Yes, there are some great stories there, but, going the way he went with the prequels, a> he screwed those authors, changing Luke and Leia's mother, and inventing GD Midiclorians...
That's not anything new. Ever read "Splinter of the Mind's Eye"? It was written after Star Wars and before Empire Strikes Back. In the story, Luke is fantasizing about Leia and hinting at romantic interests. Luke also cuts off Darth Vader's arm in the book, after Leia duels with Vader using lightsabers.