![Amazon prime logo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/marketing/prime/new_prime_logo_RGB_blue._CB426090081_.png)
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Buy new:
-11% $7.99$7.99
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
Save with Used - Acceptable
$6.02$6.02
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: -OnTimeBooks-
Learn more
1.27 mi | ASHBURN 20147
![Kindle app logo image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/app/kindle-app-logo._CB668847749_.png)
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the authors
OK
Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Vol. 1) Mass Market Paperback – May 1, 1992
Purchase options and add-ons
Five years ago, the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and drove the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights.
But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor’s warlords, 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 a vital discovery that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to build.
- Print length416 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRandom House Worlds
- Publication dateMay 1, 1992
- Dimensions4.13 x 1.04 x 6.85 inches
- ISBN-100553296124
- ISBN-13978-0553296129
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
![Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Vol. 1)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71UJ6jmbmnL._AC_UL116_SR116,116_.jpg)
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
- Dark Force Rising: Star Wars Legends (The Thrawn Trilogy) (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy - Legends)PaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 17
- The Last Command (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy)Mass Market PaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Jul 18
- Thrawn (Star Wars) (Star Wars: Thrawn)PaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 17
- Darth Plagueis: Star Wars LegendsPaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 17
- Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn #1)Mass Market PaperbackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Jul 17
Get to know this book
What's it about?
In the aftermath of the Empire's defeat, Grand Admiral Thrawn commands the Imperial remnant, threatening the fledgling New Republic with a devastating discovery.Popular highlight
“Anyone can make an error, Ensign. But that error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.”1,090 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
“All men want power. And the more they have, the more they want.”697 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
“Not the last of the old Jedi, Luke. The first of the new.”156 Kindle readers highlighted this
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
From the Inside Flap
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
1
“Captain Pellaeon?” a voice called down the portside crew pit through the hum of background conversation. “Message from the sentry line: the scoutships have just come out of lightspeed.”
Pellaeon, leaning over the shoulder of the man at the Chimaera’s bridge engineering monitor, ignored the shout. “Trace this line for me,” he ordered, tapping a light pen at the schematic on the display.
The engineer threw a questioning glance up at him. “Sir . . .?”
“I heard him,” Pellaeon said. “You have an order, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, sir,” the other said carefully, and keyed for the trace.
“Captain Pellaeon?” the voice repeated, closer this time. Keeping his eyes on the engineering display, Pellaeon waited until he could hear the sound of the approaching footsteps. Then, with all the regal weight that fifty years spent in the Imperial Fleet gave to a man, he straightened up and turned.
The young duty officer’s brisk walk faltered; came to an abrupt halt. “Uh, sir—” He looked into Pellaeon’s eyes and his voice faded away.
Pellaeon let the silence hang in the air for a handful of heartbeats, long enough for those nearest to notice. “This is not a cattle market in Shaum Hii, Lieutenant Tschel,” he said at last, keeping his voice calm but icy cold. “This is the bridge of an Imperial Star Destroyer. Routine information is not—repeat, not—simply shouted in the general direction of its intended recipient. Is that clear?”
Tschel swallowed. “Yes, sir.”
Pellaeon held his eyes a few seconds longer, then lowered his head in a slight nod. “Now. Report.”
“Yes, sir.” Tschel swallowed again. “We’ve just received word from the sentry ships, sir: the scouts have returned from their scan raid on the Obroa-skai system.”
“Very good,” Pellaeon nodded. “Did they have any trouble?”
“Only a little, sir—the natives apparently took exception to them pulling a dump of their central library system. The wing commander said there was some attempt at pursuit, but that he lost them.”
“I hope so,” Pellaeon said grimly. Obroa-skai held a strategic position in the borderland regions, and intelligence reports indicated that the New Republic was making a strong bid for its membership and support. If they’d had armed emissary ships there at the time of the raid.. . .
