Timothy Zahn
- "It was just after four o'clock on November 6, 1989, and I was three days into writing my first novel for my new publisher, Bantam Books, when the phone rang. It was my agent. 'Tim,' he said after the usual pleasantries, 'we have a very interesting offer here.'"
- ―Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn is a science fiction author which is best known for his work on the Thrawn Trilogy, a series of books following the events after Star Wars's Return of the Jedi, introducing various characters to the saga, such as Grand Admiral Thrawn, Mara Jade Skywalker. He also wrote other books, such as Outbound Flight where he gave some backstory to Thrawn and Joruus C'baoth, which had been introduced in the Thrawn Trilogy.
Biography
Expanding the universe
Timothy Zahn's first book in the Star Wars franchise was Heir to the Empire, which followed the events after Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.[4] He later released Dark Force Rising as a sequel to the former,[5] and later concluded the trilogy with The Last Command.[6] He later wrote a duology which consisted of Specter of the Past[7] and Vision of the Future.[8]
Zahn also wrote various standalone novels, such as Outbound Flight, which told one of Thrawn's first victories, which gained him the respect of Darth Sidious.[9] Scoundrels,[10] Survivor's Quest,[11] Allegiance[12] and Choices of One.[13] He also contributed to the script of several comics and short stories such as Star Wars: Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand.[14]
Zahn later portrayed Talon Karrde from The Thrawn Trilogy, for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game[15]. As Karrde had much more hair than his creator, Zahn needed to use hair extensions. He was also involved in the writing of Copero flashpoint in Star Wars: The Old Republic.[16]
Planned works
Before Zahn was hired to write a ninth Star Wars novel, Zahn had planned a number of ideas including stories of the Skywalker family, more adventures of the Hand of Judgment and more of Thrawn's and Mara Jade Skywalker's backstories.[17] At Celebration III, Zahn said he would like to write a novel set after Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, featuring Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, and a teenager Ben. But the possibility of that novel in that time period vanished when Mara died in Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice. However in a later interview with TheForce.net. Zahn said he still wanted to do a novel about the Skywalker family with Mara, Ben and Luke or to tell more tales. But it would have had to be before Star Wars: Legacy of the Force.[17]
Zahn answered a fan's question at Celebration III, he shared that he would be interested in working more with Thrawn if it involved a new threat that only a clone of the grand admiral could solve. The clone would become unsure of himself due to the people expecting him to be as good as the original Chiss. Zahn stated at a book signing in Philadelphia that he would like the clone of Thrawn to team up with Ben Skywalker.[18] Zahn stated through a Facebook Q&A in 2013, that he had a trilogy project to share with Lucasfilm, with one book featuring Thrawn and the Chiss species, the second involved Jade preventing an assassination attempt on Darth Vader, and the third book would be the third book in the Hand of Judgment series. The proposed title for the trilogy was The Maestro Trilogy.[19]
Rebuilding Thrawn and the Chiss
After the announcement of the new continuity, Canon, in April 25, 2014. Which made all of Zahn's works Legends instead of Canon.[20] Zahn hadn't been involved in Star Wars, however, as Thrawn was reintroduced into the saga through Star Wars Rebels Season Three, through the episode Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow[21] created by Dave Filoni. He was chosen to write the Thrawn, a novel which focused on Mitth'raw'nuruodo, Thrawn's rise through the Galactic Empire's ranks. From Lieutenant Commander to Grand Admiral. Which released on April 11, 2017.[22]
The novel received a follow up, Thrawn: Alliances, which told the story of how Anakin Skywalker and the Chiss defeated the Separatists on Mokivj and how Darth Vader and the Grand Admiral discovered a major threat for the Empire, the Grysk Hegemony.[23] It was released on June 26, 2018.[24] He later released Thrawn: Treason, the final installment in the trilogy, where Thrawn defeated the Grysk Hegemony with the help of Admiral Ar'alani, and where he defeated Balanhai Savit.[25] It was released on July 23, 2019[26]
