Rating: 
Summary: 5 Star effort from the best author in the Star Wars Universe
Review: I admit right up front I am a firm believer that Timothy Zahn is THE Best Star Wars author out there -- bar none. Simply put, he has NO equal -- PERIOD. At least not that I have read. Anyway, after reading Zahn's original trilogy (which are the standard by which ALL Star Wars novels ought to be judged, by the way), I rekindled my interest and love in that Galaxy Far, Far Away and anxiously started to read as many other novels that came after as I could find -- only to be disappointed each and every time (with 2 or 3 possible exceptions...). Suddenly I see 'Specter of the Past' with Zahn's name on it, and my interest goes back UP again. The challenge facing him this time around wasn't so much to write a story of his choosing, but now he must incorporate into his novels events that have happened following his Trilogy by authors who have all but ruined the Star Wars name. In this effort, Zahn proves he us up to the task yet again. Many feel deprived that he chose not to explore several avenues established by other authors (such as what is going on at the Jedi Academy) but I for one am glad that he ignored these and instead developed an original story that built upon his original 3 novels and continued to expand his characterization of some of the greatest Star Wars creations to date, namely Mara Jade, Talon Karrde and Captain Pellaeon. I was one of the many who was genuinely upset when Thrawn bit the dust in Zahn's 'The Last Command'. He was in every way a better bad guy than the Emperor or Vader combined. Sure, they were more evil, but Thrawn was a far superior military strategist. Where Vader & the Emperor ruled through fear, Thrawn ruled through brilliance and gained the respect and allegiance of his army by treating them fair and providing them with results, sometimes against impossible odds. So, when Zahn hints of Thrawns return in 'Specter' I was absolutely thrilled. But is it in fact the REAL Thrawn, or a clever impersonator? In many of the previous and following SW novels, the conflicts have been larger than life and having the tiny remnants of the Empire developing Super Weapon after Super Weapon is lame and totally boring. With Zahn's careful writing, Star Wars begins to delve into what I feel to be a much more realistic setting for this series: internal conflict within the New Republic, and continuing threats from those within the Empire who wish to derail the upcoming possible treaty with the New Republic. I think that because the plot is more character driven it becomes instantly more interesting and overall more entertaining. While not as overall satisfying as his original Thrawn Trilogy, I give VERY high marks to Zahn for being able to thread together this story, and meshing it with the plot-lines established by other authors in this series. If you count yourself a fan of the Star Wars Universe, it ought to be required reading to pick up anything written by Timothy Zahn, but you should decide for yourself. In my personal opinion, he is the best author in the Star Wars Universe.
Rating:
Summary: Return of the Jedi' master
Review: Game on... After suffering greatly from the parsimonious (and at times even scandalous!) inanity churned by the likes of Hambly and Anderson, Zahn returns to liberate the Star Wars universe with this towering masterpiece. I have to admit that I felt a little cheated when I started reading this novel. Over the years since the Empire trilogy, I have come to realise what a unique and incredible villain Zahn had created in Thrawn. I usually despise the concept of past characters being resurrected as it cheapens the original story. But in this case I was willing to overlook it as I so desperately wanted to see the return of Thrawn. So you can imagine my vast disappointment when I discovered the legendary villain is in fact an impostor. As I continued reading however, I began to realise two things. Firstly, the intricate plot/sub-plot development revolving around the Camaas incident and the issue of clones aboard pirate ships, was judiciously handled by the author in a manner and style that is easy to read and understand. Secondly, had the real Grand Admiral Thrawn been introduced then the New Republic (even with their Jedi knights) wouldn't have a hope in hell of surviving simply because Zahn created a flawless genius. Unlike Vader, Thrawn does not fight one-to-one, he is a leader who is a strategic mastermind. One, who could beat you at a game of chess starting with only half the pieces! The one key area where several SW authors have failed is with the handling of Skywalker (what a name!). Other authors tend to either give Luke ridiculous omnipotent powers or find some means of preventing him using his abilities; both of which are unrealistic in terms of character development. Zahn however stays true to the farm boy hero created by Lucas and more importantly, finds the right balance between his force ability and his human characteristics; that is, we can see he is now a Jedi master but also that he is still the same old Luke. As for Mara Jade, although I liked the Emperor's hand idea and her personal history, I didn't particularly like the character in the first series, simply because her aggressive hatred and emotional turmoil overshadowed any endearing qualities. This was my one complaint of the original series. However in this novel, which takes place ten years later, we see a very different Mara Jade. She is much more relaxed and is at peace with herself. Her "association" with Skywalker is intriguing and I for one cannot wait to see how this pans out in "Vision of the Future". Incidentally, if you are a Mara fan, I recommend that you read Stackpole's "I, Jedi" prior to this one; I can't really explain why without spoiling the story, so I won't even try! Finally, I cannot emphasise my delight at seeing Leia wield her lightsaber once more. It's all well and good making her head of the Republic but Zahn for one has not forgotten that she is a Jedi twin and part of the "new hope" emphasised by a certain revered 900 year old Jedi master.
