Thrawn Alliances

The Thrawn Alliances is a Star Wars expanded universe novel written by Timothy Zahn as a sequel to Thrawn, another novel in the series. The story is split between two timelines, one during The Clone Wars era and the other during the Galactic Civil War, and prominently features the well-known characters from the Star Wars universe, including Grand Admiral Thrawn, Darth Vader, and Anakin Skywalker.

The book begins in the Galactic Civil War era and shows how Emperor Palpatine senses a disturbance in The Force originating from the Unknown Regions, prompting him to deploy Thrawn and Darth Vader to investigate the issue. While Vader is skeptical of Thrawn, their adventure forces them to work together, building an interesting dynamic between the two.

At the start of their mission, Thrawn and Vader share a fraught history dating back to the Clone Wars. The narrative alternates between the two eras, showing Anakin Skywalker and Thrawn's initial meeting during the Clone Wars and their second encounter as Darth Vader and Grand Admiral Thrawn in the Galactic Civil War.

Their first interaction during the Clone Wars takes place on the Outer Rim world of Batuu, where Thrawn and Anakin initially form an involuntary alliance. Anakin's main objective is to locate Padmé Amidala, who has mysteriously disappeared while on a mission. Thrawn, on the other hand, investigates a new threat to his people, the Chiss.

In the later timeline, Thrawn and Vader, despite their initial disdain, develop an unexpected partnership. The lore of Chiss Force Sensitives, known as Skywalkers, is explored, adding a new layer to Star Wars mythology. The mission leads them back to Batuu and uncovers an enemy that threatens both the Empire and the Chiss Ascendancy.

Thrawn Alliances thus presents an in-depth and complex exploration of these well-known characters, showing their evolution and the deep connection they share. It successfully combines elements of political intrigue, adventure, character development, and Star Wars mythology, providing fans a fascinating addition to the extended universe.