Since we enjoy all the fun stuff that happens in other galaxies, we
now present the best in the books on the Star Wars universe, which is
a bit different than our own. After that, we have more down to earth
stuff, with the latest releases, the 2001 cMusicWeb.com Awards (and
your chance to win), plus a buch more. So keep reading, and you'll
have your fix for the week. Also, have a blessed Valentine's day.

HEIR TO THE EMPIRE - TIMOTHY ZAHN (1991)
by Josh M. Shepherd
Venturing beyond the familiar worlds of Tatooine, Endor and the like,
Heir to the Empire shuttles readers from the dizzying heights of
Kashyyyk, to the prestigious proceedings of Coruscant's Grand Council
as it tracks the infancy of the New Republic. The latest threat
facing it is not one to be scoffed at. The only remaining of Emperor
Palpatine's trusted Grand Admirals, the half human Thrawn is bent on
destroying the newly established democracy to restore the Empire.
Thrawn has a gift of determining the weakness of every alien race by
studying its art. His power is strengthened by the insane clone of a
Jedi Master, Joruus C'baoth, who is enlisted to coordinate the
Empire's space battles, a tactic once used successfully by the late
Emperor. For his services, however, C'baoth demands that the last of
the Jedi - Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo, and the twins developing
in her womb - be given to him for dark side apprenticeship. Luke is
gravely troubled from hearing the call of another prospective Jedi
Master (C'baoth), and is eventually captured by the smuggler Talon
Karrde. Facing strained relations with either Thrawn's Imperial
forces or the New Republic if he submits Luke to either faction,
Karrde confines Skywalker on his home base of Myrkh, a planet
distinguished by Force-repellent creatures that render Jedi vision
and reflexes useless.

Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Han Solo devises a scheme to give his
pregnant wife a much-need break from her over-burdened schedule as
Councilor. Han's wookie co-pilot, Chewbacca, whisks her off to his
home world of Kashyyyk. In a singular series of events, Solo and
Lando Calrissian arrive on the very world where Luke is imprisoned,
only to learn of their friend's attempted escape and subsequent crash
in Myrkh's dense, dangerous jungles. Worse, he is followed by an
associate of Karrde's who desperately wants him dead. She is Mara
Jade.

Escaping unhurt from their gunboats, Jade and Skywalker realize it'll
be a three-day walk back to civilization. Their arduous trek reveals
a little of Mara's past-withholding some details for the next two
books-and eventually ends in an explosive ambush set by Han, Lando
and their new ally Karrde. Concluding with an electrifying, against-
all-odds space conflict, Heir to the Empire not only brings back the
rich and cataclysmic Star Wars universe but also possesses a decided
depth of thought and action, which is far more than what is possible
in any two-hour movie.

Find out more about Heir to the Empire:
http://cMusicWeb.com/books/starwars/heirtotheempire.shtml


VALENTINE'S DAY - A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
You may have noticed that we aren't into Valentine's day as much as
those other websites. No, we don't pink hearts plastered all over
the site, and we haven't been reminding you to get your loved one
great gifts from cMusicWeb.com. Most places have turned it into
commercial gift-giving, almost like Christmas, except more "love"
oriented. However, we at cMusicWeb.com do not buy into this type
of "love", but instead we promote true Love. This Love goes a lot
farther than giving your loved one a pastel candy heard that
says "Kiss Me" on it. As scriptrue states, "Love is patient, love is
kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is
not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with
the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails." Now, that doesn't sound like what
you see in this world, where divorces are almost as popular as
marriages.

If you'd like to learn more about forming good relationships and
unconditional love, we reccommend books by Joshua Harris:
http://cMusicWeb.com/books/ikisseddatinggoodbye


AVAILABLE YESTERDAY (at cMusicWeb.com and your local store):

EXTREME DAYS MOVIE SOUNDTRACK - VARIOUS ARTISTS
This new compilation from ForeFront has its ups and downs. Featuring
brand new song from dc Talk members doing their own thing, Toby puts
in the Jesus Freak-styled title track, and Tait Band delivers a great
rock single, along with a compilation of old stuff from band such as
P.O.D. and the Newsboys, plus new song from unheard of artists and
good instrumentals sountrack bits from Klaus Badelt. This movie is
going to be EXTREME, so this is the PICK OF THE WEEK.

