Splinter is definitely incestering, I mean interesting. It is a good read considering the thought that if Star Wars bombed this would be the sequel not Empire.

Haha, not incestuous - at this point Leia and Luke weren't brother and sister - this decision was made a few years after the release of SOTME.

Also, I find it interesting that we first hear the term "Sith Lord" in SW:AOLS, but we don't hear it in the films until TPM...

And if the Kaibur crystals were being mentioned since SOTME, why were they NEVER used in the films? Seriously, Foster wasn't the only person to use it - Lucas did multiple times. It's weird...

More like moderately successful, which is what Lucas once said he thought was going to happen. If SW had really bombed, nobody was going to want to see another one. It's interesting to look at it now, in light of how it was designed to make use of leftover props and costumes, and the fact Harrison Ford wasn't signed up for any sequels.

I have wondered if any pre-production art or storyboards were ever done?

Both books are well worth reading, and are as close to vintage unfiltered Star Wars as you can get these days. That, and the Brian Daley Han Solo books.

I consider it on a tact that is too far removed from where we eventually go in ESB to try to fit it into my understanding of 'canon'.  I have fond memories of reading it because I was so hungry for more SW, and at the time it was basically it.

we first hear the term "Sith Lord" in SW:AOLS, but we don't hear it in the films until TPM...

*Whew*  You threw me for a loop there with AOLS (Adventures of Luke Skywalker, right?).

Is 'Palpatine' even in RotJ?  If not, then like the term Dark Lord of the Sith, it was in the books and on trading cards for decades before it appeared in film.  Kind of a curiosity.

Asteroid-Man said:

Has anyone here read them? Apparently they're based on Lucas's original script and plot to which he intended to be the Star Wars saga.

Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker

Splinter of the Mind's Eye

 

I want to read them, but are they worth the read? They seem interesting...

Weird that you made this post today.  Just yesterday, I picked up a new copy of Splinter of the Mind's Eye because my original copy was getting a bit tattered.  I'll be reading it again in about a month.

I really like the story and the feel of the universe it takes place in.  That said;  I'm probably not the right guy to weigh in on this since I have such a small Star Wars universe. As Silver said, it's unfiltered, original Star Wars.  No sign of the shrinking universe, which was still a few years away.

I remember reading an interview with McQuarrie where he mentioned there being some rights issues with all the actors at that stage, so he wasn't able to show their faces in the cover artwork. If I can find that interview, I'll post it.

I have never read the original Star Wars novel.  That is a situation that needs to be corrected.  Because it's written by Foster, I'm sure I'll dig it.  Maybe I'll read it before I read Splinter again.  It will have to be a non "New Hope" cover, so Amazon will probably be how I go. I'd like either the McQuarrie cover or the Berkey cover.

If only I was your neighbour... maybe you could toss me your tattered copy. :(

Hey, Anchorhead, did you ever get around to reading the Brian Daley Han Solo books (looking at your avatar I'm guessing probably so)?  If so, I'd be interested in hearing what you thought.

As for SOTME, I found it interesting from a historical perspective; what with being the potential sequel and all.  But ultimately I didn't care for the story.  It felt too "late 70's/early 80's fantasy cartoon"-ish to me, if that makes any sense.  It's been a few years since I've read it, though, and I only have vague, generalized memories from it.  I do remember thinking some parts were cool though.  Maybe I should give it another go sometime...

canofhumdingers said:

As for SOTME, I found it interesting from a historical perspective; what with being the potential sequel and all.  But ultimately I didn't care for the story.  It felt too "late 70's/early 80's fantasy cartoon"-ish to me, if that makes any sense.  It's been a few years since I've read it, though, and I only have vague, generalized memories from it.  I do remember thinking some parts were cool though.  Maybe I should give it another go sometime...

Same here. I should read it again. I liked it, though, but the whole plot seems a little weird and of course it doesn't have anything to do with later stuff. But it was entertaining and a good read.

