An EU Newbie Needs Some Directions

Here I thought I had a highly informative post and then Sturm has to come along and show me up!

Anyway, here's the covers to the books I recommended that you get started with:

[image=http://books.echostation.com/shadows.jpg]

[image=http://books.echostation.com/heir.jpg]

[image=http://books.echostation.com/i-jedi.jpg]

[image=http://books.echostation.com/darksabr.jpg]

[image=http://books.echostation.com/xwing9.jpg]

~PAd

 

Tag.

 

One example of why I recommend reading them in order of publication is the following:

Someone recommended reading I, Jedi as an essential, before the first four X-Wing books or the Jedi Academy trilogy. In my opinion, without reading the JAT and the XW books first, you'll miss out on the background of Corran Horn and also what's going on "off-camera", because the JAT was written first and happens simultaneously with I, Jedi.

 

[shocked]Good Lord! It's Sturm, we haven't seen him post for months![/shocked]

 

Oh, just to back up Sturm in his comments on Splinter of the Mind's Eye, I have to say I find it a *very* enjoyable book! Well worth a read imo!

 

I agree. Also I can't reiterate enough how much of a good example of EU stories the Han Solo Adventures (Brian Daley) and Lando Calrissian Adventures (L. Neil Smith) are.

They would be perfect to use to get someone into the EU for the first time.

The characterizations (especially Han Solo Adventures) in both trilogies are right on - the best examples of any EU novels.

And there's enough "expanded" material in there to show you what the EU can be capable of.

Beginning in publishing order with the original Del Rey novels, Marvel comics and newspaper cartoon comics would be a perfect way to get into the EU. Heck, it's pretty much what all the EU fans since 1976 have done.

So, you can't go wrong there.

 

I have to agree with G12. I read HSA, damn good they were too.

 

To get a good understanding of some characters I would read The Jedi Academy Trilogy and Corellian & Young Jedi Knights series if your going to read the NJO.

 

The EU also extends into a series of video games, old and new. Here's some of them.



Rebel Assault-Available for the PC and several consoles, this is one of the older games. Basically it's a rail-shooter loosely based on the plot of ANH and ESB. I wouldn't really call it EU as much as an "Alternate Universe".

Rebel Assault II-More involved in the continuity, you play a Rebel soldier assigned to deal with a new Imperial cloaking device. Same bad gameplay as the first. This game was one of the first SW games to use full-motion video.

Dark Forces-3D shooter in which you play Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial soldier now working as a mercenary for the Rebellion. You start off stealing Death Star plans, and then embark on a mission to find out about the Empire's new weapons-Droid Stormtroopers, or Darktroopers.

Jedi Knight(Dark Forces II)-Sequel in which Kyle learns of his Jedi heritage and finds himself pitted against Dark Jedi hoping to unlock the secrets of a Jedi battleground. This game was adapted in a series of illustrated novels. This game also uses full-motion video.

Mysteries Of The Sith-Jedi Knight add-on has you play as Katarn and also as Mara Jade, who tries to track down Katarn.

Jedi Outcast(Jedi Knight II) Kyle has retired as a Jedi, but a new crisis puts him back into the role. This game has the voice of Billy Dee Williams, reprising his role as Lando.

Battle For Naboo-You play as a soldier on Naboo, dealing with the TF armies while Padme and the Jedi fight elsewhere.

Force Commander-3D stategy game in which you play an Imperial-and then Rebel-General.

Rogue Squadron-You play as Luke Skywalker in his X-wing as you take on a series of missions set around the time of the films.

Rogue Leader-Similar to Rogue Squadron, except with less of a unifying plot, more Movie-based missions and better graphics. Denis Lawson returns to the role of Wedge.

Shadows Of The Empire-Video game version of the multimedia storyline deals with events through the eyes of Dash Rendar.

Starfighter-Play a series of Starfighter pilots liberating Naboo and also helping smugglers out.

Jedi Starfighter-Sequel has you as Adi Gallia and others battling forces linked to the seperatists.

X-Wing-Flight simulator which has you fly a variety of Rebel starfighters in several missions.

TIE fighter-Sequel to X-wing. This game ties in with the HEIR TO THE EMPIRE series, to boot.

X-Wing Alliance-This time, you get to play as a freighter pilot, and must aid the Rebellion while dealing with treacherous pirates.

