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    Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes: An Expanded Universe is Born
    Unavailable
    Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes: An Expanded Universe is Born
    Unavailable
    Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes: An Expanded Universe is Born
    Audiobook2 hours

    Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes: An Expanded Universe is Born

    Published by Penguin Random House Audio

    Narrated by Betsy Mitchell

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes is a special recording that features new commentary by author Timothy Zahn and editor Betsy Mitchell, written for the 20th anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire, read by Zahn and Mitchell. Each annotation includes audio from the new unabridged recording of Heir to the Empire to enhance their comments. 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 6, 2011
    ISBN9780307970022
    Unavailable
    Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes: An Expanded Universe is Born

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    Reviews for Star Wars

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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.
    • 3/5
      This is basically like a commentary track for Heir to the Empire. It was interesting but not worth a credit.
    • 4/5
      I've loved Star Wars ever since I saw the first movie on the big screen, and I've enjoyed ALL the movies, some more than other but didn't hate any of them. BUT I never even thought of reading a Star Wars novel. I read mostly Fantasy, but I've read plenty of sci-fi over the years, I just didn't think I would enjoy reading Star Wars. And I guess maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed "reading" Star Wars, I may never know, but this was on audio and man was it awesome. The narrator sounded just like many of the characters, especially Han, but he also did the other voices really well too. It was more like listening to a movie and for an old Star Wars veteran like me it was like visiting old friends in an all new adventure.I'll definitely be checking out the rest of this trilogy on audio and will probably then expand into other Star Wars books on audio.
    • 5/5
      Now that all of the core Star Wars films have been released I can now say with confidence that both the prequels and sequels are nothing but poor fan fiction. Yes, George Lucas is a fan boy of his own legacy.

      Instead, I'm reaffirming the truth, that Timothy Zahn wrote the canonical follow up to the Star Wars trilogy. Heir to the Empire is a brilliant start introducing both Mara Jade and Admiral Thrawn. The characters are all vibrant. They grow. They move the story without unnecessary tricks and twists. Moist importantly, they are true to their natures.

