Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil)

Timothy Zahn

Nov 2021 · Star Wars: The Ascendancy Trilogy Book 3 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Marc Thompson

About this audiobook

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from Timothy Zahn.
 
For thousands of years the Chiss Ascendancy has been an island of calm, a center of power, and a beacon of integrity. It is led by the Nine Ruling Families, whose leadership stands as a bulwark of stability against the Chaos of the Unknown Regions.
 
But that stability has been eroded by a cunning foe who winnows away trust and loyalty in equal measure. Bonds of fidelity have given way to lines of division among the families. Despite the efforts of the Expansionary Defense Fleet, the Ascendancy slips closer and closer to civil war.
 
The Chiss are no strangers to war. Their mythic status in the Chaos was earned through conflict and terrible deeds, some long buried. Until now. To ensure the Ascendancy’s future, Thrawn will delve deep into its past, uncovering the dark secrets surrounding the ascension of the First Ruling Family. But the truth of a family’s legacy is only as strong as the legend that supports it. Even if that legend turns out to be a lie.
 
To secure the salvation of the Ascendancy, is Thrawn willing to sacrifice everything? Including the only home he has ever known?

Ratings and reviews

I don't care what anybody says this book doesn't feel like Star Wars at all. It's the new watered down Disney version. I've always loved Thrawn but this book is way too long and boring, I had to skip to the last 3 chapters. Its so pointless on so many levels. waste of my time, I miss the old Star Wars. Plus, they could've told this story all in one book instead of a trilogy but they wanted to squeeze as much money from people as they could just so we could see how Thrawn got exiled.

Listen to the audio book several times ... it's a safe story and answered some pending questions. The book has exciting parts and overall OK. Compared to other volumes, expected more edgy plots... not safe, cliché plots from previous volumes. Book III has some lacking character growth and evolution...possibly should be multiple books. Some characters seemed either extremely naive or extremely psychotic. Characters devolve mentally and are stupidly unbelievable. Almost no maturity due to previous experiences.

I have always loved Timothy Zahn and his creation of Thrawn(my fav character in SW) and to add on top of this Marc Thompson is narrating the book as usual is so solid. I'm only a couple of hours into the book and it so fabulous....as expected from the creator of Thrawn.

About the author

Timothy Zahn is the author of more than sixty novels, nearly ninety short stories and novelettes, and four short-fiction collections. In 1984, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novella. Zahn is best known for his Star Wars novels (Thrawn, Thrawn: Alliances, Thrawn: Treason, Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising, Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future, Survivor's Quest, Outbound Flight, Allegiance, Choices of One, and Scoundrels), with more than eight million copies of his books in print. Other books include StarCraft: Evolution, the Cobra series, the Quadrail series, and the young adult Dragonback series. Zahn has a BS in physics from Michigan State University and an MS from the University of Illinois. He lives with his family on the Oregon coast.