exodus would have linked THX-1138, American Graffiti, and possibly Willow with the Star Wars universe.

[Lester C.]

there was this cancelled book called Alien Exodus that would have linked all of Lucas films together ala the dark tower.In the outline and sample chapters for the cancelled novel Alien Exodus, Earth is revealed in a flashback story to be the original home of the Human species. A group of refugees and dissidents from Earth commandeer a spacecraft and flee a computer-controlled society (a society which, apparently, will later become the setting of George Lucas's first film, THX 1138). They accidentally travel backwards through time and through intergalactic space to arrive in the Star Wars galaxy.

In addition to exploring the prehistory of the Star Wars galaxy, and featuring the ancestors of the Skywalker and Solo families, Alien Exodus would have linked THX-1138, American Graffiti, and possibly Willow with the Star Wars universe.

That sounds like it would have kicked much butt. It's a shame it will never see print, but from a legal point of view I understand why as George may not own all those characters.

[The Batman]

This was a good read. Traviss's stuff is shaping up to be my favourite installments of this series and I think she's well on her way to being the definitive Boba Fett author. I want to see her tackle something focused just on Fett and the Madalorians.

Not sure still if I buy the sacrifice Jacen was asked to make and while it sets things up for him to go up against Luke and Ben I do hope that when Jacen's time comes it's Fett that pulls the trigger.

[Armless Penguin]

This was a good read. Traviss's stuff is shaping up to be my favourite installments of this series and I think she's well on her way to being the definitive Boba Fett author. I want to see her tackle something focused just on Fett and the Madalorians.


The one problem I have with Traviss's entries is the focus on Boba Fett--a focus which appears, for all intents and purposes, to be absolutely pointless. Neither of the other authors have even done so much as mention the Mandalorians, yet Traviss devotes large portions of her books to exposition about them that ultimately serves to break up the flow of her novels, particularly in the final sequences of Sacrifice. I understand that the Mandalorians are in a position now to affect the storyline at large, but that's not enough. Traviss has to make their presences purposeful in each book in which they appear, and so far she hasn't done that. Reading Sacrifice, I found myself dreading coming up to another Boba Fett chapter, and were I not such a fan of completeness, would probably have ended up skipping them altogether.

[Gamma Wolf]

I've been reading LOTF. All I have to say about Jacen is that he deserves whatever he gets. Can't wait for book 6.

[kane]

Sadly in the end Jacen will lose. I would like to see the bad guy win just once. And i like Jacen.

[cactusmaac]

They did in Episode 3.

[kane]

They did in Episode 3.
True, but Vader still lost in Ep. 3 and we knew that the emperor will lose in episode 6, so it was no real triumph.

Of course in star wars the good has to win in the end. But i would like for Jacen to reign over a part of the galaxy. There would be 2 powers, the galactic alliance and the "Jacen Empire" and we would see which is better.

[The Batman]

The one problem I have with Traviss's entries is the focus on Boba Fett--a focus which appears, for all intents and purposes, to be absolutely pointless. Neither of the other authors have even done so much as mention the Mandalorians, yet Traviss devotes large portions of her books to exposition about them that ultimately serves to break up the flow of her novels, particularly in the final sequences of Sacrifice. I understand that the Mandalorians are in a position now to affect the storyline at large, but that's not enough. Traviss has to make their presences purposeful in each book in which they appear, and so far she hasn't done that. Reading Sacrifice, I found myself dreading coming up to another Boba Fett chapter, and were I not such a fan of completeness, would probably have ended up skipping them altogether.


I'll admit I really like Boba Fett and I think the Mandalorians are pretty cool and I like Traviss's style of writing so I'm going to be willing to indulge her if she wants to drop Fett into a story.

That being said, I don't know that they're that extraneous. I mean, Fett and the Mandalorians are on the board for both the major conflicts that are going on in Legacy of the Force and I'm glad that Traviss has taken her time in bringing us to that point. Her first book was the set up and her we've got the beginnings of the pay off. Jacen was responsible for the death of Fett's daughter which gives Fett a stake in the battle against Sith Lord Jacen Solo and the Mandalorians in general are now in a position to influence the larger galactic conflict that's the background/smokescreen/first step in Jacen's bid for control. As for Fett taking out Jacen - well I just don't want Ben or Luke to have to take out a family member, Jaina her brother, or Han and Leia their son. Also, I don't want another Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader redemption. For Fett, I can't see him having a problem doing the deed, it's just a question of if he can.

I'm curious to see if, by the end of this series, Jacen doesn't win out and we're left with a new status quo (that would admittedly resemble the Galactic Civil War status quo) for the main characters where a Sith Lord is in charge and they're once again fugitives.

[ChrisIII]

There is of course the "Legacy" series where the Sith rule the galaxy again, but they don't appear to be Jacen's version. Unless of course Krayt is Jacen...

[Lester C.]

I've been reading the Clone War trades from Dark Horse and holy crap are they good. Certainly better then the movies they are based on, those being episodes 1-3.

[Saruman]

I'm reading Jedi Trial right now. I'm 3/4 through and it's pretty dull.

[ChrisIII]

I've read somewhere that Michael Stackpole was the original writer for "Trial"-which makes sense considering it deal heavily with backstory from his X-wing books. While Zahn is still doing SW novels, Stackpole seems to have stopped. Maybe the cancellation of Knightfall had something to do with it?


The prequel novels, like the films themselves, are at times a mixed bag. The best ones are interestingly enough, those that don't focus on the main characters (Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme, Mace, Yoda) but which are instead side-stories- (With the exception IMO of Labyrynth of Evil and the Yoda/Dooku novel). Stuff like Medstar and Republic Commando feels more like SW to me. John Ostrander and Hayden Blackman, writer of most of the comics mentioned in the above post, seem to have a much better handle on the prequel characters IMO than the novelists (and arguably, GL himself).

[Sabrina_Fried]

Mike Stackpole wrote this (http://www.michaelastackpole.com/?p=14)essay a few years back which he has since ported to his blog about why he is not writing Star Wars anymore (for the moment). The short version is that 1) For the forseeable future Del Rey had already signed other authors to fill up their editorial calander and 2) He wanted to write his own stuff instead of just franchised fiction.

Sabrina

[UniqueFrequency]

i was wondering about Stackpole's absence on the SW books myself. hope he gets back to writing them again. his stuff on the X-Wing series and I, Jedi is really awesome.

[Farrar]

I'm reading Jedi Trial right now. I'm 3/4 through and it's pretty dull.

It reads more like report about how war is fought, complete with statistics etc rather than a science fiction novel. Thats what you get when you have guys who write a lot of non-fiction books try and write novels.

[saintsaucey]

i picked up and am reading sacrifice. i haven't read any of the others

[saintsaucey]

and now i've stopped cause i have no idea whats going on

[Saruman]

and now i've stopped cause i have no idea whats going on

The Legacy of the Force series really needs to be read in order. The books aren't very long so you should be able to catch up pretty quick. The series goes:

Betrayal
Bloodlines
Tempest
Exile
Sacrifice

[Saruman]

It reads more like report about how war is fought, complete with statistics etc rather than a science fiction novel. Thats what you get when you have guys who write a lot of non-fiction books try and write novels.

Yeah, Jedi Trial sucked big time. The only cool part was Asajj Ventress and she wasn't even really used. I hope those guys don't write any more Star Wars material.

[Armless Penguin]

and now i've stopped cause i have no idea whats going on

SACRIFICE being the 5th book in the series, you should have started with BETRAYAL, or at least used Wikipedia to its fullest potential, =/

[JoeK32880]

I just bought the three Rogue Sqaudron Omnibuses today. They are awesome and I hope Dark Horse rerpints all of Star Wars in this format.

I just wonder why the 0 or 1/2 issue or whatever isn't in it. Didn't that have an original story?

[Mutate]

My personal favourite noverl is Shadows of the Empire. It mya not be great art, but it was extremely entertaining - more exciting than any of the films, comics or other novels, IMO.

[ChrisIII]

^Shadows actually has a companion comic series and comic semi-sequel. The comic has some additional scenes (Mostly involving Boba Fett) while the sequel (Evolution) deals with the whereabouts of Guri and to a lesser degree, Dash Rendar.


Rogue Squadron 1/2 was basically the story of how Red/Rogue Squadron got the Astromech droids for the Battle of Yavin. It has Wedge, Biggs, Porkins and a few other pilots. It doesn't really have too much to do with the other Rogue series, except it's done by one of the same writer/artist team.

You might want to check out the EMPIRE trade which collects the Darklighter story arc, since it kind of ties into that story.

[saintsaucey]

they are doing a sequal to shadows. its co written by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry. It's going to focus on Guri who is being hunted by both the rebels and the bounty hunters its either called Death Star or Evolution its in the july 2007 previews

[Sabrina_Fried]

Ok so I finally got Sacrifice, and I am about 2/3 of the way through it. Hence some of the ranting I did in my column this week. And believe me, I posted the toned-down version.

