Rating: 
Summary: Zahn does it again!
Review: WOW! I thought Zahn's Thrawn trilogy couldn't be beat, but I was wrong! "Vision of the Future" summed up the Star Wars books beautifully and gets you ready for the New Order books. Zahn's plot is, as always, amazing. He takes the characters we already know and love, and gives them new life. We see Luke as we never have before, discover Karrde's secret past, and meet the REAL Mara Jade.
In Vision, the New Republic is on the brink of civil war over a long forgotten issue. While in the Empire, Pelleon plans for peace. But neither side realizes the danger lurking in the fringe...
I thought the story was excellent, especially the Luke/Mara relationship! Star Wars needs some more of that kind romance. I thought the Luke/Mara scenes were refreshing, beautiful, and a wonderful plot twist. I hope to see more of these two in future books!
I give this book five stars and it deserves every one! THANK-YOU ZAHN!
Rating:
Summary: Vision of Perfection
Review: This is my first review of a book, and having read nearly every STAR WARS book (from masterpieces like Zahn's original trilogy and the near-perfect Bacta War by Stackpole to the slightly less than thrilling Crystal Star), I thought that I would share my humble opinions about what I think might be overall the single best STAR WARS book ever written. In Vision, Zahn shows us not only his careful attention to details (by going back to little points from his original stories, i.e. the beckon call Luke found on Dagobah in Heir to the Empire), but his ability to mesh ALL of his characters flawlessly with a universe that has changed time and time again. While Zahn's original trilogy captured the scope of the movies, the two-part Hand of Thrawn series has captured the expanded STAR WARS universe in a way that no author has been able to replicate. I have thorougly enjoyed many of the STAR WARS books. Stackpole had a terrific run with his X-WING books (except for the weak return of an old foe in Isard's Revenge), and Allston wrote an exceptional addition to the expanded universe when he introduced Wraith Squadron to the readers. Starfighters of Adumar, for example, was a wonderful book (albeit too short) which I think can easily be considered one of the best of the X-Wing series. But none of these (in my opinion only), match up to what Zahn has accomplished with his books. Vision of the Future ties up loose ends with questions and characters from nearly every previous book (from Gaeriel to the Emperor Reborn to Baron Soontir Fel) and every favorite character is featured (Wedge and Corran Horn getting their own mission and Talon Karrde, Bel Iblis, Booster Terrik, and of course Mara Jade extremely present throughout the entire book). Finally, there is the resolution of not only the ever-lasting battle between the Republic/Rebellion and the Empire, but of Luke's solidarity for so many years (or should I call that a quest for the right one that maybe we all secretly hoped he'd end up with after the Last Command?)I have been reading the NJO books lately. They are pretty good. My favorite so far has been Onslaught (truthfully I wasn't too impressed with Ruin. I like Corran Horn a lot but he is featured way too much in this book and he seems to know everything....even Luke Skywalker isn't omniscient). I sincerely hope that Zahn writes an addition to one of them, because I'd like to see what he would do with the Yuuzhan Vong that the Republic now faces. Anyways, I think Vision of the Future was a perfect send-off for the "olden days" (I believe NJO is ushering in the new STAR WARS era). There are a million things going on at once, it brings back memories from all three of the movies AND Zahn's original trilogy, and resolves everything in a way that no other book I have read has matched thus far.
