Product Description

The New Republic faces possible destruction at the hands of the reanimated Grand Admiral Thrawn, servant of the once all-powerful evil empire.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177768 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 704 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Timothy Zahn has published 16 SF novels, including a bestselling trilogy based in the Star Wars universe, and has won a Hugo Award for his novella Cascade Point. In Vision of the Future, he returns to Star Wars with a complicated tale of intrigue and deception. This is the second of a two-volume story, and picks up where the first book, Specter of the Past, left off. The New Republic is on the verge of a civil war, an instability which the remnants of the Empire is doing its best to exploit, helped by a con-man posing as the much feared Grand Admiral Thrawn, supposedly returned from the dead. Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker struggle to maintain the peace, but time is running out as opposing forces gather in the skies above the planet Bothawui. This is a sprawling action novel that makes the most of its galaxy- spanning plot. Multiple storylines intertwine as we follow at least six different sets of viewpoint characters, although sadly few of them are on stage long enough to develop any real complexity. Deep and insightful it ain't, but if you like your action fast and furious, this is one for you.

From the Author
Im very happy with this conclusion
I always felt Thrawn was a character i should have done more with, and killing him off in The Last Command limited my options. However the false Thrawn serves his role even better adding to the feeling of shrewd deceptiveness shown by Thrawn. Also presenting Paellon as a more intependent character was very exciting. i am very happy with this book and even more so with the response I've got from fans.

From the Back Cover
Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn brings his epic two-volume series The Hand of Thrawn to an explosive conclusion with a discovery that rocks the new Republic to its foundations - and threatens to resurrect the Empire.

VISION OF THE FUTURE

The Empire's master plan is under way. The New Republic is on the verge of civil war and the rumour that the legendary Admiral Thrawn has returned from the dead is rallying the Imperial forces. Now Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo, Princess Leia and their allies face the challenge of their lives. They must infiltrate a hidden fortress filled with Imperial fanatics, rendezvous with a double-dealing Imperial commander and journey into enemy territory to learn the identity of those responsible for an act of unthinkable genocide. But most important of all is the truth about Thrawn. In his hands - alive or dead - rests the fate of the New Republic.

Customer Reviews

Zahn presents the climax of Bantam's run of Star Wars novels
THE STORY:
Fifteen years after 'Return of the Jedi', the New Republic is troubled both by an impending civil war above Bothawui and the apparent return of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Elsewhere, Luke tracks Mara Jade to the uncharted world of Nirauan and together they make a startling discovery about the mysterious Hand of Thrawn.

WHAT'S GOOD:
Zahn uses this book to bring up to date all of his leading characters (I suspect he thought this was to be his last Star Wars novel), meaning we get some serious development of some familiar faces. I enjoyed the subplot involving Karrde and Shada seeking out Karrde's fearsome former employer, which leads to the revelation of the Thrawn hoax and also to a fascinating bit of back story about Yoda's adventures on Dagobah. Pellaeon (did anyone else notice that in the 'author' review that name was spelled wrong? Can you say 'impostor'?) really comes into his own as the head of a new forward-thinking Empire. Ultimately, the best reason to buy this book is the development of the relationship between Luke and Mara, which avoids being a fantasy romance and is instead a more subtle development in which they simply realise that they don't want to be apart. The Luke and Mara storyline is also packed with other treats, like a Thrawn clone, the return of Soontir Fel, the discovery of Thrawn's people - the Chiss - and Mara's Jedi Knighthood.

WHAT'S BAD:
The only thing I didn't like was the Qom Qae and the Qom Jha. Having psychic bats as main characters doesn't sit well with me.

One of the best Star Wars books yet
Im my opinion, this is one of the best Star Wars books yet, lots of interesting things happened and it was a fantastic read. It's only a shame that Zahn isn't writing anymore books.

Easily the best book about Star Wars ever!
Finishing off the story begun in Specter of the Past would have been difficult for anyone - except, it seems, Timothy Zahn. Everything about this book oozed class. It also set the scene nicely for anything that comes after. He's now done as much as George Lucas himself in building the Star Wars myth (and, frankly, more believably than Lucas ever did).

In Grand Admiral Thrawn, Zahn has created the best character in the Star Wars universe, and it's a pity that he didn't decide to preserve the clone in the fortress. It would have been an interesting plot development if he had allowed Thrawn to be resurrected for real and to lead the New Republic and the Empire against the "horrors" in the Unknown Regions.

It is nice to see that Zahn has decided to concentrate mainly on the characters of his own creation (Thrawn, Pellaeon, Talon Karrde etc) rather than rehashing old characters as some authors could be accused of doing.

And, for those who think it could be the end of the Star Wars story, don't forget that Zahn has left the door open for new enemies of the New Republic from outside the scope of the galaxy, rather than just leaving a New Republic versus Empire scenario in place. In many ways, what the book has set up could lead to a similar scenario to The Truce at Bakura.

It's more believable and better written than anything that's been done so far, and hopefully, people can learn from Zahn's triumph.