Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes: An Expanded Universe is Born

by Timothy Zahn, Betsy Mitchell (Narrator)

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: Behind the Scenes is a special recording that features new commentary by author Timothy Zahn and editor Betsy Mitchell, written for the 20th anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire, read by Zahn and Mitchell. Each annotation includes audio from the new unabridged recording of Heir to the Empire to enhance their comments. 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.

Genres: Star Wars, Audiobook, Nonfiction

3 pages, Audiobook

First published September 6, 2011

About the author

Timothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he became a professional writer. He and his wife Anna live in Bandon, Oregon. They have a son, Corwin Zahn.

Reviews

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice insight with them looking back at this first book after 20 years.

[Will Plunkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I miss this wonderful book, back in 2011? Oh, yeah; I thought that an anniversary edition couldn't be THAT insightful or different. Trust the man who created Thrawn to do just that. I did not know about the annotations; I learned so much from those short (and sometimes lengthy) additions from Zahn and Betsy Mitchell, as well as the Introduction, Foreword, and Afterword. The novella, "Crisis of Faith," was brilliant, too.

[Adam Busuttil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book. I listened to this book via audio book and I enjoyed the different voices. A bit bummed this isn't cannon anymore and feel like some of this book would have been great in the new movies. Over all not a bad book. Now I'm torn do I read the second or movie over to the new cannon??

[Kiba Snowpaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction:
Greetings, fellow beings from the vast universe. I am Kiba Snowpaw, an Alpha Ice Wolf from the frozen world of HowlStrom. As our planet is gripped in a winter that comes once every hundred years, I find solace in the tales from galaxies far, far away. Today, I shall share my thoughts on "Star Wars: Heir to the Empire - Behind the Scenes."

Basic Plot Summary:
This unique piece isn't just a story but a journey behind the curtains of one of the most iconic Star Wars books. It delves into the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia after their victory in "Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi." But more than that, it offers a rare glimpse into the minds of the creators, Timothy Zahn and Betsy Mitchell.

Analysis/Evaluation:
The essence of this work lies not in the plot but in the intricate details of its creation. It's a testament to the dedication and passion of its creators. The commentary by Zahn and Mitchell provides a deeper understanding of the Star Wars universe and the challenges faced in expanding its lore.

Characters:
While the beloved characters of Luke, Han, and Leia are central to the story, the real protagonists here are Zahn and Mitchell. Their insights, reflections, and anecdotes breathe life into the narrative, making it more than just a behind-the-scenes look.

Structure:
The intertwining of the original story with the commentary is seamless. It's structured in a way that neither overshadows the other, allowing for a harmonious blend of fiction and reality.

Impact:
For a Star Wars aficionado like myself, this piece is a treasure. It not only enriches the experience of the original "Heir to the Empire" but also deepens one's appreciation for the craft of storytelling.

Hook and Thesis:
The allure of this work lies in its promise to take the listener on a journey behind the iconic story. It's a rare opportunity to understand the thought processes, challenges, and triumphs of its creators.

Praise and Critique:
The depth of insight and the passion of the creators are commendable. However, some might find the constant interjections a tad disruptive to the flow. But for those keen on understanding the nuances of storytelling, this is a goldmine.

Evaluation:
As an Ice Wolf who has witnessed countless tales from across the galaxies, I find this piece both enlightening and captivating. It's a testament to the enduring magic of Star Wars and the brilliance of its creators.

Comparison:
While there are many behind-the-scenes looks at various works, few offer such a comprehensive and intimate look into the creation process. This stands out not just as a commentary but as a narrative in its own right.

Conclusion:
From the icy realms of HowlStrom, I send forth my howl of appreciation to Timothy Zahn and Betsy Mitchell. This work is a beacon for all Star Wars enthusiasts and a testament to the timeless allure of this galaxy far, far away. May the force be with you, always.

[Holmes Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a fascinating listen. I would compare this to an audio commentary on the "extras" part of a DVD, except you don't listen to the entire novel, only bits and pieces.

Running about 2.5 hours, it selects one or two items from different chapters and plays those parts of the actual audio book. Then Timothy Zahn or his editor make a comments. These comments stem from the writing process, how he came up with the ideas, what sources he had to draw on, how different words or names of characters may have been based on real people--called "Tuckerisms", etc. The majority of the comments are from Zahn. (The audio cuts go in order--no jumping back & forth between chapters).

It's a short listen; but I found the commentary interesting, well-paced and never boring. It was great to learn so much about this beloved novel.

