Shadows of the Empire: Star Wars Legends

Steve Perry

Jun 2025 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Marc Thompson

About this audiobook

Shadows of the Empire illuminates the shadowy outlines of a criminal conspiracy that exists in the background of the events in the movies, ruled by a character new to us. Prince Xizor is a mastermind of evil who dares to oppose one of the best-known fictional villains of all time: Darth Vader. The story involves all the featured Star Wars movie characters, plus Emperor Palpatine and, of course, Lord Vader himself.

Ratings and reviews

This is a good experience for those who are interested in starting off in the Expanded universe! The sheer weight of character growth not fully seen in the movies for Luke, Vader, Leia, and especially Xicor. A look into the criminal underbelly with Black Sun and their dealings throughout the galaxy. Luke getting in touch with the Force and learning it's mysterious yet familiar nature on the road to Jedi knighthood. Leia coming to terms with loving Han and dealing with the Seductive Prince of Black Sun. There is a reason the release of this project was treated like a movie event. And this book is just the beginning!

Read the original Print of this and I'd say this version is much better when its more fleshed out without cutting too many corners. recommend this novel.

Really enjoyed reading along to this new unabridged recording and Marc Thompson's performance!

About the author

Steve Perry is an author and television writer. A native of the Deep South, he is the author of more than 50 novels and numerous short stories, including The Forever Drug, Spindoc, The Trinity Vector, and the Matador series. He also penned books for the Alien, Conan, and Star Wars franchises. A practitioner of the martial art Silat, he is the father of science fiction author S. D. Perry.