The Center Network

    Star Wars: X-Wing Book 1: Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole is the first novel in what would eventually become a nine novel series based around the exploits of an elite group of X-Wing pilots. It is now two and a half years since the destruction of the second Death Star and the death of Emperor Palpatine at Endor, as detailed in The Return of the Jedi film. The New Republic has become a fast-growing political entity, absorbing liberated star systems and fostering open rebellion among many systems still subjugated by the Empire. The Core Worlds are still firmly held by the remains of the Empire, but many Grand Moffs in control of outlying star systems have become autonomous warlords, further fracturing the strength of the Empire. After two years of diplomacy, the New Republic has maxed out its diplomatic potential. Now having to rely on liberation and conflict to defeat the Empire, Wedge Antilles has been tasked with rebuilding a new Rogue Squadron as both an elite fighting force and a symbol of power against the Empire. The Rebel side of the novel is mostly shown through the eyes of Wedge and new recruit Corran Horn, a former Corellian Security Officer and hot-shot pilot. Providing indirect opposition to Rogue Squadron is Kirtan Loor, an Imperial Intelligence agent with a perfect memory, who has been tasked by the new de-facto leader of the Imperial core, the cold and calculating Ysanne Isard, with finding and snuffing out this new symbol of opposition.

   The novel mainly serves as a table setter for what is to come. Wedge has to mold and train his new group of eclectic pilots while dealing with the bureaucracy of his superiors. Weary of losing so many friends to past skirmishes, Wedge is committed to making sure his pilots get out of alive of the combat missions they will eventually find themselves in. The book provides details on the equipment and techniques used by the Rebel X-Wing pilots, allowing the reader time to adjust and further adapt to the setting. Of course, this is an action packed offering, with the ample X-Wing starfighter tactics and combat. The aerospace dogfighting is fast and furious, though it can be hard to follow for those who are not strong with visual descriptions or are unfamiliar with flight lingo. Some of the new characters are interesting, however every character seems to have a bizarre and unpronounceable name, but thankfully there is a Dramatis Personae table at the beginning of the book to help keep straight who is who. Still, a few less weird names for characters that are not extremely important to the story would have been welcome. The final mission involved in the book does not seem as dramatically dangerous as it is made out to be, and mostly furthers the introductory feeling of the book. The minor cliffhanger ending seals the introductory deal, leaving the reader with the feeling that the best is yet to come.

    X-Wing: Rogue Squadron provides all you can ask for in the first novel of an action-packed series, and while it does the right thing in focusing on introducing the reader to the setting, the introductory feeling does get in the way of potential drama.