Star Wars: Allegiance

A Star Wars novel set between the events of Epsiode IV: A New Hope and Epsiode V: The Empire Strikes Back, it features a younger Han, Leia, and Luke, as well as Mara Jade. Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand, is looking into the illicit financial affairs of a planetary governor, hoping to find evidence that he might be funding the Rebellion. Luke, Han, and Chewbacca are sent on a mission to help some rebel supporters. Leia is busy being a diplomat, trying to drum up support for the Rebel Alliance. And a band of 5 stormtroopers, on the run after refusing a direct order, finds itself in the strange position of doing good deeds...and perhaps even aiding the Rebellion. The paths of all of them will crisscross back and forth as they come closer and closer to meeting up with one another...but never quite managing to.

a really interesting take on the difference between what ordinary people belive the Empire to be and its reality, an epic tale of battle, intrigue and treachery...a conflict to stir the soul and excite the senses, to open up the ultimate path to adventure and offer new visitors on an eternal struggle

Timothy Zahn is the author of more than forty novels, nearly ninety short stories and novellas, and four short-fiction collections. In 1984, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novella. Zahn is best known for his Star Wars novels (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, Specter of the Past, Vision for the Future, Survivor's Quest, Outbound Flight, Allegiance, Choices of One, and Scoundrels), with more than four million copies of his books in print. Other books inlcude the Cobra series, the Quadrail series, and the young adult Dragonback series. Zahn has a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University and an M.S. from the University of Illinois. He lives with his family on the Oregon coast.