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Allegiance (Star Wars)
Timothy Zahn Manufacturer: Del Rey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0345477383 Release Date: 2007-01-30 |
Book Description
Never before has the incendiary mix of action, politics, and intrigue that has become Timothy Zahn’s trademark, been mmore evident that in this new Star Wars epic. On the heels of the stunning events chronicled in Star Wars: A New Hope, the newly minted heroes of the Rebellion–fledgling Jedi Luke Skywalker, smuggler turned reluctant freedom-fighter Han Solo, and Princess Leia Organa, a bold leader with a world to avenge–must face the harsh realities of the cataclysmic conflict into which they have so bravely plunged. From this point forward, legends will grow, treachery will abound, and lives will be irrevocably altered, in the long, hard fight to counter the fist of tyranny and restore hope to a galaxy too long in darkness.
Authors: P. Aubriet, A. Billaud, M. Jeanmougin, B. Léonori
Catalog: Book
Media: Cassette audio
Release Date: 08 March, 1999
Publisher: Clé International
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es Luceno's prequel-era novels have also become some of my favorite books for the same reason I like Shadows so much: quality tales tying into the continuity of the movies with a strong emphasis on the characters of the movies. Granted, Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader features a new main protagonist, but his story is also one that ends in tragedy, not unlike Dash and the protagonists in Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter.
Since I had enjoyed the vast majority of the Thrawn Trilogy, I was excited to finally have the chance to read a prequel-era novel by Zahn. As with the prequel movies with respect to the originals, I knew Outbound Flight would include part of the back-story of his six post-Jedi novels, and I was happy that Zahn would have the chance to retcon a few continuity discrepancies that crept up due the prequel films contradicting a few things in his previous novels. And Thrawn was such a cool villain! But what I was really looking forward to is Zahn having a chance to use Obi-Wan, Anakin, Palpatine and Sidious in a story.
But I was very disappointed as this wasn't a story about Star Wars movie characters. Zahn was completely self-serving to his own novels. Obi-Wan and Anakin have no important purpose to the story, appearing only as far as Zahn's plot allowed. Jedi Master Jorus C'Boath was a total dill-hole before he crossed-over to the Dark Side, which explains the personality of his insane clone in the Thrawn Trilogy, but doesn't jive with the Jedi created by Lucas. There is no way that Jorus C'Boath could be a Jedi Master with that attitude.
And to Zahn's credit, I actually sympathized with the character of Thrawn. But then I realized that Thrawn was created as a villain! I want to revile Thrawn! But by end he is portrayed as a renegade Chiss hero who saved his people by defeating C'Boath's Outbound Flight and the Vagaari. This novel is good for the fans of Zahn's post-Return of the Jedi novels and specifically the character of Thrawn, but not so good for readers who like books that focus on movie characters. Outbound had nothing to do with the stories of the prequel movies.
In the 30th anniversary of the original Star Wars film, we have now come full circle with the newest novel depicting events from during the movie saga. Despite my experience with Outbound Flight, I wanted to give Allegiance a chance. Since Shadows of the Empire, I have dreamed of a series of novels that take place in the three years between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and now we have this new Zahn book. It was promoted as featuring Luke, Han, Leia and Darth Vader. Yes, I knew going into it that it would also include Mara Jade in Imperial service as Emperor's Hand. But I still thought that without a major back story to maintain (i.e. Outbound Flight's disappearance precluding Obi-Wan and Anakin remaining passengers), this novel could be a great book emphasizing the three main classic trilogy heroes. Boy was I naïve.
The story in Allegiance interweaves three main story arcs. Much to my chagrin, THE main protagonist of this book IS Mara Jade, who investigates a plot of corruption in the Empire. Zahn's second main story arc features five new characters that becomes known as the Hand of Judgment, a group of stormtroopers who go rogue. Last (and definitely least) is the arc of Alliance heroes Luke, Han and Leia.
Allegiance has many problems. Mara Jade is too powerful, wise and authoritative for a teenager, even one that is trained as an Imperial agent. She was snapping orders left and right, and even high-ranking Imperials usually just obeyed when she threw out a couple code words. She even bested Vader in a brief duel. Come on!
