Rating: 
Summary: This Book Talked Way Too Much About Sex!
Review: Okay, don't get me wrong: This book had plenty of action and filled in many untold story gaps left between ESB and ROTJ. But come on! Xizor considers telling a DROID to disrobe and take a bath with him? What kind of nymphomaniac is this guy?!! He constantly thinks about having sex with Leia from the moment he lays eyes on her, and the book itself mentions his past sex life way too many times for me to keep my lunch down safely. Read books by Brian Jacques or Aaron Allston instead; characters might kiss in those books, but they don't go as far as this one!
Rating: 
Summary: How is this person a professional writer?
Review: I finally stumbled across this thing in a used book store and, being a Star Wars fan, decided to read it. How on earth does this person maintain a living as a writer? This novel read like the worst pieces of fan-fiction, complete with 'arousing' scenes where Princess Leia almost gets nekkid! Hoo-ha! The writing was amateurish, and there were many scenes which seemed to serve absolutely no narrative purpose whatsoever. I almost think that the Steve Perry who was the lead singer for Journey could have produced a better book.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent! A Star Wars Classic!
Review: Shadows of the Empire was great! I read it within five days at work and loved it! I couldn't put the book down. I am starting my own Star Wars novel collection, and this is a great book to add. Star Wars fans will love this book! My favorite part was when Threepio flew the Falcon. I was nearly pulling my hair out when Xizor was seducing Leia. I didn't know what to expect. For those of you that have not read this, need to read it now!
Rating:
Summary: Shadows of the Empire hits a homerun!
Review: For years I have watched Star Wars and Star Wars related stuff. Then, I decided it was time to try out some of the Star Wars novels based on George Lucas' characters. I looked at many titles such as Heir to the Empire, Truce at Bakura, and The Courtship of Princess Leia, but Shadows of the Empire was the only one that truly drew me in. Steve Perry shows a great care for detail and fantasy while still sticking to the Star Wars guidelines. Also, he brings in new characters, while still keeping the old ones fresh in our minds. I belive that Xizor, The Black Sun Crimelord, is one of the most masterminded characters ever in a Star Wars novel. Many have complaints about subjects in novel about things like Why did Leia make out with Xizor, or Why didn't Vader wait for Luke at Jabba's Palace. Well, for one, if these things didn't happen, there would be no intriguing storyline, and two, Vader didn't wait for Luke because he wasn't waiting for him in Return of the Jedi. These are some reasons that I liked it, and this iswhyI recommend this book to any Star Wars fanatics.
Rating: 
Summary: The New Villian
Review: This story Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry is a very entertaining novel. It is a fiction novel written between the movies The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
The story contains several plots one of which is the searching for Han Solo, which has been frozen in carbonite by Jabba the Hut. Also Luke struggles to save his father from the dark side. The new aspect of the book is the introduction of a new villain who is an enemy of both The Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Throughout the story the author uses a variety of themes including persuasion to help the characters progress in the story. An example of this is how Luke tries to persuade his father to return to the light side. Another theme the author uses to progress the story is adventure he adds the search for Han Solo to show the love that Leia has for him and to get a hint of excitement in the story.
Throughout the story there is action, adventure, and romance to make this novel a very awesome Star Wars novel. All of that adds up to very entertaining novel that you want to read over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Excuse me...But......
Review: 1. What took Boba Fett so long to get to Tatooine? People who left hours after him were hanging around waiting for him for days. 2. How did Luke almost never think of just what happened to him on cloud city? 3. Why was Leia making out with the head of the biggest baddest cruelest criminal organization? 4. What is Lando doing cooking? 5. Why is Jabba making deals with another crime organization? 6. Why did Vader no go to Jabba's palace and wait for Luke. Vader knows that Capt. Solo is in Jabba's palace and that Luke will try to go rescue him, duh? 7. And why was Xixmor listening in on the emperor's conversation with Vader? 8. And please....would the Emperor ever dispose of Vader over some tough thug? Vader killed almost every Jedi in the galaxy except for 2 who had to hide out. 9. I think they should try one more time to write this book. the idea was good, the story was not.
Rating:
Summary: This book caused me to be late for class....
