AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'THRAWN - ASCENDANCY: LESSER EVIL'

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...

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

Get the book here:

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: (Book 3: Lesser Evil): Lesser Evil (Thrawn Ascendancy, 3): Amazon.co.uk: Zahn, Timothy: 9781529150087: Books

OUT NOW IN THE UK: 'THRAWN ASCENDANCY - LESSER EVIL'

The ultimate Star Wars Christmas present of 2021 must surely be the epic finale to Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy: Lesser Evil. Weighing in at a lofty 550 pages packed full of too-good-to-spoil story-wrapping political intrigue, absorbing-to-read space battles, cosmic drama and newly-revealed long-time secrets linked to the final destiny of the galaxy's most intriguing tactical genius commander. Determined to save his race from hidden enemies at work within the Chiss Ascendancy, no matter what the personal and professional cost, Thrawn is, undoubtedly, one of the finest (now officially recognised) non-George Lucas created franchise characters ever conceived, whose must-have climactic (?) 'event' title is out now in hardback from Century.

Here's the official release info:

The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.

For thousands of years The Chiss Ascendancy has been an island of calm, a center of power, and a beacon of integrity. Led by the Nine Ruling Families, their leadership stands as a bulwark of stability against the Chaos of the Unknown Regions.

But that stability has been eroded by a cunning foe that winnows away trust and loyalty in equal measure. Bonds of fidelity have given way to lines of division among the families. Despite the efforts of the Expansionary Defense Fleet, the Ascendancy slips closer and closer toward civil war.

The Chiss are no strangers to war. Their mythic status in the Chaos was earned through conflict and terrible deeds, some long buried. Until now. To ensure the Ascendancy's future, Thrawn will delve deep into its past, uncovering the dark secrets surrounding the ascension of the First Ruling Family. But the truth of a family's legacy is only as strong as the legend that supports it. Even if that legend turns out to be a lie.

To secure the salvation of the Ascendancy, is Thrawn willing to sacrifice everything? Including the only home he has ever known?

Get it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Thrawn-Ascendancy-Lesser/dp/1529150086/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UYL4Y84J1FX6&keywords=thrawn+ascendency+book+3&qid=1637320785&sprefix=thrawn%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'THRAWN: ASCENDANCY - GREATER GOOD'

Fresh from his unique victory against the cunning Nakardum race, led by the evil Yin the Benevolent, Senior Captain Thrawn of the Chiss Ascendancy now faces a new set of problems that will test his mettle like never before: two powerful members of the Chiss council once more working together determinedly to usurp the the talented officer's building status of power and ability; further building treachery from several command rank officers in the Expansionary Defense Fleet (motivated by the need to re-establish their family lineage within the Ascendancy), and the urgent need to unravel the mystery objectives being perpetrated against his people by a subtly dangerous new enemy, soon proving themselves as master puppeteers building their forces and plans linked to another mysterious race blessed with powerful abilities similar to those described in 'the Force'. Now more than ever, with darkness and chaos escalating, it looks like the deck of life and war cards have been heavily stacked against our distinctive but resilient tactician...

Building on the previous acclaimed book launching his new trilogy, Timothy Zahn's Thrawn: Ascendancy: Greater Good has deceits, trials and tribulations, power games and heavy duty space conflicts galore. However, unlike book one, its middle section, mostly featuring the unusual alien threat subtly manipulating the Chiss Ascendancy's power-thirsting families from the inside out, sadly felt a bit of a chore to read for this particular reviewer, despite its clear importance in setting up events coming with the series conclusion later in the year. Additionally, Thrawn is more on the sidelines this time out than I would have liked him to be - again, a necessary storytelling move by the author as he guides his dramatic personae into their needed positions on the dramatic chess board). Thankfully, a strong conclusion makes Greater Good ultimately worthwhile as a reading enterprise. From its explosive revelations, I've no doubt that Zahn will go on to deliver another accomplished and unexpectedly surprising finale for the Expanded Universe's most popular character...

AFICIONADO RATING: 'Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts'.... as the old saying goes.7.5 out of 10

Previous AFICIONADO coverage of Greater Good:

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.com/2021/04/out-now-thrawn-ascendancy-greater-good.html

Get the Century published UK hardback here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Thrawn-Ascendancy-Greater/dp/1529101921/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=thrawn+greater+good&qid=1621872367&sr=8-1

OUT NOW: 'THRAWN: ASCENDANCY: GREATER GOOD'

Bold warrior, cold warrior. Senior Captain Thrawn returns. Art by Magali Villeneuve.

It may be a little while before we see him in the flesh, so to speak, within a live-action Disney+ TV series (his name having been intriguingly referenced by Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano in last season's The Mandalorian), but until then Star Wars fans worldwide can relish the next literary appearance of that alien master tactician Thrawn, back in the days when he was a firm part of his native Chiss Ascendancy supreme power, within the latest surefire New York Times bestselling adventure of space warfare and galactic families intrigue from his acclaimed creator, Timothy Zahn: Thrawn: Ascendancy: Greater Good, the second of an all-new trilogy, making its UK hardback debut from Century.

