Timothy Zahn

Timothy Zahn (born September 1, 1951) is a science fiction novelist. He is best known for a Star Wars trilogy that takes place several years after the end of Return of the Jedi. These books preceded a slew of other Star Wars novels and story collections by authors such as Kevin J. Anderson and Michael A. Stackpole.

Related Topics:
September 1 - 1951 - Science fiction - Star Wars - Trilogy - Return of the Jedi - Novel - Kevin J. Anderson - Michael A. Stackpole

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Zahn's work isn't limited to Star Wars, though. He has also written the widely popular Conquerors' Trilogy, which tell the story of a war between humans and a race of aliens that have indestructible spaceships and can remain in spirit form after death.

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Zahn's characters are noteworthy for taking various pieces of information, putting together a picture of events, and planning a course of action around it. Sometimes, they have a correct picture based on very few facts, and other times they make incorrect assumptions but create a good plan out of it anyway. Grand Admiral Thrawn is, perhaps, the seminal example.

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Timothy Zahn was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While pursuing a doctorate in physics, his mentoring professor became ill and Zahn never completed the degree. Zahn began writing science fiction in 1975 as a hobby. He is married to Anna, and they live in Oregon.

Related Topics:
Chicago, Illinois - Michigan State University - 1973 - University of Illinois - 1975 - Oregon

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He won a Hugo award in 1984 for his novella Cascade Point. A distinguishing mark of his work is his fondness for wordplay. For instance, in the Thrawn trilogy, the name Thrawn comes from a word meaning "twisted", and the name of two pets (Sturm and Drang) comes from a Romantic movement.

Related Topics:
Hugo award - Cascade Point - Romantic - Movement

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