Books Thrawn - New canon Star Wars book by Timothy Zahn (Spring 2017)

Super excited to start with the audiobook (any minute now!), but I couldn't resist and had a look at the Wookieepedia page for what new planets and species were (re)introduced to canon. I am so happy that one of my favourite Legends species are canon again

Spoiler

TOGORIANS!!! Big cat lovers rejoice!

 

Question: is there something I can do to "show spoilers" for an entire thread? I know how whiny this is, but it's tedious to click on the individual ones over and over on a thread where virtually every post is going to have one.

 

It's not because other character had a bad new Disney adaptation that Thrawn should be totally changed and badly adaptated, too. We should be happy that he is so close to Legends Thrawn, instead of having a totally different Thrawn.

Zahn said himself that he wouldn't understand the point to bring back a popular character and then change it, and that if Disney wanted to change it, then it would be better to totally create a new character and name him differently, and I agree. The fans wanted Thrawn back because they loved Legends Thrawn the way he was.

Spoiler

They didn't want him back to see him totally changed or become a bloodthirsty butcher. So no, that book it not a "retcon", as it was never clearly said in Rebels that Thrawn gave himself the order to kill civilians, Kallus just said that "the civilian losses outnumbered the military loss" or something, but nowhere there was any proof of Thrawn directly ordering that. It's Pryce who said it was necessary and acceptable.

 

I have to agree with this.

For all I love Sinny's mad project, it is a grand fan project for fun of the best kind, but I do consider the two separate - not least because it opened the door my enjoying TCW/Rebels.

 

Same as well, it helps makes sense of things. Even when the recanoize something my rule is.

Ok...Bane: Sith Lord, formed the rule of two....That's it.

 

I love that there’s a piece of Thrawn’s thoughts/ journal/ what have you at the start of each chapter. WE GET INTO THRAWN’S HEAD. I LOVE IT THERE. *settles in for a fantastic ride*

Here are my thoughts for chapters 1-15

Spoiler

There is so much of the Sy Bisti language that even though I’m not a linguist, I’m thoroughly enjoying the translations.

Chapter 1

• Sy Bisti is not an obscure language…the people are!
• I love that there are Unknown Alien (UA) protocols
• Eli gets a lot of flak but that’s how the military is – if you’re a cadet, you’re next-to-nothing. I do like that Eli’s background was taken into consideration though!
• Captain Parck is definitely a very intelligent man who understands how most beings will operate.
• I read most of the early releases, but it still makes me giddy that Thrawn’s full name is canon!

Chapter 2

• I feel bad for Thrawn that Barris forces him to speak Basic, yet I understand why he did so. His struggle with Basic is very believable and very interesting to read. His sentences are short and grammar a bit off, but still as understandable as a person who is moderate in any other language.
• He’s so…bah. I know him to be adaptable, but this chapter truly shows it. His mind is like that of a human child’s – takes everything in and process it ALL. No information goes to waste.
• Have we known Chiss can see infrared?
• Great to see that Palps shows holos of him still looking “normal” and that the normal person doesn’t know the extent of his damage. That sounds just like him.
• DANGERS TO THE GALAXY!

Chapter 3

• Palps designing the garden in the Imperial Palace is quite interesting.
• Were Falleen canon before this?!

Chapter 4

• Pryce! She has no use for games nor for twisting words around. The way she talks to Uvis makes me smile. I like learning more about her. She is a very dedicated woman who will do what she can to protect her assets, even if she’s not too happy with where she is.
• There is great information on the background of Imperial takeover on Lothal.

Chapter 5

• I love that Eli is learning tactics as Thrawn learns nuances of Basic. Anticipate your enemy, figure out what he’s doing, then try to stay a step ahead – or to the side – of him.
• Thrawn pulling rank on the other cadets was classic.
• Not being able to defend himself against others is a great reason as to why Thrawn started training in physical combat.

Chapter 6

• Okay, I’m glad I like Deenlark. He will fight for the Empire, but knows where and when – and how – to draw the line.
• While I love Eli and Thrawn together, reading of the former’s hopes being dashed made me feel quite bad for him.

Chapter 7

• The passage of time is done well. If much time has passed, it’s noted immediately.
• It’s great to see that people like Captain Virgilio don’t care who is around so long as they are competent at their job.
• I’m not at all surprised that Thrawn is interested in Clone Wars era models, nor that he fully comprehends their value.

Chapter 8

• Oh Thrawn knows exactly what’s up with Cygni and others. Plus, it’s been 18 months; his combat skills are much sharper now.
• Cygni kind of reminds me of Fett – not the greatest of people, but a guy with an honor code, someone you can trust.
• Oh-ho-ho! Eli is getting snappy! Mph, he has learned well what it means to be in a leadership position…and convince others of obeying!

