Honestly, look at what was done with the Star Trek reboot movies. They completely obliterated "canon" while still making great movies that absolutely feel like Star Trek -- Except of course for the lack of Shatner Voice.

I think this move really is just about finding a way to make movies they feel are great without having to worry about "But, on page 137, paragraph 2 line 3 of (insert favorite book here) it says that this scene in the movie couldn't possibly happen!" (and admit it, while that's obviously an exaggeration, you know it would happen.

Now they just don't have to worry about "Will this be bending canon too much?" Instead its "Hey, it flies because the movie is, by definition, canon."

Zahn knew when he wrote the books that when there were new movies they would take priority over his work. When those first books came out he did a interview and made that clear. Now that it is happening I am surprised at everyone not knowing.

3) Joruus c'Boath in general. "I need an Emperor replacement. But all the Jedi are dead... oh I know, since we are using clones, why not a clone of a Jedi Master!... but why wasnt he killed by Darth Vader?.... oh right, he was out in the outer rim."

To be fair, Obi-Wan Kenobi surviving the purge has always bothered me more.

Random Jerks surviving, even Yoda, I can get along with that. It's a big universe, after all. A man's got to have priorities. There's more protocol droids what need to be built, and fools what need a good choking after all, and lord knows it's got to be hard to sit and relax and enjoy a cup of coffee when you're strapped to that goddamn mask all the time.

Which reminds me... letting the guy who chopped off my arms and legs and left me to slowly incinerate in a **** volcano get away?

Nope.

"But, on page 137, paragraph 2 line 3 of (insert favorite book here) it says that this scene in the movie couldn't possibly happen!"

Which is exactly why they decided that the JJ Trek would be a alternate time line, just so they could avoid those kinds of things.

Plus - and don't get me wrong, I love Timothy Zahn, he's written some phenomenal books, and I know he cares a great deal about the universe he has played in so many times - what does he care if they ignore his books as far as canon goes?
He got paid.

Currently looking at my Heir trilogy and Rogue/Wraith squadron books on my shelves, very sad

Then I look at the Jedi Academy trilogy and all of the new Jedi Order books and think "it's for the best". Most of the EU continuity is garbage and it's good it's being scrapped for the most part. There is nothing saying they can't use the good bits.

3) Joruus c'Boath in general. "I need an Emperor replacement. But all the Jedi are dead... oh I know, since we are using clones, why not a clone of a Jedi Master!... but why wasnt he killed by Darth Vader?.... oh right, he was out in the outer rim."

To be fair, Obi-Wan Kenobi surviving the purge has always bothered me more.

Random Jerks surviving, even Yoda, I can get along with that. It's a big universe, after all. A man's got to have priorities. There's more protocol droids what need to be built, and fools what need a good choking after all, and lord knows it's got to be hard to sit and relax and enjoy a cup of coffee when you're strapped to that goddamn mask all the time.

Which reminds me... letting the guy who chopped off my arms and legs and left me to slowly incinerate in a **** volcano get away?

Nope.

And at least Yoda found a spot on an uncolonized world halfway across the galaxy; Kenobi was living on Anakin's home planet, and was so bad at hiding that people knew about the "wizard" who happened to share the same last name as Anakin's old master. You get the sense that, as a detective, Vader was approximately on par with Inspector Gadget...

I would expect the EU to be muted as far as things taking place after the Galactic Civil War. I don't specifically mean the point in 19 ABY or so, but after the fall of Couruscant and when the Empire stopped really being a monolithic war force. There's still plenty of coverage in and around the three movies that is probably going to remain intact... so our TIE Defenders, TIE Avengers, Z-95s, R-41s, Skiprays, Cloakshapes, everything that debuted or featured in that area will probably remain untouched.

Thrawn will still have a place to exist during the era of the empire but the movies may never refer to him, and could imply that he remained in the unknown territories rather than launch his campaign against the new republic.

I believe the lore will adapt. It had to when Episodes I, II, and III appeared and changed things. The Dreadnought cruiser didn't appear anywhere in those films and it was touted as one of the staples of the old republic navy. It still exists. Same with the Juggernaut. The Ruusan reformations was also created to help the first three movies exist within canon.

So I wouldn't panic just yet. Things are going to change, otherwise they wouldn't have made the announcement, just don't expect your near-and-dear EU stories to be translated directly to the screen.

I hope they continue to make X Wing ships and pilots from the EU.....

Then Star Wars really is dead.

It'll be alright. Star Wars died when the Vong Came out for me anyway. We'll just get to decide what Canon we like... I just hope that they keep the more Iconic EU characters.(Mara Jade, Jacen and Jaina, the Dathomir Witches, the Hapes Cluster, etc. If they rearrange the entire Universe it'll be worse than just cutting the Thrawn Stories.

But the witches are also part of the cartoon and that is cannon too.

And at least Yoda found a spot on an uncolonized world halfway across the galaxy;

I've heard that part of it was being so close to that cave helped shield Yoda from being detected though the force. I don't have a source, just one of those things I heard or read some place...

I want to kick a Jawa!

For example, elements of the EU are included in Star Wars Rebels. The Inquisitor, the Imperial Security Bureau, and Sienar Fleet Systems

How are the ISB and Sienar part of the EU? There are ISB members all over the Death Star in ANH and Sienar is the maker of the TIE/ln....

