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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For the past few months, I have been reading all of the X-wing novels, plus I, Jedi since it’s spiritually in the same series. I recall enjoying Solo Command when I first read it many moons ago, but I must admit that it did not hold up to a re-reading that well. Most of my qualms with Solo Command are the same as with Aaron Allston's other X-wing novels: the characters and their situations are melodramatic to the point of farce, and I don’t really feel strongly about any of them. I also think that Allston couldn’t figure out from which character to tell the story; he starts off Wraith Squadron focusing on Kell Tainer, but progresses to using Wedge Antilles and Garik “Face” Loran as the primary narrators. Contrast this to Stackpole‘s novels, which are almost entirely told from the point of view of Corran Horn. As a result, I don‘t think any of Allston‘s characters became as likable as Stackpole‘s Horn. Moreover, he ramps up the melodrama of the character‘s personal lives almost as a substitute for any real drama or action in his main plot. The relationship between Myn Donos and Lara Nostil was just so completely over the top that I couldn‘t take it seriously in Iron Fist or in Solo Command. The whole book feels loosely thrown together; there are some good moments of humor in the novel (unlike most of Stackpole‘s work), but that's its only redeeming quality. Otherwise, I feel like Solo Commandwas barely worth my time. I‘ve moved on to the next book in the series, Isard’s Revenge, and it’s a breath of fresh air; Stackpole’s writing is so much more mature and cohesive.
It was the best of the seven X-Wing books I’ve read so far. Great story, even a stretch in the middle where I physically couldn’t stop reading. The plot was so well isulated in on itself that when Gara Petothel and Myn Donos had their showdown, it really was what it should have been. She had a chance to redeem herself (even though Zsinj got away), and that made me feel good. The anonymous time of irresponsibility was a nice touch, as was having Han Solo around for some of the action. It bleeds nicely into the beginning of Courtship, and hopefully the good story will continue.
And the fun continues with Wraith Squadron. This book has some more "main" characters in it - like Han Solo! - but is still focused on the Wraiths for the most part. Lara and Myn get lots of screen-time in this one and I came to appreciate Wedge more as a leader than I ever have after a particular sequence with him dressing down one of his reports...but in a way that shows he genuinely cares for him as a person. I now remember why after reading these books the first time, I gained such a high appreciation for Wedge. Also - this book continues the Wraith tradition of pranks and moments of hilarity. Some classic ones here. Yub, yub, Commander. Only thing I'm annoyed about in this book is the fact that the Zsinj plotline of the past three books isn't wrapped up but...apparently is concluded in another Star Wars book ("Courtship of Princess Leia"), which isn't written by Allston and isn't a Wraith book so I don't really want to read it. I think I did read it way back in the day, but no interest in reading it again now. Just wish Allston had been able to wrap up Zsinj himself, as he does such a good job with these Wraith books. Ah well. Again, this book is fantastic and well worth the reread.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5/5
A great conclusion to the Wraith Squadron Trilogy, although it suffers from the fact that it finishes unresolved (hence why I removed half a star).
Overall though the characters are strong and likeable (Wes and Wedge are the best of course) although Lara Notsil and Myn Donos could get a little melodramatic at times.
The action in the book is also excellent with exciting X-Wing and Tie fighter action and on the ground missions infiltrating bases.
The jokes also return from the other Wraith Squadron books (Lieutenant Kettch in particular) so if you didn't enjoy that aspect of the previous books then you won't like it in this one either.
Overall I'd definitely recommend it to fans of the other Wraith Squadron books and to those who haven't read the previous X-Wing books, get reading, you might just like them!
A great conclusion to the Wraith Squadron Trilogy, although it suffers from the fact that it finishes unresolved
Spoiler
as it needs to leave room for The Courtship of Princess Leia to finish the Zsinj arcOverall though the characters are strong and likeable (Wes and Wedge are the best of course) although Lara Notsil and Myn Donos could get a little melodramatic at times.
The action in the book is also excellent with exciting X-Wing and Tie fighter action and on the ground missions infiltrating bases.