This COULD have been a great book. But it just has no focus. I really wish they would have split this whole Boba Fett: Braveheart storyline and just made it into a non LOTF book by itself so that they can get on with telling the damn story!

Sabrina

[JoeK32880]

Rogue Squadron 1/2 was basically the story of how Red/Rogue Squadron got the Astromech droids for the Battle of Yavin. It has Wedge, Biggs, Porkins and a few other pilots. It doesn't really have too much to do with the other Rogue series, except it's done by one of the same writer/artist team.

It should still be collected in the omnibus, though. The Omnibus even has a page dedicated to its "mission statement," which is aparently to collect short series or one off stories that may not otherwise have a home.

It doesn't seem to be living up to that at all.

[Chip Whitley]

they are doing a sequal to shadows. its co written by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry. It's going to focus on Guri who is being hunted by both the rebels and the bounty hunters its either called Death Star or Evolution its in the july 2007 previews

Y'know I saw the same thing. It said "Star Wars: Death Star HC", but the description sounded just like the SotE: Evolution comic, and it even referred to Evolution as the title. The Death Star book is set before the movies (and thus SotE) so I don't see how it could be a sequel. I'm thinkin' misprint.

[saintsaucey]

inbetween shadows and return isn't it or maybe inbetween truce at bakura and the x-wing series

[ChrisIII]

The Death Star novel-author aside and the possibility of Black Sun being involved (They were in medstar, after all) will not be a sequel to SHADOWS. It takes place between III and IV and will probably try to reconcile the mixed-up continuity of the project (The Jedi Academy prototype, for one, and the mess of who actually created the thing-Sienar? Lemelisk? Qwi Xux? The Seperatists). Also probably explain why it took 20 years to build the thing.

Evolution was a seperate comic series released in the late 90s which dealt with Guri and stuff. So somehow the descriptions got mixed. It takes place after ROTJ.

[Saruman]

I started reading Yoda: Dark Rendezvous.

[The Batman]

^^^

That's one I want to read, especially since it deals alot with Count Dooku apparantly. I'll probably get to it after I'm done with Heretice of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune.

Let me know what you think.

[saintsaucey]

i got the rest of the legacy series and will begin reading them once i'm done with the last harry potter book.

btw if anyone can get their hands on betrayal in hard back and wouldn't mind footing the bill i would totally be willing to pony up about 20-25 dollars plus shipping and handling. I prefer hard backs

[ChrisIII]

Yoda:DR is a pretty good book, although it focuses more on Dooku than Yoda.

[jwd]

Ok so I finally got Sacrifice, and I am about 2/3 of the way through it. Hence some of the ranting I did in my column this week. And believe me, I posted the toned-down version.

This COULD have been a great book. But it just has no focus. I really wish they would have split this whole Boba Fett: Braveheart storyline and just made it into a non LOTF book by itself so that they can get on with telling the damn story!

Sabrina


Yeah I liked everything in the Sacrifice novel except the Boba Fett parts. I really can't say I have a lot of interest in him at this point or the Mandalorians. Personally I always liked the idea the Mandalorians were an ancient group of people who use to fight the Jedi over a Millenia ago. Jango had learned their traditions and taught his son. Boba then become a guy with no Force powers but was capable of holding off or defeating Jedi through his wit and equipment alone. Having an entire society of them ... eh. Kind of boring to me.

I figure in Book 8 (the authors next one) will get the follow up on Boba Fett and what he plans to do about Jacen.

jwd

[Lester C.]

I loved the Boba Fett stuff, but I do see the point about how the book does take away form Jacen and company.

[Saruman]

Yoda:DR is a pretty good book, although it focuses more on Dooku than Yoda.

For the second time, I couldn't get past the first chapter and took it back to the library. For some reason that book doesn't strike my interest at all but I need to read it for continuity purposes.

[Saruman]

I bought Outbound Flight today. Nothing like a little Zahn to cure my Star Wars fix.

[ChrisIII]

It's okay but it's one of Zahn's weaker books IMO. But it does help flesh out a lot of Thrawn's backstory-it reads better as a prequel to the Thrawn trilogy than as a prequel-era novel IMO.

[UniqueFrequency]

It's okay but it's one of Zahn's weaker books IMO. But it does help flesh out a lot of Thrawn's backstory-it reads better as a prequel to the Thrawn trilogy than as a prequel-era novel IMO.

i got a little jaded with Zahn's books because of how they ALWAYS dwell on Thrawn and everything (just like how Psylocke/Sage appears on all of Claremont's books) but anyway, i found Outbound Flight to actually be pretty good, maybe because he really did a good job of fleshing out Thrawn.

[ChrisIII]

OF is a little controversial among fans for the following reason (Spoilers, highlight:

It suggests that Palpatine created the Empire not for personal power, but because he wanted to protect the galaxy against the Yuzzhan Vong.

[The Batman]

I loved the Boba Fett stuff, but I do see the point about how the book does take away form Jacen and company.

Well I think that things are being set up for those two seperate storylines to begin to come together. Even if it is only in the Traviss novels, it seems unlikely that this much time would bespent on Boba Fett for no reason.

[Sabrina_Fried]

Well I think that things are being set up for those two seperate storylines to begin to come together. Even if it is only in the Traviss novels, it seems unlikely that this much time would bespent on Boba Fett for no reason.

Oh they are definitly fixing to pull those two storylines together. The problem is the tool they are using to do it is a sledgehammer where really they should be using a surgeon's scalpel. Or better yet, not bothering.

The more I think about it, the more I think my biggest nit to pick with this arc so far is this: The authors' hands in the storytelling are too obvious.

It doesn't really feel like we are watching a story unfold or peeking in on the character's lives, or even really getting in their heads. It feels like the authors have been given a checklist of things they have to accomplish in their stories. And so they just write scenes in sequence to accomplish those objectives. Like the whole revelation of Jacen's sith name at the end of Sacrifice: The scene had nothing to do with anything, except to reveal the name. Any emotional impact that could have been in that scene was bled away by the earlier scenes when he makes "the sacrifice" and then realizes it has worked. We know that the sith name was a fan contest thing, and it FEELS like a fan contest thing where the editor could just drop the name into the appropriate spot before the book went to press.

But I am trying to like this arc...promise!

Sabrina

[Saruman]

It's okay but it's one of Zahn's weaker books IMO. But it does help flesh out a lot of Thrawn's backstory-it reads better as a prequel to the Thrawn trilogy than as a prequel-era novel IMO.

I'm halfway through and it's really good. I'm more interested in C'Boath than I am in Thrawn.

[Rabid Trekkie]

^^^

That's one I want to read, especially since it deals alot with Count Dooku apparantly. I'll probably get to it after I'm done with Heretice of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune.

Let me know what you think.

Dark Rendevouz is my favorite Star Wars book. It's the same Yoda that we see in the original trilogy, Dooku's scenes all take place in a very horror/gothic setting, and the padawans in it aren't cardboard cut outs and fun to read about.

And Yoda's final confrontation with Dooku is awesome.

[Lester C.]

OF is a little controversial among fans for the following reason (Spoilers, highlight:

It suggests that Palpatine created the Empire not for personal power, but because he wanted to protect the galaxy against the Yuzzhan Vong.

I loved that part because it made Palpatine more than a two dimensional cookie cutter villain.

[cactusmaac]

OF is a little controversial among fans for the following reason (Spoilers, highlight:

It suggests that Palpatine created the Empire not for personal power, but because he wanted to protect the galaxy against the Yuzzhan Vong.

That's so stupid.

[Karl H]

That's so stupid.

agreed entirely.

I mean I actually like the hammy cookie-cutter villainness of Palps - it's kind of the point, a tribute to pulp villains of old.

[Roquefort Raider]

agreed entirely.

I mean I actually like the hammy cookie-cutter villainness of Palps - it's kind of the point, a tribute to pulp villains of old.

Yeah, and furthermore it's internally consistent. The idea that he'd have indulged in mass slaughter, massive infrastructure destruction and the eradication of the Jedi to prepare for an alien invasion begs the question as to whether it wouldn't have been a better idea to just warn everyone of the threat, keep everything in woring order and keep those powerful allies around.

Nah... Palps is just an old-fashion bad guy looking to his own interests. I'm pretty sure Ming the merciless didn't have a noble purpose either.

[Karl H]

Yeah, and furthermore it's internally consistent. The idea that he'd have indulged in mass slaughter, massive infrastructure destruction and the eradication of the Jedi to prepare for an alien invasion begs the question as to whether it wouldn't have been a better idea to just warn everyone of the threat, keep everything in woring order and keep those powerful allies around.

Nah... Palps is just an old-fashion bad guy looking to his own interests. I'm pretty sure Ming the merciless didn't have a noble purpose either.

dude. Ming was all about the Hot Hail!!

I mean didn't they axe the Plagueis book essentially because Lucas mandated that he never wants Palps origin revealed or something to that effect?

