But Luke will have to rely on himself, his friends, and his own burgeoning relationship with the Force to survive. Praise for Heir to the Jedi “Utterly compelling. The novel plants readers in Luke Skywalker’s boots in the early days of his heroism, during the weeks after he blew up the Death Star.”—New York Daily News.
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Author: Kevin HearnePages: 304
Edition: Hardcover
List Price: $28
Published: Mar, 2015Publisher: LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780345544858
Highest rank: #17 on 7th, Mar 2015First entered: 7th, Mar 2015
Number of weeks: 1
Book Summary
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
A thrilling new adventure set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and—for the first time ever—written entirely from Luke Skywalker’s first-person point of view.
Luke Skywalker’s game-changing destruction of the Death Star has made him not only a hero of the Rebel Alliance but a valuable asset in the ongoing battle against the Empire. Though he’s a long way from mastering the power of the Force, there’s no denying his phenomenal skills as a pilot—and in the eyes of Rebel leaders Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar, there’s no one better qualified to carry out a daring rescue mission crucial to the Alliance cause.
A brilliant alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems is being detained by Imperial agents determined to exploit her exceptional talents for the Empire’s purposes. But the prospective spy’s sympathies lie with the Rebels, and she’s willing to join their effort in exchange for being reunited with her family. It’s an opportunity to gain a critical edge against the Empire that’s too precious to pass up. It’s also a job that demands the element of surprise. So Luke and the ever-resourceful droid R2-D2 swap their trusty X-wing fighter for a sleek space yacht piloted by brash recruit Nakari Kelen, daughter of a biotech mogul, who’s got a score of her own to settle with the Empire.
Challenged by ruthless Imperial bodyguards, death-dealing enemy battleships, merciless bounty hunters, and monstrous brain-eating parasites, Luke plunges head-on into a high-stakes espionage operation that will push his abilities as a Rebel fighter and would-be Jedi to the limit. If ever he needed the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi to shepherd him through danger, it’s now. But Luke will have to rely on himself, his friends, and his own burgeoning relationship with the Force to survive.
Praise for Heir to the Jedi
“Utterly compelling . . . [The novel] plants readers in Luke Skywalker’s boots in the early days of his heroism, during the weeks after he blew up the Death Star.”—New York Daily News
“An excellent book with rich characters, bubbling humor and poignant emotion.”—Roqoo Depot
“Entertaining . . . action-packed . . . suspenseful.”—New York Journal of Books
“Great . . . [an] entertaining introduction into understanding Luke’s character . . . There are moments in The Empire Strikes Back that I now point to and say, ‘I understand how he got there,’ and it’s because of this novel.”—The Wookiee Gunner
“Pure Star Wars . . . From shoot-outs to narrow escapes, I could practically hear John Williams’s score playing in my head—a credit to Kevin Hearne, to be sure.”—Coffee with Kenobi
“A must-read for fans . . . I left with a much closer understanding of who Luke Skywalker is, and an even deeper admiration for the character. All things are connected in the Force, and I feel more connected to Luke after reading Heir to the Jedi.”--Comicbook.com
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
A thrilling new adventure set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and—for the first time ever—written entirely from Luke Skywalker’s first-person point of view.
Luke Skywalker’s game-changing destruction of the Death Star has made him not only a hero of the Rebel Alliance but a valuable asset in the ongoing battle against the Empire. Though he’s a long way from mastering the power of the Force, there’s no denying his phenomenal skills as a pilot—and in the eyes of Rebel leaders Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar, there’s no one better qualified to carry out a daring rescue mission crucial to the Alliance cause.
A brilliant alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems is being detained by Imperial agents determined to exploit her exceptional talents for the Empire’s purposes. But the prospective spy’s sympathies lie with the Rebels, and she’s willing to join their effort in exchange for being reunited with her family. It’s an opportunity to gain a critical edge against the Empire that’s too precious to pass up. It’s also a job that demands the element of surprise. So Luke and the ever-resourceful droid R2-D2 swap their trusty X-wing fighter for a sleek space yacht piloted by brash recruit Nakari Kelen, daughter of a biotech mogul, who’s got a score of her own to settle with the Empire.