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2011, Del Rey and LucasBooks released a 20th Anniversary Edition of Heir to the Empire that had annotations from Timothy Zahn (the author) and Betsy Mitchell (his editor). Heir to the Empire was also given an unabridged audiobook release at this time as well. This audiobook takes the annotations and inserts them into the relevant sections of the main text with the main text read by narrator Marc Thompson and the annotations read by their respective authors. It's an interesting look into the novel and the behind the scenes processes of writing, editing and publishing. Well worth a listen for any Star Wars fan or aspiring writer.

[Shahrazad Akbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

Let me start by pointing out that this is a commentary and not the complete novel. This is true for audiobooks. I haven’t seen the physical book so I wouldn’t know how they compare.

Great insight on the inner workings of Heir to the empire. Mr. Zahn outlined several items such as Thrawn’s leadership qualities, transitioning iconic characters to paper, name references of colleagues and friends, and much more. Great addition to an excellent novel.

[Philly Kash · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun two-hour commentary on key lines from the book and how Zahn continued Star Wars from cinemas to novels.

I still find the books aggressively underwhelming, but I'm glad they exist.

It's also important to remember that even the author admits he would have changed major details today or if the publication didn't intervene, so we shouldn't take what happens in these books seriously. It's all just high-budget fan-fiction.

[Michael Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hopeful that they would also have the new Thrawn novella included - and it was not... it is just The author and Editor reading their notes from the 20th anniversary edition of the book.

This should have been part of the 20th anniversary edition of the audio book and not a separate audio book.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timothy Zayn should be commended on how well he captures the character's voices, when reading you can hear Mark Hamill, Carry Fisher, Harrison Ford, and the droids. The story was good, as a whole. I felt the final split climax was a little confusing and ended too abruptly. I am sure the saga continues, maybe It will feel better if I continue with the rest of the series.

[tamaaluk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but excellent bonus track, this is a must listen for every diehard fan of the Thrawn Trilogy! It gives insight into the origins of various scenes, characters, etc, as well as touches on fascinating instances of things being over written, re written, and more.

With it being read by the master Zahn himself, it's a delightful little adventure through the mind of a genius.

[Michael Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great hearing the authors thoughts and process of how this series came to be.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and informative look behind the scenes of the book that started started the Star Wars Extended Universe. Timothy Zahn is the father of the EU and his incredible trilogy still holds up and is much loved today. It is the Episode 7, 8, and 9 we should have had on film. Many wonderful and beloved characters debut here, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Mara Jade, Talon Karrde, and more. Thrawn is key to several theatrical projects now.
It’s a thrill to hear all the little details and his thought processes of writing this modern masterpiece.

[Coryke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It was a light, enjoyable romp - a little heavier than the books based on the original trilogy, though. Several new characters enter the Expanded Universe and all deserved to be there, so to speak. They were memorable and interesting.

Of course, this is THE book that got the Expanded Universe rolling, so it would be worth reading it for that alone. But the book would be worth reading even were this not the case.

[David Lurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't already read the trilogy and ideally also listened to the three 20th Anniversary audiobooks (which are astounding) then this will be of little interest. However, of you are a fan of the first Thrawn trilogy, then you will find this insight into Tim Zahn's thoughts to be absolutely fascinating. It doesn't hurt that it is made with the same production values as the other three audiobooks (the novels)

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story, but the real bonus to this volume is Zahn's additions to the story in the form of notes on his writing process. Invaluable to me as a writer, especially since, in the technical sense, he was one of the first "fanfiction" writers to become 'canonized.' It's worth a read (re-read) just for the annotations alone.

[Melissa Cynova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even tho I'm a serious Star Wars nerd, I'd never read any of the books. I'm really glad that I started with this one. Set several years after the Battle of Endor, it follows up on Han, Leia and Luke and the various space shenanigans they're up to. I loved the footnotes on the sides from the author about where he got his information, how he treated the characters and why he wrote what he did.

[Keith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a very good book. I had trouble sitting through it. I find it hard to believe that Luke Skywalker would get severe depression and Han Solo would have confindence problems. Even if I could get over that, which I did not, the story line was just not that good.

[Serge Boucher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically extended Author's Notes on the original book. It's not bad for what it is, but probably only worth your while if you're a huge fan of Zahn or this particular trilogy.

[Julia Lundman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't overly thrilled because the banter and relationship dynamics were a bit off. Thrawn is a great addition as is Mara Jade. Might read the others.

[Jake Weid]

It was very good book

[Kelly Lynn Thomas]

Signed by Tim Zahn at Celebration VI.