History Trivia / TheThrawnTrilogy

* DuellingWorks: A rare intra-franchise example between these novels and the concurrent ''Dark Empire'' comic book series written by Tom Veitch. Both series were conceived as immediate sequels to the Original Trilogy, and although ''Dark Empire'' was conceived first, ''Heir to the Empire'' was released a few months earlier. Zahn was purportedly dismissive of ''Dark Empire'' and refused to incorporate references to the storyline into his Thrawn books, but since both series were set in the same universe, Veitch's comic had to be pushed forward six years in the in-universe timeline to accommodate the events of Zahn's novels. The fact that both Zahn and Veitch had many of the same basic ideas caused some incongruities (e.g. both authors wanted to write a major plot point of Han and Leia having Force-sensitive children, but the twins Jacen and Jaina are nowhere to be seen in ''Dark Empire'') that had to be ironed out in later works. Ultimately, while ''Dark Empire'' made a big splash initially due to its great artwork and crowd-pleasing elements, the runaway success of ''Heir to the Empire'' ensured that Zahn's trilogy would become much more influential to the formation of the Star Wars Expanded Universe (both the [[Franchise/StarWarsLegends old]] and the [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse new]]).

* DuellingWorks: A rare intra-franchise example between these novels and the concurrent ''Dark Empire'' comic book series written by Tom Veitch. Both series were conceived as immediate sequels to the Original Trilogy, and although ''Dark Empire'' was conceived first, ''Heir to the Empire'' was released a few months earlier. Zahn was purportedly dismissive of ''Dark Empire'' and refused to incorporate references to the storyline into his Thrawn books, but since both series were set in the same universe, Veitch's comic had to be pushed forward six years in the in-universe timeline to accommodate the events of Zahn's novels. The fact that both Zahn and Veitch had many of the same basic ideas caused some incongruities (e.g. both authors wanted to write a major plot point of Han and Leia having Force-sensitive children, but the twins Jacen and Jaina are nowhere to be seen in ''Dark Empire'') that had to be ironed out in later works. Ultimately, while ''Dark Empire'' made a big splash initially due to its great artwork and crowd-pleasing elements, the runaway success of ''Heir to the Empire'' ensured that Zahn's trilogy would become much more influential to the formation of the [[Franchise/StarWarsLegends Star Wars Expanded Universe]].
with its fresh direction and compelling new characters, was much more warmly received by both fans and critics, leading to a successful trilogy of books that laid the foundations for countless other Expanded Universe works.

** Some sources claim that, at one point, there were plans to have Shannon [=McRandle=] (the model who poses for Mara Jade on trading cards and book covers) make a brief cameo in Jabba's throne room in the Special Edition of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', since it's established in this trilogy that Mara was hiding out there waiting to kill Luke.

** According to Zahn at some fan panels, in earlier drafts, Thrawn was less cool and composed, had major traits of TheParanoiac, and was much less of a BenevolentBoss, thinking everyone was out to get him.

* DevelopmentGag: When Luke confronts Joruus C'baoth on Wayland and C'baoth introduces his new killer clone (which turns out to be a clone of Luke himself) Luke initially wonders if it might be a clone of Darth Vader, before realizing it's not tall enough. Zahn had originally intended that it would be a clone of Vader, but this was vetoed by Lucasarts.

** Originally Zahn wanted the character that became Joruus C'baoth to be an insane clone of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the clone he unleashes on Luke at the end of ''The Last Command'' to be a clone of Darth Vader. Lucasarts vetoed both of these.

* {{Tuckerization}}: Garm Bel Iblis's lieutenants as well were named by Zahn after people he admired. The 20th Anniversary edition's annotations reveals that there are ''dozens'' of these friend names tucked into place names and company names as well as character names.

** Some sources claim that, at one point, there were plans to have Shannon [=McRandle=] (the model who poses for Mara Jade on trading cards and book covers) make a brief cameo in Jabba's throne room in the Special Edition of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', since it's established in this trilogy that Mara was hiding out there waiting to kill Luke.

