New Releases by Timothy ZAHN

The first novel in the Dragonback series is “a romp of a space thriller” (Booklist) from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Star Wars: Thrawn. Jack Morgan is dealing with more trouble than any young man deserves. Raised to be a professional thief and con artist by his late uncle Virgil, he’s survived on his uncle’s spaceship with the help of an AI program. But when he’s accused of a crime he actually didn’t commit, Jack is forced to flee to a remote, uninhabited planet where he can stay off the radar for a while. His solitude is soon interrupted when a ship crashes on Jack’s hideout after a terrible space battle. There’s only one survivor: a warrior called Draycos, whose reptilian race is being targeted for extinction. The good news is that if Jack helps Draycos, the odd creature might be able to help clear Jack’s name. The not-so-good news is that to survive, Draycos must bond—physically and mentally—with a sentient being to use as his “host.” And it looks like Jack is the only sentient being around . . .

Die spannende Vorgeschichte zur erfolgreichsten Star-Wars-Trilogie - GroSSadmiral Thrawn ist Kult! Nachdem Thrawn von imperialen Soldaten aus dem Exil befreit wurde, weckt sein taktisches Geschick schon bald Imperator Palpatines Aufmerksamkeit. SChnell erweist sich Thrawn als unverzichtbar fur das Imperium, und sein Aufstieg scheint unaufhaltsam. ALs Thrawn zum GroSSadmiral ernannt wird, werden seine Fahigkeiten jedoch auf eine harte Probe gestellt. NUn muss er beweisen, dass sein todlicher Scharfsinn im Krieg gegen die aufkommenden Rebellen stark genug ist. DEnn nicht nur unschuldige Leben werden bedroht, sondern auch der eiserne Griff des Imperiums um die Galaxis. UNd auch Thrawns ganz eigene Plane sind auf einmal in Gefahr ...

All aboard the Quadrail for three tales of nonstop action from the #1 New York Times–bestselling and Hugo Award–winning author of Star Wars: Thrawn. It is the Quadrail—a miracle of design that connects all twelve of the galaxy’s inhabited empires, allowing diverse alien species and cultures to exchange ideas, inspire imaginations, build bridges of understanding . . . and orchestrate the subjugation of all living things. Night Train to Rigel: Frank Compton used to be an operative for Western Allied Intelligence. Then he blew the whistle on some shady dealings and got himself fired. Nowadays he just wants to lay low and let someone else do the galaxy’s dirty work. Unfortunately, no one does dirty work quite like Frank. And the robotic alien Spiders who maintain the Quadrail know it—which is why he’s going to work for them whether he likes it or not. The Third Lynx: After barely surviving his last mission, Compton just wants to relax with his gorgeous half-human partner, Bayta. But their reverie aboard the Quadrail is broken by a persistent human going on about alien artifacts. Then someone shuts him up permanently, and what begins as a murder leads Compton to uncover a conspiracy that threatens to engulf the entire galaxy. Odd Girl Out: Finally back on Earth, Compton is confronted in his apartment by a woman demanding that he rescue her ten-year-old sister. He brusquely shows her the door, only to be accused of her murder the next day. Determined to make things right, he heads to the world of New Tigris to find the little girl. But his adversaries, the mind-enslaving Mohdri, are waiting for him there. Together in a single volume, here are the first three books in the Quadrail series from a writer New York Times–bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson calls “a master of tactics [who] puts his own edge on complex hard-SF thrillers.”

