The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn

I finished re-reading Timothy Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy”. I first read them about sixteen years ago, and they were the very first novels I ever read of my own free will.

You know how you enjoy something as a kid, and you come back to it years later, and are horrified to discover that it really sucks?

That didn’t happen here!

If anything, I enjoyed it more this time around, because you can appreciate some stuff more as an adult.

If you don’t know what the books are about, here’s a summary. It’s five years after the original “Star Wars” movies. The Rebel Alliance has become the New Republic, and what’s left of Darth Vader’s and the Emperor’s evil Empire is on the verge of collapse. Or it would be, if Grand Admiral Thrawn had not taken over the remains of the Imperial Fleet. Thrawn, who is sort of a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Hannibal of Carthage, thoroughly studies his opponent’s artwork, gaining insight into their psyches. Then he tailors his battle tactics around their psychological weak points, usually to devastating effect. Thrawn really is a magnificent villain, especially in the third book, when all his intricate schemes come together and he really starts cutting loose.

All the other characters are nicely done, as well. The Jedi Master C’baoth, who descends from dangerous insanity into Joker-like sociopathic mania (all the more dangerous because of his massive telepathic and psychokinetic powers). Han and Leia’s desperate efforts to keep Thrawn from kidnapping their newborn children and handing them over to C’baoth (Thrawn is the bad guy, after all, despite his genius). Councilor Fey’lya, a slimy politician who would be right at home in the 111th Congress. The Noghri clans, and their reaction once they learn the truth. Luke and Mara’s interaction is fascinating, because their mutual attraction is so understated, but it’s there. Mara thinks she wants to kill Luke to avenge the Emperor, but she cannot help but admire his noble character, and Luke knows that Mara wants to kill him, but he cannot help but admire her grit and loyalty.

These are the sort of “Star Wars” books you can recommend to people who don’t even like “Star Wars”. Because, in the end…it was so artistically done.

-JM