      I'll be rereading the others soon to refresh in my mind the true conclusion to the Skywalker saga. I highly recommend you do the same.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 4/5
      Despite the fact that I have been a Star Wars fan since I was a young kid, I never got around to reading any of the books. I can't really pin point why I didn't. I believe part of it was not knowing where to start and part of me wasn't sure if I was ready to cross the line from nerd to super nerd. Whatever it was, I'm over it now.When I decided to finally sink my teeth into the Star Wars books, I consulted the internet looking for people who knew what they were talking about. Everywhere I looked they recommended the Thrawn Trilogy. It also helped that a friend of mine had told me to read it as well. So, I checked it out from my local library, not really expecting much from it. I was pleasantly surprised.I was immediately sucked back into the world of Star Wars with all the same characters that I have always loved. Zahn does an amazing job with the dialogue and obviously made sure only have the characters say things that we can actually see them saying. He did a fantastic job with Han Solo.Zahn also introduced a new character, named Grand Admiral Thrawn, who is amazing. Technically, he is the bad guy who it working for the Empire but his character is fascinating. I believe that he makes a great addition to the universe in that he is enough of a military genius to keep the alliance on their toes, and sometimes wins, but he's not perfect which makes him a better character.I also had the pleasure of reading the 20th anniversary edition of this book, which had notes by the author in the margins. It was a lot of fun to read about what his thought process was when writing certain parts and his time working with George Lucas and the gang to make everything as accurate as possible. He even pointed out some references to the films that he makes that I wouldn't have caught.Reading this book was a great way to start on the Star Wars books and I have the second one waiting on my shelf ready to read when I'm ready for it. I would recommend this series to any Star Wars fans that want to get into reading some of the books or who are just interested in reading what happens to their favorite characters after the movies ended. You will not regret it.
    • 4/5
      Now that the expanded universe is being wiped away thanks to Disney, I thought it would be a good time to read some more of it. :P I listened to the audiobook recently and it was very enjoyable - very well read. Heir to the Empire is an interesting story. I think Zahn hits on all cylinders with the characterization while also introducing some interesting new characters. I especially like Talon Karde. Oh, and if you're a fan of the old PC game Star Wars: Rebellion, you'll enjoy this book as many of the characters in that game stem from this series.
    • 5/5
      Star Wars Heir To The Empire is a nice, classic Star Wars novel. I enjoyed the originality of it and the way it ended.The book is made even better by the new forward and annotations by the author. The new Thrawn novella is what sold it for me.Although it's great in hardcover format, I'd suggest buying it on Kindle if you have one, it's a lot cheaper in e-book format.All in all, it's a fun, classic Star Wars book that you can't put down and leaves you exited to see what happens in it's sequel.
    • 4/5
      I love this trilogy.
    • 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
      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.
    • 5/5
      This first book in what literally kick-started the Star Wars saga back into the public consciousness, is that type of book (as was the series) that not only captured your imagination right from the first word, but captured the spirit, essence and fluidity of the original saga as a whole. With the additions of Mara Jade and Grand Admiral Thrawn to the already stellar cast of all of our favorite characters, Zahn was able to reintroduce us to the world of George Lucas's epic fantasy and craft a vivid, thrilling, funny and all out action packed story. (This review goes along with the other two books in The Thrawn Trilogy (Dark Force Rising and The Last Command) as well.)
    • 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?
    • 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.
    • 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!
    • 5/5
      Grand Admiral Thrawn has made the connection between the late, force sensitive, Emperor and his influence on Imperial troops. Thrawn believes that to gain victory once more, a force sensitive being is crucial. Just who will be this force sensitive being? Timothy Zahn’s historic novel, Heir to the Empire, caused a huge jump in the canon extended universe of Star Wars. Book one of the Thrawn Trilogy, a book that created so many ideas that later were in the prequel trilogy movies. A great book by a great author.
    • 4/5
      Thanks for naming a bar after Mike and I!
    • 4/5
      A great start to an excellent Star Wars series. The Thrawn trilogy may be one of my favorite Star Wars series, maybe they'll make it into a movie someday! It really has the authentic Star Wars feel, with good characters and action.
    • 5/5
      Finally getting around to reading the first books to officially continue the story of Star Wars into the Expanded Universe. I had previously read a few others, such as Shadows of the Empire, but this was the first that really felt like the next chapter. We pick up five years after Endor, things are shaky for this fledgling Republic, and the Empire is still out there trying to gain some of the ground they've lost since the death of the Emperor. I definitely have to say that this tops my reading list for the year as a favorite, and the year has only just begun! Also, I didn't realize that Mara Jade came into the picture this soon in the books, and now that I see her written by her creator, I like her character much more than I have in the past. And Thrawn is such a perfect follow-up villain to Emperor Palpatine. His cruelty and strategy make him a viable and powerful threat to our band of heroes, who under Zahn's pen feel exactly like the characters we cheered for in the movies.
    • 5/5
      Of all the Star Wars books (and I have at least sixty on my bookshelf), Zahn's books are the ones that most accurately recreate the feeling of the original trilogy for me. Han and Leia are at work holding the Republic together--and Leia is expecting twins. Luke is still trying to figure out just what it means to be a Jedi, so when he hears rumors of a living Jedi Master named C'baoth, he sets off to find him.Enter one of the most fascinating villains of the Expanded Universe: Grand Admiral Thrawn. By studying the artwork of a species, he develops an understanding of the species' mindset--and uses it to conquer them. He's steadily encroaching on the Republic's territory, and nobody knows quite how to stop him.Then there's Mara Jade, assistant to Talon Karrde and his smuggling operation. Her past is not up for discussion--but she's desperate to find Luke Skywalker and kill him. But when she does find him, lost in the woods on a Force-dampening planet, she discovers she might need to keep him around...for now.
    • 4/5
      This book occurs five years after Return of the Jedi. The Rebel Alliance has defeated the Empire and began a new diplomatic society. Luke is a master Jedi and Han and Leia are married and expecting twins. Leia is on the Rebel council. However, in the outer rim territory there is a remaining Imperial general who is a tactical genius and he is gathering the remaining piece of the Empire and building it up. The council on Coruscant is having trouble with the new diplomatic society because all the different species cannot agree on anything. As strife builds, so does the Empire ready to take down all Luke, Leia, and Han have fought so long for.Not all students will enjoy this book, but it has an excellent plot and good against evil. Students must use their imagination and this book will encourage this.