Well, he’d know soon enough. “Have the wing commander report to the bridge ready room with his report as soon as the ships are aboard,” he told Tschel. “And have the sentry line go to yellow alert. Dismissed.”
“Yes, sir.” Spinning around with a reasonably good imitation of a proper military turn, the lieutenant headed back toward the communications console.
The young lieutenant . . . which was, Pellaeon thought with a trace of old bitterness, where the problem really lay. In the old days—at the height of the Empire’s power—it would have been inconceivable for a man as young as Tschel to serve as a bridge officer aboard a ship like the Chimaera. Now—
He looked down at the equally young man at the engineering monitor. Now, in contrast, the Chimaera had virtually no one aboard except young men and women.
Slowly, Pellaeon let his eyes sweep across the bridge, feeling the echoes of old anger and hatred twist through his stomach. There had been many commanders in the Fleet, he knew, who had seen the Emperor’s original Death Star as a blatant attempt to bring the Empire’s vast military power more tightly under his direct control, just as he’d already done with the Empire’s political power. The fact that he’d ignored the battle station’s proven vulnerability and gone ahead with a second Death Star had merely reinforced that suspicion. There would have been few in the Fleet’s upper echelons who would have genuinely mourned its loss . . . if it hadn’t, in its death throes, taken the Super Star Destroyer Executor with it.
Even after five years Pellaeon couldn’t help but wince at the memory of that image: the Executor, out of control, colliding with the unfinished Death Star and then disintegrating completely in the battle station’s massive explosion. The loss of the ship itself had been bad enough; but the fact that it was the Executor had made it far worse. That particular Super Star Destroyer had been Darth Vader’s personal ship, and despite the Dark Lord’s legendary—and often lethal—capriciousness, serving aboard it had long been perceived as the quick line to promotion.
Which meant that when the Executor died, so also did a disproportionate fraction of the best young and midlevel officers and crewers.
The Fleet had never recovered from that fiasco. With the Executor’s leadership gone, the battle had quickly turned into a confused rout, with several other Star Destroyers being lost before the order to withdraw had finally been given. Pellaeon himself, taking command when the Chimaera’s former captain was killed, had done what he could to hold things together; but despite his best efforts, they had never regained the initiative against the Rebels. Instead, they had been steadily pushed back . . . until they were here.
Here, in what had once been the backwater of the Empire, with barely a quarter of its former systems still under nominal Imperial control. Here, aboard a Star Destroyer manned almost entirely by painstakingly trained but badly inexperienced young people, many of them conscripted from their home worlds by force or threat of force.
Here, under the command of possibly the greatest military mind the Empire had ever seen.
Pellaeon smiled—a tight, wolfish smile—as he again looked around his bridge. No, the end of the Empire was not yet. As the arrogantly self-proclaimed New Republic would soon discover.
He glanced at his watch. Two-fifteen. Grand Admiral Thrawn would be meditating in his command room now . . . and if Imperial procedure frowned on shouting across the bridge, it frowned even harder on interrupting a Grand Admiral’s meditation by intercom. One spoke to him in person, or one did not speak to him at all. “Continue tracing those lines,” Pellaeon ordered the engineering lieutenant as he headed for the door. “I’ll be back shortly.”
The Grand Admiral’s new command room was two levels below the bridge, in a space that had once housed the former commander’s luxury entertainment suite. When Pellaeon had found Thrawn—or rather, when the Grand Admiral had found him—one of his first acts had been to take over the suite and convert it into what was essentially a secondary bridge.
A secondary bridge, meditation room . . . and perhaps more. It was no secret aboard the Chimaera that since the recent refitting had been completed the Grand Admiral had been spending a great deal of his time here. What was secret was what exactly he did during those long hours.
Stepping to the door, Pellaeon straightened his tunic and braced himself. Perhaps he was about to find out. “Captain Pellaeon to see Grand Admiral Thrawn,” he announced. “I have informa—”
The door slid open before he’d finished speaking. Mentally preparing himself, Pellaeon stepped into the dimly lit entry room. He glanced around, saw nothing of interest, and started for the door to the main chamber, five paces ahead.
