SW Book recommendations

i've decided to start taking on the books. looks to be a pretty hefty endeavour. the question is, where to begin??? is there any kind of logical order? or is it justt a matter of deciding on a random series and reading it through? and for that matter, who decides who can write a series/book? just anyone, or does Lucas keep an appointed army of talented monkeys locked up in his basement who whips something up at the wave of his hand? any advice is appreciated.

Some books are pants, to start out, I reccomend the Han Solo trilogy by Ann Crispin, excellent books!! I might re-read them actually!!

start with the Hand Of Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn if u haven't done so already. You'll be cursing at yourself for what you've been missing out on

Read the Heir to the Empire trilogy before you read the Hand of Thrawn

my bad.... read Heir To The Empire

hell yeah. that's what i'm reading now.

Aside from the the Zahn/Thrawn books. I think 'Shadows of the Empire' is a great introductory book to the EU. I've read it a few times. After reading the 'Heir to the Empire' and the 'Hand of Thrawn' I would also dive right into the New Jedi Order (NJO): the current era of the story line outside of the prequel age. I think it is a great story line so far and you can read the others to fill in the gaps waiting for the new releases.

Check the thread from April 9, 2002 for some good book sites too. Subject is 'Star Wars Books'.

Just over a week before the novel for AOTC is released. What's everyone going to do? Read it or wait?! I don't think I can buy it until I see the movie or else I will definitely read it.

thanks all for the recommendations. though i noticed Heir To The Empire is post-RotJ. now, correct me if i'm wrong but wouldn't it make more sense for me to get some background and begin with some pre-TPM material. sorry if i'm being dense, maybe i'm viewing this all from the wrong direction.

Hand of Thrawn was a duology.

Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire Dark Force Rising The Last Command

Hand of Thrawn Duology: Spectre of the Past Vision of the Future

Rebel Alliance Aramys Strael

I think I will buy it and the nwait for the movie. I'll watch the movie and then read it after the fact... maybe several months after the fact. At least that is what I did with TPM.

Rebel Alliance Lt. Commander Aramys Strael

Lucas has an army of monkeys writing the books but you can forget about the talented part.