World Famous Comics: Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)
By: Steve Perry Publisher: Spectra Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Spectra Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 416 Publication Date: March 03, 1997 Release Date: March 03, 1997
Product Description: Shadows of the Empire illuminates the shadowy outlines of a criminal conspiracy that exists in the background of the events in the movies, ruled by a character new to us. Prince Xizor is a mastermind of evil who dares to oppose one of the best-known fictional villains of all time: Darth Vader. The story involves all the featured Star Wars movie characters, plus Emperor Palpatine and, of course, Lord Vader himself.
A great job with a difficult time period Steve Perry does a wonderful job in this book of bringing interest and drama to a story that is carefully shoehorned into the gap between Empire and Jedi. To be honest I did not expect much from this book because I thought there wasn't much story to tell about this time period. Turns out I was wrong.
Luke, Leia, and Lando were quite busy while Han was being carted around the galaxy like so much cargo in Boba Fett's ship and being tacked up on the wall at Jabba's palace. There are some battles and some spying and intrigue and some buildings get blow up. Leia gets hit on by a crime lord. Luke builds a lightsaber. And Artoo and Threepio fly the Falcon at one point. Wonder if anyone ever got around to telling Han about what went on while he was frozen?
It was fascinating to me to see how Perry took the characters from where they are at the end of one movie to where they are at the beginning of the next. This had to have been a difficult task, to be hemmed in on both sides creatively - your beginning and your ending are set in stone. or, rather, locked on film.
I found myself engaged in the story all the way, even though I knew, of course, who had to emerge unscathed at the end. The interesting part was watching the characters from Empire grow and change through their adventures and end up as the people we see in Jedi.
Luke, in particular, is a very different person at the beginning of Jedi than he was at the end of Empire, and Perry's story helps us understand how this happened. Especially because we've gotten used to Luke the Jedi Master - Perry gives us some insight into how the gawky farm boy from Tatooine matured into the Jedi who destroyed the Emperor. It's cool to watch his confusion and uncertainty melting away and watch his confidence grow to the point where he's ready to take charge.
It is also interesting to watch Luke grappling with his feelings for Leia and balancing this with the fact that she's obviously chosen Han. As most of the EU books take place outside of the film's timeline, we tend to forget that there was a time when Luke didn't know the truth about his father, or that Leia was his sister. So it's nice to see a glimpse into that part of his life.
It was also fun for me to see a side of Princess Leia that we don't see often. Perry takes us inside her head and it's intersting to watch her work her way through all the complications that life has thrown her lately.
After spending considerable time in their future of late (I finally caved in and am slogging my way through the NJO) it was fun to go back and revist the characters I remember in the time period I remember them.
I really enjoyed this book and it's one of only a handful of the EU novels (besides Timothy Zahn's marvelous Thrawn trilogy) that I've actually bothered to purchase after reading from the library. These days that's the highest compliment I pay to a book - owning it. Meaning, I plan to read it again. For fun.
Great Star Wars book. Fills the gaps between 5 and 6. Great Star Wars book. I had read this when it first came out, and I recently revisited it. Lots of fun. Quick read. Awesome.
A MUST HAVE FOR STAR WARS FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where to begin? Not only does this book have your favorite classic characters(minus Han, who is frozen in carbonite at the time), but it introduces new characters like Prince Xizor and Dash Rendar. Steve Perry did an excellent job writing this book. You feel like you're right in the middle of the action. It has an interesting storyline, including the construction of Luke's green-colored lightsaber in Return of the Jedi, and the Bothans helping the Rebel Alliance find the plans for the second Death Star. If you are a Star Wars fan, this book is a must-read!
Best Stand Alone Star Wars Book This is by far the best stand alone Star Wars book ever written. The reader does not have to have read any of the other books to understand the story behind "Shadows". This book captures the feel of the original movies and fills in a great deal of missing plot from the films. Highly recommended title!
A title worthy of the Star Wars name Shadows of the Empire is a work of genius, plain and simple. Unknown to many, this novel was the elaborate plan of Lucasfilm's marketing department. Lucas had originally intended to release his Special Edition of the original Star Wars Trilogy in theaters in 1996, but when his scheduling fell behind, all of his plans for that year had to be altered. So deciding that this Special Edition would be released in 1997, and also a way to celebrate the original film's 20th anniversary, Lucas' team had to come up with some way to fill in the gap for fans during the year preceding the theatrical release. Shadows of the Empire was not just a novel, but part of an in-genius campaign that was coined "everything but the movie." It included the novel, toys, trading cards, video games, models, and all kinds of merchandise, including an original "film" score. (This soundtrack is also a great addition for any fan of Star Wars scores, by the way.) The Star Wars marketing camp even made a trailer for the novel that aired on television. Set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, it would answer many fan's questions about how everything fell into place for the final installment of the saga.
As a novel it had a great plot and was well written. With familiar characters and a new exciting villain who was a great foil to Darth Vader (Prince Xizor), this story was exciting and highly entertaining. Two key scenes that stand out are Vader trying to heal himself with the Dark Side of the Force (which gives readers a great sense of his character and his whole obsession with Luke and the Force), and the seduction of Princess Leia by Prince Xizor. This is a fantastic read and the only Expanded Universe book that has been recognized by George Lucas himself as being the only novel to be considered official canon.
Highly recommended and while you're at it you might as well get the soundtrack if you can get your hands on it. This only compliments the novel and is a fantastic piece of musical scoring in and of itself.
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