Rating: 
Summary: the series that revived the Star Wars empire [no spoilers]
Review: "Heir to the Empire" is the first novel in The Thrawn Trilogy approximately five years following "Return of the Jedi". When the book was originally published in 1991, I remember telling a friend it would start a literary genre similar to Star Trek with hundreds of books. Even though I find an overwhelming number of books diluting to a storyline, Zahn's work resurrected with a passion a universe in written format for other authors to continue exploring.Timothy Zahn introduces a destroyed Empire and fragile New Republic, strange creatures, and compelling heroes and villains. The originality and creativity in the series is deep, far better than the sorry episode 1 and 2 movies. Grand Admiral Thrawn is an ingenious, calculating and efficient villain, someone the New Republic should fear. The typical assortment of characters ranging from Luke Skywalker to Wedge Antilles fills the book with essential components to the tale. While Star Wars hasn't been overly political, politics play a part in the developments and brings more depth to an otherwise action oriented plot. I highly recommend this series above all others to any fan of the Star Wars universe. Thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: Spoiler alert. Some comments.
Review: Hi. I would like to start out by saying that the book was very good but some things made me dissapointed (Maybe I had to high expectations to start with). I have a few comments I'd like to share. First of all it seems odd to me that Luke, as the big hero he is, only because he's out of Force he can't disarm Mara Jade when she holds him prisoner on the ysalamari planet. I mean, come on, he has the lightsaber in his hand, she points a blaster at him and he surrenders. Even without the force he should be a quite adept warrior shouldn't he?
Why doesn't he do anything when she puts her blaster away on the ground?
I get the overall sense of Luke as being quite naiv and going around the galaxy not really knowing whats he's doing.
Then there's a time in the beginning of the book when Thrawn uses C'Baot to sense Luke presence and he talks to him a little. Then later in the book, Tnrawn and Pelleon is wondering if Luke is with the reps at a certain time and they wait to see. Why don't they just use the old Jedi to find out?
There's a phrase in the book that goes something like: a Jedi can't be too caught up in events regarding galactic safety that he forgets about individuals. Isn't the motto supposed to be the other way around?
Well, well. These small things made the book a little less entertaining than i'd hoped, but overall it's a good read. (Ps: Anyone know of a good place to discuss star wars litterature?)
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly written, not worthy of Star Wars name
Review: I enjoy star wars immensely, and was excited to pick this book up. While it was a fun read, I am glad I got through it fairly quickly, because it was really thin on character development. Dialogue is rather childish and weak. The visual imagery is just not there; Zahn does not spend much time explaining anything to give it a real feel. He seems more concerned with the plot than explaining and getting into the subtle nuances of the references. In fact, no references are really followed up or explained; they are just mentioned and the story moves on, leaving the reader wondering 'what does THAT mean' or 'what is that creature', etc.
I guess if I were in 8th grade and/or cared more about action than development, then it would have been more enjoyable. At this point, I haven't decided whether I will bother reading the second 'volume'. Or any other Star Wars novels, because I have heard many say Zahn is the best of the Star Wars novelists. If that's the case, reading any more novels would be a waste of time: I can find out the bare bones facts about anything star wars at the offical website databank.
Rating:
Summary: Captures the spirit of Star Wars brilliantly
Review: This is the first of a three book Star Wars trilogy that begins 5 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. Luke is still a light side Jedi, Leia is pregnant with Han's twins, and everybody else is pretty much the same. There are some new characters, notably one Mara Jade. She is an extremely well conceived and authentically Star Wars character - as well as being hot, and the the very subtle sexual tension between her and Luke is incredibly satisfying. Here's the thing tho: She hates his guts. I'll leave it at that, but you should read the book. The basic plot of the story is that there is now a new leader of the Empire: a guy named Grand Admiral Thrawn, and he has a master plan that will restore the empire's control of the galaxy and destroy the rebellion. Thrawn's master plan includes harnessing the power of an evil Jedi master who also happens to be a CLONE, and bombarding The rebellion' base planet of Coruscant with a weapon that will prevent anything from leaving or entering the planet. Seriously, the plot is brilliant and it captures the spirit of Star Wars just perfectly. I have read this entire trilogy many times just as I have watched the original trilogy many times, because, as with the movies, I am drawn to the characters and supremely enjoy the time spent with them.