[The Batman]

Preparing the GFFA for the Yuzon Vong invasion and being an evil guy aren't mutually exclusive actions. I mean, getting ready for the Vong, much like getting rid of the Jedi and fighting the Rebellion, can still be about Palpatine holding on to power for himself can't it?

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

Yeah, and furthermore it's internally consistent. The idea that he'd have indulged in mass slaughter, massive infrastructure destruction and the eradication of the Jedi to prepare for an alien invasion begs the question as to whether it wouldn't have been a better idea to just warn everyone of the threat, keep everything in woring order and keep those powerful allies around.

Nah... Palps is just an old-fashion bad guy looking to his own interests. I'm pretty sure Ming the merciless didn't have a noble purpose either.well,i'm sure he still wanted the power to himself.but he didn't want it destroyed by the vong either.

[jwd]

If anyone's interested there's spoilers for the next Legacy of the Force book: Inferno over at www.njoe.com forums. Apparantly a guy got a copy early.

[The Batman]

I'd have phrased closer to something the Emperor would have said to Luke to seduce him to the darkside, but far be it from me to tell you how to post.

Have you read the spoilers? If so, without getting too spoilery, can you tell me if this novel is going to be more payoff, or is it a set-up novel?

[jwd]

I'd have phrased closer to something the Emperor would have said to Luke to seduce him to the darkside, but far be it from me to tell you how to post.

Have you read the spoilers? If so, without getting too spoilery, can you tell me if this novel is going to be more payoff, or is it a set-up novel?

Its part 6 of 9. I'd say its somewhere between set-up and payoff based on what I read.

[kane]

I sacrifice only available as a hardcover? I have searched for it at amazon.com, but i find only the hardcover.

[Karl H]

At the moment yes.

What you could do if desperate to read it is buy it, sell it on Amazon marketplace and then buy the paperback for re-reads. It's what I do.

[Rabid Trekkie]

At the moment yes.

What you could do if desperate to read it is buy it, sell it on Amazon marketplace and then buy the paperback for re-reads. It's what I do.

Or try the library and just wait for the soft cover. Or just wait the three or more months for the softcover of Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and going crazy not to find the spoilers just because you don't want to pay the crazy price that the bookstores want only to finally get the softcover and just having it sit on your shelf looking at you asking you why you haven't started reading it yet when you were freaking out trying to get it.

Oh, that's probably nothing you wanted to know.

[kane]

Or try the library and just wait for the soft cover. Or just wait the three or more months for the softcover of Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and going crazy not to find the spoilers just because you don't want to pay the crazy price that the bookstores want only to finally get the softcover and just having it sit on your shelf looking at you asking you why you haven't started reading it yet when you were freaking out trying to get it.

Oh, that's probably nothing you wanted to know.

hm, but according to amazon.com, inferno and fury will be released as softcover soon:

http://www.amazon.com/Inferno-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477553/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1875902-4959208?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187972202&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Fury-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477561/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-1875902-4959208?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187972202&sr=8-2

So i do not understand why there will be softcovers of inferno and fury but there is no softcover of sacrifice.

[jwd]

hm, but according to amazon.com, inferno and fury will be released as softcover soon:

http://www.amazon.com/Inferno-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477553/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1875902-4959208?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187972202&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Fury-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477561/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-1875902-4959208?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187972202&sr=8-2

So i do not understand why there will be softcovers of inferno and fury but there is no softcover of sacrifice.

There's 9 books in the Legacy of the Force series. 3 writers with 3 books each and each 1 of the writers is getting 1 hardback to write. Usually it takes a year for the paperback version to be released after the Hardback. They'll have Sacrifice paperback for pre-order eventually but its still several months away. (probably won't be in paperback until next summer)

jwd

[jwd]

Managed to read an early copy of INFERNO

So some MAJOR SPOILERS - Do not swipe if you haven't read this or Sacrifice -



A few highlights and I'm deliberately being vague in parts. :D

Caedus's deeds for the book include the attempted arrest of his parents at his aunt's funeral. Ordering a military group that's suppose to be protecting the temple at Ossus to attack it resulting in the deaths of a Jedi Master and the major injury of another. It also shows Jaina going "Jack Bauer" on some of those guys which was pretty cool. He "burns" a planet from orbit when they refuse to surrender his parents and others. He subjects a relative to the Embrace of Pain. He gets into another bloody lightsaber battle and comes out on the losing end this time. Oh and he loses a lot of support for the Alliance.

[Lester C.]

What I like about Jacen is that, as the reader, we are in his head. So even though he's doing monstrous acts he still comes across as a sympathetic complex character rather than a two dimensional pantomime villain.

[Sabrina_Fried]

hm, but according to amazon.com, inferno and fury will be released as softcover soon:

http://www.amazon.com/Inferno-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477553/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1875902-4959208?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187972202&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Fury-Star-Wars-Legacy-Force/dp/0345477561/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-1875902-4959208?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187972202&sr=8-2

So i do not understand why there will be softcovers of inferno and fury but there is no softcover of sacrifice.

The quick and somewhat cynical answer:

Because this way you MUST buy the hardcover in order to "keep up with the joneses" otherwise you end up falling behind on Star Wars continuity for about a year until the softcover reprint comes out. Or until your number comes up on the library's waiting list for the book.

Sabrina

[kane]

Thanks for all answers. I will not buy the hardcover. I do not care about the 10 $ more but i do no want to support this kind of publishing policy.

[Gamma Wolf]

Hardcover, paperback, it doesn't matter to me.

I picked up and finished my copy of Inferno yesterday. I can't remember the last time I read a book in one day. Troy Denning is a Star Wars god.

Someone refresh me on how to do spoiler tags, please. I thought I remembered, but it seems I don't.

[Sabrina_Fried]

I got Inferno on Monday and finished it today.

I don't know if I would go as far as calling Mr. Denning a Star Wars god, but he definitly wrote a pretty good book. It got rid of the bad taste Sacrifice left in my mouth (the combination of reading Sacrifice and the Darth Bane novel within a few weeks of eachother just about put me off Star Wars completely for awhile).

What I liked the most about this book is that it got to the damn point! Minimal pointless meandering in order to shoehorn the author's favourite characters in, it didn't take half the book to recap what's happened in the series so far, no treatises on Jedi philosophy or the history of the Mandalorian culture, just story story story, and only what was necessary to support the story.

Which is probably why it is the shortest Star Wars book I can remember reading in recent memory. At this point they are really stretching to keep this story going for another 3 books.

But this is also the first book in the LOTF series since Betrayal where not only am I looking forward to reading the next book, but I am actually feeling kind of impatient because I will have to wait three months to read it.

Sabrina

[jwd]

What I liked the most about this book is that it got to the damn point! Minimal pointless meandering in order to shoehorn the author's favourite characters in, it didn't take half the book to recap what's happened in the series so far, no treatises on Jedi philosophy or the history of the Mandalorian culture, just story story story, and only what was necessary to support the story.

Agreed completely. I really could'vd done without the Mandalorians in this series. Denning covered a lot in a relatively small book. I'm glad he's getting to do the final book too.

[Gamma Wolf]

Agreed completely. I really could'vd done without the Mandalorians in this series. Denning covered a lot in a relatively small book. I'm glad he's getting to do the final book too.

Hells yeah, with Denning writing Invincible, LOTF is guaranteed to go out with a bang.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Thanks for all answers. I will not buy the hardcover. I do not care about the 10 $ more but i do no want to support this kind of publishing policy.

Start hitting your used bookstores, I know the local Halfprice here in Houston generally gets them after a month or so.

[saintsaucey]

Question about legacy of the force and the legacy comic and darth krayte. who is the guy. they revield his real name in issue fifteen but i didn't recognise his name. I haven't read the swarm war or the last half of the njo and none of this new series save for the first couple chapters

[Rabid Trekkie]

Question about legacy of the force and the legacy comic and darth krayte. who is the guy. they revield his real name in issue fifteen but i didn't recognise his name. I haven't read the swarm war or the last half of the njo and none of this new series save for the first couple chapters

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Darth_Krayt

Wookiepedia is your friend.

[jwd]

Heh. Just saw your post Rabid Trekkie. :)

saintsaucey, What he said? :)

Question about legacy of the force and the legacy comic and darth krayte. who is the guy. they revield his real name in issue fifteen but i didn't recognise his name. I haven't read the swarm war or the last half of the njo and none of this new series save for the first couple chapters

Since I'm not sure everyone has read Legacy #15 or not

A'sharad Hett was a Jedi during the Clone Wars. He's really really old now. (184 in the Legacy comics if the years are right). He's never made an appearance in any of the novels. Only some prequel/clone war era comics. I had no idea who he was until I had read he was a possiblity to be Krayt so I looked some info up on him.

This should tell you everything about Krayt including who he was before.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Darth_Krayt

Inferno Spoilers

Alema finds some Sith on Korribann. They mention a master but never describe him and his name is never mentioned. Some have speculated it might be Krayt. There's a good chance though Krayt also had to spend some time in suspended animation or something to of survived as long as he has. This is all speculation though.

