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  • Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1: Heir to the Empire

  • By: Timothy Zahn
  • Narrated by: Denis Lawson
  • Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (345 ratings)

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Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1: Heir to the Empire

By: Timothy Zahn
Narrated by: Denis Lawson
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Summary

Heir to the Empire begins five years after Return of the Jedi. The Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet back into a quarter of the territory it once controlled. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and have shouldered heavy burdens in the government of the new Republic, and Luke Skywalker is the first in a hoped-for new line of Jedi Knights.

But thousands of light-years away, where a few skirmishes are still taking place, the last of the Emperor's warlords have taken command of the remains of the Imperial fleet - and have made two vital discoveries that could destroy the fragile new Republic. The tale that emerges is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale: in short, a story that is worthy of the name Star Wars.

More in the Thrawn Trilogy series we have. And download all of our Star Wars titles you can!
©1992 Timothy Zahn (P)2007 Random House
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Critic reviews

"Well written." ( School Library Journal)

What listeners say about Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1: Heir to the Empire

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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Excellent

Memorable and greatly written a real must read. It adds so much to the star wars universe and gives us my favourite character thrawn!

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

A Great Start

An excellent start to a trilogy Im longing for more of, a true Star Wars book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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good to listen to before episode 8 / truly grippin

a fun but gripping setup nailing thrawn as a character, reminding you why you loved the original three and somewhat making you love them more - a listen before episode 8

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

I liked thrawn from the rebels TV show and now like him even more! the narration was also superb

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Expected more...

I am a fan of the original movies and have always wanted to get into the expanded universe that has been created in literature, but unfortunately this just didn't do it for me. A neat taste of the Star Wars world but nothing like the feel of the movies. It serves as an ok sci-fi story on its own.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The beginning of the Expanded Universe

Had this on cassette and great to be able to listen to again! Brilliant story!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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loved it.

Was awesome fun I loved the story and the music was an awesome touch. Looking forward to listening to the next one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Classic

Great series hope the stuff under Disney is allowed to be upto scratch and as immersive in the expanded universe

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Imperial assessment.

A few incorrectly pronounced names and planets, but otherwise a very good story. Totally worth a shot.

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BEST SW TRILOGY

If you could sum up Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1: Heir to the Empire in three words, what would they be?

the Thrawn Trilogy is amazing! they should have just made this trilogy into movies and been done with it. Zhan writes a great book and Grand Admiral Thrawn is the best SW villain.

What other book might you compare Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1: Heir to the Empire to, and why?

The rest of the trilogy, and has a fair dose of political intrigue in it.

What about Denis Lawson’s performance did you like?

He does voices and his narrative voice is easy to listen to but expressive. He's great!

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

S**t got real! - Just kidding, throw backs to the original series, wrap ups of the original movies loose ends and some WTF moments. Brilliant!

Any additional comments?

Read the Thrawn trilogy to recapture your Star Wars love.

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