History Literature / Thrawn

* AudienceSurrogate: Eli, who only knows as much as what is revealed throughout the story.

** The Pryce Mining Company has found a mine full of doonium. In ''Legends'', it's a heavy metal alloy used in the construction of starship hulls. Incidentally, the book also says that [[spoiler:Thrawn and Anakin]] met in the Thrugii Asteroid Belt during the Clone Wars, which in ''Legends'', contained mines of doonium as well.
* CommonalityConnection: Because Eli has heard stories about the Chiss and has knowledge of their language, Thrawn finds interest in him and takes him under his wing.

* BroadStrokes: Parts of Thrawn's backstory from ''Legends'' have returned, including Thrawn being exiled by his people and being rescued by Imperials. Thrawn also reveals that his people are threatened by an enemy that is also a threat to the Empire (which was the Yuuzhan Vong in ''Legends'', but canonically, it is something currently unknown--possibly the same thing that Palpatine senses the presence of according to the ''Aftermath'' trilogy, [[spoiler: which is implied to be [[Film/TheForceAwakens Snoke]]]]) and he offers to help the Empire with his vast knowledge of the Unknown Regions (referencing the Outbound Flight project).

* BroadStrokes: Parts of Thrawn's backstory from ''Legends'' have returned, including Thrawn being exiled by his people and being rescued by Imperials. Thrawn also reveals that his people are threatened by an enemy that is also a threat to the Empire (which was the Yuuzhan Vong in ''Legends'', but canonically, it is something currently unknown--possibly the same thing that Palpatine senses the presence of according to the ''Aftermath'' trilogy, [[spoiler: which is implied to be [[Film/TheForceAwakens Snoke]]) and he offers to help the Empire with his vast knowledge of the Unknown Regions (referencing the Outbound Flight project).

* BroadStrokes: Parts of Thrawn's backstory from ''Legends'' have returned, including Thrawn being exiled by his people and being rescued by Imperials. Thrawn also reveals that his people are threatened by an enemy that is also a threat to the Empire (which was the Yuuzhan Vong in ''Legends'', but canonically, it is something currently unknown--possibly the same thing that Palpatine senses the presence of according to the ''Aftermath'' trilogy) and he offers to help the Empire with his vast knowledge of the Unknown Regions (referencing the Outbound Flight project).

* TheExile: Thrawn was exiled by his people, the Chiss.

* RankUp: Throughout the novel, we see how Thrawn makes his way from the bottom of the chain to being top dog as Grand Admiral. Pryce is also eventually promoted from administrator to governor, as well as Eli graduating from cadet to an ensign.

* VillainProtagonist: Thrawn and the Imperials.

* DownerBeginning: The novel begins with a short prologue of Thrawn describing being charged with exile by his people and admits to himself that [[NowWhat his future is uncertain]]. [[spoiler:It later turns out that this is a case of UnreliableNarrator[=/=]FromACertainPointOfView, because he wasn't actually exiled; he's actually talking about how they're carrying out the plan to get him found by the Empire, though him being uncertain of what will come after he gets "exiled" is obviously true since he isn't omniscient.]]

* DownerBeginning: The novel begins with a short prologue of Thrawn describing being charged with exile by his people and admits to himself that [[NowWhat his future is uncertain]].

** Parck, the Star Destroyer captain that found Thrawn in ''Legends'' and brought him to Palpatine, is back and performing the same role.

* DownerBeginning: The novel begins with a short prologue of Thrawn describing being charged with exile by his people and admits to himself that his future is uncertain.

After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again -- even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.

* CanonImmigrant: Parck, the Star Destroyer captain that found Thrawn in ''Legends'' and brought him to Palpatine, is back and performing the same role.

* BroadStrokes: Parts of Thrawn's backstory from ''Legends'' have returned, including Thrawn being exiled by his people and being rescued the Imperials. Thrawn also reveals that his people are threatened by an enemy that is also a threat to the Empire (which was the Yuuzhan Vong in ''Legends'', but canonically, it is something currently unknown--possibly the same thing that Palpatine senses the presence of according to the ''Aftermath'' trilogy) and he offers to help the Empire with his vast knowledge of the Unknown Regions (referencing the Outbound Flight project).

* RankUp: Throughout the novel, we see how Thrawn makes his way from the bottom of the chain to being top dog as Grand Admiral. Pryce is also eventually promoted from administrator to governor.

** [[Literature/AftermathEmpiresEnd Empire's End]] revealed that Thrawn was accepted into the Empire by Palpatine because of his extensive knowledge of the Unknown Regions, which contributed to Palpatine's secret plans. Now we get to see how that went down.

* BroadStrokes: Parts of Thrawn's backstory from ''Legends'' have returned, including Thrawn being exiled by his people and being rescued the Imperials. Thrawn also reveals that his people are threatened by an enemy that is also a threat to the Empire (which was the Yuuzhan Vong in *Legends*, but canonically, it is something currently unknown--possibly the same thing that Palpatine sensed according to the *Aftermath* trilogy) and he offers to help the Empire with his vast knowledge of the Unknown Regions (referencing the Outbound Flight project).

* BroadStrokes: Parts of Thrawn's backstory from ''Legends'' have returned, including Thrawn being exiled by his people and being rescued the Imperials.

* ForegoneConclusion: Thrawn ultimately makes an ally out of Pryce, as we see in ''Rebels''.
* RankUp: Throughout the novel, we see how Thrawn makes his way from the bottom of the chain to being top dog as Grand Admiral. Pryce is also eventually promoted from administrator to governor.

All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral--and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire's grip on the galaxy---and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.

* ForegoneConclusion: Thrawn ultimately makes an ally out of Pryce, as we see in ''Rebels''.