Originally posted by Nephthys
The first. Almost everyone I've heard talk about it says that Thrawn was an awesome part of the EU.
Thrawn's great as long as you don't buy into the long percolating cult of personality surrounding him in the EU. Remember, Thrawn is the proto-Revan: a figure of enigmatic brilliance and ambiguous morality. The stupid and the insecure flock to him like ants to sugar.
The Thrawn Trilogy was great (not perfect, mind you, but great) because Thrawn was introduced as a threatening presence who was nonetheless fallible in the extreme. Thwarted by Lando Calrissian, duped by C'baoth, foiled by his own bodyguard, etc.
Zahn started to buy too much into his own hype and, in the Hand of Thrawn duology, the rumor of Thrawn's resurrection is sufficient to nearly implode the New Republic. It was the beginning of the end, for all mentions of Thrawn by Zahn afterwards were aggrandized in the extreme.
A thing about Thrawn is his image of perfection is something purposefully crafted in-universe. He makes mistakes, quite a few of them, and he especially has a blindspot for less military foes. However, the perception made others nervous which in turn served him.
Originally posted by The_Tempest
If you found extradimensional, omnipotent goo, wouldn't you join its cult?
It was hardly omnipotent. It had healing abilities and was allied with a darksider.
Crystal Star is outstrips anything by far. Her another book is "Allies". While it was readable she managed to describe supposed to be one of the best fights of FotJ in a way that I was still clueless of what was going on in that fight.
Karpyshyn books are actually readable and I actually enjoyed reading Revan. Only after, when you start analyzing events and evaluating feats, you realize what a bullcrap it is. It's like AotC, you like it at first but then realize how many flaws it has.
Jedi Prince. At that point I just started reading SW books. I literally forced myself to read these series for the sake of continuity only to find out that they are non-canon.
Red Harvest. The book is basically about zombies. While I don't mind zombies, the book started by introducing characters only them to be killed without any purpose or benefit for the story.
RotS novel. Specifically all that center of the universe, pristine clarity, superconducting loop and avatar of light overly colorful descriptions that simply make no sense.
Apocalypse. While I like Troy Denning in general, especially how he portrays combat, this book was generally boring. Alana shooting down several Sith Sabers with blaster was the most stupid part.
Lost Tribe of the Sith series. All boring but one with love story.
Jaina Solo's romances. Simply can't recall more non-romantic romances than hers. :/
TCW movie and first episodes. Stupid story arc in movie. First episodes had no real purpose, just separate war events and nothing that would make you hold your breath and low characterization, still enjoyed them as SW geek but that's the only reason.
Bane books trilogy just to make it 12. I didn't even read it. But, when on digging feats I discovered that Karpyshin portrayed Force statis from game, that sealed the deal.
Originally posted by ares834Hmm... sounds familiar.
Apparently there was also a talking flower in it...
Originally posted by Vensai"Masterpiece" is a strong word for even the Originals. But to remotely equate it with the Prequels... that's just... ugh.
Quite frankly, the EU has some good points. But like fanfiction, the majority of material is simply not close to the masterpieces the movies were (regardless of which trilogy you liked better).
Originally posted by The_Tempest
Ironically, the best of the EU is localized around the prequels.
Yea. And the worst EU is often around the originals.
Say what you will for the prequels, but they firmly establish, "This is what Jedi look like, this is how they fight. It's not about magic-y powers or aliens-of-the-week or Luke learning the latest new force power."
Originally posted by Q99
Yea. And the worst EU is often around the originals.
馃憜
Though the Old Republic era gives it stiff competition.
Originally posted by Q99
Say what you will for the prequels, but they firmly establish, "This is what Jedi look like, this is how they fight. It's not about magic-y powers or aliens-of-the-week or Luke learning the latest new force power."
I believe the success of the EU surrounding the prequels owes more to Palpatine.