Can’t wait for The Last Jedi? Lose yourself in a galaxy far, far away with this ebook sampler of excerpts from Del Rey’s latest Star Wars novels—including a Rogue One adaptation and prequel. Timothy Zahn returns with a revealing portrait of one of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire. Chuck Wendig completes his epic trilogy bridging the gap between Episodes VI and VII. And Senator Leia Organa stars in her own novel set in the years before The Force Awakens. Plus, don’t miss five Star Wars short stories new to the 2017 sampler: “Scorched” by Delilah S. Dawson, “Blade Squadron: Kuat” by David J. Williams & Mark S. Williams, “Voice of the Empire” by Mur Lafferty, “Turning Point” by Jason M. Hough, and “TK-462” by Sylvain Neuvel. THRAWN by Timothy Zahn In this definitive novel, readers will follow Thrawn’s rise to power, uncovering the events that created one of the most iconic villains in Star Wars history. BLOODLINE by Claudia Gray Following the Battle of Endor, Leia Organa—now a respected senator—must protect the fledgling democracy from both outside dangers and treachery from within. AFTERMATH: LIFE DEBT by Chuck Wendig As the New Republic fights to restore peace to the galaxy, Norra Wexley leads a search and rescue mission to the Wookiee homeworld, where Chewbecca has been captured and Han Solo has disappeared. CATALYST by James Luceno In this prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Jyn Erso’s family must untangle a web of deception to save themselves—and the galaxy itself. ROGUE ONE by Alexander Freed A new hope rests in the hands of an unlikely band of allies—if only they can capture the plans to a machine of unimaginable destructive power. Go beyond the film with a novelization featuring new scenes and expanded material. AFTERMATH: EMPIRE’S END by Chuck Wendig As the final showdown between the New Republic and the Empire draws near, all eyes turn to a once-isolated planet: Jakku.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this definitive novel, readers will follow Thrawn’s rise to power—uncovering the events that created one of the most iconic villains in Star Wars history. One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating characters in the Star Wars universe, from his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahn’s classic Heir to the Empire through his continuing adventures in Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, and beyond. But Thrawn’s origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power—and infamy. Praise for Thrawn “The origin story of one of the greatest Star Wars villains . . . a book that fans have wanted for decades.”—The Verge “A satisfying tale of political intrigue . . . Thrawn’s observations and tactical thinking are utterly captivating.”—New York Daily News “Quite the page-turner.”—Flickering Myth

In this definitive novel, readers will follow Thrawnâe(tm)s rise to powerâe"uncovering the events that created one of the most iconic villains in Star Wars history.

Der neue StarCraft-Roman aus der Feder des preisgekrönten SF-Autors Timothy Zahn schlägt ein neues Kapitel der StarCraft-Saga auf! Nach fast einem Jahrzehnt des Krieges haben sich Protoss, Zerg und Menschen auf einen Waffenstillstand geeinigt. Doch als ruchbar wird, dass ein angeblich zerstörter Planet der Zerg in voller Blüte steht und die Absichten der dortigen Bewohner mehr als undurchsichtig sind, flammt die alte Feinschaft wieder auf.

Retrouvez tout l''univers Star Wars "légendes" chez 12-21, l''éditeur numérique ! L''Empire poursuit sa lutte contre les membres de l''Alliance rebelle, n''hésitant pas à sacrifier nombre d''innocents, pour parvenir à ses fins. Quatre soldats, écœurés par les massacres auxquels ils ont participé, décident de déserter l''armée impériale. Dans leur fuite, ils rencontrent Han Solo, Chewbacca et le jeune Luke Skywalker, avec qui ils s''allient pour tenter de délivrer la princesse Leia, cachée sur le territoire des forces du Mal. Mais les soldats dissidents parviendront-ils, le moment venu, à se battre contre leurs anciens compagnons ? Et ces intrépides combattants réussiront-ils à échapper à Mara Jade Claria, éminent agent de l''Empire recruté par le chancelier Palpatine, grand rival de Dark Vador ?