Review: I went into the bookstore to browse this book. I had only recently discovered this book took place between ESB and ROTJ, I saw it on the shelf and from the title surmised it took place right after ROTJ. But I was wrong. Now, as I was saying, I went to this bookstore to browse the book to see if i wanted to buy it and take it home and read it. It was about 4 pm and my class starts at 8 pm. I am on broadway and 84th and my class is on 103rd so i figured I had to leave by 7:30 or so to get there on time. (i walk fast). Thats enough time to browse this book, right? So I begin reading it, and discovered it took place between ESB and ROTJ and in my head I am thinking "oh so cool!" So I begin be totally into this book. I lost track of time and it was 6 p.m. and I think I better go and pay for this since I like it. I reach into my satchel and find i forgot to bring my wallet with me. "oh no! I must have this book NOW!" Well I decided I will read as much as I can and come back tommorrow and buy it. So I am so absorbed in my reading, it's 7:30 and I still could not pull away! I cotinue to read, 7:45, still could not pull away. I decided Thermodynamics can wait because I could not possible leave the store until I got to the end of the book. Fueled by this passion I finished and was sooo late to class. But I am not sorry because it was a good book. Here are some of my observations: It was good to see the transition between Luke powers because you kind of wonder without additional training how do he get so powerful but at the same time I thought he would have been a little bit stronger than that but no matter, his return to obi wans cave was a good addition, I wanted to know how in the world did they beat boba fett to tatooine by so many days if he left many hours before them-i guess bounty hunters have slow ships. The relationship between leia and xixor was corny. They fleshed out Lando's personality more. the premise of the book was great but it lost that 5th star because it had one thing I thought it should have: More contact between Luke and Vader. I would have liked to see more telepathy going on between Luke and Vader. Vader was preoccupied enough with Luke but with exception of one scene Luke hardly sat and dwelled on Vader but then again he decided he would not but please how could you not? I like that Vader destroyed Xixor--pretty cool huh? The one time you cheer for Vader's side. I wish also that Vader dwelled more on his past and missing years with his new found son. But i guess he would be anakin and not vader if he did that. I do like the comment by Guri and Xixor when they were fighting look--"He IS the son of Vader." when they saw how skilled he was. I wished that Vader's enemies made comments or thoughts on the fact that Vader's son was a real looking human being and that Vader must have once looked liked that and not the demonic machine he presently was looking like. But it was interesting to see Vader's yearning for his son because it was not so much to make him an agent of evil but it was also a form of freedom for him because in a way i think Vader wanted out but had already gone to the point of no return. His son would make him powerful, free him from the emperor, and give him a companion he could trust. He was also able to apss on alegacy that would not end with him. I got the feeling Vader wanted his son to reclaim his humanity. The twist was that I was constantly reminded while reading this (having read the trilogy plus many pre/post trilogy books) was how much the action of one person affected the lives of others and the universe. It was also interesting to see how it came full circle with his son. On top of that, Even though it is not written I would think that Vader would having feelings of regret and "missing out." I know i am off on a tangent but if you are almost 50 and then you discover suddenly you have son who looks as good as you did and is as powerful as you are and he followed in your footsteps to become a jedi and was trained by the same person as you were--you would almost have to think what would have happened if i had never become Vader? He missed out on 25 years of his life which becomes evident when Vader is dying in ROTJ. My only complaint again is that there should have been more development of the father son thing by use of intermonologue from Luke and Vader as well as telepathetic contact, and how everyone else who knew perceived the situation. But the book is worth the read and buying even though i did not buy it.
Rating:
Summary: A good adventure but the writing lacks spirit...........
Review: This book tells of the events between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. A time where Darth Vader still lives and Han is still frozen in carbonite.
This novel was good. The story introduced Prince Xizor, a believable foe to both Luke and the gang and competitor for the Emperor's approval alongside Darth Vader. Xizor is a very rich crimelord and the leader of Black Sun. Also, another character, Dash Rendar the man who is first introduced as being a guide for hire who later becomes a trusted friend to our gang of heroes.
These new characters are believable in their own right and to the Star Wars universe. There are several high points in the novel where we discover new things about the Jedi. These being, in the beggining when Luke builds his own lighsaber on Tatooine and when he learns to levitate and tap into the Force more than he has been ever able to do. This is appearent in a touching moment between Luke and Leia when Luke reaches out to the Force and is able to communicate with his sister.
There are other great parts showing Vader's wealth and power and his and the Emperor's goal to bring Luke to the Dark side. However, on one note, the author treats the story qutie well but fails to have that spirit and compassion to drive the characters forward in the plot. Sure he gives your their goals and ambitions but the writing isn't very creative and the descriptions are quite vague with little detail. He could have spent more time on this. Overall, this is a great Star Wars book. For what is lacks in spirit and description it makes up for it with character development and a wide range of spectacular actions scenes.
A good read if you don't have all the time in the world and just want to sit back, relax and have an adventure!
Rating:
Summary: Formidable Foes
Review: Shadows of the Empire takes place between TESB and ROTJ. We find out what takes place after Han is frozen in carbonite. We are introduced to the mastermind behind the criminal organization Black Sun, Prince Xizor, who although lacks any Jedi capabilities, makes it up in ruthlessness and coldness. Basically, Xizor is wanting to be the Emperor's right hand man in this novel, but how do you get to Emperor to drop Lord Vader?
Xizor finds out about Luke Skywalker, Vader's son. Vader was responsible for the death of his family years past and now wants to exact revenge by killing Luke. We also see in this novel how Leia obtains her bounty hunter outfit and thermo-detenator used in ROTJ, Luke's growing in using the Force, and the Emperor's mastermind behind letting the Rebel's find out about the plans for the 2nd Death Star. Star Wars fans will not be disappointed. Plenty of action abound, as well as humor. One funny part is when 3PO and R2 are flying or attempting to fly the Millenium Falcon to rescue Luke and Leia. Steve Perry does the Star Wars Universe justice.
Rating:
Summary: ....Wow.....
Review: This book was better than I expected. It takes place in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. When you read it, the beginning and the end has things familar with both movies. I liked the ending it was great. Just to tell you...Xizor...the bad guy of the story....has a sick, twisted, evil mind!!! You'll get what I mean when you read it. Just notice his behavior towards Leia.
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