Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn: Specter of the Past: Book I (AU Star Wars) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Timothy Zahn (Author), Anthony Heald (Reader)

Book Description

Series: AU Star Wars | Publication Date: November 3, 1997

From Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn comes a dramatic new chapter in the greatest science fiction epic ever told.  Now Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo must battle to safeguard the fledgling New Republic from a dead Imperial warlord--and from itself.

Once the unquestioned master of countless solar systems, the Empire is tottering on the brink of total collapse.  Day by day, neutral systems are rushing to join the New Republic coalition.  But with the end of the war in sight, the New Republic has fallen victim to its own success.  An unwieldy alliance of races and traditions, the confederation now finds itself riven by age-old animosities.

Princess Leia struggles against all odds to hold the New Republic together.  But she has powerful enemies.  An ambitious Moff Disra leads a conspiracy to divide the uneasy coalition with an ingenious plot to blame the Bothans for a heinous crime that could lead to genocide and civil war.  At the same time, Luke Skywalker, along with Lando Calrissian and Talon Karrde, pursues a mysterious group of pirate ships whose crews consist of clones.  And then comes the most startling news of all: Grand Admiral Thrawn--believed to be dead for ten years--is reported alive.The most cunning and ruthless warlord in Imperial history has seemingly returned to lead the Empire to triumph.

As Han and Leia try to prevent the unraveling of the New Republic in the face of this fearful and inexplicable threat from the past, Luke sets out to track down the rogue pirate ships.  Lurking in the shadows is the enigmatic Major Tierce, a disciple of Emperor Palpatine, sharing his long-dead master's lust for power, schooled in the devious stratagems of Thrawn himself, and armed with his own dark plans for the New Republic and the Empire.

Specter of the Past marks the triumphant return of Timothy Zahn to the celebrated Star Wars(r) universe in a novel that brings together all the trademark action, suspense, startling revelations, and brilliant spectacle worthy of the name Star Wars.



Anthony Heald's film credits include A Time to Kill, The Client, The Pelican Brief and The Silence of the Lambs.  He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performances in Anything Goes and Love! Valor! Compassion!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Timothy Zahn is the master of the Star Wars novel. His trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command) did almost as much as the movie trilogy's re-release to create new interest in Luke, Leia, and Han Solo. Specter of the Past is the first of a new series, The Hand of Thrawn. Princess Leia is trying desperately to hold the loose coalition of interests known as the New Republic together long enough to see the evil Empire finally vanquished. But in a stunning setback, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker discover that the pirate ships raiding New Republic transports are staffed with clones under the command of someone who claims to be Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Empire's most powerful warlord, believed dead for 10 years. Thrawn's plan for destroying the fragile New Republic seems well on the way to completion--unless Han, Leia, and Luke can stop it. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

More intergalactic capers from the author whose best-selling Heir to the Empire launched the current Star WarsR craze.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Random House Audio; abridged edition edition (November 3, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553478931
• ISBN-13: 978-0553478938
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (235 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,287,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Books on Cassette > Authors, A-Z > ( Z )

More About the Author

Timothy Zahn is the Hugo Award-winning author of more than a dozen original science fiction novels and the bestselling Star Wars trilogy Heir to the Empire, among other works. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Adventure Begins Anew. . ., February 16, 2004

By 

Brendan L. Agnew "rothwyn" (Nowheresville, OK, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading Timothy Zahn's first Star Wars trilogy, and finding that it was good, I, being an avid SW fan, set my sights on the dozens of other books written afterward. They. . . weren't so good. In fact, some of them were downright bad, either using a tired device over and over again (superweapon anyone?) or destroying the characters. I began to lose faith in the franchise as literature-worthy.

Then Zahn wrote Specter of the Past, the first of The Hand of Thrawn Duology, and I believed again.

While his Thrawn Trilogy is usually considered best, this is perhaps his most daring work. With his first trilogy, he had no canon material he had to follow, allowing him an essentially clean slate with which to work. However, after five years and over a dozen novels, there was a lot of histroy that he just couldn't ignore. However, once again, Zahn proved to be more than equal to the task, using characters and events from the earlier and inferior novels to further his story or expand his characters. And, being Zahn, it worked.

The story of Specter of the Past is one of galactic conflict on a familiar Star Wars scale, but it also weaves threads intrigue and shadow plots into the play, giving the novel a fresh feel from the usual "The Imperials have a new superweapon!" arc, and it works well. One of the two main threads focuses on the supposed return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, who we saw die in The Last Command, in all his strategic genius and glory. The second thread involves the framing of the Bothans for the destruction of a pacifist planet. While Leia tries desperately to hold the New Rupiblic together in the face of a catastrophic backlash, Han and Lando struggle to acertain if Thrawn really has returned.

Meanwhile, on a covert mission, Luke and Mara run into an Imperial style ship manned by clones, which vanishes into deep space. As Mara gives chase, she discovers a strange planet with a mysterious link to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Luke, recieving a disturbing premonition of her possible death, races to join her.

