Today marks a significant anniversary for Star Wars – 36 years ago, the franchise was at a turning point. It’s difficult to picture now, but after Return of the Jedi in 1983, the future of Star Wars was uncertain. While there were attempts to keep it alive with novels featuring Lando Calrissian, an Ewok film, and re-releases, it became clear the initial momentum was fading. This period was crucial, and it’s even possible the prequel trilogy wouldn’t have been made without it.
As a fan, it really felt like Star Wars was over. Lucasfilm had moved on to Indiana Jones, and even the comic books stopped being made. The company that made my favorite toys, Palitoy, closed down for good. Mark Newbold from Fantha Tracks described it perfectly – it seemed like Star Wars was becoming just a great memory, something from our childhood that we’d never see again. The whole galaxy felt like it was asleep. Then, completely out of the blue, on November 6th, 1989, everything changed!
On November 6, 1989, One Legendary Sci-Fi Author Got A Phone Call
Sci-fi author Timothy Zahn recalls that on November 6, 1989, just after 4:00 PM, he was only three days into writing his first novel for Bantam Books when his agent called. After a brief greeting, the agent told him, “Tim, we’ve got a really interesting opportunity for you.”
At the time, no one realized they were witnessing the start of something historic. Zahn recalls spending the next few hours in a state of excited nervousness, unsure if he could create a story worthy of continuing George Lucas’s beloved saga. He spent the remainder of November developing a three-book outline, which wasn’t officially approved until the following May. Then, to his surprise, in July 1990, he received a package from West End Games, revealing that Lucasfilm wanted to ensure consistency across all Star Wars stories in different formats.
Zahn wasn’t thrilled at first. He remembers having to pause his writing and go back to researching, even after being eleven chapters into the book. However, this decision to draw inspiration from various sources and create a richly connected galaxy ultimately proved vital to revitalizing the Star Wars universe.
The Thrawn Trilogy Transformed Star Wars Forever
Published on May 6, 1991, “Heir to the Empire” is the first book in Timothy Zahn’s popular Thrawn Trilogy (Zahn initially considered titles like “Wild Cards” and “The Emperor’s Hand”). Taking place five years after Return of the Jedi, the novel expanded the Star Wars universe with impressive detail and world-building, establishing key elements of the lore, including the planet Coruscant. It also introduced beloved new characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade, who would become central figures in the franchise for years to come.
“Heir to the Empire” was a huge hit, quickly becoming the #1 bestseller on the New York Times list. Widely considered one of the greatest science fiction and fantasy books ever written, the initial trilogy had sold over 15 million copies by 2014. These novels are largely credited with launching the expanded Star Wars universe, and the inclusion of role-playing game elements from West End Games helped establish Star Wars as a fully developed, multi-platform franchise. Essentially, everything that followed began to contribute to the official Star Wars story and background.
It’s Possible Star Wars Would Never Have Returned Without The Thrawn Trilogy
Today, Star Wars feels like it’s always been with us. However, Timothy Zahn’s novel revitalized the franchise after a long lull, effectively ending what fans called the ‘Dark Times.’ Zahn recently shared at Rogue Comic Con in Oregon that George Lucas might not have created the prequels if the book hadn’t been so successful. Others agree – several science fiction historians have also suggested that Zahn’s work played a crucial role in Lucas’s decision to return to the Star Wars universe.
As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve always loved Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy, and it’s amazing to see how much of it is still influencing the story today! Even though Disney initially said those books weren’t part of the official timeline back in 2014, Grand Admiral Thrawn is back – and Lars Mikkelsen is perfect in the role. Season 1 of Ahsoka really positioned him as the major villain for this new era of Star Wars, what fans are calling the ‘Mandoverse.’ It’s all building towards The Mandalorian and Grogu movie next year, and while it’s not 100% confirmed he’ll be in it, I really believe Thrawn’s future on the big screen is pretty much guaranteed.
Yoda believed the future is constantly changing, and even small events can have huge consequences. For Star Wars, a single phone call on November 6, 1989, proved to be one of those pivotal moments. Without it, the franchise might have faded away. Thankfully, that call brought author Timothy Zahn into the project, revitalizing Star Wars in a major way. Whether or not his Thrawn Trilogy is officially part of the Star Wars story now doesn’t diminish its impact – it’s still incredibly important and beloved by fans.
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2025-11-06 18:16