Rating:
Summary: The Adventure Begins Anew. . .
Review: After reading Timothy Zahn's first Star Wars trilogy, and finding that it was good, I, being an avid SW fan, set my sights on the dozens of other books written afterward. They. . . weren't so good. In fact, some of them were downright bad, either using a tired device over and over again (superweapon anyone?) or destroying the characters. I began to lose faith in the franchise as literature-worthy. Then Zahn wrote Specter of the Past, the first of The Hand of Thrawn Duology, and I believed again. While his Thrawn Trilogy is usually considered best, this is perhaps his most daring work. With his first trilogy, he had no canon material he had to follow, allowing him an essentially clean slate with which to work. However, after five years and over a dozen novels, there was a lot of histroy that he just couldn't ignore. However, once again, Zahn proved to be more than equal to the task, using characters and events from the earlier and inferior novels to further his story or expand his characters. And, being Zahn, it worked. The story of Specter of the Past is one of galactic conflict on a familiar Star Wars scale, but it also weaves threads intrigue and shadow plots into the play, giving the novel a fresh feel from the usual "The Imperials have a new superweapon!" arc, and it works well. One of the two main threads focuses on the supposed return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, who we saw die in The Last Command, in all his strategic genius and glory. The second thread involves the framing of the Bothans for the destruction of a pacifist planet. While Leia tries desperately to hold the New Rupiblic together in the face of a catastrophic backlash, Han and Lando struggle to acertain if Thrawn really has returned. Meanwhile, on a covert mission, Luke and Mara run into an Imperial style ship manned by clones, which vanishes into deep space. As Mara gives chase, she discovers a strange planet with a mysterious link to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Luke, recieving a disturbing premonition of her possible death, races to join her. Behind it all is a brilliant mind and a daring con, backed by a ruthless and greedy warlord bent on galactic domination. However, where others have failed, they may very well succeed. All the characters that Zahn introduced us to are back, and better than ever. Captain Pelleon holds a nominal authoritative position in the Imperial Remnant, struggling to find a way to end the decades-long conflict that has toppled an empire, while also wondering at the possible return of his mentor. Talon Kardde, smuggler and business man, journeys to the edge of the galaxy to meet a man he betrayed to uncover the truth about the Bothans. And Mara Jade is, of course, just as we remember her; smart, sassy, strong, and a perfect foil for Luke. Damn, but they make a great team. While there's plenty of swashbuckling and space battling in Specter of the Past, the stage is only being set for something much MUCH bigger. Zahn is creating something grand in this volume, something which has ties not only with the SW books by other authors, but also brings back seemingly unimportant details from the Thrawn Trilogy as all too important. It really makes you admire his genius in storytelling and planning, and wonder whether he had planned follow-ups to the Thrawn Trilogy from the very beginning. Any way you slice it, The Hand of Thrawn Duology is a wonderful addition to the Star Wars franchise, and is a wonderful set-up for a grand finale.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good, not Zahn's best.
