Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsPlodding and dull
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2019
It's taken me a while to finish this book, simply because there's nothing about it that's had me rushing to pick it up and find out what happens next. It's not particularly compelling or exciting, there are no shock twists or narrative turns, it just plods on.
The basic problem throughout the book is that Thrawn is an infallible tactical genius, he is never wrong, he never misjudges anything, and as much as the reader (through the eyes of Thrawn's aide, Eli Vanto, the Dr Watson to Thrawn's Sherlock Holmes) is tempted to think that this time he may have got it wrong, there is always the inevitable Holmes explaining to an amazed Watson section where Thrawn explains how he figured it all out right from the beginning, lifted directly from any given Holmes story. There are even a good few "By Jove, Holmes! You've cracked it!" responses from Vanto for good measure.
There is no 'learning' moment, no operation gone disastrously wrong that has Thrawn learning a valuable lesson from his mistake - no character development at all. It's just Thrawn's rapid rise through the ranks occasionally obstructed by institutionalised racism in the Imperial Navy. He's fully functioning straight out of the box.
The narrative device of Thrawn's journal entries topping each chapter is a bit turgid - essentially it's "the theme of this chapter, dear reader, is (insert as appropriate)" - a tad condescending to the reader as it's better to figure that out for ourselves. Similarly, the constant observations of people's idiosyncrasies by Thrawn in italics is a bit annoying. It beats us over the head with endless reminders that Thrawn notices everything and misses nothing.
Thrawn's use of a species' art as an observational tool is absolutely spot-on, though. This is a skill I possess myself and have employed on many occasions. I can walk in to any pub - literally any pub - and by looking at the art on its walls - The Laughing Cavalier, Barmaid at the Folies Bergere, Dogs Playing Snooker, for example - deduce that when I approach the bar, a member of staff will ask me what I want and give it to me. Whether it's a pint of lager, a cask ale, a cider or a soft drink, maybe even a packet of crisps, simply from observing the artwork I can conclude that these and more items will be available to me upon request. To give Timothy Zahn his due, its replication in the book is uncannily accurate.
Alongside Thrawn's rise, we see the parallel path of an ambitious young woman eyeing a political career. It's pretty clear from the outset that what we're seeing is one person progressing through skill and merit, while the other progresses through connivance and game-playing, with the two of them set to come into direct conflict with one another further down the line. I think we all know who will come out on top.
So, if you're a Thrawn fan, yay - there's lots of Thrawn being Thrawn doing Thrawny things. If you prefer a little character development or a couple of surprise revelations, you won't find them here. Do I have the fortitude to push through the next two volumes in the hope that things improve? Probably not.
