Specter of the Past - Part 1

[colls]

Welcome to the midway checkpoint. This month's book is Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn Duology #1) by Timothy Zahn

1. This duology is a follow-up to Zahn's original Thrawn trilogy. How do you think it compared?

2. Any characterizations that stand out for you so far?

COMING UP NEXT
May: Movie Madness (as in watching/discussing)

Book & theme suggestions can be left on on this post

Comments

[colls]

I confess that I haven't started re-reading this yet. It's next though! I hope to start in the next day or two.

Browsing synopses and reviews online, I'm concerned that we haven't read books 2 and 3 in this community before getting to this one (I read them so many years ago that I don't really remember much). I blame publishers for not calling it book #4 because it seems that's what it is.
/grump

[brokenmnemonic]

I finished this last night... can we put the next part on our to-read list please?

I ended up reading in a bit of a rush despite my determination to pace the book out, because of how timings worked out. I'm glad that I re-read the comic adaptations of the three previous novels somewhat recently as part of my comics read-through, because that left me familiar with a number of the newer characters.

This book feels like an ensemble book, and to go with that it doesn't feel as if we're getting a lot of deep characterisation of any of the familiar characters; I'm not sure how much I like that, but I am finding the characterisation of a number of the Imperial characters to be quite nicely done. All of them feel like they have plausible motivations, and I'm finding it interesting seeing the tensions between those who're tentatively willing to try and sue for peace, and those determined to continue the moustache-twirling villainy of the former Empire.

I think the way that the novel is also using historical events and previous conflicts/tensions to show how the New Republic could easily end up fragmenting feels very plausible too; I'm conscious that I don't recognise the world whose destruction appears to be a big historical point, but seeing how stretched the Republic forces are and how difficult it is trying to navigate through problems that can't be solved by shooting Imperials is quite satisfying.

I'm not sure if I'm meant to recognise some characters though, like Shada. She and the faction she's from sound interesting, and the destroyed world theme fits with Alderaan and the Cammas world, but I'm wondering if I missed something there.

[colls]

Hello! Sorry for the delay in response. I'll add the next book to our list! I added some a couple of weeks ago (Darth Plagueis was the last thing added before that).
Did you ever read Dark Force Rising and The Last Command from the first Thrawn trilogy? I have, but it was back in the 90's and I barely remember anything about them. I don't know whether to add them to the list or catch up on a theme month.

And also -- I have a copy of The Mask of Fear (Star Wars: Reign of the Empire, #1) by Alexander Freed for you that I will bring next month.


RE: this book - I am in the midst of reading it. I vaguely know some of these characters but it's possible I know them from fandom osmosis as much as remembering them from reading anything. I do like the pacing (Zahn always does well with that) and enjoy that it's more ensemble with multiple threads going on.
I'm still early on, so just got to the point where there's a stand-in for Admiral Thrawn and I'm rolling my eyes at it - rolling my eyes in the way you would to a trait that's both endearing and irritating at the same time. grrr....Thrawn 2.0.... LOL
Also, those poor Bothans. So many of them died in RotJ. Now this!?

[brokenmnemonic]

Hello! I'm not sure if I've ever read the novels of Dark Force Rising and The Last Command - I have the feeling I may have done, but it might be that I actually just read the comics a couple of times, and am thinking of that. One of the things I discovered when I started my big comics readthrough is that there are definitely periods where I kept up with the comics and then long gaps I don't remember, and I think I may have picked up some graphic novels secondhand at some point? I think adding them to the reading list is an excellent plan.

Thank you for the book! I may have a small Star Wars-related present for you, too - I'm in two minds about whether to hide it in your VidUKon goodie bag or not ;)

It might just be me, but as soon as I read that Thrawn was actually imposter!Thrawn, I immediately expected some kind of dramatic showdown where the actual Thrawn returned, or possibly a clone of him. After all, if Thrawn had access to cloning facilities, and if cloning's good enough for Palpatine, it should be good for him too, right?

[colls]

Yeah, I think I'll add them to the reading list because I don't know what bits I know from where - it's getting a little jumbled, heh.
You realize we could be reading Star Wars books forever, right? (<333 - LOL)

So much cloning going on - and it's one thing that does vary between old EU/Legends and new Disney stuff.

[brokenmnemonic]

Audible has some Thrawn books on sale in the UK in a 2-for-1 sale at the moment, and I am sorely tempted.

[colls]

Sounds like 'the force' is trying to tell you something... ;)