Tag: Thrawn

Hello again! When I last wrote to you, I was just at the beginning of Thrawn by Timothy Zahn and I had a lot to say about Eli Vanto. I am happy to say that I have finished my first ever Star Wars novel. This time, I will be discussing a character that just did not sit right with me framed by a conversation with myself as a middle schooler. I have some beef that I wanted to work through on digital paper. Please be mindful of light-to-moderate spoilers for the whole novel, and enjoy.

Language is an important tool in storytelling. The words the characters speak and read add depth to the tale and help build the world they are living in. The characters in Lucas's Star Wars, speak a wide-range of languages adding to the narrative and even give the reader a better understanding of who the character is, where they come from, and how they will act in future events. Throughout Star Wars’ multi-media history, the archetype of the translator has been modeled and led by the golden protocol droid C-3PO. C-3PO has had a role in every Trilogy film, as well as the Clone Wars series, and it has always been the same: his knowledge of language is integral to the heroes and their adventure, he is generally overlooked by the group, and is accepting of what small control he holds over his own life. The same cannot be said about the imperial cadet Eli Vanto in Thrawn by Timothy Zhan.