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Star Wars: X-Wing #2
Wedge's Gamble: Star Wars Legends
Led by Wedge Antilles, the legendary pilots of Rogue Squadron prepare to risk everything in their battle against the Empire.
Sleek, swift, and deadly, they are the X-wing fighters. And as the battle against the Empire rages across the vastness of space, the pilots risk both their lives and their machines for the cause of the Rebel Alliance. Now they must embark on a dangerous espionage mission, braving betrayal and death on the Imperial homeworld to smash the power of a ruthless foe!
It is the evil heart of a battered and reeling Empire: Coruscant, the giant city-world from whose massive towers the Imperial High Command directs the war. The Rebels will invade this mighty citadel in a daring move to bring the Empire to its knees. But first Wedge Antilles and his X-wing pilots must infiltrate Coruscant to gain vital intelligence information. Capture means death, or worse--trapped in the clutches of the vicious leader known as "Iceheart," Ysanne Isard, now Emperor in all but name.
And one of Rogue Squadron's own is already her slave, a traitor hidden behind a mask of innocence, working to betray both colleagues and the Rebellion itself.
Sleek, swift, and deadly, they are the X-wing fighters. And as the battle against the Empire rages across the vastness of space, the pilots risk both their lives and their machines for the cause of the Rebel Alliance. Now they must embark on a dangerous espionage mission, braving betrayal and death on the Imperial homeworld to smash the power of a ruthless foe!
It is the evil heart of a battered and reeling Empire: Coruscant, the giant city-world from whose massive towers the Imperial High Command directs the war. The Rebels will invade this mighty citadel in a daring move to bring the Empire to its knees. But first Wedge Antilles and his X-wing pilots must infiltrate Coruscant to gain vital intelligence information. Capture means death, or worse--trapped in the clutches of the vicious leader known as "Iceheart," Ysanne Isard, now Emperor in all but name.
And one of Rogue Squadron's own is already her slave, a traitor hidden behind a mask of innocence, working to betray both colleagues and the Rebellion itself.
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
235 people are currently reading
3908 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
May 28, 2024
A Quickie Review
A fun and exciting space opera yarn with great writing and a chilling ending. However, I was not a fan of the sexual content; discerning readers, take note.
Score: 3/5
A fun and exciting space opera yarn with great writing and a chilling ending. However, I was not a fan of the sexual content; discerning readers, take note.
Score: 3/5
June 7, 2023
This series doesn't exactly jump the proverbial shark in the second book but there are just a few too many head-scratchy moments intermixed with quality action and character sequences.
No, I promised myself I wouldn't go there.
In a nutshell the series pivoted from Top Gun to Mission: Impossible for this installment with our crack fighter squadron taken out of their cockpits, given ludicrous disguises, and sent to infiltrate Coruscant (or, as the diehards they are fighting still call it, Imperial Centre). The next third of the book is used to establish just how vast, impersonal and overwhelming the ecumenopolis world is (which is cool, because when this was published we were still short of actually seeing it in Episode I unless I'm very much mistaken), but then in the course of the next third we have our Main Characters serendipitously crossing paths multiple times that beggars credulity even in a Galaxy where The Force is a thing.
Obligatory.
I did mostly enjoy the denouement, however, even if it ends on a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to how the next book will bring some of the Squadron's talents to the fore as they race against time to foil the truly evil Imperial plot to make Coruscant the Rebellion's graveyard.
No, I promised myself I wouldn't go there.
In a nutshell the series pivoted from Top Gun to Mission: Impossible for this installment with our crack fighter squadron taken out of their cockpits, given ludicrous disguises, and sent to infiltrate Coruscant (or, as the diehards they are fighting still call it, Imperial Centre). The next third of the book is used to establish just how vast, impersonal and overwhelming the ecumenopolis world is (which is cool, because when this was published we were still short of actually seeing it in Episode I unless I'm very much mistaken), but then in the course of the next third we have our Main Characters serendipitously crossing paths multiple times that beggars credulity even in a Galaxy where The Force is a thing.
Obligatory.
I did mostly enjoy the denouement, however, even if it ends on a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to how the next book will bring some of the Squadron's talents to the fore as they race against time to foil the truly evil Imperial plot to make Coruscant the Rebellion's graveyard.
August 12, 2010
"Start boiling the water. This world is dirty and needs a bath"
Rogue Squadron has a new mission: liberate Coruscant. Wedge and a team first negotiate for the release of Black Sun prisoners on Kessel to weaken the Empire's hold. Then, they must lower the shields on Coruscant so that the Rebels may attack. But will our favorite aces succeed or will Kirtan Loor sniff them out?
I Liked:
So much to enjoy!
Now that all the characters are introduced, we can get into the full-time groove of adventure. Corran continues to be one of the primary characters, along with Wedge and Tycho. I love his budding romance with Mirax Terrick and how he insists he couldn't love her. Wedge is a lot of fun, and the case against Tycho builds as the characters learn he was a prisoner on the dreaded, Lusankya, who may have had Bror Jace's fighter shot down.
