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: 501st: An Imperial Commando Novel SPOILERS!

In 2009, Karen Traviss was given her final contract with Random House/Del Rey to continue her story forward. Sadly, after this novel, the fates of the majority of the characters remain unknown. The exceptions are Bardan and Venku who are alive as of Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice and Legacy of the Force: Revelation both written by Traviss years before the events of this novel were developed. I wouldn't recommend reading the Legacy of the Force novels as it's head writer Troy Denning assassinated every character trait for every main character in order for them to fit his story line, which, in itself, was half-assed (forgive my language). Synopsis: The Clone Wars are over, but for those with reason to run from the new Galactic Empire, the battle to survive has only just begun.... The Jedi have been decimated in the Great Purge, and the Republic has fallen. Now the former Republic Commandos—the galaxy's finest special forces troops, cloned from Jango Fett—find themselves on opposing sides and in very different armor. Some have deserted and fled to Mandalore with the mercenaries, renegade clone troopers, and rogue Jedi who make up Kal Skirata's ragtag resistance to Imperial occupation. Others—including men from Delta and Omega squads—now serve as Imperial Commandos, a black ops unit within Vader's own 501st Legion, tasked to hunt down fugitive Jedi and clone deserters. For Darman, grieving for his Jedi wife and separated from his son, it's an agonizing test of loyalty. But he's not the only one who'll be forced to test the ties of brotherhood. On Mandalore, clone deserters and the planet's own natives, who have no love for the Jedi, will have their most cherished beliefs challenged. In the savage new galactic order, old feuds will have to be set aside to unite against a far bigger threat, and nobody can take old loyalties for granted.

A report from Sector Controller J506, Officer Marigand, H.F., recaps the events of Order 66: A Republic Commando novel. It then transitions to Nyreen Vollen as she smuggles Tallisibeth “Scout” Enwandung-Esterhazy and Kina Ha to Mandalore. Meanwhile, on Imperial Center (Coruscant), Darman and Niner attend a briefing by Darth Vader, who wants them to hunt down the remaining Jedi and even the Antarian Rangers, Force-sensitives who couldn't make it as a Jedi and now act as helpers. Emperor's Hand Sa Cuis assigns Squad 40—Darman, Niner, Bry and Ennen from Galaar Squad—to hunt down Antarian Ranger Jilam Kester. On Mandalore, the Skirata clan tries to move on—Vau's on Kashyyyk searching for Sev—Kal and the former Nulls plan to insert themselves onto Imperial Center to retrieve Darman and Niner. Ny arrives and Kal is shocked by how much Scout looks like Etain. Fenn Shysa appeals to Kal to use Bardan Jusik to breed an army of Mandalorian Force-sensitives. Kal declines to use his adopted son like that. Dr. Ovolot Qail Uthan and Mij Gilamar bond while trying to perfect the cure for the age limit on the clones using Uthan's research on FG36.

Darman and Niner, along with Ennen and Bry find Kester fleeing and end up facing former Jedi General and Master Iri Camas. Bry kills Camas at the cost of his life and Kester flees. Data left behind mentions Plett's Well and children of the Jedi being moved there. After Sa Cuis is killed by Vader (InHis Image and A Two-Edged Sword), Roly Mesular takes over Commando Missions. He doesn't just want to target Jedi, but the Jal Shey and other Force-users. On Mandalore, the Death Watch is on the rise, helping the Imperials set up store. It turns out that Arligan Zey and Maze survived Order 66 and arrive on Coruscant via Ruusaan Skirata and Bardan Jusik. Zey realizes why Etain had become distant when he sees Venku Skirata. Ordo tries to retrieve Darman and Niner but they choose to remain behind because Darman found out about Kal hiding Scout, Kina Ha, and Zey. In turmoil, Skirata goes to a set of coordinates and meets Jedi Master Djinn Altis, Callista Masana, former Republic Intelligence agent Hallena Devis and more of Altis's Jedi sect. They do a deal and Kal finds out that Etain was offered a place in Altis' group and is angered that she died for nothing.

During a mission to kill a second Jedi, Darman, Niner and Ennen are paired up with a Spaarti-cloned clone trooper named Rede. The second Jedi turns out to be a kid with a lightsaber and Ennen can't stand losing Bry and killing a kid and so commits suicide in the barracks. On Mandalore, Gilamar kills the newest leader of the Death Watch, DredPriest. Uthan proves herself and develops a way to block the FG36 virus in response to Palpatine seeding her homeworld via the same virus. She lets it loose on Mandalore to prevent the Mandalorians and everyone on the planet from dying via the same way. Kal meets with Altis once more to negotiate intelligence and passes the anti-virus stuff onto Altis and his gang so they'll be safe. After the third Jedi is dead, Darman asks Mesular if he needs anyone posted on Mandalore and Mesular grants him, Niner and Rede permission to help fortify the Mandalorian homeworld. In the end, and a perfect set up for the ultimate finale that never happened (thanks Del Rey/Random House), Darman vows to get Venku away from Kal and the Jedi no matter what it costs.

A very well done final Star Wars novel from Traviss in the Old Republicera. So many fans were disappointed when Del Rey/Random House cancelled Imperial Commando 2 and fired Traviss from finishing the series. I hope, one day, that someone will pick up where Karen left off and finish the story once and for all. In the mean time, speculations are your own.

Book Review: Order 66: A Republic Commando novel SPOILERS!

