#chiss ascendency

[heirtotheempire]

As I read through the Ascendency trilogy, it is becoming more and more clear that the Chiss Ascendency is as hateful as the Empire. And it's odd how few people call that out. I think it is because Zahn does a fantastic job at hiding it through Chiss POV, but even then, the Chiss are still incredibly xenophobic and controlling. Yes, this includes Thrawn, he isn't the saint that so many people like to paint him as and frankly could be argued as worse.

I keep thinking about Ar'alani admitting she never saw non-Chiss as people. She is brilliant and kind, but only to other Chiss. We view her in a purely positive light because the POVs in these books are primarily Chiss, who agree with her. Of course her mindset is normal amongst Chiss, of course it isn't questioned, of course Ar'alani herself never questions it despite her experience off-world. It takes a direct and pretty personal interaction for her to think twice, and even then it is difficult for her to accept the humanity of a non-Chiss. They are lesser in her eyes. They are lesser in the eyes of most, if not all, of the Chiss.

It is fascinating, it really is. It's an interesting look into a xenophobic society without the initial hate from the reader. Because xenophobia is born out of misunderstanding and perpetuated systems of ignorance. If a similar situation was told but through the eyes of Imperial officers, fewer people would be willing to see the nuances. Because Empire=Bad and anyone associating with it is also Bad, right?

But, propaganda and cycles of ignorance are also to blame. Not every Imperial Officer was born hating aliens. Hell, even TARKIN started out incredibly sympathetic to alien species according to the canon novel by James Luceno. But his family taught him otherwise, just as the Chiss Ascendency teaches its own children see other species as lesser.

This mentality from the Ascendency is also seen in Thrawn: Treason with how Eli Vanto is treated simply for being human. The majority of officers hate his existence, insist he must prove himself (despite being at a lower rank than he was at when with the Empire), and are distrustful of him. Very similar to how Ronan treats Thrawn in the same novel.

This isn't, like, a call to love Chiss characters any less, but it's a bit odd to imply that Thrawn, or any other Chiss, would be against the Empire for the same reasons the Rebellion is. The Ascendency doesn't like the Empire because it could encroach on their rule, their space- not because it's xenophobic and oppresses too many people to count. The two systems are remarkably similar, which may be part of why Thrawn was inclined to help the Empire. It is familiar, and a system Thrawn himself has never opposed, even without taking Legends into account.

(SIDE NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT BRING UP SPOILERS FOR GREATER GOOD OR LESSER EVIL ON THIS POST. I AM STILL READING THOSE BOOKS AND WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY THEM SPOILER-FREE)

[anemictoad]

Compilation of Star Wars Rebels and Chiss sketchbook art.

[spicynectarines]

I like how the chiss uniforms are just slightly cuntier versions of the empire uniforms

[valkorianknight12]

Kowalski, Analysis!

[gia-batmm-crickle22]

Okay, it says in the Wookiepedia that Vurawn was 20 during his rematching to the Mitth Family (or estimated 20? Given that it says he was born on 59 BBY and the rematching was somewhere 39 BBY)

[starwarsbookclub]

Hello Dearest Readers,

The theme poll has closed and the votes are in! We are excited to announce that the series theme for November is CHISS ASCENDENCY!

The novel and comic polls are now live in our Discord Server, and you have until 10pm BST (5pm EDT) October 25th to vote on what we will be reading together. Our options are listed below:

NOVELS

1. Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn 2. Thrawn Ascendency: Chaos Rising by Timothy Zahn 3. Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn

COMICS

1. Heir to the Empire Adaptation (1995) 2. Rebels Comic Anthology (2022) 3. Star Wars Legacy (2007)

Happy voting and may the force be with you!

- Star Wars Book Club

[empress-violetlight]

For ask meme - Thrawn x Xelarra - What is something they can never agree on? How do they meet in the middle?

I've been trying to think of how to answer this for a while, because there's actually very little Thrawn and Xelarra disagree on. Especially when they're exiled -- they literally have only each other to confide in for the first 9 years they're in the Empire. They're a team, mostly because they want to be, but also out of necessity.

After forming the Empire of the Hand in 10 BBY, they have an unspoken agreement -- Xelarra never interferes in military matters, and Thrawn agrees she can run Nirauan however she sees fit. They work as a team as more planets join up with their offshoot Empire, as it grows more distinct from the Lesser Space version.

I guess one thing they do disagree on is how to deal with the Chiss Ascendency. The Ascendency stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the Hand as a government in its own right. Thrawn says it doesn't matter -- he doesn't need the Ascendency's permission anymore to protect the Chiss people, and has his forces protect them from outside the CA's space, with some cooperation from the few friendly faces in the CEDF (especially Ar'alani) when he can get away with it. Xelarra thinks they shouldn't let the CA dismiss the Empire of the Hand's non-Chiss members the way they do, and should be more strict with their dealings.

Xelarra mentioned a few times that with their superior forces, they could just annex the CA into their Empire -- for their own protection, of course. Thrawn is against that, saying the last thing they want is to make an enemy of their own people. Besides, if a dire enough threat arises (like when the Far Outsiders finally make their move), the Chiss people, if not the Ruling Families on Csilla, are likely to invite the Hand to take over when they see that the Hand can and will protect them when the Ruling Families will turn a blind eye to the threat until it's too late. They both agree that the whole Family system needs to be reformed sooner or later (if not outright demolished), so the Chiss are no longer trapped by a system that rewards those who only look out for themselves, over the Greater Good of their species as a whole.

Together, as Empress and Grand Admiral, they will make the Galaxy a better place (whether it wants it or not).

[shoppingbaag]

some more about ar'alani and chiss ascendancy, love her so bad TT...

(so I've got a lot)

[spartanfoxart]

"Red suits you."

[klazje]

[sabellart]

Eli really deserves a smoke break

[netmors]

Sunday's two-hour Thrawn's sketches.

After the release of the second part of the comic book about the continuation of the Grand Admiral's story, the desire to do something more or less normal with the combat equipment of the then Senior Captain Mitth'raw'nuruodo did not disappear anywhere.

Only changed a couple of details, but I already like how the design echoes the regular CEDF officer's uniform.

[plunder-heaven-and-devour-god]

I haven't posted anything on Tumblr for years, BUT that silence is broken for Thrawn.

I've read 7.5 Thrawn books in the last couple of months, I'm in deep, it's become my Roman empire, and that behind the scene photo from Ashoka fucked me up.

[valkorianknight12]

Faro is my idol, i aspire to be her

[mirandemia]

You know they would have the best banter. 👌

[starwarsbookclub]

Hello There Book Club,

The polls have closed and the votes are in! For next month’s theme of CHISS ASCENDENCY, we’ll be reading HEIR TO THE EMPIRE and REBELS: COMIC ANTHOLOGY (2022)!

It’s never too late to join the club and take part in some Star Wars fun! On top of weekly chapter discussions and an end of the month book chat, we have regular watch parties and game nights! We are currently watching our way through THE CLONE WARS & playing Star Wars themed Quiplash. Join the Discord server to take part in all the Star Wars book goodness! All individuals 16+ are welcome to join, and reading along with us is optional.

If you have any questions, feel free to send us an ask!

Happy Reading and May The Force Be With You,

– Star Wars Book Club