[Gamma Wolf]

Am I the only one that feels that R2-D2 and C-3P0 don't have as much presence in Star Wars novels as they used to?

[Sabrina_Fried]

No, but I like to think it is because the authors are using them only if they are relevant to the story.

If a character is not absolutely needed for a story, then they shouldn't be in it.

Sabrina

[Lester C.]

I got Inferno on Monday and finished it today.

I don't know if I would go as far as calling Mr. Denning a Star Wars god, but he definitly wrote a pretty good book. It got rid of the bad taste Sacrifice left in my mouth (the combination of reading Sacrifice and the Darth Bane novel within a few weeks of eachother just about put me off Star Wars completely for awhile).

What I liked the most about this book is that it got to the damn point! Minimal pointless meandering in order to shoehorn the author's favourite characters in, it didn't take half the book to recap what's happened in the series so far, no treatises on Jedi philosophy or the history of the Mandalorian culture, just story story story, and only what was necessary to support the story.

Which is probably why it is the shortest Star Wars book I can remember reading in recent memory. At this point they are really stretching to keep this story going for another 3 books.

But this is also the first book in the LOTF series since Betrayal where not only am I looking forward to reading the next book, but I am actually feeling kind of impatient because I will have to wait three months to read it.

Sabrina

If you don't mind me asking why didn't you like the Bane novel?

[Sabrina_Fried]

If you don't mind me asking why didn't you like the Bane novel?

Many reasons: For starters, because it read EXACTLY like a Forgotten Realms novel, except with lightsabers. And maybe I have high expectations, but I expect more than that from Star Wars. It doesn't help any that the book ties in to my least favourite comic story arc, and quite honestly, I'm getting a little bit tired of Jedi OR Sith navel gazing or pontificating about the Force, which is what most of this book amounted to.

I also don't like books where the main character has to spend most of the novel explaining to the reader exactly how his actions constitute badassery or show his great potential to change the Universe As We Know It. Authors should show details like that. If they have to resort to telling the reader those things, they should seriously consider a rewrite.

In short, when I read this novel, the impression I got was that the author was assigned to explain a piece of Star Wars continuity and that's exactly what he did with a thin veneer of story and not much in the way of character development. There was absolutely no reason for me to be engaged in the story at all, I've been reading Star Wars long enough that simply reading a "famous Sith does what Sith do best" story just isn't enough anymore.

Sabrina

[jwd]

Many reasons: For starters, because it read EXACTLY like a Forgotten Realms novel, except with lightsabers. And maybe I have high expectations, but I expect more than that from Star Wars. It doesn't help any that the book ties in to my least favourite comic story arc, and quite honestly, I'm getting a little bit tired of Jedi OR Sith navel gazing or pontificating about the Force, which is what most of this book amounted to.

I also don't like books where the main character has to spend most of the novel explaining to the reader exactly how his actions constitute badassery or show his great potential to change the Universe As We Know It. Authors should show details like that. If they have to resort to telling the reader those things, they should seriously consider a rewrite.

In short, when I read this novel, the impression I got was that the author was assigned to explain a piece of Star Wars continuity and that's exactly what he did with a thin veneer of story and not much in the way of character development. There was absolutely no reason for me to be engaged in the story at all, I've been reading Star Wars long enough that simply reading a "famous Sith does what Sith do best" story just isn't enough anymore.

Sabrina

I normally don't bother with any of the pre Legacy novels anymore. I like to buy stuff where the outcome is really unknown. I picked this up though because I didn't see anything else I wanted to read. I actually enjoyed it myself. It was a lot better than that post EP3 Darth Vader novel that was done. I like the fact we actually got inside the head of the villain throughout nearly the entire book.

[ChrisIII]

One thing that kind of bothered me with the Bane novel was the KOTOR connections (and yes, I realize that it's written by one of KOTOR's writers). Okay, the game's good and all, but it's kind of taking over the whole EU. I remember when Jango and Boba Fett were suppossed to be the last Mandalorians (Not counting the Jango clones). Now there's a ton of them, primarily because of KOTOR's focus on them.

Plus the whole origin story for the Star Wars universe-the whole thing with the Rakata-sort of takes away from the whole fantasy aspect of SW. It's kind of like a Star Trek or Stargate plot, dealing with ancient astronaughts/parrarel evolution and all that.

Plus KOTOR sort of threw the whole evolution of Star Wars tech out the window. In the Tales of the Jedi comics, the ships had an archaic, unique organic look to them. They still kind of had the Star Wars look, but they were obviously less advanced. The ships and stuff in KOTOR, however, wouldn't look out of place in either film trilogy.


However, it should be noted that the first Bane novel was kind of constrained by the Jedi vs. Sith comic (Although it did mess around with the continuity of that series a bit, in a similar fashion to the differences between Labyrynth of Evil an the Clone Wars cartoons). The second will have more creative freedom, I think.

[The Batman]

I thought the first Bane novel was so-so. Bane's backstory felt really cliched - and they're using a very similar arc for Megatron, right down the the mining colony, over at IDW in Transformers: Megatron - Origin - and everything he did seemed more or less predictable. The story just didn't have any of the cool moments I'd have hoped for and none of the characters felt genuine or real. I know that seems like an odd complaint to have for a Star Wars book, a series that makes much of archetypes, but there's always been something genuine about the characters in Star Wars done well.

Switching gears a little, I just picked up Troy Denning's latest installment of the Legacy of the Force series Fury. I'm only a chapter in but already LotF is shaping up to be one of my favourite Star Wars EU series.

[ChrisIII]

I've been reading Betrayal, myself (BTW I think you mean Inferno-Fury doesn't ship out for another two and a half months :) ). Despite the fact that a Civil War has been done before (Clone Wars and the Rebellion/Empire conflict), there's just something more traditional to it than the Yuzzhan Vong and the Killiks, who seemed more like they belonged in a different Sci-fi franchise.

[The Batman]

Thanks for the catch, I'd been reading something about Fury earlier and gotten the two confused.

I agree about the Vong. Something about them, I don't know what, just didn't feel very Star Wars to me. I sort of dropped out of the EU, except for the comics, after Vector Prime and didn't get back in until the Prequel era stuff.

[Sabrina_Fried]

Like so many things in the EU lately, I liked the basic ideas behind the Vong and the Killiks, but I thought the execution was horrible.

The whole idea of the Vong was to present an antagonist that was utterly alien to the known galaxy, itself composed of countless thousand alien societies. Because when you think about it, the New Republic, The Empire, and even politicial entities like the Chiss and the Hutts, etc, are all more or less the same. They are organic creatures who use artificial technologies constructed from the same basic metals and such to travel the galaxy and kill eachother. And if they have any beliefs that we the readers would call religions, they keep them to themselves. The Vong by contrast were users of this seemingly forreign organic technology where they could literally grow spaceships, and guided by a fanatical religious belief that may or may not have had a basis in rational though.

As for the killiks, they were essentially Star Wars' version of the Borg. Only the Star Trek: Voyager Borg, not the TNG Borg, which I liked. And if it is all the same to you guys, that is where I am going to stop talking about Killiks, because the more I talk about them, the longer it will take me to completely forget that awful trilogy ever existed.

Sabrina

[mgs]

Am I the only one that feels that R2-D2 and C-3P0 don't have as much presence in Star Wars novels as they used to?

not sure about the novels, but in the dark horse comics, that series that explored the furthest into the SW Universe future, I read somewhere that the two play a prominent part waaaay into the future, so maybe they're used more in other SW canon than novels?

[BoosterBronze]

QUESTION:

If you could only reccomend three (3) EU works (works being defined as whole stories like a triology) what would they be?

[The Batman]

I think the Thrawn trilogy of Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command would probably be one of the 3 for me.

After that I'm a little less certain.

[Lester C.]

QUESTION:

If you could only reccomend three (3) EU works (works being defined as whole stories like a triology) what would they be?

1. All nine volumes of The Clone Wars trade paperbacks. The books are still in print so don't pay the outrageous price Amazon is charging.

2. NJO but a lot of people disagree with me on that.

3. The games. Some are buggy are hell but there are many kick ass Star Wars games out there.

[The Batman]

The Clone Wars comics that showed up in Dark Horse's Star Wars: Republic comic? Those are some good stories.

[Lester C.]

The Clone Wars comics that showed up in Dark Horse's Star Wars: Republic comic? Those are some good stories.

The nine trades collected stuff from all over the place. It includes one shots, minis and stuff from the regular series.

[The Batman]

I just wasn't sure if you meant the Clone Wars trades done in the same stripped down expressive style as the animated shorts is all.

[mike12572]

I thought Empire was good reading...


And for a laugh check out tag and bink are dead...