A collection of career-launching short fiction by #1 New York Times–bestselling author Timothy Zahn, including the Hugo Award–winning novella Cascade Point. Timothy Zahn shows an unparalleled mastership of science fiction in the fifteen tales gathered here. “The Price of Survival” features an alien ship that arrives in our solar system without hostile intentions but with a desperate need whose fulfillment could destroy humanity. “The Giftie Gie Us” tells the story of two lonely survivors who find love among the ruins of a post-apocalyptic United States. And in “Pawn’s Gambit,” a human and his alien opponent face off over a game that will decide which one of them will return home. This collection also includes the Hugo Award–winning novella Cascade Point and nine other works of science fiction, post-apocalyptic drama, and humorous fantasy previously unpublished in book form. Timothy Zahn is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Star Wars: Heir to the Empire and has won multiple awards for his work. With nonstop action, suspenseful plots, and high-tech twists, the stories in Pawn’s Gambit are science fiction at its best.

After nearly a decade of brutal warfare, three mighty factions--the enigmatic protoss, the savage zerg, and the terrans, humanity''s descendants in the sector--have entered a cease-fire, but the peace is tenuous at best. When the sudden restoration of an incinerated planet is brought to light, tensions erupt. Neutrality swings back to hostility, and old enemies are accused of developing biological weapons to reignite the bitter conflict. An expedition of terran and protoss soldiers and researchers is deployed to investigate the mysterious zerg planet and its inhabitants'' intentions. But the lush alien landscape is host to other denizens, creatures shrouded in shadow, and should they be unleashed, they will change the fate of the entire galaxy.--Provided by Publisher.

Alaric Moebius and Basil Fox are two lovable scoundrels looking to make a quick fortune. Basil is a former SAS trooper turned Queen’s Guard by day and thief by night. Moebius is an Oxford-educated charmer with a knack for getting into trouble. Together they chase adventure under the patronage of “The Collector,” a mysterious billionaire with a taste for rare and valuable supernatural objects of the occult. Created by award-winning director RYAN SCHIFRIN, this third original short story sends the unlikely duo to India, where Basil learns that an old friend and Special Forces comrade he thought long dead is actually in the hands of a local warlord hellbent on retrieving the sacred blade Basil now carries as a momento. What secrets does this precious Kuhkri blade hide, and are they connected in supernatural ways to The Collector''s current interest: the lovely and mysterious Sita Kaur...? Written by fan-favorite sci-fi author TIMOTHY ZAHN ("Star Wars: Heir to the Empire" "The Thrawn Trilogy" and more), this paranormal rescue tale expands on the series of prose and graphic novel adventures available from Magnetic Press.

Ex-government agent Frank Compton must keep an extraordinary little girl safe from the malevolent group intelligence seeking to enslave the universe in the explosive third installment of Hugo Award–winning author Timothy Zahn''s Quadrail series. Frank Compton is glad he''s finally back on his home planet of Earth—galaxy-hopping aboard the Quadrail on his continuing mission to prevent the Modhri group mind from ruling the universe is exhausting business—but hadn''t expected to find a young woman waiting for him in his New York apartment with a loaded gun in her hand. Ignoring her demands that he rescue her ten-year-old sister, the former Western Alliance Intelligence agent sends his unwelcome guest packing—only to find himself under arrest the following day for her brutal murder. Released on bail and determined to do the right thing, Compton makes tracks for the world of New Tigris. But a captive child is not all that he discovers there: Little Rebekah may also hold the key to the ultimate defeat of the Modhri. Suddenly, keeping one small girl safe is the most important—and dangerous—task Compton has ever undertaken. And with the Modhris'' mind-slave "walkers" everywhere, there may be no safe place for an "abomination" and her protector to hide.

