Simplified Series - Star Wars: X-Wing
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| wow. much professional. very photo-editing. |
My feverish pursuit of MOAR content brought forth this feature: Simplified Series. Here's the pitch: quick synopses (I'll try and keep them spoiler-free, but, you know, most of these are past the statute of limitations on spoilers) of the entries in a series followed by the reasons you should or shouldn't read it. This week:
The X-Wing Ennealogy by Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston
Background info: All right, so I'm definitely not doing individual entries for each of the books in the series. Because, you know, I'm not a masochist. Also, it's been awhile since I read them, so I mostly just remember the series' broad strokes. But what I will do is lump them together into the smaller series they form. So let's just establish what you'll need to know before picking up book one. So, it's been about two and a half years since Return of the Jedi. Following the death of Emperor Palpatine, the fledgling New Republic (they really would prefer it if you'd start calling them that, guys) is progressing closer to the galactic core and the Imperial capital of Coruscant. Oh, and yes, one of these books did make me cry, thanks for reminding me.
Rogue Squadron Tetralogy (comprising Rogue Squadron, Wedge's Gamble, The Krytos Trap, and The Bacta War) (1996-1997) (Stackpole) - Original trilogy also-ran Wedge Antilles has been tapped to lead a new combined fighter pilot and commando squadron. Well, not exactly a new one, it's his old unit, Rogue Squadron. Along with new characters like Tycho Celchu and Corran Horn, and returning squadron members Janson (Wedge's harpoon gunner at the battle of Hoth) and Hobbie (the "Two fighters against a Star Destroyer?" guy), Antilles leads a series of operations to wrest control of Coruscant away from the Empire. Can these ragtag pilots with, shall we say, eccentric extracurriculars manage to do what the full force of the Republic military cannot? Will there be something totally badass like the revelation that Isard's top secret prison camp is actually a Super Star Destroyer built into the planet Coruscant itself? Will Wedge finally be interesting enough to be the central character of his own series?
Wraith Squadron Trilogy (comprising Wraith Squadron, Iron Fist, and Solo Command) (1998-1999) (Allston) - Well, after the climactic events of the previous trilogy, the New Republic has decided that instead of a nice, juicy promotion, what Wedge really needs is to do the same thing he did in the Rogue Squadron books, but this time with a bunch of pilots who washed out of the Starfighter program. Wait, that can't be right. It is? I'm only feigning disbelief because of how silly the thing I just typed sounded? Fair enough. Anyway, Wedge drags Janson along with him because no, he's still not interesting enough to be the central character of his own series. In fact, pretty much the whole trilogy will see him upstaged by fan favorites like Ton Phanan and Face Loran. Anyway, remember The Courtship of Princess Leia? No? That's probably for the best. Remember the Warlord Era of 20th century China? That's happening to the Empire, and the biggest Warlord (both in cruelty and in corpulence) is Zsinj, and General Han Solo's secret weapon against Zsinj? A bunch of fighter pilot/commandos who decide to disguise themselves as pirates. Yub nub! Can Aaron Allston salvage the perpetual lameness of The Courtship of Princess Leia? Will Wedge ever get tired of being upstaged by the guy who operated the harpoon gun on his speeder in The Empire Strikes Back? Will Iron Fist make you cry?
Isard's Revenge (1999) (Stackpole) - Okay, so Wedge is a General now, but he's one of those generals that still flies a starfighter and only commands a single squadron. Rogue Squadron. No it's not weird. So anyway, Grand Admiral Thrawn's dead and the Empire is once again in chaos. Oh, would this be a bad time for Ysanne Isard to show up again? Because she has. Or so it seems, until a bunch of TIE Fighters show up to save (?) Rogue Squadron and turn out to be under the command of . . . a different Ysanne Isard? Oh right, cloning's a thing in Star Wars. Oh, and don't worry, Michael A. Stackpole's favorite character, Corran Horn, is also in the book. Will the still fledgling New Republic be able to fend off this sudden reappearance of an old foe? Will Wedge continue to fly a starfighter in spite of his elevated rank? Will this book feel disappointingly straitlaced after the freewheeling humor of the Wraith Squadron books?
Starfighters of Adumar (1999) (Allston) - Oh joy! At long last the previously unmentioned neutral planet of Adumar has decided to join the Galactic Civil War. But how will they decide between the ascendant and triumphant New Republic and the shrinking and declining Galactic Empire? I mean, sure, the Empire goes through some kind of supreme leader or another every six months or so, and they keep sinking money into easily destroyed super weapons, and they're sticking with the name Galactic Empire even though they control less than 50% of the Galaxy Far, Far Away, but their imperialist and colonist views actually mesh pretty well with the aristocrats of Adumar. Turns out that Adumar is basically the kind of planet that Alexandre Dumas would've created if he'd written a Star Wars tie-in novel. Anyway, the New Republic taps Wedge, Tycho, Janson, and Hobbie as their representatives because the Adumari fucking love martial prowess. Oh, and also, instead of blasters, everyone uses swords that fire blaster bolts when you strike your opponent. Can our intrepid heroes succeed in swaying the Adumari (and their starship engineering acumen) to the New Republic? Will you laugh until you bust a lung? Will this book succeed in making anyone care about Wedge's love life?