[Karl H]

Well I finally read Inferno the other day. Enjoyed it a lot.

especially the nods to Krayt's Sith Order as going on in the Legacy series

[ChrisIII]

The latest in the Essential series of reference books has been announced-The Atlas, for a Spring/Summer 2008 release.


Basically, it's suppossed to be the update for Essential Planets and Moons, which could use some updating since it was published before the prequels.


Also the "Death Star" novel by the Medstar team arrives next week, and Republic Commando: True Colors the day before Halloween.

[Sabrina_Fried]

The Death Star novel is tempting, but I may have to wait for paperback. Hopefully the cover prices will have caught up to the exchange rate by then (I'm not holding my breath).

As for the Atlas, even though it is something that I KNOW will be obsolete the moment it goes to press, I'm really looking forward to it. I love Dan Wallace's guides.

Sabrina

[Jared]

I just wasn't sure if you meant the Clone Wars trades done in the same stripped down expressive style as the animated shorts is all.

That'd be Clone Wars Adventures. I believe they're at nine volumes as well. I've only read the first two. Not bad at all for the price, if you don't mind the smaller page size.

[ChrisIII]

The CWAs are sort of OK but nothing great. They sort of try to ape Tartovsky's style but don't quite suceed. Although they have been improving lately.


Apparentally the next volume will star Quinlan Vos.

Regarding the CW trades, you might want to check out the other trades which collected the Star Wars ongoing before it became "Republic", especially the Quinlan Vos stuff. Although they're not quite as good as the Clone Wars stuff (and include some weird stuff such as a Vampire Dark Jedi) they're worth checking out, especially if you want the full story behind Vos and Aayla Secura, as well as A'shared Hett, Aurra Sing and Ki-Adi-Mundi. Suprisingly they don't focus much on Obi-Wan and Anakin until the CW stuff-I suppose that's because they left that for the novels and to Lucas.

[ChrisIII]

So, anybody pick up Death Star?

[The Batman]

Did that come out?

If I do get it, I'm on the fence about it right now, it probably won't be until Christmas time.

[Sabrina_Fried]

Death Star is probably going to be a "wait for paperback" for me. I'm waiting for the book prices to catch up to the US/Canadian exchange rate.

Plus, I'm trying not to spend money on hardcovers right now.

That said, it is on my birthday/Chanukah wish list.

Sabrina

[jwd]

I just can't summon the interest for "Death Star" . I don't see the point in reading about a bunch of characters I know are going to get blown to smithereens at the end.

It'll be wait for paperback and only if I have nothing else to read book.

I'll just wait for Fury.

jwd
- yes I realize the spoiler marks probably weren't neccessary.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Unless I run out of things to read (not something I have to worry about anytime soon) I'll most likely be waiting for paperback. It's cheaper that way and I only really have room for paperbacks. Of course when my family goes on our trip this Christmas and I run out of books for the trip I may stop and look for it.

[ChrisIII]

The fourth and (final?) "Republic Commando" novel has been announced: Order 66. It will apparentally be a hardcover.

[Sabrina_Fried]

The fourth and (final?) "Republic Commando" novel has been announced: Order 66. It will apparentally be a hardcover.

Seems odd to finish off a series with a Hardcover. I'd be waiting for the paperback regardless, though.

Sabrina

[ChrisIII]

Speaking of Republic Commando, "True Colors" is now out as well.

[Sabrina_Fried]

I so totally forgot that True Colors was coming out this month! I saw it in a bookshop today. I'll probably buy it online though to take advantage of the exchange rate :)

Sabrina

[Lester C.]

I know it got mixed reviews over here but I'm very excited about the forthcoming Darth Bane sequel titled the Rule of Two. According to Amazon it ships around Christmas, but I think that's wrong as I've heard nothing about this novel.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I know it got mixed reviews over here but I'm very excited about the forthcoming Darth Bane sequel titled the Rule of Two. According to Amazon it ships around Christmas, but I think that's wrong as I've heard nothing about this novel.

That's the last I heard of it, something about the company had room for one more book this year so they got Drew K (sorry can't spell his name from memory) to write a sequel. Though I did hear that Rule of Two won't be the title of the story, and I hope that's true because that title sucks.

[ChrisIII]

This time the story won't be restrained somewhat by the events of "Jedi vs. Sith" so it should be interesting...

[Renzo]

I am looking forward to the Star Wars Atlas, The Force Unleashed novel, and the Darth Bane sequel.

[Jared]

This time the story won't be restrained somewhat by the events of "Jedi vs. Sith" so it should be interesting...

There is an awful short story called "Bane of the Sith" which covers some of the events that should be in the novel. But like I said, it's awful, and I for one wouldn't mind at all if Drew dumps all over continuity with it.

I think Rule of Two is a fine title. You're not going to out-badass "Path of Destruction", so there's no point in trying. And if I see yet another Star Wars book called "Dark something", I'm going to scream.

[ChrisIII]

Has anybody read the really hyped Star Wars Vault book?


Also, anybody interested in the Essential Guide to the force?

[Lester C.]

There is an awful short story called "Bane of the Sith" which covers some of the events that should be in the novel. But like I said, it's awful, and I for one wouldn't mind at all if Drew dumps all over continuity with it.

I think Rule of Two is a fine title. You're not going to out-badass "Path of Destruction", so there's no point in trying. And if I see yet another Star Wars book called "Dark something", I'm going to scream.

Here is a question. Which is the cannon version of Bane's story. The stuff in the comics or the stuff in the novels?

[Rabid Trekkie]

Has anybody read the really hyped Star Wars Vault book?


Also, anybody interested in the Essential Guide to the force?

I'm really looking forward to the Force book. Don't really know why, but there you go. And from what I've seen on Amazon the cover looks pretty cool.

[Sabrina_Fried]

Has anybody read the really hyped Star Wars Vault book?


Also, anybody interested in the Essential Guide to the force?

Star Wars Vault: Curious, but coffee-table books are on the "no buy" list right now according to my budgeting. I *may* have a serious look at it however when it inevitably gets remaindered and I can pick it up for about a quarter of the price. Copies of the Star Wars Poster Book are starting to trickle over there now, and I am sorely tempted to live off of scrambled eggs and frozen veggies for a week in order to pick one up.

As for the Essential Guide to the Force, a part of me is curious about it, but another part of me want to avoid reading this book by every means possible. I kind of like the force being mysterious and being able to do unexpected things. If it is all laid out in black and white in an encyclopedia, a good many writers who will use this book as reference material in future EU stories (and the people at LFL who will use this book as a shortcut for approving stories) will assume that anything in this book is all there is to the Force. Kind of takes the fun out of it.

If this were a game guide for an RPG it would be completely different.

Sabrina

[Jared]

Here is a question. Which is the cannon version of Bane's story. The stuff in the comics or the stuff in the novels?

I suppose they're both considered canon. If one version has to take precedence over the other, I'd *guess* that LFL would go favor the novel simply because it's newer. The key events of the story are basically the same either way.

[Ice'Lord]

Hm, just finished Jedi Trial, it's a nice read. What do you guys think about Spectres of the Past and Vsioins of the Future, two book by Zahn? I read the overview and they seemed good enough. Has anyone read them?

[ChrisIII]

Not quite as good as his initial trilogy, but they're pretty decent and sort of form a transition from the Imperial remnant/New Republic era to the New Jedi Order.


Regarding Darth Bane's continuity, there are a few discrepancies between it and Jedi Vs. Sith....ditto with Labyrynth of Evil and the last season of Clone Wars. Since the ROTS novel references the LOE version of events (Such as Mace fighting Grevious and the hunt for Darth Sidious), I suppose that's closer to what 'really' happens, although it should be noted that the ROTS novel, like pretty much every movie novelization, is quite different from the film. There's also some contradictions between the different versions of "Shadows of the Empire".


Here's some pictures from the Essential force guide:

http://www.starwars.com/eu/lit/ref/f20071113/index.html

[Rabid Trekkie]

You know, with me looking forward to the Essential Force book I've been wanting to read some of the other SW books set after ROTJ. Not really wanting to get into NJO but Legacy of the Force seems pretty cool. So is the series worth getting into? What's some of the really important stuff I need to know going into it? I've been kind of keeping up with what's going on through here and some other fan sites but I don't always know what to look for.

[ChrisIII]

The novels focus heavily on Jacen Solo (Han and Leia's son), who develops mainly as a character during the NJO. "Traitor" by Matthew Stover is perhaps the most important Jacen-focused NJO novel. So from "Traitor" on, he kind of becomes the hero of the saga.

There's also the "Dark Nest" trilogy which was a sort of transition between NJO and the new saga.

Or, here's what you need to know if you'd rather just jump into LOTF:

Basically, the galaxy is at this state(spoilers!!!!):

-They've just been invaded by the Yuzzhan Vong, a group of warrior aliens with biotechnology. They're sort of like Klingons except they grow their weapons. Eventually a peace is reached when the Vong get a nice planet to settle on, but the galaxy is still recovering.

-The New Republic is now the Galactic Alliance.

