Listen free for 30 days

  • Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

  • (20th Anniversary Edition), The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 1
  • Written by: Timothy Zahn
  • Narrated by: Marc Thompson
  • Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (752 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire cover art

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

Written by: Timothy Zahn
Narrated by: Marc Thompson
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $39.48

Buy Now for $39.48

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Here is a special edition 20th anniversary release of the number-one New York Times best-selling novel that reignited the entire Star Wars publishing phenomenon - unabridged for the first time. The biggest event in the history of Star Wars books, Heir to the Empire follows the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia after they led the Rebel Alliance to victory in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.

Five years after the Death Star was destroyed and Darth Vader and the Emperor were defeated, the galaxy is struggling to heal the wounds of war, Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting twins, and Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of new Jedi Knights.

But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor’s warlords - the brilliant and deadly Grand Admiral Thrawn - 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 create.

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.

©1991 Timothy Zahn (P)2011 Random House Audio

What listeners say about Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    630
  • 4 Stars
    98
  • 3 Stars
    18
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    583
  • 4 Stars
    57
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    526
  • 4 Stars
    101
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Star Wars publishing at its peak

Over the last 3 decades, Heir to the Empire has garnered near-legendary status within the Star Wars community. It is no surprise why: Zahn captured the essence and spirit of the Star Wars trilogy in an era when the franchise was considered "dead in the water", and spearheaded the revitalization of the franchise. Star Wars may not be where it is today without this novel!

Zahn's writing of both legacy and original characters "fits like a glove". Luke, Han and Leia have evolved in a natural manner 5 years following the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi. Perhaps more surprisingly than the incredible accuracy of these beloved characters, however, is the degreee to which the novel's original characters seamlessly integrate into the Star Wars mythos. Grand Admiral Thrawn, Captain Pellaeon, Mara Jade and Talon Karrde, among others, make their first appearance here, and go on to become Star Wars mainstays for the next decades to follow, oftentimes stealing the show!

Marc Thompson's narration is excellent. His voice acting for the film characters is rather accurate, and his range is immense: nearly every character with dialogue has a distinct voice, tone, and manner of speech, which all lends to making the story feel alive.

Accompanied by John Williams' beautiful score and Ben Burtt's iconic sound effects, this audio production truly breathes new life into the seminal Heir to the Empire.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

pure rad

legit wick story. The way Luke Skywalker is portrayed is brilliant. The wookie voices were very snuggly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This should have been the sequel trilogy!

Great story, and the narrator does an amazing job with all the different character voices. The sound effects are WAY overdone for an audiobook, too loud and distracting at times.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow

Haven't picked up Star wars book in a long time. I am happy I got this. Was not disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Too many sound effects

I like star wars, and I like audiobooks, so I thought this would be great. But the sound effects (R2D2, chewbacca, space ships, ect) were too much and distracting, and got very annoying after awhile

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Should have been chapter 7!

Such a great story with all the old characters and the new, especially Thrawn, Mara and Talon Kard.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and characters, highly recommend!

Great story, really wish the new sequels to Star Wars could have had a similar take on creating a compelling and exciting plot. The characters were great and felt realistic, happy I finally read this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Classic Star Wars Story

Marc Thompson kills it as always.
Heir to the Empire starts out really strong but I feel it loses some of its momentum in the second half.
Zhan writes the main cast very well and makes it really feel like you're watching a movie.
Definitely worth checking out

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The real sequel trilogy

If you have never read any legends book start with this one, it’s one of the best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing performance!

Felt like I was listening to a movie with all the sound effects. The story really builds on the awesome original cast making them feel more real and developed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!