** Some sources claim that, at one point, there were plans to have Shannon [=McRandle=] (the model who poses for Mara Jade on trading cards and book covers) make a brief cameo in Jabba's throne room in the Special Edition of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', since it's established in this trilogy that Mara was hiding out there waiting to kill Luke.
** In-universe, Pellaeon wonders how the Battle of Endor would have turned out if Thrawn had been in command. Considering how close the ''actual'' Battle of Endor was and how brilliant Thrawn is, the answer would almost certainly have been "so long, Rebel scum." [[Literature/ChoicesOfOne A later book]] has Thrawn and the Emperor explicitly discussing the latter's plans for Endor shortly before the Battle of Hoth. Thrawn quickly picks up on the Emperor's ploy to leave Endor's shield generator lightly defended as a lure for the Rebels, and warns him about the possibility of the locals siding with the Rebels. The Emperor, [[FantasticRacism of course]], dismisses the primitives as posing no threat.
** Another in-universe example comes during Luke's trip to Dagobah in ''Heir''. While in the Dark Side Cave, Luke experiences a vision of the Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon. He sees what would have happened if [[spoiler: Mara had managed to board the Sail Barge.]]

** Another in-universe example comes during Luke's trip to Dagobah in ''Heir''. While in the Dark Side Cave, Luke experiences a vision of the Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon. He sees what would have happened if [[spoiler: Mara had managed to board the Sail Barge.]]
** Finally, something of pure speculation (this time) with nothing particular behind it: the war is very impersonal in the sense that no character from the movie series ever meets Thrawn face-to-face. One can only imagine...

* {{Tuckerization}}: Garm Bel Iblis's lieutenants as well were named by Zahn after people he admired. The 20th Anniversary edition's annotations reveals that there are ''dozens'' of these friend names tucked in.

* ContestWinnerCameo:
** Of all the tropes in this trilogy, this one's what you'd least expect, but the tractor beam crewer and his officer in the first book, as it turns out...
** Garm Bel Iblis's lieutenants as well, although that was more Zahn naming them after people he admired rather than them winning a competition.
** The 20th Anniversary edition's annotations reveals that there are ''dozens'' of these contest winners and friend names tucked in.

** Another in-universe example comes during Luke's trip to Dagobah in ''Heir'', While in the Dark Side Cave, Luke experiences a vision of the Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon. He sees what would have happened if [[spoiler: Mara had managed to board the Sail Barge.]]

** In-universe, Pellaeon wonders how the Battle of Endor would have turned out if Thrawn had been in command. Considering how close the ''actual'' Battle of Endor was and how brilliant Thrawn is, the answer would almost certainly have been "so long, Rebel scum." [[Literature/ChoicesOfOne A later book]] has Thrawn and the Emperor explicitly discussing the latter's plans for Endor shortly before the Battle of Hoth. Thrawn quickly picks up on the Emperor's ploy to leave Endor's shield generator lightly defended as a lure for the Rebels, and warns him about the possibility of the locals siding with the Rebels. The Emperor, [[FantasticRacism of course]], [[VillainBall dismisses the primitives]] [[PitifulWorms as posing no]] [[TemptingFate threat]].

** Some sources claim that, at one point, there were plans to have Shannon [=McRandle=] (the model who poses for Mara Jade on trading cards and book covers) make a brief cameo in Jabba's throne room in the Special Edition of ''ReturnOfTheJedi'', since it's established in this trilogy that Mara was hiding out there waiting to kill Luke.

** In-universe, Pellaeon wonders how the Battle of Endor would have turned out if Thrawn had been in command. Considering how close the ''actual'' Battle of Endor was and how brilliant Thrawn is, the answer would almost certainly have been "so long, Rebel scum." [[Literature/ChoicesOfOne A later book]] has Thrawn and the Emperor explicitly discussing the latter's plans for Endor shortly before the Battle of Hoth. Thrawn quickly picks up on the Emperor's ploy to leave Endor's shield generator lightly defended as a lure for the Rebels, and warns him about the possibility of the locals siding with the Rebels. The Emperor, [[FantasticRacism of course]], [[VillainBall dismisses the primitives]] [[PitifulWorms as posing no threat]].