- "Then why would they ally with you?"
"Because, at this one time, and in this one place, we were the lesser evil." - ―Jixtus and Thrawn
Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil is a canon novel written by Timothy Zahn as the sequel to Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good, and the final volume of Star Wars: The Ascendancy Trilogy. It was published by Del Rey on November 16, 2021 along with its audiobook adaptation.
Publisher's summary[]
The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
For thousands of years The Chiss Ascendancy has been an island of calm, a center of power, and a beacon of integrity. Led by the Nine Ruling Families, their leadership stands as a bulwark of stability against the Chaos of the Unknown Regions.
But that stability has been eroded by a cunning foe that winnows away trust and loyalty in equal measure. Bonds of fidelity have given way to lines of division among the families. Despite the efforts of the Expansionary Defense Fleet, the Ascendancy slips closer and closer toward civil war.
The Chiss are no strangers to war. Their mythic status in the Chaos was earned through conflict and terrible deeds, some long buried. Until now. To ensure the Ascendancy's future, Thrawn will delve deep into its past, uncovering the dark secrets surrounding the ascension of the First Ruling Family. But the truth of a family's legacy is only as strong as the legend that supports it. Even if that legend turns out to be a lie.
To secure the salvation of the Ascendancy, is Thrawn willing to sacrifice everything? Including the only home he has ever known?[7]
Plot summary[]
- "My job is to protect the Ascendancy and the Chiss people…
Whatever it costs to achieve that goal, I will pay it." - ―Senior Captain Thrawn, and the back cover blurb
Around 18 BBY,[3] Senior captain Thrawn meets Generalirius Nakirre, ruler of the Kilji Illumine, both engage in a confrontation at the Zyzek system, orbiting the planet Zyzek. Nakirre is mocked by Thrawn, who tells the Kilji that the Kilji way of order and enlightenment will not change the Chiss ancient paths.
Nakirre and the Grysk "Jixtus," who accompanies him in his travels, leave, and attempt to meet Clarr Patriarch Clarr'ivl'exow at Rhigar. However, they instead meet Captain Clarr'os'culry, who is offered warships of the Illumine by Nakirre, and a recording of the Hoxim incident by Jixtus. Roscu leaves with the recording, whcih she shares with her Patriarch, who unbeknownst to her, has made a deal with Jixtus to buy several Grysk ships.
Roscu leaves to Ornfra, where she is confronted by Senior Captain Irizi'in'daro and the Chiss heavy cruiser Grayshrike. She is informed by Ziinda that there is a Grysk missile platform hidden as a Mitth spy platform next to her. Roscu barely escapes the Grysk attack unscathed and a freighter controlling the platform blows up.
As tensions rise in the Ascendancy, Thrawn captures the Kilji picket cruiser Hammer with the Paccosh Uingali foar Marocsaa. Gaining data on the Illumine Kilhorde—the battle fleet of the Kiljis—Thrawn makes an alliance with the Paataatus to destroy the Kiljis. In the meantime, Nakirre and Jixtus mock and confront each other several times, which makes the Generalirius realize that he is but a tool of the Grysks. The Kilhorde is destroyed by Chiss forces while Nakirre and Jixtus travel to Sunrise, where they encounter Thrawn's fleet lying in wait for them.
Nakirre is informed of the Kilhorde's destruction, and he berates Jixtus, who kills the Kilji with a concealed pistol. A battle erupts between the incoming Grysk fleet and Thrawn's force. Thrawn is victorious by preventing the Grysks' retreat through his use of a gravity generator which he captured from Vagaari pirates. Jixtus destroys all his vessels through kill switches aboard them, and warns Thrawn that although Thrawn defeated him, the Grysks will return to make good on their promise of destroying the Ascendancy. Jixtus then activates his ship's kill switch, ending his own life. Despite saving the Ascendancy from civil war, Thrawn is exiled to Lesser Space on orders of the Defense Hierarchy Council. Thrawn spends his last day on Csilla remembering Thrass at a bistro in which they often met and saying his final farewells to his dearest friends.
