Thrawn: Treason (Star Wars) (Star Wars: Thrawn)

Timothy Zahn’s “Star Wars: Thrawn – Treason” takes place a few weeks after the present-day events of the previous novel, “Thrawn – Alliances” (pg. 134). This work continues the storyline of that novel, with Admiral Thrawn again working with Chiss Admiral Ar’alani against the Grysk, who have further infiltrated the Empire and appear to threaten Director Orson Krennic’s Project Stardust. Similarly, the Grysk have again kidnapped a Chiss child who shows latent Force abilities. Zahn further situates this story within the current timeline by including a reference to Hera Syndulla in the custody of Governor Arihnda Pryce on Lothal, placing this novel sometime between the events of “Rebel Assault” and “Jedi Knight” during the fourth season of “Star Wars Rebels” (pg. 10). The subtitle, “Treason,” indicates the various divided loyalties among the characters: Thrawn left the Chiss Ascendency to serve the Empire, but remains an outsider in the humans-only Imperial Navy; Eli Vanto is serving aboard Admiral Ar’alani’s ship in order to help defeat the Grysk, who Thrawn views as a potential threat to the Empire, even though most in the Empire consider Vanto a traitor; Assistant Director Ronan serves the Empire and Director Krennic loyally, but holds the Emperor and the political elite in disdain; and other Imperial forces work to advance their own causes at each others’ expense, all in the name of the Empire. Zahn brilliantly engages with these complex loyalties, imbuing his characters with a great amount of depth. Further, Zahn’s writing typically adds more science to the science-fantasy universe of “Star Wars” and this book continues that trend as he draws upon his physics background in his description of the Grysk array (pg. 244). Fans of Zahn and his most well-known character will find an entertaining story with all the elements they expect from a Thrawn novel in this book.

This is the third novel, reintroducing the very popular Legends character Grand Admiral Thrawn, into the rebooted Star Wars canon. It is a part of the main storyline novels which are considered on the same level as the movies and the TV series which have been released since the Disney takeover of Lucasfilm (or series like The Clone Wars that was put out before the takeover but grandfathered into canon). As most hardcore fans know, the character of Thrawn was introduced in the 1990s in a trilogy of now Legends novels set after Return of The Jedi as a threat from the old Empire to the New Republic. The backbone of the character was his ability to strategize and use what he knew (or could discover) about an advisory against them. In the first two canon novels, Thrawn and Thrawn: Alliances, much of that skill in the context of action/battle sequences were missing. This novel more than makes up for what was lacking in those novels. I will not go into too much detail about the plot, but the story centers around a danger/threat to the Stardust initiative, which as everyone likely to read this knows was the construction of the first Death Star, as well as to Thrawn's species, the Chiss. The novel features appearances by Governor Tarkin, Director Krennic, and The Emperor. While the cover of the novel suggests that the Emperor has a larger role in the novel, he really has only a small appearance, mostly at the end. The novel also alludes to the events from the series Rebels, which first reintroduced the Thrawn character, as Thrawn is eager to get back to Lothal and deal with the situation presented by Ezra Bridger. Overall, while I do not think this novel is as good as the original "Thrawn Trilogy" which many hoped would be the basis for a sequel trilogy before the original cast members got too old to make that a reality, it is the closest to those novels in terms of all that makes the character of Thrawn great. There is definitely some of the political strategizing and infighting that has been a part of many of the canon material, but the book has a very good mix of action sequences to keep the story moving along. Chances are if you are a die-hard fan of Star Wars you are probably already getting the hardcover versions of the novels as they are released. But, if you are one that is more selective about which novels you get, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Treason is a very, very good read. It is not an excellent read by the old or new canon standard. I wouldn't put it in the top 25 Star Wars novels or even in the author's top five. Therefore it rates four stars. I would recommend it for fans of the character, author or Star Wars in general. I plan to re-read it because it is a dense read and I am positive I missed some details as they took shape. The title serves many purposes. In general, there is distrust among many characters, all of whom use the term "treason" to gain support for their project, political agenda or amusement. Thrawn is not the only character that is accused of treason in this novel. This creates both good and not so good components to the novel. The good: 1) the tactical space battle is excellent. It is among my favorites in any Star Wars novel and rivals Rogue One's novelization for description. 2) The characters that support Thrawn and the various other factions are not throwaway characters but are given room to grow and develop. This includes pilots, navigators, death troopers and more. 3) Thrawn as Sherlock Holmes is excellent. The role is perfect and executed to perfection. 4) The novel's plot setup is excellent. Thrawn is pulled into a political battle but the creatures he's called in to fight are very creative and it has a lot of questions unanswered to begin the novel. The not-so-good: 1) Krennic and Tarkin are one dimensional tired characters. Their involvement in this novel slows it down and is eye-rolling. 2) The word "snort" and "snarl" are used WAY TOO MUCH to describe how a character delivers their lines. This is utterly lazy. I hate saying this about an author I admire. I am afraid to run a word count but I suspect it's at least 30 times. 3) The political battle is not interesting. Star Wars in general has drifted way too far into political games that the Emperor uses to pit one against another. It's really dull to read about again and again. 4) Thrawn works as an EXCELLENT antagonist against Han, Luke and Leia. He overpowers every other character when he is the protagonist. A new foe needs to be created that he is challenged against. The characters in here don't stand a chance. There you have it. A political thriller with an excellent space battle and too much of Krennic and Tarkin again. It's among the best of the Disney novels but not among the best for all of the Star Wars stock. I enjoyed it and plan to read it again.