Frank Compton must join forces with his most feared enemies to defeat an ancient civilizations-devouring malevolence in the final installment of Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn''s Quadrail series A dozen sentient species occupy the galaxy, and the Quadrail connects them all. Arriving at Proteus Station under a cloud of suspicion, ex-government agent Frank Compton finds he must answer for the death of six members of the Filly elite, a crime for which he has been falsely accused. Filiaelian captivity, however, is the least of Compton''s worries, for his horse-faced alien accusers are guarding a terrible secret that dates back centuries: the Shonkla-raa, a race of super-soldiers believed to be extinct. Invincible fighters bred for conquest and dedicated to the destruction of the Quadrail, as well as the annihilation of the unsuspecting billions who oppose them, the Shonkla-raa must be stopped at all cost. But to do so, Compton and his beautiful, enigmatic half-human partner, Bayta, will have to ally themselves with the insidious, mind-enslaving Mohdri, the malevolent group intelligence they have sworn to destroy. Hugo Award winner Timothy Zahn concludes his sensational Quadrail series with a riveting futuristic adventure that combines the best of three popular genres—hard science fiction, mystery, and espionage thriller. Judgment at Proteus is a breathtaking tale of deception, murder, and desperate maneuverings in a secret war that threatens the survival of every living being in the galaxy.

EARTH''S ONLY HOPE WAS THE COBRAS The colony worlds Adirondack and Silvern fell to the Troft forces almost without a struggle. Outnumbered and on the defensive, Earth made a desperate decision. It would attack the aliens not from space, but on the ground¾with forces the Trofts did not even suspect. Thus were created the Cobras, a guerilla force whose weapons were surgically implanted, invisible to the unsuspecting eye, yet undeniably deadly. But power brings temptation, and not all the Cobras could be trusted to fight for Earth alone. Jonny Moreau would learn the uses¾and abuses¾of his special abilities and what it truly meant to be a Cobra. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Die erfolgreichste Star-Wars-Trilogie in edler Neuausstattung Die entscheidende Großoffensive gegen die Neue Republik ist in vollem Gange. Während immer mehr Rebellenplaneten fallen, machen sich Luke Skywalker und Han Solo mit einigen Gefährten auf den Weg nach Wayland, dem Cloning-Zentrum des Imperiums. Dort treffen sie auf den Jedi-Meister C ́baoth, der sich zum Herrscher des Imperiums ausgerufen hat. Es kommt zum mörderischen Entscheidungskampf – und zu spät erkennt Luke, dass ihn der Jedi-Meister in eine tödliche Falle gelockt hat.

Growing up, Travis Uriah Long yearned for order and discipline in his life . . . the two things his neglectful mother couldnu0090t or wouldnu0090t provide. So when Travis enlisted in the Royal Manticoran Navy, he thought heu0090d finally found the structure heu0090d always wanted so desperately. But life in the RMN isnu0090t exactly what he expected. Boot camp is rough and frustrating; his first ship assignment lax and disorderly; and with the Star Kingdom of Manticore still recovering from a devastating plague, the Navy is possibly on the edge of budgetary extinction. The Star Kingdom is a minor nation among the worlds of the Diaspora, its closest neighbors weeks or months away, with little in the way of resources. With only modest interstellar trade, no foreign contacts to speak of, a plague-ravaged economy to rebuild, and no enemies looming at the hyper limit, there are factions in Parliament who want nothing more than to scrap the Navy and shift its resources and manpower elsewhere. But those factions are mistaken. The universe is not a safe place. Travis Long is about to find that out. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About A Call to Duty: "A new series set in the universe of Webers popular heroine Honor Harrington gets off to a solid start. . . . Cowriters Zahn and Weber do an excellent job alluding to events known to longtime fans. . . . [T]his astronautical adventure is filled with . . . intrigue and political drama."_Publishers Weekly About the Honor Harrington series: _Weber combines realistic, engaging characters with intelligent technological projection and a deep understanding of military bureaucracy in this long-awaited Honor Harrington novelãFans of this venerable space opera will rejoice to see Honor back in action.Ó_Publishers Weekly _. . .everything you could want in a heroine ã. Excellent ã plenty of action.Ó_Science Fiction Age _Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!Ó_Anne McCaffrey _Compelling combat combined with engaging characters for a great space opera adventure.Ó_Locus _Weber combines realistic, engaging characters with intelligent technological projection . . . Fans of this venerable space opera will rejoice . . .Ó_Publishers Weekly About Timothy Zahn: _Zahn keeps the story moving at a breakneck pace, maintaining excitement.Ó¾Publishers Weekly "[Y]ou can count on Timothy Zahn for three things: clean, sparse prose; good pacing; and great action scenes. The first book in the Cobra War series hits all those marks in admirable style and makes for a quick, entertaining sci-fi novel." ¾Blogcritics _[Conqueroru0090s Heritage] is another finely wrought space adventure . . . [with] social, political and emotional complications, all of which Zahn treats with his usual skill.Ó¾Booklist _Zahn paints every detail [in Angelmass] with gleamy realism . . . scientific dialogue that streams with starship hardware and military trooper talk . . . immensely appealing.Ó¾Kirkus Review

