Published: September 1, 2020
Publisher: Del Rey
Available Formats: Hardback (400 pages), eBook (400 pages), Audio CD (900 minutes), Audiobook (906 minutes)
Cover Artist: Sarofsky Design
Synopsis;
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.
The review;
As usual, we start with the cover and the book itself. The front cover shows a silhouette cast by Thrawn which is emblazoned with his trademark insignia in red. The cover is very minimalist, which nicely fits for the Chiss as I feel it reflects the vibe you get from reading about them as a culture. The big thing with this book is the blue edged pages. Now depending on where you live, and which copy you are lucky enough to purchase you may get blue of varying degrees. My copy had just the edged pages, but some copies are adorned with more blue throughout the book as highlighted above. Also, if you purchased from Barnes & Noble, you will have received a stunning piece of artwork depicting Thrawn. It would be wonderful to see this type of extra adornment and embellishments on other future book releases.
I cannot believe that it is 29 years since Timothy Zahn introduced us to Mitth’raw’nuruodo in Heir to the Empire. Back then he was just known to us all as Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Remnant. Wow, that time has flown and although Thrawn now inhabits a different era of the Star Wars timeline to his first appearance, his character has not changed much since that first book. As a character, his popularity has never waned, in fact, it has increased exponentially through Zahn’s novels and his on-screen appearances in Rebels.
So, there is one thing before you start to read the new story that will help you understand this book and that is the ‘Dramatis Personae’. This explains who the key players are in what is to come, but more importantly there is an overview of the complexities of the Chiss hierarchy and how it all slots together.
It really does deliver what we have been told about it so far. The Chiss Ascendancy has always been a bit of a mystery to us all, but after reading this book, I understand it so much better. The nine ruling families, their family names, short names, the different tiers of ranks within them and their political hierarchy is complex to get used to at the start. But slowly and surely, I grasped where they all fit in. The struggle for power between the families and how they posture against each other, politically and using their personal standing to influence their military forces is so intricately woven into the storyline.
We are treated to new worlds, new inhabitants and different technologies, all set in a new sector of space that we have never visited before. There are a few characters we have met before in the recent Thrawn trilogy and it is great to see their paths develop alongside Thrawn through time. The chapters of ‘Memories’ enhance this back story and show how deep these ties actually go.
We get to see so many sides to Thrawn. The way he interacts with Che’ri his sky-walker is almost fatherly at times, but then we also see the cold calculating side of his demeanour where he can systematically tear down an enemy in battle. Star Wars very own Sherlock Holmes treats us to so many explanations of his actions, but his skill for deducing his opponent’s weaknesses and virtues still makes me smile every time I read a story about his character.
Many readers may not have read Thrawn: Alliances and I was massively surprised when some of the events from the start of that novel turned up during this one. Now, to follow the story here, you do not need to have read it, but if you have, it closes a four- or five-week hole in Thrawn’s whereabouts during this story. As I say, this will not stop your enjoyment, but it does enhance it if you have.
One of the highlights of the book for me personally is we learn how Thrawn is introduced to the insignia that adorns the hull of his Imperial Star Destroyer, Chimaera. This is another nice little addition to the plot and to Thrawn’s own personal back story.
Zahn is one of my favourite writers of all time and in this novel, he reminds me why I think that way. He has an amazing way with the dialogue he uses for his characters, but there is something in this novel that really stands out. His writing of complex situations like battle manoeuvres in space are so well described. With these passages he makes it all feel so simple to envisage. The depth of the writing explains the situation perfectly without being too wordy or over elaborate. This is an art form in its own right that Thrawn himself wouldn’t let go unnoticed if he was studying Zahn.
Zahn has laid down some very strong foundations with the recent Thrawn trilogy of books, but this outing underpins those foundations even more and starts the building blocks for the next instalment. With 2 more books to come, I seriously cannot wait.
Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising is Zahn’s fourteenth foray into the Star Wars galaxy and dare I say, this is possibly the best yet?
Availability;
Thrawn Ascendancy – Chaos Rising by Timothy Zahn was released on September 1, 2020 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.
