Book Review: Star Wars: X-Wing: Rogue Squadron SPOILERS!

Though it was only published in 1996 by sci-fi/fantasy author Michael A. Stackpole, X-Wing: Rogue Squadron is hard to find. Come to think of it, all of his Bantam Spectra Star Wars X-Wing novels are. Del Rey, the current forerunner for Star Wars novels, refused to renew the licensing and the best-selling X-Wing novel by Stackpole have since sold out. Synopsis: Join the most elite fighting force in space on a do-or-die mission only the X-Wings would dare! They are sleek, swift, and deadly. They are the X-Wing fighters. And as the struggle rages across the vastness of space, the fearless men and women who pilot them risk both their lives and their machines. Their mission: to defend the Rebel Alliance against a still-powerful and battle-hardened Imperial foe in a last-ditch effort to control the stars! It's very name strikes fear into enemy hearts. So when Rebel hero Wedge Antilles rebuilds the legendary Rogue Squadron, he seeks out only the best--the most skilled, the most daring X-Wing pilots. Through arduous training and dangerous missions, he weeds out the weak from the strong, assembling a group of hard-bitten warriors willing to fight, ready to die. Antilles knows the grim truth: that even with the best X-Wing jockeys in the galaxy, many will not survive their near-suicidal missions. But when Rogue Squadron is ordered to assist in the assault on the heavily fortified Imperial stronghold on Black Moon, even the bravest must wonder if nay at all will survive....

The novel starts off on Folor with Corran Horn training against a simulation of the doomed Redeemer scenario--a mission the Rebel Alliance failed against the Empire--and is the last one standing on the simrun. He won it with help from his astromech droid Whistler, who calculated every wing of TIE Fighters thrown at Corran's partners. Meanwhile, Commander Wedge Antilles meets with Admiral Ackbar about the selection of pilots for Rogue Squadron--which seem to be all about politics and appeasing key member worlds--and the fate of Captain Tycho Celchu. On Coruscant, Imperial Intelligence agent Kirtan Loor oversees the torture of a man named Gil Bastra; Kirtan wants information that will lead him to his old Corellian Security nemesis Corran Horn. Over the next few weeks Corran trains while Kirtan Loor meets with the head of Imperial Intelligence, Ysanne "Iceheart" Isard and helps General Evir Derricote get what he needs for Black Moon base. Ackbar tells Wedge that Rogue Squadron will be made active for the Coruscant campaign. The Rogues head to Talasea and rescue the smuggling vessel Pulsar Skate, captained by Mirax Terrik, the daughter of Booster Terrik and family rival to the Horns. Isard assigns Loor the task of killing Rogue Squadron. A few days on Talasea ends with the death of Lujayne Forge. Rogue Squadron and General Salm's squadrons attack Black Moon and are nearly slaughtered. They retreat and Lt. Judder Page and Corran talk and discover that Black Moon used to be known as Borleias and once had a secret Imperial TIE-Fighter base there. With that knowledge in mind, the pilots try again and succeed, though not before Mirax, having come to view Corran as a friend, and Tycho Celchu break regulation and commandeer a ship to save the pilots. Everyone but Corran makes it out and, during his free fall, Mirax arrives and saves him. With Black Moon taken, and most of Rogue Squadron alive--Andoorni Hui and Peshk Vri'syk died during one of the battles and Bror Jace is presumed dead while on leave, last known bearing: Thyferra--the Alliance makes further preparations for the Coruscant campaign.

This was the first novel to not feature This is the first novel to not feature any of the original heroic trio, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Leia Organa.It was also the first tie-in novel for the Star Wars X-wing game--not that the game and the novel have anything in common except X-wings and one of the levels. It was a great novel that captured the spirit of Star Wars as well as provide detail into the space battles. Great characters, scenic battles, and a never-ending supply of nods to Stackpole's Star Wars partners: Timothy Zahn and Aaron Allston. Back in the day, they ran the Expanded Universe.

Book Review: Star Wars: Scourge SPOILERS!

The first Star Wars novel by Jeff Grubb, Scourge takes place in the New Republic era, when Bantam Spectra had reign of the Star Wars Expanded Universe novels. It takes place in 19 ABY. Synopsis: In the heart of crime-ridden Hutt Space, a Jedi Scholar searches for justice. While trying to obtain coordinates of a secret peril-packed but potentially beneficial trade route, a Jedi novice is killed--and the motive for his murder remains shrouded in mystery. Now his former Master, Mander Zuma, wants answers, even as he fights to erase doubts about his own abilities as a Jedi. What Mander gets is immersion into perilous underworld of the Hutts as he struggles to stay one step ahead in a game of smugglers, killers, and crime lords bent on total control.

The novel opens with the death of Jedi Knight Toro Irana on Makem Te. His Master, Mander Zuma, an archivist, has been dispatched by the Jedi Academy on Yavin IV on behalf of the New Republic. Mander is at a loss for his apprentice's death. Mander blames himself for Toro's death. Toro's sister, Reen, blames Mander, but quickly comes to his aid when he identifies that poison was used to kill her brother. The local Swokes Swokes and Rodians are trying to kill them. Koax, an aide to the Spice Lord, receives Toro's lightsaber from Dejarro. Dejarro is a Tempest--a hard spice--runner. Koax kills Dejarro for his failure to stop Mander and Reen. They identify the poison as Tempest. It's a new spice that showed up in 18 ABY and it's suddenly all over the galaxy. Toro's mission was to get coordinates for the Indrexu Spiral. The Hutts hold the answers so Mandar, Reen, and a Bothan named Eddey Be'ray head to meet with the Anjiliac clan's head, Popara Anjiliac Diresto. They talk to his aide Vago Gejalli Thokka and learn that Popara is willing to give the New Jedi Order the coordinates so long as Mander serves the Anjiliac clan. Things go awry, especially when the Bomu Rodian clan and Koax get involved on the plague-ridden planet of Endregaad. The Corporate Sector Authority also gets involved. Mika Anjiliac Chiera helps Mander and his allies by capturing two Tempest addicts during a fight. The CSA locks Mander and his allies, except Mika, up. Mander and his allies take Mika to Nal Hutta. Popara dies and Zonnos Anjiliac Priare accuses Mander, Reen, and Eddey. The trio escapes to Nar Shaddaa with Angela Krin, Lt. Cmdr in the CSA. Zonnos puts a price on their heads. Mika passes them info on the Tempest. They find out that Zonnos killed Popara. Mander kills Zonnos and Mika takes over the Anjiliac clan then demands that Mander and his allies leave Hutt Space. The Spice Lord is unimpressed with Koax's recent dealings. Through a couple of contacts, Mander, Reen, Eddey, and Angela head to Dennogra and confront Koax. Koax dies and the last of the Bomu clan die. The information leads them to Varl and Vago. It was a set up. Mika is the Spice Lord and has been behind the whole thing, including the death of his father. Mander fights Mika which results in Mika's death. The novel ends with an agreement between Vago Gejalli and Mander Zuma about the Anjiliac business model.

A great first Star Wars novel by Jeff Grubb. Considering this is based on the Tempest Feud game product for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, from Wizards of the Coast which was written by Jeff Grubb and Owen K. C. Stephens. Very well crafted, great characterizations of the main characters from the RPG, and great prose. Grubb has demonstrated that he knows the Star Wars Expanded Universe as well as the World of Warcraft universe which he also writes in.