Star Wars - the books

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

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Are the books any good?

By "books", I mean the ones based on the 6 series (not the spin-offs).

By "good", I mean, does it go into more depth/detail? I don't expect the academic treatment like the LOTR books....just something more description, historical, etc.

If they're just well-adapted from the screenplays, then I'm not interested. If they're intriguing and have good development, then I'm interested.
 
It has been quite some time since I have read any of the original books. I dont like the prequels at all, and I cant tell you about them, but the best of the Star Wars books is a trilogy by Timothy Zahn- (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command.) It features the regular cast of characters, and takes place something like ten years after The Return of the Jedi. I have read nearly all star wars books, and Timothy Zahn is the best of the authors.
But, really I would say pick up one from the library, and if it doesnt hold your interest or isnt satisfactory, return it. I have only read maybe one Star Wars book that wasnt good.
 
I think the original triology books are just built up screenplays, but there was more detail and history and Lucas had final say on the content. I remember learning about the fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin that results in him becoming Darth Vader, but he never really went into detail about the reasons for it. I remember more details about Luke and life on Tatooine. I didn't read the new trilogy books so I can't comment. Rat's suggestions on the Zahn trilogy is spot on. Pretty well done and should be at your library so you can check them out free of charge. Original cast, adds some interesting new characters, builds up some fringe players a bit, very good overall.
 
Read them and dispite the work of some pretty good authors, they were not that hot. Being able to get inside the characters heads was nice, but I would not (and did not) spend money on them. Library all the way.
Agree 100% on the Zahn comments above also.
 
Zhan's writing is fantastic. The A.C. Crispin Han Solo Trilogy is great too. Makes Lucas look like a rank Amateur.
 
I really like Zahn's writing also. When Salvatore took over on the series, I was REALLY disappointed.
 
The Zahn books are the best. I stopped reading after the Corellia/Centerpoint series though.

Oh yeah if you are like me and are easily amused by stuff blowing up and want tons of action and space battles with little complex character development to get in the way read the Rogue Squadron books, those are fantastic. And Every. Single. Book. Cover. Has. A. Huge Explosion. Drawn. On. It.
 
colinowens said:
Makes Lucas look like a rank Amateur.
Click to expand...
When you get right down to it, that's exactly what he is, talented, but without much real writing experience.
Also, WELCOME ABOARD!!!!
 
You mean the novelizations of the films themselves, right?

I know absolutely nothing about the prequel novelizations, but the calssic trilogy books (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi) _do_ go into slightly greater detail. There's some additional backstory in the descriptions, and in some cases there's material that was in the screenplay but never made it into the film (stuff like General Veers' death during the Hoth invasion). It's not much, but there's a little bit there.
 
Yeah, from what I recall, the Han Solo trilogy was great. Read it a few years back, I think they were the only ones I was impressed with, and I read a lot of sci-fi.
 
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