Heir to the Empire: The Unofficial Audiobook - A Star Wars Fan Project
Project Overview
DISCLAIMER - THIS PROJECT IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT PRODUCTION. WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH LUCASFILM OR THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY IN ANY MANNER.
You must be 18 or older to participate in this project.
“Star Wars: Heir to the Empire” was the first in a series of books published in the 1990’s which followed the events of the original series of “Star Wars” films. Set 5 years after “Return of the Jedi”, this book follows Luke, Han, and Leia as they navigate the complicated world of politics brought on by the emergence of the New Republic, and take on a sinister threat in the remains of the Empire, led by Emperor Palpatine’s hand-picked Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Voice Actors and Readers must have a good-sounding microphone to record with. Please do not use a cell phone. USB microphones and auxiliary microphones will both work excellently for this project. You will be given 11 days each month to record your lines for the chapter we work on. Do not alter your voice with any autotune or effects. Export your audio as a .mp3 or .wav file, and then upload it to the corresponding Discord channel.
Editors and Sound Engineers must be experienced in an editing program such as Audacity or Adobe Audition. You will be given 3 weeks each month to edit the chapter being worked on during that time. Work together to make sound effects, narration, and dialogue flow smoothly, in a way that sounds natural and brings the story to life.
There are 32 chapters in “Heir to the Empire”. The goal is to complete production on 1-2 chapters from the book each month, with the entire story being released in one lump sum by the end of those 32 months.
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Must be able to efficiently edit together audio, sound effects, and music in a program such as Audacity or Adobe Audition. Must export completed chapters in FLAC, .wav, or .mp3 format.
- adobe audition
- amateur audio editing
- audio editing (audacity)
- audio editing (basic)
- audio editing (adobe audition)
- audacity
*Say something you think would fit*
Must have a good microphone and an engaging voice that will keep listeners hooked.
- english
- androgynous
- warm
- narration
Wedge glanced down at his nav scope, made a minor adjustment to his speed, looked back up again— And in the space of a single heartbeat, the whole thing went straight to hell. The freighter blew up. All at once, without any warning from sensors, without any hint from previous visual observation, it just came apart.
Artoo beeped; and with a slight lurch, the torpedo was away. Luke watched it go, reaching out with the Force to give it a slight realignment tap— And a second later, with a spectacular multiple flash of sympathetic detonations, the freighter blew up.
Han turned. Beside them had appeared a medium-height, medium-build, totally nondescript-looking man. The kind of man no one would really notice; the kind who could blend invisibly into almost any surroundings.
Luke Skywalker is a Jedi Knight who is in his mid twenties. Gone is the boyish farm boy we knew in "A New Hope". Rather, this Luke is mature, confident in the Force.
Mark Hamill soundalikes preferred but not required.
(Thinking aloud, resigned) "I'm just a little depressed, I guess. Putting together a real, functioning government is a lot harder than I expected. Harder than most of the Council members expected, too. Mostly, I guess I'm missing Ben tonight."
(Playing a part, acting) "My name's Jade. Got a gift here for Talon Karrde. I don't suppose he sent some transport, did he?"
(Calm, Happy) "You have a unique perspective on the universe, Threepio. As a matter of fact, you might have just delivered Ben's last lesson to me. "Governments and entire planets are important, Threepio. But when you sift everything down, they're all just made up of people."
Captain of the Millenium Falcon, Husband to Leia Organa, and acclaimed war captain. Han is cocky, headstrong, and brash. His best friends are Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker.
- male adult
(Assuring) "Don't worry, he'll be here. It's just Dravis. I don't think he's ever been on time for anything in his whole life."
(Nervous, Determined) "They're herding us toward the down ramp. Must be trying to take us without stirring up the crowd."
(Confident, Positive) "You need a pilot? You're looking at him, kid! I completed the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs."
Once the princess of Alderaan and leader of the rebellion, Leia Organa Solo is now a senator and Jedi-in-training. She can use the Force rudimentarily, but not very well. She is expecting Twins soon. Sister to Luke Skywalker, Wife to Han Solo.
- female adult
- confident
"(Dry, sarcastic) Tell me about it... (breaks, defeated) I don't know, Winter—I really don't. He told Threepio that he misses Ben Kenobi, but I can tell that's not all of it."
(Urgent) "Han, we're surrounded! They found us! What are we going to do?"
(Realizing, Positive) "Perhaps that's the problem! Maybe all those old fighting reflexes are getting in my way."
A rogue, suave scoundrel, and the leader of Nomad City. Like Han, he is headstrong, cocky and confident.
Billy Dee Williams soundalike preferred, but not required.
- male adult
- warm
(Alert) Stormtroopers! Cover Me, Chewie! This is gonna get hairy!
(Warm, welcoming, cocky) "Wait till you see it from the inside. It's about time you people came to visit, I might add. Are Leia and Chewie with you?"
"It wasn't an out-and-out theft, actually, though it came pretty close. I had a little semi-legit clearinghouse for used ships at the time, and I ran short of money in a sabacc game Han and I were playing. I offered him his pick of any of my ships if he won."
A prim and proper protocol droid, C-3P0 was created by Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker. He's often very talkative and nervous.
- british
- all english accents
- male adult
(Introductory, welcoming) "Hello there! I am C-3P0, Human Cyborg Relations. And this here is my counterpart, R2-D2!"
"Hello, Master Luke. I'm terribly sorry to disturb you. How might I be of assistance?"
"Oh my! We're doomed!"
Assassin-For-Hire and former right hand to Emperor Palpatine. Mara is conflicted, torn between the light side and the dark side of the Force.
