Read up on THRAWN before Ahsoka premieres on Disney+

By Nico Marjolin | April 13 2023 | Pop Culture Prose

“I started hearing whispers about Thrawn’s return as heir to the Empire”

If you’ve been following The Mandalorian or watched the Ahsoka teaser trailer from Star Wars Celebration, then you know the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn is near!

Thrawn’s one of the most iconic villains of the Star Wars franchise, having appeared in books, the Star Wars Rebels animated series, and now set to return in live-action. If you’re looking for more backstory on him then check out the prose novels all written by the character’s creator Timothy Zahn! Here’s a quick guide on what’s available:

Legends:

  • The Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command) – The classic Star Wars Legends trilogy that introduced the character, set after the events of Return of the Jedi: Star Wars: Episode VI. It’s possible this trilogy’s serving as inspiration for Thrawn’s upcoming live-action appearance in Ahsoka, with the teaser trailer even name-dropping “heir to the Empire.

Canon:

  • The Star Wars: Thrawn series (Thrawn, Thrawn: Alliances, Thrawn: Treason) – Follow Thrawn’s rise to power in the Empire.
  • The Ascendancy Trilogy (Chaos Rising, Greater Good, Lesser Evil) – Discover Thrawn’s origins within the Chiss Ascendancy, set before he traveled to the Empire and became a Grand Admiral.

The full list of titles is below and you can always ask your local comic shop to pick them up for you!

Heir to the Empire: Star Wars Legends (The Thrawn Trilogy)
9780553296129
Now reissued with a fresh new package, Star Wars: Heir to the Empire is the first book in the New York Times bestselling Thrawn Trilogy. This classic Star Wars Legends novel follows the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia five years after the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi--and introduces one of the galaxy's most iconic villains: Grand Admiral Thrawn.
$8.99 US
On sale May 01, 1992
Mass Market Paperback
416 Pages
Random House Worlds

Heir to the Empire: Star Wars Legends
The 20th Anniversary Edition
9780345528292
The 20th anniversary edition of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel that jump-started two decades of Star Wars publishing--more than 2.3 million copies in print! This special edition is updated and annotated and contains a brand-new short story.
$36.00 US
On sale Sep 06, 2011
Hardcover
496 Pages
Random House Worlds

Heir to the Empire: Star Wars Legends (The Thrawn Trilogy)
9780593358764
Now for the first time in trade paperback: A Star Wars Legends classic featuring the ever-popular Thrawn, repackaged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm.
$17.00 US
On sale Jun 15, 2021
Paperback
528 Pages
Random House Worlds

Dark Force Rising: Star Wars Legends (The Thrawn Trilogy)
9780593358795
Now for the first time in trade paperback: The Star Wars Legends classic that introduced the ever-popular Thrawn, repackaged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm.
$17.00 US
On sale Sep 07, 2021
FOC Aug 09, 2021
Paperback
480 Pages
Random House Worlds

The Last Command: Star Wars Legends (The Thrawn Trilogy)
9780553564921
Now reissued with a fresh new package, Star Wars: The Last Command is the epic conclusion of the New York Times bestselling Thrawn Trilogy. This classic Star Wars Legends novel continues the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia after the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi as they fight the Empire's new commander: Grand Admiral Thrawn.
$8.99 US
On sale Jan 01, 1994
Mass Market Paperback
480 Pages
Random House Worlds

The Last Command: Star Wars Legends (The Thrawn Trilogy)
9780593497036
Now for the first time in trade paperback: The epic conclusion to the classic Star Wars trilogy that introduced the galaxy to the menacing Grand Admiral Thrawn. 
$17.00 US
On sale Sep 07, 2021
FOC Aug 09, 2021
Paperback
496 Pages
Random House Worlds

The Thrawn Trilogy Boxed Set: Star Wars Legends
Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command
9780593499580
Experience the #1 New York Times bestselling Star Wars Legends trilogy that introduced the menacing Grand Admiral Thrawn—now in a complete three-book set.
$51.00 US
On sale May 31, 2022
Boxed Set
1504 Pages
Random House Worlds

Thrawn (Star Wars)
9780345511270
This stand-alone novel reveals the origin of fan-favorite character Grand Admiral Thrawn, written by the bestselling Star Wars author of all time Timothy Zahn.
$28.99 US
On sale Apr 11, 2017
Hardcover
448 Pages
Random House Worlds

Thrawn (Star Wars)
9781101967027
This stand-alone novel reveals the origin of fan-favorite character Grand Admiral Thrawn, written by the bestselling Star Wars author of all time, Timothy Zahn.
$9.99 US
On sale Jan 30, 2018
Mass Market Paperback
496 Pages
Random House Worlds

Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars)
9780525480488
Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader ally against a threat to the Empire in the first book to pair these two iconic characters from bestselling Star Wars author Timothy Zahn.
$28.99 US
On sale Jul 24, 2018
Hardcover
368 Pages
Random House Worlds

Thrawn: Alliances (Star Wars)
9780525481287
Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader ally against a threat to the Empire in the first book to pair these two iconic characters from bestselling Star Wars author Timothy Zahn.
$9.99 US
On sale Feb 26, 2019
Mass Market Paperback
496 Pages
Random House Worlds

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book I: Chaos Rising)
9780593157688
The first book in a new Star Wars trilogy set before Thrawn traveled to the Empire and became a Grand Admiral.
$29.99 US
On sale Sep 01, 2020
Hardcover
400 Pages
Random House Worlds

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book I: Chaos Rising)
9780593157701
Discover Thrawn's origins within the Chiss Ascendancy in the first book in an epic new Star Wars trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
$18.00 US
On sale Apr 27, 2021
Paperback
416 Pages
Random House Worlds

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book II: Greater Good)
9780593158296
Thrawn and his allies race to save the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy in the second book of the epic Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
$28.99 US
On sale Apr 27, 2021
Hardcover
432 Pages
Random House Worlds

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book II: Greater Good)
9780593158319
Thrawn and his allies race to save the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy in the second book of the epic Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
$18.00 US
On sale Feb 22, 2022
Paperback
464 Pages
Random House Worlds

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil)
9780593158326
The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
$28.99 US
On sale Nov 16, 2021
FOC Oct 18, 2021
Hardcover
576 Pages
Random House Worlds

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book III: Lesser Evil)
9780593158340
The fate of the Chiss Ascendancy hangs in the balance in the epic finale of the Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
$18.99 US
On sale Aug 02, 2022
FOC Jul 04, 2022
Paperback
592 Pages
Random House Worlds