A touch of air on the back of his neck was his only warning. “Captain Pellaeon,” a deep, gravelly, catlike voice mewed into his ear.
Pellaeon jumped and spun around, cursing both himself and the short, wiry creature standing less than half a meter away. “Blast it, Rukh,” he snarled. “What do you think you’re doing?”
For a long moment Rukh just looked up at him, and Pellaeon felt a drop of sweat trickle down his back. With his large dark eyes, protruding jaw, and glistening needle teeth, Rukh was even more of a nightmare in the dimness than he was in normal lighting.
Especially to someone like Pellaeon, who knew what Thrawn used Rukh and his fellow Noghri for.
“I’m doing my job,” Rukh said at last. He stretched his thin arm almost casually out toward the inner door, and Pellaeon caught just a glimpse of the slender assassin’s knife before it vanished somehow into the Noghri’s sleeve. His hand closed, then opened again, steel-wire muscles moving visibly beneath his dark gray skin. “You may enter.”
“Thank you,” Pellaeon growled. Straightening his tunic again, he turned back to the door. It opened at his approach, and he stepped through—
Into a softly lit art museum.
He stopped short, just inside the room, and looked around in astonishment. The walls and domed ceiling were covered with flat paintings and planics, a few of them vaguely human-looking but most of distinctly alien origin. Various sculptures were scattered around, some freestanding, others on pedestals. In the center of the room was a double circle of repeater displays, the outer ring slightly higher than the inner ring. Both sets of displays, at least from what little Pellaeon could see, also seemed to be devoted to pictures of artwork.
And in the center of the double circle, seated in a duplicate of the Admiral’s Chair on the bridge, was Grand Admiral Thrawn.
He sat motionlessly, his shimmery blue-black hair glinting in the dim light, his pale blue skin looking cool and subdued and very alien on his otherwise human frame. His eyes were nearly closed as he leaned back against the headrest, only a glint of red showing between the lids.
Product details
- Publisher : Random House Worlds (May 1, 1992)
- Language : English
- Mass Market Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0553296124
- ISBN-13 : 978-0553296129
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.13 x 1.04 x 6.85 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #53,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #290 in Galactic Empire Science Fiction
- #1,540 in Space Operas
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Timothy Zahn is the Hugo Award-winning author of more than forty original science fiction novels and the bestselling Star Wars trilogy Heir to the Empire, among other works. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the storyline fun and interesting. They also find the characters compelling. Readers describe the writing quality as well-written and amazing. They describe the book series as great and exciting. However, opinions are mixed on the pacing, action, and adventure, with some finding it good and engaging, while others say it's a bit slow.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the storyline fun, interesting, and the finest Star Wars tale since the original movies. They also say Timothy Zahn has done a masterful job describing events after the Battle of Endor. Readers also say the stories are satisfying, insightful, and nostalgic. They mention that the characters are smart and cunning.
"...The plot is interesting, but what made this work truly compelling are the characters...." Read more
"...They are not canon, but they are satisfying and, for me personally, have scratched that itch I had for more Han, Leia and Luke." Read more
"...The plot is fun but the formula does get repetitive...." Read more
"...This was simply an incredible adventure. The story, the dialogue, everything was spot on the original trilogy...." Read more
Customers find the characters in the book compelling, insightful, and fun. They also say they give a connection to Timothy Zahn along the way.
"...The plot is interesting, but what made this work truly compelling are the characters...." Read more
"...He is a great and threatening villain paired with his midwitted subordinate Pellaeon and the mad and unpredictable dark jedi, Jorrus C'Baoth...." Read more
"...PROS: Zahn accurately portrays well known characters, the fight against the Empire didn't end with the Ewoks on Endor, Grand Admiral Thrawn is a..." Read more
"...These are insightful and fun, giving a connection to Timothy Zahn along the way that almost feels as if you are sitting with him and reading the..." Read more
Customers find the book well written, well thought out, and the author's notes enhance the experience. They also mention that the production of the audiobook is incredible.
