"The Last Command," by Timothy Zahn [Bantam, 1993]

I liked the series as a whole, but Thrawn's end was just too sudden, IMO. The only other gripe I have is that Thrawn just seemed <i>too</i> intelligent. I mean, his instincts were dead on like every time. I suppose Delta Source played a part in that, but it got irritating!

 

I was a bit harsh on this book in the beginning. This trilogy was my first introduction into the EU. After reading the following novels (KJA stuff and some NJO) I have to look back on this and remember what an excellent novel. A high point of SW EU.

I give it a 9
I think it is not as good at the first two but still an excellent read.

-Seldon

 

One of the bests.

 

I thought this book was very good, out of the trilogy it was in. The Timothy Zahn trilogy was one of the first books a read back in the mid 1990's.

 

9.

Very good, but not as good as HTTE and DFR. The end seemed very rushed and Thrawn's demise was good, but not really that great. And I wish Zahn would've wrote the Space battle at Bilbringri. It bugged me soo much. I actually loved Mara while others didn't like her so much. Still a MUST read. These are the closest we're going to get to 7,8,and 9.

 

I read the Thrawn trilogy out of order. I started with Dark Force Rising, then Last Command, then Heir to the Empire. I loved Last Command. Mara fullfilling Palpatine's last wish was done very well.

 

Hey guys, it's my first post. Just finished the Thrawn Trilogy, great stuff i must sayy. The irony of Mara killing Lukes clone is amazing, and Thrawn's death, while sudden is still cool as hell. Props to Tim the man Zahn and I cant wait for Outbound Flight.

 

A great book!

 

9/10

I think the series lost some momentum toward the end and dragged on a bit, but still one of the best EU series out there.

 

I gave it a 10. I loved it...I love everything I've read that Zahn has written. The whole series was great.

 

I gave it a 10/10! I really liked it. A great ending to a great trilogy!

 

10

A great trilogy. It's one of the only sets of books that would make a great trilogy of movies. Very true to the characters, and the pace is wonderful throughout.

 

10


i agree the ending was rushed it seemed caompared to the other 2 but frakin antatsic all together, ecspecialy co pared to the JTA im reading now..ZAHn WOOPS up on KJA's stuff!! cant wait for outbound flight!

 

I really enjoyed it. My two fav parts are when Mara learns the truth of Luke and Vader being son and father. And I was did wonder what happened to Luke's old lightsaber. (I had a feeling Luke would give it to Mara) Plus I thought it opened the door for new books.

 

this was a great way to finish the thrawn trilogy. 10

 

a thrilling end to another exceelent tilogy. There is too much to say, unless a kabillion threads are made!!!

 

9.5/10

OK, by this time I am an honorary Zahn fanboy. I thought that Thrawn went out in the only way he could - quickly & unexpected, dispatched by his most trusted bodygaurd. No way he saw that coming, and it seemes like the one thing that he missed was ultimately the one thing that did him in.
Luke & Co. working together against that crackpot C'baoth was epic, but I agree that Mara should have only been responsible for eliminating Luuke and the real Luke and/or Leia could have played a larger role in the final confrontation. I would have preferred it if Luke had given Anakin's saber to Leia, to give her a way to identify with Anakin and as a symbol of the good man who was her father. I mean, sure, Mara was a hottie and helped out Luke when he needed it in spite of her past, but c'mon, giving her his father's lightsaber? His first saber? Not on the first date, sweetheart.
I suppose the book was a bit predictable, but the whole series was so well written and the plot so thoroughly presented that I didn't mind too much. So many great new characteres that are more than just props were introduced thoughout the series, which gives the EU the kickstart it needed to generate more new SW lierature.

 

I just finished it last night and it was amazingly well done...The ending was great...Luke sometimes seemed a bit out of character...but the whole trilogy and this book was excellent...10/10.

The loved the final confrontation with Mara and the clone...as well as when Ruhk kills Thrawn and when Mara first learns Luke is the son of Vader. Those parts gave me goosebumps.

 

This a very well written novel and alaso gets very emotional and expands on the character Winter!! Leaves Rogue Squadron hanging.

 

The Thrawn trilogy are the most over-rated bunch of books in the EU.

Luke fighting a clone of himself... I thought this was bad in 1993, and I think its laughable now.
THough these aren't the WORST books in the EU, I'm still convinced that they got their legendary status simply because of their release dates.

 

I loved this trilogy and the former two get 10's from me....but that Luke clone was just a horrid idea. It needs to be said.

9/10

 

Yeah, pretty much.

 

9/10.

As a huge Mara Jade fan, this trilogy should probably be my Bible. I love, love, love her and I love her interactions with Luke, especially when she starts to loosen up there at the end. The pulse-pounding climax where Mara and Luke face off against Joruus and Luuke is great too, although I kind've wish that Leia, Han, and Talon hadn't of shown up.

I also enjoyed the extra prominence they gave to Winter in this. I think Winter is a pretty intriguing character and I enjoy her interactions with Leia in addition to Leia's interaction with the Noghri.

All-in-all, I enjoyed this book immensely; the only criticism I can give is that sometimes Thrawn seemed a bit too all-knowing. I didn't really get how he could've known that the Tangrene business was just a set-up by the Rebellion and that they were really going to go after the Bilbringi shipyards. Also, the ending seemed a bit rushed to me. I think a man like Thrawn, who'd been such a huge thorn in the New Republic's side, didn't go out quite in the manner he deserved. He deserved to be killed by Rukh after the subjugation the Empire put the Noghri through, but I guess I just expected more.

But it was great!

 

I love Thrawn, and love his general character make-up. I am perfectly fine with Luke's inaction because it flows as a story. While I admit the story is jerky at the end, it was (sadly) a copy of Foundation and Empire, the perfect general cannot be defeated in battle, so, win another way.

 

Zahn did an amazing job with TTT. The Last Command was awesome, I love all the new characters he created, especially Thrawn. I think the best thing about The Last Command is how well Zahn explains his characters and their motivations, it makes them feel real. Great base for all the EU books that would come after it.