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kb_208's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a pretty good read with a lot of character story interaction. Zahn does well with SW characters. This is only the 2nd novel of his I have read, but I am looking forward to some of the others in his collection.
rogue_leader's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jaredkwheeler's review
5.0
Star Wars Legends Project #235
Background: Allegiance was written by [a:Timothy Zahn|12479|Timothy Zahn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1215545810p2/12479.jpg] and published in January of 2007. Zahn is the author of a dozen-plus Star Wars novels from both continuities. Most of them, like this one, feature characters he created for his popular Thrawn Trilogy.
Allegiance takes place about 6 months after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters include Mara Jade, Han, Luke, and Leia. There are also significant appearances by Darth Vader, the Emperor, and Captain Ozzel, plus Mon Mothma and General Rieekan. Most of the story takes place on various planets of the Shelsha sector, most notably Drunost and Shelkonwa.
Summary: When their loyalty to the Empire comes into conflict with their loyalty to what the Empire stands for, five stormtroopers end up on the run from the dreaded Imperial Security Bureau, but find themselves fulfilling an unexpected role. Meanwhile, Mara Jade, investigating an Imperial Moff's embezzlement scheme on one of her first missions as the Emperor's Hand, and Han and Luke, tracking a group of pirates who have been hitting Rebel supply lines, stumble upon the edges of a much larger conspiracy whose ramifications could send shockwaves through both the Empire and the Rebellion.
Review: This is the Timothy Zahn content I showed up to read. A rip-roaring, densely-plotted feast of rich characters and intriguing mysteries suffused with that pure Star Wars atmosphere he writes so well. He does such an amazing job of juggling several different story lines, each a ton of fun on its own, and then deftly weaving them all together, often in ways you never saw coming. I never get tired of this kind of thing. On that level alone, this is a fantastic read from start to finish.
What I loved about it even more, though, is the way it lives up to the title. "Allegiance" truly is the guiding theme that ties the whole story together, and Zahn uses it, in particular, to explore the motivations of Imperial characters in ways we rarely see. The rogue stormtroopers who adorn the cover are, of course, the most obvious illustrations of this, as they try to navigate what it actually means to follow the oath of loyalty they all took. Do they owe that allegiance to the Empire itself, right or wrong, or to the ideals they believed the Empire represented when they swore? At the same time, Mara Jade, owing her allegiance to the Emperor alone, moves throughout the Empire at will enacting the Emperor's justice as she sees fit, independent of the corruption that festers among many of its leaders. Or is she? And, of course, Han Solo, mere months after his surprising return to help Luke save the day in the fight against the Death Star, is still very much questioning what allegiance, if any, he wants to give to the Rebel Alliance, even as his allegiance to his friends keeps him around, albeit reluctantly.
When I pick up a Star Wars book, I want to read about characters I love. I want space battles. I want Jedi mysticism. I want action and intrigue and good vs evil. And I often get those things. But when a Star Wars book can deliver all that, and also be about something, that's pretty special. And that's what this novel is.
A
Background: Allegiance was written by [a:Timothy Zahn|12479|Timothy Zahn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1215545810p2/12479.jpg] and published in January of 2007. Zahn is the author of a dozen-plus Star Wars novels from both continuities. Most of them, like this one, feature characters he created for his popular Thrawn Trilogy.
Allegiance takes place about 6 months after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters include Mara Jade, Han, Luke, and Leia. There are also significant appearances by Darth Vader, the Emperor, and Captain Ozzel, plus Mon Mothma and General Rieekan. Most of the story takes place on various planets of the Shelsha sector, most notably Drunost and Shelkonwa.
Summary: When their loyalty to the Empire comes into conflict with their loyalty to what the Empire stands for, five stormtroopers end up on the run from the dreaded Imperial Security Bureau, but find themselves fulfilling an unexpected role. Meanwhile, Mara Jade, investigating an Imperial Moff's embezzlement scheme on one of her first missions as the Emperor's Hand, and Han and Luke, tracking a group of pirates who have been hitting Rebel supply lines, stumble upon the edges of a much larger conspiracy whose ramifications could send shockwaves through both the Empire and the Rebellion.
Review: This is the Timothy Zahn content I showed up to read. A rip-roaring, densely-plotted feast of rich characters and intriguing mysteries suffused with that pure Star Wars atmosphere he writes so well. He does such an amazing job of juggling several different story lines, each a ton of fun on its own, and then deftly weaving them all together, often in ways you never saw coming. I never get tired of this kind of thing. On that level alone, this is a fantastic read from start to finish.
What I loved about it even more, though, is the way it lives up to the title. "Allegiance" truly is the guiding theme that ties the whole story together, and Zahn uses it, in particular, to explore the motivations of Imperial characters in ways we rarely see. The rogue stormtroopers who adorn the cover are, of course, the most obvious illustrations of this, as they try to navigate what it actually means to follow the oath of loyalty they all took. Do they owe that allegiance to the Empire itself, right or wrong, or to the ideals they believed the Empire represented when they swore? At the same time, Mara Jade, owing her allegiance to the Emperor alone, moves throughout the Empire at will enacting the Emperor's justice as she sees fit, independent of the corruption that festers among many of its leaders. Or is she? And, of course, Han Solo, mere months after his surprising return to help Luke save the day in the fight against the Death Star, is still very much questioning what allegiance, if any, he wants to give to the Rebel Alliance, even as his allegiance to his friends keeps him around, albeit reluctantly.
When I pick up a Star Wars book, I want to read about characters I love. I want space battles. I want Jedi mysticism. I want action and intrigue and good vs evil. And I often get those things. But when a Star Wars book can deliver all that, and also be about something, that's pretty special. And that's what this novel is.
A
artemisreads's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
camsullivan's review against another edition
3.0
It just felt a little too small and the efforts made to keep Mara Jade from meeting the big three were a little much as their stories intertwined.
hstapp's review against another edition
4.0
A first Class book. Mara's behavior seems a bit strange, but otherwise I hae no problems with it. It was a fantastic story.
jairey's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0