Chapter 9

• “Part of my job is to anticipate the actions of our enemies.” – Thrawn
• Damn straight it is!
• Hm. If Angel’s afraid of Tarkin, then the guy really must be horrible to prisoners, eh pirates?
• It hit me here that more are willing to follow Thrawn as time goes on for the reason that is stated at the start of the chapter – fair tacticians are willing to follow a plan (or in this case, person), after seeing the effects of that plan/person. Thrawn proves himself time and time again, despite the fact that he’s an alien.

Chapter 10

• I am smiling at Pryce having a friend like Juahir. I enjoy the story of how they met and fin Juahir to be a breath of fresh air. Also, being on a first name basis for whatever reason makes me happy. That goes for anyone throughout the book.
• Yularen!!

Chapter 11

• I’m tired of the political crap, but that’s what military is – political battles being supplemented by physical ones.
• OK I feel so very bad for Arihnda. However, I am glad she wasn’t hit for a sexual reason (namely, turning down an advance). This is more respectable and a bit more realistic IMO.
• Let me guess – doonium is used for the SSD and the Death Star?
• Eli is a fantastic friend to Thrawn, as Thrawn is to him. The Chiss really don’t understand humans. Hell, we’re contradictory and don’t understand ourselves.
• I feel like we just get more about how Thrawn is as a sentient being in this book. He doesn’t care who you are, as long as you use your abilities to their fullest…and maybe even beyond that. As long as you don’t become stagnant, he will find you useful, and believes you should also find yourself as such. In turn, he expects the same level of respect from everyone else. Life over the job, justice over protocol.

Chapter 12

• Eli and Thrawn using a matrix sheet to compile data fills me with utter joy.
• Finally, we get something about Thrawn’s art obsession!

Chapter 13

• “No battle plan can anticipate all contingencies. There are always unexpected factors, including those stemming from the opponent’s initiative.”
• This is perfect. Not only is it true, but it solidifies the fact that Zahn never wrote Thrawn to be a near-infallible character.
• Cheno is fantastic.

Chapter 14

• I absolutely love that Zahn noted that being a mentor or mother figure or helper is no substitute for an actual friend.
• Yay! More with Pryce and Thrawn’s lives becoming more linked!
• OK, I love Juahir. I freaking love her. And I love that a female came to Pryce’s aid.
• DATAwork! None of this PAPERwork bullcrap that Wendig tried to pull. DATA! DIGITAL!
• I am enjoying the swap between character perspectives, though am glad it’s mainly about Thrawn. I didn’t feel like as much of “Tarkin” was about the man.

Chapter 15
I retract my statement from an earlier chapter (which I’m too lazy to look up). Of COURSE Thrawn knows combat from the Chiss. Doh!

About 5 hours and 324 pages in. I am excited to finish. I haven't binged a book in this way in ages and my resolve to have internet turned off for the full duration waned

 

Sped read it:

Spoiler

• Togorians are canon again.
• Raider-class corvettes are canon again!
• Chiss Ascendancy is canon.
• Thrawn's exile is actually a ruse by the Chiss so they can scope out the Empire. He is still a part of the Chiss military. Seems like a way they can have him survive past the Battle of Jakku.
• So the previous governor of Lothal was not the paragon of virtue Ezra thinks he is.
• Pryce has had a hard life and had to make a lot of sacrifices to get where she is today.
• Chiss actively recruit outsiders of proven abilities now, hence Eli is now part of the Chiss Military.
• For some reason I am seeing a connection here in terms of uniforms and symbols:

• I wonder how much the First Order and the Chiss Ascendancy have in common.

 

Spoiler

I'd be a happy man if that came to pass

 

Almost an hour into the audiobook, and the production for it seems to be unlike any other SW audiobook I've listened to yet. Is the music original? I don't recognise it...In any case, the organ music is fantastic, and imo it's worthy of being incorporated in Rebels or live action TV shows/movies where Thrawn is present.

Absolutely, Marc nails it again!

 

I love your final thought.

Spoiler

If that ends up being that case, that would be fantastic.

Pryce's way of rising to the top didn't bother you? I became increasingly frustrated with her methods.

 

Spoiler

Oh it bothered me, especially when she sells out her friends to the ISB. But she still has something of a sympathetic backstory, especially where her parents are concerned.

 

Book still hasn't shipped from Barnes & Noble (So never preordering ever again) so I just drove the store and bought it myself. Five Chapters in and completely loving it.