On September 1, 2020, Zahn released Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising the first book in the Star Wars: The Ascendancy Trilogy which was about Thrawn when was a member of the Chiss Ascendancy.[27] On April 27, 2021, Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good was released. Being the second book in the Ascendancy Trilogy.[28] Later, on November 16, 2021, Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil was released, which ended the Ascendancy Trilogy.[29]
Works
Bibliography
Roleplaying scenarios
| Year | Title |
| August, 1995[60] | The Kaal Connection |
| July, 1995[61] | The DarkStryder Campaign |
Sources
Notes and references
- ↑
The Mandalorian Season 2 Date Announced, A New Look at The High Republic, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Novelist Timothy Zahn is the man who saved 'Star Wars,' according to fans. Chicago Tribune (archived from the original on December 18, 2021)
- ↑ The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Heir to the Empire
- ↑ Dark Force Rising
- ↑ The Last Command
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Specter of the Past
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Vision of the Future
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Outbound Flight
- ↑ Scoundrels
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Survivor's Quest
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Allegiance
- ↑ Choices of One
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Star Wars: Mara Jade – By the Emperor's Hand
- ↑ *
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Reflections II: Expanding the Galaxy (Card: Talon Karrde) (backup link)
- ↑ *File:SWTOR mini.png First Look: 'Traitor Among The Chiss' Teaser on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Jedi Council Interviews - Timothy Zahn. TheForce.net (archived from the original on June 2, 2020)
- ↑
Meeting Tim Zahn-Questions on the Jedi Council Forums (Literature board; posted by Coonsan on 2/5/07 12:20pm; accessed February 27, 2013) (backup link)
- ↑
Star Wars Books (@starwarsbooks) on Facebook: Timothy Zahn Q&A (January 23, 2013): "(1) If there are to be more books, and if LFL/Del Rey/Disney decide to let me write some of them, I have a trilogy project to pitch where the third book would also be the third book of the Hand of Judgment series (Allegiance and Choices of One). Again, I don't know if that will happen. (2) A Fel or Chiss novel would be fun. As a matter of fact, the trilogy I mentioned above (which I'll pitch if I'm invited to do another book) would have one book heavily involving Thrawn and the Chiss. (The middle book, btw, would feature Mara being sent to stop an assassination...against Vader. Imagine the fun they would *both* have with *that* assignment.) The proposed series title is The Maestro Trilogy, if anyone wants to star nagging Del Rey. (No, seriously, *don't* nag. Just ask politely...)" (backup link)
- ↑
The Legendary Star Wars Expanded Universe Turns a New Page on StarWars.com (backup link not verified!)
- ↑ Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016 Live Stream – Day 2 | The Star Wars Show LIVE! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ Timothy Zahn on His Novel Thrawn, How to Pronounce the Grand Admiral's Full Name, and More on StarWars.com (backup link not verified!)
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Thrawn: Alliances
- ↑
Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars) on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Thrawn: Treason
- ↑ Thrawn: Treason (Star Wars) on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book I: Chaos Rising) on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)
- ↑ The Chiss Fleet Attacks in Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good – Exclusive Excerpt on StarWars.com (backup link not verified!)
- ↑ The Star Wars: Ascendancy Trilogy Will End With Lesser Evil – Exclusive Reveal on StarWars.com (backup link not verified!)
- ↑ Dark Force Rising
- ↑ The Last Command
- ↑ First Contact
- ↑ Mist Encounter
- ↑ The Saga Begins
- ↑ Hammertong: The Tale of the "Tonnika Sisters"
- ↑ Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade
- ↑ Command Decision
- ↑ Side Trip
- ↑ Mara Jade: A Night on the Town
- ↑ Interlude at Darkknell
- ↑ Handoff
- ↑ Hero of Cartao
- ↑ Duel
- ↑ Fool's Bargain
- ↑ Judge's Call
- ↑ Changing Seasons
- ↑ Buyer's Market
- ↑ Choices of One
- ↑ Crisis of Faith
- ↑ Heir to the Empire: The 20th Anniversary Edition
- ↑ An Apology
- ↑ Heist
- ↑ Winner Lose All
- ↑ Scoundrels
- ↑ Thrawn
- ↑ Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising
- ↑ Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good
- ↑ Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil
- ↑ Specter of Thrawn
- ↑ The Kaal Connection
- ↑ The DarkStryder Campaign
