Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn, Book One)

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Summary: I loved this!!! Tim Zahn makes the characters come alive
Review: I loved this!!! Best book since His first trilogy IT was a fast read and made me wishing for more!! He is the best overall Star Wars writer ever!!! Can't wait for Visions!!!

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Summary: Playing with our nerves? or a disaster in the making........
Review: The grand Admiral's come-back was long awaited since it is one of the only great new character created after the films. Thrawn depth of personality and its powerful inteligence reminded the reader of their first chilling encounter with Dark Vader, years ago. Specter of the Past plays with our emotions by making the allusion that the dreaded Grand Admiral might be back to unite a dwiddling Empire.However, what a dissapointment to learn, half-through of the book, that it is not true. An actor is hired by a Moff to impersonate our evil hero. Why telling us so soon about the trick? Not a good move, unless a suprise is waiting to happen in the second chapter... Otherwise,a good story line with palatable style. Sorry my english is not great. May the force be with you.....

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Summary: another excellent stars wars book
Review: After so many let downs in the star wars saga, I must say it was nice to see a well-written piece of the story appear (outside of anderson and hambly no one else seems to be able to do much of anything good with star wars). The only problem i have with this novel, and the only reason I gave it an 8 was the fact that zahn puts no suspense in the mind fo the reader with the re-emergence of thrawn. he should've held off on that information til the end of the second book.

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Summary: Timothy Zahn: Master Star Wars Writer
Review: Many have said this book isn't as good as the first three. I agree. It may be better. His first three were masterpeices in their own right. This book shouldn't even be compared. His writing style has changed, but the book continues the Heir to the Empire Trilogy in a way I didn't expect. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 was because it didn't have to complexity that made the first three great. The creativity is great, the writing is superb, and the plot is one that will make you think. The plot is open enough that he has a number of ways he could go and it leaves you guessing what he'll do next.

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Summary: Zahn has outdone himself once again
Review: Zahn has proven to me with this book he is still the king. As an avid Star Wars I pick up almost all the books, and this is one to come back to. He has the faithfull retrun of the Karrde oraganazation complete with Jade. Zahn also brings out minor characters like Shada. I am counting the days to the next istallment.

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Summary: Been there, done that.
Review: I notice that the previous customer reviews generally agree that "Specter of the Past" isn't as good as the original trilogy. In fact, it is practically a rewrite, minus the suspense. The original trilogy is held by many to be the high point of the Star Wars books, an opinion I don't share, though it certainly is better than most of them. Zahn manages to make Leia a little less dull than usual, but he is no good at all with Luke, and seems to know it, as Luke is a bit-player here. Zahn also brings a few more characters into play, which helps a bit. Mara Jade's popularity with the faithful is a baffler, because her character never develops beyond a lot of sarcasm. But the relevation of the plot from the first robs the book of even fake suspense. The only thing we don't know: when is Luke going to ever get laid?

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Summary: It ain't as great as the first 3 but it's still magical!
Review: I think Timothy Zahn did something that other authors don't, he explore character development in his novels and he also show the novel in dual perspective, those of the evil and those in the good. I suppose that's one reason why his novels require more than one book . Anyway, he is able to go into technical details of the technology in his novels but do not dwelve so deep in details that bore us but instead fascinate us.

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Summary: Zahn has done it again
Review: Once again we are placed inside the Star Wars universe as if it truly exists.
Zahn captures the essence os George Lucas's universe and adds depth in ways that astound readers everywhere.

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Summary: Star Wars Pinnacle
Review: Zahn Strikes Back in this new installment of the Star Wars saga. Brilliantly told plot and well developed characters make this book a thrill to read. He even cameos past characters (i.e. Corran Horn), giving them a more prominent role in the Star Wars universe. Great Novel!!

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Summary: A stunning book!
Review: This is one of the best Star Wars books I have ever read. Timothy Zahn is on top form, as ever, and has truly outdone himself this time. All the characters are ALIVE, and it was brilliant to see the return of characters such as Shada, Corran Horn and Mirax, and the way they have developed. I cannot wait to read Vision of the Future when it finally arrives - if I don't go crazy with the delay first!