 

Amazon didn't send mine either, so... I'm glad that a friend who has it (and has many other things to read) let me read his...

I had to stop at chapter 10 because I don't want to read everything in one day, but yes, it was hard to stop!

I'm curious about Marc's voice in the audiobook, is there an official free sample somewhere to listen to? (like a few minutes of the beginning?)

 

Spoiler

We don't need to do that, Lothal already appears on the Galactic Map in both Star Wars: Complete Locations and the Rogue One Visual Guide.

Gesendet von meinem SM-J510FN mit Tapatalk

 

Karl0413 - fair enough! I felt that way too at first.

And...I'm done. Woah. I think that was the best book I've read this year.

Spoiler

Chapter 16
- I was just about to type in ‘I don’t trust Ottlis’ when I got to the end of the first part. *sigh* GRR! I can’t stand Ghadi! Well, Pryce (who I now keep thinking of as Arihnda, which is a name I really like, by the way) sure has learned from her past mistake!

Chapter 17
- I predict that by chapter 25, Thrawn will have determined a way to ensure Eli receives a higher rank than Ensign. I really like seeing the growth in the man, and he truly deserves a better rank!
- The Cyphari, particularly those of the Afe Clan, are quite interesting. I feel like the Afes a bit like the Chiss in certain regards, which allows Thrawn to understand them better than maybe he understands humans.

Chapter 18
- I agree with Eli—spice is DEFINITELY aplague on the galaxy.
- Ah man, it’s so nice to see Eli in action. Poor guy. I hope he comes to learn that most actions that make a person seem awesome are indeed absolute mistakes.
- Well, Eli, Thrawn is a being who enjoys performing some of the most insane military operations. *laughs*
- “[…] there are problems that must be solved. Some cannot be solved by anyone except me.”
I completely agree with Thrawn. Yet I also agree with those who usually ask, that it’s not a satisfying answer.
- Eli’s cynicism makes me so sad.

Chapter 19
- Good hell, we’ve been teased about Tarkin enough that it’s about time we get him!
- All these court martial panels could be exactly why Palps threw Thrawn back in the Unknown Regions.
The Nightswan thing is becoming a bit ridiculous. It’s been 2+ years and still almost nothing. Yeesh.
- Juahir’s arrest was devastating to read. Oh, Pryce. Three years can really harden a person
- My prediction was quite a few chapters off! Huzzah!
- THE CHIMARA!

Chapter 20
- I love the beginning about different benefits of allies. Everyone has different strengths!
- Ayer seems familiar…but the Wook has nothing about him. *shrugs*
- Thrawn still stumbling over some more obscure words shouldn’t surprise Eli. How many people say ‘notwithstanding’ in everyday language? I know someone who scored among the highest possible grades for fluency in English and they still stumble over words because no one can know every single one. *sigh*
- I was totally thinking the Wookiees were the slaves. This chapter makes me heartroken. I get it; I get why Thrawn isn’t fighting for them. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Chapter 21
- Well…at least Pryce is getting back at Renking. While he deserves it, I really don’t like how she doesn’t care about much more now other than what will get her higher up on the social ladder. I feel even worse for the farmers than I did before!
- I’m just glad Renking gets his comeuppance. Now I wonder when Pryce will get hers.
- Oooh, Eriadu.

Chapter 22
- I love that Thrawn gets input from all on his crew. That’s another mark of a gret leader.
- Well. Quesl sure has spunk.
- HAHAHAHAHAHA THRAWN WANTS THE ART! To give back to the Jefies! He is a true lover of the arts.
- Wait. Eli is a legit Commander now, not just Lieutenant Commander? Very nice :S

Chapter 23
- Commander and Admiral!
- The rise of the Rebels!
- Ooh-hoo, Thrawn is definitely walking on thin ice, interpreting directives in his own way. But, as Eli thinks, he is an Admiral.

Chapter 24
- Eli definitely has learned a lot about going with Thrawn’s flow. The entire bit where he worked independently was very, very well done.
- *facepalm* I should have realized Cygni was behind Nightswan.
- That was truly a fantastic chapter.

Chapter 25
- For whatever reason, this chapter made me think of Ender’s Game, and how so few truly understood where Ender was coming from. It’s totally that way with Thrawn. As Card did, Zahn helps the reader understand the man.
- I like Faro. And I even like Eli’s naivety; it makes him more…real, in a way.
- TSUNAMIS! Brilliant!
- Pryce, Thrawn doesn’t CARE about the political requirements of his position. Get your head out of your butt.
- I don’t like Eli doubting Thrawn, even after all this time.

