Title: The Last Command (book 3 of 3 of the Thrawn Trilogy
Author: Timothy Zahn
Publication Date: May 1993 (Paperback edition)
My Grade: A
I really enjoyed the third book in the trilogy, and the Trilogy in general. It was interesting to read at this point due to the fact that this came out before the prequels and therefore has some Ret-conned elements. However many of the things stand up even despite that. In this book, Leia has her twins, which (as far as we know) doesn’t occur in movie cannon), but you could replace Jaina and Jacen relatively easily with Ben. They talk about the Clone Wars, and it brings up some interesting ideas about the clone wars that makes me wonder how much this book influenced the animated series. (Enough to make me think about watching it).
I have also grown to love some of the minor characters that I hope to catch often as I read more of the Expanded (now called Legends) universe. Talon Karrde, General Bel Ibis, and Captain Pellaeon in particular. Each of them seemed to be interesting characters with stories of their own to explore. Mara Jade is still one of my favorite non-film canon characters and I hope they have some version of her in the film series. I consider her one of the main characters of the EU. To sum it up, this book as a variety of minor characters (and major ones) with good characterization.
It also has a good plot, tying together some of the various plot lines that have been going through the trilogy. It also deals with Mara’s past, Leia’s use of the force, The Noghri’s situation, and gives alot of information about the Clone Wars that is vague enough that it actually might pass the flims/tv series canon.
I was actually expecting Luke and Mara to have a bigger force connection, because of the way things end up for them in other books, but instead I found the book deals alot with Mara and Leia’s connection. And also the way Leia views the New Republic and Mara. Honestly, this trilogy is a lot about Leia dealing with becoming a mother, being a Jedi, and dealing with being part of the New Republic. She also deals with the legacy that is being Darth Vader’s daughter.
If you enjoy Star Wars, I definitely recommend this book, and the trilogy its a part of. It brings back alot of the favorite minor characters from the films, and deepens the universe in which we get to play. I’m actually moving to read the second Thrawn series (this one a duology) called Spectre of the Past and Vision of the Future. I actually own the second book, but never read the first one so I got lost on a few things.
(As of posting, I’ve actually read Spectre of the Past. It should be posted shortly)
Sokorra Lewis 