Customer Reviews

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (AU Star Wars)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is one incredible book considering the fact that Perry really couldn't develope the characters very much. It lets us in on Darth Vader's thoughts and it shows us how he isn't always thrilled to do the Empiror's bidding and we find out that Vader feels for his son. This, of course, leads to the ending of Return of the Jedi. An incredible book!!! A must-read!!!

Shadows is a must read for all Star Wars fans. I enjoyed the prologue in which Xizor overhears the conversation between Vader and Palpatine in The Empire Strikes Back. The setting was brilliant, during a time of great uncertainty for Luke and Leia and thier friends. Another aspect that was interesting was how Perry added things (that he really did not need to do) that had a bit of an effect in Return of the Jedi like we find out where Leia got that bounty hunter suit from that she wore as a disguise when trying to save Han in Return of the Jedi. I hoped for just one small meeting between Luke and Vader (not a lightsaber duel) before the story goes into Jedi. The return to Tatooine expanded the aspects of the planet in A New Hope that is not done well in Return of the Jedi. Overall, again, a great story that would be awesome if turned into a movie. It had the right atmosphere like with the movie trilogy. Anyone wants to tallk Star Wars with me, I would be happy to talk.

If I could, I'd give this 4 1/2 stars, for as much I enjoyed this abridgement, there was one small thing that bothered me: it doesn't use much of the Shadows of the Empire soundtrack, by Joel McNeely, aside from Xizor's Theme. There is great music on that CD, and I was hoping a lot of it was used in this one.

Still, it was a wonderful performance by TV, movie actor Anthony Heald, (TV's Boston Public, "Silence of the Lambs") whom I've enjoyed as an actor for years. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of voices he uses in this for the different Star Wars characters, most notably Darth Vader, which was electronically modified and deepened, giving the listener a good mental image of the Sith Lord, though the voice is definitely not James Earl Jones, or even the late Brock Peters(voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars Radio Drama Trilogy), but it is sufficient.

Some of the other reviewers have noted that since this is an abridgement, a lot of material is removed from the performance. This is a fact, but in my humble opinion, it does not overly hurt the story. To my knowledge, there is not an unabridged version available.

But I'm glad to have this in my audio book collection. It's good listening while I'm in my car, working. Better that than most of the garbage on radio these days!

I remember when I first read this years ago I thought it was awesome. I particularly liked how the book came out alongside the Nintendo 64 video game and Hasbro toys. However, after rereading the novel, it comes up a bit short. In retrospect, I think my memories of the novel were shaped by the video game, which I loved. The novel itself seems to have a lot packed in, but also feels empty. Xizor, the head of the Black Sun crime syndicate, plots to assassinate Luke in order to get revenge on Darth Vader. Already, based on Return of the Jedi, we know what happens. Some subplots in the novel really feel like forced, designed to explicitly explain events in Return of the Jedi, such as the capture of the Death Star II plans. Other parts seem too dramatic or unrealistic, such as how Luke essentially utilizes Rogue Squadron for personal missions (wouldn't the Alliance High Command be a bit peeved?).

None of the new characters is particularly interesting. Xizor comes across as an overconfident playboy rather than a genuine villain. As another reviewer said, it would have been more interesting if we had seen Xizor actually succeed at something before he fails. As it stands, it looks like he's just playing out of his league with Vader and the Emperor. Dash Rendar is more interesting, but at the end of the day is just too much of a stand-in for Han Solo. His character takes a few interesting turns, but at the end it's hard to care too much about him. It would have been better to explore a completely new personality.

More tellingly, 15 years on, neither XIzor nor Black Sun have made much of an appearance in other Star Wars Expanded Universe works (Dash Rendar hasn't either, but he will feature in a book coming out later this year called Shadow Games). Rereading this novel really makes one wonder how Xizor and Black Sun were so powerful in Shadows of the Empire yet never mentioned elsewhere. In retrospect, this only highlights the lack of impact the Shadows of the Empire novel has had on the Star Wars universe.

This review covers the audio cassette book (2 tapes, 3 hours). This was a pretty good tale, but, as an abridged version, it felt like some things were left on the cutting room floor. Once again, Anthony Heald does a great job in acting out all the various characters. The story line was weak and choppy. It does, however, fill in some of the gaps between episodes V and VI, so worth listening to for that. The sound-effects were well done, with the usual music score from the movies. Worth the purchase price.

Anthony Heald is the great. He is so good that I'd rather listen to him do a book than the dramatizations I've heard.

This is a review of Shadow of the Empire which is available as a hard cover book of 340 (ISBN 0553574132) pages, a comic (isbn 1569711836), a novelization of 176 pages (isbn 044013036) and audio cassette (isbn 0553100890). This story tales places between ESB and ROTJ. I always felt it was one of the more important stories of the Expanded Universe given that Xizor became an action figure as did Dash Render and his ship (Outrider). The whole gang is in this one even Han, though is encased in carbonite. We get Vader, the emperor, Fett, Guri, Boosk, 4-Lom, Jabba, Zuckuss and Wedge along with the regular gang of heroes.
Apparently Dark horse did have available any pictures of Lando or Leia because the artists did a lousy job of drawing them. Most of the time Luke was OK, but sometimes he looked like Jessica Lynch. They did do a great job drawing Fett, Vader and dash however.
Everyone is searching for Han, but he has not be taken directly to Jabba. Xizor has risen to lead Black Sun which has thrived since Darth Maul wiped out the old leadership. His newest ambition is to replace Vader as #2 in the empire. Xizor orders Luke killed knowing that Vader wants him alive. Then Xizor captured Leia.

This is one of my favorite of all the EU stories. Steve Perry has created a new and exciting Journey. The novel is 4 stars and the comic is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Considering that Dark horse released this in 1997 before some of their awesome new production techniques, this is a very well done comic. The abridged audio cassette is good quality, but at on 2 ½ hours to much is cut.

My dad got me this tape for getting a good report card and I was very satisfied. I originally thought that this would be a boring book but I was wrong. This book has a very good plot.

The 3 most powerful person in the galaxy is Prince Xizor. Darth Vader killed Xizor's familly and now Xizor wants revenge. Using his crime syndicate, Black Sun, he plots to kill Luke, Vader's son.

Anyone who has even a faint interest in Star Wars should read this book. It is one of the best Star Wars books so far. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes sci-fi stories for this is one of the best. I only wish Xizor was in it more.

I love this book for the simple fact its got not one, not two, but three villains. Aside from my fave, Palpatine, it introduces another, Prince Xizor who dares to go up against another fave Lord Vader. Its an action packed book with lots of scheming, dirty dealings and fighting scenes. The glimpses into Vader's thoghts was a real treat and I was glad to see that the ending left you guessing a bit. A great addition to the Star Wars saga. Anthony heald who is my favorite narrator in audiobooks does a fantastic job bringing each character to life; using sound effects i.e mechanical breathing when Vader was speaking was a nice touch and you got to love Xizor's theme which plays throughout this great audio production; one of my top audiobooks in my collection and one which has given me countless hours of listening enjoyment. Highly recommended.

This book hits the spot for all Star Wars Fans. It tells of the lost story of what happened between episodes V and VI. Vader is still terrorizing the gallexy and Luke has not finished all his training. It is a fast paced, action packed adventure of behind the sceanes in the Star Wars Universe. A must read!

I thought this book was great: even for a Nine year old! My favorite charecter is Xizor. He's too cool! I think people should see. Must see. Must!!MUST!!!!!!!!!