Originally posted by JimmyTango
There was only one good book series, and that was written by Zahn(or however you spell his name). Those three books could easly be 7,8,9. Of course, I am sure not one of the original main character actors would sign up, especially Ford who wanted Solo killed in Return of the Jedi.
I don't like Zahn much. His original fiction is miles ahead of anything he's done for Star Wars (A new book by him is coming out next month, his return to writing a Star Wars novel since about 6 years ago). But yeah, he's usually seen as the father of the Expanded Universe (although nothing could be further from the truth) since his trilogy was the first original novel to come out in a decade.
Some of the old books from the '70s and '80s are actually my favorites, back when Del Rey first had the publishing writes. The Han Solo and Lando Calrissian Adventures. Great stuff. If you like military type fiction, then the X-wing series is really good. I'll be the first to admit there is a lot of shit stories out there.
But back in 1999 Del Rey recieved the publishing writes again and started the New Jedi Order series. It's a 19 book arc that lasted from October 1999 to November 2003. Not all the books were great, and a lot were hit and miss, but it really brought back the spirit (as well as the money) to the whole genre.
I know there are many die hard fans out there that would burn anything as "unofficial" if it wasn't in the movies, but it's not all horrible. But, I've been posting over at TF.N's forums since mid-1999 now and I know there's little you can do to change someones mind. To each his own, I guess. To me, the novels are just fun. I look for quality writing elsewhere.
Oh, and I disagree on the "Kiddy" coment. Yeah, there are really horrible poop jokes and cuddly things, but as any 12 year old if he really understands all the politics and stuff going on in the Prequel trilogy and he/she will just frown and tell you how cool the ships are or how hot Padme/Anakin is or something.
That's another reason I like the written fiction, it explains the story a lot better, adds so many behind the scenes factors and other plot lines that work well with the plot lines of the movies.
All right, enough from me.