Star Wars: Outbound Flight, a prequel to Timothy Zahn’s other Star Wars novels, tells the story of the epic Jedi/civilian Outbound Flight project— designed to travel outside the known galaxy all the way to the next on a mission of exploration and colonization— and reveals new backstory about the misguided, elitist, and obsessed Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth and Grand Admiral Thrawn (or, as he was known at the time, Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet Force Commander Thrawn 
). The novel also details the first contact between the Chiss and humanity (as well as their mutual study of, and eventual respect for, each other). And there are even several small, vague-yet-chilling hints of the future Yuuzhan Vong invasion.
Fans of Thrawn’s coolly cultured yet somehow charismatic personality and his mind-bogglingly brilliant strategic genius will be spellbound; and any Star Wars fan will enjoy the characters and the marvelously intriguing and interweaving plot.
In all, Outbound Flight is excellent, and like Zahn’s other Star Wars novels we definitely recommend it.
Our rating for Star Wars: Outbound Flight: 5 & 1/2 Stars. 