Any anyone recommend some good books that explore the EU?

[Mole]

(extended universe)

Damn, I've been reading character bios on starwars.com, and there is some really interesting stuff in there about the EU... Exar Kun, Han Solo and Leia's children (who all become Jedi), etc...

Chewbacca dies in the EU at some point. :(
http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/anakinsolo/eu.html

[ice]

OMG chewies dead?!?!?!?! how can i live my life now with this knowledge.......damn the expanded universe..........


/keeps reading cause really interested now

[DUKE HARDKNOCK]

It would've been better if you hadn't gone ahead and spoil everything for yourself, but anyway. I'm not a major fan of the Yuuzhan Vong concept so I haven't really bothered with the New Jedi Order (NJO) series yet, but there's some very enjoyable books in the New Republic (NR) series, plus some set in the ANH era.

The Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn are really the quintessential EU novels, they're must-reads. Michael Stackpole's X-Wing books are good by and large, although I never found them quite as engaging as many others; they tend to be a little verbose in my opinion and Stackpole's stock character, Corran Horn, isn't quite as interesting as certain other EU characters. The Wraith Squadron books by Aaron Allston (also part of the X-Wing series) are very enjoyable however. They don't have quite the scope of certain other NR novels, but they're well written with good action set-pieces and a lot of humour. These are probably the best choices for getting started on the NR series, as they take place early on (a few years after RotJ; the NR series end about 15 years after if memory serves) and they incorporate quite a few familiar characters (especially Zahn's books).

As far as the ANH-era novels are concerned, the Han Solo trilogy by A.C. Crispin is a fun read that never gets very complex but which nicely expands on Han's history, whilst explaining a thing or two from the films and some other EU novels. Though I always feel K.W. Jeter's Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy feels a little more alien and esoteric for a Star Wars story, the crazy stuff it throws at you is entertaining and intriguing - and there's nothing wrong with Boba Fett being mysterious and nigh-invincible, either. Lastly, I can wholeheartedly recommend Steve Perry's Shadows of the Empire (which does indeed tie in with the much less recommendable N64/PC game of the same name). Set between ESB and RotJ, it basically explores the three main threads that the first left us with (Luke's quest to become a Jedi, Han and Leia's budding romance and Vader's choice between his master or his son), while adding background to the events of RotJ. It's just one book so it doesn't take too long to finish, it's highly accessible and most of all plain enjoyable. If you're not sure about tackling an entire trilogy right away, or any EU novel at all, SotE is a very solid choice for getting a taste of things.

EDIT:
OMG [SPOILER]
Hey nice going with revealing Mole's discrete spoiler to everyone on the Internet!

[Mole]

I have some old Star Wars books, there were 3 volumes... I can't remember what they were called, but they take place after Return of the Jedi. Luke flies a Y-Wing instead of an X-Wing, and someone plants a bomb on it that almost kills him. I also remember there was a Zorba the Hutt, who is out to avenge Jabba the Hutt.

That's all I remember.

[DUKE HARDKNOCK]

I believe that's Shadows Of The Empire (Y-Wing incident) and the Han Solo trilogy (Zorba) respectively, but it's been ages since I read those books so I may or may not be correct.

[Cop]

I thought Shadows of the Empire took place between V en VI?


Anyway, i can recommend "I, Jedi" by Michael A. Stackpole. Read it twice already. It's about Corran Horn (of Rogue Squadron) who attends Luke's Jedi Academy. The main villain is that Exar Kun fella...

And if the 2nd book of my Thrawn trilogy ever arrives, I'll be able to finally read that...

[Mole]

I was reading up on Barriss Offee and Luminara Unduli, they are some really interesting Jedi. Hope there are some books sometime that go into detail about more of the Jedi Knights.

[DUKE HARDKNOCK]

I thought Shadows of the Empire took place between V en VI?
It does.

Anyway, i can recommend "I, Jedi" by Michael A. Stackpole. Read it twice already. It's about Corran Horn (of Rogue Squadron) who attends Luke's Jedi Academy. The main villain is that Exar Kun fella...
I thought "I, Jedi" was all right, if a little uninspiring. The only thing that truly interested me was Stackpole's admirable attempt at fixing Kevin J. Anderson's stupidity (see the Jedi Academy trilogy and the part of "I, Jedi" where Horn goes to said Academy). I wouldn't recommend choosing it as a starting point for EU novels though - not just because there's more compelling ones around, but because a lot of things don't make much sense if you haven't read the ones that take place before "I, Jedi".

I was reading up on Barriss Offee and Luminara Unduli, they are some really interesting Jedi. Hope there are some books sometime that go into detail about more of the Jedi Knights.
Those names don't ring any bells, so I presume they're prequel-era Jedi - in which case the Republic/Jedi novels are what you're looking for. I haven't read any of them yet so I can't help you there, but you can always find some reviews on Amazon and maybe shumph's more familiar with them. Also, the Tales Of The Jedi series tell of the great Sith War that's referenced in KotOR and introduce some of the more famous Jedi and Sith (including Exar Kun). They're (co-)written by Anderson, but apparently they're pretty good (it probably helps that they're in comic format).

[Mole]

Yea, Barriss and Luminara are from Episode III... They appeared in the execution arena scene in Episode II, but very briefly.

[ice]

so where would be a good starting point for the EU

[DUKE HARDKNOCK]

so where would be a good starting point for the EU
"Heir To The Empire" by Timothy Zahn. If you like it, go read the second and third book ("Dark Force Rising" and "The Last Command").

[Mole]

I believe I have read "Dark Force Rising". It sounds very familiar.

[Cop]

"Heir To The Empire" by Timothy Zahn. If you like it, go read the second and third book ("Dark Force Rising" and "The Last Command").
You pretty much have to cuz there's no real ending to the first book...

More disaster on my volume 2 btw. I finally cancelled the US edition cuz apparently it is being reprinted or some shit and has been for months. So I recently ordered the UK version (the size of the book is different, but I don't care anymore)...

Guess what: yup, delayed for no apparent reason as well...

Why is it so hard to get that book?

[ice]

cause stuff happens in it