Yeah, Chewie's dead for good.
As for the Star Wars books, like Lyle, I've a read a
lot! I, myself, like Stackpole. The Rogue Squadron books were fairly good, and while he may make Corran Horn too good, I don't remember him "being above Skywalker or Antilles." At one point, he knocked Luke down, because he wasn't paying attention, but at all times it was obvious Luke could take him with a twitch. Wedge doesn't have contact witht he force, so Coran has an edge over him, though they never say Corran could take him in a dogfight. Indeed, he never flies against him.
The books are pretty much all written by already established authors int he fields of fantasy and science fiction. I don't think Lucas allows anyone who is not to write. And Timber, you will know which books are kiddie, and which aren't. The Junior Jedi Knights, and Jedi Apprentice and the such are the kiddies. Young Jedi Knights are basically a teenage series, following the twins. I can vouch for almost all the stuff taking place after the original trilogy, but as for the others, I've been slacking and not keeping up with them. NJO is a very good series, I agree.
If you want a good lead into the books, "Truce at Bakura" begins very quickly after "Return of the Jedi."
Happy Star Wars reading! [img]smile.gif[/img]