2003 | please don't steal
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Vision of the Future [by Timothy Zahn]
Vision of the Future, the conclusion of the Hand of Thrawn Duology by Timothy Zahn, was published in 1998 by Bantam Spectra Books. From the back of the paperback novel: The Empire's master plan is under way. The New Republic is on the verge of civil war and the rumor that he legendary Admiral Thrawn has returned from the dead is rallying the Imperial forces. Now Luke Skywalker, Han 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. Note from Stoja Leesa: This is my favorite Star Wars novel. Zahn's original trilogy was spectacular, but he has outdone himself with this duology. I love the development in Mara's character; she still retains her fierce taking-care-of-business nature, but we also see a softer side of her. Both Specter of the Past and this are must-reads for any Star Wars novel fan! Mara Jade's Part: [WARNING: spoilers for those who haven't read this novel] Luke boards the Jade's Fire, Mara's own ship, and chases after her to the Nirauan system, the place she has supposedly disappeared to. Upon arriving, he befriends a small creature named Child of Winds, a young Qom Qae. The alien leads Luke to Mara, who is staying with the Qom Jha, a rival clan of the same sort of mynock-like creature as Child of Winds. Along with an entourage of Qom Jha, Luke and Mara make their way to "the high tower", as the Qom Jha call it. Along the way, Mara and Luke are confronted with many realities about each other, and themselves. When they reach the high tower, they discover that the aliens living there are the same species as Grand Admiral Thrawn (Chiss)! They manage to escape unharmed, besides a small blaster wound on Mara's shoulder, back to the tunnels they came from. Exloring further, Luke and Mara discover a clone of Grand Admiral Thrawn, waiting to be activated. It is more heavily guarded than it appeared at first, and Luke and Mara are forced to battle a pair of sentinel droids. In order to defeat the droids, Luke and Mara blow away part of the wall. This results in the lake above the clone cave flooding into the chamber. As the water is rising, Luke reflects on the events he and Mara have gone through, and proposes marriage. Mara accepts, and promptly comes up with a plan for escape. She performs a 'Paparak cross-cut', which she learned in her time as the Emperor's Hand, on the wall behind the Clone, which results in an explosion large enough to blow most of the water from the chamber. Luke puts himself and Mara in Jedi trances, grabs hold of Mara, and jumps into the water. They're carried out of the chamber, and to safety. Returning to Coruscant, where the problems with Thrawn have been sorted out, Luke and Mara discuss plans for their marriage. BACK TO NOVELS |