Spok, WA Expanded Universe

Hey there everyone. I'm new to the fan forums, so if this question has already been discussed, just let me know...but I'm curious. I read something the other day just completely trashing the Expanded Universe. All of the books, the video games, and other related things. Now, I'm not trying to start a riot, but I'm just curious what everyone's take on the Expanded Universe is. I love it myself. Yeah, I was a little pissed at the people they killed off in the New Jedi Order series, but even heroes can't live forever. I think it's awesome that people have given so much life to the Star Wars universe. Instead of having the 5(soon to be 6) movies as all there is, we have a huge number of books and video games that stretch the story out and bring us new characters. Look at what it has brought us so far....both Corran Horn and Mara Jade. These were two excellent characters and I think it's great that they are out there. Anywho...what does everyone else feel? Again, I'm not trying to start a battle here or upset people, I'm just curious.

 

I like the EU for two reasons:
1. It allows for greater exoploration of characters and events
2. It introduces new characters, like you said Mara and Corran, Kyle Katarn, and so on.
I dislike it for two reasons:
1. Some of the stories I disagree with, where characters go and so on
2. It provides a huge ground for conflict between the movies and EU
That being said, while I don't always agree with what authors write I do like the diversity that it adds to the Star Wars galaxy.

 

I'm part of the EU (Star Wars Galaxies) So without the EU, Jarus Sarn wouldn't exist!!! I'm glad it's there, and Dar does make some good points.

 

Yeah, I definately agree....there are some things that the various authors do that just make you wonder what they were thinking. But then again, I guess that's their right as the author and creative force behind their particular story.

J

 

The EU gives the fans a chance to hear new stories, meet new characters, and experience more of the SW universe froma different POV. I like what GL has done, but I don't always agree with him. The EU gives me a chance to enjoy someone else take on SW. Plus you get to have all the backstories on characters you otherwise would have been guessing about (Boba Fett for example).

 

I love EU, because it does give extra information, plus I love reading .

New characters and more detail about places help create additional images in my heads of various locations and creatures in the SW galaxy

 

Downside of EU: They killed Chewie!!!

 

Yeah, the death of Chewie was the biggest downer of the EU...and I wasn't really fond of them killing off Anakin either.

 

Killing Anakin bothered me a *lot* more than Chewie because:

A) Up to that point, they had been setting up Anakin and Tahiri as the major heroes of the NJO storyline. If Yoda's spirit were around, he'd have been regulrly reminding everyone their destinty it was to defeat the Vong.

and B) He was killed because some dumbass among The Powers That Be decided there could be "name recognition" issues with people getting him confused with Anakin <i>Skywalker</i>. Offing him weakend the NJO series IMO becuase other characters got shoehorned into his part of the plotline.

That said, I really enjoy the EU, even some of the goofier stuff from the 80's. One of the things I really liked about NJO was how each mini-arc drew on and characters and events from older EU stories.

 

Yeah, I agree with that. Plus, when they offed Anakin, they all but shelved Tahiri, who was really becoming an interesting new character. Now I doubt we'll hear much from her in any of the new books to come. That sucks!