After stumbling upon an exiled Chiss on an abandoned planet, the Empire quickly realizes they may have found a new weapon. With his powerful intellect and devastating cunning, Thrawn is soon enrolled in the Imperial Academy on Coruscant along with Eli Vanto, new cadet for the Empire, serving as his translator. Despite mounting unhappiness with the unusual pair’s success, Thrawn and Eli climb the ranks in the Imperial military, just in time for a clash with a mysterious adversary known only as Nightswan…
Any villain as monumental as Grand Admiral Thrawn deserves an equally prodigious origin story, and this book delivers. With a healthy serving of mysteries to be solved, this tale of an unlikely alien’s climb to the zenith of the Empire is one of the Zahn’s most intriguing yet.
Publisher's 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. 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.
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Our Verdict
This much-anticipated return of the Grand Admiral to Star Wars Canon did not disappoint and in many ways exceeded expectations.
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Staff Reviews
Eric Eilersen
President
A staple of the new Canon, Thrawn brings a Legends favorite into the new era of Star Wars with an origin story that informs, entertains, and respects the legacy of Timothy Zahn's most beloved creation. While you do not need to be a fan of the original Thrawn trilogy to enjoy this book, Zahn's style is unmistakable as he writes the Grand Admiral once more.
Heather Goldman
Community Department Manager
Whether you’re new to the Expanded Universe or you’re a big fan of Thrawn during the Legends era, this novel accurately depicts the character through his strategic planning in response to military situations. Readers can easily relate to Eli Vanto, Thrawn’s personal aide, as he observes the talented strategist from a more casual standpoint. Thrawn made his name in Legends through the Heir to the Empire trilogy by Timothy Zahn, and the character has been seamlessly converted into the Canon timeline by staying true to his personality and continuing to be written by the original author. Outside of the novels, Thrawn makes many appearances throughout the Star Wars Rebels animated series.
Charles Hanckel
Vice President, Podcast Department Coordinator, Podcast Host
Thrawn is easily one of the most entertaining books in the entire EU. While it can get dense and try to be a bit too intellectual at times, it more than makes up for it by showing the creation of arguably the greatest Star Wars villain outside of the Original Trilogy. While it helps to understand the lore around the character, who originally debuted in Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, it's not necessary to enjoy this book. I would highly recommend it for any Star Wars fan.
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