Star Wars: Heir To The Empire Review

This is what many Star Wars fans consider to be the Sequel Trilogy before the the Sequel Trilogy and it’s hard not to see why.

From the get go you can picture the scenes in your head. A Star Wars film that was never made but just in the cosmos within our thick skulls it’s there.

What I love about the opening chapters to this novel is how it addresses the big question: this is a universe set 5 years after the Emperor died, so what happened next?

The answer was that the universe kept moving and expanding.

We don’t linger on the past for any longer than we need to because there’s too much that’s happening in the present. The Republic are back in full swing but that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect system. They’ve moved into the Empire’s shadow and that’s what our cast of characters have to deal with.

Luke didn’t go off on a noble mission collecting other Force users straight away because, as far as he could see, his mission was done. His quest was always about family so at the start of this book that’s what he’s mostly focused on. Moving into the Empire’s penthouse is something that doesn’t sit well with him but it was never his decision.

These things are what make the catalyst to events in the future that much more exciting.

Leia’s expecting twins but at the same time she’s coping with her husband being always away and now, through her stronger connection to the Force, can sense that something is troubling Luke. The stress of all of this is starting to show its cracks despite her keeping a brave face.

Han is off traveling the galaxy with Chewbacca to help establish supply routes for the Republic through his old contacts as a smuggler despite his wish to stay by his pregnant Wife’s side.

Already we have some compelling, natural and believable follow ups for our Original Trilogy cast.

The Sequel Trilogy didn’t really start with great footing in regards to this.

In The Force Awakens, Han has returned to his smuggling routes for a reason unknown to me. Sure his Son turned evil and he blames himself for that, I think although that’s never established either besides from maybe a line towards the end, but despite that he’d rather be away from his Wife for more than a few years.

Leia’s character kicks off with... well nothing no really. She’s a general to the Republic but then again she was in Return Of The Jedi. Her character hasn’t really changed whether and besides from her wanting to see Luke again she seems absolutely fine to me. You wouldn’t even be able to tell that any thing happened to her Son.

Luke is probably the most and yet least believable in terms of development as he clearly exiled himself for what happened to Kylo and yet his friends don’t seem too bothered about it.

In fact the most believable transition for me came from R2D2 who simply gave up and switched himself off, in my eyes because the last few decades were so boring he couldn’t think of a use for himself.

Take HTTE’s Republic who have taken a number of Imperial planets, including Coruscant as its council’s base of operations, and have begun recruiting across the galaxy to retain their strong grip on its freedom whilst establishing a firm government. Not just that but unlike TFA, where the Empire didn’t die down but just crossed its legs for a few decades whilst scowling in the corner, the Empire in this novel has a reasonable explanation for its sudden and rapid removal because without a wise strategist and leader they were completely lost. No orders as thousands of them died in the Death Star II explosion causing complete and utter chaos amongst the ranks who decided it was a free-for-all as the Rebellion charged them with their new found confidence.

By the way, that was explained in the first chapter of this book.

What I love about this book especially is the downtime it gives our protagonists. Things are always happening but that doesn’t mean they don’t reflect on this. Luke is now a Jedi Knight and as such he knows not to rush into anything. Due to this the book often takes its time to explain what’s running through his head before he does attempt anything.

We get some great callbacks without them feeling forced as well. Han and Lando get some banter time whilst Leia and Chewie get some social bonding time. It’s all the stuff you want to see out of a sequel to the big Original Trilogy.

But what about the big guy? What about the one that made history as a worthy antagonist to follow Darth Vader and The Emperor?

Thrawn is pretty cool in this novel. You can buy the fact that he’s not just a strategist unlike any other but that he can go toe to toe with the Rebellion and their New Republic. He’s not a perfect character that knows everything but it’s the way he uses the information he receives that makes him truly a force to be feared. What makes this work is Timothy Zahn’s choice to follow Thrawn throughout all of his decisions. We see him collect valuable data and use that information to plan his next series of actions building up to a finally that damn near shows us an Empire that might trump the previous.

As a vessel to the new horrors that await the New Republic, Thrawn is more than exceptional. Much like this book.

I highly recommend this novel if you wanted a sequel to the Original Trilogy that takes our heroes to places never seen before and face threats and revelations on a level that rivals their predecessors.

10/10