Challenged by ruthless Imperial bodyguards, death-dealing enemy battleships, merciless bounty hunters, and monstrous brain-eating parasites, Luke plunges head-on into a high-stakes espionage operation that will push his abilities as a Rebel fighter and would-be Jedi to the limit. If ever he needed the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi to shepherd him through danger, it’s now. But Luke will have to rely on himself, his friends, and his own burgeoning relationship with the Force to survive.
Praise for Heir to the Jedi
“Utterly compelling . . . [The novel] plants readers in Luke Skywalker’s boots in the early days of his heroism, during the weeks after he blew up the Death Star.”—New York Daily News
“An excellent book with rich characters, bubbling humor and poignant emotion.”—Roqoo Depot
“Entertaining . . . action-packed . . . suspenseful.”—New York Journal of Books
“Great . . . [an] entertaining introduction into understanding Luke’s character . . . There are moments in The Empire Strikes Back that I now point to and say, ‘I understand how he got there,’ and it’s because of this novel.”—The Wookiee Gunner
“Pure Star Wars . . . From shoot-outs to narrow escapes, I could practically hear John Williams’s score playing in my head—a credit to Kevin Hearne, to be sure.”—Coffee with Kenobi
“A must-read for fans . . . I left with a much closer understanding of who Luke Skywalker is, and an even deeper admiration for the character. All things are connected in the Force, and I feel more connected to Luke after reading Heir to the Jedi.”--Comicbook.com
About the author:
Kevin is the author of The Iron Druid Chronicles, an urban fantasy series published by Del Rey Books. The first six books of the series are now out as well as a novella that's book 4.5 and some other short works. The seventh book, SHATTERED, will be released June 17.
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(Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights #1)
The first of six novels based on the Star Wars movies. While exploring the jungle outside the academy, Jacen and Jaina uncover the remains of an enemy fighter plane crashed years before in the years of the first great war.
Published March 15th 1999 by Berkley (first published June 1995)
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Best Star Wars Books 405 books — 1,140 voters
Best YA to Appeal to Boys 534 books — 458 voters
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Rating details
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Oct 16, 2017Scott Rhee rated it liked it Shelves: star-wars, science-fiction, young-adult, movie-tie-in
Once upon a time, in an alternative universe, Han Solo and Princess Leia had three children, unlike the new “official” universe timeline, in which they had only one son, Ben Solo, who would grow up to be Kylo Ren and (spoiler alert!) kill his own father. In this new “official” universe, the Empire has transmogrified into something called the First Order. The Rebel Alliance eventually became the New Republic, but there is also a group called the Resistence. (This part gets confusing.) Leia is now...more
Mar 11, 2018Joey rated it it was amazing
Before Harry, Ron, and Hermione roamed the halls of Hogwarts, Jacen, Jaina, Lowbacca, and Tenel Ka were students in Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. The first entry of this 1995 saga even begins with the male protagonist communicating with a snake.
A fallen TIE pilot has survived in the jungle twenty years after the destruction of the first Death Star. Qorl, or CE3K-1977 (a nod to a Spielberg science fiction film) encounters the students and things get ugly.
This was a quick read, but did...more
A fallen TIE pilot has survived in the jungle twenty years after the destruction of the first Death Star. Qorl, or CE3K-1977 (a nod to a Spielberg science fiction film) encounters the students and things get ugly.
