Should I Read the Original Thrawn First

Continuing our series of manufactures on K Admiral Thrawn, nosotros are going to go back to the roots of the character – the very sources that introduced the famed villain into George Lucas' Star Wars universe. Timothy Zahn is an American scientific discipline-fiction that introduced Thou Admiral Thrawn to the expanded Legends universe, which ultimately led to Thrawn'due south inclusion in the current canon. Although Zahn contributed to the Legends universe with more than just his Thrawn stories, the four series of novels chronicling Thrawn's endeavors in the Milky way are certainly his best-known and most of import works. In today'due south commodity, nosotros are going to present you lot the complete and proper reading order of the Grand Admiral Thrawn books, so enjoy!

When George Lucas launched the franchise in 1977, with the movie Star Wars (later titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope for continuity reasons), no one expected that information technology would become i of the biggest stories of the modern area. Star Wars wasn't initially that successful, but as the years passed, the franchise became a cult classic, attracting generations of fans and now encompassing nine main continuity movies, video games, several TV shows, comic books and a variety of merchandise that made George Lucas famous. The franchise is today owned past Disney, only wherever it might become afterwards the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars will undoubtedly remain one of the pivotal parts of modern culture.

At present, let us meet the answer to the primary question.

The Thrawn books series
(by lodge of publication)

The so-called Thrawn serial of novels was started past Timothy Zahn in 1991, when the first novel of The Thrawn Trilogy was published. The outset three novels were published from 1991 to 1993 and were succeeded by a duology that came out in 1997 and 1998. A new trilogy was published from 2017 to 2019 and at that place is an ongoing trilogy whose publication started in 2020. So, there is a total of nine Thrawn novels published and then far, with two on the style. This is how it looks summarised:

• Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy (1991-1993)
  • Heir to the Empire (1991); an edited and annotated edition was published in 2011.
  • Dark Forcefulness Rising (1992)
  • The Last Command (1993)
• Star Wars: The Manus of Thrawn Duology (1997-1998)
  • Specter of the Past (1997)
  • Vision of the Futurity (1998)
• Star Wars: Thrawn (2017-2019)
  • Thrawn (2017)
  • Thrawn: Alliances (2018)
  • Thrawn: Treason (2019)
• Star Wars: The Clout Trilogy (2020-TBC)
  • Thrawn Clout: Chaos Ascension (2020)
  • Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good (2021)
  • Untitled third part of Thrawn Ascendancy (2022/TBC)

The novels Survivor's Quest (2004) and Outbound Flight (2005) too included Thrawn, but since he is not the chief character, we are not going to include them on our list. The above list is a summary of all the Thrawn novels in the gild they have been published. This reading order is equally good equally whatsoever other, just if you want the narrative to fit chronologically, you can cheque out our detailed, chronological reading guide and guild in the following section.

The Thrawn series –
chronological reading order

Every bit already noted, the Thrawn books were not published in the chronological guild. In fact, Zahn started off with books set later on the fall of the Empire, only to revisit Thrawn's history in the more recent books. This is why we have decided to requite you the chronological reading order of these books, if you prefer to read your stories like that:

NOTE: The synopses of the books are official publishers' summaries that are included in the novel.

PREQUEL STORIES

Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Ascension (2020)

Appointment of Publication: September ane, 2020
Serial: Thrawn Ascendancy
Timeline: 19 BBY

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 lie the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, possessing hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled inside their swirling anarchy is the Ascendancy, domicile to the enigmatic Chiss and the Ix Ruling Families that lead them.

The peace of the Clout, a buoy of calm and stability, is shattered after a daring attack on the Chiss majuscule that reveals no trace of the enemy. Baffled, the Ascendancy dispatches i of its brightest young military officers to root out the unseen assailants — a recruit built-in of no title simply adopted into the powerful family of the Mitth and given the proper noun Thrawn. With the might of the Expansionary Fleet at his back and aided by his comrade, Admiral Ar'alani, Thrawn begins to piece together the answers he's looking for. Just equally Thrawn's commencement 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.

Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good (2021)

Date of Publication: May four, 2021 (planned)
Series: Thrawn Ascendancy
Timeline: Later on 19 BBY (TBC)

Synopsis:
Thrawn and his allies race to salvage the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy in the second book in the ballsy Star Wars: The Ascendancy Trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn. Thrawn's latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. Despite leading the Chiss to victory and bringing celebrity to the House of Mitth, the truthful threat to the Ascendancy has not withal been extinguished. Their foes do not transport threats or ultimatums, or 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 enemy plot, they notice a chilling truth. Rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage resources, this mysterious enemy strikes at the very foundation of the Ascendancy by widening the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and Xl Great Houses below. As rivalry and suspicion sow discord among allies, each warrior must decide what matters well-nigh: the security of their family unit, or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.

