For the Star Wars EU: Here's a list of the various Legends book series up to 1999. I'm leaving out movie novelisation's.
Splinter of the Minds Eye: 1978. I believe this was a possible sequel....a low budget one. Foster wrote it while ANH was still being produced. Harrison Ford hadn't been contracted for any sequels at this point. In short it's very much early instillment weirdness.
Han Solo Trilogy: 1979-1980: Covers Hans adventures before the movie. Very well regarded (I've seen people who HATE the EU and like this series).
Lando Calrissian Trilogy: 1983: I've heard mixed things; some elements like the Sharu are well liked but it's always been a very weird one.
Thrawn Trilogy: 1991-1993: Basically what started the EU and in many ways brought Star Wars back into the public conscience. If anything it showed there was definitely a market for it despite what some people thought.
Jedi Prince Series (1992-1993): Young reader books. Not very good (I read one when I was 8 and even I found it corny), but it's heart is in the right place and it's sin is more just being overly goofy rather than mean spirited. It also helps that the EU was still finding it's feet, and there were a few cool ideas that were salvaged by later writers (Kadann and the Prophets of the Dark Side, Jabba's dad).
Truce at Bakura (1993): Immediate followup to Return; features the Ssi-Ruk. Also has one of Luke's first love interests, Gaeriel Captison. I like the idea that the Rebels have to show that they can protect the citizens of the galaxy now that the war is over.
Jedi Academy Trilogy (1994): Shows the foundation of the Jedi. Generally Kevin Anderson gets dunked on and to be honest he's a mixed bag, having made stories that were genuinely compelling....but also stories that were painfully stupid. Some elements of the trilogy (the Sun Crusher, Kyp Durron being forgiven for committing mass murder) are rightly criticised, but I think a few elements could be salvaged if Anderson had better editors.
Courtship of Princess Leia (1994): VERY much a mixed bag; things like Dathomir and Hapes would be kept but Han kidnapping Leia has NOT aged well at all, and Hapes is seen as oddly sexist in many ways. Zsinj was introduced but was kinda bog standard (Aaron Allston had to make him compelling). Hilariously enough was meant to be a trilogy of books.
Crystal Star (1994): Widely considered to be THE worst Star Wars book ever, partially because it feels more like a Star Trek episode. That said, there were a few things that were kinda cool. Luke has an awesome moment, and the Empire Reborn was resalvaged in the games into something kinda cool. Again, the problem was more that it felt out of place and it was isolated, meaning it avoided being as long term harmful as later stuff.
Corellian Trilogy (1995): In some ways it's reception has improved over the years; the world building for Corellia is pretty good, and Centerpoint Station is one of the better examples of an EU super weapon (partially because it's Precursor Tech rather than something the empire pulls out of it's ass, and it wasn't originally designed to be a weapon). Gaeriel Captison returns (and dies). That said, VERY few people like Thracken Sal Solo at all.
Children of the Jedi (1995): The start of the Callista trilogy; not well liked but some elements are respected and the general consensus is that Hambley herself wasn't a bad writer, she just wasn't a good fit.
Darksaber (1995): Second Part of the Callista Trilogy: Not very well regarded at all, and is generally seen to embody many of Anderson's worst excesses. That said, there are a few moments that even the haters genuinely love (Daala tries to get the various warlords to stop squabbling, and when they fail she goes "fuck this" and gasses them all to death.)
Tales Series (1995-1999): Anthology series. Tales from Mos Eisley Cantina focuses on the people in the Cantina in ANH, Jabba's Palace focuses on Jabba's Palace, and Tales from the New Republic is focused on EU stuff; Tales of the Bounty Hunters focuses on the various bounty hunters; the story with IG-88 is VERY widely panned. Tales from the Empire is kinda the same in that it focuses on EU characters (it also has Zahn and Stackpole collaborate).
Young Jedi Knights Series (1995-1998): Spinoffs focusing on Jacen Jaina and Anakin. Haven't really read them, but heard mixed things. In hindsight can be seen as the light hearted adventures the kids have before the NJO rather brutally makes it darker.
Junior Jedi Knights Series (1995-1998): Connected to above
X-Wing Series (1996-1999; 2012): The Rogue Squadron and Wraith Squadron stuff. The Wraith Squadron Stuff is universally well regarded, but the Rogue stuff is more mixed. Stackpole has good and bad points, and while he can do character some think Corran Horn is a mary sue.
Shadows of the Empire (1996): Part of the multimedia project. Some parts endured (like Black Sun) but other stuff (like Xizor) may not fly and probably haven't aged well at all.
Black Fleet Crisis (1996): The trilogy in which the Yevetha (uber xenophobic aliens) show up and try to exterminate the people in their cluster. There are three plot lines; the Yevetha one is better regarded, the Lando one is considered slow and boring, and the Luke one was ultimately a red herring given we know he won't meet his mom. VERY likely inspired by the Yugoslav Wars.
The New Rebellion (1996): Kinda mixed. I personally think that some of the ideas (Droids being used as bombers) were cool, and Kueller actually had a relatively sympathetic backstory, but there's a lot of minimalism in it.
Planet of Twilight (1997): Last of the Callista Trilogy. Features a Hutt Dark Jedi, and is generally considered kinda weird.
Galaxy of Fear (1997-1998): Young reader series. Interestingly it focuses more on horror
Han Solo Trilogy by Ann Crispin (1997-1998): Focuses on the Han's younger years; some elements are divisive (Bria Tharen is either love em or hate em) but some elements are very well liked and were kept around (Han's childhood, his meeting Chewbacca). One can even argue that Bria was a proto Qira. Ends with Han going to the cantina where he will meet Luke and Obi Wan.
Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire (1997): Kyle Katarn's origin story
Hand of Thrawn Duology (1997-1998): Sort of the swan song for the Bantam EU, featuring the peace treaty between the Republic and Empire
Dark Forces Rebel Agent (1998): Novelization of part of Dark Forces II.
Dark Forces Jedi Knight (1998): Second half of Dark Forces II in novel form
Bounty Hunter Wars Trilogy (1998-1999): Stars Boba Fett; a lot of the stuff got retconned pretty soon with the prequels.
Dafoe is one of those actors whom I truly believe can do anything. Such incredible range. He's one of my favorites. While he's great at playing unhinged villains, I like his turns as a hero as well. I'm imagining that his take on Bruce Wayne would be a bit of his detective from American Psycho and Agent Ward from Mississippi Burning with a bit of that classic Batman angst and brooding. Though IOTL, Burton wasn't keen on including Robin/Dick Grayson, I'd like to see us try to work him in as well, maybe in time for the sequel.
