Vector Prime got a lot of publicity when it was published in 1999. IIRC, it was the only EU novel to have a tv spot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOV2dGdFbGk
I know Chewie's death in the book got some media attention. Not to mention the author reportedly got threatening letters from fans.
Whether casual fans and moviegoers even remember this 15 years later is unclear.