Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil by Timothy Zahn is the third and final book in the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, which explores Grand Admiral Thrawn’s early years in the Chiss Ascendancy. This novel follows the aftermath of the growing conflict between the Chiss and their hidden enemies, the Grysk, as Thrawn faces his greatest challenge yet.
The story picks up with the Chiss Ascendancy on the brink of civil war. The manipulations of Jixtus, an agent of the Grysk, have deepened divisions within the ruling families. The alien mastermind has successfully turned Chiss factions against each other, aiming to weaken them before launching a full-scale Grysk invasion.
Thrawn, leading the Expansionary Defense Fleet, works tirelessly to expose the truth behind these manipulations. He believes that the Chiss must unite to survive the external threat, but his unconventional tactics and disregard for political maneuvering continue to make him unpopular among the ruling families.
Meanwhile, Syndic Thurfian, Thrawn’s long-time rival within the Mitth family, works to undermine him. Thurfian sees Thrawn’s growing influence as dangerous and plots to remove him permanently, believing that the Ascendancy’s survival depends on strict adherence to tradition and political structure rather than Thrawn’s strategic brilliance.
Thrawn’s allies, including Admiral Ar’alani and Thalias, the caregiver of the young ozyly-esehembo (Force-sensitive navigator) Che’ri, struggle to balance loyalty to him with the pressures of Chiss politics. They recognize the greater threat but are limited in how much they can overtly support Thrawn.
As Jixtus’s plans near completion, he manipulates a breakaway Chiss faction to attack Thrawn’s forces directly, forcing an internal conflict that threatens to destroy the Ascendancy from within. Thrawn, ever the tactician, orchestrates a brilliant counterstrategy, setting a trap for the Grysk and their allies.
The novel’s climax sees an epic battle where Thrawn’s fleet fights against overwhelming odds. Using his unparalleled strategic mind, he turns the enemy’s strength against them, exposing the Grysk’s deception and dealing them a crushing defeat. However, the political consequences of his actions are severe.
Thurfian seizes the moment to push for Thrawn’s exile, convincing the ruling families that his actions, no matter how effective, have made him a liability. With no way to counter the political maneuvering, Thrawn accepts his fate, realizing that his removal may be the only way to preserve unity within the Ascendancy.
In the aftermath, Jixtus is revealed to have been a mere agent of a greater Grysk force still lurking in the Unknown Regions, setting the stage for future conflicts. The Ascendancy has survived, but at a great cost, and its future remains uncertain without Thrawn’s leadership.
The novel ends with Thrawn being “sent away” on a secret mission, subtly setting up his eventual service to the Galactic Empire, as first depicted in Thrawn (2017). This transition links the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy to the later Thrawn books, showcasing how his exile from the Chiss led him to rise within Imperial ranks.
Lesser Evil provides a thrilling conclusion to Thrawn’s Ascendancy storyline, cementing his reputation as a master strategist while highlighting the political intrigue and deep-seated traditions of the Chiss. It portrays Thrawn as a tragic yet noble figure, whose brilliance ultimately leads to his removal from the people he fought so hard to protect.