Thrawn - Treason

by Timothy Zahn | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 1984820982 Global Overview for this book
Registered by PokPok of Vista, California USA on 2/6/2020
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by PokPok from Vista, California USA on Thursday, February 6, 2020
9 stars: Super, couldn't put it down.

From the back cover:

"If I were to serve the Empire, you would command my Allegiance." Such was the promise Grand Admiral Thrawn made to Emperor Palpatine at their first meeting. Since then, Thrawn has been one of the Empire's most effective instruments, pursuing its enemies to the very edges of the known galaxy. But as keen a weapon as Thrawn has become, the Emperor dreams of something far more destructive. Now, as Thrawn's TIE-defender program is halted in favor of Director Krennic's secret Death Star project, he realizes that the balance of power in the Empire is measured by more than just military acumen or tactical efficiency. Even the greatest intellect can hardly compete with the power to annihilate entire planets. As Thrawn works to secure his place in the Imperial hierarchy, his former protege', Eli Vanto, returns with a dire warning about Thrawn's homeworld. Thrawn's mastery of strategy must guide him through an impossible choice: duty to the Chiss Asecendancy or fealty to the Empire he has sworn to serve. Even if the right choice means committing treason.

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I loved this book, I was very engaged with it. The story picked up essentially where the first Thrawn (canon) book left off. Eli has been serving the Chiss, sent there by Thrawn, while Thrawn serves the Empire. Now their paths cross again, to fight an even more powerful foe in the outer rim. Thrawn is a positively brilliant character, very engaging, not "evil for the sake of evil" but to meet his larger ends. And what are they, precisely?

Some quotes I liked:

The forward : For all those who have ever had to consider the cost of doing the right thing.

Politics, he'd heard someone say once, would ultimately be the death of the Empire. Politics between men like Krennic and Tarkin; politics all the way up to Palpatine himself. Infighting, jockeying for position, backstabbing with a smile, all the while ignoring the real threats. Threats from without...and from within.

"We do not struggle against flesh and blood" -the old Clone Wars era saying whispered through Faro's mind -"but against ideas and fears, against hopelessness and manipulation."

"You grab your bag and put on your fancy assistant director uniform. Cape too. You do have one of Krennic's silly capes, right?"

"Some of the things about us are strange" Eli conceded. "Of course, to us some of the ways of the Chiss are equally strange. But that's good. Learning about each other's ways and learning how we are alike despite our differences is a way to enrich our lives."

"If the time comes when there is no hope...will you promise to kill me and my sisters?"
And there it was. The question Eli had known was coming.
A question that had no good answer.
But now, as the gazed into Vah'nya's eyes, he knew what his answer had to be.
"I would never do anything to harm you, Bah'nya." he said quietly. "YOu're probably the only friend I have aboard the Steadfast, and I would give my life without hesitation to save yours." Eli braced himself. " But there are worse things than death, and being forced into service to the Grysks is one of those. If the Steadfast is truly without hope, I pledge to you and your sister navigators will never have to endure that living hell."

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