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  • 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
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (26,400 ratings)

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Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

By: Timothy Zahn
Narrated by: Marc Thompson
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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

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What listeners say about Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

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  • 5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good story and voices

I enjoyed the story and the voices and sound effects were good. Except for the Wookie leader, his voice was grating and I found myself skipping over his parts.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it

The audible version is amazing. Great sound effects, great voice effects, great pitch and tone

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    5 out of 5 stars
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on my 4th listen

first experience with the SWEU love this trilogy and the voice acting 15 out 10. love thrawn and Timothy zahn

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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One of the Best Books about Thrawn

This book is so great to me because I love Thrawn and his tactical brilliance. The one bad thing about this book is it doesn’t fit in with the end of the Star Wars Rebels ending (spoiler alert) where Thrawn is taken into hyperspace on the bridge of an ISD with the viewport glass broken which meant he should have been sucked into space and died. Somehow he managed to survive and make his way back to the empire which doesn’t really make sense. Otherwise this book is a great choice for any Star Wars fan who wants to learn more about Thrawn (thank you Timothy Zahn for writing about Thrawn).

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

Amazing book I would recommend anytime !! Truly great writing and reading my Marc Thompson. Star Wars til I die.

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Don't fast forward

I've always heard Heir to the Empire was superb on its own, but hearing it with John Williams' music, Star Wars sound effects, and the many different fantastic voice actors really made this a great experience. I can't recommend this enough.

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Classic Star Wars!

Even though Disney Star Wars calls this a legend now, this is book and series by Timothy Zahn is still one of my favorite Star Wars stories, and Grand Admiral Thrawn is one of my favorite Star Wars characters. Zahn nailed the tone and characters in this book, and Marc Thompson really brings those story to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The most produced audiobook I've ever heard

More of a performance than a normal audiobook! Full sound effects and music make for a very rich experience. It's my first time ever reading a Star Wars book, and I'm glad I chose this one. It wasn't really for me, and I'm not going to continue with the series, but if you're a Star Wars fan no doubt this is a true must! Along with the high production value the performance was top notch. Marc Thompson skillfully reproduces the on-screen characters' manner of speech and intonation. Absolutely stunning.

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True to the original theme. Love it!

Great story line and the narration holds true to the sound and feel of the original cast of characters. A great listen and a real upgrade from the original audio book version I bought for a very high price so many years ago.

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Make this a Movie!!

This is one of the best Star Wars stories I have ever encountered! Wish they would make this a TV show or a Movie!

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