I also liked how Inyri Force, Lujayne's sister, appears, along with Iella Wessiri, Corran's partner in CorSec, and Winter. I love how Stackpole doesn't make his ladies guys with chests nor stereotypical women.
The story is so exciting! We learn about Kuati Telbuns and sympathize with their plight (they remind me of geisha or concubines); we get to see Moruth Doole's pre-Jedi Academy Trilogy Kessell; we see how Coruscant falls to the Alliance. Stackpole is great at action, great at plot, great at dogfighting.
I Didn't Like:
I don't know if I quite believe Ishard's ferocity or "scariness".
Sometimes Stackpole writes the strangest things for dialogue, such as when Corran tells Zekka Thyne that he will find those "double diamonds".
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
"Sithspawn" and other Star Wars cuss words.
Inyri is Zekka Thyne's lover. Sexual tension between Corran and Merix.
Wedge ends up with cracked ribs. Dogfights galore and of course a large battle over Coruscant.
Overall:
While tertiary characters (members of Rogue Squadron) remain sketchy, I can't help but really enjoy this book! We get continuity nods (Winter, Pash Cracken, Moruth Doole), we get adventure (sneaking onto Coruscant), we have interesting bad guys (Kirtan Loor) and interesting good guys (Corran, Wedge, Tycho, Merix, and others). It's kinda hard to hate something with this brilliant combination.
Rogue Squadron has a new mission: liberate Coruscant. Wedge and a team first negotiate for the release of Black Sun prisoners on Kessel to weaken the Empire's hold. Then, they must lower the shields on Coruscant so that the Rebels may attack. But will our favorite aces succeed or will Kirtan Loor sniff them out?
I Liked:
So much to enjoy!
Now that all the characters are introduced, we can get into the full-time groove of adventure. Corran continues to be one of the primary characters, along with Wedge and Tycho. I love his budding romance with Mirax Terrick and how he insists he couldn't love her. Wedge is a lot of fun, and the case against Tycho builds as the characters learn he was a prisoner on the dreaded, Lusankya, who may have had Bror Jace's fighter shot down.
I also liked how Inyri Force, Lujayne's sister, appears, along with Iella Wessiri, Corran's partner in CorSec, and Winter. I love how Stackpole doesn't make his ladies guys with chests nor stereotypical women.
The story is so exciting! We learn about Kuati Telbuns and sympathize with their plight (they remind me of geisha or concubines); we get to see Moruth Doole's pre-Jedi Academy Trilogy Kessell; we see how Coruscant falls to the Alliance. Stackpole is great at action, great at plot, great at dogfighting.
I Didn't Like:
I don't know if I quite believe Ishard's ferocity or "scariness".
Sometimes Stackpole writes the strangest things for dialogue, such as when Corran tells Zekka Thyne that he will find those "double diamonds".
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
"Sithspawn" and other Star Wars cuss words.
Inyri is Zekka Thyne's lover. Sexual tension between Corran and Merix.
Wedge ends up with cracked ribs. Dogfights galore and of course a large battle over Coruscant.
Overall:
While tertiary characters (members of Rogue Squadron) remain sketchy, I can't help but really enjoy this book! We get continuity nods (Winter, Pash Cracken, Moruth Doole), we get adventure (sneaking onto Coruscant), we have interesting bad guys (Kirtan Loor) and interesting good guys (Corran, Wedge, Tycho, Merix, and others). It's kinda hard to hate something with this brilliant combination.
May 23, 2016
Ok, I was seriously worried that all of Stackpole's X-Wing books would get only one or two stars from me. I am happy to say that "Wedge's Gamble" surprised me, and I was able to give it a whopping THREE stars. Glory, glory.
Don't get me wrong, Stackpole is still a pretty seriously shitty writer, but somehow it doesn't matter quite as much in this instalment, which deals, among other things, with the Rebellion's attempts to conquer Coruscant.
Now, before we get to the good stuff, my problem with Stackpole's writing, as detailed in my review of the previous instalment, boils down to three main things:
1. The writing itself, we're talking grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and the like, is not particularly professional. Sometimes sentences are so awkwardly written that you have to go through them a couple times before their meaning becomes clear. This becomes especially irritating when reading the in-flight battle scenes. These often take me quite some time to get through.
2. Stackpole insists on pressing a good deal of his exposition into conversations between characters. This makes for contrived exposition, and extremely awkard conversations. Here's how I see one of those exchanges going with at least one character who knows how to have an actual conversation:
Wedge: "So, Leia, remember how you're a princess, how you were one of the leaders of the Rebellion, and how you were a member of the Imperial senate?"
Leia: "Um ... yes. I'm me. I know all that stuff."
Wedge: "Also, remember how you kinda like Han Solo?"
Leia: "Again, I was actually there in person for this stuff. I don't need you to -"
Wedge: "Oh, and remember how Luke's your brother and he's a jedi and stuff?"
Leia: "I'm leaving now."