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • To make his biggest score, Han''s ready to take even bigger risks. But even he can''t do this job solo. Han Solo should be basking in his moment of glory. After all, the cocky smuggler and captain of the Millennium Falcon just played a key role in the daring raid that destroyed the Death Star and landed the first serious blow to the Empire in its war against the Rebel Alliance. But after losing the reward his heroics earned him, Han’s got nothing to celebrate. Especially since he’s deep in debt to the ruthless crime lord Jabba the Hutt. There''s a bounty on Han''s head—and if he can’t cough up the credits, he’ll surely pay with his hide. The only thing that can save him is a king''s ransom. Or maybe a gangster’s fortune? That''s what a mysterious stranger is offering in exchange for Han’s less-than-legal help with a riskier-than-usual caper. The payoff will be more than enough for Han to settle up with Jabba—and ensure he never has to haggle with the Hutts again. All he has to do is infiltrate the ultra-fortified stronghold of a Black Sun crime syndicate underboss and crack the galaxy’s most notoriously impregnable safe. It sounds like a job for miracle workers . . . or madmen. So Han assembles a gallery of rogues who are a little of both—including his indispensable sidekick Chewbacca and the cunning Lando Calrissian. If anyone can dodge, deceive, and defeat heavily armed thugs, killer droids, and Imperial agents alike—and pull off the heist of the century—it’s Solo’s scoundrels. But will their crime really pay, or will it cost them the ultimate price?

Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian work together on a potentially lucrative heist in the hopes of paying of Jabba the Hutt''s bounty on Han''s head.

Timothy Zahn’s upcoming novel Scoundrels, starring Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian, returns to the excitement of the classic Star Wars films. In this thrilling prequel eBook novella, Winner Lose All, Lando and a pair of unlikely allies find themselves involved in a dangerous game. Fortunately, Lando can survive against the odds—a skill that he will need in spades. Lando Calrissian’s no stranger to card tournaments, but this one has a truly electrifying atmosphere. That’s because the prize is a rare sculpture worth a whopping fifty million credits. If Lando’s not careful, he’s going to go bust, especially after meeting identical twins Bink and Tavia Kitik, master thieves who have reason to believe that the sculpture is a fake. The Kitiks are beautiful, dangerous, and determined to set things right—and they’ve convinced Lando to help them expose the scam. But what they’re up against is no simple double cross, nor even a twisted triple cross. It is a full-blown power play of colossal proportions. For an unseen mastermind holds all the cards and has a fail-proof solution for every problem: murder.

A Star Wars novel set between the events of Epsiode IV: A New Hope and Epsiode V: The Empire Strikes Back, it features a younger Han, Leia, and Luke, as well as Mara Jade. Mara Jade, the Emperor''s Hand, is looking into the illicit financial affairs of a planetary governor, hoping to find evidence that he might be funding the Rebellion. Luke, Han, and Chewbacca are sent on a mission to help some rebel supporters. Leia is busy being a diplomat, trying to drum up support for the Rebel Alliance. And a band of 5 stormtroopers, on the run after refusing a direct order, finds itself in the strange position of doing good deeds...and perhaps even aiding the Rebellion. The paths of all of them will crisscross back and forth as they come closer and closer to meeting up with one another...but never quite managing to.

