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Dark Force Rising (Thrawn #2) by Timothy Zahn

"The second installment in the Thrawn trilogy has everyone scattering to different corners of the galaxy in search of information that will help them overthrow the Empire and increase the fledgling strength of the New Republic. But, of course, nothing's ever that simple and our stalwart group of heroes have to fight every step of the way just to survive. And a new threat revealed at the very end shows that the Empire may not be as scattered and weak as the New Republic had hoped. Cliffhanger!" 

3 Stars

Pros: Master C'Boath is crazy but in a delightfully, chaotic, Joker way/I can't help but love the Mara Jade/Luke Skywalker bristling tension.  

Cons: Zahn uses the word growl a lot, like, a surprising amount, I just found it odd that an editor wouldn't have picked up on that/Some of the political stuff was burdensome. 

Full Review: 

If you haven't read Heir to the Empire (Thrawn #1)  you'll want to do that first. 

After you've done that, feel free to pick up Dark Force Rising (Thrawn #2). 

Karrde been displaced by the Empire, forced to flee his base on Myrkyr. Han and Lando go off in search of a pilot or smuggler who they think has integral information for the New Republic. Luke goes off to find C'Boath, the man he knows called him through the Force not so long ago before he ended up on Myrkyr and Leia and Chewie head to the home planet of the Noghri people, to see if they can help get them out from under the Empires' thumb and convince them to join the New Republic. 

Of course, on her way back to join Karrde after running a routine errand/mission, Mara runs smack into the Chimaera, Thrawn's personal Star Destroyer. She's brought before him and is forced to reveal her past role as the Emperors Hand.  Thrawn sends her back to Karrde, saying that if she's truly loyal to the Empire, she'll bring him Karrde. She, of course, has no intention of betraying her friend but Thrawn already knew that, so his trap is sprung and Karrde is captured. Mara, seeing no other choice, finds Luke Skywalker and asks for his help in freeing Karrde. 

Leia goes off with Chewie to the home planet of the Noghri people, determined to try and get them to join the New Republic. She manages to convince them all that the Empires been lying to them for decades and they agree to help her, since she knows that the Empire is still after her and her unborn twins. 

Once Karrde is rescued, he gives the New Republic the coordinates of the Katana Fleet, a legendary collection of Dreadnaught class starships that everyone thought was ages centuries ago. In gratitude for saving him from interrogation and death, Karrde gives Leia the coordinates of the Katana fleet and they all go in search of the mystery ships.  

Nothing ever actually goes as planned and we're left with a delightful cliffhanger that will, of course, lead to the third and final installment of this trilogy. 

Karrde and Thrawn are both cool as cucumbers and I do appreciate a suave, sophisticated, intelligent villain. Karrde isn't a villain, per se, he just wants to stay as neutral as he can in this whole, galactic war but that seems to be less and less of an option as obstacles start piling up. Han, Leia, Lando and Chewie are doing everything they can to stay one step ahead of the Empire and just stay alive and of course, Luke and Mara just aren't quite sure how to feel about each other and it leads to all the brooding. 

Though the trilogy is proving to not be as edge of your seat, thrilling as it was when I first read it as a young adult, it's still enjoyable and I'm interested to see if The Last Command brings the trilogy to a satisfying end.  

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