Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising by Timothy Zahn is the first book in the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, exploring the origins of Grand Admiral Thrawn during his time in the Chiss Ascendancy. The novel introduces Thrawn’s early military career, his allies, and the external threats facing the Chiss.
The story begins with the Chiss Ascendancy—an isolated but powerful civilization in the Unknown Regions—facing an emerging threat. When an attack devastates a Chiss outpost, the Expansionary Defense Fleet (EDF) is called to investigate. Senior Captain Mitth’raw’nuruodo, known as Thrawn, quickly determines that the attack was not random but part of a larger scheme.
Thrawn is a brilliant strategist, but his unorthodox methods and lack of political acumen make him a divisive figure within the Ascendancy. Despite his controversial reputation, his superior, Admiral Ar’alani, recognizes his potential and assigns him to uncover the true enemy behind the attack.
Alongside Thrawn is Thalias, a former ozyly-esehembo—a Force-sensitive navigator trained to guide ships through the dangerous hyperspace lanes of the Chaos. She becomes the caretaker of a young ozyly-esehembonamed Che’ri, who struggles with her role in Chiss society. Thalias seeks to understand her past while helping Che’ri find her place.
Thrawn’s investigation leads him to the Nikardun, a militant faction led by General Yiv the Benevolent. Yiv is expanding his influence by subjugating smaller civilizations through coercion and force. Thrawn realizes that if Yiv is not stopped, he could pose a significant threat to the Chiss Ascendancy.
While Thrawn works to dismantle Yiv’s growing power, he must navigate the internal politics of the Ascendancy. The ruling families, including his own Mitth family, view him as a liability due to his independent thinking. Syndic Thurfian, a powerful rival within the Mitth family, actively works against him.
Using his strategic genius, Thrawn orchestrates a series of military engagements to expose Yiv’s weaknesses. He manipulates events to force the Nikardun into a confrontation they cannot win, ultimately outmaneuvering Yiv and leading to his capture.
Despite this victory, Thrawn’s actions have further alienated him from the Chiss ruling families. His reliance on logic and tactics over political maneuvering makes him an outsider, even as he proves his worth as a defender of the Ascendancy.
Meanwhile, a mysterious figure named Jixtus is revealed to be operating in the shadows, orchestrating larger plans that go beyond the Nikardun. His presence hints at a greater, more insidious enemy lurking in the Chaos, one that seeks to destabilize the Chiss from within.
The novel ends with Thrawn gaining recognition for his military success, but his position within the Ascendancy remains precarious. While Admiral Ar’alani continues to support him, his political adversaries, including Thurfian, grow more determined to remove him.
Chaos Rising sets the stage for the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, exploring Thrawn’s rise, his tactical brilliance, and the political forces working against him. It introduces key characters and establishes the external and internal conflicts that will shape his fate, leading into Greater Good and Lesser Evil.