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BooksThe Icarus Changeling
Cover of The Icarus Changeling by Timothy Zahn
№ 4 · The Icarus Saga

The Icarus Changeling,

by Timothy Zahn

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Rating3.7/ 5
Ratings3
Pages—
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Published2024
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§Synopsis

01

Gregory Roarke — agent for the ultra-secret Icarus Group – has received a new assignment: locate a teleportation portal on a backwater colony world. But what should be a an easy assignment leads to a string of murders, and a race against an alien enemy. Gregory Roarke—former bounty hunter, former Trailblazer, current agent for the ultra-secret Icarus Group—has received a new assignment: locate a suspected but as-yet undiscovered teleportation portal on the backwater colony world of Alainn. The rival Patth are also searching for the device, and have considerably more resources at their disposal. Fortunately, Roarke has Selene and her incredibly sensitive Kadolian sense of smell. On paper, it should be a straightforward enough job. But that was before there was a murder in the small town of Bilswift . . . and another one . . . and the discovery that the Patth are already on the scene and have narrowed the search to a heavily forested area in the hills and mountains east of town. Most disturbing of all is the discovery that one of Selene’s people, a Kadolian teenaged boy named Tirano, is working at one of Bilswift’s fish markets. A boy who may have lost his parents before his proper socialization was completed. A boy who may be connected to both the murders and the Patth. A boy who may be the potentially dangerous wild card that the Kadolians call changelings.

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§About the Author

Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn

4 books in catalog

Science fiction literature expanded significantly through the detailed galactic narratives and intricate military strategy developed in space opera and tie-in storytelling. Author Timothy Zahn introduced pivotal characters and expansive lore to the Star Wars expanded universe while publishing dozens of standalone novels and original science fiction series across several decades.

Career & Background

Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Lombard, Timothy Zahn studied physics at Michigan State University before turning his attention to full-time fiction writing. His early work in short fiction earned major critical recognition when his novella Cascade Point won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1984. Zahn gained broad public attention with the release of Heir to the Empire, a bestselling novel set after the events of Return of the Jedi that introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade. Over his career, Zahn has written more than forty novels, including the Conquerors' Trilogy, the YA Dragonback series beginning with Dragon and Thief, and multiple original sci-fi sagas.

Writing Style & Themes

Zahn is recognized for combining technical precision, tactical military science fiction, and fast-paced adventure. His narrative style frequently emphasizes strategic planning, political maneuvering, and logical problem-solving over raw force. In original work like his Icarus series—which includes titles such as The Icarus Job, The Icarus Needle, and The Icarus Changeling—as well as his media tie-in work, Zahn consistently examines themes of duty, military discipline, alien diplomacy, and high-stakes interstellar survival.

Major Works

  • Heir to the Empire — A bestselling Star Wars novel set after Return of the Jedi that launched the Thrawn Trilogy and revitalized interest in Star Wars prose fiction.
  • Cascade Point — A celebrated science fiction novella that won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1984.
  • The Icarus Job — An original sci-fi adventure novel exploring interspecies dynamics and high-stakes space exploration in Zahn's Icarus universe.
  • The Icarus Needle — An entry in the Icarus series showcasing Zahn's signature focus on tactical strategy and suspense.
  • The Icarus Changeling — A novel expanding the sci-fi mystery and strategic conflicts within the Icarus setting.
  • Dragon and Thief — The first book in the Dragonback young adult series, named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

§Featured Series

The Icarus Saga

Cover of The Icarus Job by Timothy Zahn

The Icarus Job

Timothy Zahn, 2024
Cover of The Icarus Changeling by Timothy Zahn

The Icarus Changeling

Timothy Zahn, 2024
Cover of The Icarus Needle by Timothy Zahn

The Icarus Needle

Timothy Zahn, 2024

Featured In Lists

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2024 Book Releases

1000 books