DIVThe children of Tigris have extraordinary telekinetic gifts—but are these special powers a blessing or a curse?/divDIV On Tigris, children develop telekinesis beginning at the age of five. By the time they’re pre-teens, though, their special abilities peak, then slip away as they reach maturity. Being able to “teek” gives them power—even over most adults—until they gradually become regular teenagers, no longer special, no longer with authority and status. Some handle the Transition better than others. /divDIV /divDIVLisa Duncan always thought she’d mature gracefully, but at age fourteen, and close to losing her abilities, she’s confused and uncertain about what the future will bring. That is, until she gets drawn into the experimental plan of Dr. Matthew Jarvis, whose scientific discovery may alter Tigrin society forever. . . . /div

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From #1 New York Times bestselling author Timothy Zahn comes an exciting Star Wars adventure, set in the time between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back—featuring Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia Organa, as well as the deadly Mara Jade. Eight months after the Battle of Yavin, the Rebellion is in desperate need of a new base. So when Governor Ferrouz of Candoras Sector proposes an alliance, offering sanctuary for the Rebels in exchange for protection against a warlord intent on invasion, Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca are sent to evaluate the deal. But Mara Jade, the Emperor’s Hand, is also heading for Candoras, along with five renegade stormtroopers known as the Hand of Judgment. Their mission: to punish Ferrouz’s treason and smash the Rebels. In this treacherous game of betrayals within betrayals, a wild card is waiting to be played.

From Timothy Zahn, Hugo Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of two landmark Star Wars® series, comes an original new tale featuring a renegade space pilot, his unusual alien partner, and an unknown cargo that can change the course of galactic history. Jordan McKell has a problem with authority. Unfortunately for him, the iron-fisted authority of the powerful Patthaaunutth controls virtually every aspect of galactic shipping. In order to survive, Jordan ekes out a living dabbling in interstellar smuggling for outlaw concerns that represent the last vestiges of free trade in the galaxy. So when Jordan and his partner, Ixil--an alien with two ferret-like "outhunters" linked to his neural system--are hired by a mysterious gentleman to fly a ship and its special cargo to Earth, they jump at the job. Caution has never been one of Jordan''s strong suits. But this time he may have taken on more than even he can handle. The ship, Icarus, turns out to be a ramshackle hulk, the ragtag crew literally picked up off the street, and the cargo so secret, it''s sealed in a special container that takes up most of the cramped and ill-designed ship. As if that weren''t bad enough, it looks like the authorities already suspect something is afoot, there''s a saboteur aboard, and the Icarus appears to be shaking apart at the seams. It doesn''t seem as if things could get any worse. That is, until a beautiful crew member helps McKell uncover the true nature of the cargo he''s carrying. With his enemies closing in on the lumbering Icarus, the unknown saboteur still aboard, and authorities on Earth pressured to turn them in, McKell and Ixil become fugitives. Their only chance is to stay one step ahead of their pursuers as they try to make it home. A bold and epic novel filled with unrelenting action and a good dose of humor, The Icarus Hunt is a wild hyperspace romp through the galaxy.

2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, the #1 New York Times hardcover bestseller that relaunched the entire Star Wars publishing program. To celebrate this historic event, Zahn returns to Star Wars with a brand-new novel of adventure, action, and intrigue starring the young Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and the beloved Mara Jade!

A brand new ''Star Wars'' adventure, set in the time between ''A New Hope'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and featuring the young Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa and the beloved Mara Jade.

