also disappointed that much of the text in the sourcebook was a paraphrase of the Timothy Zahn novel, and also noted the "lack of adventure material. It would have been very helpful {...} if this book came with a sample adventure." He concluded with an ambivalent recommendation, saying, "If you are a Star Wars fan {...] this book is a must [...} For gamers who only collect material that pertains to the game, I would not recommend this book." In the November 1993 edition of Dragon (Issue #199), Rick Swan liked the production values of the softcover version, calling it "handsome", and thought the opening chapter provided "an excellent overview of the Republic." He called the chapters containing updates on all essential Star Wars characters and the new characters introduced in the Zahn novel "an indispensable base for staging original adventures, even for players intimately familiar with the [Zahn] novel." However, Swan wished that the book had removed information on planets and aliens and instead "used the pages for an adventure or campaign material [...] I would have preferred a collection of original scenarios or more tips on how to design them myself. It’s a frustrating omission in an otherwise superb sourcebook." He concluded by giving this book an above average rating of 4 out of 5, saying, "Heir to the Empire should be considered a core component of the New Republic line." Other reviews Backstab Issue 1 (January–February 1997, p.50, in French) See also Dark Force Rising Sourcebook, based on Zahn's second novel in the Thrawn Trilogy. The Last Command Sourcebook, based on Zahn's third novel in the Thrawn Trilogy. References Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1992 Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game supplements Thrawn