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Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars) Mass Market Paperback – March 3, 1997
Purchase options and add-ons
- Reading age10 years and up
- Print length385 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions4.16 x 0.86 x 6.9 inches
- PublisherRandom House Worlds
- Publication dateMarch 3, 1997
- ISBN-100553574132
- ISBN-13978-0553574135
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Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Xizor stood four meters away from the Emperor, watching as the man who had long ago been Senator Palpatine moved to stand in the holocam field. He imagined he could smell the decay in the Emperor's worn body. Likely that was just some trick of the recycled air, run through dozens of filters to ensure that there was no chance of any poison gas being introduced into it. Filtered the life out of it, perhaps, giving it that dead smell.
The viewer on the other end of the holo-link would see a close-up of the Emperor's head and shoulders, of an age-ravaged face shrouded in the cowl of his dark zeyd-cloth robe. The man on the other end of the transmission, light-years away, would not see Xizor, though Xizor would be able to see him. It was a measure of the Emperor's trust that Xizor was allowed to be here while the conversation took place.
The man on the other end of the transmission--if he could still be called that--
The air swirled inside the Imperial chamber in front of the Emperor, coalesced, and blossomed into the image of a figure down on one knee. A caped humanoid biped dressed in jet black, face hidden under a full helmet and breathing mask:
Darth Vader.
Vader spoke: "What is thy bidding, my master?"
If Xizor could have hurled a power bolt through time and space to strike Vader dead, he would have done it without blinking. Wishful thinking: Vader was too powerful to attack directly.
"There is a great disturbance in the Force," the Emperor said.
"I have felt it," Vader said.
"We have a new enemy. Luke Skywalker."
Skywalker? That had been Vader's name, a long time ago. Who was this person with the same name, someone so powerful as to be worth a conversation between the Emperor and his most loathsome creation? More importantly, why had Xizor's agents not uncovered this before now? Xizor's ire was instant--but cold. No sign of his surprise or anger would show on his imperturbable features. The Falleen did not allow their emotions to burst forth as did many of the inferior species; no, the Falleen ancestry was not fur but scales, not mammalian but reptilian. Not wild but coolly calculating. Such was much better. Much safer.
"Yes, my master," Vader continued.
"He could destroy us," the Emperor said.
Xizor's attention was riveted upon the Emperor and the holographic image of Vader kneeling on the deck of a ship far away. Here was interesting news indeed. Something the Emperor perceived as a danger to himself? Something the Emperor feared?
"He's just a boy," Vader said, "Obi-Wan can no longer help him."
Obi-Wan. That name Xizor knew. He was among the last of the Jedi Knights, a general. But he'd been dead for decades, hadn't he?
Apparently Xizor's information was wrong if Obi-Wan had been helping someone who was still a boy. His agents were going to be sorry.
Even as Xizor took in the distant image of Vader and the nearness of the Emperor, even as he was aware of the luxury of the Emperor's private and protected chamber at the core of the giant pyramidal palace, he was also able to make a mental note to himself: Somebody's head would roll for the failure to make him aware of all this. Knowledge was power; lack of knowledge was weakness. This was something he could not permit.
The Emperor continued. "The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi."
Son of Skywalker?
Vader's son! Amazing!
"If he could be turned he would become a powerful ally," Vader said.
There was something in Vader's voice when he said this, something Xizor could not quite put his finger on. Longing? Worry?
Hope?
"Yes...yes. He would be a great asset," the Emperor said. "Can it be done?"
There was the briefest of pauses. "He will join us or die, Master."
Xizor felt the smile, though he did not allow it to show any more than he had allowed his anger play. Ah. Vader wanted Skywalker alive, that was what had been in his tone. Yes, he had said that the boy would join them or die, but this latter part was obviously meant only to placate the Emperor. Vader had no intention of killing Skywalker, his own son; that was obvious to one as skilled in reading voices as was Xizor. He had not gotten to be the Dark Prince, Underlord of Black Sun, the largest criminal organization in the galaxy, merely on his formidable good looks. Xizor didn't truly understand the Force that sustained the Emperor and made him and Vader so powerful, save to know that it certainly worked somehow. But he did know that it was something the extinct Jedi had supposedly mastered. And now, apparently, this new player had tapped into it. Vader wanted Skywalker alive, had practically promised the Emperor that he would deliver him alive--and converted.
