I'm not sure of the precise count. But if you look at the various publishing houses and series related to Star Wars in the EU, you'll find a substantial collection of novels.
The number of EU Star Wars novels published varies. It depends on how you define 'published' and which specific series or imprints you consider. Generally, there have been a significant number released over time.
In my opinion, 'The Thrawn Trilogy' is very important. As I mentioned before, 'Heir to the Empire' starts it off. These novels were really the first to expand the Star Wars universe after the movies and had a huge impact on how fans saw the post - ROTJ galaxy. Thrawn was a brilliant villain, not just a brute force bad guy but a strategic mastermind.
Sure. 'Heir to the Empire' by Timothy Zahn is a great one. It really kicks off the post - original trilogy storylines in the EU and introduced some iconic characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn.
The EU Novels also influenced the visual aspects. When it came to creating new movies and shows, some of the concepts from the novels were used for inspiration. For instance, the look and feel of certain planets and species might have been inspired by what was first described in the EU Novels. They really filled in the gaps and made the Star Wars universe seem even more vast and complex.
In my opinion, 'The New Rebellion' is not a great addition to the EU novels. The story lacks the usual excitement of Star Wars. The conflict seems forced and the resolution is rather anticlimactic. It also doesn't do a great job of building on the existing relationships between the main characters.
Some of the best Star Wars EU novels include 'Heir to the Empire' by Timothy Zahn. It really expanded the Star Wars universe post the original trilogy and introduced great new characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn. His strategic mind and the way he outmaneuvered the New Republic made for a gripping read.
Well, 'Children of the Jedi' also had its problems. The plot was a bit all over the place. There were too many sub - plots that didn't seem to tie together very well. And some of the new characters introduced were not very well - developed, making it a less enjoyable read for many Star Wars fans.
Some of the highly regarded Star Wars New EU novels include 'Thrawn' by Timothy Zahn. It brought back the iconic character Thrawn and delved deep into his strategic mind. Another great one is 'Lost Stars' which told a love story set against the backdrop of the Galactic Civil War, giving a different perspective on the events in the Star Wars universe.
I would say 'Knights of the Old Republic' novels are also very good. They take you back in time to a different era of the Star Wars universe. You get to see the Jedi and Sith in a whole new light, with different conflicts and power struggles that are really engaging.
No, the Star Wars movie came out before the novels. The movie was the initial hit that sparked the creation of the novels.
The 'Dark Nest' trilogy is often considered among the worst. The storylines were a bit of a mess, and it deviated too much from the core themes and feel of Star Wars. It introduced some elements that were hard to swallow for many fans, like some of the new and rather strange alien species and their behaviors.