Heir to the Empire: The 20th Anniversary Edition is a republication of the Star Wars Legends novel Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, which originally came out in 1991. This particular twentieth-anniversary release features a brand new introduction written by Zahn, a fresh foreword penned by Lucasfilm's Howard Roffman, annotations contributed by both Zahn and editor Betsy Mitchell, and a completely original novella by Zahn titled Crisis of Faith, starring Grand Admiral Thrawn. Del Rey released it to the public on September 6, 2011.
The events of the story take place five years following the destruction of the Death Star and the defeat of Darth Vader and the Emperor. The galaxy is in the process of recovering from the ravages of war, Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and anticipating the arrival of their twins, and Luke Skywalker is in the position of being the first of a new generation of Jedi Knights, something that has been awaited for a long time.
However, at a distance of thousands of light-years, the last of the Emperor's powerful military leaders—the exceptionally intelligent and dangerous Grand Admiral Thrawn—has assumed control over the remnants of the Imperial fleet. He has prepared it for renewed conflict and is directing it towards the vulnerable core of the New Republic. This formidable warrior has made two crucial discoveries that have the potential to obliterate everything that the courageous members of the Rebel Alliance fought so valiantly to establish.
The resulting, high-stakes confrontation is an expansive and grand narrative filled with action, innovative concepts, intrigue, and spectacle on a galactic scale—in essence, a story that truly lives up to the Star Wars name.
- ISBN 9780345528292 ; September 6 , 2011; Del Rey ; US hardcover [2]
- ISBN 9780345530004 ; September 6, 2011; Del Rey; US eBook [3]