The Battle Bar, Our Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy

Recent events in New York bar me from proclaiming it the actual bastion of civilization, which I suspect lies northeast of India in a Himalayan fortress manned by strong men and women of various skin tones, governed by a powerfully built, dashing oak of an Irishman disguising himself as a tall Japanese man in Dalai Lama robes, and replete with snow leopard kittens and shaggy imported ibex. That said, you are all disappointing. Move somewhere worthy.

Bowling Green, Kentucky is where it's at.

Just sayin'.

Dude, isn't Bowling Green in Ohio?????

An inferior Bowling Green.

One time we stopped at this rest area in Kentucky while driving down to Atlanta, and I got racially abused lmao

That's part of our oft-touted Southern charm and hospitality, you see.

Selective anecdote: residents and volunteers in Joplin, Missouri seem perfectly pleasant. Your people may be unfairly mischaracterized by coastal folklore, Tempest.

Ann Arbor is a wonderful place, that I can tell you.

And who else is hype to see the Outback Bowl tomorrow?

Brilliant, handsome men are mischaracterized by coastal folklore?

Caucasians from easily interchangeable states (i.e. anything between the southernmost tip of NY and GA and everything inland except Texas, the shadowlands; we must never go there).

edit: Some people have a thing for Chicago or D.C., which is fine.

What's the best EU novel? Best-written, most entertaining, most engrossing, most emotionally appealing, etc. For purposes of this discussion, consider the book that qualifies in all these respects.

It's not a debate, but I am genuinely curious. Personally, I think it's Yoda: Dark Rendezvous; it really has it all: Unparalleled characterization, sublime prose & sophisticated vocabulary, and moments that span the emotional spectrum from hilarious to somber to macabre to horrifying.

Essentially, I need a read (or possibly a re-read) list for the coming year.

Originally posted by The_Tempest
What's the best EU novel? Best-written, most entertaining, most engrossing, most emotionally appealing, etc. For purposes of this discussion, consider the book that qualifies in all these respects.

It's not a debate, but I am genuinely curious. Personally, I think it's Yoda: Dark Rendezvous; it really has it all: Unparalleled characterization, sublime prose & sophisticated vocabulary, and moments that span the emotional spectrum from hilarious to somber to macabre to horrifying.

Essentially, I need a read (or possibly a re-read) list for the coming year.

Shatterpoint by Mathew Stover.

Amazing book; has everything.

Alright everyone - Have a good night and a Happy New Year! 😮‍💨

Yes, Happy New Year everyone. May it be as agonisingly awful as the last one was.

Originally posted by The_Tempest
What's the best EU novel? Best-written, most entertaining, most engrossing, most emotionally appealing, etc. For purposes of this discussion, consider the book that qualifies in all these respects.

It's not a debate, but I am genuinely curious. Personally, I think it's Yoda: Dark Rendezvous; it really has it all: Unparalleled characterization, sublime prose & sophisticated vocabulary, and moments that span the emotional spectrum from hilarious to somber to macabre to horrifying.

Essentially, I need a read (or possibly a re-read) list for the coming year.

The Thrawn Trilogy was acclaimed, and said to the best. I never read them, however. In the stand-alone category, I read Shatterpoint and Labyrinth of Evil, and I thought both were really good.

I still prefer RotS personally.

VVV Yes.

Keep the suggestions coming. Is ROTS your favorite?

Originally posted by The_Tempest
What's the best EU novel? Best-written, most entertaining, most engrossing, most emotionally appealing, etc. For purposes of this discussion, consider the book that qualifies in all these respects.

It's not a debate, but I am genuinely curious. Personally, I think it's Yoda: Dark Rendezvous; it really has it all: Unparalleled characterization, sublime prose & sophisticated vocabulary, and moments that span the emotional spectrum from hilarious to somber to macabre to horrifying.

Essentially, I need a read (or possibly a re-read) list for the coming year.

Tzeentch._
Jedi Trial

I have yet to read Dark Rendezvous, but in no particular order:
Darth Plagueis
Revenge of the Sith
Shatterpoint
Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
Traitor
The Unifying Force

I only truly fell for Revenge of the Sith and it's the only one I'd reread in the next year, but should you actually pile through those books I'd do it
(1) chronologically
(2) with Labyrinth of Evil (and apparently Dark Rendezvous?) thrown in for the deets; Rise of Darth Vader isn't as good but it might be worth a look, same goes for Shadows of the Empire
(3) after considering The Approaching Storm and Cloak of Darkness (both of which Janus has spoken highly of) and also the Medstar duology (same deal).

If you had to read one, read Traitor (if you haven't already: otherwise Sith all the way son). I can confirm that the Return of the Jedi novelization treats the climactic duel in the throne room very well, but I haven't read through the rest of the trilogy. To my knowledge the ancillary novels are garbage and Path of Destruction is the only remotely serviceable Karpyshyn work.

I've been meaning to read the novels involved in the Vong War. Are they worth it?