David's Review of Outbound Flight

5/5 Rancors - Outbound Flight is an intriguing story of space exploration and, more importantly, it serves as our introduction to Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo of the Chiss Ascendancy, better known to Star Wars aficionados as the brilliant mastermind Thrawn. He is one of the most interesting characters in the entire saga as he exhibits time after time that he is functioning on a higher intellectual plane than most everybody else he comes in contact with. Mr. Zahn's book also gives us an excellent look at the workings of Jedi minds and at some of the not always smooth relationships among our lightsaber-wielding heroes.

Jedi Master Jorus C'baoth has a plan (called Outbound Flight) for a huge undertaking using a massive vessel for a mission to contact intelligent life and colonize undiscovered worlds beyond the known galaxy. This mission would last for years and would involve six Jedi Masters, twelve Jedi Knights, and fifty thousand men, women, and children. In the first part of the book the bureaucracy that is such a part of Coruscant has bogged down C'baoth's efforts. The Senate seems reluctant to commit the necessary resources, and the Jedi Council is not convinced of the validity of the idea. Then our favorite nefarious Supreme Chancellor gets involved behind the scenes as usual. Palpatine and C'baoth work out a quid pro quid arrangement in which C'baoth resolves a mining dispute on Barlok in exchange for Palpatine's efforts to get Outbound Flight moving again. Of course, the hand of Darth Sidious is ever active in all of these arrangements.

Outbound Flight does finally get underway and the real troubles begin. Master C'baoth rules the ship with an iron fist despite the misgivings of the other Jedi who are along on the voyage. These Jedi include Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker who are on the ship but are not planning to stay for the entire trip. The interplay among the Jedi is extremely interesting and very believable. The reactions from the passengers on the voyage to the machinations of their Jedi Master leader are also extremely believable. Not everyone is a fan of the Jedi.

To complicate matters, Thrawn is defending the Chiss boundaries from incursions by the evil Vagaari. His battle tactics are fascinating, and his skill at winning political squabbles with his Chiss peers is equally interesting. All of these forces come together at the edge of Unknown Space - Jedi, Chiss, Vagaari, Outbound Flight, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Darth Sidious, and a three-person crew of a smuggling ship from the Republic that ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. We also are treated to hints of what appears to be an invasion force - the Far Outsiders gathering at the edge of the galaxy.

Yes! The future looks bright for the members of Rancors Love to Read. Many excellent possibilities were introduced in this book and good reading awaits in future tales.