Star Wars - Volume 1: Heir to the Empire

The book is worth reading just to discover the insight into the relationship between Vader and the Emperor. It also offers a new insight into Chewbacca and the mysterious world of kashyyk.

In conclusion if you love Star Wars read this book (although you will need to read the other two books in the trilogy to complete the story).

Great read for a star wars fan
Review date: 2002-03-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a great, well written book, but it would only intrest a true star wars fan. the fact that it was based so close to return of the jedi makes it that more appealing, but the polotics could get realy boreing for someone if they don't seriously want to find out more about the charecters in the star wars universe.

Unimpressive, most unimpressive......
Review date: 2001-01-30 Rating: 4 out of 10

The four things that ruin this book for me are: Zahn's writing style, the ysalamiri, C'Boath and Thrawn.

Zahn's writing style is terrible. I read 'Heir to the Empire' but had to listen to the second two parts of this trilogy on audio cassette because I wanted to know what happened but I didn't want the pain of actually having to read the second two parts.

The ysalamiri are ridiculous - a sort of kryptonite for the Jedi - as is C'Boath the dark Jedi Master. How come we hadn't heard of these before? They would have been pretty difficult to keep secret. And the way Thrawn can anticipate any bluff or double bluff and never be wrong makes him unbelievable as well. Mara Jade is a good character though.

I suggest people read the X-Wing series first which is much better or even 'The Truce at Bakura' which is well written.

Don't read this - listen to it on cassette if you want to know what happens - at least it's less painful that way. Read other books in the Star Wars saga first.

the saga thankfully continues
Review date: 2000-07-25 Rating: 8 out of 10

what can you say but for a Mr Zahn where would we all be.This is the first new trilogy I purchased to rekindle my youth,though I found the story sometimes slow it gave me the same buzz as sitting in the cinema all those years ago.The new characters are great and I cant think of a better place to restart your love affair with a galaxy far far away.