Specter of the Past

by Timothy Zahn

Mass Market Paperback, 386 pages

English language

Published Aug. 31, 1998 by Spectra.

ISBN:: 978-0-553-29804-8
OCLC Number:: 972737685
Goodreads:: 77787

(24 reviews)

Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn makes his triumphant return to the Star Wars(r) universe in this first of an epic new two-volume series in which the New Republic must face its most dangerous enemy yet--a dead Imperial warlord.

The Empire stands at the brink of total collapse. But they have saved their most heinous plan for last. First a plot is hatched that could destroy the New Republic in a bloodbath of genocide and civil war. Then comes the shocking news that Grand Admiral Thrawn--the most cunning and ruthless warlord in history--has apparently returned from the dead to lead the Empire to a long-prophesied victory. Facing incredible odds, Han and Leia begin a desperate race against time to prevent the New Republic from unraveling in the face of two inexplicable threats--one from within and one from without. Meanwhile, Luke teams up with Mara Jade, using the Force to track down …

2 editions

brenticus reviewed Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn, #1)

None

3 stars

On the one hand, I was really into the buildup of everything on all sides of the conflict, and it presents very well the complications of such a Galactic Republic and the complex nature of reparations for past wrongs between nations.

On the other hand, literally nothing is resolved even the slightest bit. I know this is a duology, but it's really more like half of a very long novel with how the ending is really just where a lot of stuff is ramping up.

LemmiSchmoeker reviewed Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn, #1)

If you like the original, “middle” Star Wars trilogy at all, this is fun from the first page to the last

4 stars

As Zahn has proved before, he really understands the Star Wars universe: the characters, the kinds of characters, the settings, the awesome power of the Force – and the playfulness of it all.

If you like the original, “middle” Star Wars trilogy at all, this is fun from the first page to the last. Unfortunately, it ends with a cliff-hanger for the second part of the tale (Vision of the Future), and that one is not half the fun. So you can either enjoy this book and not care about what happens next, or you can read both parts and have the second one bore all originality out of the first.

Steen Christiansen reviewed Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn, #1)

Review of 'Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn, Book One)' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Too much desire to revisit glories past (yes, I get the title) and the franchise also starts creaking under its own weight of references and prior works.