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    Heir to the Empire: Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy
    Unavailable
    Heir to the Empire: Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy
    Unavailable
    Heir to the Empire: Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy
    Audiobook13 hours

    Heir to the Empire: Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy

    Written by Timothy Zahn

    Narrated by Marc Thompson

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Here is a special 20th anniversary edition of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel that reignited the entire Star Wars publishing phenomenon-featuring an Introduction and annotations from award-winning author Timothy Zahn, exclusive commentary from Lucasfilm and Del Rey Books, and a brand-new novella starring the ever-popular Grand Admiral Thrawn. The biggest event in the history of Star Wars books, Heir to the Empire follows the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia after they led the Rebel Alliance to victory in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.

    Five years after the Death Star was destroyed and Darth Vader and the Emperor were defeated, the galaxy is struggling to heal the wounds of war, Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting twins, and Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of new Jedi Knights.

    But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor's warlords-the brilliant and deadly Grand Admiral Thrawn-has taken command of the shattered Imperial fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic. For this dark warrior has made two vital discoveries that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to create.

    The explosive confrontation that results is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale-in short, a story worthy of the name Star Wars.


    From the Hardcover edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 6, 2011
    ISBN9780307933560
    Unavailable
    Heir to the Empire: Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy
    Author

    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 Heir to the Empire

    4/5

    1,445 ratings54 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I had long thought about trying to read one of the books from the Star Wars Universe as I had loved the movies as a kid/teen. After seeing that this book was the one that followed the Return of the Jedi movie (it begins five years after the end of the movie), I thought it would be a great place to start.

      First let me say that if this story was a stand alone story with characters that we did not already know, it would not be very good. That is probably an unfair evaluation, but the story itself would not hold interest without the previously built universe.

      With that criticism out of the way, I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it most because it brought me back to some favorite characters. All the trademark expressions of the characters were included, and there were many references to events from the movie series. I knew going in that this was the first book of a trilogy, but I thought the ending was a bit too quick. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

      One other criticism is that with our heroes traveling light years from one planet to the next in an infinite universe, there were two too many times when the characters just happened to be in the same place at the same time by coincidence. It makes it easier to write the story, but was a bit too convenient.
    • 5/5
      The book that restarted my passion for Star Wars, and the introduction to the Expanded Universe. After wondering what happened to Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, R2, 3PO and other once Return of The Jedi ended, Timothy Zahn comes along and starts answering my questions. And what a formidable foe Grand Admiral Thrawn is, a cunning tactician and leader. Even years after this novel was published lots of fans are eager to see this character on film.Leia expecting twins fathered by Han, twins that represent the next generation of Jedi.We are also introduced to Mara Jade as another important character for the Expanded Universe.I will not go into plot details for those that haven't read this book, but it is definitely essential reading in the Saga. Too bad, it is not being used for film canon but will continue as part of Star Wars Legends
    • 5/5
      Gosh, this was the first Star Wars book I ever read and I forgot how much I loved it. I got the trilogy as a gift for my father as it was the first set of Star Wars books we read together and I had not got around to rereading it until now.