Because we don't know those things without the EU. The movies never mentioned the ISB or Sienar.

"But, on page 137, paragraph 2 line 3 of (insert favorite book here) it says that this scene in the movie couldn't possibly happen!"

Which is exactly why they decided that the JJ Trek would be a alternate time line, just so they could avoid those kinds of things.

Oh absolutely. That was point, and why I don't think this announcement is bad. Giving the writers a blank canvass can only be good. They can still borrow from the earlier canon (like JJ did with the Trek films), but they need not worry about being cuffed by it either. Plus, they don't have to use another Time Travel timeline reboot to accomplish it.

3) Joruus c'Boath in general. "I need an Emperor replacement. But all the Jedi are dead... oh I know, since we are using clones, why not a clone of a Jedi Master!... but why wasnt he killed by Darth Vader?.... oh right, he was out in the outer rim."

To be fair, Obi-Wan Kenobi surviving the purge has always bothered me more.

Random Jerks surviving, even Yoda, I can get along with that. It's a big universe, after all. A man's got to have priorities. There's more protocol droids what need to be built, and fools what need a good choking after all, and lord knows it's got to be hard to sit and relax and enjoy a cup of coffee when you're strapped to that goddamn mask all the time.

Which reminds me... letting the guy who chopped off my arms and legs and left me to slowly incinerate in a **** volcano get away?

Nope.

And at least Yoda found a spot on an uncolonized world halfway across the galaxy; Kenobi was living on Anakin's home planet, and was so bad at hiding that people knew about the "wizard" who happened to share the same last name as Anakin's old master. You get the sense that, as a detective, Vader was approximately on par with Inspector Gadget...

Lol! I know, I know! I had a problem with that too. But thats Lucas writing in circles and then getting lost. Want my Kessel Run explanation for this?

After Anakin becomes Vader the NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOs you hear is his mind shattering. He forgets he once was Anakin. He is now only Vader. He forgets about Yoda, the Jedi Council, Bail Organa, his step-family (the Lars') and Obiwan.

Thats why when the Milenium Falcon lands on the deck of the Death Star Vader looks to the sky and says, "I sense a presence I have not felt since..." and walks away.

Then on the deck, Vader sees Obiwan, and the proverbial shoe drops. Aha!

Darth Vader: I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now *I* am the master.

Obi-Wan: Only a master of evil, Darth.

Cue sound effects and music.

**** it, now I have to go home and watch A New Hope Again and hear "Not Star Trek again! Is this the one with that

Jamaican muppet?"

I love how they herald this continuity as something new going forward, as if there hasn't been consistency for the last 25 years in the EU. All I hear is "Oh yeah, money, money, money!" in a Mickey voice.

J.J. Abrams is one of the best directors of the modern era.

Really? When is he going to make something watchable? So far all he has produced is incomprehensible drek.

So I read the article and watched the included video, yet I am not seeing or hearing anyone saying that Heir to the Empire is dead. All the creators/writers from the video all expressed foundness for the EU and I didn't catch the "we are destroying all" vibe. We all knew since the announcement of the new episodes, that it would be an original story and not a film version of HttE. I think they will change stuff that needs to be changed, but more likely will just not reference the EU stuff at all allowing it to coexist albeit not the main story. I am ok with that. There should have always been a set of parameters that everyone(authors/writers/filmmakers/etc) worked within. If there had been from the start, there would not be an issue now. Its a good thing that everyone will be on the same page.

as if there hasn't been consistency for the last 25 years in the EU.

Consistency in the EU over the last 25 years????

Sorry, those words just don't make any sense when put together like that.

I had John Jackson Miller at my Convention about 6 years ago... Good to see he's still doing stuff.

as if there hasn't been consistency for the last 25 years in the EU.

Consistency in the EU over the last 25 years????Sorry, those words just don't make any sense when put together like that.

Compare the Star Wars EU with the tons of supplemental material produced for Star Trek. Trek wasn't even able to maintain consistency within the primary canon of the broadcast shows, much less with novels, comics, technical manuals, video games and so on. Comparatively speaking the EU is a stupendously successful model of consistency in canon.

Lots of things I'm sad to lose.

Lots of crap I won't miss too.

Comparatively speaking the EU is a stupendously successful model of consistency in canon.

Comparing Star Wars EU to Star Trek is hardly a ringing endorsement. Star Trek really never cared much about canon in the first place... So that's not something you should be holding up and an example.

But there is still a ton of inconstancy in the EU over the years, enough so that you can hardly fault Disney for wanting to start over rather then try to deal with the EU.

as if there hasn't been consistency for the last 25 years in the EU.

Consistency in the EU over the last 25 years????Sorry, those words just don't make any sense when put together like that.

Compare the Star Wars EU with the tons of supplemental material produced for Star Trek. Trek wasn't even able to maintain consistency within the primary canon of the broadcast shows, much less with novels, comics, technical manuals, video games and so on. Comparatively speaking the EU is a stupendously successful model of consistency in canon.

(Although frankly I just don't like multi-author super collaborative efforts like this anymore. I've seen just how much better single author stories feel.)

And at least Yoda found a spot on an uncolonized world halfway across the galaxy;

I've heard that part of it was being so close to that cave helped shield Yoda from being detected though the force. I don't have a source, just one of those things I heard or read some place...

That was explained in the now non-canon Heir to the Empire book.