This was most interesting.
Most interesting indeed.
The Emperor finished his communication and turned back to face him. "Now, where were we, Prince Xizor?"
The Dark Prince smiled. He would attend to the business at hand, but he would not forget the name of Luke Skywalker.
Product details
- Publisher : Random House Worlds (March 3, 1997)
- Language : English
- Mass Market Paperback : 385 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0553574132
- ISBN-13 : 978-0553574135
- Reading age : 10 years and up
- Item Weight : 6.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.16 x 0.86 x 6.9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #115,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #246 in Classic Action & Adventure (Books)
- #2,799 in Space Operas
- #4,387 in Science Fiction Adventures
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
![Steve Perry](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31uQOug5h0L._SY600_.jpg)
I'm married, got kids, grandkids, dogs, all like that. Ex-hippie, long-time martial artist, duffer on the guitar.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the storyline thrilling and gripping. They also say the plot fills in some interesting gaps and fits well with the continuity of the movies. Readers describe the story as astonishingly well paced. Opinions are mixed on the characters, with some finding them interesting and others uninspiring. Reader feedback is mixed on writing style, with others finding it easy to read and entertaining, while others find it subpar and juvenile.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the storyline thrilling, entertaining, and a fun read with never a dull moment. They also say it fits wonderfully between two of the original SW movies and is a great addition to the Star Wars Saga.
"...by Disney, Shadows of the Empire still serves as a valuable example of a thrilling narrative that captivates its audience until the very last page...." Read more
"...The novel is an enjoyable adventure that serves as the definitive version of the Shadows of the Empire multimedia story..." Read more
"Good simple story. It's interesting to look back at the pre-Disney stories and compare them to the new content to see what they kept and what they..." Read more
"...After starting it, it really didn't hold my interest throughout and I had to force myself to keep picking it up...." Read more
Customers find the plot gripping and thrilling. They say it fills in some interesting gaps, fits well with the continuity of the movies, and ties in nicely with Star Wars: Episode VI - Return.
"...It fills in a lot of blanks between the episodes and has really added to my already galactic love for the original trilogy...." Read more
"Very good product, fills in the blanks to what happened between episodes 5 and 6 and was authorized by Lucas so it’s canon ...." Read more
"...It's a stand-alone story that fits well with the continuity of the movies...." Read more
"...I believe this book ties in very nicely with Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi." Read more
Customers find the story paced astonishingly well. They also say the book has interest in every corner of the story.
"...What a ride, things move fast and furious. A great villain in Xizor and loved the maneuvering between the prince, Emperor and Vader...." Read more
"...Read this book pretty quickly!" Read more
"...It's paced astonishingly well. There is interest in every corner of the story...." Read more
"...But the story moves fast and there are lots of familiar characters and scenes from the classic trilogy referenced." Read more
Customers find the book the best Star Wars book they have read.
"...I would rate it as the best Star War book that I have read. Check it out." Read more
"...That said, this is easily one of the best Star Wars related books available...." Read more
"Classic star wars novel. Just read it. one of the best villains not mentioned in the movies. Too bad this will stay in legends" Read more
"...You will not be able to put this book down. This is a gem for any star wars fan." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book. Some find them interesting, while others find them uninspiring.
"...It is well written, dives deep into the personalities of the characters, and provides us with a solid glimpse of what occurred in the year between..." Read more
"...recommend it to even casual Star Wars fans, but between the uninspiring new characters, plot predictability, and ameturish writing style I couldn't..." Read more
"...The plot is highly engaging and all the classic characters feel right...." Read more
"...But the story moves fast and there are lots of familiar characters and scenes from the classic trilogy referenced." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style. Some find it easy to read and fast paced, while others find it bland, dull, and juvenile. They also mention that there is too much text for limited action and too much filler.