      I just adore the way that Timothy Zahn writes. Dialogue heavy while still showing instead of telling. Each character is written in a way that makes you want to keep reading no matter which story line he has jumped to.
    • 5/5
      I had forgotten Star Wars. Really, I had. I grew up playing with the toys and "Return of the Jedi" is one of the first movies I remembering seeing in the theater, but in an odd way it all slipped my mind--horses were far more interesting, there was school, the pain of being the bookish non-athletic kid who writes and wants to act and sing and dance, and besides, they weren't making any more movies but Star Trek at least kept turning stuff out . . . and then one day at the barn, I noticed that the book my mom had brought to read while I had my lesson said "Star Wars" on the cover. And I had never seen it before."What book is that?""It's the new Star Wars book.""New...Star Wars?""Yeah.""Can I read it when you're done?"I read it. It was all the things I'd WANTED the prequel to be and what I hope the sequel trilogy will end up being. I was back in a Galaxy Far, Far, Away, with all my old favorites, and even though I had never dreamed it possible there was more to the story than "The Emperor died and they all lived happily ever after." Old favorites were just like they should be, and new characters like Mara Jade and Grand Admiral Thrawn fit right in as if they'd always been part of the plot. I could barely wait for the second book and was so anxious for the third even being on vacation in Toronto didn't stop me from rushing to the bookstore to grab a copy the day of its release. On rereading, sure, there are bits that seem a little awkward (Zahn, like many Star Wars authors, sometimes drifts towards 'Star Wars Catchphrase Bingo', and even his own characters seem a little out of tune with their later selves. This is most notable with Thrawn and Captain Pellaeon when compared to later depictions.) C'baoth is probably not the most compelling character ever written. But especially compared to later Star Wars books, this is most like sitting down and watching a new Star Wars movie, only with the added benefit of gray-area characters who are genuinely gray, characters with complex motivations, and most of all a villain who's believably competent even without being Force-sensitive. Zahn's engineering and military SF background pays huge dividends in having Imperial adversaries who do something other than glower villainously and fire a thousand rounds at our heroes without hitting them. There's actual tension-we know in the end Luke, Leia and Han have to come out on top, but just like in Empire Strikes Back, you're not really sure how. Yes, later Star Wars books have issues. But this one stands the test of time. If you love Star Wars, do yourself a favor and read the Zahn trilogy.
    • 4/5
      I had a hard time getting into it, but overall I did enjoy it. What mostly fueled my disinterest was the emphasis on politics, not just in the New Republic but even the Empire too. I am very interested in Luke's internal battles though, and I'm curious to see where that will go.
    • 5/5
      I loved everything about this book! I recommend it a lot.
    • 1/5
      It jumped a lot in the story and ended in the middle of the final (?) battle. Really disappointing.
    • 4/5
      Mark Thompson is a great reader. Added sounds nice addition!
    • 5/5
      Good solid book. Story takes place five years after the battle of Endor. Many of the main characters are carried over from the last movie. I found this made it easier to get involved with the story. I though the plot very good but not amazing. Pace of narrative is steady. The reader is fantastic. His renditions of most of the characters are spot on with the actors from the movies, at least for the male voices. I can see why this is a highly rated Star Wars series. I will happily be moving on to the next title in the series.
    • 4/5
      Fantastic book and part of a great trilogy. I originally read this after being disappointed by The Last Jedi. This trilogy is far better than the new Disney sequels in my opinion and much worthier of the title 'Skywalker Saga' that the new Disney films are supposed to be part of making much better use of the original characters. I finished them in no time.

      The book makes great use of characters trademark phrases and created a great sense of nostalgia so is great for a Star Wars fan and is an excellent introduction to the Star Wars Legends (no longer canon sadly) because of the great characters of Thrawn and Mara Jade.

      All that being said, I only gave it four stars as the book often relies on coincidences which whilst work and does make for a great story, does feel a little contrived. That really shouldn't stop anyone from reading this series though, I really recommend them.
    • 4/5
      there is some cuts on the audio, but teh rest is excelent!
    • 5/5
      Amazing presentation of a sadly uncanonized book. This is the actual episode 7.
    • 4/5
      A good trip down memory lane, even if it's not canon anymore!
    • 5/5
      Why couldn’t this have been the new trilogy??? Seriously the story is solid and we get to see the characters we love doing exactly what made Star Wars so great to begin with.
    • 4/5
      Heir to the Empire is my first foray into the murky depths of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and it's a fine book. The only flaws that stuck out are the silly coincidences of everyone winding up at the same place at the same time, and the inevitable power creep.
    • 4/5
      This is a really well done unabridged audiobook. In particular, the reader does a great job getting the voices to sound like their related actors (with perhaps the sole notable exception of his Harrison Ford impression) - and his Grand Admiral Thrawn sounds exactly like I imagined him. Using a somewhat Hispanic voice for Talon Karrde seems a little off though.
    • 4/5
      I first read Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy when it was originally published in the early 1990s, and while I retained positive memories of the books I was content with leaving them as a positive reading experience in my memory. The release of Episode IX in the film series, however, led me to revisit what was once the “official” sequels to Lucas’ movies, to see how they measured up to my recollections of them.

      Reading them after having viewed the trilogy that replaced them helped to deepen my appreciation for Zahn’s work. Faced with the stricture that he had to work with the survivors of the original film trilogy (something that unfortunately wasn’t imposed on J. J. Abrams as well) but benefiting from a lack of accumulated backstory to accommodate, Zahn creates an effective adventure filled with interesting characters and an enjoyable plot. At the heart of it is Grand Admiral Thrawn, the last great leader of the Empire, who five years after the battle of Endor is determined to rebuild the imperium. His most effective weapon in this effort is knowledge, particularly of the Empire’s secret resources and hidden information. Drawing upon that knowledge, he begins to challenge the New Republic in ways that threaten the existence of that fragile and overstretched organization, which has barely been able to start rebuilding after its years-long fight against Emperor Palpatine’s tyranny.