The premise for the Hand of Judgment was unrealistic, even for Star Wars. Even if the Empire did accept non-clones to be trained as stormtroopers, I imagine the non-elite ones would be completely amoral - brainwashed into thinking that nothing the Empire ever did could be wrong. The elite officers with greater experience and perception would probably just have had to become plain evil to get promoted. The Independent-minded, moral stormtroopers in this book seem very far-fetched in the movie saga's Empire. In all their years of service to the evil galactic Empire, they've never been ordered to do anything immoral before the beginning of this book? Come on! I have noticed that several readers would like to read about the further exploits of the Hand of Judgment. I couldn't care less.
And regarding the question of whether the Empire had non-clones stormtroopers, Lucas has already stated that the reason movie stormtroopers exist of varying heights and abilities is because multiple hosts were used to base clones on after the death of Jango Fett. So in the movies they could still all be clones, just not all clones of the same person. But yes it is true that long before this book, non-clone stormtroopers have existed in the Expanded Universe continuity, so Zahn isn't breaking new ground here.
And the formally-masterful story-teller of space opera has just gotten plain lazy. The movies don't portray manned AT-STs nearly as powerful as one automated scout walker is in a major scene in this book. Ewoks foiled multiple AT-STs with primitive traps! The Hand troopers are new fugitives that just happen to get involved in all these heroic missions, including leading a rebellion against a corrupt spaceport. The Hand knew Skywalker and Solo's names but in all their research they couldn't figure out that they had captured two of the most wanted criminals in the galaxy. Mara Jade just barely doesn't meet Luke and Han. The renegade Hand starts taking orders from Mara very easily, and their objectives just happen to become one in the same. And apparently the Hand tells their whole story to Mara without mentioning their association with Skywalker, Solo and Chewbacca, which is how the Rebels can conveniently escape the Empire's clutches without anyone knowing. Ugh.
However my major beef is that Zahn's plot could have easily been written without the heroes of the Alliance (and probably originally was). Zahn said that he couldn't find anything for Artoo and Threepio to do in this story, but they weren't even mentioned! Not even a cameo appearance in one scene? Not very creative. Chewie's role and the use of the Falcon are cheaply contrived to be minimal by leaving Chewie on the ship and out of most of the action. Vader and the Emperor's roles are very small. As the book moved closer to the end, I kept wandering what the Heroes of Yavin were doing. But the book would go on and on about Mara and the Hand troopers. When I did finally get brief glimpses of my heroes, I found that they hadn't done much of anything. The climax of the story does not feature the heroes at all. I actually feel cheated.
You may like Allegiance if you're a big fan of Zahn and Mara Jade. But I've finally learned the lesson about Zahn that I should have learned back in 1993 - he can't just write a story featuring characters he didn't create. He may be an excellent writer, but he is not a good Star Wars movie tie-in author. May Zahn please be exiled back to the post-Jedi regions, never to return.
And may James Luceno and Steve Perry please be brought in to do a series of novels set in the time period between the original movie and its first movie sequel, featuring the heroes of those movies? Pretty please? :-)
Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are extremely relevant to the film series:
Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)
This book was weak for Zahns usual outstanding books.......2007-05-20
A weak return from the Master.......2007-05-17
Authors: Collectif
Catalog: Book
Media: Cassette audio
Release Date: 08 March, 1999
Publisher: Clé International
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r>
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Intriguing Story.......2007-06-17
Dashed expectations..........2007-06-10
Another great one from Zahn.......2007-05-25
Zahn is my hero.......2007-05-24
outbound and good riddance.......2007-05-22
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The Last Command (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Vol. 3)
Timothy Zahn Manufacturer: Spectra ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback
Panorama, 2 : méthode de français. Cahiers d'exercices
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action is varied and tense. From light saber duels to Horatio Hornblower sea battles in space to political intrigue and obsessed vindettas.
