Yes. Heir To The Empire Is Legends Canon AND Star Wars: Thrawn Is Current Canon

Nevertheless, the stories in both books will be similar and different. Thrawn is a Chiss. His homeworld may change; then again, it will be amazing. There are 2 different timelines: Star Wars Heir to the Empire was 5-6 years after the Battle of Endor. Now it has changed in the new canon. Star Wars: Thrawn is 8-9 years after the fall of the Republic in the Galactic Empire — the Dark Times.

Zahn writes well in descriptors about how his characters maneuver in this milieu we call Star Wars and its galaxy. He gives his character’s strengths that are obvious to see. Then builds up as one reads weaknesses. On the surface, characters appear to lack weakness. Underneath them and peeling off the layers, there are several weaknesses. Going into a Zahn book takes a reader to know the facts that help comprehend a new Star Wars book and those who have never read a Star Wars book. 

And, the way publishing is today is a lot different from publishing 30 years ago. Multiple formats are published so everyone can read a book. HTTE has a novel, an audiobook, and a graphic novel. Star Wars: Thrawn will have its audio, graphic novel, YA novel, children’s coloring book with a toy, etc. An array of products for the entire family to enjoy! Today’s publishing! 

But what about the Chiss and their culture developed over the years with games, etc. No fan really can tell. Guess we have to read.

This brings us to fandom.

When we started this campaign, we had fans reject the idea of the “Get Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels” campaign because they refused to stand for a cause, and they were the main toxic fans yelling at Disney Lucasfilm about re-canonizing the Legends’ canon.

At SWAG77’s Star Wars Celebration Anaheim Fan Table, we had T-shirts of artwork by Ella, who jumped at the chance to draw Thrawn with a moniker: #KISSACHISS because at that time, there were no male alien body forms on display in Star Wars, which all changed after The Force Awakens. We had fun and games at the booth where all Thrawn cosplayers got treats, and all who won our games got a chance for a T-shirt.

Then we saw Dave Filoni examining our booth early one morning at Celebration Anaheim. Because we were at a distance, and the owner got very sick (sore throat, enlarged tonsils, and had to check into the ER), there was no way to get there in time before he left. But we knew he knew about our campaign, and at that time, a lot of naysayers.

Those naysayers at that time were haters of Disney. They wanted Star Wars Legends or SWEU (Star Wars Expanded Universe) back at all costs; they did not care what fans who were detractors thought. Dissent and these toxic fans terrorized other fans due to their tyranny. They caused us at SWAG77 all kinds of hate, and it hurt. Badly.

That is why we are very harsh when we receive hate these days. Individuals get blocked; we will identify their locations. That is how we roll these days. We are just a fan group. There are numerous others fans can find wherever they fit. But if their fandom lies that hurt other fans: either due to their ignorance or newness based on racism, sexism, bigotry, or hatred. It is not Star Wars Fandom. And there are a lot of HUGE Star Wars fans groups that foster disinformation campaigns through conspiracy theories.

Another issue is the new fans’ refusal or desire not to study the history of story development or storytelling. After being bashed for not knowing but being able to explain plot lines and reviews decently, these fans do not know how the current changes in “Star Wars continuities.” It is better to feign ignorance and be lazy than research the ideas of Star Wars. Anything beyond a specific clearinghouse website is too much work. SWAG77 cannot work with fans who refuse to read books. Would not you want to learn how Thrawn analyzes artwork and his character traits? While he is older in HTTE and much more patient, has he become arrogant? Fans who tell us that Star Wars history is irrelevant and why to read SWAG77 cannot have discussions about lore. Avoidance is not fandom either. Numerous concepts in Star Wars are unliked, but that does not stop reading the books. There is always something to learn when reading is cherished. 

It appears that the new canon books are being read with the same fervor as the Legends books. Fans had better believe a double-market strategy is in progress. For example, rappers samples a clip or background beats from an oldie song, and then both the new rap tune and the oldie songs return up the music charts. When the rappers started with this technique, they were getting sued by mainstream music artists until Will Smith added Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” track to create his “new” “Wild Wild West” song. Compare the two songs and see how these producers could double-market.

Double-marketing. And that’s how the idea “Get Thrawn In” was sold to Disney Lucasfilm Execs. They will double-market dip as much as they can to with Thrawn. First, he’s blue, a fave character to many Disney characters. Second, he uses art as a military science strategy and tactics. 

WE ourselves sold this idea when we created this blog as the basis of our “Get Thrawn In” campaign. Very few fans have assisted us in that process. But hey, zero kriffs given about fandom, and it can go kriff itself… That’s how hard we can be if some fans want to be ignorant and cruel. 

If you want to learn more, we encourage studying the SWAG77 site and visiting our shop.

–may change without notice–