This was a quick read, but did...more
Well, Heirs of the Force essentially serves as an introduction to the 14 books long Young Jedi Knights series, which describes the studies of the Solo twins and their friends Lowbacca (a nephew of Chewbacca) and Tenel Ka (a young girl from Dathomir, brought up in the ways of the Singing Mountain Clan) at the Jedi Academy on Yavin IV. As always with the first book in a series Heirs of the Force has the difficult job of establishing the setting and the characters of the upcoming stories, which tak...more
Oct 21, 2012Jaime K rated it really liked it · review of another edition
This book was first written in 1995 - the same year the 'Junior Jedi Knight' series first began. I like that though this was published before, there are a few things that are open enough to prevent any sort of contradiction from the JJK books, which chronologically come before this. Because they were nearly written in tandem (albeit from different authors), I'm hoping to see some elements from JJK in the YJK series as I continue.
The Solo twins are 14 and at Luke's Academy for what seems to be th...more
The Solo twins are 14 and at Luke's Academy for what seems to be th...more
Dec 13, 2010Jamie rated it it was amazing
This series was the first Star Wars series I ever read. Now, years later I apparently can still go back, reread them ad fall in love with the Star Wars universe all over again.
I love the characters in this! Especially the twins, Jaina and Jacen. The introduction to their early training and being able to learn more about Yavin 4 (The Former Rebel base in A New Hope) is most interesting. I love the jungle moon. And oddly enough I like the survivor these knights in training come across. I wanted m...more
I love the characters in this! Especially the twins, Jaina and Jacen. The introduction to their early training and being able to learn more about Yavin 4 (The Former Rebel base in A New Hope) is most interesting. I love the jungle moon. And oddly enough I like the survivor these knights in training come across. I wanted m...more
Dec 17, 2015Hannah rated it liked it
This series is no longer canon, but I was all over it when I was 10-13 or so. In fact, they were the first books I ever camped the library branches and a used book store to acquire. I tried a reread to see how they held up...
I was not impressed. The action and world-building additions were there, but I think I'm a bit more keyed in to writing quality now. And for such a giant universe, there seemed like way too many humans.
One Star Wars book that did hold up for me was Tales from the Mos Eisley...more
I was not impressed. The action and world-building additions were there, but I think I'm a bit more keyed in to writing quality now. And for such a giant universe, there seemed like way too many humans.
One Star Wars book that did hold up for me was Tales from the Mos Eisley...more
Nov 06, 2008Ari rated it really liked it
I read this whole series several times when I was a kid. These were a lot of fun and easy to read. They really helped me along my way to enjoy reading and becoming obessed with Star Wars. This book was really one of the best. We meet alot of charaters that became close frinds to the reader. I feel Anderson was able to identify what i young adult would be lookig for in characters and hit it bullseye. Kudos for a great series.
This book is ridiculous and juvenile and talks about brandy colored eyes a little too much and I don't even care I love it I'm gonna read the entire series.
Jul 25, 2010Ron rated it liked it · review of another edition
Juvenile, but, hey, that's what it is.
May 01, 2019Jordan Anderson rated it liked it Shelves: legends, new-republic, e-book, fiction, 2019, 3-stars, young-adult, new-jedi-order, sci-fi, star-wars
Heirs to the Force and the entire YJK series is a huge blast from the past and reminds me of those mid 90’s school days when Star Wars ruled the 3rd and 4th grade classrooms alongside Goosebumps and Animorphs. I know I read this particular Young Jedi Knights novel sometime between 4th and 5th grade, but I’ll be damned if I could remember any of it.
And, as I’m working my way through the insane backlog of Star Wars related “YA” publications it’s a good thing I stumbled across these books, both for...more
And, as I’m working my way through the insane backlog of Star Wars related “YA” publications it’s a good thing I stumbled across these books, both for...more
Young Jedi Knights was one of my favorite series when I was little. It’s YA (bordering on middle grade, I think), and follows Leia and Han’s children, Jaina and Jacen, as they begin their training as Jedi Knights. It is now out of print and doesn’t seem to exist in ebook form, but copies are available on eBay for five dollars or so.
