Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

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

By: Timothy Zahn

Narrated by: Marc Thompson

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

Han,Leia,Luke,Lando,Chewy,3PO,R2 and more...YES!!!

Would you listen to Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (20th Anniversary Edition), The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1 again? Why?

This was such an amazing story and production that I blazed through it at hyper speed! I will most definitely be listening to it again and again!

Who was your favorite character and why?

There isn't anyone as cool as Lando...or as brash as Han...or as calm as Luke... or as diplomatic as Leia! Who could pick a favorite from that amazing bunch, they compliment one another so well?

Have you listened to any of Marc Thompson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first Marc Thompson performance to hear, and it won't be my last! There aren't enough superlatives to describe how amazing he is. An absolutely impeccable rendition or Han, Lando, and Luke...not to mention a fine job as Leia. What a broad range of very distinct and unique voices for each character. Such an incredibly talented performer.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Early on in chapter two when old Obi-won Kenobi spoke to Luke and brought some sad news...it was very emotional and moving. Another impeccable rendition by Marc Thompson as Obi-won! I'm still blown away by his talent!

Any additional comments?

This was a wonderful story by Timothy Zahn, very well written, engaging and broad in characters and situations. This truly had the sweetness and purity and the feel of a Star Wars story. I've waited so long for this!!

Amazing!

There's little I can say without turning a simple review into a full-blown dissertation. All I can say is that the Force is strong with this book, and I can't wait to listen to the next two.

So Much Better Than the New Movies

[no spoilers for this book, but minor spoilers for the Mara Jade character]

Let me be clear: Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire trilogy is the follow up the original movie trilogy deserved. It was once considered official canon, and in my own mind at least, it still is. This production is the closest we'll ever get to seeing this amazing story become the film it should have been.

I won't go into a story synopsis, since everyone else already has. But I will say that the characters created by Zahn are in every way more interesting than those in the new films. Thrawn by himself is worth the price of admission. But in particular, this book is the introduction of the beloved Mara Jade character. She is a great example of the right way to do a powerful female character, instead of the infallible and cringy Mary Sue types that drag down the new films. Whereas Rey, for example, is treated as basically an all-knowing demigod, immediately able to do almost anything better than anyone ever has, and is never allowed fail at anything because she's a Strong Female Lead (reverb, reverb), Mara Jade arrives as a very powerful yet deeply flawed person, with a lot of room to grow. And grow she definitely does; both in the sense of growing into her own eventual capabilities with the Force, and also in the sense of growing from a bitter, conflicted, and somewhat unlikable character in the beginning of her story, to one of the most beloved and fully realized characters in the entire expanded universe (er... "Legends," sorry) by the end of her life. Disney could learn a great deal about how to create badass, believable female characters from Timothy Zahn.

As much of a joy as this series is to read, it is infinitely better in audiobook form. I had never heard of Marc Thompson before, but within the first chapter he had already become one of my favorite narrators. He's an amazing voice actor with an incredible vocal range, and a dizzying array of voices and accents, all of which he performs to perfection, at least to my American ears. He captures *almost* (see next paragraph) every beloved character's voice nearly perfectly, from Threepio's prissy lilt, to Lando's mischievous, laid-back drawl. He even voices a Basic-speaking Wookiee character in this book, and... it sounds like what a Wookiee speaking Basic (English-in-universe) would sound like.

It's worth mentioning that the reason I said I loved almost every voice, is because Thompson's Han Solo sounds exactly like Piccolo from Dragonball Z, and very little like Harrison Ford. Those of you who know DBZ won't be able to un-hear that now, and I'm sorry. It's not a big deal considering how amazing all the other voices are, and if you don't know DBZ you won't notice it at all. But it took me out of the experience slightly, because it was not only the voice, but the even accent and the inflection that was such a perfect imitation of Piccolo from DBZ. It's so perfect that it makes it sound like a deliberate creation from an impressionist. I can't imagine how the narrator arrived at it by accident. I often had to rewind to actually hear what the Han said, because all I could see in my head was a rather distracting green guy with antennae and pointy ears. 😁

But aside from that, the production is incredible. Unlike most audiobooks, there are sound effects and music throughout the book. But instead of being annoying or distracting, they are used just enough to greatly enhance the experience, to the point where you forget you're listening to a book. It adds so much authenticity to the experience when you're hearing the thrum of the Falcon's engines, the snap-hiss a lightsaber, the beeps of Artoo as he's arguing with Luke, or the sounds of a space battle in the background as Thrawn casually explainns his genius plan to a wide-eyed Captain Pelleon, just as the Imperial theme begins to rise in the background.

It's a powerful mix, and it's one of the many reasons I consider this a must-buy for any fan of Star Wars, even a casual fan. If you haven't yet, stop reading this and spend your credit on this book. You will not be disappointed.

Legendary Star Wars Story.

I have always thought that this series of novels was the gold standard for Star Wars novels. I remember the week it came out. My Dad bought it and read it first. keeping it out of sight from my brother and I. He knew we would binge read it and he wouldn’t see the book again for days. Lol. Listening to it after 20 years read by Mark Thompson couldn’t have been better. I’m really glad Thrawn is now playing a bigger role in the Star Wars universe. This is a must for any Starwars fan. If you just shift some of the details it could be canon.

Wow

I’m only two chapters in and I want to give this book five stars already. The narration is outta this world (and so was that pun!)

This is without a doubt the best performance I’ve heard on an audiobook. I will most certainly listen to more Marc Thompson narrations in the future.

The story is off to a great start too! I can’t wait to listen to more!!

Heir to the Empire Personal Review

PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BUY THIS BOOK. STAR WARS FAN OR NOT YOU WILL BE COMPLETELY ENTHRALLED BY THE WORLD, CHARACTERS, AND STORYLINE THIS SENSATIONAL NARRATION TAKES YOU THROUGH! I am a huge Star Wars fan but never really got into the Expanded Universe until now, this was the perfect book to do so and saying I highly recommend it is an understatement! Buy this book!!!

A long time...

What fun listen this was. Truly enjoyed it. I read this book 20 yrs ago and it still holds its own.

Extremely Entertaining

Very well told with multiple character voices and sound effects. Excellent listen. looking forward to the series.

Loved it!

I was hooked on the series immediately. Originally intended to listen to this on my commute too and from work, but ended up binge-listening not only because I am a HUGE Star Wars nerd, but mainly because this is a quality production. I hope the others are just as good!!

Amazing Story

I am not too sure where Disney is taking the Star Wars universe that I grew up watching and reading, however this is the telling of Star Wars as I remember it and as I think it should be (granted I am just some guy and have absolutely no cred).

Thrawn is a brilliantly developed character. A good, bad guy that brings level of class and sophistication as well as brilliance and ruthlessness.

Overall a great story and Marc Thompson does an excellent job with his new rendition of it, making it a joy to listen to.