OPEN SKY - IONA
The best Celtic rock band is back with a brand new album, putting
together some electric guitars with more outlandish instruments like
bagpipes, sax, and more for a very soothing yet powerful sound.

TAKE US TO THE RIVER - ACOUSTIC WORSHIP SERIES
This collection of mostly new songs, along with another release of
the same series, starts a new kind of music for the Worship Together
label, and intimate, acoustic worship setting. Produced by John
Hartley from the Heaven and Earth project and Derry Daugherty from
the Choir, this release is bound to bring hope in those times when
you don't feel like praising God and just need to meditate.

UNSPOKEN TRUTH - VINEYARD MUSIC
The latest in the huge Touching the Father's Heart series, this live
Vineyard release was recorded at a service in California and the
diverse talents of worship leaders like Brent Helming and Dan
Whiteman.

WE WANT TO SEE JESUS LIFTED HIGH - VARIOUS ARTISTS
Another compilation from the Worship Together label, this one is
supposed to feature some of the best songs from the British
awakening, but I found the songs (except for the title track) much
less powerful than Revival Generation's 12 Songs that Rocked a Nation
or Live and Unreserved.

WE BOW DOWN - ACOUSTIC WORSHIP SERIES
Also produced by Derry Daugherty and John Hartley, this release is
more of the same in the Acoustic Worship Series from Worship Together.


THE 2001 cMUSICWEB.COM AWARDS - VOTE NOW!
Why vote? No, it's not a duty to your country, but it's your duty to
see the absolute best will win. We want only the best artist and
albums in the year 2000 of Christian Music to win, so you, the
people, decide who that is. But, wait, there's more...

If you vote, you are automatically entered into our contest! We will
pick one Grand Prize winner, who will recieve the best albums in the
categories of Best Rock Album, Best Alternative Album, Best Pop
Album, Best Worship Album, and the latest album of the New Artist of
the Year! Plus, five more 1st place winners get their choice of one
of those CDs! So, vote now, and you might win!

Vote here right away:
http://cMusicWeb.com/vote


AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER (on cMusicWeb.com)

ROCK: http://cMusicWeb.com/rock
Hit Parade - Audio Adrenaline [03/13]

Click on the album titles on the genre page to order them and recieve
them on the release date.


THIS WEEK'S CHRISTIAN HIT RADIO CHARTS
> Unfortunately, we have Stacie at the top, but Third Day
> opens at #6, threating to dominate. Welcome to 40 Days!
1. Genuine - Stacie Orrico
2. Lay it Down - Jennifer Knapp
3. Joy - Newsboys
4. Say the Words (Now) - dc Talk
5. Wake Up - LaRue
6. These Thousand Hills - Third Day
7. Treasure - Tree63
8. Worth It All - Michael W. Smith
9. Strangely Normal - Phil Joel
10. Long Way Home - Forty Days

SOURCE: CCM Update (http://www.ccmupdate.com/)


cMUSICWEB UPDATES
• New book review - STAR WARS: Heir to the Empire:
http://cMusicWeb.com/books/starwars/heirtotheempire.shtml
• Changed the look of the Left Behind Pages:
http://cMusicWeb.com/books/index.shtml#LEFTBEHIND


We're looking forward to bigger and better things in the future, so
stay tuned to cMusicWeb.com. Next week we will deliver you an
eXclusive Interview with Owen Thomas, the lead singer of The Elms!
As always, we'd love to know how we're doing on this site, so send
your comments and don't forget to VOTE!

Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
ICQ - 43224317 AOL IM - dMusicWeb