“It’s treason then…”
Well. Sort of.
Thrawn: Treason by Timothy Zahn is the latest installment in what we’ve all been doing a disservice in calling the new Thrawn Trilogy instead of Thrawn series. (And to be clear, I’m just as guilty of this as anyone else.) At Celebration Chicago, Zahn said the Thrawn books were not originally conceived as a trilogy. We got more books about Thrawn because they were continuously so well received. The point I’m trying to make here is don’t go into Treason expecting any sort of grand closure. This is just another week in these characters’ lives. And that’s ultimately somewhat frustrating but also okay.
As rebel troubles continue on Lothal, Grand Admiral Thrawn is summoned to a meeting with Grand Moff Tarkin, Grand Admiral Savit, and Director Orson Krennic. It turns into a wager for funding that can either go towards Thrawn’s TIE Defender project or Krennic’s Stardust. (Yes. That Stardust.) Thrawn has one week to deal with the grallocs plaguing one of Stardust’s supply lines; something the local governor hasn’t been able to solve in months. If he fails, the funding will go towards Stardust. Seems totally fair. Meanwhile out in Chiss space, Admiral Ar’alani’s ship comes across an attack involving what looks like a Grysk weapon but isn’t and it’s not Imperial either. When both groups’ investigations bring them colliding together, becoming temporary allies makes sense. But there’s much more going on than it seems and, most importantly, Lieutenant Eli Vanto is finally making his long awaited return.
Even with the return of Eli who was the breakaway star of the first Thrawn book, the highlight of the book is, by far, the Chiss. Alliances introduced us to the concept of Chiss Navigators and Treason expands on both it and the alien culture. We met Admiral Ar’alani for a brief moment at the end of the first book but here she really gets to shine and honestly, I’d happily pledge my loyalty to the Chiss Ascendancy to serve under her. She’s capable, badass, and holds her own against Thrawn, which isn’t the easiest thing to do, both within the narrative and from a more meta perspective. Even Vah’nya, the Chiss Navigator who’s retained her Third Sight gift far longer than most, comes off as a fully realized character who’s more far more than a plot device. These are both characters I’d happily read an entire book about.
The downside is that the Imperials (minus Commodore Karyn Faro who continues to be a delight) pale in comparison to the Chiss. More than once, I found myself accidentally skimming through the sections with Ronan and Savit in hopes we’d be back with Ar’alani’s crew soon. It wasn’t so much that their narratives were boring as it was that the Chiss felt fresh and interesting. Even the most talented author can only make Imperial political maneuvering feel so new especially when juxtaposed against the Chiss.
Although Thrawn’s name may be on the cover, it feels like he shares the leading role in the book with Eli and Faro, making for a more ensemble piece than either of the previous two books have been. It’s not his story, he’s just a portion of it. That said, he is a vital part of it. Part of why readers have loved Thrawn for decades is because he’s the smartest person in the room and he wins battles with flair, usually while also mentoring a promising young officer. All of this is on display here. If anything, this book just makes me ask once again how the heck Thrawn ultimately lost to a Jedi with some space whales.
The aforementioned frustration with the book comes from all of the unanswered questions readers may still have at the end. There’s only so much Zahn can do as far as Thrawn goes given how Season 4 of Star Wars Rebels played out. While we do get some closure for a few of the characters, we’re left with plenty of questions regarding the paths of other characters we’ve come to know and love over the course of the series. I’ll avoid using specific character names in interest of not spoiling the book but there is so much potential for future stories here that it will be a shame if it goes unrealized.
At the end of the day, Thrawn: Treason is probably the book you’re expecting. If you’re a fan of the previous Thrawn books, you’ll dig this one. It’s a fun escape to the galaxy far, far away. Just be prepared to come out of the book loving another Chiss Admiral. (Ar’alani. I’m talking about Ar’alani. I’ve been very subtle this entire review about digging her, I know.)
Thank you to Del Rey for providing a copy of the book for review purposes.