Untitled third part of Thrawn Ascendancy (2022/TBC)

Date of Publication: 2022 (TBC)
Series: Thrawn Ascendancy
Timeline: After 19 BBY (TBC)

Synopsis:
Due to the book not being published at the time of writing this article, no plot details are known at this time. This novel is going to conclude Thrawn's prequel stories within the Ascendancy saga, but how it is going to be connected to Greater Expert and the 2017 novel Thrawn remains unknown at this fourth dimension.

THE EMPIRE STORIES

Thrawn (2017)

Engagement of Publication: April 11, 2017
Series: Thrawn
Timeline: Between xiii and 11 BBY–2 BBY

Synopsis:
One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Chiliad Admiral Thrawn is likewise ane of the most captivating characters in the Star Wars. From his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahn's classic Heir to the Empire, through his standing adventures in Nighttime Force Ascension, The Terminal Control, and beyond, Grand Admiral Thrawn has earned an iconic status among Star Wars' greatest villains. Just Thrawn's origins and the story of his rise in the Royal ranks have remained mysterious.

At present, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blueish-skinned, ruby-red-eyed chief of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power — and infamy. After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and swell tactical abilities swiftly capture the attending of Emperor Palpatine. And just equally quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated.

On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again — fifty-fifty as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of challenge victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the loonshit of politics where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a stiff ally or a brutal enemy.

All these lessons will exist put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral — and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and boxing forces at his command against an insurgent insurgence that threatens not only innocent lives but as well the Empire's grip on the galaxy— and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.

Thrawn: Alliances (2018)

Date of Publication: July 24, 2018
Series: Thrawn
Timeline: 19 BBY(Past), Between 2 BBY and 0 BBY(Present)

Synopsis:
Thou Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader marry against a threat to the Empire in this new novel from bestselling author Timothy Zahn. 'I take sensed a disturbance in the Force' – ominous words under any circumstances, but all the more and then when uttered by Emperor Palpatine. On Batuu, at the edges of the Unknown Regions, a threat to the Empire is taking root — its existence little more than a glimmer, its consequences as yet unknowable. Just it is troubling enough to the Imperial leader to warrant investigation by his most powerful agents: ruthless enforcer Lord Darth Vader and brilliant strategist Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Fierce rivals for the emperor'south favor, and outspoken adversaries on Imperial affairs — including the Death Star project — the formidable pair seem unlikely partners for such a crucial mission. But the Emperor knows it'south not the first fourth dimension Vader and Thrawn accept joined forces. And at that place's more behind his royal control than either human being suspects. In what seems like a lifetime agone, General Anakin Skywalker of the Galactic Commonwealth, and Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo, an officeholder of the Chiss Ascendancy, crossed paths for the first time.

I on a desperate personal quest, the other with motives unknown… and undisclosed. But facing a gauntlet of dangers on a far-flung world, they forged an uneasy alliance — neither remotely aware of what their futures held in store. Now, thrust together once more, they find themselves bound over again for the planet where they once fought adjacent. In that location they will be doubly challenged — by a test of their allegiance to the Empire… and an enemy that threatens even their combined might.

Thrawn: Treason (2019)

Date of Publication: July 23, 2019
Series: Thrawn
Timeline: 0 BBY

Synopsis:
Yard Admiral Thrawn faces the ultimate test of his loyalty to the Empire in this epic Star Wars novel from bestselling author Timothy Zahn. 'If I were to serve the Empire, you would command my allegiance', such was the promise of G Admiral Thrawn made to Emperor Palpatine at their first meeting.

Since and then, Thrawn has been 1 of the Empire's most effective instruments, pursuing its enemies to the very edges of the known galaxy. Just as keen a weapon as Thrawn has become, the Emperor dreams of something far more destructive. Now, as Thrawn's Necktie defender program is halted in favor of Director Krennic'southward surreptitious Expiry Star project, he realizes that the balance of ability in the Empire is measured by more than but military acumen or tactical efficiency.

Fifty-fifty the greatest intellect tin can inappreciably compete with the power to annihilate unabridged planets. Equally Thrawn works to secure his place in the Imperial hierarchy, his erstwhile protégé Eli Vanto returns with a dire warning nearly Thrawn's homeworld. Thrawn'due south mastery of strategy must guide him through an incommunicable option: duty to the Chiss Ascendancy, or fealty to the Empire he has sworn to serve. Even if the right choice means committing treason.

POST-EMPIRE STORIES

Heir to the Empire (1991)

Date of Publication: May ane, 1992
Series: The Thrawn Trilogy
Timeline: ix ABY

Synopsis:
Here is the scientific discipline fiction publishing issue of the year: the exciting continuation of the legendary Star Wars saga. Picking up where the film trilogy left off, Heir to the Empire reveals the tumultuous events that take place after the most popular series in motion-flick history — masterfully told by Hugo Laurels-winning writer Timothy Zahn.