The book is a very fast read and extremely light. The characters – Jaina, Jacen, and their friends and allies – are all shells of interesting characters. They have th...more
The book is a very fast read and extremely light. The characters – Jaina, Jacen, and their friends and allies – are all shells of interesting characters. They have th...more
Whenever I read the young adult SW books, I try to read from the perspective of the target audience. Would my daughter enjoy this book? Maybe. There are certainly better ones out there. This did have a reasonable plotline, with the crashed TIE fighter pilot living in the jungle of Yavin 4 for 20 years. But the over-simplification of the conflict and resolution was just too much for me. That is, I understand, what makes a young adult novel what it is. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. I'll...more
In a galaxy far far away or more like ten years ago Heirs of the Force was my first introduction into the Star Wars Expanded Universe. This story is a quick and easy read. If my memory serves me right, a majority of the book is used to introduce new characters and highlight their strengths. The story mainly revolves the children of Han Solo and Princess Leia – Jacen and Jaina. Eventually, they decide to explore the planet they are on and stubble across an old TIE fighter and an imperial pilot. T...more
Apr 29, 2018Colin McEvoy rated it liked it
It's basically the Star Wars equivalent of the Harry Potter movies (well, at least the first couple). I mean, there's a young Jedi food fight, for goodness' sake! But that's what I'd expect from a young adult novel, so it's fine. Enjoyable enough quick read if you're an adult Star Wars book completionist like me and basically have to read it. The translator droid is basically a C-3PO rethread, and Lowbacca is basically the same for Chewbacca, but again: high literature this ain't, so who really...more
Apr 24, 2018Myke Edwards rated it it was ok · review of another edition
I tried, but this was my final Star Wars book. Being a completist, I was excited to see the adventures of Han and Leia's twins, plus some other characters (one of which just happened to be related to Chewie, because OF COURSE THERE WAS A CHARACTER LIKE THAT), and it was short.
There was a neat little plot here, but ultimately, it wasn't as tense as I'd expect. Didn't continue on, and stopped reading Star Wars after this.
I mean, come on, I was a big boy, and needed to read actual books. Glad I did...more
There was a neat little plot here, but ultimately, it wasn't as tense as I'd expect. Didn't continue on, and stopped reading Star Wars after this.
I mean, come on, I was a big boy, and needed to read actual books. Glad I did...more
I loved these books while reading them out of order as a kid, and the stories still hold up! Since they're meant mostly for kids, I can even excuse the authors' repeated efforts to beat us over the head with references from the movies. ? As I've said before, I don't mind Kevin Anderson and I actually like pretty much everything I've read by him, but he does have a tendency to refer to the movies too much. That being said, this was still a fun read, and I look forward to revisiting the rest of th...more
Aug 20, 2017David Campbell rated it it was amazing
This book was really fun and fast to read, and the story flowed very well from beginning to end. The main characters - Jacen, Jaina, and Lowbacca are all interesting characters, and the TIE pilot brought some nice tension into the story. Overall, this book has interested me in reading the other books from the YJK series.
Dec 17, 2017Jesse rated it liked it Shelves: star-wars, fiction, read-to-raven, non-comic
I read this to Raven. The writing is very wordy, and the book started off quite slow. But when the action got going it was quite tense. I love these characters and look forward to reading more to him. I especially can't wait to get to 'Lightsabers', that was my favorite as a kid.
3.5
Excited to continue with the series and see where it goes!
Excited to continue with the series and see where it goes!
A fun space opera adventure featuring the Solo kids.
Man, I hadn't read this book since middle school I think! Just as entertaining as I remember it!
Kylo Ren who? I only know Jaina and Jacen.
This is a pretty mediocre book as these things go.
On the one hand, it’s a story about Jacen and Jaina Solo learning to be Jedi at the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. On the other hand, it’s mostly poorly written and more than a little silly.
