When to read outbound flight? No Spoilers Please

I have been reading the EU in chronological order for awhile now, and I'm right in the middle of the Thrawn trilogy (Dark Force Rising).

My question is, when will I be ready to read Outbound Flight. Right after this series, or should I read more of the Zahn books first before I go back and read Outbound Flight?? What will make for the most satisfying read, or does it matter at all?

No spoilers please.

Thanks.

 

Read the other Zhan Books then Outbound Flight.

 

I found that reading Outbound Flight after Survivor's Quest had a remarkable effect of adding depth and insight to SQ (I hope it's not a spoiler to say they're linked, plot-wise)... but I don't think that OBF really "spoilers" very much later stuff - so I also suspect that it would work the other way round. If you're on a Zahn roll after the Thrawn trilogy, try it then...?

- The Imperial Ewok

 

Part of Survivor's Quest is the "mystery" of what happened to Outbound Flight. Reading OF first might take away from your experience with SQ. I would definetly hold off on OF until after.

 

Agreed.

It's the Prequel Trilogy vs Original Trilogy all over again (only on a much smaller scale and, er, completely different). Do you start from Episode I and lose the impact of "Luke, I am your father", or watch the preqels last to appreciate how they add context to an ending you've already seen?

Survivor's Quest is a mystery at heart, and while reading Outbound Flight probably wouldn't ruin too much (though you might want someone who's actually read OF to confirm that), it would cheapen the "unknown" vibe of the former.

I'd suggest reading SQ first. Chances are you could go either way on this, but it is the intended reading order.

 

Thanks, everyone. I was going to ask about this on the "What to read?" stickied thread, but now I guess I have my answer.

 

The end of OBF would probably take away most of the mystique of SQ. I suggest reading SQ first (after the Hand of Thrawn duo) and then follow it up with OBF.