Star wars books? Or any good series ?

[iccanui]

Well im finishing up book 2 of the Wheel of time series and its getting stale. The tale is still good, but im getting sick of the anti-male over tones and the guy really isnt even trying to hide the sources he is drawing from, which is about all the myths and religions of all time it seems, all mixed together. Its still good, but i need a break.

I was thinking about how much i love star wars and realized there are books out there. Anyone read them? Are they good? If they are good, which ones should i start on? Thinking about finally picking up the rest of the dune series beyond the movies too or perhaps getting back into dragonlance. Dont know yet.

I mean really, im just looking for a world to get sucked into. The kinda series that you start looking around at the world and labeling people and things you know with things from the series, you know what i mean ? Just a well told and engaging story.

Anyone, anyone? Beuller ?

[mltvcocktail]

For Star Wars books I would say:
-The Thrawn Series by Timothy Zahn
-Shadows of the Empire
-X-Wing Series
-Republic Commando Series
-Tales from Mos Eisley, Jabba's Palace and of the Bounty Hunters

[darthpilatus]

Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatterpoint

Without a doubt, the best SW book I have read.

[patch]

I Luv Halloween (http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1413). Its a graphic novel, and its awesome. Its WAY over the top. One of the characters is a little girl in a tooth fairy costume that rips out peoples teeth with a pair of plyers. Theres only three volumes out so far, but they are great, and what a perfect season to read them huh?

[simon27]

I will second mltvcocktail recomendation of "-Tales from Mos Eisley, Jabba's Palace and of the Bounty Hunters" they are great reads.

[yodaizmyhomie]

You definitely have to check out the Thrawn Trilogy. It's really good. A lot of SW fans consider it 7,8,9. Yeah... its that good.

[darthender]

Yeah, the Thrawn Trilogy is amazing.

And also dissapointing that the first Star Wars novels to come out were also the best ones, and that it only went downhill from there.

The X-Wing series is really good too though. Especially if you like Stackpoles work in Mechwarrior.

[masherscf]

You definitely have to check out the Thrawn Trilogy. It's really good. A lot of SW fans consider it 7,8,9. Yeah... its that good.

Timothy Zahn is a talented writer. He writes a lot of very good original stuff as well. Most of the Star Wars novels aren't that great.

You should dust off some classics like Frank Herbert's Dune or even some William Gibson.

[darthender]

I liked the Thawn Trilogy 10x more than anything in the Dune series.

[andyfm]

this is off the sci-fi track but, if you want to get drawn into a world then i recommend Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. starting with The Light Fantastic and The Colour of Magic. You have to read those two in that order as they're basically one story, but then you can read any of the other books in any order.

I absolutely love these books and own most of them, the detail that he goes into and the slightly skewed logic is awesome!!

[iccanui]

Discworld is a comedic fantasy book series by the British author Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which are in turn standing on the back of a giant turtle

You had me at hello, lol.

Definetly going on the list. Im kinda ramped up for watching star wars 1-6 then reading that trilogy everyone recommended, but after that im going for discworld, thank you. Sounds kinda HHGTGish.

[masherscf]

I liked the Thawn Trilogy 10x more than anything in the Dune series.

I think that the "Thrawn" trilogy or, as it was called at the time, the "Heir to the Empire" trilogy is not a typical example of most trashy Star Wars novels. Of course, my main complaint with most of the SW novels is the constant recycling of situations and dialog from the original movie trilogy. Of course, I have the same complaint with the sequel trilogy. Zahn's novels, although still light fare, are the most original of this genre.

Ironically, when the first Zahn book was published about 17 years ago, I had just put down "God Emperor of Dune" because it was boring me to tears. After that, reading "Heir to the Empire" was like an express train thrill ride. It wasn't until later that I had a chance to parse Herbert's novel more carefully. I reread them persiodically, just as I reread Tolkien.

[andyfm]

but after that im going for discworld, thank you. Sounds kinda HHGTGish.

it has a similar kind of humour to hitch-hikers guide. but a lot of the jokes are a bit more subtle. like i said, i absolutely love all the Discworld novels. Pratchett just knows how to build a character, and environment, sooo well!!

