I'm curious about the Bantam post RotJ series. I tried in the 90's to get into them, but everything I picked up after "The Last Command" read like Star Trek fiction to me. Now I'm feeling nostalgic about that period. I finished re-reading the "Thrawn Trilogy" (still great); I just tried to read "Truce At Bakura", and gave up after chapter three. I found it unreadable and completely alienated from SW. Any recommends? I can't stomach KJA but there has to be something apart from Zahn that was good from that era.
Hand of Thrawn duology is also by Zahn, if you haven't read that. But other than Zahn and the x-wing books (add I, Jedi to that list) there's not really much else that is universally (more or less) accepted as "good" Black Fleet Crisis is my favourite, but it can get boring and maybe a little "star trekky" at times. A lot of the Tales books are decent, in particular Tales of the Bounty Hunters. Speaking of which the Bounty Hunter Trilogy is very good IMO, especially if you like Boba Fett.
You found Truce at Bakura to be unreadable? Wow. Let's see, I second the X-Wing Series and I, Jedi, as well as the Hand of Thrawn Duology. Let me also recommend Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor and The Courtship of Princess Leia. I personally loved Children of the Jedi, but many don't so i'm wary to suggest that one. If you've gone through all of these and find yourself wanting something with a slower place check out The New Rebellion.
That's an awesome book. It's not bantam, but it is the same time period, and if that's what you're interested in then you could check out Tatooine Ghost as well
I will add another vote for both X-Wing and Black fleet. And also throw the "Han Solo trilogy" into the ring.
Anything Zahn, Stackpole, Allston. Also, one KJA book... The Illustrated Star Wars Universe (short stories all written from in-universe perspectives, describing life on the various original trilogy film worlds... accompanied by McQuarrie/Johnston/etc art. Very cool and fun.) Oh, also, the short story anthologies. Tales From _________.
I think I'm gonna try the X-Wing series. I read the first 12 comics last year and really loved them. Thanks!! BFC defeated me too. I've read all the Zahn's through the duology, the only one after that would be "Outbound Flight". TAB was definitely way too "Trek-ish" for my SW tastes. It didn't "feel" like SW to me. And given that gap to fill, I would have come up with something better than "Seven Samurai" meets "V"
Also, try the Young Jedi Knights and Junior Jedi Knights series. They're for young readers, obviously, but they've always felt very Star Wars-y to me.
Dark Greetings, my Dark Friend. The Moffs meeting onboard the Moffship for the Mofference will be Darkly pleased with your Dark praise for such a Dark series. However if there is one Dark spot on what would be an otherwise Dark series it would be the lack of a Dark Hero and a suitably Dark Ending.
Another vote for the X-wing series. Stackpole does a great job in painting a great picture as to what's going on. Specifically as it pertains to battles and such. If you've ever played (and consequently, been a fan of, X-Wing Alliance, Tie Fighter vs X-wing or any of those sorts of games on the PC I think you'll dig it. I, Jedi is also pretty good. I dig the Jedi Academy trilogy, but in reading other posts I think that I might be in the minority on that one.
If you like Boba Fett, you could try the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy by K. W. Jeter. I've always been a Fett fan, so I really enjoyed them.