      In Thrawn Zahn provides an effective main antagonist to his central characters. Yet it is the original trio of Luke, Leia, and Han that are at the heart of his novel. Here he benefits greatly from their development in Lucas’s films, which allows him to focus in his first novel on building up the post-Empire world and the characters central to his story. This includes not just Thrawn, but the insane Dark Jedi clone Joruus C’baoth, the calculating smuggler Talon Karrde, and the cunning and driven Mara Jade as well, all of whom went on to become fan favorites. Here they are introduced to readers in a way that hints at a clearly-defined past, rather than presented with undefined backstories that would be filled in randomly and in an incoherent manner. This is undoubtedly a reason why they became as popular as they did.

      When combined with a coherent plot that could play out over the course of all three novels, Zahn provides Star Wars fans with one of the greatest stories of the entire franchise. In this he benefited from all of the advantages that I’ve described, yet it is a testament to his skills as an author that he took these elements and crafted them into a tale that balances politics, mystery, and adventure in ways that surpass most of the “canon” produced since. It’s unfortunate that so much of Zahn’s achievement in creating the post-Original Trilogy Star Wars universe has been undone by the later movies, especially considering how poorly they measure up to Zahn’s work. While turning Zahn’s novels into films was never possible, they certainly demonstrate how to do do Star Wars storytelling right.
    • 5/5
      Very good book. This site needs to get the rest. If you could, edit that pause between tracks.
    • 4/5
       As in all three books of this trilogy, the plausible coincidences pile up astoundingly, but Zahn makes it work. He stays faithful to the characters from the movies (ST 4, 5, & 6 the original version), while adding interesting new ones to carry a lot of the story.Zahn is no slouch at military tactics, and espionage intrigue, while keeping it accessible for younger (teen) readers. As usual there is no untoward language or sexuality, and the violence is unrestrained but also un-gory.I have a few minor quibbles about continuity and some contradictions, but nothing serious.The biggest plot hole is Thrawn believing that any single individual can be psychologically profiled by some sample of the artwork of his species (date & national group unspecified).It would not work for humans, so why for anybody else?
    • 5/5
      fantastic story..loved the effects..feels like I'm listening to a movie
    • 5/5
      The greatest achievement in Star Wars storytelling since The Empire Strikes Back.
    • 5/5
      Best Star Wars novel of all time.
    • 4/5
      This book is responsible for the Star Wars revival in the 1990s, giving it a plethora of high praise from all around. However, reading the novel in 2015 gives a different vibe. I read this book in prep for The Force Awakens, just to see what the expanded universe was like post ROTJ before it was erased. Zahn is a great author and the writing is superb. Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade are definitely characters that stand out in the novel and I wish could make it back into the new expanded universe. Apart from those two characters, the story follows the original film cast and also deals with the struggling New Republic and the defeated Empire fighting for dominance in the galaxy. I enjoying the majority of the book with the exception of Leia’s storyline and the Jedi Master clone that is introduced only to play a small part in the overall plot of the book. A very interesting and fun read for those curious about the old expanded storylines, but not a recommended story for new readers.
    • 4/5
      I saw The Force Awakens (and really liked it), which gave me the urge to reread the original “sequel” to the Star Wars trilogy. Heir to the Empire takes place a few years after Return of the Jedi, when the New Republic is desperately trying to bring the galaxy together and the Empire is equally desperately grasping on to what space it still occupies. When new allies and technology seem to start tipping the balance in the Empire’s favor, Luke, Leia, Han, and the rest are left scrambling to keep up. At the same time, internal squabbles begin to threaten the delicate balance of the New Republic’s politics. Zahn did an excellent of translating the worlds and characters to the page, while also giving new locations and people the depth and history they needed to exist in the same galaxy. Heir to the Empire has the vast, far-reaching storylines required in a space opera, but also a variety of smaller, more personal plots and events that give characters on all sides a surprising amount of relatability. There are no paragons or one-note villains in these books; all the characters, protagonist or antagonist, have nuance.Aside from being an excellent Star Wars book, Heir to the Empire - and its two sequels - are just simply good books.
    • 3/5
      Probably the most well-known Star Wars novel, and rightfully so. Zahn created a fantastic villain in Admiral Thrawn, and a striking character in Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand. The Noghri, a people who worshipped Darth Vader, are another fantastic source of conflict. The plot is complex and well-thought out, and the interactions between characters are great.

