Specter of the Past

Specter of the Past, penned by Timothy Zahn, marks the beginning of the Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn Duology. Bantam Spectra initially released it on November 3, 1997. Anthony Heald lent his voice to the abridged audio version. The complete, unabridged audio version was narrated by Marc Thompson.

Publisher's summary

Hardcover

From the pen of Timothy Zahn, a Hugo Award-winning author, comes Specter of the Past, the initial installment in the grand, two-part series, The Hand of Thrawn. Zahn's previous bestselling trilogy expanded upon George Lucas's iconic films and became a defining moment in science fiction publishing history. Now, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo face a new challenge: protecting the emerging New Republic from both a deceased Imperial warlord and internal strife.

The Empire, once the undisputed ruler of numerous star systems, now teeters precariously on the edge of complete annihilation. Its once-imposing fleet of Star Destroyers has dwindled to a mere shadow of its former self. With each passing day, more and more neutral systems are choosing to align themselves with the New Republic coalition. However, as the war draws to a close, the New Republic finds itself struggling with the very success it has achieved. This diverse alliance of species and cultures is now plagued by deeply rooted, long-standing conflicts.

Princess Leia is engaged in a relentless struggle against overwhelming odds to maintain the unity of the New Republic. Yet, formidable adversaries stand in her way. The ambitious Moff Disra is orchestrating a cunning scheme to sow discord within the fragile coalition. His plan involves falsely accusing the Bothans of a horrific crime, which could potentially ignite a devastating genocide and civil war. Simultaneously, Luke Skywalker, accompanied by Lando Calrissian and Talon Karrde, is investigating a perplexing group of pirate vessels crewed entirely by clones. And then, a shocking revelation emerges: Grand Admiral Thrawn, presumed dead for a decade, has reportedly resurfaced. The most strategically brilliant and merciless warlord in Imperial history has seemingly returned to guide the Empire toward victory.

As Han and Leia grapple with the daunting task of preventing the New Republic's disintegration in the face of this ominous and perplexing threat from the past, Luke embarks on a mission to locate the elusive pirate ships. In this endeavor, he will collaborate with Mara Jade, sharing his growing command of the Force and the ever-present danger of succumbing to the dark side. Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows is the enigmatic Major Tierce, a devoted follower of Emperor Palpatine, who shares his deceased master's insatiable hunger for power. Tierce, trained in the intricate strategies of Thrawn himself, harbors his own sinister designs for both the New Republic and the Empire.

Paperback

The Empire is on the verge of total destruction. However, they have reserved their most malevolent scheme for the very end. Their initial move involves devising a plot that could potentially decimate the New Republic, plunging it into a bloody abyss of genocide and internal conflict. Subsequently, the astonishing news breaks that Grand Admiral Thrawn, renowned as the most cunning and ruthless warlord in history, has allegedly returned from the afterlife to lead the Empire to a long-awaited triumph. Facing insurmountable odds, Han and Leia embark on a desperate race against time to prevent the New Republic from collapsing under the weight of two unfathomable threats – one originating from within and the other from beyond. In the meantime, Luke joins forces with Mara Jade, harnessing the power of the Force to track down a mysterious pirate vessel manned by a crew of clones. Yet, perhaps the most perilous figures of all are those who operate from the shadows, meticulously crafting a dark scheme that will transform both the New Republic and the Empire into mere pawns in their twisted game.

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