Star Wars Books Thread

[Ithekro]

The concepts from the pre-Traviss but post-Jango comics as well as the pre-Prequels novels seem to still be used in TCW and Rebels. The main thing that is different is that Jango is presently not considered to be a Mandalorian in canon. Or at least not considered to be so by Death Watch, as I believe it was Vizsla that was denouncing Fett.

 

[JD]

Okay, about Star Wars books. I had a chance to read the new TFA junior novelization, Finn's Story (a companion piece to the similar Rey's Story junior novelization) and liked it. Anyone else looking forward to Catalyst?

I'm really looking forward to Catalyst. It actually sounds like it's going to tie a lot more directly into Rogue One's story than I was expecting. I was expecting it to just be Jyn or one of the other characters off on some kind of mission or something that maybe had some kind small tie into RO, so I was pretty surprised when I saw that it appears to be set up some pretty major plot points for the movie.
I picked up the second collections of the current Star Wars (no subtitle) series and Darth Vader last week, and I'll probably be reading them pretty soon.
Should I set up a seperate thread for the comics, or are you guys OK with discussing them here?
I wonder if Kieron Gillen's "Classified" series that they just announced is a Rogue One tie-in, that could explain why they don't want to reveal it.

 

[USS Firefly]

Just finished Star Wars: Crosscurrent, a pretty detailed book with bloody scenes by Star Wars standards

 

[WebLurker]

The concepts from the pre-Traviss but post-Jango comics as well as the pre-Prequels novels seem to still be used in TCW and Rebels. The main thing that is different is that Jango is presently not considered to be a Mandalorian in canon. Or at least not considered to be so by Death Watch, as I believe it was Vizsla that was denouncing Fett.

Satine was the one who said that Fett was just a bounty hunter using Mandalorian armor. (As I understand it, in Legends, Fett was actually a leader in the True Mandalorian faction and Satine was wrong; in canon, she was right.)

I'm really looking forward to Catalyst. It actually sounds like it's going to tie a lot more directly into Rogue One's story than I was expecting. I was expecting it to just be Jyn or one of the other characters off on some kind of mission or something that maybe had some kind small tie into RO, so I was pretty surprised when I saw that it appears to be set up some pretty major plot points for the movie.

I thought that Jyn herself wasn't in the novel, and that it focused more on her father (I've been hoping that Jyn herself was a major character in it, but whatever).

I picked up the second collections of the current Star Wars (no subtitle) series and Darth Vader last week, and I'll probably be reading them pretty soon.

What do you think of the comics? I've heard a lot of negative or disappointed reviews about them from some parts of the fanbase.

disappointShould I set up a seperate thread for the comics, or are you guys OK with discussing them here?[/quote]

Why not keep it here? They're all books.

I wonder if Kieron Gillen's "Classified" series that they just announced is a Rogue One tie-in, that could explain why they don't want to reveal it.

"First I've heard of it."

 

[JD]

I thought the first collections of Star Wars and Darth Vader were great. Most of the reaction I've seen to the two core OT era series has been positive overall, but the miniseries do seem a bit more mixed.
It finally dawned on me why we were getting so many books and comics set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, it's the only period in the series where the big three were all together. They don't meet until part way through ANH, Han is in carbonite between Empire and Return of the Jedi, and if you go to after RotJ then you are heading into the New Republic era and the set up for The Force Awakens.

 

[kirk55555]

Spoiler

Having read the books and seen the shows, they seem quite similar to me.

To me, they really couldn't be farther apart (outside of the names/armor, obviously).

 

[WebLurker]

I thought the first collections of Star Wars and Darth Vader were great. Most of the reaction I've seen to the two core OT era series has been positive overall, but the miniseries do seem a bit more mixed.

I've heard good things about Darth Vader, not so much "Vader Down." The main Star Wars ongoing is okay from what I've heard, as was the Lando miniseries. Haven't heard much about Kanan or the Obi-Wan and Anakin series. I've heard very few good things about Princess Leia or Chewbacca.

I'm actually not a big comics person (really, the only exceptions are that I am trying to get all the pre-"Ultimatum" Ultimate Spider-Man back issues and the Star Wars: Knight Errant series and will be collecting Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows when that comes out). However, if I was going to try canon Star Wars comics, Vader and the Kanan series are the ones that sound interesting (Vader do to the good publicity and Kanan since I'm a Rebels fan).

Know if the TFA comic book adaptation was any good?

It finally dawned on me why we were getting so many books and comics set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, it's the only period in the series where the big three were all together. They don't meet until part way through ANH, Han is in carbonite between Empire and Return of the Jedi, and if you go to after RotJ then you are heading into the New Republic era and the set up for The Force Awakens.