This being the third act of the Thrawn series, IMHO It is the best. I enjoyed the first book quite a bit not so much the second, but this one is by far the best with the most complete story. Reading all three together is a must and I greatly enjoyed the read. My only small quibble with this book, and it's very small, as much of the dialogue between characters did not seem educated enough being that they were mostly high-ranking officers of a military unit. I can understand this because of the target audience. However the only reason it came to my mind is that there is a scene between an officer and a very young person, and that conversation was probably the most intelligent and complicated of any in the book, especially if you remember that one of the characters was not fully versed in the alien language they were speaking. It threw me off quite a bit. But that's a very small quibble and it really didn't take away anything from the book and the story.

Firstly, any fan of Timothy Zahn and/or Thrawn's beautiful blue noggin doesn't need this review. You know you're going to read this book. You know you're going to savor this book. However, maybe you are just skimming the offerings of Disney's expanded universe, and you're wondering what the deal is with this tall drink of blue milk alien who has street cred in the Star Wars Legends line as well as in the new canon. Your interest is piqued, but you don't know if you want to dive in on an unknown quantity. For that person, I would just say this: Timothy Zahn's writing for Thrawn is not just excellent Star Wars storytelling, it would hit the mark for great science fiction writing without the multi-billion dollar household name attached to it. I'm always in awe of the fact that for however brilliant Thrawn the tactician is, all of this creativity in plot development originates with Zahn. Every time I've finished one of the Del Rey timeline Thrawn novels, I've found myself fantasizing that maybe, just maybe, Disney's next big trilogy will be set in Wild Space, and that Zahn will get a seat at that writers' table. This is the sort of Star Wars I want to see on the silver screen.

Five stars, lots of twists and ingenious tactics from thrown as always. Also more of a deeper dive into some aspects of the imperial hierarchy.

Huge fan of the author, whose trilogy SHOULD have been the basis for Episodes 7-9 in film. Thrawn is an outstanding character, and we were all cheated out of not seeing him on the big screen.

The entire trilogy shows the complexities of the Empire. They are not just the "bad guys", but instead the navy is comprised of complex characters that grow and develop working under Grand Admiral Thrawn. I truely hope they continue this storyline, and expand upon the pre ANH era.

Gut eingebunden in den (ungeliebten) neuen Disney Kanon. Thrawn ist einfach ein super interessanter Charakter. Somit eine gute Möglichkeit neue Geschichten über ihn zu erzählen. Guter Abschluss der Trilogie

Really liked this one. Seeing Thrawn flex his skills and seeing others under his command learning how to do it too… brilliant!

"Thrawn: Treason" by Timothy Zahn is the captivating third installment in the Star Wars Thrawn series, and it continues to deliver on the promise of brilliant storytelling, complex characters, and strategic intrigue. Grand Admiral Thrawn returns to the forefront of the Star Wars Expanded Universe in a narrative that explores the complexities of loyalty, duty, and the intricate web of galactic politics. Here's why "Thrawn: Treason" is a must-read for fans of the series: Thrawn's Enigma: Grand Admiral Thrawn remains as enigmatic and captivating as ever. His unique approach to strategy and his unswerving dedication to the Empire make him a character like no other in the Star Wars universe. In "Thrawn: Treason," we delve even deeper into his mind, unraveling the layers of his brilliance. Political Intrigue: The book takes readers deep into the political machinations of the Empire, as Thrawn is tasked with navigating the treacherous waters of Imperial politics. The intricate maneuvering and the power struggles within the hierarchy provide an engrossing backdrop to the story. Character Dynamics: "Thrawn: Treason" introduces and further develops a range of characters, from Thrawn's loyal allies to cunning adversaries. The interactions and relationships between these characters add depth and complexity to the narrative. Loyalty and Ethics: Loyalty, honor, and ethical dilemmas are central themes in the book. It explores the choices characters make when faced with conflicting loyalties, raising thought-provoking questions about duty and morality in the context of the Empire. Strategic Brilliance: Thrawn's strategic mind takes center stage in the book. His ability to analyze and predict his adversaries' actions is both captivating and awe-inspiring, making each tactical move a riveting moment. Expanded Universe Integration: "Thrawn: Treason" expertly integrates elements from the wider Star Wars Expanded Universe, connecting threads and characters that will delight longtime fans. However, it remains accessible to newcomers, making it a satisfying read for all. Rich World-Building: Timothy Zahn continues to enrich the Star Wars universe with new planets, species, and technologies. The vivid descriptions and immersive settings bring the galaxy far, far away to life. Philosophical Depth: The book delves into philosophical themes, including the nature of art and its role in society. These introspective moments add depth to the story and invite readers to contemplate the broader implications of the Star Wars universe. In conclusion, "Thrawn: Treason" is a testament to Timothy Zahn's storytelling prowess and his deep understanding of the Star Wars universe. It's a thrilling continuation of the Thrawn saga that offers a compelling blend of military strategy, political intrigue, and ethical dilemmas. Whether you're a die-hard fan of Grand Admiral Thrawn or simply a lover of intricate and thought-provoking narratives, this book is a must-read. It reaffirms Thrawn's status as one of the most captivating characters in the Star Wars galaxy while delivering a satisfying and memorable addition to the Expanded Universe.

in ottime condizioni, è arrivato subito!

Buen libro que concluye la trilogía de Thrawn, si quieres que te guste mas la trilogía recomendaría que complementen los libros con la serie de Rebels