Continuity[]
In the prologue, it is stated that the Republic shield generator Thrawn stole from Lesser Space resisted the UAG's attempts of replication,[6] but in Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising, it is stated that Thrawn's one-person freighter was equipped with a prototype Republic shield generator for his battle with General Yiv of the Nikardun Destiny. [8]
In chapter 10 the Springhawk is twice called the Grayshrike.[6]
In chapter 17, Rivlex is called a Patriel while he is identified as a Patriarch in the same page. (366)[6]
In chapter 20, Ziinda identifies the Csap family as a "ruling family", which they are not.[6]
In chapter 26 the Springhawk's helm officer, Tumaz'mor'diamir, is twice called Evroes'ky'mormi, who is the Vigilant's weapons officer.[6]
In chapter 28 Mid Captain Csap'ro'strob is called Mid Commander, although Supreme General Ba'kif has just confirmed Apros's upcoming promotion to Senior Captain.[6]
In chapter 28 Thrawn is noted as a merit adoptive. However, in Memories 13 of Chaos Rising he was made a trial born,[8] and the dramatis personae of Greater Good[9] and Lesser Evil lists him as a trial born.[6]
The dialogue between Syndic Thrass and his human co–pilot, as well as their flashback section, are identical—or extremely similar—to the events and writing presented in Zahn's[6] 2006 Outbound Flight novel.[10]
Media[]
Editions[]
- ISBN 9780593158326; November 16, 2021; Del Rey; US Hardcover[1]
- ISBN 9780593158333; November 16, 2021; Del Rey; US eBook[1]
- ISBN 9780593359372; November 16, 2021; Del Rey; US hardcover, Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition[11]
- ISBN 9780593496985; November 16, 2021; Del Rey; US paperback, export edition[12]
- ISBN 9780593158340; August 2, 2022; Del Rey; US paperback[13]
Cover gallery[]
Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
Dramatis personae
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Other characters
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Organisms
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Events
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Locations
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Organizations and titles
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
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Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Sources[]
The Star Wars: Ascendancy Trilogy Will End With Lesser Evil – Exclusive Reveal on StarWars.com (backup link)- "Timothy Zahn: Heir of an Empire" — Star Wars Insider 202
- Thrass Meets the Future Grand Admiral in Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil – Exclusive Excerpt on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 206
- Star Wars: Best of 2021 on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil) on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Thrawn Ascendencia nº 03/03 Mal menor (novela) (Spanish) on PlanetadeLibros: "¿Thrawn está dispuesto a sacrificarlo todo por salvar a la Ascendencia? ¿Incluido el único hogar que ha conocido?" (archived from the original on July 5, 2022)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars: Timelines places the main events of Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil in 18 BBY.
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates Thrawn becoming a cadet to around 39 BBY. As he rematched to the Mitth family, met Ali'astov on her final voyage as a sky-walker, met Syndic Thrass, and entered Taharim Academy around the same time, those events must have all happened around 39 BBY.
- ↑ The flashbacks in Lesser Evil occur prior to the main events of Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising, which are set around 19 BBY per the reasoning here.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil
- ↑ The Star Wars: Ascendancy Trilogy Will End With Lesser Evil – Exclusive Reveal on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising
- ↑ Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good
- ↑ Outbound Flight
- ↑ Lesser Evil (B&N Exclusive Edition) (Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Trilogy #3) on Barnes & Noble's official website (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil) on Penguin Random House's international sales website (backup link) (export edition)
- ↑ Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil) on the official Edelweiss website (backup link) (paperback)
External links[]
- Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil) on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)
- Lesser Evil (B&N Exclusive Edition) (Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Trilogy #3) on Barnes & Noble's official website (backup link)
- Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil) on Penguin Random House's international sales website (backup link) (export edition)
- Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil on Wikipedia
