Specter of the Past: Star Wars Legends (The Hand of Thrawn): Book I
Written by Timothy Zahn
Narrated by Anthony Heald
4/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
The Empire stands at the brink of total collapse. But they have saved their most heinous plan for last. First a plot is hatched that could destroy the New Republic in a bloodbath of genocide and civil war. Then comes the shocking news that Grand Admiral Thrawn--the most cunning and ruthless warlord in history--has apparently returned from the dead to lead the Empire to a long-prophesied victory. Facing incredible odds, Han and Leia begin a desperate race against time to prevent the New Republic from unraveling in the face of two inexplicable threats--one from within and one from without. Meanwhile, Luke teams up with Mara Jade, using the Force to track down a mysterious pirate ship with a crew of clones. Yet, perhaps most dangerous of all, are those who lurk in the shadows, orchestrating a dark plan that will turn the New Republic and the Empire into their playthings.
Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn is the New York Times–bestselling science fiction author of more than forty novels, as well as many novellas and short stories. Best known for his contributions to the expanded Star Wars universe of books, including the Thrawn trilogy, Zahn also wrote the Cobra series and the young adult Dragonback series—the first novel of which, Dragon and Thief, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Zahn currently resides in Oregon with his family.
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Reviews for Specter of the Past
366 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One of my favorite Star Wars books. Timothy Zahn kept me interested until the very end. He did a great job with the personalities of the characters.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a great book about human nature disguised in the trappings of a sci-fi setting. How many times do we let our own concerns get in the way of what is best for a bigger group. I liked also the exploration of how much a government should be responsible for - it is timely today in the United States. I've been reading newer Star Wars releases, so it's been fun to go back and see Luke, Han, and Leia when they are younger and know less.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5While Star Wars novels are hardly literary masterpieces, this one was particularly lame.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Timothy Zahn returns to finish what he started in the Thrawn Trilogy. While a separate story in its own right, you really have to read the first set of books to follow some of the happenings in this series. While I don't recommend this series as strongly as Zahn's first one, it was definitely a good continuation.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thrawn has a full name! Now we can all practice pronouncing it! Don't fret, we're only human, without the vocal apparatus capacity to get it right, so no offence will be taken. Oh, yeah, and some really, really good-looking actor gets cast as Thrawn of the 7 syllables and two glottal stops in an Imperial production. No, really. Wonder why all the folks on the cover look so worried?
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I am not a fan of abridged audio books. the story is great and the reader does a good job but if your looking for the whole story this is not it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Of all the Star Wars authors, Timothy Zahn has given us the best stories and the most interesting plot lines. He also develops the characters and each acts as what you would expect them to do. And this is another example where he does all the right things. And to top it off, he brings back the best character / villain in a way that will make you wonder why no one else has done something similar. I only have one regret: that I finished it too fast and there's not more too read. Well, there is the second book which concludes the story so I guess I can also regret that there won't be a third.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A decade after the death of the brilliant Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Empire is but a shadow of its former self. Concluding that defeat by the New Republic is inevitable, Thrawn's protégé and successor as the Empire's supreme military commander, deicides that the best option remaining is to seek peace with the New Republic. Yet a corrupt Grand Moff has other plans. Allying with a con man and a former royal guardsman, the trio foster the belief that Thrawn has returned and is fomenting civil war within the fragile New Republic by reopening old wounds that had been long neglected in the face of the Imperial threat. With politics riven by tensions and riots breaking out on dozens of worlds, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo, and Han Solo work desperately to discover the perpetrators behind a decades-old crime. Soon a race is underway, one that will end in the truth — or the collapse of everything that they have worked for.
In this book, the first of Timothy Zahn's "Hand of Thrawn" duology, the author makes a welcome return to the Star Wars franchise. His book displays all of the strengths of his original Thrawn trilogy, with intricate plotting, exciting action, and memorable characters. The story zips along nicely, though it suffers somewhat from Zahn's decision to focus on setting up events for their resolution in the second book. Though it makes for a less satisfying reading experience than his previous series, it is nonetheless an entertaining work that will leave readers eager to pick up the concluding volume the moment they get to the last page. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Empire have finally realised that the only path to survival is to lay aside their differences and pull a truce, ending the long war between Imperials and the New Republic. The only obstacle that remains though is will the New Republic truly accept their offer? The New Republic already has a bigger problem, a struggle with an uprising Caamas issue urging on a civil war and possibly leading to the downfall of the New Republic. Bantam Spectra’s Spectre of the past is book one of the Hand of Thrawn duology by award winning Timothy Zahn, author of the historic Thrawn Trilogy. The book masterly provides well thought out schemes, plans, and events leading to book two of the duology, Vision of the Future, both definitely did not displease.