Archive for the ‘The Hand of Thrawn Duology’ Category

This is a spoilerful review of Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn.  I could not figure out how to review this novel without giving up some of its key plot points, so be warned there are spoilers in this review. 

This is not your average Star Wars novel basically because there is no big fight.  Oh yes, there are some shots fired and some thrilling scenes, but there are no great battles or great fight scenes that most Star Wars novels are accustomed to.  What there is inside this novel, is a story of political intrigue and political maneuvering that puts on Zahn’s cerebral writing style on full display. 

The book opens with Pellaeon realizing that the Empire cannot defeat the New Republic in a war, and he convinces the Moff’s to entertain the idea of negotiating a peace between them until a time comes where the Empire can defeat the New Republic.  This does not go over will, but most realize it is for the best, but one Moff Dirsa hatches a plot for the Empire to make a comeback, so behind the scenes, Dirsa prevents the message asking for peace negotiation to reach the New Republic, and Dirsa hires and actor and through a few surgeries and years of training creates his own Grand Admiral Thrawn to inspire and lead the empire to victory.

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