Book Description It's five years after Return of the Jedi: the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven out the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi Twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. But thousand of light-years away, the last of the emperor's warlords has taken command of the shattered Imperial Fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the new Republic. For this dark warrior has made two vital discoveries that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to build. The explosive confrontation that results is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale--in short, a story worthy of the name Star Wars.Customer Reviews:
First off, it's an easy read. The story flows at a pretty good pace and seems to match the films in this respect. There are plenty of new characters that are realized relatively well and only seem out of place sometimes by name more than anything else. Some of the names of the characters just don't seem appropriate for Star Wars and it can be a little distracting, but not terribly so. What is more distracting however, and what makes these books less successful for me, is the lazy writing of the author. He can only describe moods with lip characterizations and most of the time, it's of the "so and so's lip twisted" variety, like... Han is mad: His lip twists Luke is worried: His lip twists Leia is frightened: Her lip twists Luke is determined: His lip twists C3PO is acting dandy: His... Just kidding (Zahn probably had to hold himself back none the less) He also comes up with new ideas of how to describe things and just starts using them all of a sudden but doesn't go back to insert them into earlier parts of the book. It's just weird when a character starts using a phrase all of a sudden, frequently, and they never used it for the first half of the book. How hard would it be to go back and place it in earlier parts of the book to make the character's use of language consistent? And don't get me started on the Mynocks! "The thingy took off like a Mynock with a scorched tail." "It fell to the ground like a clipped Mynock." "He chortled like a bemused Mynock." "She ate like an anorexic Mynock."... and on and on. Additio
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ASIN: 0553560719 Release Date: 1993-02-01 |
Book Description
The dying Empire's most cunning and ruthless warlord--Grand Admiral Thrawn--has taken command of the remnants of the Imperial fleet and launched a massive campaign aimed at the New Republic's destruction. With the aid of unimaginable weapons long hidden away by the Emperor on a backwater planet, Thrawn plans to turn the tide of battle, overwhelm the New Republic, and impose his iron rule throughout the galaxy. Meanwhile, Han and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Republican Council--only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies. Yet most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness... and scheming to corrupt Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side.Customer Reviews:
Author captures the epic spirit of Star Wars space opera.......2007-05-22
A Star Wars Fix.......2007-01-19
The middle of a saga is always the best!.......2006-07-13
The Force is with you!.......2006-07-13
story holds well 15 years later.......2006-05-10
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Specter of the Past (Star Wars)
Timothy Zahn Manufacturer: Spectra ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover
Panorama, 2 : méthode de français. Unités, 4, 5, 6
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tratagems of Thrawn himself, and armed with his own dark plans for the New Republic and the Empire.
Customer Reviews:
Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels: Cloak of Deception (Star Wars) Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul) Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel) Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars) Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)
Amazon.com Timothy Zahn finishes the two-part Hand of Thrawn series with Vision of the Future. In the first book, Specter of the Past, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo battled the minions of the evil Grand Admiral Thrawn, long presumed dead. In the sequel, our heroes must prevent civil war and ensure that Thrawn's plans for a triumphant Empire are thwarted. Intergalactic intrigue, space battles, and heart-pounding action will thrill Star Wars fans in this eagerly awaited novel. Zahn is one of the most popular interpreters of the Star Wars universe with good reason.Amazon.com Audiobook Review Grand Admiral Thrawn, long believed dead, has returned. Civil war is imminent in the New Republic. And what--or who--is the Hand of Thrawn? Vision of the Future is the conclusion of the two-part Hand of Thrawn series, written by Timothy Zahn, Hugo Award-winning author of the original trilogy based on the Star Wars films. The book is read by Tony Award-nominee Anthony Heald, who uses his theatrical talents to perform everything from love scenes to fight scenes as the story unfolds. His range of voices--from the "distinctive, somewhat prissy" voice of C-3PO to the gruff cynicism of Han Solo--is complemented by selections from John Williams's score and sound effects from the Star Wars films. (Running time: 3 hours, 2 cassettes) --C.B. DelaneyBook Description Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn brings his epic two-volume series The Hand of Thrawn to an explosive conclusion with a discovery that rocks the New Republic to its foundations--and threatens to resurrect the Empire.The Empire's master plan is under way. The New Republic is on the verge of civil war and the rumor that the legendary Admiral Thrawn has returned from the dead is rallying the Imperial forces. Now Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and their allies face the challenge of their lives. They must infiltrate a hidden fortress filled with Imperial fanatics, rendezvous with a double-dealing Imperial commander, and journey into enemy territory to learn the identity of those responsible for an act of unthinkable genocide. But most important of all is the truth about Thrawn. In his hands--alive or dead--rests the fate of the New Republic. © 1998 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Customer Reviews:
This book is part two of a duology called The Hand of Thrawn. It's not as good as The Thrawn Trilogy but better than a lot of other Star Wars novels I've read. Best Star Wars books I've read: The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn (Heir To The Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command) The Han Solo Trilogy by A.C. Crispin (The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit, Rebel Dawn) The Rogue Squadron series by Michael Stackpole (Rogue Squadron, Wedge's Gamble, The Krytos Trap, The Bacta War)
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o the treacherous cluster of stars where the thousands of souls aboard the Outbound Flight vessel met their grim fate. But it may also mean something more . . . something that has stirred an inexplicable sense of foreboding in Mara.<br/><br/>Whatever may await, the Skywalkers will not face it alone. Joining them on the strange and solemn journey are an officer of the post-Palpatine Empire, escorted by a detachment of Imperial stormtroopers; a party of diplomats from a gentle alien species that reveres the fallen Jedi for saving them from bloodthirsty conquerors; and a New Republic ambassador who harbors his own mysterious agenda.<br/><br/>Soon enough, suspicion, secrecy, and an unknown saboteur run rampant aboard the isolated ship. But it is within the derelict walls of Outbound Flight itself, buried for half a century on a desolate planetoid, where the gravest danger lies. As the marooned hulk yields up stunning revelations and unexpected terrors to its visitors, Luke and Mara find all they stand for—and their very existence—brutally challenged. And the ultimate test will be surviving the deathtrap carefully laid by foes who are legendary for their ruthlessness . . . and determined to complete the job Thrawn began: exterminating the Jedi.
Customer Reviews:
"Survivor's Quest" is set 22 years after the first "Star Wars" Film (Episode IV - A New Hope). Luke Skywalker is now a Jedi Master, and is married to Mara Jade, who was formerly the Emperor's Hand, but is now a Jedi Knight. Luke is sent a message by a race called the Chiss: they have discovered the ships of a Jedi-led exploration mission called "Outbound Flight" which had left the Old Republic on a voyage to another galaxy some 50 years before. Outbound flight had never made it out of the home Galaxy. A Chiss commander called Mitth'raw'nuruodo - who later served Emperor Palpatine as a Grand Admiral and was known by his core name, Thrawn, which humans can pronounce - intercepted Outbound Flight and apparently destroyed it. The Chiss government had not been pleased by Thrawn's actions, and he had narrowly escaped being cashiered and exiled. Having found what is left of the ships of Outbound Flight, the Chiss want to give them back and hold a commemoration ceremony to formally apologise for their destruction. Luke and Mara are invited as representatives of the Jedi and the New Republic to take part in the ceremony and explore the remains. But what starts out as the investigation of an old tragedy turns into a deadly pattern of intrigue and plots. Several of those who turn up to take part in the ceremony commemorating Outbound Flight are not what they seem, and it soon becomes apparent that a number of hidden agendas are in play. Furthermore, it turns out that there are survivors from the original crew of Outbound Flight. Their experiences fifty years ago have made the survivors, and their descendants, paranoid about anyone entering the remains of the expedition. This presents some difficult challenges, but is far from being the worst danger which Luke, Mara, and their companions face. Subsequent to writing this book, Zahn went back fifty years and published the novel "Outbound Flight" which tells the story of the original expedition. If you're minded to read both stories, I recommend that you tackle "Outbound Flight" first. Knowing too much about what is going to happen may somewhat dampen your pleasure at reading "Outbound Flight" if you read the books in the order they were written. I also found a number of details in "Survivor's Quest" more powerful when I re-read that story after tackling the book about the earlier events. It's difficult to illustrate this point without giving away either story, but let me give one example: two important characters in "Outbound flight" are faced with a choice between two options, one of which will mean their own deaths, the other those of the other remaining survivors of the expedition. They choose the former, and a communications failure means that nobody knows about their sacrifice. Fifty years later, Luke and Mara find the bones of those two people in the wrecked bridge of Outbound Flight, with an item which enables one of them to be identified. Luke and Mara draw the right conclusion, that the individual concerned had died to save the people of Outbound Flight, and convey this to the next of kin of that person, on the basis of a wholly wrong assumption about what had been going on. It's very poignant if you read the two books close together, but this is one of a number of details which make more sense if you read "Outbound Flight" first. Other good things about this book: the partnership of Luke and Mara is well described and highly enjoyable to read about. The plot and action setting are first rate. If you enjoy Zahn's Star Wars fiction but were disappointed in most of the other books set in the Star Wars Universe, there is one other writer whose Star Wars books I can strongly recommend, and that is Roger MacBride Allen. His Corellian trilogy is nearly as good as Zahn's "Heir to the Empire" trilogy, and that is saying a lot. Overall both "Outbound Flight" and "Survivor's Quest" are worthy additions to the Star Wars canon and I recommend them.
