Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (Dark Horse Collection) [Paperback]

Mike Baron (Adapter), Olivier Vatine (Illustrator), Fred Blanchard (Illustrator), Timothy Zahn (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Dark Horse Collection | Publication Date: October 8, 1996

It's five years after "Return Of The Jedi": the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven out the remnants of the old Imperial Starlfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi Twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. But thousand of light-years away, the last of the emperor's warlords 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 build. 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."

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (October 8, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569712026
• ISBN-13: 978-1569712023
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #676,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Far Better Than Expected., July 25, 2004

By 

Crowsdreamofdeth (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (Dark Horse Collection) (Paperback)

Although there are a few very trivial flaws in "Heir to the Empire" they are easily overlooked and do not take away from any of the enjoyment contained within. I can say with all honesty and not a little relief that Timothy Zahn did a far better job than any of the low-brow attempts at a worthwhile novel about our beloved Star Wars heroes than such amateurs such as Kevin J. Anderson and Steve Perry. Basically, it takes place five years after "Return of the Jedi" and Luke is just starting to feel comfortable in his role as the galaxy's only known Jedi. Han and Leia are married and expecting twins while struggling to build a new Republic in their home in the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. The Empire is considerably weakened and withering away, but it still holds some surprises for our blossoming New Republic. Strutting upon the stage is a new antagonist almost worthy of being Darth Vader's equal. A blue skinned red eyed member of the Chiss species named Grand Admiral Thrawn, the last of the Empire's Grand Admirals, has taken the Empire into his own hands in an attempt to revive the Empire and bring it back into its former power. He is a brilliant military strategist and super-genius, able to glean merely from a culture's art its military strategies and psychological traits. Although, Zahn never bothers to explain exactly how he does this, I feel that this would certainly qualify one to be an extraordinary genius among geniuses. Okay, Thrawn is quite honestly a much better "bad guy" than the ludicrously ridiculous Hutt (a Hutt that would fit much better in an episode of Looney Tunes) that Kevin J. Anderson dreamed up in "Dark Saber" however, Zahn doesn't quite make him as fascinating as Darth Vader, but after Vader anyone would seem fairly anticlimatic. And an insane dark Jedi by the name of C'baoth is bent on capturing Luke and Leia (with her unborn twins) for his own corrupt reasons. A great plot with all our favorite characters, as well as an interesting trip to Kashyyyk with Chewbacca, even though his child and wife is disappointingly never mentioned, all combine to make a great read replete with space fights, political intrigue, and new characters.

5.0 out of 5 stars Darkhorse version did not disappoint., June 21, 2003

By 

JediMack (VALRICO, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (Dark Horse Collection) (Paperback)

Other than the GL done SW movies, this is the most important series of books in the Galaxy Far Far Away. If i were starting out as a reader of the Expanded Star Wars universe I would not start with Zahn first. I would start with the Han Solo trilogy first.

Darkhorse has made some SW books in comics. They gereally do a good job, but not always. They often suffer from poor editing decision. This one is no exception. It is to bad that you can't put the audio (book on tape) casette or CD and play it along with the comic, but you can't. The comic takes to many deletions to fit their page limitations. Still I have to give this 5 stars to reward Darkhorse for the attempt. Wishing DH would do other SW novels... thank you for this one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and nonstop thrills, December 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (Dark Horse Collection) (Paperback)

I really liked reading this book because it was one of the best star wars books I ever read. I liked how Luke Skywalker went back to the Dagobah System. I also liked the new villians Thrawn,Talon Karrde, and C'baoth. It was great when they went to Chewbacca's home planet Kashyyyk. The battle at the end was a good way to end the book.