In this Blog entry, I will attempt to explain why I love the Expanded Universe, predominantly, the novels.

Basically, there are three sides to the Expanded Universe argument;
*People who love the EU,
*People who hate the EU,
*People that are in the "grey zone".

Now, I certainly fall into the category of reading the EU and loving it. Following, are a compilation of the reasons why I love the EU...

1)It is Star Wars.
Plain and simple. I love Star Wars, I like the movies, and I think they are interesting. The movies are certainly the main driving force behind the entire Star Wars mechanism. If it wasn't for the movies, then there wouldn't be an EU. The Expanded Universe shares the Star Wars logo, without that logo, I certainly wouldn't be reading the books.

2)The exploration of Worlds.
Planets and solar systems. Pardon me for saying so, but we get an incredibly limited view of the Star Wars galaxy in George Lucas's vision shown in the movies. Granted, Lucas does try to rectify this situation with the Prequel Trilogy, as we get a much broader view of the galaxy. However, with the EU, we get to see countless worlds. Planets that are incredibly different to the ones shown in the two trilogies. They are so diverse, in terms of their environment, ecology, climatic conditions, etc, that they are, for me, incredibly interesting, and I want to explore them, through the novels. In terms of solar systems, I love how many authors describe entire ones. We get a great insight into how the individual planets in differing solar systems interact and co-exist. Although in many cases, they do not co-exist at all. A prime example of this is in Roger MacBride Allen's Corellian Trilogy. I love the insight we were given into how the Corellian solar system works. With the description of the deep interactions which take place between the separate and sister planets.

3)The exploration of Species.
Granted, there are a vast amount of species shown in the Star Wars movies, but the novels take these species, and expand on them. In many cases, entire new species are made all together. For me, learning of these new species is an immense amount of fun. Knowing how these species came to be, their history, their politics, economy, customs, culture, status, defence forces (I could go on and on, but I will spare you) is all part of a greater and wider Star Wars experience. Take, again, the Corellian Trilogy as an example. We get to meet never before seen (well, at least I had never heard of them before) species. The Selonian's and the Drallan's. The exploration of how these two species interact within the Corellian solar system with humans is very interesting. In terms of entire species being created in the EU, take the Yuuzhan Vong for example. This species was exclusively created for The New Jedi Order series (which was a brilliant series, I might add. Massive kudos to the authors). The Vong were introduced in Vector Prime, the first novel of the series, and ever since then I have been very interested in the species. A species that is the demon of the human race. Everything that we are not. The creators took humans, and made the Vong the opposites of us. Some would say (I'm looking at Kermit) that the Vong are a pathetic species, that aren't true to the movies of continuity, because they exist "outside" the force. However, I say, in a galaxy we know relatively little about, why isn't such a thing possible? Why do we have to take the movies as pure gospel? Just because they are movies and made by George Lucas? There is certainly nothing wrong with the Vong as a species. Another example? Well, take the Devaronian* in the Cantina, shown in A New Hope. Non-Expanded Universe readers may go, "Whaaa? What is he talking about? What is a Devaronian*?" Devaronians* is the species that look like a devil. You all remember that Devil looking guy in the Cantina, red skin, big horns, sharp teeth, evil looking? Alright, good. Well, the way I see it is that okay, he looks like a devil. That's all nice and dandy. Now, why is he in this movie? Just to make Star Wars look more exotic? Diversify the species shown? Who knows, only George Lucas does. The thing is, when George Lucas gave Timothy Zhan permission to CONTINUE and EXPAND his Star Wars vision back in 1991, when Heir to the Empire was published, this opened the flood gates for future stories to be told. Thus, I have no problem with reading...say...Tales of the Mos Eisley Cantina which was edited by Kevin J Anderson *Shudder*. One particular story I love in this compilation of short stories is Empire Blues: The Devaronian's Tale. written by Daniel Keys Moran. This particular story gives the EU reader a back ground to the Devil creature shown in the Mos Eisley Cantina, and we get to know the character, which was created in the films, but was expanded upon in the EU. For me, I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. It is purely the continuation of the adventure set down by George.

