Lit GENERAL QUESTION THREAD (What to read? Where to start? What's canon? What's not? Duros, etc.)

Well as of right now, Im more interested in getting either Approaching Storm or Jedi Trial.

I just said I read the other prequel in betweener novels. I just want to know which of the two is better to buy and read.

 

The Great Gatsby.

 

I've read Approaching Storm more often, and enjoyed it more. But then, I like Alan Dean Foster's writing style in general.

 

Okay, I'll try to give you some info so you can make a more informed decision, then at the end I'll give you my recommendation.


In The Approaching Storm, Luminara, Barriss, Obi-Wan and Anakin try to solve that "border dispute on Ansion" mentioned early in AOTC; that is, they're trying to keep Ansion in the Republic and prevent it from joining the Separatists. This plot provides a bit of a look into the Separatist faction, what is important to them, what they're trying to do, etc. IIRC, you get some perspective from Shu Mai, which is relatively rare.

A significant portion of the book involves Luminara, Barriss, Obi-Wan and Anakin together, trying to accomplish their mission, and the two Master/Apprentice pairs are compared. Barriss plays the more traditional Jedi apprentice to Anakin's more unorthodox existence. Some of it was slightly worth reading, I suppose. Luminara and Obi-Wan are sorta played like two single parents sharing thoughts on parenting.

They got involved in some sort of ritual with the natives that's really, uh, silly to say the least. It's kinda bad, but so silly it's kinda worth reading.

There's a little primitive native that follows them around, he's a bit of a "cute" comic relief, like a Kowakian monkey-lizard. He's somewhat amusing at times.

Barriss has an interesting sub-plot with two, uh, brain damaged natives. I thought it was nice.

That's it for The Approaching Storm, from what I remember. Maybe others can provide more details.


Jedi Trial is supposedly about Anakin's Jedi Trial to Knighthood. It's more of a military fiction novel. It's written by two former soldiers and they get pretty damn detailed, especially in terms of logistics and all the things that are required to make a military campaign happen.

The plot is about the planet Praesitlyn, a major comms planet for the Republic, being invaded by the Separatists. This entire novel is basically about this battle and little else.

IIRC, Padawan Skywalker is sent with Nejaa Halcyon, Corran Horn's grandfather, to defend the planet. Kenobi is on another mission elsewhere.

Halcyon is married, and obviously Anakin relates to this.

The leader of the rather massive droid forces is a quirky Muun banker turned Admiral. Ventress has a very minor role, mostly a cameo.


So which interests you more, the characters and politics of The Approaching Storm, or the military fiction of Jedi Trial?

Personally, I have to recommend The Approaching Storm. TAS is dull and slow, but it's still more dense than Jedi Trial, which is horribly, horribly written with the perhaps the plainest prose in the history of Star Wars novels, and some of the worst characters. The Approaching Storm definitely has the edge in terms of weird amusement, and amusement in general.

For me, TAS was the better read, it's certainly more memorable due to some silliness, and I'm more glad to have read it than Jedi Trial, which was not only dreadful but mostly forgettable. Anakin's Jedi trial has been done elsewhere, and far better.

But if you have a real passion for military fiction, Jedi Trial might be better for you. Just don't expect good military fiction.

 

i like Rogue Planet

 

Should I check out Cloak of Deception or would I be fine if already read Darth Plagueis?

I hear the events of Cloak of Deception are basically covered in darth Plagueis...

if so does Cloak of Deception come off as boring politics?

 

Read both. Cloak of Deception is hardly boring politics.

 

Cloak of Deception is closer to a political thriller than anything else.

 

I rarely appreciate political thrillers.

 

Cloak of Deception is one of the best prequel novels. It's a must-read.

 

And it comparison to Darth Plagueis it probably has more plot. Especially more plot that you don't have to lash together yourself.

 

Oddly, I much preferred Plagueis...probably says more about me than anything, though.

 

i have it, i might have to refamiliarize myself with it.

 

Cool..thanks everybody...you guys are all a great source for guidance...way better than those Amazon reviews!

 

I stopped reading Star Wars books after FOTJ Apocalypse (January 2013). Where can I find a list of books that have come out since then?

 

Well, the lazy answer is just to use Wookieepedia's Real-World Chronology starting with 2013. But I don't know if I'd actually recommend reading all of the books that have come out since then.

 

At least read Kenobi, it is really, really good.

 

Kenobi and Mindor. But i think NJO should be read if you have the dough, or an extensive amount of books at the library

 

Okay, this is sort of a weird question that I'm not sure I'll be able to find an answer to, but: has there ever been any reference to an equivalent of TV series in the GFFA? Basically every mention of holovids I can recall makes them out to be analogous to feature films; have there been any indications otherwise?

 

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ryloth_Place

 

Good grief.

 

Though still less of a soap opera then the Republic Commando books.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I have read NJO, LOTF and FOTJ (and am still quite bitter about several plot points from all 3 series).

Kenobi sounds very interesting, and I'll definitely check that one out. Mindor also sounds interesting.

Is XWing Mercy Kill similar to Allston's previous XWing books?

How does Choices of One compare to Zahn's previous books? I loved TTT and HoT but was a bit underwhelmed by Outbound Flight and Survivor's Quest.

 

Yep also pretty much a sequel to the other X-Wing books.

Sadly not that well it is by no means terrible, but not great either. It is a Sequel to Allegiance, if you enjoyed that give it a read, otherwise feel free to skip though try to hunt down the Zahn Short Story Crisis of Faith, as it is really good.

 

Mercy Kill has a certain standalone quality to it, but it also works as an epilogue to the Allston X-Wing novels as a whole. Tonally and writing-style -wise, I think it's pretty similar to them. Would recommend.

I would not recommend Choices of One, however. It's sort of the low point of Zahn's opus, in my opinion.