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| Will the chains of duty weigh heavily on Senior Captain Thrawn? Art by Magali Villeneuve. |
As the building enemy forces of the powerful and manipulative alien allies the Grysk and Kilji Illumine prepare to attack/invade the prior weakened Chiss Ascendancy from both within and without, battle and tactical genius Senior Captain Thrawn of the Expansionary Defence Fleet, a dutiful and patriotic hero respected and feared by his friends and enemies alike, must play the ultimate gambit of his life and career in defending his species. The Battle of Sunrise awaits, needing all of Thrawn's knowledge and skills like never before in his biggest, boldest battle yet, and whose aftermath will irrevocably change and challenge his destiny in unexpected (?) ways...
Clocking in at a mammoth 500 plus page content, the 'Grand Master' of Star Wars' Expanded Universe fiction, Timothy Zahn, returns with another fan-pleaser. The final book in the Thrawn: Ascendancy saga, Lesser Evil, has lots, a lot of lots, to wrap-up with regards to plot strands and character arcs-wise. And, as usual, with the utmost expert efficiency, he does a splendid and absorbing job of dotting all the I's and crossing all the T's whilst also delivering a separate satisfying story full of building plot, space battle action and dramatic conflict/resolutions. This time out, Thrawn's backstory (and even family revelations) are opened up for exploration, whilst his battle comrades amongst the Chiss Expansionary Defensive Fleet also get a lot more to do in the story/action stakes before all are ultimately sent their separate ways by the books' highly satisfying and bittersweet ending, with an intriguing coda leading into what will be the resourceful alien tactician's new life in the service of the Galactic Empire. Or is he? They say things are not always what they seem...
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| The complete Ascendancy saga, available in the UK from Century. |
A fine and fitting conclusion to this experimental trilogy of Star Wars yet not Star Wars science fiction adventure storytelling that only Zahn could have pulled off with his considerable flair. There is still much potential to be mined beyond Thrawn within the Chiss Ascendancy universe of heroes, villains and unusual species (like the Magys and their mysterious abilities within 'the Beyond') that the respected author will surely return to with positive zeal.
AFICIONADO RATING: 4 out of 5
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