Timothy Zahn was the author to establish the relationship between Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade (now Mara Jade Skywalker). You get to see the unique bond between 2 married Jedi and Luke questions why Jedi were forbidden from marrying in the past. This book will also provide you some insight into the lives of the Chiss people. This is the first time we see much about the Chiss since the fall of Thrawn. There are some good battle scenes in this book between the Skywalker's and the Vagaari. The Vagaari were valiant warriors, however they of course were not powerful enough to defeat Luke and Mara. Unfortunatley the Vagaari are never heard from again after this book. Timothy Zahn did a great job of tying the older Star Wars era to the age of Star Wars past the movies. Luke and Mara have about a 9 page battle with a Droideka (last heard from prior to the rise of Vader). Also covered are the Storm Troopers from the 501st, who where Darth Vader's special force of Storm Troopers. If you read the book "Outbound Flight" you owe it to yourself to read this book. If you are new to reading Star Wars novels, this book is a great place to start! Timothy Zahn you get 2 thumbs up from me!
Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker receive an invitation from the alien Chiss official Aristocra Formbi, asking if they would like to come and see the remains of the Outbound Flight - a group of six connected ships that had been on an outer-galactic space mission fifty years ago. Grand Admiral Thrawn had supposedly destroyed the ships before they left the galaxy. Before their supposed demise they had housed several Jedi as well as many scientists and their families. Luke is excited to discover that the ships have been found partially intact, and so he and Mara accept the Chiss' proposal and head to the Chiss ship that will take them to the wreck. There they discover that three other group
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Better than the origianal series "10 fold".......2003-04-24
Excellent Collection.......1998-03-03
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Dragon and Herdsman (Dragonback)
Timothy Zahn Manufacturer: Starscape ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0765314177 Release Date: 2006-05-30 |
Book Description
Fourteen-year-old Jack Morgan, determined to get justice for both himself and his symbiotic dragon partner Draycos, narrowly escapes a trap set by the notorious Malison Ring, thanks to another teen Alison Kayna, with whom he once worked as a reluctant mercenary. She in turn now needs his help to get to the primitive world of Rho Scorvi. There, at the edge of a hundred-mile-wide forest, they make a shocking discovery: traveling with a group of the planets native Erasvas is a small lost colony of Draycoss race, the Kda. But unlike Draycoss people, these Kda are slow, lethargic, and unintelligent. When the Malison Ring tracks them to Rho Scorvi, Jack must shield this herd of animals from their ruthless pursuers, or they will become the newest victims of the genocide that threatens to wipe out their entire race. But even more importantly, he must protect, from the mercenaries and Alison, the dark secret of the herd and Jacks poet-warrior ally. This new sf adventure, which can be read on its own terms, is the most exciting novel yet in this popular young adult series.Customer Reviews:
Dragon and Herdsman.......2007-01-10
Too short .......2007-01-04
"Most of the Rest Was Verbal Scribble".......2006-11-18
Fast enjoyable read, with some real series developments.......2006-11-03
Dragon and Herdsman.......2006-07-30