Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars) by Steve Perry
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Book Reviews of Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)
Book Review: Filling in the Star Wars blanks
Summary: 5 Stars
Shadows of the Empire takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Han Solo is frozen in carbonite but has not yet been taken to Jabba's palace. Leia, Luke, Lando and our two favorite droids are on a quest to find Boba Fett and retrieve Han. They are joined in this quest by Dash Rendar, a cocky hotshot pilot, very reminiscent of Han Solo himself. Three very significant characters stand in their way - Darth Vader, Prince Xizor of Black Sun, and Xizor's amazing apprentice Guri.
Prince Xizor of the Falleen race is an intriguing character. He is the ultimate crime lord, and his life is filled schemes and double-dealings as he runs the huge crime syndicate of Black Sun plus some other legitimate enterprises. He is considered to be the third most important person in the galaxy behind the Emperor and Lord Vader, and he wants to move up. The point of all the Machiavellian schemes he develops during this period is to get rid of Vader and become #2 in the Empire. Even that would not satisfy him. Xizor's self esteem is extremely high. He has never met an individual who is his equal. Of course, he and Vader do not see eye to eye on most things.
The key individual in the story is Luke Skywalker. The Emperor fells that Luke is strong enough in the Force to pose a real danger to the Empire. He wants Luke out of the picture. Vader wants to keep the boy alive and turn him to the dark side. Xizor sees an opportunity here to cause trouble for Vader, so he puts out orders to have Luke assassinated. He also sends Guri to meet with Leia and to bring her back to Xizor's palace in Coruscant. Guri is an extremely advanced droid who looks completely like a human female. Her fighting skills appear to be unmatched. Leia and Chewie end up at Xizor's palace being used as bait to draw Luke in. Of course, Luke does come to the rescue. Luke, Lando, and Dash Rendar have memorable scenes making their way through the sewers below the palace and making their way up through the palace to find Leia. The last few chapters of the book tie things together very neatly and leave us set for Return of the Jedi. Maybe they will rescue Han at last.
Shadows of the Empire is an excellent tale, and Mr. Perry has done a good job with it. The story fits nicely in the time period between Empire and Jedi. I highly recommend this one.
Book Review: This book is MINDBLOWING!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE IS AMAZING, IT IS SET BETWEEN TESB AND ROTJ AND ANSWERS ALOT OF QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED OR BRIEFLY EXPLAINED DURING THE 2 MOVIES,FOR EXAMPLE WHERE DID LEIA GOT HER THERMAL DETENATOR?THE ONE SHE THREATENED TO USE IN JABBAS PALACE. ANYWAY THIS BOOK IS MAINLY ABOUT DARTH VADER AND PRINCE XIZOR(THE FALLEAN AND LEADER OF THE BIGGEST CRIME ORGANIZATION IN THE GALAXY 'BLACK SUN', WHICH DWARFS JABBAS CRIME INDUSTRY)FIGHTING FOR THE FAVOUR OF BOTH OF THEIR MASTERS Emperor Palpatine.A PSYCALOGICAL FIGHT THAT THEY BOTH KNOW WILL END IN ONE OF THEIR DEATHS. XIZOR IS SO DESPERATE TO OUTSMART VADER (XIZOR IS AS RUTHLESS AND PROBABLY MORE CUNNING THAN THE SITH LORD VADER,)SO HE DECIDES TO SEND OUT A CONTRACT WHICH WILL APPEAL TO ALL OF THE SCUMMY,UNDERWORLD BOUNTY HUNTERS FROM TATOOINE TO CORRELIA TO RODIA.FOR ALL THE CREDITS THOUGHT IMAGINABLE XIZOR ASKS OR REALLY BRIBES THE BOUNTY HUNTERS TO BRING HIM SKYWALKER ALIVE OR PREFERABLY DEAD HE DOES SO BECAUSE HE ACCIDENTLY FINDS OUT THAT VADER IS LUKES DAD FROM EMPEROR PALPATINE AND VADER AS THEY TALK VIA HOLNET.THEREFORE HE SETS OUT TO KILL LUKE IN ORDER TO SET VADER ALIGHT WITH FURY . MEANWHILE XIZOR ALSO PLANS TO SEDUCE THE PRINCESS LEIA BUT WITH THE HELP OF LUKE,LANDO,CHEWIE AND THE ROGUE DASH RENDAR (WHO IS MORE OF A CORELLIAN AND SCOUNDREL THAN HAN.)THEY SET OUT TO SAVE HER IN THE MOST IMPERIAL BITTEN PLACE THERE IS 'CORUSANT'.THIS BOOK IS REALLY EXCELLANT, I'D GIVEN IT 10STARS IF I COULD.THIS BOOK HAS A EXPLOSIVE ENDING WHICH I WONT GIVE AWAY,PHEW!! OH BY THE WAY REMEMBER WHEN MON MOTHMA MADE HER FAMOUS SPEECH 'MANY BOTHANS DIED TO GIVE YOU THIS INFORMATION' IN ROTJ.IF YOU EVER THOUGHT WHO IN THE BLAZES ARE BOTHANS,THIS BOOK EXPLAINS ABOUT THEM IN GREAT DETAIL.*****Book Review: "Shadows of the Empire", Between the Trilogy. Movie Idea.