[gglynn00]

or perhaps getting back into dragonlance. Dont know yet.

Dragonlance Fanboy here!!! The original Authors have put out a ton(maybe not a ton) of books in the last few years!!! I don't know what you have read but Margie and Tracy(that's thier names if your down:p) have put out a series of books that tell the stories of what happened between the original trilogy...so it's kinda a 1.5, 2.5, 3.5...It tells how they found the Hammer of Kharas and united the dwarves in Dragons of the Dwarven Depths(1.5). In 2.5, Dragons of the Highlord Skies, the story goes to how Kitiara comes to power and how she meets Skie the Dragon and it also covers what happened in Icewall!!! Then, there is the newest trilogy: Dragons of the Fallen Sun, Vanished Moon, Lost Star, pink Clovers, yellow balloons...Sorry...Then Margie finishes out that story with Amber and Ashes and Amber in Iron...Needless to say there is a Sh*t ton of stuff out there to keep you busy for a few weeks.

*note* Also, Margie put out The Star of the Guardians series which is an epic Space Opera(Star Wars-esque)...There are four books that I am finishing up on right now and it's one of the few books where I actually laughed and cried...seriously...After that series is the Mag Force 7 novels, it's kind of a spin-off and is awesome as well...These books are very seeded in religion and predestination and have a lot of deepness to them...Heck, the chapters start with quotes from John Milton's Paradise Lost!!!

[iccanui]

well that tears it, welcome to my delicious bookmarks Thread. :)

[yodaizmyhomie]

I think that the "Thrawn" trilogy or, as it was called at the time, the "Heir to the Empire" trilogy is not a typical example of most trashy Star Wars novels. Of course, my main complaint with most of the SW novels is the constant recycling of situations and dialog from the original movie trilogy.

Yeah, that's my main problem with the Star Wars novels as well. As you get further into the New Jedi Order books it gets even worse. But in saying that, yes, the Thrawn trilogy is by far the best books and I really enjoy Zahn's writing. He's technical (not to the extent of Clancy, of course), but you really just follow along on the thrill ride.

[darthender]

It should be pointed out that none of the "Thrawn Trilogy" is actually labeled as such. In fact, I don't think the three books have any subtitle for them as a set.

So if you have to get them individually from amazon or similar the titles are

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire
Star Wars: Dark Force Rising
Star Wars: The Last Command

[puddlefish]

I can't recommend George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series enough. Best fantasy series I've read in as long as I care to remember...

[darthender]

It is pretty ****ing fantastic(except the 4th one which I'm reserving final judgement on because its really only half a book). But the books come out REEEEEALLY slowly, and he's only about half done with his planned series.

So if you start reading it now, you'll be where I am, halfway through the series and looking foward to a 15 year wait before you can find out how it ends.

And that's if he doesn't pull a Robert Jordan before then.

[gglynn00]

What is a good fantasy series outside of the typical DandD game based novels?

Also, does the Star Wars books you guys mention have Luke in them? If so, then I'm good to go...

[masherscf]

What is a good fantasy series outside of the typical DandD game based novels?

Also, does the Star Wars books you guys mention have Luke in them? If so, then I'm good to go...

The Thrawn books are all about Luke. Leia and the whole gang.


Have you considered reading Harry Turtledove's alternate history stuff. The four "Misplaced Legion" book could be right up your ally.

http://www.amazon.com/Misplaced-Legion-Harry-Turtledove/dp/0345330676

[gglynn00]

The Thrawn books are all about Luke. Leia and the whole gang.

Holy ish!!! Where have I been for the last decade!!! Reading Dragonlance I guess, but that is Totally Rad...Well I guess I'm going to the bookstore in a few hours...Dang, I have a small pile of books on my nightstand of pending reads...Looks like some of these are getting pushed to the back.

[gglynn00]

Masherscf: I pulled up the link and read the description:

Book Description for The Misplaced Legion.
As they faced one another in a duel of survival, the Roman tribune Marcus Scaurus held the spell-scribed sword of a Druid priest, and the Celtic chieftain Viridovix held a similar sword, bespelled by a rival Druid sorcerer. At the moment they touched, the two found themselves under a strange night sky where no stars were familiar and where Gaul and Rome were unknown. They were in an outpost of the embattled Empire of Videssos--in a world where magic and dark sorcery would test their skill and courage as no Roman legion had ever been tested before.

