Most people have seen the Star Wars movies, and they have been very successful. Kids and adults alike enjoy watching lightsaber duels, speeder chases, and spacecraft battles. However, did you know that there is a lot more to Star Wars than just the movies? There are all kinds of stories out there, in the form of books, computer/video games, and TV shows, that tell what happened before, in between, and after the movies. All that is known as the Expanded Universe.
This is just my opinion, but I think that the books are actually better than the movies. While George Lucas has a great imagination, his writing skills are less than adequate. The stilted dialogue (such as saying, "The same," instead of, "Yes") can sometimes be a hindrance to enjoying the films. With the books, though, he gets actual writers of other science fiction, and they do a much better job. Plus, there are all new characters, such as Mara Jade (pictured), Han and Leia's kids, Thrackan Sal-Solo, etc. So, if you like the Star Wars movies, try reading a book. I would suggest starting with Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn.
