Where to Start? (Newbie)

Hi guys! I've been a fan of the series since I first watched Star Wars back in 1984 (only 4 at the time). I've never been a "hardcore" fan, in the sense that I don't have near the knowledge and expertise as most of you seem to have. I am, however, finding myself with a lot more free time lately and wanted to start reading some of the SW novels.

The problem is when I walked into the library and saw the sheer number of novels that have been written I didn't have a clue where to begin! I tried picking one up, but it I was missing so much of the background story that the novel didn't make much sense to me!

This is why I'm coming to you guys for help. Could someone please tell me a good starting point to begin my Star Wars enlightenment? Any particualr authors worth reading? Avoiding? Any favorites?

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

 

First off welcome to the boards! I started the EU at the Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, Last Command) If you want to start chronologicly start with if you like young readers, Legacy of the Jedi but if your only into adult books, Cloak of Deception.

 

Well, we don't all agree on this, but most people suggest the Thrawn Trilogy (Hier to the Empire, dark Force Rising, and The Last command) as a good starting point.

Which book was it that you tried to read but didn't understand too well?

Also are you interested in prequel/Clone Wars at all or are you more interested in the classic characters?

 

If I were you, you should start with the Thrawn Trilogy (looks like we're all agreed on that ) and then go through the X-wing series. There are a few books to avoid, but that comes later. I guess it all depends on what you want to know, because the prequel stuff is kinda a class all its own. I do recommend starting at a point and going forward chronologically, though. Good luck.

 

Thanks a lot for the help guys! I guess it's decided that I'll start with the Thrawn Trilogy (and if my math is correct I have 3 books to read! )

clonewarseu, sorry I don't recall the name of the novel that I had initially picked up.


As far as the classic character vs. prequel goes I guess I'm partial to the prequel stuff, it just seems really cool. Then again, I've never read any of the latter novels (after ROTJ) for any real comparison. I guess I'd like to follow the order that makes the most sense (whichever that might be).

Again, thanks a lot for your help. I know a lot of boards out there who don't really acknowedge newbies all that much, thanks for taking the time to help!

 

The Thrawn Trilogy is a great place to start. I didn't start there (i have wanted desperately to marry Boba Fett since the first time i saw ESB so i started with the bounty hunter wars), but the thrawn trilogy has so many characters from the movies that its a good place to begin

 

As they say... All great trilogies come in threes.

 

Definatly Thrawn Trilogy, as you have decided, then you should either go to X-wing (which I'm partal to, because those are the first EU books I read) or you could go to the Hand of Thrawn Douology wich takes place ten years after the books you are reading, but it is connected to TTT (The Thrawn Trilogy).

You said you are intersted in Prequel Era books. There are two Darth Maul books (I can't remember their names) then tehre are the movie lead in novels, and finaly you get into Clone Wrs stuff.

 

I personally feel that a great place to start, and where I started, was Shadows of the Empire. The story is very easy to get into for those who have only seen the movies before. It uses all the same characters, and a situation that we know happens, just not the specifics. Plus it's a fun story altogether, and it starts at the end of ESB up until the beginning of ROTJ.

I only began reading the Thrawn trilogy, so I don't know about that yet. I think it's better to go in order, personally. After all, Heir to the Empire is what, 6 years after ROTJ? As much as I hear it sucks, I sorta wanted to read Truce at Bakura first.

 

Good pick.

 

oh yeah i forgot Shadows of the Empire....that is one great book. i would highly reccomend that and the thrawn trilogy

 

Thanks for the help guys. So let me just make sure I'm getting this in the right order:
i) First read Shadows of the empire
ii) Second is the Thrawn Trilogy
iii) X-wing series
iv) Hand of Thrawn Douology

Too bad the libraries are closed today. I'm actually really excited and anxious to get started! As geeky as it sounds, I've actually got butterflies!

 

That's good. You have taken your first step into a larger world.

 

Thanks for the clarifying the chronology of the books 2nd quest. Judging by the reviews the X-Wing series has received on this site it seems like they're going to be very entertaining!

ThrawnRocks...I'm somewhat worried that I'll like these books too much. I have an uncanny ability to waste time and procrastinate. If I end up liking these books I might not get anything done at all!

 

Yeah! There are way too many books And they're contracted to write 18 more!

 

Don't listen to any of these buffoons

You have to start with the Glove of Darth Vader Books. After that, everything else makes perfect sense...


Just kidding.

In fact, you should probably try to stay away from these books at all costs.

 

You should read (chronologically) from after ROTJ

Truce At Bakura - immediately after ROTJ
X-Wing 1-7
Courtship of Princess Leia
Tatooine Ghost
The Thrawn Trilogy
X-Wing 8
I,Jedi and the Jedi Academy Trilogy
X-Wing 9
Hand Of Thrawn Duology
New Jedi Order 1-19

(those are just the ones I think are good)

Also read Han Solo Trilogy (both of them) and the Lando trilogy and Shadows of the Empire

 

young jedi knights is a good series to read

 

Han Solo Adventures also.

 

I read the Thrawn Trilogy first, then the X-wing books, then the Thrawn Duology. Definitely read the Young Jedi Knights books, probably the Junior Jedi Knights too, before you start with the New Jedi Order--you'll understand the characters better that way.

~Rogue

 

Thanks a lot for the help guys and for making me feel welcome. I honestly didn't believe I would receive more than one response to my question (if even one response). Lord_Riven, thanks for the detailed chronology, I picked up Shadows of the Empire today and am just now starting to read it. I'll make sure to follow your order, especially because I hate reading books where it's already assumed that you should now such-and-such about certain characters.

evil and rogue, thatnks for the heads up on the Young Jedi Knights series. I'll make sure to keep them in mind.

G_M_Kevin, I'm assuming you've read all these books more than once. Am I right?