Also, here's some images from the EU, from the force.net's multimedia section

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Callista/callista.jpg]
Callista, Luke's girlfriend from the CHILDREN OF THE JEDI trilogy

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Daala/daala2.jpg]
Admiral Daala, female Imperial admiral

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Guri/guri.jpg]
Guri, Fem-bot from SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE.

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Jaina_Solo/jaina.jpg]
Jaina Solo, daughter of Han and Leia.

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Mara_Jade/mjade2.jpg]
Mara Jade, the main female character of the EU.

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Mirax_Terrik/mirax2.jpg]
Mirax, wife of Corran Horn(That's Wedge next to her).

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Nomi_Sunrider/nomi3.jpg]
Ancient Jedi Nomi Sunrider

[image=http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Winter/Winter4.jpg]
Winter. Leia's handmaiden and "Decoy", in a similar sense to how Amidalia used decoys. Another EU idea that the films seemed to pick up on. She also has a relationship with Rogue pilot

 

G-S, IMO that is the worst picture of Dash Rendar, one of my favourite characters.

I'm sure Chris2 wants to give props to starwars.com for the use of some of those pictures from their databank.

 

Chris2...
"The EU also extends into a series of video games, old..."

You missed one of the most important games within the entire Star Wars canon!

Jedi Arena
[image=http://www.jackbergsales.com/toys/Star_Wars_Jedi_Arena_for_Atari.JPG]
[image=http://www.jackbergsales.com/toys/Star_Wars_Jedi_Arena_for_Atari_1.JPG]
I'm still waiting to find out if RED JEDI is more powerful than BLUE JEDI. I guess when Mara Jade is considered a Jedi Master, this would be the origin of such loose standards for the New Jedi Order. After all, all it took was...

"Will you accept the challenge to become the JEDI MASTER? Find out if
you, a JEDI KNIGHT, are worthy of such a title. Meet your opponent in
the JEDI ARENA, where you're face-to-face in an electrifying laser
battle. Use quick reflexes and a swift LIGHT SABER to score
once...twice...three times. When you do, you are the JEDI MASTER."

So, the only requirements for RED and BLUE JEDI were that they entered the Jedi Arena and duked it out, until they scored three times!

Then they became a Jedi Master.
[image=http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/atari26/img/jedi1.gif] GO BLUE GO!

Oh well, continuity aside, it was still a decent game by Parker Brothers for the Atari 2600.

[image=http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/atari26/img/jedi2.gif] Bah, I AM the MASTER

I'm sure techs are still trying to uncover the secret of a cloaking device small enough to fit in a seeker!

It's novelty lies in the fact that it was important for several reasons...
1. It was essentially the FIRST STAR WARS EU game. That is, ut was the first video game set in the Star Wars universe that didn't necessarily fit into one of the movies.

2. It was also one of the last Atari 2600 games to use the paddle controllers.

 

I think you guys need to stop. You're scaring him... probaly...

 

A lot of the background of the EU is also in the STAR WARS roleplaying game sourcebooks(In addition to EU short stories). You don't necesarilly have to play the RPG in order to enjoy the sourcebooks. The ESSENTIAL series of guides also covers a great deal of EU information.

BTW, most of those pictures do come from the official site. Most of their EU photos are made with live actors, which really don't fit that character. The picture of Corran Horn, for instance, is actually Mike Stackpole...

More pics from EU, from STAR WARS technical commentaries and also, B'2's star Wars stuff...

[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/comics/totj/sithhist1.jpg]
Early history of the Sith

[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/comics/marvel/92sith1.jpg]
From the Marvel comics--one of the rare post-ROTJ appearences of Anakin Skywalker.

[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/comics/de/starfleet1.jpg]
An Imperial Fleet from DARK EMPIRE

[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/comics/de/bysshld1.jpg]
Yet another humiliation for Boba, in DARK EMPIRE.

[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/comics/de/eclipse1.jpg]
[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/books/egvv/eclipse-eg1.gif]
Eclipse, the Emperor's Super Star Destroyer

[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/comics/xwing/xwtpa1.jpg]
Another view of the Dominator

[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/books/egvv/mtat1.jpg]
MT-AT walker


[image=http://www.theforce.net/swtc/Pix/books/egvv/tiedef-eg2.gif]
TIE Defender

[image=http://www.synicon.com.au/sw/or/or1.gif]
Outrider

 

Covers for individual EU comics, this time from Dark Horse's website(www.darkhorse.com)

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swde1.jpg]
Dark Empire #1. Basically your classic "Star Wars" montage, except for Leia's new haircut.