-There is peace with the remnants of the Empire, and I think they're also part of the new alliance (Although this will change as the century-later LEGACY comics reveal).

-During the YV war, Luke and his wife, Mara Jade, a former Imperial operative turned Jedi, gave birth to a son, Ben. Ben is now maturing into a Jedi, although he's strongly under the influence of his cousin Jacen.

-Meanwhile, Han and Leia's offspring, now adults, went through trial-by-fire, pretty much. Jacen was tortured and came to a new understanding of the force, Jaina flirted dangerously close to the dark side and also developed some romantic entanglements; and Anakin (Named after his grandfather) was killed off.

-The Jedi Order has been ressurected by Luke with prominent members including Kyp Durron (Who went to the dark side at one point in the "Jedi Academy" trilogy) Corran Horn (A Correlian Jedi who features prominently in Micheal Stackpole's books) Kyle Katarn (From the Dark Forces/Jedi Knight games) and several others. Leia, after a political career, has embraced the Jedi way as well. It should be noted that Luke's order is more flexible than then that of the prequel trilogy, allowing marriages and so on.


-The Falcon is still around, although she gets quite a beating in LOTF.


-As for Han, Chewbacca's been dead for quite some time (He died at the beginning of the NJO trying to save Anakin). After a brief estrangement in the NJO Leia is now his co-pilot. He's still his same old self, pretty much, despite losing a friend and son during the NJO.




-Lando's now married and has developed battle droids for the Alliance. He also helps Han and Leia out a lot.

-Boba Fett actually survived ROTJ and is still around. In this novel as well as some comics it is established that he has family in addition to his "father"(Jango) and "brothers" (The clones). He is also the leader of a new incarnation of Mandalorian warriors.


-Correlia, Han's home planet and the cause of a small war in one of Bantam's trilogy, is once again up to no good. Han's cousin, Thracken Sal-Solo, also returns from that trilogy as an antagonist.

-Wedge is still around and also has a family. His nephew is one of Jaina's love interests.


Other than that, one of the villains (Lumiya) comes from the old Marvel books, particuarly issues 56-65 and 88, 95-97. You can probably find those issues real cheap or in TPB form.

[Lester C.]

It's that time of the year. The new Legacy novel is due out in a couple of weeks, which means we should get spoilers on this board in a few days perhaps a week on the outside.

[ChrisIII]

I think there's already some stuff on the Star Wars wikia about Fury.

[Sabrina_Fried]

It's that time of the year. The new Legacy novel is due out in a couple of weeks, which means we should get spoilers on this board in a few days perhaps a week on the outside.

Yup, it's that time of year where I actually go into brick and mortar bookstores to see if anyone of them are shelving their stock early instead of just placing an order on Amazon and letting the books come to me.

Sabrina

[Jared]

Not quite as good as his initial trilogy, but they're pretty decent and sort of form a transition from the Imperial remnant/New Republic era to the New Jedi Order.


It's been years since I read them, but I recall being disgusted and appalled at what seemed to be Zahn's Gary-Stuing of his own villain character. These are the books that suggest Doriana was second only the Emperor in all regards, right? At least he's since been retconned (in Outbound Flight no less) to just a balding guy without Force powers who secretly works for Darth Sideious.

[ChrisIII]

Apparentally there's a summary of Fury up at www.njoe.com

[Sabrina_Fried]

Apparentally there's a summary of Fury up at www.njoe.com


Must...resist.....

Going to do the bookstore crawl tomorrow to see if anyone is jumping the gun yet.

Sabrina

[Sabrina_Fried]

Ok normally I don't respond to my own posts, but my expedition was successful. There is a bookstore in Toronto jumping the gun and I've got a copy of Fury to prove it.

Sabrina

[jwd]

Found and finished Fury

Some highlights for the book and some from the Revelation preview

MAJOR SPOILERS


Jacen kidnaps Allana.
Jacen tells her he's her daddy.
Kam Solusar is still alive. It seemed like he was dead in Inferno
Kyle Katarn gets stabbed by Cadeus but survives
Alema is killed by Jag
Han and Leia learn Allana is their granddaughter when they rescue her with some help from the Jedis.
Centerpoint station is destroyed

Revelation - Jaina decides she needs training Jacen hasn't had to stop him. She plans to track down Boba Fett to train her.
Ben still believes Jacen killed his mom and tells Leia and Jaina. He hopes he can find proof.



I liked it but not as much as Inferno.

[Lester C.]

Found and finished Fury

Some highlights for the book and some from the Revelation preview

MAJOR SPOILERS


Jacen kidnaps Allana.
Jacen tells her he's her daddy.
Kam Solusar is still alive. It seemed like he was dead in Inferno
Kyle Katarn gets stabbed by Cadeus but survives
Alema is killed by Jag
Han and Leia learn Allana is their granddaughter when they rescue her with some help from the Jedis.
Centerpoint station is destroyed

Revelation - Jaina decides she needs training Jacen hasn't had to stop him. She plans to track down Boba Fett to train her.
Ben still believes Jacen killed his mom and tells Leia and Jaina. He hopes he can find proof.



I liked it but not as much as Inferno.

That's another Legacy book you have gotten early. I'm not sure whether to be jealous or proud. I will settle for both.

[jwd]

That's another Legacy book you have gotten early. I'm not sure whether to be jealous or proud. I will settle for both.

Heh. It wasn't at the store 2 days before but lucky for me we decided we needed to go back to do more Christmas shopping and there it was. :)

[Sabrina_Fried]

I'm about 1/3 of the way through Fury right now, I'll probably finish it over the weekend. So far its an entertaining read but for some reason I can't get the impression out of my mind that it has been heavily edited.

Sabrina

[Lester C.]

I just picked up Fury today. Thank god I don't judge a book by it's cover because Jacen looks much more effeminate than he did on the cover of Betrayal.

[ChrisIII]

Isn't it supposed to be Ben?


BTW The force book also came out. If anybody's reading the KOTOR comics, it sort of lets slip a spoiler about the fate of one of the characters (Although one that's fairly easy to spot). Otherwise, it's a pretty nifty book with some great illustrations.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Isn't it supposed to be Ben?


BTW The force book also came out. If anybody's reading the KOTOR comics, it sort of lets slip a spoiler about the fate of one of the characters (Although one that's fairly easy to spot). Otherwise, it's a pretty nifty book with some great illustrations.

I picked it up yesterday after driving all over town looking for it. The art is is definitely good. I'm hoping to have more time to look through it today.

[Lester C.]

Isn't it supposed to be Ben?


BTW The force book also came out. If anybody's reading the KOTOR comics, it sort of lets slip a spoiler about the fate of one of the characters (Although one that's fairly easy to spot). Otherwise, it's a pretty nifty book with some great illustrations.

Then the hair color is wrong as Ben has redish gold hair rather than brown.

[ChrisIII]

^There's an illustration in the force guide that also accidentally gives his hair as blondish. (There's also a potrait of Jacen in the same picture is his Vaderesque look that he sports on betrayal & Revelation).

[Lester C.]

^There's an illustration in the force guide that also accidentally gives his hair as blondish. (There's also a potrait of Jacen in the same picture is his Vaderesque look that he sports on betrayal & Revelation).

Ben's appearance in the comics had him with blond hair, which got retconned into a reddish gold.

[86man]

I've always been interested in the Star Wars movies and I'm thinking about branching out into the books and comic books. I have no idea where to start though. Are there essential books to read? I was also interested in the earliest time period in which these stories take place, the origins of Jedi's and The Dark Side. Do any of the stories take place on earth? What time period are we talking about for the films in terms of AD? Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Well musichead a good book series if u like bountyhunters would be bobafett series

[ChrisIII]

The "Bounty Hunter Wars" trilogy are some of the weaker books IMO.

[jwd]

http://www.starwars.com/eu/lit/novel/news20071205.html

They've revealed the cover to Invincible. The final book in the Legacy of the Force series.

Anyone that's read Fury and the Revelations preview can probably guess what's on it.

Jaina vs Jacen on the cover.

[hoffmandu]

I haven't read a Star Wars book since Zahn's first 3 outings, oh, and a Tales book with stories about the inhabitants of Mos Eisley. What's a good place to start nowadays?

[Rabid Trekkie]

I haven't read a Star Wars book since Zahn's first 3 outings, oh, and a Tales book with stories about the inhabitants of Mos Eisley. What's a good place to start nowadays?

Some of the Clone Wars novels are pretty good, especially Labyrinth of Evil. Darth Maul Shadow Hunter is also really good. After I finish the last of the first Zahn trilogy I'm going to start on the Legacy of the Force series, so maybe you want to start there. Or you could start on the books between the movies like Darth Vader: Rise of the Dark Lord or Death Star and the Coruscant Nights series which will be coming out soon.

[ChrisIII]

Only problem with LOTF is that it requires a bit of EU backstory to understand exactly what's going on (Or a quick primer, like the one I posted earlier).


