The NJO. A good series?

Is it worth reading? Do the Solo kids live in the series timelime? No spoilers please. Just an answer and opinion. Thanks. I just won the Vector Prime-First Edition book on ebay and it is coming soon. I just want some ideas before I start pouring loads of cash into collecting all of the books. Thanks again. Also if you have time go to my other boards asking about the Jedi Apprentice series and YJK series. Thanks. I will load the links soon.


PS-Why does it say the JC forums are down. I'm hear and writing. I don't see anything wrong with them

 

Definitely worth reading. There are ups and downs, as in any work, but they're definitely readable. These books follow the Bantam continuity, so yes, the Solo kids are there.

 

Don't bother reading them. Just get a book, such as "The Essential Chronologies," or something else, that tells a summary of what happened.

The NJO Series is horrible. I don't see how so many people can like it.

 

The NJO is fantastic; I don't see how people can not like it.

Ok, I guess I can see how someone might not like it... like even the best books and series out there, it's got its flaws. But I personally think that with the NJO Star Wars EU has taken one heck of a big step in the right direction. The books are definitely worth reading. At least, if you don't want to collect them all, get VP, BP, and the Edge of Victory series.

 

I don't see it as being too diffrent from the Bantam books. I'm having fun with it.

 

NJO is one of the best SW series ever created! It is a "MUST READ" for anyone who enjoys SW literature!

 

Thanks. I am devinatly going to get the rest of the series if I like this one. How many are there approx.?

 

Eight books so far; two hardcovers (though both can now be found in paperback) and six paperbacks. There'll be nine in late October when Star by Star is released.

 

Man, is it ever worth reading! The first book blew me away....

 

IMO the NJO is very good, although it is also very conteversial. They're no good if you're pessimistic or negative. Just watch your step. This series can get a little rough.

 

Could I ask what you mean by rough Alderraan_?

 

Overall, the NJO is a great series. Some of the books have not been great, in my opinion, but some of them are up there with my favorite Star Wars books (Vector Prime, Conquest), so overall a good read.

 

So far they're good reads, but we're not even half way through the NJO. I can't wait for more books to come out. There will be around 20(+/-) when the series is completed.

Really, you should make this decision for yourself. Go out and buy Vector Prime in paperback, save some money, and ssee you like it. If you do, keep reading. If you don't, read a few more and if you still don't like it, I'm sorry. They're so good.

 

The NJO series is excellent! Very good job so far, though it has had its ups and downs, but what series hasn't? I highly recommend these books; I think you can just buy the five main hardcovers (Vector Prime, Balance Point, Star by Star, HC #4 and HC #5 which will be the last book) and still be able to figure out what's going on--I guess they summarize the events before each HC like in BP, I dunno, but I seriously think you should just read every book, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

 

You could buy just the hardcovers, but you'd miss all of the character development throughout the series. The books between the hardcovers are just as important to the story. I wouldn't recomend buying just the hardcovers. If you want to read the NJO, go for all of it. It's really good.

 

I like them just as much but the New Jedi Order is not anything like the Bantam books. A first I didn't like the series. I skipped Vector Prime and started with Onslaught. Also I don't care what people say about Micheal A. Stackpole, Onslaught does not so this series justice. But I suggest reading them in order and just endure Onslaught. The rest are all good and in my opinion they are getting better with each book. A great series.

 

I can't really define "rough" without giving spoilers.

Let's just say there will be a few "surprises."

 

Rough meaning that it depicts dark times for the Republic, and not on the scale of some droids blowing up (ANR).

 

It is good to be King, says the NJO.

OK where looking at one of the best series' ever. Even though we all did have a hard time seeing Chewbacca go, the point was made. It affected us. I don't know about you but it's been along time since a series did that.

Continue on NJO. We're all behind you.

 

Good old Mel Brooks JediAaron

The NJO series does have its ups and downs and several let downs but I say it is definitely a good read, If you liked the Bantam series you might not like NJO in the beginning but it will grow on you by Conquest and Rebirth.

 

Recent Star By Star Spoilers have destroyed my hope for the NJO as a series.

It's a complete waste of trees, talented authors time, and all in all has to be the worst perversion of an author's universe (George Lucas's) as Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson have corrupted the world of Frank Herbert.

The villians are one dimensional whose advantage is never explained because the authors change their power level inbetween the books and ignore things at their leisure.

The good guys do not fight back but retreat retreat retreat in order to allow entire works of art that authors have spent years developing to be causally slaughtered and defaced like burning down the Louve in order to make the series "exciting".

They cut off the most beautiful hair in the galaxy from Princess Leia *hug* There there Princess....

All in all it's very close to violence pornography being passed off as wholesome entertainment.

The best way I liken it to be is this.

Someone releases a new "Wizard of Oz" series book in which:

A Dorothy is raped and beheaded
B Princess Ozma is tortured to Death after being overthrown by her own people
C They destroy the Emerald City and crush it dust
D Commit genocide on the Munchkins
E Have the heroes turn on each other.
F Have some young punks kill the bad guys after their is nothing worth saving.

Really the Book series is comming to the point where I say "LET THE VONG HAVE IT" because theres going to be nothing left of the Star Wars way of life so why bother fighting?

Oh yeah

G The heroes are massively powered, dumbed, and couraged down so that they can't beat the bad guys.

-Charlemagne

 

Much worse than the Bantam books IMO. The series is not flowing together like a series should. There are dropped plotlines and inconsistent characterization all over the place. Way too much darkness and destruction piled upon a couple of characters while nothing at all happens to other characters. It's obvious that only certain fanbases were taken into consideration when this series was planned out.

 

I Definitely agree with Charlemagne19 about the villains being extremely under developed, and their magic ability to some how have new powers in every book.
Question though did the writers for NJO read the other NJO books before they wrote their own?
Still I did like Vector Prime and Conquest. But I think that the enjoyment a person gets out of NJO is not so much based on Star Wars as much as that individual likes and the author. For Example the wider look at the Vong gods and class system in the edge of victory series is very easily compared to some of Greg Keyes other books. Also I will be the first to complain about the misuse of past characters, but in books like Conquest when the focus was on Anakin, instead of Luke, Leia, Han and Mara, I actually enjoyed it more. We are only through eight books though and that's from what I've heard not even half way, so to say that the NJO is disappointing is a little bit premature from where I stand, and I do think it is worth reading, if for no better reason it may get better.

 

The NJO is fascinating, for the most part. Any real Star Wars fan can't miss it.

 

NJO is... well not really a kiddy book due to the violence but I really wouldn't call it an adult book either it's sort of inbetween. If you're a Solo Kids fan I suggest you read it, if you're a Luke and Mara fan and want to see some romance between them read the NJO if you're a Han and Leia fan... well that's a tricky question but I guess no, you shouldn't read a few books if you like Han and Leia as a couple. If you're a Luke, Han, Leia, Lando, Chewbacca, Threepio, Artoo fan then I say no, don't read it. If you're an Imperial don't read it... I'm kinda disappointed that they didn't show Pellaeon in the series he was one of the most interesting characters.