Young Jedi Knights

[Handothrawn]

I was thinking of reading the Young Jedi Knights series by Kevin Anderson and Rebecca Moesta, could someone give me the order of the books, and which ones(if any) are the best.

[Nathan Butler]

You can find a list (with summaries if desired) on the Star Wars Timeline Gold (see signature). As for if they're worth it . . . the first arc is very good. The second is decent. The third isn't all that great.

[Flight]

Here's a very simple listing of the novels:

http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars...s/timeline.html (http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/timeline.html)


I recommend reading them if you really have nothing left to read. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif There are many, many references in the NJO to YJK, so reading that series will give you a good background. For example, YJK is where Lowbacca, Zekk, and Tenel Ka are introduced. It's where Jacen and Jaina's characters first took place.

However, I found the series very, very dull. The characters were flat, and there was very little or no character development. They each had a set character description, and that was it, it seemed. The plotlines weren't too interesting, especially farther into the series.

[Jeianni]

Well, the reason you probably found the YJK series dull is because it was written for the average 12 year old. I read when I was about fourteen- an easy read, and I liked it a lot, I still like going back into them no and again. I'd say they're pretty good, at least from a 14 year old's point of view. (This coming from a 16 year old, I'm just so ancient.)

[jade51999]

I agree..its easier to read about kids who are older then you...even now ihave a hard time seeing a 17-19 year old kid doing the things the kids are doing in NJO...

as for YJK read them..they provide insight into Hapes, Tenel Ka and her relationship with Jacen...and probably the start of his fear of slipping (if anyone is wondering what im talking about...the incident in Lightsabers..)


hmmmmm..they're decent but defin. for younger adults..(aka 10-14 year olds..)

[Flight]

No, it's not that, because it's possible to write good young readers' books - take the better books in the JA and JQ series, for example. Jude Watson, for the most part, did a very decent job.

I found them dull because of the reasons I pointed out earlier - uninteresting plotlines, flat characters, lack of character development. There's also the generally lame stabs at humor.

And I wasn't that "old" when I read them anyway. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[jade51999]

hehe i agree..(yea i know total contradiction from above style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif)

i tried to make them better so if anyone wants to read an ENORMOUS fanfic..let me know and i'll send you a link ..

its set during the first story arc..and has to do witht he essential question...

WHERE WAS MARA? and i tried to make the kids a bit more 3d

[Ieluuka]

All in all - does anyone think it is worth the bother reading them? And are they necessary to understand the NJO series better, or do they just give you a helping hand? By the way - jade51999 - I would love to read your improved version, it will probably help me in deciding.

[jade51999]

hmm..ok here's the link (i'm sorry it is on TF.N) i would post it here but its HUGE...

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?top...108&replies=248 (http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=2765108&replies=248)

Its called "To Honor the Dead"

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

now be warned while, you don't neeed to know about YJK i did provide summaries of each of the first arc books..so there are spoilers:)

i'm not sure how good of a job i did heheh
but i tried

[Ieluuka]

Thanks, I'm gonna start reading it now! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/satisfied.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif I'll tell you what I think after i've read it...it's definatly going to be good! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Nathan Butler]

Ieluuka: It isn't necessary to read YJK to understand anything, but you may end up wondering who some of the younger characters are, since that's where they were introduced (especially once you get to Star by Star. You can get most of that, though, from just reading the first 6 book arc, instead of the entire 14 book series.

[Brian]

Originally posted by Ieluuka@Sep 17 2002, 05:39 AM
Thanks, I'm gonna start reading it now! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/satisfied.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif I'll tell you what I think after i've read it...it's definatly going to be good! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif
I have never read them, but I would say go for it. I eventually plan to read them once I am finished with the prequel literature (all the books before ANH).

[One Lad to Rule Them All]

I say go for them. They're not that bad and if you're a fan of the Solo twins and Anakin you'll enjoy them.

Don't go expecting literary masterpieces though. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[jedisaber]

you might want to cause it would explain some thing that hppen in NJO

[DaClyde]

I actually thought the Junior Jedi Knights books were a bit more engaging than the YJK series. I thought it odd that there really never seemed to be all that much training going on in the YJK books. The kids seemed to have all the time in the world to go running all around the galaxy.

The main think I think that was lost in these books, is that the Solo kids all were given a pretty defined personality, yet almost none of it was retained in the NJO series. Jaina was the master mechanic, Jacen was great with animals, and Anakin was the prodigy who could rebuild any piece of machinery and was amazingly perceptive to the Force.

About all that was retained in the NJO series was Anakin's being so much more in-tune with the Force than his siblings.

[jedisaber]

i never could get a hold of jjk cause the library or bookstore didnt have them, but in njo what in blaster bolts happened to jacens jokes

[Flight]

but in njo what in blaster bolts happened to jacens jokes

They have been mercifully eliminated. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
Actually, especially in Traitor, there's mention of the difference between the Jacen who has seen and experienced this war, and the old, young, awkward Jacen who tried so hard to make jokes and live up to others' expectations.