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swde2.jpg]
A new, darker Luke stands in front of the massive recycling weapon, the World Devestator.

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swde3.jpg]
Luke materializes in front of Leia..

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swde4.jpg]
Han and Leia vs. Bounty Hunters on Nar Shadaa...

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swde5.jpg]
A new Emperor and some big probe droids...

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swde6.jpg]
Leia as a Jedi, Luke vs. Palpatine

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swroc1.jpg]
River Of Chaos #1. Leia in a sticky situation..

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swroc4.jpg]
Leia and M'Haeli princess battle walkers

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swxw1.jpg]
Cover to Rogue Squadron #1

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swxw11.jpg]
Another Rogue cover

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swxw12.jpg]
Winter and an ex-Stormtrooper(Apparentally not cloned from Jango!) get covering fire in another Rogue cover

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swxw15.jpg]
Tiny, masochistic, female Imperial Moff Tavira, who also is the villain in "I Jedi"

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swxw27.jpg]
A Tie "Ugly"

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swxw30.jpg]
Han and Chewie stop by...

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swxw35.jpg]
Rogue Squadron's final issue

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swdfr4.jpg]
One of the covers of "Dark Force Rising"

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swlc6.jpg]
One of the covers of "The Last command"

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/11/11900.jpg]
Cover for Star Wars tales

[image=http://206.190.141.94/covers/s/swon29.jpg]
Aurra Sing vs. Droideka

 

About, I think, therefore I am...

Asinine and rediculous? That was a great story. a bit harsh there.

Or maybe it's cause I enjoy the rediculous in SWs. Ah well, To each his own.

 

The main problem is that it seems to state that IG-88 was a little *too* involved in the events motivating the Galactic Civil War. However, with the "Small galaxy" nature of the prequels, the story seems much more believable now!

 

Also I can't reiterate enough how much of a good example of EU stories the Han Solo Adventures (Brian Daley) and Lando Calrissian Adventures (L. Neil Smith) are.

I disagree. Those are some of my least favorite Star Wars novels. To me at least, they feel nothing like Star Wars. Of course, this is just my opinion. Some people obviously do like them. But I recommend avoiding them until you?re really starved for something to read.

 

Jon Snow: They don't feel like Star Wars because they were written while the Trilogy was in progress, not after.

As to the IG-88 controversy, well, I have one question for the people who think he had too much behind-the-scenes influence over Return of the Jedi: Aren't you some of the same people who always seem to go on-and-on about Lumiya and how cool her behind-the-scenes influence is, and are always talking about how "maybe Lumiya has ties to the Vong" or "maybe Lumiya engineered the peace accord for her own purposes" or something like that?

 

Or that Boba Fett is basically tied in with the origin of the Stormtroopers, and indirectly involved with the rise of the Empire as a result. Or that Aurra Sing is related to the Jedi Order. Next thing we know, 4-Lom will probably end up being a repainted and reheaded TC-14.

 

I took the Thrawn Trilogy with me to Iraq and read all 3 books. I want to thank you all for your recommendations. I LOVED reading them so much I want to read more. I bought all kinds of books and am just unsure which to read next. Any suggestions?

Thanks to this thread I have taken my first step into a larger world.

 

which books did you buy?


The Jedi Academy trilogy was okay, but not the best in my opinion. To get a slightly different perspective of it, read I, Jedi and also the x-wing novels for background on why its a slightly different perspective.

I'd recommend skipping the Callista trilogy unless you want to be bored to tears..........

 

After TTT, try the Jedi Academy trilogy, which is set 2 years after it. Or, for a chage of direction (and an excellent lead-up to ANH), read the HST, by A.C. Crispin. It ties in very well with ANH, and gives us a look at Han's childhood life and years leading up to ANH. Or, for a different direction, try the X-wing series, for pure fighter-jock action.

Glad to see you enjoyey the Thrawn trilogy, as well. I hope you enjoy most of the other EU books you read as well!

 

This is the order I've read them so far and it worked very well...

-Thrawn Trilogy (Definitely start with this one)
-Jedi Academy Trilogy (It sucks, but you're going to have to read it eventually)
-Courtship of Princess Leia
-Truce At Bakura
-Han Solo Adventures
-Lando Calrissian Adventures
-X-Wing Series

I have not started the NJO yet, so I cannot help you there