She is out for blood, intent on murdering Luke Skywalker for taking her master away from her.
- female adult
(Cool, conversational) "You were telling me this was a business meal. It's certainly the nicest meal I've had in a while."
(Biting, Harsh) "Save your gratitude. As far as I'm concerned, the only question left is whether we turn you over to the Imperials or kill you ourselves."
(Unleashed Anger) "I was the Emperor's right hand! I was Mara Jade! YOU took EVERYTHING from me!"
Smuggler, crime lord, and information broker, currently working with Mara Jade. His allegiance lies with no one, until he reluctantly saves Luke from being stranded in space.
Later on comes to be a valued ally to Luke, Han and Leia.
- male adult
- hispanic
- south american
"Skywalker will have to be moved somewhere a bit more out of the way—we obviously can't risk Solo and Calrissian stumbling over him. I want you to move him to the number four storage shed."
(Innocently) "Of course. I haven't heard of Grand Admiral Thrawn, either. Certainly not in connection with the Chimaera . Or with some intriguing information raids on several systems in the Obroa-skai region, either."
(Adamant) "Suspicion is better than unequivocal proof. And if we can't intercept them while they're still in the forest, it may be the best we're going to get."
The last standing Admiral from among the Emperor's cabinet. He is cool, calculating, and deadly. Rather than talking down to his inferiors, he uses each move as a teaching moment.
He is often emotionless and hard to read. His goal is to restore the Empire to its former glory.
- deep
- dark
- all english accents
- Cold
- male adult
- Commanding
(Chilling, Deadly, Calm) "Do you know the difference between an error and a mistake, Ensign? (Long Pause) Anyone can make an error, Ensign. But that error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it."
(Reminiscing) "All holographic, of course. The sculptures and flats both. Some of them are lost; many of the others are on planets now occupied by the Rebellion."
"You were expecting, perhaps, that I'd order an all-out attack? That I would seek to cover our defeat in a frenzy of false and futile heroics? No. We haven't been defeated, Captain: merely slowed down a bit."
Right-Hand Man to Grand Admiral Thrawn. He is fiercely loyal to the Empire, yet most of the time is unsure what to make of Thrawn's methods.
- male adult
(Cold and Commanding) "This is the bridge of an Imperial Star Destroyer. Routine information is not—repeat, NOT —simply shouted in the general direction of its intended recipient. Is that clear?"
(Informative) "I thought you'd want to know, Admiral, that the scouts have returned from the Obroa-skai system. The wing commander will be ready for debriefing in a few minutes."
(Nervous, Confused) "S-sir? I don't quite understand your motives for this attack."
An old yet extremely powerful Jedi Master, persuaded into aiding the Empire with the promise of new Jedi students. C'Baoth is off his rocker, wise yet insane, driven mad in his lust for power, and by his inability to remember his past, or where he came from.
- male senior
(Smug, devolving into intimidating) "I killed them, of course. Just as I killed the Guardian. Just as I now kill you."
"This, Grand Admiral Thrawn, is power. This city—this planet— these people. Every human, Psadan, and Myneyrsh who live here are mine. Mine . I teach them. I command them. I punish them. Their lives, and their deaths, are in my hand."
"You say you can deliver...new Jedi apprentices...to me? The Order... can be restored?"
Admiral of the New Republic, works closely with Leia Organa Solo and Mon Mothma.
- male adult
It's A Trap!
(Disgusted) "So once again your smuggler friends refuse to commit themselves. You'll recall that I disagreed with this idea all along."
"May the Force be with us all."
A leader of the New Republic, she is very diplomatic, with a regal air about her. Works closely with Leia Organa Solo and Admiral Ackbar to assist in reconstructing this new system of government.
- all english accents
- female adult
- Regal
"What the smugglers are waiting for "is the same thing the rest of the galaxy is waiting for: the formal reestablishment of the principals and law of the Old Republic . That is our first and primary task, Councilors: to become the New Republic in fact as well as in name."
Secondary Role.
Ghent is a computer hacker and slicer who works for Karrde. He's loyal to his friends, but naive and absentminded. The youngest on Karrde's crew.
- male young adult
"Han and Chewbacca attacked a Zygerrian slaver ship. Just the two of them. The Zygerrians were so scared they abandoned ship."
(Amazed) "But then you know what he did? He gave the ship over to the slaves they found locked up in the hold. Gave it to them—just like that! Including all the cargo, too."
Co-Leader of the Rogue Squadron and friend to Luke Skywalker, Wedge is a celebrated war veteran who helps the New Republic out wherever he can. Great pilot, hell of a fighter.
- male adult
(Grim) "As you can see, this place is quite a mess. Lot's of damage, but it could have been worse."
(Explanatory) "He was one of the major Jedi Masters back in pre-Empire days. "Supposed to have disappeared before the Clone Wars started. I heard a rumor a couple of days ago that he's surfaced again and set up shop on some minor world named Jomark."
(Calling out orders) "Lock S-Foils in attack position! Evasive maneuvers!"
Leia Organa Solo's handmaiden and confidante. She's always concerned for her friend's wellbeing.
- female adult
(Soft, concerned) "Your highness? Are you alright? I saw the light coming out from under your door and thought you might need something."
(Conversational) "Han? I wanted to know if you had any idea yet when you and Princess Leia would be returning."
You will be playing a variety of background characters or extras in the audiobook. Must be able to put on multiple voices or impressions.
- androgynous
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
"Where's Nemo? I have to find my son, Nemo!"
"Hi! We've been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty!"
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