I've also read SW and it's basically the early SW script with deleted scenes before they were deleted. Nothing special, to me at least.

All this talk from Anchorhead about the Daley books makes me want to read mine again, but I'm afraid of tearing them up since I have the originals that were my mom's. I'm too cheap to buy a new copy, but I suppose I could someday.

canofhumdingers said:

Hey, Anchorhead, did you ever get around to reading the Brian Daley Han Solo books (looking at your avatar I'm guessing probably so)?  If so, I'd be interested in hearing what you thought.

I did.  I really dig them.  They're completely free of all the things that would later (for me) bog down Star Wars.  In fact, I just got into a lengthy discussion with Warbler about this very thing just a week or so ago.  I can't find it anywhere.  I looked all over the board, but the thread it was in has slipped my mind.

Anyway, I really enjoy the three novels' lack of attachment to the known Star Wars universe.  I'm about to start reading Splinter again (it's been a few years).  After that, if I don't take a break from science fiction, I might start the Brian Daley Han Solo novels again.

To me, the Han Solo Adventures are a much deeper look at the character, which is to be expected of course.  The atmosphere and the scenes are more fleshed-out.  Daley pays attention to detail and you get a great mental picture of what's happening and what the scene looks like. The characters are much more three-dimensional and realistic. Likewise, the dialogue is much deeper and much more adult.

The universe we were introduced to in 1977 was dark, mysterious, and vast.  Lucas couldn't come up with any story beyond 1977, so he ended up shrinking the universe, repeatedly.   Daley, on the other hand, explored its depth.

doubleofive said:

I'm afraid of tearing them up since I have the originals that were my mom's. I'm too cheap to buy a new copy, but I suppose I could someday.

Man, you can get all three in one larger binding for just a few bucks.  That's what I did.  I have saving copies of Splinter & The Daley books, and also I have reading copies.  My reading copies get tossed into suitcases for long flights, sit in drawers, hit the floor when I fall asleep reading, etc.  They get pretty beat up. 

I bought this earlier this year as my new reading version;

and I just bought this reading version of Splinter this past weekend;

If you're buying online, remember that a Trade Paperback is a nicer, larger, and heavier paperback compared to the common Mass Market Paperback.  I get mass market paperbacks as reading copies because they're easier to handle.

I just looked for the Kindle version, but there isn't one. :-( That would be my perfect reading copy (especially since my wife says no more physical books and no more physical CDs).

You guys have inspired me to dig out my old copies.  I've got them all in hardcover.

Man, those would be my saving copies for sure.  I only have Splinter in hardcover.

Yes, trade paperbacks are nice.  I have a few myself. They're not really any different than hard covers on the inside - nicer, thicker paper, better printing, etc.  I just threw out the comparison because they can be a little cumbersome as a toss-in-your-backpack reader.  Particularly the Han Solo series - three books in one binding.   To me, the smaller mass market paperbacks are perfect as reading copies.

If you guys'd like a vintage visual take on the first of the Han books the blog in my sig is currently covering it.

ChainsawAsh said:

Slightly off-topic, but since you mentioned trade paperbacks, I just wanted to throw this out there:

Trade paperbacks are awesome.  I have all 7 Dark Tower books in trade paperback, and they're glorious.  With the full-color illustrations and everything!

Anyway, that is all.  Carry on.

aw crap - I didn't know such editions existed. I have the first 4 in ordinary paperback and the last 3 hard cover - and as far as I was aware ONLY the hard covers had the illustrations.

now I hate you a little bit...

Also, do you have the original first book or the tweaked reprint?

and regarding SOTME, It's starting to sound more interesting than I was suspecting, I've read a few terrible SW books so I'm usually very skeptical. Might look into it.

I adore the Daley Han Solo trilogy. It is the ultimate in SW fiction. haven't read Splinter in years. Now I guess I need to.

The novels for each of the films are interesting reads. Not much is added but some of the feel is different.