Heir to the Empire: Star Wars: The 20th Anniversary Edition

Timothy Zahn

Sep 2011 · Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy - Legends Book 1 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Marc Thompson

About this audiobook

Here is a special edition 20th anniversary release of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel that reignited the entire Star Wars publishing phenomenon—unabridged for the first time. 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.

Ratings and reviews

This series makes up the best of Star Wars storytelling, second ONLY to it's source material, the original film trilogy. Yes, it's that good! Tight pacing, interweaving plotlines, and intriguing new characters show Zahn's talent as an author, but the way he handles the familiar characters shows that he's also completely in touch with Luke, Leia, Han, and the Star Was universe in general. Add that to the narrator's impersonations, and you get that familiar Star Wars thrill. Do not miss out!

Not an official review, but read the book and it is excellent. This Trilogy should be made into movie series, even if it would be a high quality animated one. But after hearing the sample, it sounds really good giving the right feeling to the story. I may consider buying this, it will be as close to the movie we will get for now sound wise.

I can't believe how good this story was. if you love the original trilogy, than this story is for you. voice acting is good, sound affects and music add depth, very well written.

About the author

Since 1978 Timothy Zahn has written nearly seventy short stories and novelettes, numerous novels, and three short fiction collections, and won the Hugo Award for best novella. Timothy Zahn is best known for his Star Wars novels: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future, Survivor’s Quest, Outbound Flight, and Allegiance, and has more than four million copies in print. His most recent publications have been the science fiction Cobra series and the six-part young adult series Dragonback. He has a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University, and an M.S. in physics from the University of Illinois. He lives with his family on the Oregon coast.