Review: I thought this book was great, though not quite up to Zahn's usual. Though not exactly action-filled, it was a relieving change from those cheap-plotted "galaxy-destroying superweapons" novels that seem to be infecting the Star Wars Universe lately. This also reinstilled my hope in the potential Luke/Mara relationship(despite the name I'm using in this review), there were a lot of hints dropped there to just be nothing. "You getting off me Skywalker, or are you just getting comfortable?" Mmmm, hmm....too interesting to be nothing. After reading Jedi Academy and the other novels and seeing how Mara's character was portrayed, this was a relief! The book was very well written, but not that exciting, the storyline was still good and the characters were great, though it didn't seem right having them remember things that happened ten years ago as if they had just happened a few hours ago. I also don't think I would like the idea that Thrawn could still be! alive, too many things contradict it and to bring him back would leave a lot of inconsistencies and seem very cheesy. I believe this is a great lead-in for the last book in this timeline, one of the best books written since the Thrawn trilogy! Though I probably wouldn't pay the price in hardback for it(paperback maybe), I would still recommend it to any good Star Wars fan.
Rating:
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: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A lot of buildup.
Review: Timothy Zahn gave it his best when he wrote the first three books in the Thrawn trilogy. Specter of the past only gets four stars this time, because its mildly slow pace. Unlike the trilogy, his first book in the Hand of Thrawn series, Specter of the Past, is not as quick paced. The action sequences are few and far between, but the narrative and dynamic characters keep the reader intrigued. What this novel has that the first three books did not was a lot of political struggle. Zahn shows the reader that the Empire is not the enemy anymore. Politics is the enemy. He shows how the little issues can be the cause for a government's possible downfall. With a sharp mind and cunning plan, that downfall can be executed to ensure that it happens. Several old characters from the expanded universe are reintroduced and brought to show a slight turn in their beliefs. General Pellaeon, for example, is the most dynamic character when he says in the first chapter that he wants to surrender the Empire to the New Republic. This and several other surprises await the reader in this wonderful novel. I recommend this to any Star Wars fan. I just hope the buildup is paid off in the next book Vision of the Future.
Rating:
Summary: Specter of the Past
Review: "Specter of the past" is set fourteen years after the battle of Endor. Timothy Zahn, the famous author of the Thrawn trilogy- Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising and the Last Command, has again brought up Gilad Pallaeon- now the supreme commander of the Imperial fleet. It potrays the memories we have about the trilogy. In this book, Pellaeon will urge the Moffs to surrender and end the long civil war between the New Republic(once the rebellion) and the Empire.
Pellaeon knows that the Empire is at the brink of total collapse and is trying to salvage the remaining fleet and star systems. However, Moff Disra- a loyalist has contacted a con artist- Flim and with the help of Captain Tierce tries to stop Pellaeon from acheving that purpose.
Flim, now "Thrawn", is a rallying point for the Imperials and Zahn manages to bring back the battle tactis and genuiness of the dead Thrawn.
He also allow an issue that may cause the New Republic to crumble under a bloodbath of genocide and civil war. He pieces together these two and also allows Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker to team up again.
It is really a reunion of old events and memories and the new ones manages to fit into the whole picture smoothly like a Jig-Saw puzzle. Once completed,it is an excellent piece of work.
Rating:
Summary: Another Zahn winner
Review: Timothy Zahn is by far one of the best authors to have graced the literary Star Wars world. With the Hand of Thrawn series, he once again shows why he should be considered one of the best. He brings to life each of the characters with such a detail that the reader can completely lose his or herself in the tale. While this series is not quite on the same line as Heir to the Empire, it is still an excellent read!
Rating:
Summary: very cool and thrilling... but not my favorite
Review: I really liked this book a lot!! The story is good and interesting, and not like this normal SW novel stuff like building another superweapon or so. The reason why I didn't rate this book with five stars is that I am, unlike most SW fans out there, not such a huge fan of Timothy Zahn. I liked his first Thrawn Trilogy but those weren't the best SW novels I've read. And what I didn't like about this book (and also about its sequel, Vision of the Future) was that Zahn writes these books as though no other novels had been printed during the time between his first Thrawn trilogy and this duology. All the characters that he created play mostly big parts in these books, like Thrawn, Pellaeon, the Noghri, Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, and so on. I am sure that Zahn or Thrawn fans are happy about this but other people like me, who love most of the SW novels written by other authours, too, will be a little disappointed since it seems as though nothing really happened in between Zahn's two SW book series. But yet, this book is really a lot of fun to read and I couldn't put it away once I had started to read it. I recommend reading "Specter" and its sequel, too, but I personally think that there are also a lot of cool SW novels out there that were not written by Zahn and do not deal with Grand Admiral Thrawn.
|
