Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil)

By: Timothy Zahn

Narrated by: Marc Thompson

Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

National best seller • The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from Timothy Zahn.

For thousands of years, the Chiss Ascendancy has been an island of calm, a center of power, and a beacon of integrity. It is led by the Nine Ruling Families, whose leadership stands as a bulwark of stability against the Chaos of the Unknown Regions.

But that stability has been eroded by a cunning foe who 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 to 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?

©2021 Timothy Zahn (P)2021 Random House Audio

Marc Thompson Always Nails It

This, as with many novels within the Star Wars universe , is another example of how skilled Marc is, characterizing so many, coming from just one person. We are very lucky to have narrators like Marc Thompson, Jonathan Davis, and a few others, that can carry a 20 hour novel and make it sound as if a whole cast was on hand.
I apologize as I read a few that didn’t like Marc… the author, as well, is one of the very best I have ever read. All his novels are next level and a pleasure to read, to listen to and to refer friends to.
Don’t mis out on anything Timothy Zahn writes or Marc and Jonathan and many others narrate.

Absolutely fantastic

This is the crowning achievement of Timothy Zahn.
Marc Thompson (The Voice of Star Wars) once again delivered a fantastic performance solidifying him as the best Star Wars narrator.

Hoo boy...

Perfect ending to this series!! Timothy Zahn perfectly combines strategy and political intrigue to send this work into the stratosphere of story telling.

great wrap up!

great way to end the series! wrapped up everything up! I wish he would of kept going. can't wait for authors next book.

Grand performance from the OG

Zahn does it again. An edge of your seat type of book that is as much suspenseful as it is intriguing. Paired with a legendary performance by Marc Thompson and you have a 5 star book.

very good

have. esthetic d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d don't boob but seven

Absolutely Amazing

This is absolutely a Thrawn masterpiece. The story and storytelling both incredible and striking.

Great yet predictable

Narration is amazing and on point as usual with Marc Thompson.

The story is intriguing but I’d say too much effort put into making the challenges seem difficult when it’s predictable that Thrawn will always win…

thrawn is literally the best I cannot get enough

I litterally started and finished this as quickly as I could I just couldn't stop listening to the story

I loved this so much

I have such sadness now that this Ascendency series of books is over, and I can only hope that Zahn has more Imperial books set in his sights of Thrawn’s time serving the Empire, or perhaps even recreating the original trilogy he put out before we really learned who he was.

This book answered so many questions, revealed so much about Thrawn, and his past, and his friendships, and intentions, that I was left in stunned disbelief over and over again at each revelation.

I was also left in awe seeing the Thrawn and his companions operate with such strength and conviction in this book. There were times where I was left shouting excitedly in my car hearing what this person or that did. I’ve had those moments in the Thrawn books before, but I was never stunned so frequently at this one.

I would say, this culmination of the series of the Ascendency is not only wholly satisfying, but the best of all three, with the best ending of all three as well.

I got through this book quickly by how entranced I was by it, and I believe I may go through the Thrawn books once again, with new eyes from the revelations I’ve learned through this latest installment.

After all that is said, all I have left to say is that I truly hope that this is not truly the finale for all of Thrawn’s books, and that Zahn takes the books to new areas post the Emperor’s death, so we can continue to enjoy this truly astounding character.