      Despite its strengths, this book will nevertheless be primarily known for the hideous cover-art of Dark Jedi C'boath, who has possibly the most ridiculous pair of abs ever created.
    • 4/5
      When Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire first appeared in the early 90's, it was a big deal. Not only were we getting a new Star Wars story, the first official one in years, but it was also actually good.
    • 4/5
      I remember being in Elementary school and seeing a classmate reading this book. When I saw the words, Star Wars I immediately asked, what was it about. He was only in the middle of the book but said it was good. That was the first time I recall wanting to punch someone in the face and steal their book. Later I found the book at a bookstore and bought it. After loving this book I bought many other Star Wars novels afterwards. All hoping to recapture that joy of reading this book. That hasn't happened but I still love this book. And thankfully I didn't have to hurt anyone to enjoy it.
    • 4/5
      I really liked this book. I recently got finished with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo from here on out) so I wanted something light to read. I decided to go back into my stash of Star Wars books that I had never read before. I had heard that this book, and the whole trilogy, was one of the best. I found out that people were right!

      This was published in a time when the entire concept of an "Expanded Universe" wasn't even a thing. Back when this was being published, a new book or comic was something exciting and new. New stories about Han, and Leia, And Luke! The Empire being evil! Chewbacca and other wookies! At the time this was published it was basically a sequel to Return of the Jedi and it was super exciting. I think Timothy Zahn treats the characters well and they all have the voices you remember from the movies. It is also the book that (i think) introduces Mara Jade who is , i'm told, pretty polarizing in the Star Wars Fandom.

      This book takes place five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, and driven out the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting twins. Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited new line of Jedi Knights.

      Thousands of light years away, Grand Admiral Thrawn, the last of the Emperor's Warlords, has taken command of the shattered Imperial Fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic. Thrawn is searching for a Dark Jedi and is succeeding in restoring the Empire.

      Thrawn is a very cool addition to the Star Wars galaxy. Like almost literally. He is calm, cool, and unruffled throughout this entire book. Even when things go wrong he basically just shrugs and says "all according to plan". General Pellaeon is his second in command and is written pretty well. He is always making asides about how different Thrawn is than his last boss *coughPalpatinecough*, and how amazing his plan is, which could have very quickly gotten annoying. Mara Jade is OK. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to think she is this ultimate bad ass right now, mostly i find her moody and whiny. This is actually the first book I have read with her in it, she either gets more sympathetic or less sympathetic. I have heard both. I guess I'll have to continue reading to find out for sure.

      The trio is handled pretty well. Han is still sarcastic and cynical and Leia still strives for peace and understanding. Their relationship is handled well. They seem like a couple who are equals and fight but ultimately love and respect each other. Luke is written like he always is, at least in the books I've read. Calm, composed, and in control of himself and the force on the outside but unsure and worrying on the inside. I think that this characterization might have started here but who knows. It can get old. I like the characters i read to have some emotions other then "stoic", but the chapters and section where you get a glimpse of the thoughts and feelings inside his head help alleviate that somewhat.

      Zahn’s invention of the ysalamiri—creepy little slugs who negate the Force is a cool invention. I like the idea of a life-form that can repel the force and negate its effects. Maybe the new continuity will bring them back?

      The battles are well written and each is pretty interesting and the Noghri who chase after our heroes are cool and a bit scary. I almost forgot Joruus C’Baoth, an insane Dark Jedi clone of a Jedi named Jorus (one “u”) C’Baoth. He is crazy, and he wants Luke, Leia, and Leia's unborn twins. He wants to lead them and mold them in his image. CRAZY. Luke gets a Force Message from him and wants to head out and find this random new Jedi. (Luke is not the most cautious person. and he is way too trusting of strangers calling to him through the force). I'm pretty interested in where this story is headed.

      This was a great book and I am looking forward to reading the next books in this series!
    • 4/5
      I love this trilogy.
    • 5/5
      I thought this Star Wars book was awesome. There was so much action and great plot twists that kept me guessing and I really enjoyed the scenes bewteen Luke and Mara Jade. This relationship seems to be a very interesting one that I hope to see evolve in the second book of this trilogy. Plus, I'd like to learn more about this Talon Karrde guy as well.