I don't really have time to read the books, but I'm pretty die-hard. I play the d20 SWRPG (saga edition--won't switch to EotE).

Can't wait for December tho

@KingCyrus, in all of the books the first few pages has a chronological (via the universe) listing of the books. Most are worth reading.

X-Wing series (9) books
The Jedi Academy Trilogy (There is a fourth book called "I JEDI" which is my personal favorite that you should read after this series)
Black Fleet Crisis (least favorite)
Corellian Crisis Trilogy
The Hand of Thrawn (duo)
Yuuzhan Vong Series (20+ books)

I would read those general ones to get the story line, and I would throw in Darth Bane Trilogy and Darth Plagues (solo book). Which both are pre A New Hope.

From what I have heard, reading chronologically isn't necessarily better. Since they weren't written chronologically, there are still spoilers. Is that the case here?

I'd make sure to read all three of:
Children of the Jedi, by Barbara Hambly
Darksaber, by Kevin J. Anderson
Planet of Twilight, by Barbara Hambly
Before reading the Fate of the Jedi set.

The NJO (Yuuzhan Vong) set is probably the largest single sub-series and was a game-changer and bridge between the Luke-Leia-Han era and where you get a new set of main characters, though of course, they still feature prominently.

In addition to the ones jmo listed above, I'd also recommend taking a look at the Clone Wars era novels: Specifically Shatterpoint.

For more Chiss+Thrawn stuff, there's also Zahn's Outbound Flight book, which gives you some more information about the background of the original Thrawn books.

I always liked Rogue Planet, which is set between episodes 1 and 2 and has some connections with the NJO books.

Pretty sure I have read Shatterpoint, Outbound Flight, and Rogue Planet, but I am up for reading them again. I don't remember much.

I would try and read the ones I mentioned in order since the storyline is a cohesive one with very few/if any chronological errors.

Personally I didn't like the first 3 Warden mentioned, but I agree with the Clone War books. Shatterpoint was a very well written story.

Yeah Rouge Planet was good and ties into the Zonama Sekot books in the Vong storyline.

I'd also read the Courtship of Princess Leia, which is a good bridge between the movies and the Thrawn series, and ties into the rouge squad books.

The Bane series was my all time favorite, three amazing books that really explain the origins of the sith.

The Callista books are important if you want to know everything about FotJ, and if you read too far beyond that section of time, you sort of spoil some of the plotlines of those books. I don't recall them being stand-out good either, but they do connect, and I did like the cool ghost ship.

Thanks I'll give them all a look!

Oh, I can't believe I forgot to mention Kenobi. John Jackson Miller did a great job with it.

I agree with JMO regarding the Darth Bane series. Excellent books and takes a look back thousands of years before the movies.

The Xwing series is a pretty good read if thats the one with Wedge leading Rogue Squadron.

But my absolute favorite Star Wars series was the Republic Commando series about clone troopers. Light on the Jedi but great characters.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Republic_Commando_Series

the Courtship of Princess Leia was awful. It's been a long time since I've read it but I vaguely recall Luke's Jedi powers being ridiculously powerful compared to anything else in that timeline, and a planet full of force users that other EU books seemed at pains to ignore.

@Oct, it wasn't the best, but the references to that book are endless throughout the rest of the EU, and that planet actually plays a huge role in multiple other series. The story also wraps up the storyline central to the Wraith Squadron subplot in the rouge squadron books (where wedge does lead the rouge squadron).