However, as mentioned above the prequel books (With the exception of Rogue Planet, Approaching Storm and Jedi Trial) are pretty decent, which is suprisingy considering the flaws of the films. Also worth checking out prequel-wise is Cloak of Deception (Which sets the stage for TPM along with the Darth Maul book), Shatterpoint (A sort of Heart of Darkness story featuring Mace Windu) and The Republic Commando books (Which really flesh out the Clonetroopers).


Zahn's also got a few other books out....the Hand of Thrawn Duology (Spectre of the Past, Vision of The Future) sets the stage for the Del Rey books; Outbound Flight is a prequel book dealing with that element of the Thrawn trilogy backstory; Survivor's Quest also deals with that, but in the post-ROTJ era....and his latest Allegiance takes place during the Original trilogy. None of his follow-ups are quite as good as his original trilogy, though.

[Jared]

Personally, I'd suggest reading the graphic novel adaptions of the Thrawn trilogy. I've found Zahn's writing to be too dry and tech-oriented, and his habit of repeating phrases and scenes really got on my nerves by the third book. I also really didn't like his take on Luke Skywalker; as if he's done nothing at all since the end of Return of the Jedi.

Outbound Flight was much better written, I thought. He writes Obi Wan and Anakin surprisingly well, though they're only minor characters.


Anyone starting Legacy of The Force should at least read some summaries of the NJO and Dark Nest Books online. Wookiepedia should cover it.


I flipped through the new Essential Guide to the Force at Borders a few days ago. Some damn nice art. I don't feel very inclined to buy it, since all the new fluff info will surely end up in Wookipedia pretty damn soon. I'm guessing it's meant more as a source for role playing gamers.

[ChrisIII]

http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Princess_Leia_Star_Wars_Novellist_110929.asp

Apparentally there are rumors, based on some Amazon listings, that Carrie Fisher will write for the novel line.

[saintsaucey]

Personally, I'd suggest reading the graphic novel adaptions of the Thrawn trilogy. I've found Zahn's writing to be too dry and tech-oriented, and his habit of repeating phrases and scenes really got on my nerves by the third book. I also really didn't like his take on Luke Skywalker; as if he's done nothing at all since the end of Return of the Jedi.
.

he hadn't though, this was the first official cannon book in years. we had no courtship, truce, or jedi cademy yet. we didn't even have the x-wing series. Thrawn single handedly relaunched the star wars univers creating characters that others have used and loved since. quite frinkly with the exceptions of stackpole, alston, and anderson zahn is the only author to do a well written star wars book. stackpole and alston are nearly better than him because they focused on the untapped character of wedge anderson did okay work, the first 11 kids books he did were okay, but none of it would be without zahn's original trilogy


Outbound Flight was much better written, I thought. He writes Obi Wan and Anakin surprisingly well, though they're only minor characters.

outbound flight was amazing but its only a success because he tied it in so masterfully to his other 6 books that he already had out that said i think its better than the njo or the legacy series. im not sure what the hell happened with allegiance. that book was mind numbing.

anyone read deathstar yet. seems like it could be really good and it has stackpoles name on it so it could be really good. i just hope it doesn't go against the official cannon that is qui ux and the maw institute in kevin j andersons jedi accademy trilogy. ooh mybe we'll see admiral daala in this that could be fun

[ChrisIII]

Actually Steve Perry and Micheal Reaves wrote Death Star. From what I've read, the novel has received mixed reviews. Apparentally it does feature Daala though.

[ImpulseUCF]

This may be an odd question, but it's been nearly a decade since I've read a Star Wars novel, and I've forgotten most of the stories I have read. Does anyone know of an online resource that summarizes the EU stories and timelines? I'd like to catch up on what happened after the OT.


Thanks!

[jwd]

This may be an odd question, but it's been nearly a decade since I've read a Star Wars novel, and I've forgotten most of the stories I have read. Does anyone know of an online resource that summarizes the EU stories and timelines? I'd like to catch up on what happened after the OT.


Thanks!

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Novels#New_Republic_era

[Imaginos666]

This may be an odd question, but it's been nearly a decade since I've read a Star Wars novel, and I've forgotten most of the stories I have read.
Thanks!


That says a lot about the quality of these novels. I've read more than my fair share of Star Wars books but finally swore them off as a total waste of time. They are all just seat fillers between movies ... even the good ones.

[Sabrina_Fried]

http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Princess_Leia_Star_Wars_Novellist_110929.asp

Apparentally there are rumors, based on some Amazon listings, that Carrie Fisher will write for the novel line.

So happy those rumours got debunked. I used to read the Trek novels when Pocket Books (a division of S&S) was publishing them. I gave up on the Trek novels when they were pushing them out so fast that they were actually keeping pace with Harlequin romance novels (and had just about the same quality to them).

S&S is one of the few publishers left standing with the size and capability to handle the Star Wars license. But I don't think going with them would be a good move.

Sabrina

[ChrisIII]

Here's a runthrough of what happens after the OT:


Basically, the first three years after the film are spent continuing the war, although with a greatly diminished Empire. "Year one" of the New Republic is covered in the last few Marvel comics, the X-wing Rogue Squadron comic series, and a few other things.

Eventually, in the Rogue Squadron novels, the Rebels capture Coruscant and make it the capital of a New Republic. However there are still Imperial warlords and admirals out there. First up is Zsing, the main villain of the Wraith Squadron books and the Courtship of Princess Leia. His defeat coincides with the marriage of Han and Leia.

Next up is Grand Admiral Thrawn, a brillaint tactician, who appears in the Thrawn trilogy. He nearly topples the New Republic. Meanwhile, Luke tries to find out what to do since he's the "last of the Jedi".

After Thrawn, Coruscant is recaptured by the Empire, who is being led by a Palpatine clone (This appears in the Dark Empire comic series). Luke briefly makes a deal with the devil and goes to the dark side to uncover Palpatine's plans. However before he makes his father's mistakes Leia brings him back from the brink. Palpatine escapes in another clone body, but he's eventually defeated again in the series Dark Empire II and Empire's End.

Luke decides it's time to train new Jedi knights, and after discovering a group of candidates sets up a new Jedi temple on Yavin IV. However, Yavin IV was actually an ancient Sith fortress, and Luke and the new students do battle with an ancient Sith spirit, who causes one of Luke's students to go to the Dark side. The New Republic also battles Admiral Daala and a few new superweapons pop up.

The next couple years/books are framed mainly by minor threats, such as the Black Fleet crisis, the New Rebellion. However the Correlian trilogy books have events that will eventually have repurcussions in later novels.

In the Hand of Thrawn duology, Luke gets married and the Empire finally signs a peace treaty with the new Republic. However, a period of peace is short-lived when an alien race known as the Yuzzhan Vong strike. The Vong can't be 'felt' in the force, so they prove formidable foes for the Jedi, and they also use grown technology as oppossed to mechanics. They nearly destroy the New Republic (Which also reforms and becomes the galactic alliance) and there are casulties among the heroes, such as Chewbacca and Anakin Solo. Jacen Solo and Jaina Solo emerg from the conflict heavily changed as well.


After the Dark Nest trilogy, which is sort of a bridge, the Legacy of the Force series starts. Here, Jacen is falling to the dark side under the guidance of an old apprentice of Vaders, Lumiya (From the Marvel comics). Also, the galaxy erupts into civil war (again).


Also, about a hundred or so years later is the Legacy comic series, which has the Empire back in control (Although split in two), and the alliance and the Jedi pretty much defeated. The latest heir to the Skywalker clan has to do something, but he's reluctant to do so...

[Nate Grey]

The latest heir to the Skywalker clan has to do something, but he's reluctant to do so...

Cade Skywalker?

[saintsaucey]

im reading death star right now its pretty good, lots of unknown characters that could get boring if they gave them too much story at once but thankfully they have lots of breaks between each character and they are making some great refferences to the continuity

[Lester C.]

Cade Skywalker?

The main protagonist of the Legacy of the Force comics which take place 125 years after Yavin staring Cade Skywalker who is a decedent of the Skywalker clan. The book also stars the descendants of other characters in the expanded universe, but you don't need to have knowledge of the expanded universe as it's mealy a nod to long standing fans of the expanded universe. It's written and drawn by John Outstrander and Jan Duresma. Telling you any more would contain spoilers but it's really good.

[ChrisIII]

There's still not much we know about the Legacy era. For instance, are the Fel clan tied in some way to Jaina and Jag? How many generations are Kol and Cade removed from Ben? etc...plus the fate of the Yavin crew.

BTW the Wookie in Legacy first appeared in Star Wars Republic during the final Quinlan Vos arc. It's been established that Wookies have long life-spans.

[Nate Grey]

All I know is Cade is a cool name. Beats being named after someone, too.

[Samuraixsithlord]

There's still not much we know about the Legacy era. For instance, are the Fel clan tied in some way to Jaina and Jag? How many generations are Kol and Cade removed from Ben? etc...plus the fate of the Yavin crew.