Rating:
Summary: Departing on a High Note
Review: It's tough to classify Timothy Zahn's Hand of Thrawn Duology. Sure, it's got all the space battling, swashbuckling, hero derring-do that you'd expect from the franchise, but it's also something inherently individual. In Specter of the Past, Zahn took the road less-traveled, creating a story apart from the usual "New Superweapon" cliche, adding lots of political intrigue and shadow games to the mix.What readers got was a sort of Tom Clancy Star Wars novel, if you will. The characters and situations felt incredibably real, despite the fantastic setting, and the plot threads and character arcs were more than believable. There was a feeling in the book that, because this was so different, the outcome could also be different, forever changing the Star Wars universe. And it is, and it does. In Vision of the Future, the opus of Zahn's Hand of Thrawn Duology, there is easily enough material for two books, or more. Encompassing nearly 700 pages, Vision manages to both drive the narrative along at a perfect pace, but also deepens the mythos of the universe, the characters, and the history of what went before the rise of the Galactic Empire. The book starts, as does all of Zahn's Thrawn-related material, aboard the Star Destroyer Chimera, as seen through the eyes of Admiral Pelleon. From here, we are swept through the galaxy, from Coruscaunt to the Bothan's home planet, from the Imperial strondhold of Bastion to the planet Nirauan, a mysterious and dangerous fortress with links to Thrawn's past. Han and Lando continue their search for the truth about the supposed return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the greatest threat the New Republic has ever faced, and also seek the truth about the Bothan involvement in the massacre of an entire planet. Leia struggles to hold the New Republic together as factions split over the scandal and the galaxy is once again pushed to the brink of civil war. Luke and Mara, on the other side of the cosmos, fight their own battles. Making their way through the mysterious fortress known as The Hand of Thrawn, they must avoid hostile aliens, entrenched Imperials, uncover the secrets of Thrawn's past and future, and come to terms with their feelings toward one another. Here, Zahn brings the galactic conflict as we know it to a brilliant close, while setting the stage for the darker New Jedi Order series. Even as he weaves a tale of power and peace, he also deals with important issues with the main characters; namely the relationship between Luke and Mara. I for one was glad to see this resolved, as NONE of the previous books even tried to add anything to these characters who Zahn had set up in his original trilogy with an almost painful amount of foreshadowing. It was infinitely satisfying to read the beginning of the next stage of their wandering relationship. Bravo. All in all, I couldn't ask for a better way to see the old guard of Star Wars books depart, of think of a better high note to hit while doing so. With some of the most reading, best humor, frenetic action, and pleasently subtle series references, Vision of the Future is just that, as well as being a wonderful memory of the past. Thank you Timothy Zahn. The Force will be with you. Always.
Rating:
Summary: Thank Goodness for Timothy Zhan
Review: Praise the maker. This book, the ending book in the duology The Hand of Thrawn, was breathtaking. Absolutly BREATHTAKING. I have always wondered where someone as great as Thrawn could have possibly come from. I found may answer. THrawn is a member of the Chiss species, an dhe was rejected fro murdering the Jedi Masters who were searching for anther galexy when they stopped in Chiss territory, 9out in the Uncharted Area. I loved how well Mr. Zahn was able to capture the growing friendship between Luke and I. I was surprised at the truthfullness of those moments when the water was rising around us (Luke and I, Mara Jade) and we spilled our feelings. I just must reinforce the fact that this book, as well as it's prequel, were absolutly fabulous, truely wonderful. I urge anyone who loves to read, or is a Star Wars fanatic, to read these books, as well as any other Star Wars books. Well, those Yzhang Vhong just aren't giving me a break, so I must leave again. Mara Jade Skywalker
Rating:
Summary: The End and The Beginning
Review: VISION OF THE FUTURE is probably one of the best Star Wars books I have ever read. Timothy Zahn far surpassed his writing in the original trilogy. VISION OF THE FUTURE is a fitting book to end Bantam's line of Star Wars books and to begin the storyline of Del Rey's NEW JEDI ORDER. I've always been a Mara Jade fan, ever since I read about her in HEIR TO THE EMPIRE, and I am glad that she is now engaged to Luke. They had always been friends, though the friendship seemed to cool after Mara left the Jedi Academy. They went through so much together while they were trying to infiltrate the Hand of Thrawn that I'm not surprised their friendship blossomed into love. Zahn's introduction to the Unknown Regions prepared us for the storyline of the upcoming books and the invasion of some kind of new enemy. The subplots (Wedge and Corrran on the Bothan homeworld, Han and Lando at the Imperial base, Bastion, General Bel Iblis borrowing the Errant Venture from Booster Terrik, and the Imperial scenes with the triumvirate and Admiral Paelleon-spelling?, and others I haven't mentioned) running through the whole book may have been confusing to first-time readers, but the scene-switching is easy to get used to. After all, we see the same technique used in all four Star Wars films! If we can handle it on the movie screen, why not in a book? I hope Timothy Zahn is slated to write some books for NEW JEDI ORDER; I know he would do a great job! Also, for all Mara Jade fans who don't know, there'll be a comic book series coming out about Mara and Luke, but that's all I can say! :-)
