Thrawn: Alliances Explained
Thrawn: Alliances is a 2018 Star Wars novel by Timothy Zahn, published on July 24, 2018 by Del Rey Books. It continues the chronicles of Grand Admiral Thrawn, a character that Zahn originated in his Heir to the Empire trilogy published in 1991 - 1993. It is the sequel to Zahn's novel, the second installment of the newer Thrawn trilogy, and the ninth Thrawn novel overall.[1]
Development
At the New York Comic Con in 2017, Timothy Zahn, the author of the first eight Thrawn novels, announced that he had been working on a sequel to the 2017 Thrawn novel. He said that the book was actually finished and had been turned in a few weeks prior.[2] @DelReyStarWars, the official Star Wars Del Rey Twitter account, published a comment that read: "Thrawn is back. And he's bringing Vader with him. Coming summer 2018." The book was initially planned for release on June 26, 2018,[3] but was later delayed to July 24, 2018.[4] [5] [6]
Zahn said about coming back to writing about Thrawn: "Thrawn is a great character to write. It was really like I was never away from the last books I did. He’s a fun character to deal with..."[1]
Plot
Thrawn: Alliances focuses on Thrawn's partnership with Darth Vader,[7] whom he meets at the conclusion of Thrawn. In the novel, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader are sent on a mission to Batuu[8] to explore a disturbance in the Force felt by Emperor Palpatine.[9] The mission is more than that however, as Thrawn's split loyalties between the Empire and his native people the Chiss and Vader's past as a Jedi require a test of loyalty for both of the characters. The book also features flashbacks to a Clone Wars conflict featuring Thrawn and Anakin Skywalker on the same planet several years ago.[10] Additionally, Padmé Amidala is featured, investigating the disappearance of an old ally.[11] [12]
The novel also introduces the fictional Grysk species,[13] which later return in .
Reception
Thrawn: Alliances topped The New York Times Best Seller list for Hardcover Fiction on the August 12, 2018 edition,[14] and stayed there the next week.[15] It placed second in Hardcover Fiction for the August 6, 2018 edition of Publishers Weeklys list of the week's best-sellers.[16]
Megan Crouse of Den of Geek wrote:"The sequel moves a lot faster and has a more energetic central dynamic than the first book. It’s a science fiction beach read in the best way, brisk and amusing, with some cool additions to the Star Wars galaxy."[8]
In 2019, Alliances won a Dragon Award for Best Media Tie-In Novel.[17]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Star Wars Author Timothy Zahn on Thrawn: Alliances and Toxic Fandom . Liptak . Andrew . . July 25, 2018 . December 2, 2020 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523212633/https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/25/17597478/star-wars-timothy-zahn-thrawn-alliances-book-comic-con-sdcc-2018 . live .
- News: 'Star Wars: Thrawn' sequel 'Alliances' announced at New York Comic Con 2017 . Keane . Sean . . October 6, 2017 . December 4, 2020 . September 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200924082403/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/star-wars-thrawn-sequel-announced-nycc-2017-article-1.3546248 . live .
- Web site: Star Wars: 'Thrawn: Alliances' Cover Debuts Darth Vader's Partnership. Star Wars. 2021-02-09. 2021-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201191508/https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/star-wars-thrawn-darth-vader-book-alliances-rebels/. live.
- Web site: 11 Star Wars Projects Currently In Development (And 9 Rumored) . Figeuroa . Johnathan . 4 June 2018 . ScreenRant.com . 9 February 2021 . 9 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034244/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-projects-currently-development-rumored/ . live .
- Web site: 'Thrawn: Alliances' Release Delayed to July 24th . Jones . Dominic . StarWarsUnderworld.com . January 15, 2018 . February 9, 2021 . January 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124070102/https://www.starwarsunderworld.com/2018/01/thrawn-alliances-release-delayed-to.html . live .
- Web site: 5 new books you won't want to miss this week, including J.P. Delaney and 'Star Wars' . McClurg . Jocelyn . . December 3, 2020 . August 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240804130233/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2018/07/22/5-new-books-you-wont-want-miss-week-j-p-delaney-star-wars-parker-posey/778730002/ . live .
- Web site: Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances Answers Fan Questions and Teases the Disney Theme Park . Syfy.com . December 3, 2020 . December 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201203013451/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/past-present-and-future-collide-in-star-wars-thrawn-alliances . live .
- Web site: Crouse . Megan . Star Wars: Thrawn – Alliances Review . 24 July 2018 . DenOfGeek.com . December 4, 2020 . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028063743/https://www.denofgeek.com/books/star-wars-thrawn-alliances-review/ . live .
- Book: Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars) . 28 February 2019 . Penguin.co.uk . December 2, 2020 . 20 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201020145632/https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1115389/thrawn--alliances--star-wars-/9781787460645.html . live .
- Web site: Keane . Sean . Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances offers clever character studies in two time periods . . July 24, 2018 . December 3, 2020.
- Web site: Padmé Is On a Mission in Thrawn: Alliances – Exclusive Excerpt . StarWars.com . December 2, 2020 . July 11, 2018 . November 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130180538/https://www.starwars.com/news/thrawn-alliances-exclusive-excerpt-2 . live .
- Web site: (Non-Spoiler) Review: Star Wars – Thrawn: Alliances . Larson . Kyle . July 19, 2018 . Star Wars Net . December 3, 2020.
- Web site: Star Wars Has Just Introduced A Canon Replacement For The Yuuzhan Vong . ScreenRant.com . Bacon . Thomas . 29 July 2018 . 9 February 2021 . 13 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210213004543/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-thrawn-alliances-grysks-yuuzhan-vong/ . live .
- News: Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers Week of August 12, 2018 . The New York Times . February 9, 2021 . November 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034506/https://www.nytimes.com///books/best-sellers/2018/08/12/hardcover-fiction/ . live .
- News: Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers Week of August 19, 2018 . The New York Times .
- News: This Week's Bestsellers: August 6, 2018 . . December 4, 2020 . Juris . Carolyn.
- Web site: 2019 Dragon Award Winners . September 2019 . December 4, 2020 . May 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506165151/http://file770.com/2019-dragon-award-winners/ . live .