Hey folks,

I've been working my way through a number of the new Star Wars books and wanted to see who else had read them and what they thought. Thus far I've finished Lost Stars, Tarkin, New Dawn, Lords of the Sith, and Catalyst. Waiting on Ahsoka.

I may be one of the few people on the planet who doesnt hate Chuck Wendig's writing style for the Aftermath books. The style I actually enjoy quite a bit and there are many great parts to the books. However as a trilogy they are hit or miss and honestly are to me not as good a follow up to the original trilogy as the Thrawn Trilogy is.

The way Jakku was handled was a huge disappointment. What should and could have been absolutely epic like we've never seen in Star Wars before became one of the least interesting.

Thats fundamentally my problem with some of the new canon stuff. What was portrayed as truly epic in the EU (and i'm not a EU is better then new canon fanboy like some are) are kinda lame in their new canon equivalents.

I liked Lost Stars a lot, even given it's tendency towards the 'YA' edge of the market. Tarkin on the other hand was a massively missed opportunity. Started off well then descended into some kind of poorly written, 'Scooby-Do' race around space. The early promise of Tarkin's background story was spoilt by the attempt to make him and Vader into some sort of intergalactic Holmes and Watson. Looking forward to seeing what Timothy Zahn does with the new Thrawn novel though!

I totally agree with your assessment of Tarkin , having him chase after that bunch of ship thieves felt like a total waste of time.

Catalyst on the other hand, was very good. Low action for Star Wars, but super interesting to see the depths of the Imperial expansionism as well as the internal politics. I was surprised to see it shared an author with Tarkin

I was honestly blown away by Lost Stars . The depth they went into with the conflict between the characters as well as the societal impacts they explored was terrific. Battles were a bit flat at times.

I enjoyed Tarkin only for what snippets of the new canon it gave us. I don't think there were a lot of Legends stories from Tarkin's perspective either, so it's nice for a change to have a book focused on someone who was known only for dying on the Death Star and leaving a posthumous legacy. The rest of the book was fine, if a bit odd. I expected Tarkin to have more of an aristocratic background than that wild upbringing.

I haven't partaken in any of the other new canon books, partly due to time, partly due to the low expectations. I will pick up and read Thrawn, but I was left wanting by the one snippet they've put out where he's interviewing with the Emperor.

I liked Thrawn a lot.

With respect to Armada and X-Wing - Raider -class corvettes are specifically named. So, even ignoring Lost Stars and its un-italiced "raiders" - they're all the way into the newcanon now.

On 4/7/2017 at 4:55 PM, Ironlord said:

I liked Thrawn a lot.

With respect to Armada and X-Wing - Raider -class corvettes are specifically named. So, even ignoring Lost Stars and its un-italiced "raiders" - they're all the way into the newcanon now.

Can you spill any details even if in spoilers tags? Did it live up to the original?

Did it show Thrawn kicking butts and winning battles?

14 minutes ago, Forresto said:

Can you spill any details even if in spoilers tags? Did it live up to the original?

Did it show Thrawn kicking butts and winning battles?

It did, I think. There are differences from the Legendsverse, but Thrawn still seems to have a similar personality.

It also confirms that the early Empire used Venators.

I read the first few chapters at target (I'm holding out for the alternate black cover from Barnes & Noble) and its really great. I had a civilization, just one more turn moment where I looked at the page number and I was far deeper in then I had expected.

13 hours ago, ianediger said:

It also confirms that the early Empire used Venators.

Catalyst portrays the Empire as beginning to scrap its Venators, a few years in. Probably Thrawn was found very early. They used V-wings as well when he was found - unlike in the original short story in which it was a Victory, and TIE Fighters.

On 4/10/2017 at 2:18 AM, Forresto said:

Can you spill any details even if in spoilers tags? Did it live up to the original?

Did it show Thrawn kicking butts and winning battles?

I'm almost done with it and I have to say its pretty awesome. There's a reason why he rose through the ranks very quickly and it's not by playing politics.

There's a battle near the end where it reminded me of his cloaked asteroid stunt he pulled off in the Thrawn trilogy.