In 2008, veteran Star Wars author Karen Traviss returns with an epic finale for the Republic Commando novel series. Hardcover Synopsis: After the fierce combat of Hard Contact, Triple Zero, and True Colors comes the spectacular culmination of New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss's gripping Republic Commando series. As a battle-scarred era nears its end, a shattering power play is about to stun the entire galaxy... and set in motion events that will alter destinies and resound throughout history. Even as the Clone Wars are about to reach an explosive climax, no one knows if victory will favor the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) or the Separatists. But no matter who wins, the stakes are highest for elite Special Ops clones like the Republic Commandos in Omega and Delta Squads―and the notorious renegade Advance Recon Commando clone troopers known as Null ARCs. With Republic forces stretched to the max and casualties mounting, the last thing these beleaguered warriors need to hear is the Chancellor Palpatine is keeping vast armies of secret clone troops in reserve. Sergeant Kal Skirata, a mentor to the clone commandos, has no intention of standing idly by while Palpatine sends them into battle like lambs to the slaughter. Skirata begins to plan the clones' escape from the GAR, but his heroic effort will be in vain unless he can reverse the clones' accelerated aging process. Caught in the treacherous dealings of their leaders, and locked in the battles of their lives, the disillusioned Null ARCs and Commandos nonetheless fight with everything they've got, determined to wrest victory from the Seps and save the galaxy. But even the deadliest weapons may not be powerful enough to defeat the real menace. And nothing will stop the apocalyptic horror unleashed when Palpatine utters the chilling words: The time has come. Execute Order 66. Translation: The Jedi have tried to stage a coup, and all must be shot on sight. With their faith in the Republic and their loyalty to their Jedi allies put to the ultimate test, how will the men of Omega and Delta squads react to the most infamous command in galactic history? All the breath taking action, suspense, and intrigue of Karen Traviss's Republic Commando series comes alive in Star Wars: Order 66.

The 432 page novel opens with a first person POV of Bardan Jusik, now a Mandalorian mercenary, debating ethics with a Jedi over using a slave army. Then it goes back 50 years before Attack of the Clones to show how a kid named Falin Mattran became the Mandalorian mercenary known as Kal Skirata. It then jumps back to 736 days after the Battle of Geonosis where Scorch, Sev, Kal, and Vau remember the fallen soldiers who didn't make it out of Geonosis alive and then those who've died since. It's the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Clone Wars. Scorch mentions rumors of clones being produced on Coruscant because Palpatine doesn't trust Kamino not to get trashed by the Separatists again. On day 737, Besany Wennen is being trailed by an intel agent. Ordo intercepts them and blows the agents ID and finds out just how paranoid Palpatine is about people looking into the clone scandal. Ordo kills the agent and, in the Mandalorian tradition, marries Besany. On Mandalore 937 days after Geonosis, Fi and Parja visit a cantina in Enceri and encounter Fenn Shysa who asks Fi to do his bit for Mandalore. Meanwhile Darman, Atin, Corr, and Niner assassinate a rebel leader on Haurgab and end up needing extraction via the 14th Infantry.

Meanwhile, Mij Gilamar and Kal Skirata have been asking around genetic labs if they can look at the Fett genome to see if the clones' rapid aging can be reversed. Jusik looks at busting Ovolot Qail Uthan out of a Republic Asylum. EtainTur-Mukan arrives at the Kragget to see her son, Venku “Kad”Skirata. Fenn Shysa wants either Fi, Sull, or Spar to be the reigning Mand'alor, leader of the Mandalorians and all three decline. Etain, on Republic Fleet Auxiliary support vessel Redeemer, talks Jedi Knight Commander Callista Masana about Jedi Master Djinn Altis and his sect of Jedi; Callista reveals that Altis' Jedi can get married and have kids, something that appeals to Etain. Tor and Ijaat Skirata call Kal and tell him their sister, Kal's daughter, is missing. Kal's adopted the Nulls as family according to the Mandalorian tradition. On Haurgab, Etain, leading Delta and Omega squads, hunt down a group of rebels still putting up a fight. They find them and Scorch goes ballistic after they try and bomb the Forward Operating Base. Scorch lets none of the rebels live. Jusik helps Fi heal while Zey suspects Kal of thieving from the Republic.

Etain tells Darman about Kad and he gets angry and demands answers from Kal. Zey asks Vau to spy on Kal in case he's working for the enemy and Vau promises to alert him if that is happening. Darman punches out Kal for deceiving him like this. 998 days after Battle of Geonosis, Delta Squad prepares to insert themselves onto Kashyyyk with Etain. General Grievous launches a surprise attack on Coruscant and certain units are recalled from the field. Five days of non-stop fighting on Coruscant results in Kal sending Jusik, Sull, Spar, and Fi to collect his daughter, Ruusaan and extract Dr. Uthan. Kenobi and Skywalker show up and the events of Revenge of the Sith are rushed over the next couple of days. Sev is left behind as Delta pulls out of Kashyyyk as seen in RepublicCommando. As the entire Skirata clan prepares to leave Coruscant, Palpatine sends out the call: Order 66. Jedi are hunted down and killed everywhere. Etain flees Kashyyyk and ends up on Coruscant. She is cut down by other Jedi on Shinarcan Bridge trying to get to Kal. Darman, in shock, stays behind to see that Niner gets medical help while the rest of the Skirata clan take off. Ny Vollen, a commercial pilot, brings Etain's body to Mandalore and Kal insists on giving her a cremation. Darman and Niner adjust to life being in the 501st Legion of ImperialCommandos while Ny asks Skirata if he would take in a couple of other Jedi: Tallisibeth “Scout” Enwandung-Esterhazy and Kina Ha. The novel ends with the Empire beginning to build a garrison on Mandalore. 

 A well crafted finish to the series with the left-over events beginning to wrap up in 501st: An Imperial Commando novel by Karen Traviss. Great prose, wonderful characters, great settings, believable situations make this novel worth reading.