I feel like each of the main characters has exactly one personality trait. Jacen likes animals, Jaina fixes mechanical things, Lowbacca fixes computers (except his little translator droid who somebody thought it was a good idea to model after C-3PO — which brings up...more
On the one hand, it’s a story about Jacen and Jaina Solo learning to be Jedi at the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. On the other hand, it’s mostly poorly written and more than a little silly.
I feel like each of the main characters has exactly one personality trait. Jacen likes animals, Jaina fixes mechanical things, Lowbacca fixes computers (except his little translator droid who somebody thought it was a good idea to model after C-3PO — which brings up...more
Feb 27, 2017Janet rated it really liked it
this book fed my inner 12yo. it was fun, a quick read, a little danger, lots of friendship and adventure. oh yeah, it was well written.
Ok, so as I'm continuing to read the four hundred Star Wars expanded universe books in my house, and I figured I better do these ones before I entirely spoil them by reading the ones that come after.
I think my mom might have actually read us some these when I was really little. Not that I remember any of it.
Anyways, they are NOT good.
The plot could be interesting
The characters could be awesome
But they are NOT well written
This is the opposite of most books I don't like. Usually, the writing is fi...more
I think my mom might have actually read us some these when I was really little. Not that I remember any of it.
Anyways, they are NOT good.
The plot could be interesting
The characters could be awesome
But they are NOT well written
This is the opposite of most books I don't like. Usually, the writing is fi...more
I bought this book when it first came out, and was so excited for it. Jacen and Jaina getting Jedi Training and having adventures? Written by one of my favorite authors at the time, KJA? Count me in!
I had seen their birth in Zahn's book, and I was getting to watch them grow up.
Their first outing was exciting and enjoyable. I even enjoyed Lowbacca and his droid.
I finished this book quickly and wanted more, but the podunk town i lived in didn't ever get any of these at the wal mart, and the comi...more
Jan 24, 2016Amy Rae rated it really liked itI had seen their birth in Zahn's book, and I was getting to watch them grow up.
Their first outing was exciting and enjoyable. I even enjoyed Lowbacca and his droid.
I finished this book quickly and wanted more, but the podunk town i lived in didn't ever get any of these at the wal mart, and the comi...more
Shelves: adulthood-chapter-books, dont-judge-me-goodreads
I needed something light-hearted and fun to read at night, because I was reading The Great Gatsby during the day and was not about to do so right before I slept (I didn't want melancholy dreams), and Heirs of the Force was perfect. It's the first of Kevin J. Anderson's Young Jedi Knights books, a series of old EU young reader titles about Han and Leia's twin children.
I went in expecting to like the twins, loathe the Chewbacca replacement (his nephew, Lowbacca aka Lowie), and tolerate the prose,...more
I went in expecting to like the twins, loathe the Chewbacca replacement (his nephew, Lowbacca aka Lowie), and tolerate the prose,...more
May 02, 2015Jess Neuner rated it liked it
This series was one of my first forays into the Star Wars universe outside the films when I was a kid. It was less juvenile than the Junior Jedi Knights series, so I had enjoyed it more, even though I'd liked Anakin a bit more than Jacen and Jaina. Heirs to the Force really serves as an introduction to the series, to establish all four of the major characters and their strengths. Jacen is good with animals, despite continually losing his pet crystal snake, Jaina is good with machines and likes t...more
Feb 04, 2011Ley rated it really liked itRecommends it for: Fans of The New Jedi Order or Those Who Want to Read The New Jedi Order
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Jan 25, 2016Rachel rated it really liked it
Pretty sure I read all of the contributions to this series. Had a strange introduction that at the time I didn't know was an introduction--in the mid-90s I wrote and followed fanfic about a short-lived kiddie space tv show, 'Space Cases.' One author penned a delightfully creative and thorough next-generation series that was inspired by this one. Still took me awhile to figure out, and pick up the books.
Basically a creative twist on the kids in boarding school motif, lol. The Solo twins being for...more
Basically a creative twist on the kids in boarding school motif, lol. The Solo twins being for...more
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Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights(1 - 10 of 14 books)