"...on Endor, Grand Admiral Thrawn is a superb villain, author's notes enhance the experience...." Read more
"...A new villain, now iconic in the Expanded Universe, written wonderfully with elitism and menace, presents a threat to our heroes as they struggle to..." Read more
"...and paragraphs and chapters are adequately constructed, and Zahn writes better than most Star Wars fans probably could...." Read more
"...but also music and sound effects where appropriate...." Read more
Customers find the book series great, and the best series in the Star Wars universe. They also mention that the trilogy and the follow duology are great reads.
"...Highly rec the audiobook, too. It's such a natural & interesting sequel to Episode VI...." Read more
"This is by far the best series in the Star Wars universe. It's a shame it's been deemed irrelevant and non canon...." Read more
"...Very interesting info.All in all it's a wonderful edition to the Star Wars Saga!" Read more
"...This book and whole trilogy is a thrilling adventure." Read more
Customers find the plot exciting, well-written, and keeps them coming back for more. They also say it's a great jumping-on point for new Star Wars fans.
"...Heir' is fun, exciting, original and nostalgic...." Read more
"...It gives all the feels of the original trilogy and keeps you coming back for more! Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!" Read more
"...CONS: Luke is sort of a sissy, too many cases of coincidence, Mara Jade isn't all she's cracked up to be, Grand Admiral Thrawn might be too..." Read more
"...The plot is well-paced, exciting, and just complex enough to hold up to multiple re-reads without being confusing the first time through...." Read more
Customers find the beginning of the book great.
"...The introduction was interesting enough but the first moment I was truly hooked was when I realized that Han Solo's obvious backup was the same..." Read more
"...All in all, highly recommended for first-time or veteran Star Wars fans...." Read more
"...Still, I can't fault the content here. The introductions are great, and the annotations range from little tidbits to genuine insight into Zahn's..." Read more
"...It is a great start to new chapters in Star Wars that should have been made into movies or now shows." Read more
Customers are mixed about the pacing. Some mention that the plotting flows at a good pace, while others say that it's a bit slow.
"...The pacing of the story is quick and full of twists. I found myself greatly enjoying the leaps in prose that kept the energy up...." Read more
"...Heir to the Empire is well-written, fast-paced, smart and exciting...." Read more
"...runs through this novel and leads up to the "climax", but it's resolved so quickly and with no real final consequences that it feels like it was all..." Read more
"...It is an interesting story with a new threat, well-written and relatively fast paced...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the action and adventure. Some mention smart characters and an engaging plot with lots of intrigue. They also appreciate the tight writing and plot that flows. However, others say the plot is not interesting enough and the book is very fan fictiony.
"...of groundwork for the remainder of the trilogy, but too many plot threads just abruptly end in this volume...." Read more
"...The pacing of the story is quick and full of twists. I found myself greatly enjoying the leaps in prose that kept the energy up...." Read more
"...The story jumps through a few weird hoops to reunite us with characters we'll recognize (in lieu of making new ones), and it can be a bit cringey at..." Read more
"...Smart characters and an engaging plot with lots of intrigue." Read more
Reviews with images
![Came in mint condition](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Once they received approval from George Lucas and the other higher-ups, they searched for a writer to pen this new trilogy, and decided to offer the contract for the trilogy to then-rising science-fiction writer Timothy Zahn. Thus, what would become known as The Thrawn Trilogy was born.
The first book, Heir to the Empire outsold the modest hopes that had been held out for the books, and much more. It was a run-away best-seller that proved that there was still a HUGE market for SW stories. Timothy Zahn went on to become, for many fans, the definitive author of the EU (Expanded Universe) of SW stories.
Twenty years after the initial release of Heir, Timothy Zahn released a special annotated version of the novel, with helpful notes, observations, and explanations from himself and (every once in a while) Betsy Mitchell, his editor at Random House.