Chapter 26
- I love the opening, on how deepest goals do need to make manifest if one wants to reach them. So…whose consequences will we see here? Both Thrawn and Pryce?

Chapter 27
- “I find obligations are not a stable basis for a relationship.” – HAHA that is sooo Thrawn.
- “Sometimes it’s a very bad thing to be curious.” – Nightswan…especially about the Empire, eh?
- It is so very interesting how many different groups consider the Empire evil. I mean, it is, but it’s still interesting. Even more so is that Thrawn wasn’t exiled. Hm. That is different.
- Woah, recruitment! I didn’t see that one coming. “Is a human among the Chiss more implausible than a Chiss among humans?” *thinks of the Fels* No, Thrawn, it’s not.
- Damn it, Zahn. I don’t hate Nightswan now.
- It’s nice to see that Yularen can truly listen to reason.

Chapter 28
-The opening about victory being more to bear cuts the heart.
- Thrawn being nonchalant about maybe dying tickles me!
- Pryce will totally have to face the consequences. With her parents. That must be rough, but she completely brought it on herself. Jerk.
- Thrawn. Wins. At tactics. Don’t you ever forget that, Eli!

Chapter 29
- Mph. Thrawn knows Pryce is lying. Her words are such a fantastic lead-in to Rebels. Great set-up.
- Yup, the Death Star.
- The ending had a great dose of Zahn humor with Vader .

Epilogue
- Friendship. <3 Holy cow, I never expected Thrawn to pull my heartstrings like that.
- EEEEEE THAT ENDING EEEEE I LOVE IT!!!!!!

 

Ok, I just realized something

Spoiler

Ar'alani, the Chiss admiral that Eli links up with in the epilogue, is the same one from Outbound Flight.

 

It was alright. 6 1/2 out of 10 Star Wars. Didn't live up to the hype.

 

Finished it earlier, and wow...it's probably my favourite canon book released so far. This well and truly felt like a great origin story for one of Star Wars greatest characters.

Spoiler

I actually got a bit emotional reading Thrawn's journal entry in the epilogue and how it felt both referential to Thrawn's death and legacy in The Last Command and the whole Legends concept in general. Even if certain Legends characters aren't brought back into canon, the fact that they are so beloved by people means that they'll never be "gone".

I can only hope that LFL take Zahn up on his desire to do three more Thrawn-related stories in future. He put a lot of heart into this one.

 

Re. your spoiler (those who have not finished: beware - just in case):

Spoiler

I got very emotional when reading the epilogue as a whole! Some of the phrases had me convinced it takes place quite a bit later when Thrawn is no longer around - it plunged me into sadness...
This made my husband volunteer to read the epilogue, too, even though he has no clue who Thrawn even is (lol). He did not agree, so feeling a bit better now. But still! Some very powerful writing there!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

Almost two hours into the audiobook, and so far loving it, but I have some questions

Spoiler

Do we know exactly when the beginning of the book takes place? Considering the presence of V-Wings, I think it's safe to assume it's no later than 5 years after ROTS. As the intro is pretty much "Mist Encounter v2.0", and in Legends that story took place in 19BBY, does the beginning take place 19BBY too?

A question about the Imperial Palace. At least in the beginning, there is no mention or hint that the Palace is the old Jedi Temple. Given the description of the Emperors throne room (dark, large, elevated throne and with a garden even), it doesn't match with the throne room we've seen in Darth Vader #1 by Marvel. That room is not very big and does not have a garden as far as we know (and also, it's the Jedi High Council chamber). It isn't a dark room either. Is it possible that in this time the Jedi Temple is still not the Imperial Palace?

Anyone that can provide some more insight into these questions without spoiling anything that happens further in the book?

 

I think it was very clever with how it was written.

Spoiler

Eli was talking about Thrawn's impact on the galaxy, but there's definitely some ambiguity as to whether he means Thrawn's ascencion to Grand Admiral or whether he means an actual greater conflict that Thrawn was involved with that he perished in. At the moment I think it's probably the former, but it's possible Zahn wrote it so that someone could read it a few different ways, depending on whether he could return to the character.

 

I'll try and answer your 2nd question to the best of my ability:

Spoiler

The room that appeared in "Darth Vader #1" was never, AFAIK, described as the throne room. The caption only says "The Imperial Palace, Coruscant." A throne room does not appear in ''Tarkin'' either--although an audience room does). However, the (or at least a) throne room may have appeared in Lando #1.

 

Spoiler

Well, if they do finish him off, I hope they do it with style (ideally not in Rebels )! I really cannot see this Thrawn agreeing with the First Order and what they stand for, so let's see what happens. More Zahn would be very much appreciated.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk