‘Star Wars—Thrawn: Treason’ is short but no less sweet than its predecessors

With Grand Admiral Thrawn’s disappearance in Star Wars Rebels, author Timothy Zahn had something of a challenge with the accompanying books reintroducing the Chiss tactician into Star Wars‘ newly-approved canon. His biggest challenge came with Thrawn: Treason, just released this week.

Please note that this review will contain SPOILERS for the book, but as few as possible.

Why does Treason present a challenge? Well, it’s set right before Thrawn makes a rather fateful trip to Lothal, where he and Ezra Bridger disappear in Star Wars Rebels. Canonically, we know Thrawn (and thus likely Ezra) survived this…but where did they go? Treason doesn’t answer that, probably because Zahn is open to pitching more books with Thrawn.

There’s one single timeline in this book, as well, instead of the two we see in Thrawn: Alliances. Instead, Zahn gets to do a lot of character work in this book, which is challenging all on its own. Not only does he bring back Eli Vanto, who’s spent quite a lot of time with the Chiss since we last saw him, but he also gives us a look at another Chiss Admiral: Ar’alani.

Honestly, Thrawn’s still as interesting as he’s always been, but Zahn’s strength here is that even when we’re not with Thrawn, Treason is still compelling. From appearances from Rogue One’s Orson Krennic and Grand Moff Tarkin to time with the Chiss Defense Fleet, the entire story flows together, showing us the same problems from different perspectives. This has always been one of Zahn’s strengths as an author, but with a shorter book, it becomes even more noticeable how smoothly he switches from one scene to another.

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It might be that Alliances is the better book overall — Zahn writes a really good Anakin Skywalker — but Treason isn’t bad, by any means. Indeed, this book has a distinct political aspect to it, moreso than others, due to what’s going on in the Empire. The Death Star project has some trouble, and Thrawn gets roped into it only to find that the conspiracy goes even deeper.

While Treason definitely serves as an ending to this chapter of written stories, it leaves the door open for Thrawn to reappear in the inter-trilogy period — or even later, depending on what the plans are for the Star Wars universe as a whole. It’s a tricky balance to strike, but Zahn certainly earns that ability to leave the door open. If he wants to write a fourth book, or a fifth, or a sixth, this writer won’t complain, especially since Zahn leaves things open for not just Thrawn, but for Eli, Ar’alani, and more.

Thrawn: Treason is in stores now, along with the preceding books: Thrawn and Thrawn: Alliances.

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