Why should you read the X-Wing Ennealogy? These are some of the most fun books in the old Star Wars EU (now branded as "Star Wars Legends" by Disney). Sure, they might be a little (or, in the case of the Allston books, a lot) silly, but they've got thrills, laughs, espionage, action, and (sometimes) even a heart. Oh, and I'm pretty sure they originated one of my favorite features of the old EU: goofy oaths like "Vader's teeth!" or "Emperor's black bones!" Don't quote me on that. Also, if you don't want to take on a nine book series, just jump straight to Starfighters of Adumar which is the funniest of the Star Wars novels.
Why shouldn't you read the X-Wing Ennealogy? So, they're pretty good by Star Wars tie-in novel standards, which really means that they're only passable by real world book standards. Allston is a better writer than Stackpole (okay, mostly just a funnier one), but if you tend to skim through the space battles in other Star Wars books, then these definitely aren't the ones for you (there's jinking and juking galore).
Links:
As I pointed out in Books that Made Me Cry, there is, in fact, a 10th X-Wing novel titled Mercy Kill which I have not read and do not intend to. You can read more at (sigh) Wookieepedia.
Speaking of Rogue Squadron, that was my all-time favorite N64 game! Here's the theme music!
Wraith Squadron Trilogy (comprising Wraith Squadron, Iron Fist, and Solo Command) (1998-1999) (Allston) - Well, after the climactic events of the previous trilogy, the New Republic has decided that instead of a nice, juicy promotion, what Wedge really needs is to do the same thing he did in the Rogue Squadron books, but this time with a bunch of pilots who washed out of the Starfighter program. Wait, that can't be right. It is? I'm only feigning disbelief because of how silly the thing I just typed sounded? Fair enough. Anyway, Wedge drags Janson along with him because no, he's still not interesting enough to be the central character of his own series. In fact, pretty much the whole trilogy will see him upstaged by fan favorites like Ton Phanan and Face Loran. Anyway, remember The Courtship of Princess Leia? No? That's probably for the best. Remember the Warlord Era of 20th century China? That's happening to the Empire, and the biggest Warlord (both in cruelty and in corpulence) is Zsinj, and General Han Solo's secret weapon against Zsinj? A bunch of fighter pilot/commandos who decide to disguise themselves as pirates. Yub nub! Can Aaron Allston salvage the perpetual lameness of The Courtship of Princess Leia? Will Wedge ever get tired of being upstaged by the guy who operated the harpoon gun on his speeder in The Empire Strikes Back? Will Iron Fist make you cry?
Isard's Revenge (1999) (Stackpole) - Okay, so Wedge is a General now, but he's one of those generals that still flies a starfighter and only commands a single squadron. Rogue Squadron. No it's not weird. So anyway, Grand Admiral Thrawn's dead and the Empire is once again in chaos. Oh, would this be a bad time for Ysanne Isard to show up again? Because she has. Or so it seems, until a bunch of TIE Fighters show up to save (?) Rogue Squadron and turn out to be under the command of . . . a different Ysanne Isard? Oh right, cloning's a thing in Star Wars. Oh, and don't worry, Michael A. Stackpole's favorite character, Corran Horn, is also in the book. Will the still fledgling New Republic be able to fend off this sudden reappearance of an old foe? Will Wedge continue to fly a starfighter in spite of his elevated rank? Will this book feel disappointingly straitlaced after the freewheeling humor of the Wraith Squadron books?
Starfighters of Adumar (1999) (Allston) - Oh joy! At long last the previously unmentioned neutral planet of Adumar has decided to join the Galactic Civil War. But how will they decide between the ascendant and triumphant New Republic and the shrinking and declining Galactic Empire? I mean, sure, the Empire goes through some kind of supreme leader or another every six months or so, and they keep sinking money into easily destroyed super weapons, and they're sticking with the name Galactic Empire even though they control less than 50% of the Galaxy Far, Far Away, but their imperialist and colonist views actually mesh pretty well with the aristocrats of Adumar. Turns out that Adumar is basically the kind of planet that Alexandre Dumas would've created if he'd written a Star Wars tie-in novel. Anyway, the New Republic taps Wedge, Tycho, Janson, and Hobbie as their representatives because the Adumari fucking love martial prowess. Oh, and also, instead of blasters, everyone uses swords that fire blaster bolts when you strike your opponent. Can our intrepid heroes succeed in swaying the Adumari (and their starship engineering acumen) to the New Republic? Will you laugh until you bust a lung? Will this book succeed in making anyone care about Wedge's love life?
Why should you read the X-Wing Ennealogy? These are some of the most fun books in the old Star Wars EU (now branded as "Star Wars Legends" by Disney). Sure, they might be a little (or, in the case of the Allston books, a lot) silly, but they've got thrills, laughs, espionage, action, and (sometimes) even a heart. Oh, and I'm pretty sure they originated one of my favorite features of the old EU: goofy oaths like "Vader's teeth!" or "Emperor's black bones!" Don't quote me on that. Also, if you don't want to take on a nine book series, just jump straight to Starfighters of Adumar which is the funniest of the Star Wars novels.
Why shouldn't you read the X-Wing Ennealogy? So, they're pretty good by Star Wars tie-in novel standards, which really means that they're only passable by real world book standards. Allston is a better writer than Stackpole (okay, mostly just a funnier one), but if you tend to skim through the space battles in other Star Wars books, then these definitely aren't the ones for you (there's jinking and juking galore).
Links:
As I pointed out in Books that Made Me Cry, there is, in fact, a 10th X-Wing novel titled Mercy Kill which I have not read and do not intend to. You can read more at (sigh) Wookieepedia.
Speaking of Rogue Squadron, that was my all-time favorite N64 game! Here's the theme music!
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