Originally named Empire and Rebellion: Honor Among Thieves, Honor Among Thieves is a Star Wars Legends book, specifically the second in the Star Wars: Empire and Rebellion two-part series. James S. A. Corey penned this novel, which was initially brought to the public in hardcover form by Del Rey on March 4, 2014. It holds the distinction of being the last Legends novel released after Lucasfilm Ltd. ceased the Legends timeline on April 25 of that year. The initial paperback version became available on February 24, 2015. All versions of Honor Among Thieves contain Corey's short story, "Silver and Scarlet".
Back cover
As the Empire endangers the galaxy's newfound hope, can Han, Luke, and Leia stand as its ultimate defense?
Internal flap
Leia Organa understands that Han Solo is the prime choice for a mission involving the extraction of a high-ranking rebel spy from the Empire's core—a rare point of agreement between the princess and the smuggler. This assignment seems straightforward, especially for someone who infiltrated an Imperial prison and played a part in the Death Star's destruction.
However, upon finding the audacious rebel agent, Scarlet Hark, Han discovers her resolve to remain within enemy territory. A pirate intends to trade stolen secrets, which the Empire is prepared to obliterate entire planets to safeguard—including the one where Leia is currently engaging with rebel allies. Scarlet is intent on finding the thief and seizing the reward herself, leaving Han with no option but to cooperate to prevent fatalities. Han, Chewbacca, Leia, and their intrepid new ally navigate treacherous cityscapes, a perilous jungle, and a booby-trapped alien temple, facing constant ambushes, betrayals, and intense battles as they strive to shield vital intelligence from the Empire.
Despite the support of Luke Skywalker's exceptional X-Wing squadron, the Alliance heroes might be overwhelmed in their decisive confrontation for the highest stakes: the ability to free the galaxy from tyranny or ensure the Empire's perpetual reign of darkness.
Han and Chewie received orders to extract Scarlet Hark, a rebel spy, from Cioran, a planet under Imperial control. Baasen Ray intercepted the rendezvous before it could happen and apprehended Han and Chewie. Baasen, an old acquaintance of Han's who had become a bounty hunter, aimed to capture Han and deliver him to Jabba the Hutt. Han and Chewie broke free, costing Baasen a hand, but immediately encountered Imperials. Donning Imperial uniforms, Han tracked down Hark and extracted her. Hark, however, was determined to finish her mission and persuaded Han to assist. They acquired crucial data from the Imperials and then traveled to Kiamurr to intercept Hunter Maas, who had absconded with information on controlling hyperspace travel. Leia Organa was hosting a gathering for rebel sympathizers on Kiamurr. Many attendees perished when the Imperial fleet arrived in pursuit of Hunter Maas. Enticed by the potential financial gain, Baasen turned on Maas and sided with the rebels, also shooting Hunter Maas.
The data they sought contained Essio Galassian's discovery of a hyperspace nullifier superweapon, a creation of the long-gone K'kybak. The K'kybak, who had isolated themselves millennia ago, had mastered physics, particularly in controlling hyperspace. Following their extinction, their planet fell into decay. Leia, Han, Chewie, Hark, Baasen, and Sunnim journeyed to their planet, Seymarti V, after Leia dispatched Luke on a separate mission to the Seymarti system just days before.
Upon arrival in the Seymarti system, Luke and Wedge Antilles, leading the red starfighter squadrons, aided Han, Chewie, Leia, Scarlet, Baasen, and Sunnim in landing on Seymarti V. Sunnim was killed by a native creature. Venturing into the ancient K'kybak temple, the group evaded traps and fought off stormtroopers before reaching a chamber deep within the temple where they confronted Essio Galassian. Essio used the machine's power against them. Baasen, mortally wounded, used his last strength to push Essio off the platform. It was revealed that the planet was hollow, its surface maintained by the K'kybak machine. Essio plummeted thousands of kilometers to the planet's core. When stormtroopers began firing at Han, Leia, and Scarlet, Han chose to destroy the control panel, thereby destroying the entire planet. They escaped Seymarti V with Luke's assistance before Chewie retrieved them in the Millennium Falcon.
- ISBN 9780345546852 ; March 4 , 2014 ; Del Rey ; US hardcover [1]
- ISBN 9780345546852 ; 2014; Del Rey; US hardcover, Science Fiction Book Club edition (1387301) [7]
- ISBN 9780345546869 ; March 4, 2014; Del Rey; US eBook [2]
- ISBN 9780345546876 ; February 24 , 2015 ; Del Rey; US paperback [3]
- ISBN 9781804951903 ; November 6 , 2025 ; Random House Worlds ; The Essential Legends Collection paperback [4]