4)The exploration of Characters from the Movies.
(Kind of similar to above, but focusing on the main characters).
Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, the big three. With the ending of ROTJ, everything is happy and dandy, the galaxy is saved and everybody can now go home and relax. That is the impression I get from the ending of ROTJ. But, really, for me, that is just a load of bollocks. However, I certainly found myself, after sitting and watching ROTJ, going, "What the F....? What happens now, what happens next?". I wanted to know what happened to Luke, Leia and Han. We certainly can't just leave them on Endor prancing around, singing merry songs and partying down with Ewoks, like the movies suggest, can we? For me, no. That is why I love the books so. We get to explore the consequences OF the MOVIES. The after events. It gives us the conclusions to all of the questions raised in the movies. An example of this: Han Solo and Princess Leia. Throughout the entire OT, there is undeniable sexual tension between these two characters. Am I the only person who wanted to know what happened with this story line? (Not in a sick, perverted way, people!) Did Han and Leia get married, did they have children? What became of Han and Leia? Did Han have too much Corellian whiskey and fall out of one of the trees on Endor and die within 10 minutes of ROTJ finishing? Well, without the novels, I would have no idea what the answer to these questions were. I wouldn't have a clue what had happened to the main characters of the saga. And frankly, if that was how it was, then I would certainly not be a Star Wars fan, but probably a Star Wars hater.

5)Expanded Technology.
A fan watches A New Hope, they see a Lightsaber for the very first time. Reaction? I'm not sure. I can't remember my reaction to the weapon. Maybe something along the lines of..."Wowsers, that is a kick bottom (darn filter) weapon, I wonder if I can learn anything more about it?". The fan then sits down and watches ESB, okay, there really isn't much help for them there. ROTJ? No help again. TPM, AOTC'S, ROTS? Again, again and again, the fan gets absolutely no help. Essentially, the fan learns absolutely nothing about this weapon they find interesting, from the movies. Now I ask you, people who do not like the EU, what is wrong with said fan turning to the EU to find information? Is it because in George Lucas's movies we are not told anything about the Lightsaber? And because we are told nothing, this must mean there is nothing to tell? Well, frankly, that is just not fair to fans. Why only give them half of a picture? I'm sure that if you were to go to an art exhibition which featured your favourite piece of art, and for some unknown reason, half of the artwork had been removed, and only half remained, you would be quite disappointed. No? For the EU, we learn how a Lightsaber works, we learn when the Jedi first started using them. We learn the history of the Lightsaber, how it once was. For the fan who wanted to know more about Lightsabers, the EU is a fantastic resource of information. Again, this is an example of something being set down in the movies, and the EU expanding on it, for the fans who want to know more. Truthfully, I do not understand any "fan" who wouldn't want to know more about Star Wars, not just the half picture we are presented with in the movies.

6)Expanded Philosophy.
The Force. We are given a pretty strong picture of what the force is in the movies and what it does and does not do. We are told who uses it, and why different people use it for different things (Jedi and Sith). Some would be happy with the picture we are presented with of the force. However, some people are not. Some people want to know more. This is just like the case I outlined above, using the Lightsaber as an example. If the fan wants to know more, is there something wrong with this? Of course not. It is perfectly acceptable to turn to the EU to fill in knowledge and gaps created by the movies.

7)The Enjoyment Factor.
I like reading. I like Star Wars. Thus, I like reading Star Wars. I enjoy reading the continued adventures of the Star Wars galaxy. It is just absurd when you think about how easily the reputation of the EU could be changed. Think of it this way, if every single book, comic, game, etc, had the 'author' (term used in the broadest sense of the word) as being GEORGE LUCAS, then everything would be fine, wouldn't it? Everything would be dandy, everything would be official and in continuity. But no, because each novel has a different author, a person who is not George Lucas, then suddenly they are not worth it. They are pathetic rip offs of Lucas's story. I'd love to see the fan reaction to a Star Wars novel being 'written' by George Lucas, without the fans knowing it was really ghost-written by another author. It would be wonderful to see the stir it would create. Would the novel be EU, or would it be considered official? Who knows? I don't.

Conclusion. Well, frankly, I can't draw a conclusion from all of this. Personally, I like the EU (You may have gathered that by now). I love it, for all of the reasons and more outlined above. It is up to the individual fan to chose if they do or do not like the EU, just as it is up to every fan to decide if they do or do not like the movies. Frankly, I don't see why any fan of the movies wouldn't be a fan of the EU. It is the continuation of the Star Wars story, albeit from a varying assortment of authors, editors, etc. The way I see it, Star Wars lives on. For movie lovers, Star Wars must die with the end of ROTJ. What George has put on screen, is the be all and end all for those people. Frankly, personally, I feel sorry for those people. You are only getting half of the picture.

"Now, for the first time: the authorised continuation of the legendary Star Wars sage, the most popular series in motion-picture history - masterfully told by Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn". - Blurb to Heir of the Empire.

See you on the other side --
Nate.

* I'm not sure if Devaronian is the correct species name, or spelling.