Great book combined with Survivor's Quest
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This was, as usual with Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books, an enjoyable read. Zahn excells in duologies and trilogies, and in this particular case one must read the book together with Survivor's Quest. It doesn't really matter which book you read first, although chronologically this one takes place in an earlier era. The focus on Thrawn is excellent. I always liked him, because of course he is smart but also because of his somewhat less obvious ways in learning about differences between cultures and their tactics. In this book he actually is quite sympathetic too, but again brilliant in forecasting the moves of others. Actually, I wouldn't mind to really have him return, like suggested towards the end of Survivor's Quest. Jorus the Jedi is not the best character, as he is too predictable, but Lorana does compensate for that to a certain extent. She os the kind of Jedi most readers will like. Jorj is also an interesting character, while the Vagaari really are good villains. On the whole, a lovely read.
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Excellent backfill of Thrawn's history
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I picked this book up because I'm a huge fan of Zahn's Star Wars Thrawn trilogy (and his Conquerer's trilogy)
And I wasn't disappointed with this installment. Grand Admiral Thrawn is a superb literary creation, and getting to see a glimpse of his history with his own species is brilliantly done by Zahn.
The other characters are very interesting too - we also get to see an earlier Jorus C'Baoth and his apprentice.
Zahn's imagination is superb, and I think he excels at this kind of weaving a story around the star wars universe, but filling it with mostly with his own creations.
in summary - excellent - one of the best Star Wars extended universe books.
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one of Zahn's best
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Timothy Zahn is the best of the Star Wars authors and Outbound Flight has to be one of his strongest books. it also completely outclasses its relatively boring and mediocre duology partner, Survivor's Quest.
The story of outbound flight - Jedi Master Jorus C'Baoth's mechanical lovechild and voyage to the outer stars - is easily readable and full of interesting twists and turns. The prose is intelligent and so are the maze-like plot twists and the sensibilities of the characters - especially the forever one-step-ahead Commander Thrawn.
One downer is the relative pointlessness of including Obi Wan and Anakin in the first half of the book - they dont really get involved in the main plot (more of a distraction).
however that is my only real gripe.
Overall, intelligent and readable, enjoyable and satisfying (especially in light of later sw books)
A good read
9/10
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Outbound Flight, Timothy Zahn
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This is a strong piece of work by Zahn. The story moved along well. The Thrawn character was nicely fleshed out and I found the self-sacrificing actions of Jedi Lorana Jinzler quite touching. I didn't think the Obi-Wan and Anakin parts were particularly relevant to the story and could have managed well without it. On the whole a very enjoyable read from a good Star Wars authort.
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Excellence!
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An excellent book.
This book is fantastic and I was delighted when I read it. This book is the prequel to `Survivors Quest' and is - in my opinion - a better read and better story. The book follows the launch of the `Outbound Flight Project' that was destroyed by Thrawn shortly after it launch. This incident led to Thrawn's dismissal from his own people - The Chiss - and brought into the fold of the soon-to-be Galactic Empire. The book is told from the point of view of Talon Karrdes mentor Jorj Car'das (introduced in Zhan's Heir to the Empire Trilogy).
The flight launch is set between Episode 1 and 2 when Anakin Skywalker is 14. Another character from Zahn's Her to the Empire Trilogy who gets exposure is the Jedi Master Jorus C'Boath. The character is written in as a Jedi suffering from the stresses and the arrogance of this time in the Jedi Order where some Jedi are becoming arrogant and losing the trust of some citizens of the republic. C'boath reflects this perfectly.
Zhan's writing is as always, intriguing, intelligent and very human. The character of Thrawn - his genius, honour, duty and heart are fully explored making this `bad guy' seem a lot more `human' (though his is Chiss). The ending is an executed triumphantly in a way you - the reader - also marvel at Thrawn's genius!
Anakin and Obi-Wan make an appearance in this book, in one of many ways that Zhan solidifies various events in Star Wars' history (future and past). Unto itself it may not seem like much, but in context of the whole saga they are magical touches such as Anakin's admiration of Master C'boaths no nonsense Jedi style. In the same way that a person who sets foot on the Titanic but decides to get off before the inevitable, you get the feeling of the same of Obi-Wan and Anakin. What if they stayed on the `Outbound Flight'? Star Wars history could have been very, very different!
A great read. Very entertaining and respectful of the whole Star Wars saga - Film and Expanded Universe! Excellent!!!!!
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