Cobra warriors, surgically implanted with an arsenal of covert weaponry, are the most dangerous guerilla fighters humanity has ever produced. For Jin Moreau Broom, the war is the culmination of a lifetime of Cobra service. But it is also the height of danger for herself and her family as they struggle to survive a war that none of them ever expected to see. The Troft invasions of Qasama and the Cobra Worlds has had at least one result: it has turned long-time antagonists into uneasy and unwilling allies. As the aliens battle to consolidate their conquered territories, a small group of Cobras and Qasaman Djinn work together to create a victory that will rock the invaders to the core, a victory designed to bring other Troft demesnes into the conflict on the humans'' side. Now one young Cobra must forge a new political order as a devastating alien enemy strikes¾an enemy more deadly than any humanity has ever faced. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Here is a special 20th anniversary edition of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel that reignited the entire Star Wars publishing phenomenon—featuring an Introduction and annotations from award-winning author Timothy Zahn, exclusive commentary from Lucasfilm and Del Rey Books, and a brand-new novella starring the ever-popular Grand Admiral Thrawn. The biggest event in the history of Star Wars books, Heir to the Empire follows the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia after they led the Rebel Alliance to victory in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. Five years after the Death Star was destroyed and Darth Vader and the Emperor were defeated, the galaxy is struggling to heal the wounds of war, Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting twins, and Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of new Jedi Knights. But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor’s warlords—the brilliant and deadly Grand Admiral Thrawn—has taken command of the shattered Imperial fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic. For this dark warrior has made two vital discoveries that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to create. The explosive confrontation that results is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale—in short, a story worthy of the name Star Wars. Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this essential Star Wars Legends novel—the first ever to take place after the events of the original trilogy—Grand Admiral Thrawn makes his debut on the galactic stage. Five years ago, the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and drove the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor’s warlords, Grand Admiral Thrawn, has taken command of the shattered Imperial fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic. For this dark warrior has made a vital discovery that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to build.

The specter of the menacing Grand Admiral Thrawn looms over Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker as they embark on a journey to recover an important piece of Jedi history. Sometimes it seems a Jedi’s work is never done, and Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker know this only too well. Despite the bond they share in the Force, the Jedi Master and his wife are still learning the ropes of being a couple after three years of marriage—and struggling to find time together between the constant demands of duty. But all that will change when they’re united on an unexpected mission: They must pool their exceptional skills to combat an insidious enemy and salvage a part of Jedi history. Whatever may await, the Skywalkers will not face it alone. Joining them on the strange and solemn journey are an officer of the post-Palpatine Empire escorted by a detachment of Imperial stormtroopers; a party of diplomats from a gentle alien species that reveres the fallen Jedi for saving them from bloodthirsty conquerors; and a New Republic ambassador who harbors his own mysterious agenda. Soon enough, suspicion, secrecy, and an unknown saboteur run rampant aboard the isolated ship. But the gravest danger lies within the derelict walls of Outbound Flight, buried for half a century on a desolate planetoid. As the marooned hulk yields up stunning revelations and unexpected terrors to its visitors, Luke and Mara find all that they stand for—and their very existence—brutally challenged. The ultimate test will be surviving the deathtrap carefully laid by foes who are legendary for their ruthlessness, and determined to complete the job Thrawn began: exterminating the Jedi.

On an epic voyage far beyond the Republic, the Jedi will confront their most extraordinary enemy—and test the limits of honor and sacrifice against their most devastating challenge. The Clone Wars have yet to erupt when Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth petitions the Senate for support of a singularly ambitious undertaking: the dream of Outbound Flight. Six Jedi Masters, twelve Jedi Knights, and fifty thousand men, women, and children will embark—aboard a gargantuan vessel, equipped for years of travel—on a mission to contact intelligent life and colonize undiscovered worlds beyond the known galaxy. Unknown to the famed Jedi Master, the launch of the mission is secretly being orchestrated by an unlikely ally: the evil Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who has his own reasons for wanting Outbound Flight to move forward. Yet Darth Sidious is not the mission’s most dangerous challenge. Once underway, the starship crosses paths at the edge of Unknown Space with the forces of the alien Chiss Ascendancy and a brilliant mastermind named Thrawn. Even Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, aboard Outbound Flight with his young Padawan student Anakin Skywalker, cannot help to avert disaster. What begins as a peaceful Jedi mission is violently transformed into an all-out war for survival against staggering odds—and the most diabolical of adversaries.