"...It is well written, dives deep into the personalities of the characters, and provides us with a solid glimpse of what occurred in the year between..." Read more
"...the uninspiring new characters, plot predictability, and ameturish writing style I couldn't give it a higher rating...." Read more
"...Steve Perry’s writing fasts paced, and he always knows when to stop with detail and to keep going...." Read more
"...The author, though captivating, often will overuse terms and dialogue throughout the story...." Read more
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Top reviews
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Han Solo is in the slimy hands of Jabba the Hutt. Luke Skywalker surreptitiously works to complete his training on Tatooine. Darth Vader finds himself facing palace intrigue while the scowling and manipulative Emperor Palpatine stokes the fires of mistrust and discontent. All this and battles…many, many battles. This is Shadows of the Empire, perhaps one of the great non-cannon novels in the franchise.
As Star Wars novels go, Shadows of the Empire stands out as among the best. It is well written, dives deep into the personalities of the characters, and provides us with a solid glimpse of what occurred in the year between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It is a totally original story, and one that fills the gaps between the two films quite nicely. It introduces a new villain in Prince Xizor—a scheming Falleen Crime Lord who seems to have no loyalties but to his own rising power base and exacting a bitter revenge against Darth Vader.
The author conveys the desperation inherent in Princess Leia as she works to mount a rescue mission with the help of old friends and new allies, only to be caught in the middle of a power struggle between Vader and Xizor. While not considered part of the "new cannon" as dictated by Disney, Shadows of the Empire still serves as a valuable example of a thrilling narrative that captivates its audience until the very last page. The author possesses a remarkable talent for narrative structure and does not seek to pander to tokenism and literary sleight of hand like the ignoble writer of the more-often-than-not lamentable Aftermath series.
I recommend including this novel in the pantheon of cannon storylines. It was plotlines like this that introduced a new generation of fans to the Star Wars universe.
Some of the pacing is a bit jarring, and the Xizor creep factor is a bit more than I like in my Star Wars, but this is still a near-essential read for fans.
Thank you Amazon
Thank you
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Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
Thank you Amazon
Thank you
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Still, it was a wonderful performance by TV, movie actor Anthony Heald, (TV's Boston Public, "Silence of the Lambs") whom I've enjoyed as an actor for years. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of voices he uses in this for the different Star Wars characters, most notably Darth Vader, which was electronically modified and deepened, giving the listener a good mental image of the Sith Lord, though the voice is definitely not James Earl Jones, or even the late Brock Peters(voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars Radio Drama Trilogy), but it is sufficient.
Some of the other reviewers have noted that since this is an abridgement, a lot of material is removed from the performance. This is a fact, but in my humble opinion, it does not overly hurt the story. To my knowledge, there is not an unabridged version available.
But I'm glad to have this in my audio book collection. It's good listening while I'm in my car, working. Better that than most of the garbage on radio these days!
As for the bad guys, Darth Vader wants his Son captured and a new villain wants him dead. It all connects great and leads straight into Jedi.
We have some new folks joining the crew. Of course we have Lando, but we also have Dash Rendar, who basically fills for Han Solo. Another Prince Xizor, the leader of an evil crime syndicate.
Steve Perry’s writing fasts paced, and he always knows when to stop with detail and to keep going.
Overall if you want to start reading Star Wars books, think this era is interesting, or are a casual fan looking for a good standalone book, it would be a crime not to read it.
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Like many fans here, my first experience with Shadows of the Empire was the Nintendo 64 videogame. That game was pretty interesting in terms of giving us a deeper look into the darker side of the Star Wars universe - hence the name “Shadows.”
Much like the game, this novel is interesting. It’s not one that wows the reader, like Heir to the Empire. Mostly this is because of mediocre writing. I’m not saying it’s a bad book, but the dialogues, motivations, and scenes feel a bit forced. Prince Xizor is generic as a villain, and definitely not as well-developed as Thrawn, for example. Also, the pacing is somewhat off.
However, there are cool moments, such as when Luke makes his green lightsaber. Guri is perhaps the more developed of the new characters - which is curious, since she is a robot.
In summary, it’s a good read for the sake of delving deeper into the series’ lore, but as an actual story it might disappoint.
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