Rating:
Summary: Yet ANOTHER 5 Star effort from Star Wars' Best author
Review: 'Vision of the Future' is a stunning conclusion to this 2-book cycle which ended all too soon, and hinted of things to come -- hopefully sooner rather than later (rumor has it Zahn will return to the Star Wars Universe in early '04). Internal conflict within the New Republic...the possible resurrection of Grand Admiral Thrawn...and the relationship between Mara Jade & Luke finally (FINALLY!!!!) comes full circle. Who is framing the Bothans for an unspeakable act which happened many years before? ARE they in fact innocent, or did they conspire to destroy a planet? As much as we love to hate Borsk and his fellow Bothans, if they are innocent, whoever is responsible ought to be brought up on charges. I absolutely loved the more detail behind these characters originally fleshed out in Zahn's original Trilogy. Everyone from Talon Karrde to Captain Pellaeon receive extra attention here, and thankfully Mara & Luke's relationship is given a chance to go where us fans have been hoping it would go since the end of 'The Last Command'. Nobody, and I do mean NOBODY can spin a Star Wars yarn like Timothy Zahn. One reviewer even stated that you can almost hear John Williams soundtrack playing in the background as you read his books, and I SWEAR that I could hear it several times as I read along. Everything that makes Star Wars one of (if not the) most popular science fiction series of all-time is all here. Zahn doesn't write about just a bunch of characters named Luke, Leia & Han, but he captures the very essence of what made the original 3 movies so darned entertaining: their humor...their quirky personal attributes and a keen eye for recreating exactly what that character really would be saying if it had been written by George Lucas himself. While Zahn wasn't totally able to re-create the magic his original trilogy managed to pull off (that is in part due to the fact that he had to write 2 novels incorporating information that came out in books following his original 3, and those novels that followed just plain reeked, for the most part) he DID manage to thoroughly entertain me during the 4 days it took me to finish up this book. HIGH marks indeed for helping to bring me back to a time when I actually enjoyed reading Star Wars. Mr. Zahn, please give us more.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Conclusion to the Thrawn Saga!
Review: Vision of the Future is the second of the Hand of Thrawn Duology. Tim Zahn writes one of his best Star Wars novels to date. Filled with passion, adventure, intrigue and just plain fun, Vision of the Future concludes the excellent story begun by Spector of the Past. All our favorite characters return, with Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker off on a mysterious errand, while Han Solo and Lando Calrissian try to confirm the reports of a Reborn ADmiral Thrawn. Among the best parts of the story are those dealing with Admiral Pellaen as he strives to bring peace to the conflict torn galaxy. OVerall, a stand out effort by Zahn and clearly one of the best Star Wars books ever written.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Reading
Review: This was a fantastic book that kept me wanting more. I couldn't put it down. In fact, I'm in the middle of reading it through again for the second time. If you are a big Star Wars fan and Mara Jade fan, this is definately a good book to read!
Rating:
Summary: Decent Ending
Review: Timothy Zahn gave it his best when he wrote the first three books in the Thrawn trilogy. Unfortunately, Vision of the Future falls a little short of expectations from the original Thrawn trilogy, but that is not to say that Vision of the Future is not a good novel. On the contrary, it surpasses most of the novels in the New Republic era of Star Wars. Zahn does a terrific job answering many questions that remained hanging during the New Republic era of the Star Wars universe. And to top it off, Luke finally finds his true love with Mara Jade. Their wedding is found in the comic novel Union. The reason why Vision of the Future is given four stars instead of five is that the threat to the New Republic is quite minimal compared to the original Thrawn trilogy. The novel is close to seven hundred pages long, and because of its mild imperial threat, the book could have been told in four or five hundred. Many characters did not need to be introduced, because they did not have any dramatic effect on the overall plot. Still, the narrative is well written, and the story overall was good enough to hold my interest. It is a decent ending to the New Republic era before the New Jedi Order begins.
Rating:
Summary: Zahn still the best!!!
Review: After having no phone for 5 days, I finally got around to reading this series & agree with others: Zahn is 10x's better than Anderson(who's pretty good)& 100x's better than everybody else. Only one small flaw: it was too long. I noticed it with his Thrawn trilogy too. Zahn drags things out several scenes too long but other than that this duology was flawless. The new characters fit right in(especially Car'das)& Palleon steals this show more often than not. I still hate how the Star Wars continuation storyline as a whole was drawn up. Not enough Dark Jedi & not enough respect paid to the Empire for my taste.
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