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A review by biblioauds
Alphabet Squadron by Alexander Freed
5.0
This review will not contain story elements and will be completely spoiler free.
Alphabet Squadron started my venture of Star Wars literature, and thus I acknowledge the bias and nostalgia associated with the characters and writing itself. Since finishing the book back in the summer of 2020, I have since read plenty of other Star Wars novels, both YA and Adult, Legends and Canon. I can still say, with certainty, and certainly after finishing the trilogy recently, that Alphabet Squadron has truly left an amazing impression and that it paves the way for future Star Wars Adult literature.
Alphabet Squadron has been considered to be a direct tie-in with Star Wars: Squadrons. The video game has gained massive popularity among the starfighter niche in the community, and itches the scratch of all of those who dreamed of the scream of a TIE and yearned for the yolk of a X-Wing.
Unfortunately, due to this tie-in, I think that the community has been harsh on this book and the series as a whole. They had a vision for the book that was not the same as the author's intention. Freed was known prior for his Battlefront: Twilight Company novel, and thus had a reputation for amazing combat narrative. Having read Twilight Company myself, I can directly attest to this. However, Freed has many writing talents other than combat, which show in Alphabet Squadron fully. Freed writes of deep characterization across 5 main characters, each with their own story, struggles, and triumphs. Each unfold delicately, and in a way that helps the reader unfold another corner of the galaxy. In this book, we are able to explore morality in Star Wars, and what that looks like from different backgrounds, perspectives, species, and affiliations. This deep characterization is nothing short of infatuating, but unfortunately not what I think the audience expected. They had expected loads of combat, but instead the "dry" bits of story unraveling left them unsatisfied. This was not their niche. Alphabet Squadron is meant for those who value the perspectives of different types of people in the galaxy, value the quality of loose ended stories, and value slow burning heroes.
This book was an extremely easy read even though I had no prior experience with Star Wars literature. I highly recommend this to new readers in the Star Wars fandom and for anyone interested in the morality of Star Wars. This book will certainly turn the cogs!
Alphabet Squadron started my venture of Star Wars literature, and thus I acknowledge the bias and nostalgia associated with the characters and writing itself. Since finishing the book back in the summer of 2020, I have since read plenty of other Star Wars novels, both YA and Adult, Legends and Canon. I can still say, with certainty, and certainly after finishing the trilogy recently, that Alphabet Squadron has truly left an amazing impression and that it paves the way for future Star Wars Adult literature.
Alphabet Squadron has been considered to be a direct tie-in with Star Wars: Squadrons. The video game has gained massive popularity among the starfighter niche in the community, and itches the scratch of all of those who dreamed of the scream of a TIE and yearned for the yolk of a X-Wing.
Unfortunately, due to this tie-in, I think that the community has been harsh on this book and the series as a whole. They had a vision for the book that was not the same as the author's intention. Freed was known prior for his Battlefront: Twilight Company novel, and thus had a reputation for amazing combat narrative. Having read Twilight Company myself, I can directly attest to this. However, Freed has many writing talents other than combat, which show in Alphabet Squadron fully. Freed writes of deep characterization across 5 main characters, each with their own story, struggles, and triumphs. Each unfold delicately, and in a way that helps the reader unfold another corner of the galaxy. In this book, we are able to explore morality in Star Wars, and what that looks like from different backgrounds, perspectives, species, and affiliations. This deep characterization is nothing short of infatuating, but unfortunately not what I think the audience expected. They had expected loads of combat, but instead the "dry" bits of story unraveling left them unsatisfied. This was not their niche. Alphabet Squadron is meant for those who value the perspectives of different types of people in the galaxy, value the quality of loose ended stories, and value slow burning heroes.
This book was an extremely easy read even though I had no prior experience with Star Wars literature. I highly recommend this to new readers in the Star Wars fandom and for anyone interested in the morality of Star Wars. This book will certainly turn the cogs!