Poll: Fav Star Wars Novel Era

[Lonemagpie]

The Bantam era, with some of the prequel stuff running up

 

[Mr Light]

I agree the Zahn books are over-rated... except for the original trilogy. I've re-read it many many times (more than any other SW book) and it really is a page turner, full of fascinating characters (Thrawn and Karrde) and suspenseful action set-pieces. And the ending with Thrawn victorious and the ingenious attack on Coruscant was just amazing... too bad the actual end was so anti-climatic (Luuuuuuuuuuuuuke and Thrawn's end).

Well, Allegiance was pretty good as well

 

[Turtletrekker]

too bad the actual end was so anti-climatic (Luuuuuuuuuuuuuke and Thrawn's end).

Exactly my problem with the trilogy. A story can have a great begining and middle, but if the end sucks, then the whole thing sucks retroactively.

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

None.

Personally, I love the Legacy era of novels.

 

[Stevil2001]

I agree the Zahn books are over-rated... except for the original trilogy.

The thing is, I think that when most people rate Zahn highly, they are talking about the original trilogy, maybe Hand of Thrawn. I've never met a soul who thought Allegiance was fantastic.

 

[Skywalker]

I really wish Del Rey would go back to the Bantam model of loosely connected trilogies, duologies, and standalones. I'm tired of the overly long and drawn out megaseries.

 

[Lindley]

I agree the Zahn books are over-rated... except for the original trilogy.

The thing is, I think that when most people rate Zahn highly, they are talking about the original trilogy, maybe Hand of Thrawn. I've never met a soul who thought Allegiance was fantastic.

That's the one with the rogue Stormtroopers and Mara, right? It was pretty good. I've read better, but it was certainly a respectable entry.

 

[Mr Light]

The opening trilogy was classic. Hand of Thrawn was, uh, interesting, but not amazing. It was an decent end to the Bantam stories but not particularly huge.

Survivor's Quest I found almost totally forgettable. Outbound Flight was pretty cool to see Thrawn in the Prequel Era. Allegiance was pretty good to see the heroes and Mara during the ANH-ESB era. I wish they'd do more novels set during the OT, seems like a big wasted opportunity (I'm completely unfamiliar with the 80s Marvel comics of course).

 

[Capt_Piett]

I think the last fun Star Wars book I remember reading was Tattooine Ghost. Since then, they've all been so bloody dark.

 

[FPAlpha]

too bad the actual end was so anti-climatic (Luuuuuuuuuuuuuke and Thrawn's end).

Exactly my problem with the trilogy. A story can have a great begining and middle, but if the end sucks, then the whole thing sucks retroactively.

Well.. when you constantly describe how awesome Thrawn is, how he can analyze the psychology of an entire race by looking at their art and when the best the Alliance has to offer can barely pull off a draw or minor victory (if Thrawn is not commanding personally that is).. it is hard to get a satisfying climax and ending.
The way it ended it was the only possible conclusion.

As for my personal pick.. most of the Bantam era because we got many new characters besides the movie ones and some really good storytelling for entertainment books (mainly the X-Wing books which are amongst the best Star Wars has to offer).

After that comes the NJO series because of the scope and what happened within. I don't think the Vong are too dark.. they are simply alien and developed their own culture which is so different from the SW galaxy.
However the conclusion of the NJO really was lacking in my opinion because it felt like they pulled it out of a hat and shoehorned it into the story because they didn't have a clue how they could beat the Vong convincingly (same problem as with Thrawn).

I haven't read a single pre-SW4 book since the movies ruined this era for me and i hold little interest in the stories or the characters (might read the book where Jar Jar dies though ).