Has anyone else here actually read the books? I myself have read most of the books that take place after the original trilogy. I have to say I love the way the universe evolves. The characters change. Every new book introduces something new,. Some of my favorite characters are those that aren't in the movies. Corran, Mara, Karrde, Pellaeon, and Thrawn. Races like the Noghri, the Barabels, the Chiss, and the Ryn that just watching the move you don't know about.

Of all the book series, I'm a big fan of the New Jedi Order series. The Yuuzhan Vong were just amazing enemies. I loved their living tools and ships. Their obsession with pain and sacrifice. Not to mention their absense in the Force. The New Jedi Order books took what was becoming an all too predictable series and breathed new life into it, challenging many conventions of the series by killing off major characters, destroying entire worlds, and even redefining the nature of the Force.

So who else read these?

I read the books. I hated it when they killed off Chewbacca and Anakin Solo. But I love the books. I especially loved the recent Darth Bane book. That was highly insightful to the mind of a great Dark Lord of the Sith.

Actually, I like the move of killing off Chewie. It livened the series up so much more when they did that. When they killed him off, they took away that wall of invincibility that surrounded the original characters. And that just brought all the suspense back. After all, what fun is it when you know they're always going to survive? And of everyone to pick, I think they picked the right one for the impact it made. Chewie is likable. The fans care.

Okay, I'll give you that, but there was also Anakin Solo who died, and Ikrit. Chewie died to save Anakin, Ikrit died to save Anakin, then Anakin died... Almost like all their deaths were just useless. The creator of Anakin Solo was also dissapointed by the end of his character.

I also think that the death of Anakin Solo was stupid. I think that Anakin Solo should have become what Anakin Skywalker would have become, although I guess they are planning something like that with Ben Skywalker maybe.

Well, when I bought the last book of that series, The Unifying Force, there was a round table discussion with several of the authors who planned the series. The roles of Anakin and Jacen Solo were originally reversed. Jacen would die and Anakin would become what Jacen became by the end of the series. But for some reason, when the idea was submitted to Lucas for approval, Lucas asked them to do it the other way around. Thus Anakin died, and Jacen lived. I have no idea why he wanted this though.

Probably because of the name Anakin...that's the only reason I can think of...maybe he thought it was too confusing or not original enough...

Ive read:
Dark Lord: Rise of Darth Vader
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
Republic Commando: Hard contact and Triple Zero
Started on the legacy of the force series

Can recommend the two first to anyone interested in the sith and the Republic Commando books for anyone interested in stormtroopers and clone wars and the likes.

I've only read the full version of Attack of the Clones, and the shortened versions of this and Revenge of the Sith. I've been wanting to read book from after ROTJ for ages, but can't actually find them anywhere. Plus I simply don't have the time to sit down and read anymore...at least on here, I can do other things at the same time, hehehe.

But yes, out of the stories I have read, the full version gives you pleanty of detail into what's happening, and elaborates on all the deleted scenes from the film, as well as including a few scenes from before the movie, while the shortened versions include more of the character's thoughts and feelings, and tend to skip over the deleted scenes, so I guess which version you read is up to what you want to read.

I just read both because I had the time then. And I would definately read them all again, given the chance.

I've read Episodes 1 through 6 but i'm looking to read the ones about the adventures after the destruction of the Death Star about where Luke meets Mara Jade, Han and Leia get married and have their children, and etc. Does anyone know the name for this series? Any help would be appreciated. :D

I know the Thrawn trilogy (by Timothy Zahn?) has something to do with Mara and Luke - possbily how they meet? But apart from that, I'm afraid I don't know until I can look up further - which I will do, of course :-)

ive read the thrawn trilogy, its kick ass.
ive read a few of the x-wing books, but only finished wraith squadron.
im currently reading the series where luke rebuilds the jedi, im on book 3

I got star wars: Chronology that covers it all and more:D so it could be said that i've read them all:D