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I'm an ignorant being, and obviously unlike some of you guys, I've never ever read a single Star Wars novel. But I've discovered that this is not a good way to live, and have promptly decided to get my head in a book.
Having no knowledge of the books or their authors, I wondered if someone would be kind enough to suggest one to start me off? Maybe your favourites?

Actually, I think we have fielded one like this before...

I assume you are talking EU books here (which get varying degrees of respect from board members... long story).

Some of them are total rubbish and some of them are surprisingly good. best not to take them too seriously, of course. But I am not an expert.

Truce at Bakura is a good place to start- it is set very shortly after ROTJ, directly following on.

I understand the NJO series has been doing good business but I haven't read any of it.

Rogue Planet has received mixed revioews but is also a good place to start as you only need to have seen TPM to know the nackground.

I'm sure others can help more.

Thanks, I've always managed to pick them up in shops but never seem to get any further.

IF you like the OT then get the 'Tales' books. Tales from Mos Eisley, From the BOunty Hunters, and Jabbas Palace is a great place to start and if you dont happen to like one story you can skip ahead to the next one without missing anything. Its also a good place to see how the authors style's fit. THat way you can see what else they wrote in the EU.

I've stayed away from the NEw Jedi Order for now because I have one or two books left to go.

I really liked the Thrwan series, I think it was the best of the bunch. I also liked the Young Han Solo books. But my favorites are the X-wing series (and I- Jedi) Wedge is great and so is Hobbie and Wes (Yub Yub commander).

Sorry Ushgarak, but I thought Truce at Bakura wasnt that good. Neither was The Crystal Star. I'd also stay far away from any books made before the '90s. Although I did like Splinter of the Minds Eye it had nothing to do with the actual events between ANH and ESB. (As many of my friends thought in '79)

To sum it up, just enjoy the books but dont take anything that happens in there along with any charactor that is mentioned as LORE, just take it as fun.

I've read one book..can't remember which one it is though I'm not big on EU myself.

Well, you should read some of those books I posted.

If you like Han and Leia you should read The Courtship of Princess Leia. It is a fun book to read and 3p0 sings a great song

It also has a great view of how Han feels about Leia.

I'd also recommend The Young Han Solo Trilogy again. It has a great story and lots of drama that some of the other books are missing.

I didn't think Truce at Bakura was too bad. I'm still collecting EU books cause I want to read them in order of publication (just because I'm goofy like that about things). Splinter of the Minds Eye.....not a bad story, but who would have known....hehehe.

Have you read the OT, Rhea ?

Start reading the novelisations first, I'd say. I liked the Timothy Zahn trilogy (Heir to the Empire etc.) and I have the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy which is okay if you like Fett and Bossk. Not great stuff but entertaining.

Just like the real EU then not great stuff but entertaining.

Tales from Mos Eisley is very cool if, like me, you like finding out about on-screen characters background stories. Tales from Jabba's palace is the same....especially if you wanna find out what happened to Boba Fett after falling into the Sarlacc Pit.

Tales from Mos Eisley? Is that the one with Cantina stories? Written by lots of SW writers? I wouldn't mind reading that one...

No, I've not read the OT, any good?

Well I'm a "see the movie" then "read the book" kind, so I saw each one before I read the novelization. They weren't bad.

Yep queeg, it's the Cantina stories. They are great short stories, and it gives a look into the lives of the Cantina patrons including the Bith Band. I like that each story includes the films events from the point of view of the individuals.

I also really liked the Rancor Keepers story in Tales from Jabbas Palace. It brought a tear to my eye.

Also George wrote ANH, and it includes the missing scenes that are on the Behind the Magic CDs. Red squardren is named Blue for some reason

Yes, that's right. Guess he had the blues when he rewrote the script. Okay, sorry, bad joke.

I see-and-read to, Gundy. We are so much as one.

Well, great sith minds think alike, you know.....

Not just think.

George Lucas did NOT write the novel of ANH, even though he is credited as such. Alan Dean Foster wrote it.

Yes, Ush, but ANH is still GL's story even if someone else novelized it.

Well on the book I have of ANH it says George Lucas and George Lucas only, not a singele word is mentioned about Alan Dean Foster.

Guess he was GL's ghost writer then.

I know he wrote the book "Splinter in the minds eye" in 1978 but that is the only I have seen of Alan Dean Foster.

Yes, Keo, of COURSE ANH is GL's story! I never said that it wasn't! But someoine said he wrote ANH the book with the extra scenes and I just mpointed out that he didn't.

I assure you it is true, Finti. ADF wrote it for him. he very often wrties books of films (even books that come out before the film did...) And if you know ADF's style, you will see it there...

He must have written it as a Ghost Writer because he is not listed as the author on the sleeve, or infact anywhere in the book. The book has aways been published as authored by Lucas, to the best of my knowledge.

I guess, as a young director and writer at the time, it would make sense for GL to use a Ghost Writer, and if you're going to use one then you could do far woprse that ADF.

GL's listed as author on both my US paperback from 1977 as well as on the Dutch translation from the early eighties.

Like I say, he is always credited as author. This isn't a question of subsequent editions.

No. I wonder what changed his mind then.

Anyone see anything on this issue from the different bios out there?

Fair enough, but apart from your interpretation of the writing style, how else do we know that ADF did the deed?

I am surprised more people did not know this.

Here is an interview with ADF where it is mentioned.
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~lightsabre/alandeanfosterinterview.htm

If you look at publishing details for the book, it always says it is ghost-written by ADF. It is on numerous fan sites (including TFN)

GL doesn't like writing.

That's why the scripts are always just finshed the day before shooting.

and modified through out shooting, all the way till the end when time has run out and GL cannot do any more with dialogue, just tinkering with the shots and CGIs.

Yes, he lets ILM fix it.

such is the power of sole ownership.

It says he wrote epI as well , not. Thats by Terry Brooks.

Well, GL did write the script and that's why Jonathan Hale has come to help him on Episode 2.