Summary: 5 Stars
Dear Steve Perry:I found this book most entertaining. You wouldn't think that there would be so much going on between "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi". To top it all off you added new characters on both sides of the story. On one hand you have the Dark Prince Xizor, who is trying to take Vader's place as the Emperor's right hand man. And you have, on the side of good, Dash Rendar, who is the one that is to find Han solo.
It was a good idea to make a book that is not before or after the trilogy, but actually between it. Now I want to make the book into a movie. I know that on this review I can't really give a lot of the book's plots away, but it was a good idea to right about how things that lead to what would happen in "Return of the Jedi". It was also good that the flow of "The Empire Strikes Back" was continued in "Shadows of the Empire". For those of us who don't like to read very much I would like for you to make a movie that everyone in the U.S. would want to see. I personally liked the way you described how Luke Skywalker made his light saber in Obi-Wan's old home on Tatooine and how Luke was able to see Lando and Leia coming from miles away because, "out here in the middle of nowhere, nothing but sand and rocks and scrub, he could have seen them coming for a long way", p.38. You must also include the dog fights that took place up in outer space. That would pretty much include what I can say on this review other than that this book is a must read for every star wars fan. I thank you for reading my review.
Book Review: Perhaps the best continuation of Star Wars ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
Shadows of the Empire really should be a movie. The characters are portrayed perfectly and are highly detailed. I already knew most of the plotline because I have the video game for N64, but it was still terrific. Prince Xizor is an excellent enemy for both the Rebels and the Empire, which leads to the climax in which both sides are tring to destroy Xizor's Skyhook over Coruscant. Another goodguy, Dash Rendar is also introduced, along with his amazing ship, Outrider. About that worthy, I must come to his rescue: he does not die at the end, as you are led to believe. He jumps to hyperspace as it appears that he is destroyed, so that no one will ever come to find him. Really, would you expect otherwise of a guy equivalent to Han Solo. Actually, I rather think that he was included to fill in a lot of the missing personality of Han, who is still frozen in carbonate, of course. Perry even goes to the extent of explaining the preparation of a delicacy that Xizor eats, which will kill someone if it is not prepared perfectly. The quarters within which Leia is confined during her capture by Xizor are also described quite well, and are rather lavish. Vader and Palpatine are also featured rather well in this book, and you learn just how deep into the Dark Side Vader has penetrated. Luke is not as important in this story, which is actually a good thing. I believe this to be the best Star Wars story ever written, and I am certain that anyone else that reads it (at my full recommendation, of course) will agree with me. This is a must read for all Star Wars fans.Book Review: A quick explanation of STAR WARS: Shadows of the Empire
Summary: 5 Stars
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is a must read for Star Wars Bantam book fans. It explains the events that took place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It introduces new characters such as the reptillian Prince Xizor and the hot shot pilot/mercenary, Dash Rendar. The story is magnificently written by Steve Perry, who uses a great deal of information from the Star Wars Universe. Prince Xizor is a Fallen who is the 3rd most powerful person in the galaxy. His power is only surpassed by Lord Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. He is the leader of an underground organization called Black Sun. Dash Rendar is a contact of Lando Calrissian, who, with the help of Princess Leia Organa and Chewbacca, will try to rescue the carbonite-frozen Han Solo from the bounty hunter, Boba Fett. Boba is stopped at the plant called Gall and Dash Rendar is the one who informed Lando about him. Leia later hires Dash as Luke Skywalker's bodyguard because Darth Vader has put a large price on his head. Meanwhile an invisible battle goes on between Darth Vader and Prince Xizor. One wants Skywalker alive one wants him dead. Each are trying to get the likeness of the Emperor. My favorite part is the climactic scene when Vader destroys Xizor and his skyhook. The only thing I don't like is the sudden death of Dash Rendar at the end. I think that Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker should have both destroyed Xizor. Despite these flaws I still thought it was an exciting and interesting book