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Tarkin: Star Wars Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

James Luceno (Author), Euan Morton (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
Editors' pick Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Best-selling Star Wars veteran James Luceno gives Grand Moff Tarkin the Star Wars: Darth Plagueis treatment, bringing a legendary character from A New Hope to full, fascinating life.

He’s the scion of an honorable and revered family. A dedicated soldier and distinguished legislator. Loyal proponent of the Republic and trusted ally of the Jedi Order. Groomed by the ruthless politician and Sith Lord who would be Emperor, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin rises through the Imperial ranks, enforcing his authority ever more mercilessly….and zealously pursuing his destiny as the architect of absolute dominion.

Rule through the fear of force rather than force itself, he advises his Emperor. Under Tarkin's guidance, an ultimate weapon of unparalleled destruction moves ever closer to becoming a terrifying reality. When the so-called Death Star is completed, Tarkin is confident that the galaxy’s lingering pockets of Separatist rebellion will be brought to heel - by intimidation…or annihilation.

Until then, however, insurgency remains a genuine threat. Escalating guerrilla attacks by resistance forces and newfound evidence of a growing Separatist conspiracy are an immediate danger the Empire must meet with swift and brutal action. And to bring down a band of elusive freedom fighters, the Emperor turns to his most formidable agents: Darth Vader, the fearsome new Sith enforcer as remorseless as he is mysterious; and Tarkin - whose tactical cunning and cold-blooded efficiency will pave the way for the Empire's supremacy…and its enemies' extinction.

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  1. Part of series
    Star Wars (Standalone Novels)
  2. Listening Length
    9 hours and 27 minutes
  3. Author
    James Luceno
  4. Narrator
    Euan Morton
  5. Audible release date
    November 4, 2014
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  8. ASIN
    B00O4GS7V0
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 27 minutes
Author James Luceno
Narrator Euan Morton
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 04, 2014
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00O4GS7V0

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
4,942 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the writing style well-written and enjoyable. They also enjoy the fantastic storyline and background on Tarkin. Readers like the character development, artwork, and plot. Opinions are mixed on the pacing, with some finding it fast-paced and others saying it's a little slow-paced in the beginning.

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StorylinePlotWriting styleCharacterizationArtworkBook introductionPacingScope
179 customers mention "Storyline"146 positive33 negative

Customers find the storyline fantastic, interesting, and insightful. They also say the flashbacks are a plus. However, some readers feel the end is disappointing, with paragraph-long run-downs about the structure of the Empire. Overall, they say the book does a good job of humanizing Tarkin.

"...you will not miss anything critical if you skip this, but it is a very good story and one that I think is worth reading at least once." Read more

"...Overall, this is a fun book to read, with a story that keeps you guessing. The central character, Tarkin, is well developed and compelling...." Read more

"...Each chapter did not disappoint." Read more

"...The characters are well-developed, and the story is loaded with action...." Read more

80 customers mention "Plot"71 positive9 negative

Customers find the plot interesting from beginning to end, with exciting sequences. They appreciate the author's extensive knowledge of the Star Wars universe and sharp mind.

"...the novel without making a few incorrect predictions, but his mind is sharp, and his ability to unravel conspiracy is impressive...." Read more

"...There’s more to this list but ultimately while Tarkin was informative and interesting I didn’t find it as fun and as worthwhile a read as the only..." Read more

"...The central character, Tarkin, is well developed and compelling...." Read more

"This book had some very valuable insights into who Tarkin is, as well as the dynamic between him, Vader, and the Emperor...." Read more

72 customers mention "Writing style"57 positive15 negative

Customers find the writing style enjoyable, well-written, and fluid. They also appreciate the clear descriptions and recollections.

"...Not that Tarkin is a bad book by any means, it was as well written and detailed as Luceno’s other SW entries, it’s just not near as captivating as I..." Read more

"...It's fluid, never lingers, descriptions and recollections are clear but deep and rewarding at the same time...." Read more

"...I still give this novel a full 5 stars for the enjoyable and well-written experience it gave as a canon background story to the military governor we..." Read more

"Very well written book. It gives great insight into Tarkin and makes rewatching A New Hope even better!..." Read more

71 customers mention "Characterization"57 positive14 negative

Customers find the character development in the book excellent, providing an excellent look into his cunning, intelligence, and tactical nature. They also say the book sheds new light on the relationships between Palpatine, Vader, and Tarkin.

"...The characters were accurately portrayed and my brain couldn’t help but play out the dialogue in my head in the voices of James Earl Jones and Peter..." Read more

"...Vader is masterfully taken and you can simply hear Peter Cushing voicing every line in the book...." Read more

"...No, but I did enjoy it and it was a decent story. It had adequate character development and we knew who was who without be force fed a bunch of..." Read more

"...-in to the Star Wars movies and was very wide in scope and has great character detail...." Read more

20 customers mention "Artwork"17 positive3 negative

Customers find the artwork fascinating, cool, and brilliantly tells the background to Tarkin and how he and Vader interact together.

