Are the novels actually rubbish? Books vs. Fanfic

I've read plenty that I've loved and been completely engrossed in, and i've enjoyed nearly all - never stopped reading one half way or anything.

But still, I've had some problems with a lot recently and wondered, has anyone else? Or is it just me who's thinking it could be better?

I get really irritated by all the really long bits inbetween the good bits which are often largely comprised of dialogue between characters created by the author, who are to the most not made interesting enough for me to care about. Is it just padding? And why must they all follow this same format, surely they're just now following convention?

Plus, as I love Han, a lot of them have him hardly ever featuring in, and as someone once pointed out, Lando often gets more page space than Han.

I think Fan fic might be better.

 

Never, Fan Fics are horribly reaserched most of the time, for continuity sack, novels and comics are better.

 

Lando gets more page space than Han?

 

On the topic of research for fanfics... I always find myself doing CRAZY amounts of research before I write (and I've got a decent-sized library. I should probably rattle it off in one of those "who owns the most stuff?" threads). I refuse to write on a topic in the GFFA if I haven't researched it until my eyes bleed and I have read everything there is to read on the topic (and everything there is to read on stuff directly related to the topic). For example, in a round-robin I'm a part of on a different board, I wanted to write about the Corporate Sector. So, I read the Han Solo Trilogy (original one. Even though only the first 2 books deal with the Sector) and hunted down the Corporate Sector Sourcebook from WEG before I even started PLANNING to write.
That's just how I choose to do stuff, though.

 

I suppose you're right about the research. But fan fic doesnt pad itself out with boring fillers most of the time, because its got no obligation to be a certain length. So then all of its interesting. I know there is a lot of crap fan fic out there, but a lot of its really enjoyable.

With the books they've often got really long bits about really small and uninteresting events between non-descript new republic pilots.

 

<Lando gets more page space than Han?>

It drives me mad! There's usually a massive Lando subplot (often one that seems to have just been invented for the purpose of a subplot, not because it seemed like a good idea) and Han's not actually in the book that much.

I just read the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy and the Lando subplot in that was really good for a change - but Han was barely in it compared to Lando, Leia, Luke and most of the Kube-MacDowell EU characters. Han's usually just attatched to the Leia plot line. Part of the plot practically centered around Han (trying to avoid spoilers just in case!), but still there was hardly anything with him actually in it!

 

Some of the books may be rubbish, but certainly not all of them. I dont read alot of fanfic, but it seems to me that the books are definitely better overall.

 

Yeah Syntax, Im currently writing a post SbS fanfic Ive been heavilly researching, its based from the views of General A'baht.

 

I like the books more. I don't know why but it just seems like there is a control to it, so you don't have weird things happening.

 

Yeah, some weird stuff definitely does happen in fan fic- and you just think, "What the hell?" That can be a bit irritating!

Still, in BFC Leia was really quite out of character most of the time - everyone had to keep explaining things to her all the time, like ordinary presidential matters.

And I've read so much ace fan fic. Dont get me wrong, I love the books, BFC included - its just I've started to see them through less rose-tinted glasses.

 

Lando? To me he's been a bit part at best in most of the novels with a few notable exceptions.

 

Youre working on a fanfic featuring General A'bhat (sp) 'Dude ? Very cool, man. Keep me posted !

 

Sure Dvader, its called Expandable Tactics 1ecision of Allegiance

 

Perhaps because I'm really conscious of Han's minor roles Lando's subplots stuck out more to me? I'll have a look in some of my books to see if I overexaggerated it in my imagination!

 

NJO. Lando was gone for 7 novels. Han was only really absent for two of those, and then he had two specifically about him for the most part. Lando was gone from Rebel Stand, while Han and Leia had some of their best scenes together in the entire NJO.

I have no problem with the novels, they are very well written for the most part and tell a great story in a great way. Fan Fic is much more hit and miss, although there are some stories there that I enjoy more than some parts of novels, the books win out overall.

 

I dunno. I scan the FanFic boards on the JC, and I see lots of "AU" (alternate universe) stories and stuff about Obiwan/Anakin/Padme or Jaina/Jag Fel. I'm not much of a fan of AU, because in my opinion, it's just an author's way of saying "I'm gonna write whatever I damn well please, without doing ANY research, because I'm lazy. If it conflicts with 'canon', oh well. It's an AU story anyway" (although this isn't ALWAYS the case, as I've seen). Just my opinion on that, and I'm not referring to ALL AU stories. Just so that's clear.

 

Unlike the novels, too, I've noticed that fanfics have more continuancy problems.