In spring 1977 a moving-picture show called Star Wars was released — and a cultural phenomenon was born. Its epic story, virtually a young man named Luke Skywalker, whose destiny was to relieve the milky way from conquest, caught the imaginations of millions and broke all box-office records. Today Star Wars and its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Render of the Jedi, are best-selling equally the most popular series in movie history, and rank among the top x films of all fourth dimension. The three Star Wars films class a spectacular saga of bold imagination and high adventure. Just the stories of its characters did not end there.

Now for the first time, Lucasfilm Ltd., producer of the Star Wars movies, has authorized the continuation of this love story. In an astounding three-book bicycle, Timothy Zahn continues the tale of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the other characters fabricated world famous by Star Wars, as he brilliantly expands upon George Lucas'south stunning vision, "a long fourth dimension ago in a galaxy far, far away. " Heir to the Empire begins five years after the end of Return of the Jedi: the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet back into barely a quarter of the territory that they once controlled.

Leia and Han are married and have shouldered heavy burdens in the regime of the new Republic. And Luke Skywalker is the kickoff in a hoped-for new line of Jedi Knights. But thousands of calorie-free-years away, where a few skirmishes are notwithstanding taking place, the last of the Emperor'southward warlords has taken command of the remains of the Imperial fleet. He has made 2 vital discoveries that could destroy the fragile new Republic — built with such price to the Insubordinate Alliance. The tale that emerges is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic calibration — in short, a story that is worthy of the name Star Wars.

Nighttime Force Rising (1992)

Date of Publication: May 1, 1992
Serial: The Thrawn Trilogy
Timeline: ix ABY

Synopsis:
The number-i New York Times bestselling Heir to the Empire was the publishing consequence of the year, the get-go novel to continue the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, across the events of the most popular trilogy in movie history. At present comes Dark Force Ascent, the 2d volume of a three-volume bicycle authorized by Lucasfilm Ltd. and written by Hugo Award-winning writer Timothy Zahn.

V years afterward the events of Return of the Jedi, the frail Commonwealth that was built-in with the defeat of Darth Vader, the Emperor, and the infamous Death Star stands threatened from within and without. The dying Empire'southward most cunning and ruthless warlord — M Admiral Thrawn — has taken command of the remnants of the Royal armada and launched a massive campaign aimed at the Republic's destruction. With the assistance of unimaginable weapons long hidden away by the Emperor on a backwater planet, Thrawn plans to turn the tide of the battle, overwhelm the New Republic, and impose his fe dominion throughout the milky way.

Meanwhile, dissension and personal ambition threaten to tear the Commonwealth apart. As Princess Leia — significant with Jedi twins — risks her life to bring a proud and lethal alien race into an alliance with the Democracy, Han and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Democracy Council — only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies. Just well-nigh dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded by, consumed by bitterness … and thoroughly, utterly insane.

Now he schemes to use his crawly mastery of the Forcefulness to summon young Skywalker, allay his misgivings, cunningly enthrall him, and ultimately corrupt him to the Night Side. A tale of brilliant spectacle, startling revelations, and tumultuous action, Dark Force Rising moves with the speed of calorie-free across a dazzling epic mural of galactic proportions, from earth to world, from run a risk to take a chance, as Good and Evil disharmonism beyond the vastness of space 'a long time ago, in a milky way far, far away ….'

The Last Command (1993)

Date of Publication: April ane, 1993
Serial: The Thrawn Trilogy
Timeline: nine ABY

Synopsis:
Heir to the Empire was a number-one New York Times bestseller and the scientific discipline-fiction publishing upshot of the year. Dark Force Rising continued the gripping new adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the other heroes of the almost popular trilogy in movie history. Now the saga concludes with The Last Command, the climactic volume of a three-volume cycle authorized by Lucasfilm Ltd. and written by Hugo Honor-winning author Timothy Zahn.

It is five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The fragile New Republic reels from the attacks of One thousand Admiral Thrawn, who has not only rallied the remaining Imperial forces but has driven the rebels back with an abominable new engineering science: clone soldiers. Hopes are dim as Thrawn mounts a last siege against the Commonwealth. While Han and Chewbacca struggle to form a wary alliance of smugglers in a last-ditch attack confronting the Empire, Leia keeps the Alliance together and prepares for the birth of her Jedi twins. Simply the Empire has likewise many ships and besides many clones to combat.