"...knows how Tarkin's story ultimately ends, but this book gives a fine background look into Tarkin's rise to power as one of the most influential..." Read more

"...This piece is so wonderfully fleshed out by Luceno and I wonder if this was his choice or the Lucasfilm Story Group's...." Read more

"Tarkin was a nice entry in the Star Wars book series. It gives a good look at what makes Tarkin tick and goes into nice depth about his..." Read more

"James Luceno does a fantastic job giving us a solid look at a character most of us remember, but few know anything about...." Read more

19 customers mention "Book introduction"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book introduction good, decent, and solid. They also describe it as an awesome addition to the new canon and a great world builder.

"...I wasn't wrong. Learning how he became the ruthless Grand Moff was very exciting. Each chapter did not disappoint." Read more

"...I think this book is a great starting point for others like me, looking to start over in relearning their Star Wars lore...." Read more

"...Overall, a very good and quick read and I would recommend it for any Star Wars fan." Read more

"Honestly, this is a good, well written book that happens to take place in the Star Wars universe...." Read more

39 customers mention "Pacing"14 positive25 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it very fast paced, while others say it's a little slow paced in the beginning.

"...as a few honorable mentions from the old EU, but to me this book felt rushed as so much more could’ve been included to fully round out this iconic..." Read more

"...This book was a quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it...." Read more

"...And there’s more. While Tarkin’s thin plot is both predictable and slow moving, the novel never ignites because Luceno ignores the key storytelling..." Read more

"...This book is 258 pages long. It took me longer to read this book than it did read one of the Game of Thrones books that are well over 1000 pages...." Read more

11 customers mention "Scope"3 positive8 negative

Customers find the scope of the book narrow and vague. They also say the storyline is a little too short in length.

"...help that the main character isn’t terribly exciting and the book is short enough that it probably just barely breaks out the novella mold...." Read more

"...These parts are short and don't utilize a lot of the exotic planets that is common in the Star Wars universe...." Read more

"...Tarkin fits in beautifully with Luceno's previous work, but can also work as a standalone read for those who are new to SW literature...." Read more

"...Not bad exactly just didn't make me care much either way. It is also to short...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

SpeedReader
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2022
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Tarkin is a novel that is essentially a followup to the same author's great Darth Plegeius novel, which was really about the rise of Palpatine. This novel is mostly set a few years into the Empire 14 years before the events of A New Hope, details Tarkin's rise through the ranks of the Imperial Army. The story does flashback to Tarkin's childhood on the Outer Rim world of Eriadu and to his early days working for Senator Palpatine in the Republic, but the bulk of the story involves a mission that Tarkin is sent on with Darth Vader to investigate a cache of communications devices on the planet Murkhana which suggest a plot to take down the Imperial holonet.

While the novel is centered around Tarkin, Vader and Palpatine appear quite a bit and we see the seeds of the early rebellion against the Empire being planted. We do find out that Tarkin suspected Darth Vader's real identity, having worked with Anakin before during the Clone Wars, but he keeps that to himself. In the end of the book, the construction of the Death Star above Geonosis is mentioned.

This novel is interesting in that it was written just before Disney's takeover of Lucasfilm and was grandfathered into the canon, whereas the prior book, Darth Plageius was not. This book does have a couple of tie-ins to the Darth Plageius novel, however, so some of that novel is brought into the canon by this one. Of course, at the time this novel was written, characters like Orson Krennic and Galen Erso were not yet created, so some of Tarkin's control over the Death Star project hinted at in this book was changed by Rogue One because the events of the movies trump the books. Overall, I do not necessarily think the book is a must-read if you are a person who picks and chooses which of the Star Wars books to read. If you read all of them then you will read this anyway, but if you read some, but not all, of them, you will not miss anything critical if you skip this, but it is a very good story and one that I think is worth reading at least once.
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William A. Ronke
4.0 out of 5 stars Tarkin and the Imperialism of Genre: Moriarty, Rhodes, and Nelson
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
"Tarkin," like many Star Wars novels, is not a book of one genre. While it's certainly part of a greater space fantasy environment, "Tarkin" has much in common from genres of historical fiction set in the Victorian and Napoleonic eras.

James Luceno, who wrote the excellent "Star Wars: Darth Plagueis" shortly before the Lucasfilm canon reset, takes a rather different tone with his villainous protagonist. Wilhuff Tarkin isn't a Sith Lord. He's not the sort of boldly despicable villain that you love to hate. He's not maniacal or all-powerful. He's neither Byronic nor dashing. He doesn't have a complicated inner good person struggling to get out. Tarkin is cold and calculating, and as the novel shifts between the genres of mystery, savage survival, and naval warfare, Tarkin echoes characters of Imperial literature and history like Professor Moriarty, Cecil Rhodes, and Admiral Nelson.