Like the whole "Dooku was Qui-gon's master" thing. It was never really talked of in the books (that I know of) but a huge number of fanfics talked about Yoda as Qui-gon's master. When Ep. II rolled around...poof!

Like Syntax said, a ton of fanfics are AU. That means that the authors can make any timeline they want, have the characters visit Earth, etc. Does that make them any more realistic than the novels?

 

Like the whole "Dooku was Qui-gon's master" thing. It was never really talked of in the books (that I know of)

The AotC Visual Dictionary makes mention of it. The NEGtC might mention it, too, but I'd have to check.

 

Well, I just think that each to his or her own on this matter.

When I write I like to only be bound slightly. I don't overly research. I think a lot of this has to do with the difference between the purpose of fanfic and the purpose of actual "c-word" novels. Fanfic, while some of it is almost perfect when it comes to the "c-word", is more about "what-ifs" and other ideas that will probably never be explored in the books. I think it's more about pleasing readers than adhereing to strict boundaries. It's ok for fanfic authors to write to please readers. That's why there are so many AU fanfics out there dealing with romances. If you like a good romance, even if it probably won't happen in the real EU, you can write about it. You can have it so a character never died. It's pure escapist fantasy enjoyment. At least that's why some of us choose to write and read AU fanfic. I plan to continue to write Kyp Durron fanfic even if they kill him off, because I know other Kyp fans will enjoy it.

As for the recent novels, I've seen a few passages that seemed slightly "fanfic-ish". It sort of bugged me that it felt like the pros were catering to the fans too much. However, when reading into it a little bit more, I realized that maybe you can't take those parts at face value, giving it a lot more depth than most fanfic.

Jae Angel

 

I ahte fan fics mostly cause a ****** 75% of em have to do with Jag/Jaina or Anakin/Padme. Damn, give me some killing and pretzals and Im happy.

 

Yeah, I don't read Jaina/Jag or Anakin/Padme, and there are a ton of those out there! I read the romances that obviously would never happen. And if they have killing, and if I have pretzels, then I, like the 'Dude, am a happy gal.

Jae Angel

 

Chissdude:

You're in luck -- check out some of the fanfics I've got linked to in my user profile.

Jae:

I totally see where you're coming from; I know a lot of people who do fanfic for the sheer enjoyment of seeing things in the GFFA that they KNOW would/could never happen. Sometimes those are cool, but they're not really my fanfic-of-choice.
I like to write them with as much "believability" and "realism" as humanly possible -- I look for ways to do "canon references" in my stories, fit them into existing plot ideas or events (such as my first fanfic, which takes place DURING a mission in the game 'Rogue Squadron' for N64). It just makes them seem more "real" to me, as if they're more of a "part of the GFFA". That's just me, though.

 

Hey Chissdude, great idea on the A'Baht fanfic. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Still, in BFC Leia was really quite out of character most of the time - everyone had to keep explaining things to her all the time, like ordinary presidential matters.

I think she was intended to be out character, because of the events in BFC. We see during the BFC trilogy and a year later in The New Rebellion that Leia is becoming really stressed out with politics and the NR itself. When her husband was taken from her, she probably felt that she had no support left, what with Luke gone.

She had to take care of three children and run a government. Who was there to help her, like they were in the OT? No Chewie, no Han, no Luke. If I were in her position, I think I would not be myself either. It seemed to her sometimes that the Republic and everything she worked so hard to achieve was crumbling. So I think her actions and words are justifiable.

 

(edited to add more spoiler space! Sorry!)

www.fanfix.com is really good.

I hate the semi-porno ones that everyone seems to like to write. They're horrid. Come on, peeps, this is Star Wars, not Star Whores!


But on the other hand, I've read some good ones, that could be novels in their own right. They're fun to read-in between the books, they don't cost anything and some of them are so bad they're good. Also, the Star Wars Fan Fiction Library (linked above) has an MST3K section-where people give MiST some fan fics. As a raging MiSTie, I love it! Mike/Joel and the 'Bots take on the EU!


I have a story idea right now for Face Loran after {{{spoiler after Solo Command}}}}




















he and Dia go their separate ways. (It isn't in the books, but Allston says their paths diverge and they don't end up together, so I'm working on a Fan fic and giving poor sexy Face a new gal.)

 

Eh, and WHAT, may I ask, is wrong with a little Star Whores?!

I haven't written any semi-porn yet, and I probably never will put it in any of my big stories. However, there is the possibility that I will write a few "deleted scenes", just for those who are interested.

Jae Angel