Update: We were given some more information regarded the 20th anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire today. First, Del Rey made it clear that Timothy Zahn would be writing the annotations, and is in fact already hard at work. Sue Rostoni (responding to a question on the StarWars.com forums – it pays to ask!) has said that they are “looking into some variations of a special cover.” You can read about the announcement of this special hardcover edition below.
Heir to the Empire
Original Story:
The 20th anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire has now been officially announced on StarWars.com, and they’ve told us a little more about it.
Next year, Del Rey Books will celebrate the 20th anniversary of this landmark novel with an anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire. The hardcover release will include insightful annotations on the text, as well an exclusive short story by Timothy Zahn featuring his most famous Star Wars creation, Grand Admiral Thrawn. The book is slated for release in June 2011.
The book currently has a release date on Amazon of June 21.
Source: StarWars.com
This could be great, I’d love to replace my tatty paperback of the book, and I really hope they’ve commissioned some good artwork for it.
But… just Heir to the Empire? Or the whole trilogy? Because it would be a real shame to not be able to get all of them.
Don’t sweat it, they will release all 3 as thier 20 year comes around. Should be a big cash cow for them.
I actually asked Sue about this on the SW forums a couple years ago. She was very sure it couldn’t happen. I’m glad something changed. I desperately want to see a different cover for this book. If that doesn’t happen I’ll still be happy to have a hardcover, this is the book I lend out the most and it’s getting destroyed.
Sorry Del Rey, but I will not buy a 20-year-old hardcover-only novel with annotations…even if it is Star Wars.
I love the book I really do it resurrected Star Wars and while it was not the first book I read it was one of the first and I loved it then and I love it now
Thrawn I loved how he was always one step ahead of the New Republic and while I could not cheer for him Thrawn was hard not to like
C’both I thought this guy was nuts from day one he was an interesting villain in his own right but not quite as good as Thrawn he served as a nice challenge for Luke and Mara the first of many
Talon Karrde Tim Zahn’s Han Solo or as I call him Mara’s Boss I always liked this guy to I could tell right from the beginning that he was going to be one of the good guys and he proves it during this book
Gallid Paleon I know I spelled his name wrong sorry This guy had an interesting run didn’t he goes from being Thrawn’s right hand man to eventually lead the Empire himself as a Grand Admiral I was sad to see him go in Revelation but I know his death paves the way for Jagged Fel to become Emperor and establish the Fel Empire
Mara Jade what can I say she is and probably always will be my second favorite Star Wars character behind only her husband who was always my top favorite Star Wars character growing up Mara has one of if not the most interesting character arcs in Star Wars in general I actually hated her at first until I read the Last Command and she quickly became a huge favorite of mine and I think she is more than worthy of the Skywalker name given her history as the Emperors Hand to this day I am still mad about how Karen Traviss butchered Mara in Sacrifice just so Ben Skywalker would wake up and realize that his cousin was the bad guy seriously it makes Ben look worse not better
Mara is one of those characters that can never truly be replaced as hard as the writers try to with Ben’s love interest Vestara Khai
I don’t know if I will get this or not it depends on what comes with it but I just might who knows I need to know more first