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Ping wrote:Tempest - yes, the one in the Legacy of the Force series. First one was okay, second one was a drag, and I'm hoping this one is at least on par with the first book in the series.

Here's the thing about the two most recent post-GCW Star Wars series. Allston and Denning know what they're doing. Traviss does not. Golden's a little better in the Fate of the Jedi series, but some of her plot twists still piss me off.

Now then, back to LOTF... Starting a series is never easy, but I believe Allston's next two (the fourth and the seventh) are absolutely brilliant. He's my favorite of the trio. Denning is pretty good, too, but he doesn't quite have the sarcastic wit that Allston adds in his writings. So I do believe you'll enjoy this one. And probably the next. But I apologize in advance for the 5th and 8th books.

If you make it past this series, though, I think you'll enjoy Fate of the Jedi. It's an improvement, to say the least, and I thoroughly enjoyed Legacy to begin with.

Twilight_Warrior wrote: Here's the thing about the two most recent post-GCW Star Wars series. Allston and Denning know what they're doing. Traviss does not. Golden's a little better in the Fate of the Jedi series, but some of her plot twists still piss me off.

Now then, back to LOTF... Starting a series is never easy, but I believe Allston's next two (the fourth and the seventh) are absolutely brilliant. He's my favorite of the trio. Denning is pretty good, too, but he doesn't quite have the sarcastic wit that Allston adds in his writings. So I do believe you'll enjoy this one. And probably the next. But I apologize in advance for the 5th and 8th books.

If you make it past this series, though, I think you'll enjoy Fate of the Jedi. It's an improvement, to say the least, and I thoroughly enjoyed Legacy to begin with.

Yeah, I can tell. Allston was pretty darn good in the first book, and I liked his style of writing, but I felt like it was a bit anti-climatic towards the end, but that's really my only complaint. Traviss was all over the freaking place. I still have no idea what Boba Fett has to do with the series. Bloodlines may as well could have been a stand alone novel, for crying out loud. It added almost nothing constructive.

And thanks for giving some info on Fate of the Jedi. I haven't really heard that much about it, but I'll probably read through it once I get the chance, since while I've heard nothing positive, I've heard nothing negative, either

Ping wrote:I still have no idea what Boba Fett has to do with the series. Bloodlines may as well could have been a stand alone novel, for crying out loud. It added almost nothing constructive.

Without spoiling anything, she tries to tie her three LOTF installments into her Republic Commando novels, because clearly those books are the greatest Star Wars novels ever and everything should relate back to them, even though the series is unfinished and had to be massively retconned after TCW to still be considered canon.

But I digress.
I actually recently finished the Hunger Games series. Loved the first two. Hated the third. I still recommend them, especially since the upcoming movie looks so fantastic, but the third one was a let down. Well, I loved the third one until about the last few chapters. Then the trilogy ending and I hated the ending with a passion.

Just in my own personal taste, I can't stand any of the stories that take place beginning with and after The New Jedi Order series. NJO actually put me off Star Wars for awhile, until Timothy Zahn and his Thrawn Trilogy brought me back and then some.

The 5th novel in LOTF is, I'm sorry to say, terrible. The series wasn't great to begin with, and then Sacrifice just went over the edge. The eighth is not as bad comparatively, but it's not good either.

Spoiler alert: After that I promised that if it took place during or after The New Jedi Order, I just wouldn't read it. I've stuck with Zahn's books and couldn't be happier for it. He's still writing at the top of his game, and I can't wait till June 28th so I can get the paperback of his newest novel (hardcover looks nice, but paperback is easier to read IMO). In the meantime I'll enjoy reading Outbound Flight.


Oh, and in my opinion, Karen Traviss is the worst Star Wars writer out there. In quality of work and just her personality overall.

THEWULFMAN wrote: Oh, and in my opinion, Karen Traviss is the worst Star Wars writer out there. In quality of work and just her personality overall.

She's not the worst, she's just... bad. And she has this thing for including Mandalorians every one of her books. Even the LotF series, in which It's been a while since I've read LotF books, so my knowledge may be a little flawed.

ON-TOPIC: I'm reading:

Le Petit Prince, reading for French class is pretty interesting.

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

Wow. I hadn't noticed this thread existed! I've been on Spring Break, and while I've had plenty of fun, I've also had a chance to catch up on my reading. So far I've read:

1984 by George Orwell - It's a great, profound, book, but I hadn't really realized that until I finished it. While I was in the process of reading, I didn't enjoy it greatly. Once I finished it though, I was simply astounded. I'm a little more scared of cameras though.

I re-read Breakfast of Champions - by Kurt Vonnegut - Fantastic, entertaining, funny read, but also important and thought provoking.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass - I had to read it for an English project, but it's certainly one of the better books I've been forced to read.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - I re-read Brave New World, because I read 1984. I like it a little bit more, because I feel as though its universe has more depth in it. I also believe Brave New World is more fantasy than 1984 and that is why Brave New World is less...disturbing (in a good way, sort-of).

Columbia is sending me the Illiad soon, but right now I'm re-reading The Stranger by Albert Camus.

I love the book, but I haven't gotten around to finish it yet. And I started it in 2008. I'm a slow reader these days, so what? I got like half way through in 2008 on a plane flight, but didn't get back to the story since. When I look to war books, I look to Tom Clancy.

Sheesh, I should really get back to bed. Maybe after a chapter? Nah, I'll read it more when I get up. Oh boy, am I blabbering again? My bad guys.

I just got finished with The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. It was a great read. I'm currently not reading anything, but I'm trying to get my hands on The Essential Guide to Warfare. From what I hear, it's pretty interesting.

I realized that I can't call my self a Star Wars EU book reader unless I've read any Timothy Zahn novels, so I'm reading Heir to the Empire.

ShadowWing wrote:I realized that I can't call my self a Star Wars EU book reader unless I've read any Timothy Zahn novels, so I'm reading Heir to the Empire.

Thank you! They are a must for all Star Wars fans in my opinion, unless you're some tool who doesn't like reading books. I can't wait till June 26th! It's when Choices of One comes out in paperback, Zahn's newest book. I can get it for my birthday the next day, the timing is perfect.

So, this appears to be one of those bumpable threads by virtue of nobody wanting to go and make an entire new one, so.....

I've been reading the Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, which is bar none the best series of books I have ever read. Just finished book 11 (out of an eventual 14 when said 14th is released in January) and will start 12 once I finish USC's summer reading, which is called "Motherless Brooklyn." Just starting it, it's not terrific but I doubt it'll be a bad read either.

Ready Player One, one of my birthday presents. Five chapters in and I LOVE it.

Finished Zahn's Quadrail series a while back, liked the conclusion very much. Although it kind of reminded me of ME3, the way every character you've met in all the previous books somehow manages to make an appearance. It felt a bit staged, but only a bit.

Now re-reading Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha for no particular reason. It's short enough that it doesn't make my mind hurt, but philosophical enough that it makes me feel smarter.

I've just finished Heir to the Empire. Since I have the anniversary edition, it's kind of fun to see all the footnotes and annotations off to the side by Zahn and his editor. There's also a novella in the back that I should be able to finish pretty quickly.

The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
A Shot of Faith to the Head by Mitch Stokes, PhD

THEWULFMAN wrote:Ready Player One, one of my birthday presents. Five chapters in and I LOVE it.

A friend of mine suggested this, so hopefully of I find the time, I'll pick it up.

I'm currently reading "Eragon" and "The Illiad," and my friend is finishing Hitchens' "God Is Not Great," so I'll be reading that soon too.