The Democracy's only hope lies in sending a small force, led by Luke, into the very stronghold that houses Thrawn's terrible cloning machines. There a concluding danger awaits. The Nighttime Jedi C'baoth schemes in his clandestine fortress, directing the battle against the rebels, nursing his insanity, and edifice his forcefulness to finish what he had already started — the destruction of Luke Skywalker. An odyssey of fast-paced action, stunning revelation, and concluding confrontation, The Last Command spans a galaxy in flames — a tale that will conclude in this third and last installment every bit Skillful and Evil battle 'a long time ago, in a galaxy far , far abroad …. '

Specter of the Past (1997)

Date of Publication: November 3, 1997
Series: The Paw of Thrawn
Timeline: nineteen ABY

Synopsis:
From Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn, whose unprecedented bestselling trilogy continued the saga of George Lucas' blockbuster films and became a landmark in the history of science fiction publishing, comes Specter of the Past, the beginning in the epic two-book series The Hand of Thrawn. Now Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo must battle to safeguard the fledgling New Republic from a expressionless Purple warlord — and from itself.

Once the unquestioned master of countless solar systems, the Empire is tottering on the brink of full collapse. Once commanding an invincible fleet of Star Destroyers, its fleet has been reduced to a skeleton forcefulness. Day by twenty-four hour period, neutral systems are rushing to bring together the New Republic coalition. Just with the end of the state of war in sight, the New Republic has fallen victim to its own success. An unwieldy alliance of races and traditions, the confederation now finds itself riven by age-former animosities. Princess Leia struggles against all odds to hold the New Republic together. But she has powerful enemies. An ambitious Moff Disra leads a conspiracy to split the uneasy coalition with an ingenious plot to blame the Bothans for a heinous crime that could atomic number 82 to genocide and civil war.

At the aforementioned fourth dimension, Luke Skywalker, forth with Lando Calrissian and Talon Karrde, pursues a mysterious group of pirate ships whose crews consist of clones. And so comes the most startling news of all: Grand Admiral Thrawn — believed to be dead for ten years — is reported alive. The nearly cunning and ruthless warlord in Imperial history has seemingly returned to atomic number 82 the Empire to triumph. Every bit Han and Leia try to foreclose the unraveling of the New Republic in the face of this fearful and inexplicable threat from the past, Luke sets out to runway down the rogue pirate ships.

To practice so, he will squad up with Mara Jade, with whom he will share his growing mastery of the forcefulness and the ever-nowadays threat of the nighttime side. All the while, lurking in the shadows is the enigmatic Major Tierce, a disciple of Emperor Palpatine, sharing his long-expressionless master'southward animalism for power, schooled in the devious stratagems of Thrawn himself, and armed with his own dark plans for the New Republic and the Empire.

Vision of the Time to come (1998)

Date of Publication: September 1, 1998
Series: The Hand of Thrawn
Timeline: 19 ABY

Synopsis:
Vision of the Future is the 2nd volume in the epic 2-volume series The Manus of Thrawn from Timothy Zahn, the bestselling, Hugo Accolade-winning author of the original landmark trilogy based on George Lucas's legendary Star Wars films. Now the story begun in Specter of the Past comes to an explosive conclusion every bit Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo are thrust into the heart of impending civil war — and observe the shocking truth behind the rumored resurrection of the dead Admiral Thrawn.

For a beleaguered Empire, drastic times call for desperate measures. Sowing discord amid the fragile coalition of the New Democracy, remnants of the once powerful Empire brand one last play for victory. Having implicated the Bothans in the genocide of the Caamasi, they now plan an attack on Han and Leia that is too blamed on the Bothans. If they are successful, the New Republic will be torn asunder. To prevent inevitable disaster, Luke, Leia, Han, and their friends must testify the Bothans innocent and reveal the Empire's treachery.

But fourth dimension is running out. The cunning Major Tierce has joined with the aggressive Moff Disra in the Empire's master plan. At its centre lies the near elaborate con of all: the rumor that the legendary Grand Admiral Thrawn, long believed dead, has returned to lead the Empire to a prophesied triumph. The news of Thrawn's render is already rallying Imperial forces against the New Commonwealth. As Leia travels to a secret rendezvous with an Imperial commander who claims to want peace, Han and Lando Calrissian journey into enemy territory to acquire the truth of Caamas's destruction.

Meanwhile, Luke and Mara Jade infiltrate a subconscious fortress where Thrawn's most fanatical followers look his call to arms. And Talon Karrde returns to his underworld past and a brutal crime lord whose knowledge may salve the Republic. Only it is the truth most Thrawn that is almost of import. In his hands — live or dead — rests the fate of the New Republic. Vision of the Future is the magnificent finale to 1 of the well-nigh suspenseful, activeness-packed, and thought-provoking Star Wars stories yet. Information technology is a masterful re-creation that captures the magic and adventure of the greatest science fiction saga of all time.

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Source: https://fictionhorizon.com/star-wars-thrawn-the-complete-reading-order/

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