Book review: Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy by Tim Zahn

In 1991 a resurgence of Star Wars as a licensed product was kicked off by the release of Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. The following two years saw the release of the remaining two books (Dark Force Rising and The Last Command) in what has become known as the Thrawn trilogy. In my mind these three books are inseparable from a critical standpoint so I will review them as one, despite most other subsequent Star Wars series being reviewed separately.

Two things make Zahn a great choice by the editors at Bantam books to write Star Wars novels, as exemplified by the Thrawn trilogy. First, his attention to plot detail is second to none in my opinion. Intricate plots are put in motion that have reason beyond how they first appear. Plot twists make perfect sense as they are revealed throughout the story. Second, Zahn is able to create great characters. With the Thrwan trilogy he has created the two most interesting and complex Star Wars characters in the Extended Universe (characters not in the movies) in Mara Jade and Grand Admiral Thrawn.

The story revolves around the resurgence of the Empire led by Grand Admiral Thrawn five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. Our heroes are put to the test by a more cunning and less obviously evil Grand Admiral Thrawn in ways they never were against Darth Vader and the Emperor. Enter in Mara Jade, a former agent of the Emperor, out to kill Luke Skywalker and you have the makings of a great story.

These three books not only stand alone as a great series, but set the entire tone for dozens of books to come in the Star Wars universe based on the characters and events begun by Mr. Zahn. If you are wondering where to start to begin reading Star Wars novels, this is the series to read.

Rating: 9 out of 10