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Coming Jan 2023, we will be reading Heir to the Empire. Grab a copy of the book and get ready to follow along with us as we go chapter by chapter. Chapter 1 coming January 2023...

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Hello There! You've found the first episode of The Lost Holocron! Join our book club as each transmission we punctuate a single chapter with discussion. Whether you read along or not, you can follow the action and join our community discussions. Readers and nonreaders welcome!

Our first book is Heir to the Empire, written by Timothy Zahn, first published in 1991. It has a cast of familiar and new characters, such as fan favourites Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade. If you've never read a Star Wars Legends book, this is a great place to start.

Five years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Chewbacca find themselves in new challenges and adventures.

Five years after the Battle of Endor, aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer, Chimaera, Captain Pallaeon reminisces about the decline of the Empire.

A raiding mission to retrieve data from the border system of Obroa-skai brings pursuers, and Pallaeon gets to see Grand Admiral Thrawn demonstrate his tactical superiority.

Thrawn savours his progress in "the only puzzle with solving … the complete, total, and utter destruction of the Rebellion."

• High Human Culture and xenophobia in the Galactic Empire | Wookieepedia
• Ancient Pyramids Around the World | History | Smithsonian Magazine
• Snowblindness | Photokeratitis - Wikipedia

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Chapter 2 of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (1991) (EU: 9 ABY) by Timothy Zahn.

Beyond the continually expanding borders of the New Republic, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Captain Pallaeon are gathering strength as Thrawn pieces together his master plan to utterly destroy what he still views as "the Rebellion".

The introduction of our scattered trio some months after the first chapter:

On Coruscant, Luke is farewelled by an ostensibly distracted Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke is feeling depressed by the enormity of representing the mythological Jedi and rebuilding the Order on his own.

Leia has begun her Jedi training but is also buried under political responsibility. We are introduced to her aide, Winter, who has an eidetic memory.

Han and Chewie are on Tatooine trying to recruit smugglers to fulfil the logistical requirements of the New Republic. They're also accompanied by Wedge Antilles and a new character Page, who is described as completely unremarkable.

• American History X (1998) is not American Graffiti (1973) (IMDb)
• The Book of Boba Fett (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDb
• The Many Accents in Star Wars Explained and The Many Accents in Star Wars Pt 2 by Generation Tech

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• Interesting the 9 week time skip. It would be easy to miss the few hints left in the chapter.
• Poor Luke.
• What do you think of the political move to establish the New Republic Council in the Imperial Palace?
• Leia seems like a control freak until the line that she is the only one that has legit political experience.
• Wedge as the false flag was a good plan. I liked that.
• Ben “loved” Luke. Nice to see a healthy expression of platonic love. Also Luke loves Leia
• Interesting circle created by the setting: Luke thinks he’s on Tatooine, actually on Coruscant, connected by Threepeo to Leia, she thinks about Han, and we are carried back to Tatooine, where Han is also thinking about Luke/Ben.
• Force ghosts just linger for a time before moving beyond? I’m not sure how I feel about that interpretation. If the Force binds all things, shouldn’t there be no “beyond?”
• Interesting that Coruscant has mountains.
• Chewie seems absent, despite being there for Han’s whole conversation with Dravis.
• Was Han also drinking hot chocolate?
• Luke definitely should go to therapy. He's still obviously on edge and for good reason.
• Luke feeling the presence of leia and her twins from halfway across the palace is incredible

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Chapter 3 of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (1991) (EU: 9 ABY) by Timothy Zahn.

Five years after the Empire’s defeat over Endor in RotJ on the ex-Imperial capital of Coruscant, Luke, Leia, and Han are struggling not only with their evolving identities, but also with the demands on their expertise as the militaristic Rebellion aspires to establish a legitimate and functioning government.

Meanwhile, the Empire has been continuously losing territory to the blossoming New Republic. However, tactical genius Grand Admiral Thrawn is uniting Imperial Remnants and piecing together his master plan to utterly destroy what he still views as "the Rebellion".

On the planet of Myrkr, We are introduced to the smuggler Talon Karrde and one of his newest employees, Mara Jade. Talon invites Jade to dinner under the pretence of surprising her with a promotion, but he is covertly attempting to glean more about her mysterious past.

During their dinner, the Chimaera arrives and sends a landing party to the surrounding forest. Karrde reaches out and is met with a stern Captain Pallaeon. Karrde deduces the Empire intends to collect ysalamiri, though he can only guess as to why.

• Mara Jade [spoilers] | Wookieepedia
• Heir to the Empire | Wookieepedia
• Star Wars Legends | Wookieepedia
• Landos_Winning_Smile.PNG
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• Billy Dee Williams - Credits (text only) - IMDb
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• List of Star Wars books - Wikipedia
• Jedi Order | Wookieepedia
• Grand Master | Wookieepedia
• Toupée fallacy - RationalWiki

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• Ysalamiri pose a threat to Jedi?
• This chapter has cat and mouse all over it.
• Jade's hot topic list: pre-Endor Empire, the Emperor, Vader's death, Skywalker
• Does Karrde actually want to promote Jade?
• Jade "stiffens" when she knows the Imperials are going into the forest
• Toupee fallacy and Karrde's opinions on luck
• Karrde slipping Thrawn’s name
• What is Jade’s history?
• Jade and Luke are gon

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Chapter 4 of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (1991) (EU: 9 ABY) by Timothy Zahn.

Five years after the Empire’s defeat over Endor in RotJ on the ex-Imperial capital of Coruscant, Luke, Leia, and Han are struggling not only with their evolving identities, but also with the demands on their expertise as the militaristic Rebellion aspires to establish a legitimate and functioning government.

Meanwhile, led by Warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Empire is gathering strength to regain lost ground against the New Republic. His plan takes an expedition to Myrkr, where Captain Pallaeon and Tallon Karrde parley for the Empire to collect the native ysalamiri. Karrde suspects it is a tool to use against Luke Skywalker, though to what end he can only guess.

Grand Admiral Thrawn and Captain Pallaeon travel to Wayland, a low-tech world hiding a storehouse of the late Emperor's personal treasures and technology salient to Thrawn’s grand plan. Expecting a Dark Jedi Guardian, Thrawn thwarts the usurping ruler Joruus C’baoth’s snare with a demonstration of the ysalamiri's unusual ability to vacate the Force.

Thrawn bargains with C’baoth to secure his allegiance in exchange for the capture of Leia’s unborn Jedi twins, whom C’baoth would mould as he sees fit. Pallaeon believes C'baoth to be unstable and a dubious ally, despite Thrawn’s confidence. Thrawn reveals that C'baoth is a clone of a Jedi Master, whose assassination Thrawn was personally involved in before the Clone Wars and Great Jedi Purge.

• Bowcaster | Wookieepedia | Fandom
• Cut-resistant gloves - Wikipedia
• Lightsaber forms and Lightsaber combat | Wookieepedia
• Cover Art of Heir to the Empire | Wookieepedia
• Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV Series 2005–2008) - IMDb
• "Shoot him, he's the clone" - TV Tropes
• How It's Made, Candles.
• Saponification: Making Soap

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• C’baoth is highly respected on Wayland
• Thrawn and C’baoth differing ideology on conquest and power
• DON’T MESS WITH RUKH
• The way the crypt was presented was excellent
• Thrawn’s disapproval of the Emperor's centralisation of the military
• A cult leader is an interesting spin on a villain
• “Old Republic” means something different now
• What in evolution do you mean lizards repel the force?
• Anyone dying by arrow in-universe is a bit much
• The speed of SFX in th

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Chapter 5 of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (1991) (EU: 9 ABY) by Timothy Zahn.

Five years after the Empire’s defeat over Endor in RotJ on the ex-Imperial capital of Coruscant, Luke, Leia, and Han are struggling not only with their evolving identities, but also with the demands on their expertise as the militaristic Rebellion aspires to establish a legitimate and functioning government.

On Myrkr, smugglers Talon Karrde and Mara Jade observed Imperial Warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn collect the native ysalamiri, which have a unique ability to vacate the Force.

Thrawn then travels to Wayland on the hunt for technology left by the late Emperor that will aid in his plan to retake territory from — and ultimately destroy — the New Republic. While there, he encounters Jedi clone Jaruus C'baoth, whose allegiance he gains by offering him Leia's unborn twins.

Han delivers a report on his mission to recruit smugglers to facilitate trade within the New Republic. Its lack of progress fans the flames in the ongoing feud between the present Commander in Chief, Admiral Ackbar, and the ambitious Borsk Fey'lya, Council Member and an important leader of the Bothan faction. After a short quarrel, Mon Mothma deescalates the situation by adjourning the meeting.

Han is told that Luke will be accompanying him and Leia on their diplomatic mission to Bimmisaari. Leia seems keen to sojourn away from the political capital.

• Keeper of the Holocron, Leland Chee | Wookieepedia
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• Spaceballs (1987) The IMDb Entry

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• Zahn adds details about aliens right when you need to know
• How long should a chapter in a book (scene in a movie) be?
• Mon Mothma is a pragmatic politician, war seems to have strained her severely
• Why is it that Leia seems to have little patience for politics?
• What is the narrative of Luke at Endor to the wider galaxy?
• What do you think Han is feeling when he says, “Sure, just exactly like old times?”

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Chapter 6 of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (1991) (EU: 9 ABY) by Timothy Zahn.

Five years after the Empire’s defeat over Endor in Return of the Jedi (1983), and unbeknownst to the New Republic, Imperial Warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn is taking strides in collecting tools and technology left by the late Emperor to aid in his plan to retake territory from — and ultimately destroy — the New Republic.

After a parley with smugglers Talon Karrde and Mara Jade to collect ysalamir, Thrawn weaponises their obscure ability for creating voids in the Force to neutralise Dark Jedi clone Joruus C'baoth and negotiate his allegiance by offering him Leia's unborn twins.
Meanwhile on Coruscant, political infighting seems to be stalling the establishment of structured governance within the Council of the New Republic. Despite personal growing pains, numerous responsibilities, and logistical issues, Han, Leia, and now Luke are assigned a diplomatic mission to Bimmisaari. Luke, it seems, has been requested to join them last minute.

Han and Leia travel with Luke and C-3PO to the planet Bimmisaari on a diplomatic mission to negotiate the terms of the Bimm joining the New Republic. Leaving Chewbacca and R2-D2 on the Millennium Falcon, the four are treated to a brief greeting ceremony. However, before they can arrive at the planetary government, news arrives that the key negotiator for the Bimm has suddenly taken ill.

Luke and Han are invited to inspect relics of the Old Republic while Leia is shown around the market, but a suspicious Han decides to join Leia instead. His suspicions prove true when they find themselves encircled by numerous armed individuals of an alien species they don't recognise.

• Roman concrete - Wikipedia
• Star Wars: Heir to the Empire - Part One (fixed!) by DarthAngelus - YouTube
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• Human | Wookieepedia
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• Humanocentrism | Wookieepedia

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• Of all the tech in SW, they don't have remote locking on their spaceships?
• Cursing and exclamations in SW: "Good skies!"
• Old Republic relics are a good honeypot for Luke but not Han.
• Luke didn't sense duplicity
• Was the store owner trying to warn?
• Stokhli sticks: shoot a spraynet mist 200 m and has enough juice to take down a gundark.
• capitalisation of species names
• What do you think they mean by “middle era?”
• The greys with spider sticks

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