Must read books etc? and a timeline for the eras

[lurker]

Good evening

Like I said in my intro, expect some newbe questions. Here is one …

I am almost finished with my capstone (probably about 4 weeks of work left). As such, I’ll finally have some free time to actually read something for fun.

That said, what are the “must read” books ? Especially, looking at the eras that are easiest to game/run in.

Years ago I read some of the x-wing books, drifted off from reading the star wars books, and read one of the Vong invasion books (and didn’t like it). That said, I have huge gaps in my knowledge of the Star Wars universe/history.

From that, what are the key books that I “must” read?

Oh yeah, also, what is a good time line of the most played era[s]?
_________________
"And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows!" - Mark Twain

Forgive all spelling errors.

[cheshire]

Really, the only must read books I've got on my list are from the Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command). They're also now available for unabridged audiobook download from audible.com. Several others really enjoyed Shadows of the Empire (set between ESB and RotJ). But really, I could have stopped at the Thrawn Trilogy and been entirely satisfied. I've checked out a few books on audiobook from the library and most of them would have been a waste of my time had I already not been listening to them on road trips.

That being said, I think there is something that you're missing out on if you don't expose yourself to Knights of the Old Republic. It has several comics and whatnot, but the real thing to do is play the game. It was released for Windows XP, so it's kind of flaky on many machines now, but if what I'm told is right, you can get a functional copy by using Steam (www.steampowered.com). It's currently listed for $9.99, and often goes on sale for as much as half off.

As far as a timeline, I don't know of one right off the top of my head, since they're always filling things in, going back, revising, retconning, and changing the daylights out of everything. However, I'm sure there are a few users here that will set the record straight and refer us to a couple of good web resources.

However, I can introduce you to a few good eras of play and how they fit into the timeline:

Tales of the Jedi era (about 5,000-4,000 before ANH) has almost been supplanted by the KotOR (Knights of the Old Republic) era. (around 4,000 before ANH). With the easy exposure of a popular video game, it just kind of swept the golden age of the Jedi scene. In this era, Jedi are plentiful, Sith plots abound, and Mandalorian warriors commonly appear on the scene.

Rise of the Empire era focuses on the clone wars and the time before ANH. Usually this takes place sometime around TPM and RotS films.

Rebellion Era, of course, still remains popular. You've seen the movies, I probably don't need to go on to much about this.

New Republic Era is also popular, as it allows people to have fun with rebuilding the republic, and on into the reformation of the Jedi Knights under Luke. Where this era ends is a bit fuzzy to me, at some point you get into the New Jedi Order where the Vong stuff happens. I haven't paid too much attention to that era either.

One other era that comes up now and again is the Legacy Era. I've never played that era, but I do know a bit about it from having converted the Legacy Era Campaign Guide from d20 into D6. Apparently that happens some three or four generations after Luke has died of old age or something. There is some new version of the Galactic Empire, but it's a much more benevolent monarchy, rather than an evil empire. It's protected by its own order of force using knights called the Imperial Knights. The Sith are starting a subversive reign, stir up trouble, and Luke's great grandson has got to learn the ways of the Force and so and so and so-forth.
_________________
__________________________________
Before we take any of this too seriously, just remember that in the middle episode a little rubber puppet moves a spaceship with his mind.

[jmanski]

For time line I'd suggest sticking with what you know- either play in the OT or prequel timelines. If you want Jedi running around play prequel, if you want the OT feel, play it.

I'm a simplicity kind of guy.
_________________
Blasted rules. Why can't they just be perfect?

[lurker]

Again, thanks for the reply

[cheshire]

The first was way better story-wise than the second. Second had far better game play and mechanics. I wish there was a patch that could include all of the improvements into the first.
_________________
__________________________________
Before we take any of this too seriously, just remember that in the middle episode a little rubber puppet moves a spaceship with his mind.

[Barrataria]

I'd like to unread many that I have read

I think the Thrawn bunch is the best of them, not that I've used every bit in my campaign.

Don't forget the old books, the Han Solo series by Brian Daley.


I'd also echo cheshire's suggestion about Tales of the Jedi... Dark Horse prints an omnibus version of those that's pretty great, you might be able to find them in a library.

Edit: I also enjoyed the "Tales from Jabba's Palace" and "Tales of the Bounty Hunters" books. Not really a lot for you to use in a campaign IMO but fun enough to read.

I'm most excited about the Disney thing because it sounds like they're going to just overwrite all this post-ROTJ EU stuff.
_________________
"A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing"- George Lucas

[atgxtg]

[Fallon Kell]

I'm 2/3 of the way through Heir to the Empire, and thoroughly. I also enjoyed the X-Wing series as a kid. They provide a good working knowledge of the political climate of the EU for several years out past the Thrawn trilogy.
_________________
Or that excessively long "Noooooooooo" was the Whining Side of the Force leaving him. - Dustflier

Complete Starship Construction System

[Nico_Davout]

What about must read comics? X-Wing for sure, before you start reading the books under same title.
_________________
Nico,

Han Solo shot first, midichlosomething do not exist, Rebel Alliance was created as in the WEG books and indoctrination theory is the true ending of ME3.

[lurker]

[atgxtg]

Don't worry, there is nothing you really need to read. It's not like a literary setting such as LOTR where is you don't read the books, you don't know what's going on.

There nothing wrong with reading for enjoyment, ideas, or to get a feel for the setting, but but it's not like they tell you how all the loose plot threads turn out in a novel somewhere. Some authors try to do that, but since Lucas doesn't feel restricted by what's in the novels, why should you?

[Whill]

There are a few great prequel-era novels, but I personally am not interested in gaming in that era. Just in case you are, I'll mention that James Luceno's four novels set in that era are all gold:

Darth Plagueis (the 25 years leading up to and including TPM)
Cloak of Deception (in the year leading up to TPM)
Labyrinth of Evil (in the year leading up to RotS)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (in the year following RotS)

I agree with Shadows of the Empire suggestion. All the Han Solo books are pretty good too.

The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn has some cool stuff in it and could provide some inspiration for your game, especially the near-post-RotJ era (but don't feel bound by the continuity). For me, the story was enjoyable all the way until the climax of the third book. Throughout the entire trilogy you are mislead to believe that the classic trinity (Luke/Han/Leia) are the main characters as they are in the classic trilogy, but in the climax they all fail miserably, utterly marginalized by the narrative for the sake of the author's "original" character Mara Sue Jade to be the big hero. I would have been ok if this was a story primarily about new heroes, and the classic trinity were just there as supporting characters all along, mentors to pass the torch to the new generation. But no, here the trinity are seemingly the main protagonists of this trilogy until the very end of the third book where their importance is suddenly drastically minimized. I just think everyone reading the Thrawn Trilogy should be fair-warned. Worst. Ending. Ever.

Allegiance, Timothy Zahn's first classic trilogy era novel (set between ANH and TESB) is awful. Here the trinity's presence in the story feels completely shoehorned, and the surprise savior from the climax of the Thrawn Trilogy is an ultra-powerful teenage superhero Imperial agent. Rediculous.
_________________
*
Site Map
Forum Guidelines
Registration/Log-In Help
The Rancor Pit Library
Star Wars D6 Damage