Thrawn (Star Wars)
Timothy Zahn
Apr 2017 · Star Wars: Thrawn Book 1 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Marc Thompson
4.7star
762 reviewsreport
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16 hr 56 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER âą âThe origin story of one of the greatest Star Wars villains . . . a book that fans have wanted for decades.ââThe Verge
One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating villains in the Star Wars universe. Since his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahnâs classic Heir to the Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn has earned an iconic status equal only to the most notorious of Sith lords, Darth Vader. But Thrawnâs origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of powerâand infamy.
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After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as 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 againâeven 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 claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.
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All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empireâs grip on the galaxyâand his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.
One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating villains in the Star Wars universe. Since his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahnâs classic Heir to the Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn has earned an iconic status equal only to the most notorious of Sith lords, Darth Vader. But Thrawnâs origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of powerâand infamy.
Â
After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as 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 againâeven 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 claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.
Â
All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empireâs grip on the galaxyâand his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.
Ratings and reviews
4.7
762 reviews
Jac Thiebeau
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7 August 2024
The first of six books, this rebooted continuity of the Star Wars villian Thrawn was a great listen. The narrator is the same voice actor for the character in various Disney Plus shows and he really captures an iconic voice for Thrawn. If you only heard the abridged YouTube dub, the Governer Pryce subplot was really trimmed there and here it's effectively 40% of this book. If you didn't care for her given how she doesn't really play a role in Thrawns life till the end, then you might be wishing it to cut back to the military drama the other half of the book is focused on. They don't pull any punches, this is a pro empire story with no fake outs unlike some other Star Wars projects, truly a unique character and story.
Melissa Hosek
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6 June 2022
Excellent production quality and a beautiful performance by the reader. The story, however, generally lacks drama.This chronicle of characters' early lives before Star Wars Rebels does not reveal new insights regarding these characters or the Star Wars universe. Thrawn's chapters are a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes, while Price's chapters describe a series of career-related tasks. Final verdict: this is perhaps a good pick if you are already fascinated with Thrawn, but it is not compelling on its own.
Jake Geiselhart
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15 October 2024
This is a great book for Wars and Trek Fans alike. Thrawn's career path reminds me a lot of Captain Kirk (Kelvin Timeline) with the brains and strategy of Mr. Spock. Granted this is still very much a Star Wars book so you get that Lore but without Jedi or Sith. Cmdr Eli Vanto fills the Bones McCoy role for Thrawn as a translator for his command style and advisor. Makes you wonder what would happen if Thrawn had command of the Empire over single minded idiots on Coruscant. The Imperial Navy could have kept the peace and explored the unknown regions like Starfleet does instead of being basically Space Keystone Cops
About the author
Timothy Zahn is the author of more than forty novels, nearly ninety short stories and novellas, and four short-fiction collections. In 1984, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novella. Zahn is best known for his Star Wars novels (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future, Survivorâs Quest, Outbound Flight, Allegiance, Choices of One, and Scoundrels), with more than four million copies of his books in print. Other books include the Cobra series, the Quadrail series, and the young adult Dragonback series. Zahn has a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University and an M.S. from the University of Illinois. He lives with his family on the Oregon coast.
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