Behind it all is a brilliant mind and a daring con, backed by a ruthless and greedy warlord bent on galactic domination. However, where others have failed, they may very well succeed.

All the characters that Zahn introduced us to are back, and better than ever. Captain Pelleon holds a nominal authoritative position in the Imperial Remnant, struggling to find a way to end the decades-long conflict that has toppled an empire, while also wondering at the possible return of his mentor. Talon Kardde, smuggler and business man, journeys to the edge of the galaxy to meet a man he betrayed to uncover the truth about the Bothans. And Mara Jade is, of course, just as we remember her; smart, sassy, strong, and a perfect foil for Luke. Damn, but they make a great team.

While there's plenty of swashbuckling and space battling in Specter of the Past, the stage is only being set for something much MUCH bigger. Zahn is creating something grand in this volume, something which has ties not only with the SW books by other authors, but also brings back seemingly unimportant details from the Thrawn Trilogy as all too important. It really makes you admire his genius in storytelling and planning, and wonder whether he had planned follow-ups to the Thrawn Trilogy from the very beginning.

Any way you slice it, The Hand of Thrawn Duology is a wonderful addition to the Star Wars franchise, and is a wonderful set-up for a grand finale.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Star effort from the best author in the Star Wars Universe, October 14, 2003

By 

Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I admit right up front I am a firm believer that Timothy Zahn is THE Best Star Wars author out there -- bar none. Simply put, he has NO equal -- PERIOD. At least not that I have read. Anyway, after reading Zahn's original trilogy (which are the standard by which ALL Star Wars novels ought to be judged, by the way), I rekindled my interest and love in that Galaxy Far, Far Away and anxiously started to read as many other novels that came after as I could find -- only to be disappointed each and every time (with 2 or 3 possible exceptions...). Suddenly I see 'Specter of the Past' with Zahn's name on it, and my interest goes back UP again. The challenge facing him this time around wasn't so much to write a story of his choosing, but now he must incorporate into his novels events that have happened following his Trilogy by authors who have all but ruined the Star Wars name. In this effort, Zahn proves he us up to the task yet again. Many feel deprived that he chose not to explore several avenues established by other authors (such as what is going on at the Jedi Academy) but I for one am glad that he ignored these and instead developed an original story that built upon his original 3 novels and continued to expand his characterization of some of the greatest Star Wars creations to date, namely Mara Jade, Talon Karrde and Captain Pellaeon.

I was one of the many who was genuinely upset when Thrawn bit the dust in Zahn's 'The Last Command'. He was in every way a better bad guy than the Emperor or Vader combined. Sure, they were more evil, but Thrawn was a far superior military strategist. Where Vader & the Emperor ruled through fear, Thrawn ruled through brilliance and gained the respect and allegiance of his army by treating them fair and providing them with results, sometimes against impossible odds. So, when Zahn hints of Thrawns return in 'Specter' I was absolutely thrilled. But is it in fact the REAL Thrawn, or a clever impersonator? In many of the previous and following SW novels, the conflicts have been larger than life and having the tiny remnants of the Empire developing Super Weapon after Super Weapon is lame and totally boring. With Zahn's careful writing, Star Wars begins to delve into what I feel to be a much more realistic setting for this series: internal conflict within the New Republic, and continuing threats from those within the Empire who wish to derail the upcoming possible treaty with the New Republic. I think that because the plot is more character driven it becomes instantly more interesting and overall more entertaining. While not as overall satisfying as his original Thrawn Trilogy, I give VERY high marks to Zahn for being able to thread together this story, and meshing it with the plot-lines established by other authors in this series. If you count yourself a fan of the Star Wars Universe, it ought to be required reading to pick up anything written by Timothy Zahn, but you should decide for yourself. In my personal opinion, he is the best author in the Star Wars Universe.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zahn's Triumphant Return to a Galaxy Far, Far Away!, September 2, 2003

By 

J. K. Moser "JKM" (Flemington, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn #1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Specter of the Past is the first in the Hand of Thrawn duology, Timothy Zahn's spectacular return to the Star Wars Universe after his incredible Thrawn Trilogy began the renewed expanded universe. In Specter of the Past, the events of the Corellian Trilogy have forced Princess Leia to take a leave of absence from her post of Chief of State, while Han and Luke along with Chewie are off on a mission of their own. Mara Jade, Lando Calrissian, Talon Karrde and ADmiral Pellaeon feature prominatently as do X-Wing pilots Wedge Antilles and Corran Horn. After countless defeats, the Imperial Navy is ready to call its quits with the New Republic. They send out emissaries to negotatiate a peace with the Republic, but one Imperial Moff with his military attache and a mysterious red-eyed being are determined to gain back the empire. Filled with suspenseful dogfights as well as superb character development, Specter of the Past ensures Zahn's place as teh patriarch of the Star Wars universe.