Do you want me to be broke for Christmas or what?:D Also, I just went to my local used book store which has tons of stuff and bought Heir to the Empire, The Last Command, and Dark Force Rising all in Hardback for under 20 Bucks:eek: They will be getting a read over in the next couple of weeks...Thanks soooooooo much for the recommendations...You all are totally rad!!!

[darthender]

I would say like 90% of all the Star Wars books that take place after Return of the Jedi center around the characters from the movie.

There's a few sets that don't, like the X-Wing series(although those are still about Wedge Antilles).

Basically, if you want to farmiliarize yourself with the parts of the Expanded Universe after RotJ that don't suck, I'd suggest starting with the X-Wing series. Then reading the Thrawn Trilogy. Then read the graphic novel Dark Empire. Then the Jedi Academy trilogy(which isn't great, but it's not bad and introduces some neat things). Then the graphic novels Dark Empire 2 and Empire's End. That list is chronological.

After that, the whole thing just sort of goes downhill. With the good characters getting old and new characters that suck, and enemies that become less and less impressive and threatening.

[gglynn00]

I would say like 90% of all the Star Wars books that take place after Return of the Jedi center around the characters from the movie.

There's a few sets that don't, like the X-Wing series(although those are still about Wedge Antilles).

Basically, if you want to farmiliarize yourself with the parts of the Expanded Universe after RotJ that don't suck, I'd suggest starting with the X-Wing series. Then reading the Thrawn Trilogy. Then read the graphic novel Dark Empire. Then the Jedi Academy trilogy(which isn't great, but it's not bad and introduces some neat things). Then the graphic novels Dark Empire 2 and Empire's End. That list is chronological.

After that, the whole thing just sort of goes downhill. With the good characters getting old and new characters that suck, and enemies that become less and less impressive and threatening.

Yeah, I noticed the X-wing books came first...one of the books I browsed through had a timeline...It looked like they were a total of around 20 years after Return of the Jedi...I will admit that I'm a bit skepitcal/uneasy...I want to run and pile all of my Dragonlance books around me and curl up into the fetal posistion b/c I feel like I'm cheating on them...

[cybershadow147]

I loved the Thrawn books. Also, I highly recommend "I, Jedi" as a follow up to The Thrawn Trilogy.

[darthender]

Yeah, I noticed the X-wing books came first...one of the books I browsed through had a timeline...It looked like they were a total of around 20 years after Return of the Jedi...I will admit that I'm a bit skepitcal/uneasy...I want to run and pile all of my Dragonlance books around me and curl up into the fetal posistion b/c I feel like I'm cheating on them...Well, the Thrawn trilogy takes place 9 years after Jedi. So all but one of the X-Wing books takes place before that.

The X-Wing books are great because they chronicle the military campaigns that take place with the New Republic actually pushing the empire out of control(suprise, the Empire doesn't just pack up and go cause the Emperor died). It has alot of great characters, and a large amount of action as well.

[seefue]

I can't recommend George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series enough. Best fantasy series I've read in as long as I care to remember...

I can't believe you are the only person recommended this so far.

If you want fantasy that is outside the usual D&D style, this is the one. The only downside is that the series is not finished yet.

[darthender]

I have more downsides than that, but it's still a great series.

[yyz-kyle]

The original dragonlance trilogy (Autumn Twilight, Winter Night and Spring Dawning) are absolutely amazing. I would recommend them to anybody to read and read again and over and over and over. It is just that good. The Heir to the Empire trilogy by Timothy Zahn is great too. If you pick either trilogy to read that is a good way to go.

Now to go out on a limb here's a new thought. The Sky Stone by Jack Whyte is the 1st book in a 6 book series about the King Arthur Legend. It takes a historically accurate look at the legend and if it really happened in history this is probably the way it went down.

Great books to read if you like Dragonlance, or other fantasy this more historically correct tale will blow your mind.