Published: April 27, 2021
Publisher: Del Rey
Available Formats: Hardback (432 pages), eBook (432 pages), Audio CD (978 minutes), Audiobook (977 minutes)
Cover Artist: Sarofsky Design
Timeline: 18 BBY
Synopsis;
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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.
The review;
Simple perfection. That is how I sum up the cover art for Greater Good. Not only is in keeping with book 1, but the shade of red chosen just pings off the shelf. The only disappointment for me was the page edges weren’t sprayed like book 1. This time, that was offered as an exclusive purchase at Goldsboro Books in the UK. Many outlets worldwide offered signed copies, and that is something I had to procure for my own collection.
And then, there is the Out of Print collector’s edition. A cool $150 and not due for order until August 10, limited to 750 copies, with its stunning artwork and slipcase, these are absolutely magnificent ways to celebrate the release of a book. I just wish they were doing slightly larger runs so more of us could pick one up.
While this is a direct continuation from the events of Chaos Rising, I found Greater Good to be a very different read. I absolutely raced through the first instalment, but on this occasion, I felt I had to take a more meticulous approach. The reason for that is because this book really gets under the hood of the political and familial complexities of the Chiss. It explores the deeper core of the inner workings of the relationships between some of the family houses, their alliances, and their personal vendettas with other families.
It is interesting to learn that families can be promoted or relegated from the list of ruling families. Currently set at 9 families, the Xodlak’s are vying for their restoration to the upper echelons via a tenth slot or even at the expense of Thrawn’s very own Mitth family. Because of this, we get far less to read about Thrawn, as Zahn takes us deep within those inner workings of the Chiss Ascendancy.
It is obvious that the roles of the telepathic Agbui and The Magys are going to be key to the events of Lesser Evil. While shown as a brilliant military tactician, many within the Ascendancy feel that family politics passes Thrawn by and they feel he is inept or bereft in this area. I don’t get that feeling as at times I think he operates on a higher level than any of them. I like to think that he chooses to leave them to their own games and bickering while dealing with the facts and tasks in hand.
Having read so many of Zahn’s novels, I am certain that all of this will be necessary groundwork to underpin what is to come. I love the way he uses the Memories chapters to connect the subplot into the main storyline. The plot reflects Zahn’s passion for chess in his writing. No move is made on the board is without purpose or consequence.
All in all, Greater Good is a robust middle chapter to the trilogy and is yet another triumph for Timothy Zahn. It bolsters the plot set out in Chaos Rising, but then starts to sow and cultivate the seeds of what is to come in Lesser Evil. Thankfully, we have not got all that long to wait!
Availability;
Thrawn Ascendancy – Greater Good by Timothy Zahn was released on April 27, 2021 and is publsihed by Del Rey. It is available in hardback, eBook, Audio CD and audiobook formats. UK retail price for the hardback novel is £20 and it is available from booksellers on the high street, online and from Amazon UK and Amazon US.