Amd Grand Admiral Thrawn is the coolest character in the book. Cooler by far than Darth Maul, tho not cooler than Vader. Zahn knew what he was doing with this character. He's evil as Vader was, but there are portions in the book where you will want to applaud him.
This is a great book, but there are flaws. Zahn uses a lot of the same (annoying) phrases constantly. He's forever talking about this persons 'tight smile' or how that persons 'lip twitched imperceptibly' and it gets on the nerves after awhile. But that aside, if you are a bigtime Star Wars fan, need a cure for the dissapointment of how badly Episodes I and II sucked, and you are also a reader, you should definately read this book and its two sequels. I rate this five stars because of how well Zahn captures the spirit of the originals and how immersed and comfortable you are able to feel (as apposed to confused, frustrated and bored) while reading about 'repulsorlift generators' and other alien technology, and combat tactics and stuff. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Heir to Star Wars
Review: Heir to the Empire is a guns balzing, riproaring adventure that is worthy of the Star Wars name. Zahn's plot makes perfect sense and fits wonderfully into the Star Wars universe. The Rebels (now the New Republic) are still mopping up after Endor, and the political climate is difficult as well. The plot moves wonderfully and leaves the reader craving more. I love the intirgue and the new characters in this book. Honestly, what captured me the most was Zahn's perfect protrayal of the core classic characters. He is right on the money. One can almost hear them speaking. It is truly too bad that these books can not be made into films. The actors are now to aged to do so, and it would not really work. However, an animated series would be outstanding...especially if Lucas could get the actors to return to protray they own voices. The book is tremendous, and it is just what Star Wars fans will love. Great battles, inner sturggles, politics, and of course a new super cool villian to strive against. "The force is with this one!"
Rating:
Summary: Good story line, but not written very well
Review: I enjoy star wars immensely, and was excited to pick this book up. While it was a fun read, I am glad I got through it fairly quickly, because it was really thin on character development. Dialogue is rather childish and weak. The visual imagery is just not there; Zahn does not spend much time explaining anything to give it a real feel. He seems more concerned with the plot than explaining and getting into the subtle nuances of the references. In fact, no references are really followed up or explained; they are just mentioned and the story moves on, leaving the reader wondering 'what does THAT mean' or 'what is that creature', etc.
I guess if I were in 8th grade and/or cared more about action than development, then it would have been more enjoyable. At this point, I haven't decided whether I will bother reading the second 'volume'. Or any other Star Wars novels, because I have heard many say Zahn is the best of the Star Wars novelists. If that's the case, reading any more novels would be a waste of time: I can find out the bare bones facts about anything star wars at the offical website databank.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: This book was OK
if ur a hardkore SW fan, get it
I thoght I was a HK SW fan,
but I coulndt get through the first haf
It was really boring
not very much action
but, again
Pretty Good.
Rating:
Summary: Zhan is a hardcore Star Wars fan and it shows
Review: Timothy Zahn captures the spirit and the feel that we all love from Episodes IV, V and VI.
His original Trilogy was an excellent continuation of the lives of the characters of those movies. It shows the struggles of the Rebellion transforming into the New Republic and introduces a villain that you will enjoy so much you sometimes find yourself rooting for the bad guys.
In my opinion the Zahn Trilogy are the best of the myriad of Star Wars novel out there. If you love the original trilogy of movies, you will love these books.
I had the chance to meet the man and have him sign the books for me. I could tell that he truly loved the Star Wars universe and had a great appreciation for his readers.
Rating:
Summary: Paper thin characters. Spoilers await.
Review: Overall a good read that`ll take up two of your summer reading days with all the characters never speaking more than two lines. Luke/Leia and Han getting out of every sticky situation they encounter and winning every battle. Grand Admiral Thrawn continue`s to lose every bit of the way. Kardde and everyone else seem to "get over" on this guy and it`s somewhat annoying that he can surmise exactly what`s going on in the minds of the enemy which doesn`t seem to amount to anything. Zahn to me is like Jack Higgens where you don`t question you just read and turn the pages. Mara Jade is constantly whinning about how Luke destroyed her life and while Leia is pregnant with twins she gets blasted around at many an encounter also. The Dark Jedi (C`Baoth)never mentions the name of the guy he defeated and the character is already rendered toothless and staid by the fact that he`s a clone (.....0r is that "clown"?).
Rating:
Summary: Far Better Than Expected.
Review: 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.
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