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What's the best SW book to start a SW book collection with?

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 12:46 am
by Brayden
I live near Invercargill, so whenever I want something like a new game or a new book I usually go there. I know that The Warehouse usually has a different Star Wars book on sale, and Whitcoulls in Invercargill always has a few Star Wars books on sale. I have about $25-$30 to spend. I'll have a look around, but is there any books anyone wants to recommend and I'll see if I can find it when I'm in Invercargill next.

Re: What's the best SW book to start a SW book collection with?

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 2:15 am
by Archon Revuge
This is a really good question! There's a great range of Star Wars "Expanded Universe" novels out there - but it can be a little daunting deciding where to start!

You might already be aware of this - but after Disney took over the Star Wars franchise they announced that all of the old Expanded Universe novels and comics would no longer be considered "canon" (i.e., they wouldn't be acknowledged as having officially happened in the Star Wars universe).

If you don't mind reading non-canon novels, I'd recommend starting with Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire. It was the first Star Wars novel set after Return of the Jedi, and really kicked off the whole Expanded Universe. I first read it around your age, and it got me immediately hooked on Star Wars books. If you enjoy it, there are two sequels: Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. Chances are you won't find these books at Whitcoulls or The Warehouse, but you should be able to find them in most secondhand bookstores. You can also buy them for around $15 each through the Mighty Ape links above.

If you want to read a canon novel, there are three that have been released so far: A New Dawn, Tarkin, and Heir to the Jedi. Because they're new, you're more likely to find these in shops like Whitcoulls - but they're only available in hardback at the moment, so they'll cost you a little more. I'm currently working my way through Tarkin and finding it a pretty fun read!

Do you have any favourite characters, eras, or types of stories? I might be able to make some more recommendations based on those :)

Re: What's the best SW book to start a SW book collection with?

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 5:04 am
by MattG
Archon Revuge wrote:This is a really good question! There's a great range of Star Wars "Expanded Universe" novels out there - but it can be a little daunting deciding where to start!
If you like SWTOR, then 'Revan' and 'Deceived' tie in to that era and storyline (as do 'Annihilation' and 'Fatal Alliance', but the other two are my favourites).

If you liked the first Darth Bane novel, then obviously the successors to that tale are worth checking out. Also, the 'Jedi vs Sith' comic series arc and trade paperback overlap with those novels - http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Jedi_vs._Sith . Beyond that, if you are a fan of the Sith lore, 'Darth Plagueis' ties a lot of dark side threads together.

Re: What's the best SW book to start a SW book collection with?

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:23 am
by Brayden
I don't really have a eara of Star Wars I prefer. At one point I was going to read "The Lost Tribe of the Sith" but I read the first page and decided not to, it didn't really draw me in. Thanks for the suggestions I am going to be In Invercargill tomorrow or the next day so I'll have for those books then.

Thanks again :)

Re: What's the best SW book to start a SW book collection with?

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 12:02 am
by Harvey Mushman
Brayden, I'm a bit of a purist (in that I love the movies and don't delve too deep into the literature and other mediums), but I've been digging some of the Legends stuff.

In fact, I'm just about to finish Darth Plagueis, which I didn't think I'd like but ended up loving... thus far, anyway.

I'm all 'bout passing books on, so if you'd like to read it, I'll happily send it down to you when I'm done.

Re: What's the best SW book to start a SW book collection with?

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 12:18 am
by oota goota
Archon Revuge wrote:If you don't mind reading non-canon novels, I'd recommend starting with Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire. It was the first Star Wars novel set after Return of the Jedi, and really kicked off the whole Expanded Universe. I first read it around your age, and it got me immediately hooked on Star Wars books. If you enjoy it, there are two sequels: Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. Chances are you won't find these books at Whitcoulls or The Warehouse, but you should be able to find them in most secondhand bookstores. You can also buy them for around $15 each through the Mighty Ape links above.
This :)

Re: What's the best SW book to start a SW book collection with?

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:10 am
by Kiwi sapper
Hi Brayden

If you have a limited supply of the old cash, as Archon pointed out I would check out any of your local second hand shops or trade me.
You can sometimes pick up books in the $5-00 to $10-00 range when people are getting rid of a few old books.
Mighty Ape always seems to have some sort of special on.

Best of luck