Well Human beings in star wars have longer life spans then we do. the common age for most human beings to live to is 100. Force users life-spans are longer still. One Dathomir witch named Rell lived to be 300. So Kol could be Ben's grandson.

[ChrisIII]

For those interested in the comics as well, and as Samuraixsithlord noted in his other post, the Yuzzhan Vong, Vergere, and certain elements of "Legacy of the force" play heavily in the latest issue of Legacy.


So I'm guessing Vergere was Palpatine's sith apprentice possibly before Maul, or something like that....(Can't quite see her being as effective as Maul/Dooku/Vader, though...) maybe Palpatine just wanted to just continue the tradition at first, but then he thought of the whole take-over-the-galaxy plot, and Vergere was no longer essential to his plans.

[saintsaucey]

You forgot to mention Children of the jedi, Dark Saber and the young jedi knights stories

[ChrisIII]

Sort of put them under 'minor threats'-the only real consequences of those novels that pertain to later books is that Palleon becomes leader of the Imperial fleet and there's some development of Jedi who will later play a larger role in NJO/Dark Nest.

[Lester C.]

The new Darth Bane book came out the day after Christmas. Holy crap how did that sneak past me? Anyway it's off to the Barnes and Noble tomorrow to pick up my copy.

[hayabusa]

For those interested in the comics as well, and as Samuraixsithlord noted in his other post, the Yuzzhan Vong, Vergere, and certain elements of "Legacy of the force" play heavily in the latest issue of Legacy.


So I'm guessing Vergere was Palpatine's sith apprentice possibly before Maul, or something like that....(Can't quite see her being as effective as Maul/Dooku/Vader, though...) maybe Palpatine just wanted to just continue the tradition at first, but then he thought of the whole take-over-the-galaxy plot, and Vergere was no longer essential to his plans.

It's been said (of course, by two Sith Masters trying to get a new apprentice, so the sources are a little suspect) that Vergere found Sidious some time after Maul had died. Then comes the whole murder plot which even I am wondering the real truth about, and her choice of the Sekot mission as a way to flee Sidious.

As for being effective... Caedus is doing all right.

[Lester C.]

I just read Rule of Two the new Darth Bane book. If you loved the first one, you will love the sequel which takes place after the first book. If you hated the first book, then avoid this one as it's just more of the same.

[ChrisIII]

Just finished Allegiance. While entertaining, it's a bit underwhelming-Luke and co. seem kind of tacked on to the whole "Rogue Stormtrooper" plot, a plot which we've seen reused way too much in Star Wars fiction these days.

Zahn does write a decent Vader, though.....

[Karl H]

Heh. Finally read and finished Fury. Loved the little gag to the internet fanboys with Kyle Katarn in it

[Lester C.]

I forgot to mention something with the new Darth Bane novel. Due to the book being researched and written in six months, in addition to typos, the editor and the author really contradicted the Expanded Universe. For instance there is a Chiss women on Serenno that speaks basic a thousand years before the event of Outbound Flight and all the other books written by Timothy Zhan. Whoops.

[ChrisIII]

Yeah, they kind of did that with a few of the games as well (Although the new essential guide to Aliens reportedly covered the discrepancy).


The prequels also messed up some species continuity established by the Expanded Universe-The Mon Calamari(Ackbar's species), Quarren(Squid Heads) and the Talz (Muftak and Foul Moudama's species) were not suppossed to have been discovered until after the Empire was established. However we see examples of the first two species in the prequels, and the third in Clone Wars.


Likewise, various cross-media examples of Star Wars which tell the same story have contradicted each other. They include Bounty Hunter(game)/Jango Fett:Open Seasons, Clone Wars/Labyrynth of Evil (Specifically the details of the battle of Coruscant and what Anakin and Obi-Wan were up to) and the Darth Bane novels don't tie in perfectly with Jedi Vs. Sith. Plus there are certain details in the comic adaptations of The Thrawn Trilogy, Shadows of the Empire,Splinter of The Mind's Eye and the Brian Daley Han Solo novels that are off as well (The Heir to the Empire adaptation has the Noghri being HUGE, whereas the novel is clear they're actually very small)

[Jared]

I just assume that the Chiss have a long-standing tradition of exiling trouble-makers from their territory. That's how Thrawn ended up with the Empire, after all.

Del Ray is going to be releasing a paperback omnibus of Labyrnthe of Evil, Revenge of the Sith, and Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader. I haven't read any of them, but I hear mostly good things, especially about Matt Stover's novelization of ROTS.

Who else things they really need to do a book about Count Dooku fall to the Dark Side? His story is still mostly blank. The fact that he's an old, wisened master when he falls, as oppossed to another young hot-blood, could really make an interesting read. I'd like to see Stover or Karpyshyn* tackle it. Continuity-wise, it could finally explain what was up with that whole Sifo-Dias subplot, and perhaps involve Vergere as well.


*edit: Or Sean Stewart, who I think wrote a great Dooku in Yoda: Dark Rendevoux. That book makes his quick exit in Episode III seem like the only natural progression of his story.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I just assume that the Chiss have a long-standing tradition of exiling trouble-makers from their territory. That's how Thrawn ended up with the Empire, after all.

Del Ray is going to be releasing a paperback omnibus of Labyrnthe of Evil, Revenge of the Sith, and Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader. I haven't read any of them, but I hear mostly good things, especially about Matt Stover's novelization of ROTS.

Who else things they really need to do a book about Count Dooku fall to the Dark Side? His story is still mostly blank. The fact that he's an old, wisened master when he falls, as oppossed to another young hot-blood, could really make an interesting read. I'd like to see Stover or Karpyshyn* tackle it. Continuity-wise, it could finally explain what was up with that whole Sifo-Dias subplot, and perhaps involve Vergere as well.


*edit: Or Sean Stewart, who I think wrote a great Dooku in Yoda: Dark Rendevoux. That book makes his quick exit in Episode III seem like the only natural progression of his story.

Dark Rendevoux actually spends a lot of time talking about who Dooku used to be and even a little bit about how he fell to the Dark Side.

And you should read those three books. Labryinth of Evil is really good, Revenge of the Sith novelization was so much better than the movie it makes me want to cry, and Rise of Vader is worth it to see them finally purge the last bit of whiny Anakin and give us the true evil badass we knew from the first three trilogy.

[ChrisIII]

Labirynth, as I noted above, is interesting in that it differs plot-wise from "Clone Wars"-the Coruscant battle is almost completely different, although certain details are the same. Also the whole thing on Nelvaan with Anakin freeing the warriors seems to not occur at all. General Grevious also gets some much-needed backstory.

The novel also details the embarassing incident on Cato Nemodia that Obi-Wan mentions in ROTS.

Regarding Dooku, the new force essential guide also sheds some light on Dooku's conversion. I'd also like to see the adventures of him and Qui-Gon, something that's been barely touched on the EU.

[Lester C.]

So any Revelation spoilers floating around yet?

[Roquefort Raider]

So any Revelation spoilers floating around yet?


THEY'RE ALL SKRULLS!!!

[Lester C.]

THEY'RE ALL SKRULLS!!!

I can see that given how certain characters are acting.;)

[Karl H]

I'm reading Revelation as we speak.

The only thing I can say is its really irritating how Traviss references Naboo every third page!

Ridiuclous number of references right there. Why can't they think of some new planets occasionally for their references.

[Lester C.]

I'm reading Revelation as we speak.

The only thing I can say is its really irritating how Traviss references Naboo every third page!

Ridiuclous number of references right there. Why can't they think of some new planets occasionally for their references.

That might be part of their marching orders from Lucas films. The biggest such order was to not to kill Jacen in NJO but rather someone else that I can't mention without a huge spoiler.

[Karl H]

So I read it.

Off the top of my head.

Pretty rubbish and probably a little inaccurate Okay so a lot happens in terms of shifting alliances here. I'm not gonna recount blow by blow but the main things are:

Tahiri is keen on becoming a full on Sith apprentice and kills Pellaeon
Mara appears to Ben and helps him solve the mystery of her death - he presents a pretty compelling rationale detective based case. Ben also gets a lot of help from Shevu. Who is effectively acting as a spy for the Jedi and gets Jacen to admit it by wearing a wire in a meeting with him.
Jacen goes batshit crazy and is really losing the plot. A lot of people are talking about his murder of the the Lt in Fury and he starts referring to himself openly as a Sith Lord.
Niathal mutinies against Jacen.
Jacen gets the Imperial remnant to join him
Pellaeon keeps Admiral Daala as a trump card against Solo. In a battle over Fondor, Daala and Niathal end up forcing Solo and the Imperial Remnant to turn back.
Jaina trains with the Mandoborians. She also meets some Mandoborian force users and develops a begrudging respect for Fett. All she really learns though is how she has to go batshit crazy to kill Jacen and stop thinking like a Jedi - yawn.
Jedi themselves are fairly quiet in the book. Luke attempts