Thrawn: Star Wars Novel

By Reggie's Take on April 13, 2017

Everyone’s favorite blue skinned villain from the galaxy far, far away has returned in a new novel for the first time since the 1990’s.

During last years Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 it was announced that Grand Admiral Thrawn would be appearing in the third season of the animated television series Star Wars Rebels along with a brand new novel. All of this news meant one thing; Thrawn would now be a part of the official Star Wars cannon and if you are a Star Wars fan you were thrilled with the news.

What made the news even better was the announcement that Timothy Zahn the author who originally created and wrote a trilogy about the character would be returning to write the new novel. Fast forward to April of 2017 and the new novel is finally here.

The big difference with the new Thrawn novel from the original trilogy of books Zahn wrote in the 90’s is the time period Thrawn takes place. In the original novels Zahn wrote, commonly refereed to as the “Heir to the Empire” trilogy, Thrawn was post “Return of the Jedi”. In this new novel we meet him before the events of Rebels and “A New Hope”.

What I like about this new setting for Thrawn is the chance to see him interact with such iconic characters from the Empire such as the Emperor and possibly even Darth Vader.

Thrawn will cover the course of several years, starting with the first time Thrawn encountered the Galactic Empire and ending just before the start of the third season of Star Wars Rebels.

Author: Timothy Zahn
Publisher: Del Rey
Release date: April 11, 2017
Pages 446 (hardcover)
Check out a clip from the audio version of the book

Thrawn Summary:
One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating characters in the Star Wars universe. From his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahn’s classic Heir to the Empire, through his continuing adventures in Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, and beyond, Grand Admiral Thrawn has earned an iconic status among Star Wars’ greatest villains. But Thrawn’s origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power—and infamy.

After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again—even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.

All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral—and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire’s grip on the galaxy—and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy