“I have sensed a disturbance in the force…”

I finished the second book in Timothy Zahn’s latest “Thrawn” series almost as quickly as I finished the first. The next chapter in the series was different from the original book. It brings in a new character to the series, Darth Vader.

While you would think that adding new intrigue by bringing in the infamous Sith Lord would be a good thing, Zahn struggles to make the relationship “work” at times. The first installment in the series centered around its central character, Thrawn. It portrayed him as a rising cadet in the Imperial Navy, who is a calculating tactician and seasoned warrior. In this book, some of the warrior tactics he explains and the body language he deciphers that really enhance the first book are all noticeably absent.

Zahn moves from this writing style to a stream of consciousness style, which was hard to get used to after reading the first book. He moves from scenes of the past featuring Thrawn, Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, back to the present with Thrawn and Darth Vader. The style has limitations, however, which leave the reader a little dissatisfied.

On its own, the book is an excellent read. It is interesting, engaging and thrilling at points. There is much new information gleaned from the story. When it is thrust into this series, there is a significant drop-off from the titular original.

That being said, I am excited to read the trilogy’s conclusion, “Treason” in the near future to see how the series ends.

– Jason