The jokes also return from the other Wraith Squadron books (Lieutenant Kettch in particular) so if you didn't enjoy that aspect of the previous books then you won't like it in this one either.
Overall I'd definitely recommend it to fans of the other Wraith Squadron books and to those who haven't read the previous X-Wing books, get reading, you might just like them!
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, War
Minor: Torture, Kidnapping
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WOW!!! This book takes the cake for best xwing book so far!! I adore it 🥰 so funny and sad and perfect!!
With all apologies to the late Mr. Allston, these books are the Expanded Universe equivalent of a root canal. I haven’t hated a writer this much since James Luceno, and with his every word choice grating at me, I’ve exhausted my capacity to be polite and neutral about his work. In fact, the only way for me to get through this review is to do something completely unorthodox. It’s taken me months to force myself to pick this up and read it. And I hadn’t even finished the first chapter before I thought, “Gee, there’s a lot of section breaks going on.” And then a character revealed that a period of several days had passed between page 1 and page 12 (chapter 1 is 23 pages long). And immediately, curiosity demanded satisfaction: I flipped to the end of he book and counted just how many section breaks there were. The result was 225. In an 18-chaper book of 341 pages, a total of 225 section (or scene) breaks occur. I cannot possibly be the only one who thinks this is excessive. I know some people think I’m stupid picky about the quality of what I read, but I cannot be alone in thinking breaking the scene an average of 12 times per chapter is disruptive and makes it hard to focus.
The book starts with an assassination attempt on Admiral Ackbar. So far, so good, although it surely didn’t need 12 pages to explain that. The Wraiths are given orders to join up with Han Solo’s task force against Warlord Zsinj, but they have to go in undercover and insignia-free — surely no shock for a covert ops squad. So they go to some planet do to some stuff. Look, I’m sorry, it’s just impossible to care about: these might as well be paper dolls ticking off points on a checklist: “X-wing firefight, check; male character hits on woman who kisses then rejects him, check.”
Of course all the Aaron Allston tropes are here: heavy-handed humor and ham-fisted exposition. Lots of irrelevant filler posing as comedic interludes, plenty of tell-don’t-show, and all the senseless over-description of ships, characters, and locale that ever puffed up 150 pages of plot into a 350-page feature-length novel. Not to mention distressing racial stereotypes (especially in his treatment of Voort and Chewbacca) and absurd characterizations of females.
What I’ve learned is that people who enjoy the later era of the EU — the Del Ray period, the NJO and later stuff, the stuff pumped out by James Luceno — they adore Aaron Allston and can’t get enough. So by all means, if you like that, you’ll like this. As for me, this swims to the very lowest level of realcanon and remains there, never to be reread or recommended by me to anyone.
The book starts with an assassination attempt on Admiral Ackbar. So far, so good, although it surely didn’t need 12 pages to explain that. The Wraiths are given orders to join up with Han Solo’s task force against Warlord Zsinj, but they have to go in undercover and insignia-free — surely no shock for a covert ops squad. So they go to some planet do to some stuff. Look, I’m sorry, it’s just impossible to care about: these might as well be paper dolls ticking off points on a checklist: “X-wing firefight, check; male character hits on woman who kisses then rejects him, check.”
Of course all the Aaron Allston tropes are here: heavy-handed humor and ham-fisted exposition. Lots of irrelevant filler posing as comedic interludes, plenty of tell-don’t-show, and all the senseless over-description of ships, characters, and locale that ever puffed up 150 pages of plot into a 350-page feature-length novel. Not to mention distressing racial stereotypes (especially in his treatment of Voort and Chewbacca) and absurd characterizations of females.
What I’ve learned is that people who enjoy the later era of the EU — the Del Ray period, the NJO and later stuff, the stuff pumped out by James Luceno — they adore Aaron Allston and can’t get enough. So by all means, if you like that, you’ll like this. As for me, this swims to the very lowest level of realcanon and remains there, never to be reread or recommended by me to anyone.