The one difference I noticed with new canon Thrawn and his Legends counterpart is he's more hands on here, when he needs to be.

the first 170 or so of Thrawn have been the pinnacle of boredom. And I am very sorry to say that as I thoroughly enjoyed Zahns original trilogy debuting Thrawn.

I know there are space battles coming, but for now its lost life time

I don't know personally I've never gotten so into a storyline in a Star Wars book before. I will concede the Pryce story at the beginning is not nearly as interesting or as gripping as Thrawn's but I would say every part with Thrawn the first 150 pages shows us great insight into the Empire and even Thrawn himself. Its 170 pages of character development and that is totally up my alley, its why I enjoyed Tarkin. I'm roughly 170 pages in as well.

However to each their own, I understand why the beginning portion could be boring to people and that's entirely cool and fine. Art is subjective. Personally I think some of the more interesting pieces of Thrawn's story have happened in those first 170 pages. Thrawn seems like a really decent being and its so fascinating that i've found myself rooting for him when he's waging war eventually for the space nazis. That's nuts to me, yet I've found myself invested in it.

Finished the first Aftermath book. The pacing is decent, but the books really don't seem to follow with Star-Wars lore technology-wise at all. Turbolasers are used to pick off sky-divers, hyperspace is an instantaneous process, thermal detonators leave people that are scant meters away totally unscathed...and TIE fighters have ejector seats.

The characters were all solid, and the story itself was interesting. I also really enjoyed all the vignettes around the galaxy (especially the Tatooine visit).

17 hours ago, Alzer said:

The pacing is decent, but the books really don't seem to follow with Star-Wars lore technology-wise at all. Turbolasers are used to pick off sky-divers, hyperspace is an instantaneous process, thermal detonators leave people that are scant meters away totally unscathed...and TIE fighters have ejector seats.

TIEs with ejector seats - while unusual , weren't unheard of in the Legendsverse. The pilot did think theirs didn't have one, but turned out to be wrong - which makes sense in the context of ejection-capable TIEs being present but rare.

At least its not as bad as that episode of rebels where Zeb and Ezra are helmetless in a stolen TIE *shudders*

13 hours ago, Forresto said:

At least its not as bad as that episode of rebels where Zeb and Ezra are helmetless in a stolen TIE *shudders*

They were in-atmosphere for most of that segment if I recall correctly.

32 minutes ago, Alzer said:

They were in-atmosphere for most of that segment if I recall correctly.

Actually I think I could be totally wrong. They're flying one of the Inquistor's TIEs, I suppose the argument could be made they have limited oxygen. But then why does the Inquisitor wear a special breathing mask in his earlier? You know it probably doesnt even matter.

Oh...yeah nevermind...also I was unaware TIES had that much floor space available, dang.

But yeah, Rebels certainly has plenty of moment where I cringe and think "that's not how that works" Though not as much as every time anyone has a ship enter or exit hyperspace inside a planetary gravity well....

The Thrawn book was very well done and fair-balanced of both old and new features about Thrawn.....well done, Zahn!

*Tucks away his chest paddles*

Si I'm almost finished with Thrawn , and I must say, the point where he is given command of the Chimera was one of the most satisfying moments I have read in a looooong time.

Also, having finished both Aftermath books, I found the writing to be alright, the story was a bit of a stretch, but the characters, pacing, and use of the universe was quite pleasing. I especially enjoyed the interspersed short stories that were tied in.

Thrawn novel is just straight up satisfying to read, a sherlock holmes in the star wars universe with Vanto as Watson. I also love when the narrative goes into Thrawn's perpective and you can see all the analytical description.

11 hours ago, Visovics said:

Thrawn novel is just straight up satisfying to read, a sherlock holmes in the star wars universe with Vanto as Watson. I also love when the narrative goes into Thrawn's perpective and you can see all the analytical description.

I thought the same thing. Can't wait to get another book on him. Also want to know more about the Chiss and the unknown threat.

3 hours ago, fistfulofforce said:

I thought the same thing. Can't wait to get another book on him. Also want to know more about the Chisel and the unknown threat.

Those blue-faced Chiss truly are intriguing, another thing that excites more about the unknown threat is its mention in the Aftermath, and I want to see it have some impact of Episode IX