Of course the story is terrific fun. It takes us five years after the end of Jedi, where the Rebel Alliance has made huge gains since their victory over the Emperor at the Battle of Endor. In those five years, the Rebellion have established a formal government (called the "New Republic" as a continuation of the Old Republic Palpatine ended in his Sith plot), pushed back the Imperials from many star systems, and reached a slight military superiority to the heavily-armed Imperial forces.
All of this success is threatened by a brilliant military commander, and last of the Imperial Grand Admirals, named Thrawn. For his own reasons, which are inscrutable (he seems to have no respect for the late Emperor and his "New Order") to all but himself, he believes the Empire must rise again and the "Rebellion" - he steadfastly refuses to call it the New Republic - must be destroyed. To this end, he has found an insane clone of an Old Republic era Jedi Master, Joruus C'baoth, and is using him to perform carefully-planned attacks to drive the Republic to it's knees.
What's more, he has agreed to the madman clone's price for his help: Leia Organa Solo and her and Han's twin children she is pregnant with, to be kidnapped and handed over to C'baoth.
So began the resurgence in the now truly massive Star Wars franchise. The plot is interesting, but what made this work truly compelling are the characters. Along with the favorites from the movies (such as Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, Lando, so on), you have new characters to enjoy. You find yourself both cheering for and against the bad guys, for instance. This is because, though Thrawn is more polished and refined than the Emperor and Vader, is a genius to boot, and has some good motives for some of his actions, there is little doubt that he is still evil. After all, he is fine with killing incompetent subordinates, kidnapping innocents and handing them over to a homicidal maniac, among other lovely things. There is also no doubt that, though insane, C'baoth is the every bit the clone of his template, one of the more powerful pre-Empire Jedi. All in all, this is quite a challenge for the heroes.
Part of the difficulty for the good guys is that Thrawn is careful and smart. He analyzes his enemies, unlike the Emperor and Vader he will retreat from a fight he can't win, and he plans his strategies so that, even when he does lose, he still either gets something, hurts the Republic, or both.
One area that Zahn deserves both praise and some slight critique (but mostly praise) is in the area of how "hard" his SW books are. In science-fiction circles, there is a scale of "hardness" and "softness" in regards to the genre. For instance, how much does the story adhere to scientific fact (hard), or just use science jargon or vague ideas to give a template or justification for story elements (soft). Zahn was limited in how much "hardness" he could put in the Star Wars books due to the fantastical nature of the series. He still tried. Sometimes this could pull you out of the fantastical elements due to the explanations, which obviously was not a good thing. All in all, this is a tiny criticism, because his keeping the characters grounded made the story more compelling and believable than the truly ridiculous paths many other authors have taken stories down since then. While he is a bit long on explanations and science at times, his grounded approach really has been shown to be for the best.
This novel also introduced three characters that would go on to influence future books, and be wildly popular with fans, despite not appearing in any of the films. Said characters are Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, and Imperial Captain Gilad Pellaeon. It's a testament to the story-telling and world-building skills of Tim Zahn that he was able to create characters that consistently are fan-favorites, even sometimes over movie characters.
Of course, this edition of Heir being annotated offers added goodies. As I already stated, there are numerous notes from Zahn and Mitchell about the process of writing the trilogy. These tidbits open a window to the reader about how the tales developed, including what ideas were accepted, rejected, or fine-tuned by the folks at Lucasfilm. To get into the heads of Zahn and Mitchell in some ways helped to almost complete the book, as some questions fans have had about Heir and the rest of The Thrawn Trilogy are answered in the notes.
For the Star Wars fan, and really science-fiction fans in general, this is a must-read.
Highly Recommended.
If you, like many people, have felt dissatisfied at the stories involving your favorite childhood heroes and wish there was more seen of them in the intermittent time and tales of their adventures, I recommend you give this fantastic piece of sci-fi a read!
