Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

(20th Anniversary Edition), The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1

By: Timothy Zahn

Narrated by: Marc Thompson

Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is a special edition 20th anniversary release of the number-one New York Times best-selling 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.

More in the Thrawn Trilogy we have. And listen to all of our Star Wars titles you can!

©1991 Timothy Zahn (P)2011 Random House Audio

Finally! Unabridged after 20 years!

Would you consider the audio edition of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (20th Anniversary Edition) to be better than the print version?

Heir to the Empire was the very first book that ignited my passion for literature as a teenager. Imagine my disappointment when this wonderful book could only be found as an abridgment in audio format. Now, with the 20th anniversary, the fans are rewarded by an unabridged version of Heir to the Empire. I would highly recommend to anyone who has ever loved the Star Wars series, that they read/listen to this story. Fans of the SW saga will be delighted by the same level of action and intrigue Timothy Zahn placed into this book as George Lucas put into the series. Whether you are a life-long SW fan or new to the series, you will not be disappointed by this series. Hopefully, the fans will not have to wait too long for the rest of the Thrawn trilogy to be available in an unabridged format.

What did you like best about this story?

The interaction between the original characters was wonderful and true to the movies. The new characters were also marvelously developed and wonderfully complex. This book does indeed read like the 7th episode in the SW saga.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

They may have defeated the Emperor and Darth Vader, but the Empire may not be as defeated as they think.

best star wars series.

great story. well written/conceived. nicely paced.
better than Disney could ever concoct. actually original! sci-fi truly

Love this book!

And the series seems fun so far! I can't wait to hear more soon. The story and characters are amazing to follow after Return of the Jedi

loved the book and the narrator really captured the feel and speech patterns of most of the characters. after seeing the last jedi, I thought the only way to get what I want was to read the books, and I was right. would recommend to any star wars fans.

Great story, excellent production!

Zahn is the best when it ones to Star Wars books, and his Thrawn trilogy is the best example. The narrator does a stellar job, and the addition of musical and send effect elements gives this an almost radio play feel that I absolutely adore.

better than the sequel trilogy

Long before the sequel Abominations there was a another Star Wars Trilogy that continued the story after Return of the Jedi. If you hated the sequels I think you should give this one a shot the original and true sequel trilogy.

Mark Thompson brings every character to life and it makes you feel like you are experiencing the movies.


If you're looking to get into the expanded universe you can't find a better place to start than the thrawn trilogy and it's also a great place to start if you were disappointed in the sequels. This feels like a true sequel to the original trilogy unlike the hacks JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson Timothy Zahn understood the original trilogy and it shows with these novels.

Best Star Wars Book i have heard

Up Until now, the best star wars books i had heard was the Bane Trilogy, which was amazing, but this has just risen to the top of my list

Wish This Had Been Disney’s Sequel

If only Disney had gone this way. So wonderful to be back with old friends on a familiar adventure. Disney, you really missed the boat. So bittersweet knowing this would have been awesome on the big screen. And to think of what the “sequels” actually were… Sigh. Read this if you love Star Wars. If you love sequels 7, 8, and 9… read it anyway and learn why older generation SW fans despise what has been done to something they grew up with and so dearly loved.

Fantastic

all around fantastic, would have been perfect but it needs a female voice to read the female parts

fantastic

its heir to the Empire. it still holds up to this day even if the legends timeline later is wonky