• Star Wars: Hand of Thrawn, Book 1: Specter of the Past

  • Book 1
  • By: Timothy Zahn
  • Narrated by: Anthony Heald
  • Length: 3 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (227 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Star Wars: Hand of Thrawn, Book 1: Specter of the Past  By  cover art

Star Wars: Hand of Thrawn, Book 1: Specter of the Past

By: Timothy Zahn
Narrated by: Anthony Heald
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.99

Buy for $13.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn made his triumphant return to the Star Wars universe in this first of an epic two-volume series in which the New Republic must face its most dangerous enemy yet: a dead Imperial warlord.

The forces of the Empire stand at the brink of total collapse. But they have saved their most heinous plan for last. First a plot is hatched that could destroy the New Republic in a bloodbath of genocide and civil war. Then comes the shocking news that Grand Admiral Thrawn, the most cunning and ruthless warlord in history, has apparently returned from the dead to lead the Empire to a long-prophesied victory. Facing incredible odds, Han and Leia begin a desperate race against time to prevent the New Republic from unraveling in the face of two inexplicable threats: one from within and one from without. Meanwhile, Luke teams up with Mara Jade, using the Force to track down a mysterious pirate ship with a crew of clones.

Yet perhaps most dangerous of all are those who lurk in the shadows, orchestrating a dark plan that will turn the New Republic and the Empire into their playthings.

More in the Hand of Thrawn series we have. And download all of our Star Wars titles you can!
©1997 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM. (P)1997 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM.

Critic reviews

"Zahn turns in his usual high-caliber performance." (Library Journal)
"Longtime fans should get considerable pleasure from this addition to the saga." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Star Wars: Hand of Thrawn, Book 1: Specter of the Past

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    111
  • 4 Stars
    53
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    91
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    12
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    93
  • 4 Stars
    35
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Terrible abridgement, Horrible Narration

I haven't read the book, but I was looking for something light to listen to in the car on the way to work. I'm not sure how much of the book they cut out for this abridgement or whether it was any good even with the missing material, but this audiobook sounds like a writer's outline or pitch for a book...not an actual book. There is no plot, no character development, no anything. There go here, do this, go there, do that. The End. Even at the low price, this is a huge ripoff because you aren't getting an actual book with this thing. I'm also listening to the Legacy of the Force series and at a little over 6 hours each, they leave enough material to be decent enough...although they would also be better unabridged. Rule of thumb, if you see a star wars audiobook that is under 6 hours, pass on it. You will not be happy with what you get. Also, email the publisher and demand that they stop producing abridged audiobooks. I did and they actually did send a response to me. If enough people complain, they may reassess their position on this issue.

Oh, one more thing, the narrator on this book is about the worst I've heard. I hate to be this critical, but he is just not in the right line of work. It can sometimes take a while to get used to a narrator's style and I kept trying to give this guy a chance, but he just isn't any good at this. Inappropriate pauses in the dialogue, corney attempts at assuming different character voices, I sort of feel embarrassed for him. The only time I didn't mind listening to him was when he was using his version of Pellaenon's voice. The rest of his characters alternated between wooden and simpering.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

DON'T DO IT! Get the full unabridged version!!!

What disappointed you about Star Wars?

This version is short... The full unabridged version is 14 hrs long... But that's not even my biggest complaint. Anthony Heald is fine as a reader I suppose, but after listening to Marc Thompson, he's absolutely horrid!

I did the 1st Thrawn trilogy with Marc Thompson narrating and loved the whole 60+ hours of it... after 3 hours of Heald, I'd ready to stab myself with a dull light saber. =(

What could Timothy Zahn have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not Zahn's fault.

How could the performance have been better?

... Where do I begin? The voices have zero familiarity... and almost zero variety... and only slightly better livelihood... It's just monotonous and boring.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It gave my a glimpse of the story... So now that Marc Thompson has a full unabridged version I might enjoy it even more!

Any additional comments?

I wouldn't have finished the series if this is what I had to look forward to... now that Marc Thompson has a version, I'm giddy with anticipation!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

This is not a good translation

This is a wonderful book but this abridged version does not do this book justice. I have read this several times and was excited to get the audiobook. Please just read it. You will be much more satisfied that listening to this version. There is just to much left out and it jumps all over the place. It feels very disjointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Just OK

Though not to the standard compared to other Star Wars novels and short stories, it is OK. I doubt that I will purchase any more of the series, though. The narration was OK, but nothing great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

bad narrator

narration was really terrible. I was unable to get very far due to all the mispronunciations and liberties taken with characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Only four chapters!

I want my money back. only four chapters included so the book is incomplete. Terrible narration too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome book

I loved it I only wish is was read by the same people who did the original Thrawn trilogy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The story was good.

It's too short, and the narrating could've been better. Like in the original Thrawn trilogy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

alA major let down after the original Thrawn books

Bring in Marc Thompson! Anthony Heald can't hold a candle to him, unfortunately. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference, but it did. Heald has a singular voice for pretty much every human character. You couldn't tell who was speaking in a 4 way conversation between Leia, Lando, Han and Luke.
Although, the fact that the book was abridged might have played a part, but I really couldn't get into the story.
I have been avoiding abridged books and didn't realize I bought one until it was too late to return. I've only experienced the abriged book, but it loses its cohesiveness. And considering I intended to keep listening to the individual storylines of secondary characters (The Solo twins, Mara Jade, etc.) the fact that they glossed over half the story in 15 seconds was a major letdown.

2/5 Wouldn't recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narration

The narration of this book was not as good other Timothy Zaharia books. The book was also very choppy and seemed to skip a lot while trying to listen to it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!