Timothy Zahn's novel came in the early 90s, before the 1997 theatrical re-release of the original trilogy, in a time before people knew there would be more films. Originally published under Bantam Books, this trilogy served as a nice piece of adventure fiction starring the heroic trio.
It has been 5 years since ROTJ, and 9 years since Luke destroyed the death star alongside the rebel alliance. In the mean time he has become much more skilled as a Jedi, but also more confused as to his path now that he is all that remains of the Jedi order. Han and Leia are expecting their first children, twins, and Leia's jedi training has only just started.
This book smartly depicts the dwindling of the Empire's influence and the rise of the rebel leadership, now serving as politicians. The new Disney canon says the empire fell in one year which feels so unrealistic to me personally. This book more realistically depicts the ongoing struggle of an empire on the backfoot, led by Adrmiral Thrawn in what is famously his introduction. He is a great and threatening villain paired with his midwitted subordinate Pellaeon and the mad and unpredictable dark jedi, Jorrus C'Baoth.
There are lots of great character moments between the trio, and Zahn smartly gives them things to do. He introduces a handful of new and fun characters as well (including Mara Jade!) The book is exciting and entertaining and paved the way for the new era of novels. Give this trilogy a read, then if satisfied look to reading the other novels that tell of future events. They are not canon, but they are satisfying and, for me personally, have scratched that itch I had for more Han, Leia and Luke.
Top reviews from other countries
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)
Other than that the book looks awesome
![Customer image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)
Reviewed in Mexico on November 28, 2021
Other than that the book looks awesome
![Customer image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71juplLKi7L._SY88.jpg)
![Customer image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Yg-mJiLGL._SY88.jpg)
![Customer image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71qLVPg49ML._SY88.jpg)
![](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)
Grand Admiral Thrawn: Timothy Zahn introduces Grand Admiral Thrawn, one of the most iconic and enigmatic characters in the Star Wars universe. Thrawn's tactical brilliance, strategic mind, and unorthodox methods make him a formidable and fascinating adversary. He quickly cements his place among the galaxy's most captivating villains.
Complex Characters: In addition to Thrawn, Zahn introduces a host of well-developed and multifaceted characters. The return of familiar faces like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the droids brings a sense of nostalgia, while the introduction of Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, and others adds depth and intrigue to the narrative.
Rich World-Building: Zahn's world-building is exceptional. He seamlessly integrates new planets, species, and technologies into the Star Wars universe, expanding its scope while maintaining the authenticity and charm that fans love.
Engaging Plot: "Heir to the Empire" presents a captivating plot filled with political intrigue, military strategy, and high-stakes adventure. The story keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the New Republic faces off against Thrawn's cunning tactics.
Seamless Continuity: Zahn's deep knowledge of the Star Wars lore and his ability to seamlessly integrate his narrative into the existing canon make "Heir to the Empire" feel like a natural continuation of the original trilogy. It respects and honors the established universe while forging its own path.
Character Dynamics: The interactions and relationships between characters are a highlight of the book. Whether it's the camaraderie among the heroes, the tension between Thrawn and his subordinates, or the mysterious connections between Mara Jade and the Force, these dynamics add depth and dimension to the story.
Classic Themes: "Heir to the Empire" embodies the classic themes of hope, redemption, and the enduring struggle between good and evil that define the Star Wars saga. It explores the complexities of leadership, responsibility, and the consequences of one's choices.
In conclusion, "Heir to the Empire" is a tour de force in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Timothy Zahn's storytelling prowess, combined with the return of beloved characters and the introduction of captivating new ones, makes this book an absolute gem. It kickstarted the renewed interest in the Star Wars franchise and paved the way for countless other novels and media adaptations. Whether you're a lifelong Star Wars fan or just beginning your journey in a galaxy far, far away, "Heir to the Empire" is a must-read that captures the magic, spirit, and grandeur of the original trilogy while forging an exciting new chapter in the epic saga.
![](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)
![](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)