It's been eons (or should I say light years?) since I last read this trilogy but from what I recall, this was, and still remains the BEST Star Wars series I've ever read! It is THAT GOOD. Tim Zahn perfectly captured the Big Three (Luke, Han & Leia) and presented them the way we expect them to speak and act. However, what tips this series from a great one to a true tour de force is the introduction of one of the greatest SW villains ever - Grand Admiral Thrawn. We had not seen the likes of this character ever in SW - intelligent, commanding, calculating, sly, all in one terrific package. In the years since I've read this trilogy, I've read many, many, many other SW novels and for me, Thrawn is still the gold standard for villains. To my mind, most villains since have a tiny element of cartoonish buffoonery. Thrawn is a villain one can admire and respect, even as he executes dastardly deeds all in the name of the Empire he serves. [Subsequent other novels that take place in a timeline before the events of this trilogy have since stripped some of the mysticism surrounding Thrawn, but not his mastery]. I realize others may have a different opinion and think he's too much of a Gary Stu, too much the all-powerful omniscient baddie, but I'll buy in to Thrawn since I love this character so much.
As for the introduction of Mara Jade, I was neutral - neither loved nor hated her, but what I didn't care for was the idea of Emperor's Hands. I suppose it makes some sense in a real world application, but for me, I just didn't like the idea that Emperor Palpatine would be able to find, and use Force sensitive people to act as his Hand whenever and wherever needed. I recall feeling that way when I read this trilogy way back when, and events in the prequel films just reinforce my dislike for the Hands.
However, allowances must be made for the introduction of elements (crazy clones, troopers not resembling Jango Fett, etc.) that now are viewed as completely out of step with SW canon, but recall, these novels were written at a time when Star Wars really wasn't on the radar anymore (the early 1990s). Before the prequel trilogy, the video games, graphic novels, umpteen other novels - there was the Thrawn trilogy (and it wasn't even called that when these books were published) and that was it. Indeed, I hope my affection for this trilogy isn't colored by the fact that at the time of publication, SW was in a desert and thus, this was a most refreshing drink.
The series had it all - terrific plot, great narration, wonderful characters (including as I stated before, getting the Big Three spot on). I hope it's no exaggeration to say this is the BEST Star Wars series EVER!
![Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91e0TrN3waS._CLa|3001,2475|91gS5JHjyaS.jpg,91xvzumCfRL.jpg|0,0,1364,2475+1637,0,1364,2475+682,0,1637,2475_._SY300_.jpg)
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