How much better would it be

[MJ4H]

if the Star Wars trilogy by Timothy Zahn that follows the events of Return of the Jedi was made into movies instead of the prequels that Lucas is making?

I think these books are outstanding. There are so many dumb star wars books out there. This trilogy succeeds in every way the others fail. And they succeed better than Lucas did with his prequels. I vastly prefer rereading these books to watching the Lucas prequels. Who else is with me?

For those unsure of what I'm talking about the books are:

Heir to the Empire
Dark Force Rising
The Last Command

He has a couple of other books that follow these (not part of the trilogy) in chronology, but they aren't quite as good (however, I think they are still better than the other star wars books).

[sabotai]

I read those several years ago and thought they were fantastic. I'll probably give them another read through at some point.

[TazFTW]

Reread this trilogy over the winter. They are indeed the best Star Wars books out there.

As for turning them into movies, my first thought is that I wouldn't like it because I see certain characters as the actor that protrayed them. I don't think anyone could play Han Solo other than Harrison Ford. Heck, I can't see Lando being played by anyone other than Billy Dee Williams.

On the other hand, it would be cool to see Admiral Thrawn, Talon Karrde, and Mara Jade in movie form.

[ice4277]

I agree, I think it would have been great if these had been turned into movies. However, we could just as easily be sitting here right now bitching about the portrayal of Thrawn and Jade, and wishing Lucas had given us the first three episodes instead.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I don't know... I read that trilogy back when it was first published. I really enjoyed the first book and I felt Zahn did a really good job at nailing down the original characters: Luke, Leia, Han, Wedge, etc. Heck, I even named my goldfish at the time Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Things started getting a bit wonky, however, as the trilogy moved on and characters like Jade and Thrawn started taking the book over, I lost interest. His own characters, for the most part, annoyed me greatly and he seemed to build them up too much. trying to make them just a little too cool.

[CamEdwards]

isn't it theoretically possible that within the next decade, Lucas could turn these into movies and use a digital recreation of Mark Hamill, Billy Dee, Harrison Ford, etc? Has technology progressed to that point yet? Because I have a feeling if Lucas could get away with it, he would.

[Cringer]

isn't it theoretically possible that within the next decade, Lucas could turn these into movies and use a digital recreation of Mark Hamill, Billy Dee, Harrison Ford, etc? Has technology progressed to that point yet? Because I have a feeling if Lucas could get away with it, he would.

That would almost be creepy to me for some reason.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

I agree, I think it would have been great if these had been turned into movies. However, we could just as easily be sitting here right now bitching about the portrayal of Thrawn and Jade, and wishing Lucas had given us the first three episodes instead.
I don't know of one person who would be bitching about how they haven't seen Jar-Jar brought to life on the silver screen.

[HomerJSimpson]

This would be great as long as Lucas wasn't allowed on the set.

[Franklinnoble]

It'll never happen. Even if Lucas croaks, it'll be 20 years of legal battles before anyone could possibly make another Star Wars movie.

Enjoy Episode III, because that's gonna be it.

[ShovelMonkey]

I've always thought that the Zahn books would've made the better trilogy. In fact, when I first heard the news of the new Star Wars movies, before the storylines were announced, I figured that that's what they'd be about.

[JediKooter]

There's always the supposed live action Star Wars TV series to look forward to that is due out in 2006. But, it is supposed to take place between Episodes 3 and 4. I would prefer a series that takes place after what happend in Return of the Jedi.

[KWhit]

Were the Zahn books the ones that had those worms or whatever that caused the force not to work?

That bothered me. Seemed as silly as the midiclorians.

[JediKooter]

Were the Zahn books the ones that had those worms or whatever that caused the force not to work?

That bothered me. Seemed as silly as the midiclorians.



I believe so. He carried them around his neck or in a cage or something. They should have just made Thrawn immune to the force and they wouldnt have needed the worm things. I felt that midiclorians kinda 'Star Treked' the force.

[TazFTW]

Yes, the Zahn books had the yslarmi.

[KWhit]

I read the books well before episode 1 came out. When they started talking about Midiclorians during the movie I remember thinking, "That's just as stupid as those worms in the books."

I think I would have liked the books if it weren't for the damn worms.

[kcchief19]

Were the Zahn books the ones that had those worms or whatever that caused the force not to work?

That bothered me. Seemed as silly as the midiclorians. You would be speaking of the ysalamiri from the planet Myrkr. That is one of the things that I accept in the Star Wars universe, but I'm not real happy about either.

Zahn is clearly the fan's darling of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. I think that is largely justified if for no other reason than he created the most endearing characters, namely Thrawn and Jade. When I first read the Zahn books, though, I didn't like the notion that he brought "sci fi writing" to Star Wars. What I think was appealing about the original trilogy was that Lucas created a timeless setting -- it all seemed very "real." Endor and Wookies sounds like a real place and character. Myrkr and ysalamiri don't. That's my chief complaint about this books. That said, I think his Thrawn and Outbound Flight storylines have been good reads.

I think the New Jedi Order might have made a better third trilogy. It was a good series of books, if not too long. My only complaint was that Jaina, Jacen and Anakin (for a while) were too much the stars. I wouldn't have minded seeing the Yuuzhan Vong brought to the screen, even if I hate the name. I do think that some of the best Star Wars books have focused on fleshing out lesser characters from the movies -- the X-Wing series is a great example.

I love the history the Expanded Universe authors gave Zonama Sekot. The story wove seamlessly between the prequels and the original trilogy and even included Wilhuff Tarkin!

God, I'm a loser.

[kcchief19]

I read the books well before episode 1 came out. When they started talking about Midiclorians during the movie I remember thinking, "That's just as stupid as those worms in the books."

I think I would have liked the books if it weren't for the damn worms. They are actually more like lizards or salamanders because they have feet than worms.

Yeah, I didn't get a lot of action in high school. Big surprise.

[moriarty]

Between Kcchief19 in this thread and Tanglewood in the other one ... you guys are starting to freak me out a bit w/ all your Star Wars knowledge.

[KWhit]

They are actually more like lizards or salamanders because they have feet than worms.
Haha.

Thanks for setting me straight.

;)

[Hammer755]

I'm not an avid reader of the Star Wars books, but am interested in the ones that continue the world from the original trilogy. The Zahn books are good, and I especially like Shadows of the Empire, which is set between Empire and Jedi. It introduces Xixor, who battles with Darth Vader for the spot of #2 villain in the galaxy.

[Havok]

im actually about 100 pages away from finishing this trilogy, kinda wierd that there is a post about them :)