The Last Command - Book Review

The third book in Zahn’s now non-canonical Thrawn Trilogy, The Last Command was first published in 1993 by Bantam Spectra. The 2021 The Essential Legends Collection paperback edition features stellar cover art by Tracie Ching who’s work on these editions will no doubt be proudly displayed on bookshelves for years to come.

After Grand Admiral Thrawn’s victory in the battle for the Katana fleet, his dastardly plans to take down the New Republic get thrown into full gear. Utilizing the Emperor’s secret facility on Wayland, Thrawn has discovered a faster way to produce clones and is doing so at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, Leia and Han celebrate the arrival of their twins Jacen and Jaina but it’s not long before Dark Jedi Joruus C’baoth has them in his sights. Mara Jade is in the mix, easily the most complex character in the novel. Her character journey from the first novel to The Last Command is rife with human complexity and her redemption at the end is satisfying to say the least. The plot twists and turns with all separate storylines come together during an epic final showdown on Mount Tantiss.

There’s a subplot revolving around smugglers Talon Karrde and Samuel Gillespee that unfortunately draws away from the main storyline and come novel’s end, doesn’t really seem to fit into the overall narrative. I can see how Zahn was attempting to show how Thrawn and the Empire’s reach affected more than just the New Republic but this storyline and its cast of characters simply wasn’t entertaining and felt slightly shoehorned into the overall plot.

Zahn is the master of nailing the characterizations of beloved Star Wars characters. It’s easy to hear Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford delivering lines every time their characters appear, and their actions are very believable for who fans know them to be and who they continue to mature into. While Zahn’s writing style can be somewhat technical, The Last Command is solidly paced as the tensions between good and evil reach the breaking point. I think it’s worth mentioning, however, that the conclusion seems somewhat rushed, and no huge reveals or shocking plot points jump off the page. This is arguably a modern consumer’s gripe as most of us are conditioned to have a book/show/film end with a major shock or post-credits scene that will leave us wanting more. This book definitively ends, maybe too tidily, but leaves breathing room for characters and storylines to continue.

All that being said, The Last Command is a satisfying conclusion to the story Zahn set out to tell starting in Heir to the Empire. Keeping in mind that when these books were originally published the internet was in its infancy—no Instagram or Goodreads, so Zahn deserves immense credit for revitalizing the franchise back then and for continuing to inspire and contribute to Star Wars to this day.

The Last Command The Essential Legends Collection edition is on shelves now, all three stunning books in this trilogy would make an excellent gift for Star Wars lovers this holiday season. We’d love to hear your feedback on The Thrawn Trilogy, so join the conversation on our social media channels!