Shadows of the Empire

Star Wars Legends

By: Steve Perry

Narrated by: Marc Thompson

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.

©1996 Steve Perry (P)2025 Random House Audio

The Nostalgia Strikes Back!

Marc Thompson and the production team does it again!

In 1996, Shadows of the Empire ruled the Star Wars Universe. I read this book while listening to the soundtrack, then played the video game on N64. My mom bought me the action figures and comic books.

When Shadows was announced to be getting the “Legends” treatment with an unabridged audiobook narrated by Marc Thompson as well, I preordered that very second. His incredible voice acting and narration coupled with first rate production, including official Star Wars music and sound effects, took my imagination right back to 1996.

Thank you Audible, Penguin Random House, Kevin Thomsen, Marc Thompson, and everyone else who made this one happen.

Another hit from Star Wars!

What a great and exciting book, and perfectly read by Marc. The production is top notch and really helps set the story.

If you liked the video game

if you liked the video game like I did, and assumed this would be all about Dash...you're wrong and that's ok! Marc Thompson delivers as always and the story is amazing from multiple perspectives. MUST READ/LISTEN

Great story!

Everything was great except when he did Chewies voice it was just irritating
But otherwise great!

Marc Thompson once again did a fantastic job. Loved the way he did Prince Xizor’s voice. It sounded similar to Yul Brynner.

Shame that the Shadows of the Empire soundtrack composed by Joel McNeely wasn’t used along with the story. Would have been awesome to hear Dash Rendar’s theme in the Beggars Canyon chase and Xizor’s theme near the end of the story.

Very fun!

Loved learning more about Luke’s learning process with the force. Lando is always a hit!

Excellent!

Really loved this book. Really cool characters and well put together. Definitely a must read/listen

Outstanding

Great book, and a very commonly outstanding performance from Mark Thompson, can’t wait for more

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH N64 GAME.

I love that this is unabridged and another legends books properly translated to audiobook form in the modern way with the LEGEND marc Thompson. this is a fine book. but natural because of its title I ASSUMED it was the book version of the star wars N64 video game of the same name. but this book literally has absolutely NOTHING to do with it. im gonna guess the events of the n64 game are just non canonical in legends. its to bad because this book would've been FAR better. this is essentially what happens between the END of episode 5 and right before episode 6.....and let me say, the author. their is a scene where someone is attempting to seduce Leia and it just kinda goes on a bit to long and gets a bit to specific and like, okay! I get it! move on!.... you'll know what I mean. not a bad book but not one I'll likely listen too again and I listen to some of those books over n over countless times.

A Star Wars classic

It is really great to finally have this as an unabridged audiobook, Darth Vader steals the scenes every time he shows up. If it’s your first time reading, check out the companion comic by Dark Horse, and N64 game. My only disappointment is that they didn’t utilize the original Shadows of the Empire soundtrack at all but the story was fine without it.