Like Moriarty or his rival, Tarkin has strong deductive reasoning skills. A good portion of the novel reads like a Victorian-era Sherlock Holmes mystery, albeit with a ruthless amoral genius at the helm rather than a drug-addicted defender of the meek. Tarkin doesn't make it through the novel without making a few incorrect predictions, but his mind is sharp, and his ability to unravel conspiracy is impressive.

Interspersed throughout the mystery are flashbacks to the Tarkin family's brutal rites of passage on the planet Eriadu. Like Cecil Rhodes, most infamous of Victorian colonialists, young Wilhuff adapts to survival in the savage savannahs and jungles of his homeworld. Accordingly, Eriadu's Carrion Plateau could have been the setting of a Star Wars "Heart of Darkness." Eriadu is the Darkest Africa of diamond mines and Boer wars, and like a good Victorian, Tarkin is taught the importance of order and fear. He rises to power treating both the natural and civic aspects of his universe as things to be tamed.

Finally, like Lord Horatio Nelson (or the fictional Horatio Hornblower), Tarkin takes on the role of Napoleonic-era naval strategist. Star Wars media more often depicts dogfights between small craft, making quick turns and dodging beams of energy. Though the space battles of this novel are exciting, they primarily focus on larger, slower vessels. So instead of evasive maneuvers, the novel's ships have to predict the path of their bulky opponents, turning and positioning their starboard cannons to hit the enemy's port with a massive broadside. This last element of "Tarkin" is less dominant than the others, but the relevant passages could have come from a C S Forester novel.

I quite enjoyed Luceno's "Tarkin." It won't be everyone's cup of tea, as the protagonist is neither particularly likeable nor particularly fascinating. Wilhuff Tarkin's shade of evil is instead a bit too close to home, embracing an ugly imperialism that has shown its face frequently on our own little planet.

One final aside for fellow Star Wars enthusiasts: fans of "Darth Plagueis" should be happy to see some small details from this previous work pop up in "Tarkin." It's not particularly explicit, but Luceno references a few characters and plot points from his earlier book as if it had never been extricated from the canon. It's almost as if Del Rey should publish a second edition of "Darth Plagueis," revised to fit the new editorial and canon standards but with at least 75% of the story intact. One can dream.
20 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jesús Neri Rincón
5.0 out of 5 stars Gran libro...
Reviewed in Mexico on June 9, 2024
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Llegó antes de lo debido, y se encuentra en condiciones formidables. 👏🏼
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Jesús Neri Rincón
5.0 out of 5 stars Gran libro...
Reviewed in Mexico on June 9, 2024
Llegó antes de lo debido, y se encuentra en condiciones formidables. 👏🏼
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Cristian
5.0 out of 5 stars Grand Morfin Tarkin
Reviewed in Brazil on May 12, 2023
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A book that portrays well the origin of the great imperial villain that is presented to us in ep 4
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Cristian
5.0 out of 5 stars Grand Morfin Tarkin
Reviewed in Brazil on May 12, 2023
A book that portrays well the origin of the great imperial villain that is presented to us in ep 4
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Begeisterter Leser
5.0 out of 5 stars Tarkin - brilliant but evil
Reviewed in Germany on November 23, 2023
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Where Thrawn is simply doing his job and happens to be on the wrong side of things, or the right depending ones point of view. Tarkin is evil in his own right. I don’t spoil now, but the things he does are evil.
Furthermore I always have Peter Cushings face in my head - obviously - for he is on the cover and most of the time through the different movies and series, looks similar, but also his voice when he is talking. Other than with Thrawn, where due to the fact that there are at least three “versions” of Thrawn, one in Star Wars: Rebels, one in Ahsoka and the pictures on the covers of the books.
That beeing said, the book is a good read. I finished the book in a few days and enjoyed it tremendously. One gets a lot of background information on one of the most evil characters in the Star Wars universe.
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Simon
4.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 26, 2023
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Great book! Sometimes I felt like I missed bits like you would if you look away a couple of seconds in a movie, but it was a great story
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Gregorio
5.0 out of 5 stars Me ha sorprendido !
Reviewed in Spain on March 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
Con este libro conoceremos más a fondo la trayectoria de este gran personaje.

Desde su niñez, su entorno, su familia, como llegará a ser la figura que fue y su relación con Vader.

Destacar que en este último aspecto me hubiera gustado saber mucho más, pues me ha dado la sensación de que se presenta de manera muy, muy superficial.

Aun así es un libro MUY recomendable. Me ha gustado mucho
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