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Summary: Make sure you own both books of the set!
Review: Once again, Timothy Zhan has my full attention. I unfortunately didn't realize this was a two book set. It isn't written on the cover or back of my paperback. So now..I am stuck waiting for the second half of what has up to this point been a fabulous story! It seems Zhan is aware of the fact that most of his readers are familiar with the star wars world, and wastes little time over-describing a bush from a remote world or the subtle difference between the eylashes of two members of the same alien species. While Character developement is nice, I find that too many of the star wars novels I read spend more time describing little, interesting to know, but unimportant things than giving me the epic action I crave. Not Zhan. If you are like me, buy these books, and the Heir to the Empire series. You won't be dissapointed! =Þ
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Summary: Tim does it again!
Review: One word.
WOW!
Once again Timothy Zahn is back and brings the readers more of what we want in a star wars story.I will not go into details of the story, i will leave all the suprises for the people who have yet to read this wonderful book.
Rating: 
Summary: It wasn't so bad after all.
Review: Part I of the two part Hand of Thrawn series (really three parts in two books, since Part II is 694 pages). This book was pretty boring for the first 250 pages or so (out of 386). I was beginning to wonder why in the heck I was still reading Star Wars novels since they were so bad, but the story finally came around in the last third and I found myself actually wanting to read and find out what happens. I guess Zahn was just practicing for a while after his long Star Wars drought (he's the one who wrote the first trilogy of follow-ons.) Anyway, by the last page I was eager to read the second part, so I guess it wasn't so bad after all.
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Summary: Zahn's Triumphant Return to a Galaxy Far, Far Away!
Review: 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.
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Summary: Zahn's Triumphant Return to a Galaxy Far, Far Away!
Review: 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.
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Summary: Zahn Has Done It Again
Review: The Hand of Thrawn series is amazing. This book is great and anybody who reads it will instanly love it. I just finished this book and now reading the sequal of this book Vision of The Future. It wraps up loose ends that other novels leave and will leave you recovering from a blaster set on stun. The greatest Grand Admiral returns to wreak mayhem in the Star Wars galaxy so the New Republic thinks. I recommend this book very much and anyone who reads it will not be disapointed.
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Summary: With no common enemy uniting them, peace is threatened.
Review: The New Republic is desperately trying to hold itself together. The Empire has been diminished to little more than an occasional annoyance. As peace settles in, old rivalries that were banished in the hope of creating a united front against the Empire are resurfacing. These old squabbles threaten to tear apart the fragile New Republic.Leia and Han are struggling to hold their family and the Republic together before they are split at the seams. Now a new challenge surfaces. Grand Admiral Thrawn has resurfaced, making himself known to Lando, and requesting a message be taken to the New Republic. In addition, Luke has discovered the Empire has been using clones again. How did Thrawn escape death? Where is the Empire getting these new clones? Will the Republic be torn apart by petty rivalries?
Rating:
Summary: A great book!
Review: This book is great, but the returning of Grand Admiral Thrawn is not very good. It would be more interesting if he was cloned or something. Remeber to read Vision of the future, too, the conclusion of this Hand of Thrawn Duology. I haven't read Timothy Zahn's first Thrawn Trilogy yet, but I am going to start on Heir To the Empire soon. All Star Wars fans MUST read this book!
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Summary: No other author can rival Zahn when it comes to Star Wars
Review: This book is the most original, creative and all around best in the Star Wars series since Zahn's first trilogy. As a Star Wars fan I really can't praise Zahn enough. While his fellow star wars authors continue to bore us with more reconstructions of the death star and the many uninspiring missions of rogue squadron, Zahn is the only one taking Star Wars to new levels. The nature of the conflict in this latest book is much more deep, involving and original than anything else so far. Believe me, it is much more than just the "return" of Grand Admiral Thrawn. It explores the conflicts and animosity within the Republic itself, political intrigue and conspiracy, and power struggles within the empire as well. The many subplots and different worlds described in this book help to make the star wars universe more immersive and remind the reader just how big that universe is. Zahn is also the only author who has introduced new characters into the star wars universe that are actually interesting and original(Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, the Noghri and especially Thrawn). But despite all this, Specter is not for all star wars fans. The plot can only be appreciated by the mature reader and there is very little action throughout the entire book. But then again, all the juvenile fans are more likely to be playing the video games and buying the toys than to be reading books. Anyway, Zahn is the greatest and he continues to set the standard for star wars stories. BUT I still have a few gripes(nothing's perfect). First of all, I think that there were too many unnecessary characters that sometimes served as a distraction. Secondly, although Zahn did a great job of portraying the old characters of star wars he failed to take them in any new direction this time around. Third, there could've been more action(at least one lightsaber duel next time PLEEZ!!). And finally, I was disappointed to see that Luke didn't do much of anything this time. Despite all these minor flaws, those who've already read Zahn's first trilogy won't be able to find better star wars reading anywhere else. Hats off to you Mr. Zahn and I hope you continue writing Star Wars.
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Summary: The best Star Wars story since The Last Command!
Review: This book was _the_ best Star Wars book I've ever read, except for the Heir to the Empire trilogy, of course. Zahn is the only author who has managed to capture the spirit of Star Wars. All the others were just missing something, except for one or two. My copies of his first Star Wars trilogy are the most worn books on my shelf. I love those, and I love his new ones too. He is the best. And he also has a good grasp of the Force as a plot element, better than most. And Thrawn being back is just great! He was the only real opposition the New Republic ever had. And I also think that it was great that Zahn put Rogue Squadron back in action. Wedge just wasn't the general type. Zahn just knows how to write the characters of the Star Wars universe. Talon Karrde, Fey'lya, Mara, Luke, Wedge, they all just seem more true to the movies and their spirit with him. I totally reccommend this book for everyone. It is the best! The absolute best! Before, when anyone asked me who my favorite author was, I'd name two or three people. Now I've realized that Timothy Zahn is the absolute best author I've ever read. He is the king of Star Wars! Vision of the Future, here I come!
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