Hope they don't overdue stories in this era like they did before. Personally, I'm more interested in stuff involving TFA and its characters at the moment, than the original cast.

To me, they really couldn't be farther apart (outside of the names/armor, obviously).

Hmm. Guess we all process this stuff differently. I mean, I can kind of take or leave the Traviss Mandalorians, so that's maybe why I don't mind the changes?

 

[The Wormhole]

Anyone else looking forward to Catalyst?

Hells yeah!

 

[JD]

I've heard good things about Darth Vader, not so much "Vader Down." The main Star Wars ongoing is okay from what I've heard, as was the Lando miniseries. Haven't heard much about Kanan or the Obi-Wan and Anakin series. I've heard very few good things about Princess Leia or Chewbacca.

I'm actually not a big comics person (really, the only exceptions are that I am trying to get all the pre-"Ultimatum" Ultimate Spider-Man back issues and the Star Wars: Knight Errant series and will be collecting Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows when that comes out). However, if I was going to try canon Star Wars comics, Vader and the Kanan series are the ones that sound interesting (Vader do to the good publicity and Kanan since I'm a Rebels fan).

Know if the TFA comic book adaptation was any good?



Hope they don't overdue stories in this era like they did before. Personally, I'm more interested in stuff involving TFA and its characters at the moment, than the original cast.

If you're interested in stuff leading up to TFA there is also the ongoing Poe Dameron comic.

 

[Ithekro]

The trouble with having more TFA era novels is that the story is still coming (as is the state of the galaxy). Unlike in the era of 1978 when things were in flux and it really didn't matter what stories came out, or in the era of 1987 when there was no real idea that there would be an Episode VII ever, and only the vague notion that maybe there could be an Episode I someday, today, we know the story for Episode VIII and IX will be not long after Episode VII and thus there will be no room for an expanded universe until after Episode IX comes out in 2019.

 

[Reverend]

If you're interested in stuff leading up to TFA there is also the ongoing Poe Dameron comic.

Just my personal taste but I'm kinda not digging the Poe book. No particular criticism it just not grabbing me even a little. I'm not one to use the word "meh" lightly, but it pretty much sums up my impression so far.

 

[Mr Light]

I finally bought and read Life Debt. It was way, way, WAY better than Aftermath. This one read like a Star Wars novel, though I still don't care for the present tense prose, I felt this one was much less jarring than the original. The storyline was a lot more cohesive and interesting this time around. While I saw the ending plot twist coming from a mile away, I am looking forward to seeing how this trilogy ends. One that did disappointment is the big mysterious "Fleet Admiral" from the first book is immediately revealed to be a brand new character.

 

[JD]

How close will the Aftermath books get to the beginning of TFA? Are they staying close to the end of RotJ, or are they spread throughout out the OT/ST gap?

 

[Mr Light]

Well, the third book is obviously going to climax with the Battle of Jakku, which happened just a little over a year after ROTJ.
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Battle_of_Jakku

 

[JD]

I hadn't heard about that. Good to know. I wonder if we'll have to wait until after EP IX to really get a full picture of what all happened between RotJ and TFA?

 

[WebLurker]

I hadn't heard about that. Good to know. I wonder if we'll have to wait until after EP IX to really get a full picture of what all happened between RotJ and TFA?

Maybe. It depends on how much of that they're saving for the movies. For instance, I could see them telling stories in the tie-ins about the cold war between the First Order and the Republic, but I'm sure Rey's origin will be in the movies first.

 

[JD]

Yeah, Rey's origin will definitely be saved for the movies, at least at first. Depending on how deep the movies go, I wouldn't be surprised if we did eventually get a book or comic miniseries building things out more.

 

[WebLurker]

Yeah, Rey's origin will definitely be saved for the movies, at least at first. Depending on how deep the movies go, I wouldn't be surprised if we did eventually get a book or comic miniseries building things out more.

I hope the details in the movie are enough to make a satisfying answer by themselves, and any other information the tie-ins add are icing on the cake.

Right now, the book's Rey's Survival Guide and Before the Awakening do tell/show some events from her pre-movie life, for those who'd like to know what she was doing while scrounging tech in the desert.

 

[Reverend]

Keep in mind we're not even a year out from Episode VII's release and we've already had at least three full novels, a limited run comic and an ongoing comic all set in the post-Jedi, Pre-TFA era. That's quite a lot in a short space of time, all things considered so it's a little early to be getting much more of substance.

 

[Set Harth]

Right now, the book's Rey's Survival Guide and Before the Awakening do tell/show some events from her pre-movie life, for those who'd like to know what she was doing while scrounging tech in the desert.

Do they get into the time she spent at the Jedi Academy before being mind-wiped?