Official release info: 

Thrawn and his allies race to save the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy in the second book in the epic Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.

Thrawn's latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. He has led the Chiss to victory and brought glory to the House of Mitth, but the true threat to the Ascendancy has not yet been extinguished. Their foes do not send threats or ultimatums, do not mass ships on the edge of the Chaos. Their weapons come cloaked in smiles and generosity: Gifts offered freely. Services granted unconditionally.

Across the Ascendancy, seemingly inconsequential events could herald the doom of the Chiss. As Thrawn and the Expansionary Defense Fleet rally to uncover the plot, they discover a chilling truth: Rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage resources, their enemy strikes at the very foundation of the Ascendancy, seeking to widen the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses below. As rivalry and suspicion sow discord among allies, each warrior must decide what matters most to them: the security of their family or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.

Officially released excerpts: 

https://www.starwars.com/news/thrawn-ascendancy-greater-good-exclusive-excerpt

https://nerdist.com/article/star-wars-thrawn-ascendancy-greater-good-excerpt-chiss-enemies/?fbclid=IwAR3ARHYTH7RpGLPlyh17g3xu8ziUKsj0K5S-0SwNqsEYlzE9uDTk_aJxEJ8

https://ew.com/books/star-wars-thrawn-ascendancy-book-2-greater-good-excerpt/

Get the book here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Thrawn-Ascendancy-Greater/dp/1529101921/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=thrawn+ascendancy+the+greater+good&qid=1619282630&sr=8-1

And don't forget, the opening book of this new trilogy, Chaos Rising, is now available in UK Arrow paperback.

Get it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Thrawn-Ascendancy-Rising/dp/1529101476/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1619623241&sr=8-3

SECRET HISTORY, SECRET WARS! 'THRAWN - ASCENDANCY: CHAOS RISING' COMING THIS SEPTEMBER

The making of the villain we both admire and hate in equal measure, his origins finally revealed. The all-new Thrawn - Ascendancy trilogy, out this September, from Century.

We've now followed his progress as the ultimate Star Wars Expanded Universe humanoid villain for an incredible near thirty years, and across numerous best selling novels: from his seeming 'discovery' on an unknown world in the Outer Regions, to his swift and efficient rise up the ranks of the Imperial Navy hierarchy (an outsider resentfully accepted by his rivals), and to his ultimate leading of enemy forces that would complicate the New Republic and its iconic heroes during the critical years after the destruction of the second Death Star. A former spy of the most ingenious and resourceful kind for his own race, and later an officer seemingly loyal to Emperor Palpatine, he would be further recognised as the ultimate tactician, an intellectual warrior blessed with an all-round talent for evil. Thrawn has been all of these things and more to his beloved fanbase, within a rich history conceived by the equally popular and still unbeaten leader of the pack when it comes to the series long time novel adventures, Timothy Zahn. Now, the eagerly awaited Thrawn - Ascendancy: Chaos Rising takes us back to a different time and a different realm beyond everything we've ever known about Thrawn, kicking-off an all-new trilogy of uniquely different and uniquely alien adventures set in a time frame long before the Expanded Universe's introduction of the character, as the truth behind his origins and his true loyalties to his people, the mysterious but territory-loyal Chiss Ascendancy, is unlocked from its surely very complicated puzzle box.

Fresh yet full of all the elements that have made the previous entries in Thrawn's sphere of influence such a success with readers, Thrawn - Ascendancy: Chaos Rising is a welcome start to Star Wars fans Autumn reading, in UK hardback from Century, that will surely prove a well-plotted, momentum-building, surprises-packed epic for fans to devour yet also introduce them to new science fiction avenues, a new universe of sorts, for the franchise in novel form.

https://www.starwars.com/news/thrawn-ascendancy-chaos-rising-exclusive-excerpt

Release blurb:

Discover Thrawn’s origins within the Chiss Ascendancy in the first book in an epic new Star Wars trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.

Beyond the edge of the galaxy lies the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, with hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled within its swirling chaos is the Ascendancy, home to the enigmatic Chiss and the Nine Ruling Families that lead them.

The peace of the Ascendancy, a beacon of calm and stability, is shattered after a daring attack on the Chiss capital that leaves no trace of the enemy. Baffled, the Ascendancy dispatches one of its brightest young military officers to root out the unseen assailants. A recruit born of no title, but adopted into the powerful family of the Mitth and given the name Thrawn.

With the might of the Expansionary Fleet at his back, and the aid of his comrade Admiral Ar’alani, answers begin to fall into place. But as Thrawn’s first command probes deeper into the vast stretch of space his people call the Chaos, he realizes that the mission he has been given is not what it seems.
And the threat to the Ascendancy is only just beginning.

Get it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Thrawn-Ascendancy-Ascendency/dp/1529124581