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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is some top of the line Thrawn content. I'm so excited I got to MEET the CHISS. Honestly, for lack of a better word, Thrawn is more "human" here than I have ever seen him. He clearly has always loved having human pets around that he can tutor. It genuinely almost seems like he just wants a friend; he nearly adopts Car'das for pretty much no discernible reason. He just wants someone to talk to and learn languages with, honestly.
Some other things:
Terrified, captured smugglers: Uh we are-- uh-- innocent traders, sir. Please let us go. We promise we mean no harm to your people!
Thrawn: Perhaps. That depends upon whether we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Terrified smugglers: You've taken our cargo! We have nothing to give you!
Thrawn: I don't care about your cargo... What I want is far more important.
Terrified smugglers: What is it?!?
Thrawn, leaning over the table menacingly: Teach me your language. In return I will teach you TWO of mine and give you your freedom and an obscenely unnecessary amount of treasure. This is my only offer. Take it or leave it.
Terrified smugglers, exchanging confused glances: Uh. We'll take it?
Thrawn, smugly: Good. You have made a wise decision.
Some other things:
• Obi-Wan and Anakin are barely in this, but when they show up BOY DO THEY
• Thrawn doesn't give a single rip. Ar'alani and Thrass are both in the background shouting "YOU NEED TO STOP" and Thrawn is standing there like (⌐■_■) with earbuds in his ears blaring ♪♫Excuse me, was you saying something? / Uh uh, you can't tell me nothing ♫ by Kanye West.
• I would stab Jorus C'baoth in the neck without hesitation
• Anakin's hero worship of C'baoth is just as awful and accurate as the instant liking he took to Tarkin
• I LOVE THRASS. "Can they call you Thrass?" "Absolutely not." I can't believe he died. Glad that's not canon anymore. I've adopted him. He is mine now.
• Narrator: C'baoth was angry. C'baoth, angrily: ANGER? THERE IS NO ANGER. NOT FOR A JEDI.
• Obi-Wan is the greatest. He is in fine, sarcastic form here, and his constant arguments with C'baoth about interpretation of the Jedi Code are illuminating. He hates C'baoth so much but still tries to treat him with respect. I'm glad Palpatine pulled him and Anakin off Outbound Flight because they would have been so sad at what happened.
• NOT THAT THEY DIDN'T END UP SAD ANYWAY
• I can't believe Sidious planted a secret agent in... Palpatine's... office. This is so unnecessary. Like, is he getting bored? You can't tell me he's not just playing extraneous subterfuge games against himself for the lulz.
• A pleasure and an honor to see Obi-Wan fling his lightsaber at something.
• Everyone's trying so hard. There are 10 people all fighting trying to accomplish 10 agendas, but Thrawn is there like, Sorry. Unfortunately, I am perfect and therefore my agenda is the one we will be accomplishing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I love him.
The Force is with Zahn!!! He knows exactly how to write. His fascination with Thrawn benefits us all!!
I like "Outbound Flight." It is a good book with solid character development and a good story, especially the last third where the intrigue kicks into high gear. The book has a great pace, too. It does not feel rushed and at 420 pages is just the right length.
"Outbound Flight" explores and extends beyond the prequel films some very interesting ideas about the Jedi, their role in the galaxy and Palpatine's/Sidious's manipulations of them.
Of course, Thrawn steals the show in "Outbound Flight" and every moment of him in the book is a pleasure to read. And, the book has many other compelling characters, too. The spotlight is not on Thrawn and other character are allowed to shine, very well, during the course of the story. As other viewers suggest, the addition of Ob-Wan and Anakin did not seem necessary. Any other "good" Jedi could offer the insight into what being a Jedi means. Their appearance in the book seemed a bit perfunctory and unnecessary. But, their presence did not break the story at all.
I would suggest that "Outbound Flight," while being a Legends book, is a must-read (I say the same about "Darth Plaqueis). It is not the most gripping, action packed read. But, it is well written and the story is sound with really good interpersonal conflict and intrigue. Last, the space battles, and there are enough here to please, are described well with enough detail to understand what's happening without too much minutia.
"Outbound Flight" explores and extends beyond the prequel films some very interesting ideas about the Jedi, their role in the galaxy and Palpatine's/Sidious's manipulations of them.
Of course, Thrawn steals the show in "Outbound Flight" and every moment of him in the book is a pleasure to read. And, the book has many other compelling characters, too. The spotlight is not on Thrawn and other character are allowed to shine, very well, during the course of the story. As other viewers suggest, the addition of Ob-Wan and Anakin did not seem necessary. Any other "good" Jedi could offer the insight into what being a Jedi means. Their appearance in the book seemed a bit perfunctory and unnecessary. But, their presence did not break the story at all.
I would suggest that "Outbound Flight," while being a Legends book, is a must-read (I say the same about "Darth Plaqueis). It is not the most gripping, action packed read. But, it is well written and the story is sound with really good interpersonal conflict and intrigue. Last, the space battles, and there are enough here to please, are described well with enough detail to understand what's happening without too much minutia.
5 stars bc thrawn is at his absolute sexiest in this one <33333
Although Legends it's considered Essential Legends and with Thrawns major presence in the Canon universe I understand why.
Interesting concept. I love Thrawns origin, showing him as a brilliant strategist and tactician. Also his meeting with Darth Sidious would certainly explain his high rank in the later Empire.
C'both is a perfect example of the Jedi blinding themselves on purpose. However I've never heard of a Jedi meld before and I'm not really sure I like it. Seems too dark side for me. Clearly this is a continuation of Rouge Planet because they continue to mention Vergere.
Yet again the Yuuzhan Vong are mentioned (not by name) but the Legends universe doesn't mention them until much, much later.
This book also brings up the issue of languages in the Star Wars universe, which isn't one that's brought up all that often, which I enjoyed.
Interesting concept. I love Thrawns origin, showing him as a brilliant strategist and tactician. Also his meeting with Darth Sidious would certainly explain his high rank in the later Empire.
C'both is a perfect example of the Jedi blinding themselves on purpose. However I've never heard of a Jedi meld before and I'm not really sure I like it. Seems too dark side for me. Clearly this is a continuation of Rouge Planet because they continue to mention Vergere.
Yet again the Yuuzhan Vong are mentioned (not by name) but the Legends universe doesn't mention them until much, much later.
This book also brings up the issue of languages in the Star Wars universe, which isn't one that's brought up all that often, which I enjoyed.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I gave this 5 stars because Zhan is writing a lot about Thrawn in this book (his origins before the new books he has dedicated to Thrawn). I love when he writes about Thrawn. It also nicely ties in the origins of two other characters who need an origin story, Jorg Car’das and Jorus C’baoth, although C’baoth being completely unlike-able might have been over done imo. I love the origin for Car’das. He is also introducing the Chiss as a race, on how they first were introduced to the humans of the New Republic. All top notch stuff here. The story is also more focused on a single plot instead of the converging plot styles he uses in a lot of his other stand alone books.
There are things to dislike in this (like Anakin and Obi-wan’s seemingly meaningless appearance) and a few other things, but they aren’t worth harping on. Worth the read after you finish his other earlier Star Wars books.
There are things to dislike in this (like Anakin and Obi-wan’s seemingly meaningless appearance) and a few other things, but they aren’t worth harping on. Worth the read after you finish his other earlier Star Wars books.