3. I'm pretty sure Stackpole's a bit of a misogynist. Absolutely ALL of his female characters, regardless of age or race, are described as slender and beautiful (and not only beautiful, mind you, most of them are described as nothing short of breathtaking). It seems that Stackpole is entirely unaware of the fact that women come in all shapes and sizes, and can, in fact, be perfectly ordinary looking and still be badass. The men, of course, are permitted all kinds of shapes and sizes, but the women naturally have to be sexually desirable. ALL THE TIME. Also, most of the women with whom Corran has any kind of relationship tend to be described in terms of how much he may or may not want to fuck them. For a female reader, this gets kind of frustrating, not to mention incredibly one-dimentional.
Ok, I'm done.
Now, for the good stuff.
Where the previous instalment often fast forwarded over a lot of the elements that led up to the battles, and where the only build-up was, often, the previously mentioned awkwardly expositionary dialogues, "Wedge's Gamble" actually spends time taking the reader through the in-between stuff. This makes the climaxes that much more exciting, and we get to know the characters a lot better, so we actually start to care about what happens to them (always a plus).
The plot is also more multifaceted, which makes it more intriguing. You see the Rebellion trying to find its feet with its new conquest of Borleias, you have political intrigue, you have the attempted overthrow of the Empire on Coruscant, and then you have the Krytos virus, engineered by the Empire to target non-humans.
This book is more fast-paced and, overall, easier and more enjoyable to read. The plot has really piqued my interest at this point, too, particularly as regards the Krytos virus, and I'm actually excited to continue reading.
Don't get me wrong, Stackpole is still a pretty seriously shitty writer, but somehow it doesn't matter quite as much in this instalment, which deals, among other things, with the Rebellion's attempts to conquer Coruscant.
Now, before we get to the good stuff, my problem with Stackpole's writing, as detailed in my review of the previous instalment, boils down to three main things:
1. The writing itself, we're talking grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and the like, is not particularly professional. Sometimes sentences are so awkwardly written that you have to go through them a couple times before their meaning becomes clear. This becomes especially irritating when reading the in-flight battle scenes. These often take me quite some time to get through.
2. Stackpole insists on pressing a good deal of his exposition into conversations between characters. This makes for contrived exposition, and extremely awkard conversations. Here's how I see one of those exchanges going with at least one character who knows how to have an actual conversation:
Wedge: "So, Leia, remember how you're a princess, how you were one of the leaders of the Rebellion, and how you were a member of the Imperial senate?"
Leia: "Um ... yes. I'm me. I know all that stuff."
Wedge: "Also, remember how you kinda like Han Solo?"
Leia: "Again, I was actually there in person for this stuff. I don't need you to -"
Wedge: "Oh, and remember how Luke's your brother and he's a jedi and stuff?"
Leia: "I'm leaving now."
3. I'm pretty sure Stackpole's a bit of a misogynist. Absolutely ALL of his female characters, regardless of age or race, are described as slender and beautiful (and not only beautiful, mind you, most of them are described as nothing short of breathtaking). It seems that Stackpole is entirely unaware of the fact that women come in all shapes and sizes, and can, in fact, be perfectly ordinary looking and still be badass. The men, of course, are permitted all kinds of shapes and sizes, but the women naturally have to be sexually desirable. ALL THE TIME. Also, most of the women with whom Corran has any kind of relationship tend to be described in terms of how much he may or may not want to fuck them. For a female reader, this gets kind of frustrating, not to mention incredibly one-dimentional.
Ok, I'm done.
Now, for the good stuff.
Where the previous instalment often fast forwarded over a lot of the elements that led up to the battles, and where the only build-up was, often, the previously mentioned awkwardly expositionary dialogues, "Wedge's Gamble" actually spends time taking the reader through the in-between stuff. This makes the climaxes that much more exciting, and we get to know the characters a lot better, so we actually start to care about what happens to them (always a plus).
The plot is also more multifaceted, which makes it more intriguing. You see the Rebellion trying to find its feet with its new conquest of Borleias, you have political intrigue, you have the attempted overthrow of the Empire on Coruscant, and then you have the Krytos virus, engineered by the Empire to target non-humans.
This book is more fast-paced and, overall, easier and more enjoyable to read. The plot has really piqued my interest at this point, too, particularly as regards the Krytos virus, and I'm actually excited to continue reading.
January 18, 2019
Michael A. Stackpole’s X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble is the second in the lengthy series of Star Wars Legends novels focusing on the adventures of starpilot Wedge Antilles and the members of the squadrons under his command.
The premise of this story is somewhat credulity-stretching. Using the pilots of the most celebrated Rebel squadron as a ground-based intelligence gathering team seems a wildly irresponsible tactic from Ackbar et al., and I am not quite sure I buy it, for at least two reasons: 1. It deprives the Alliance of a crucial starfighter force at a time when they would have been in high demand; 2. Pilots are not necessarily the best people to identify high value targets, despite what the author would have us believe. Still, this plot device does allow the cast to get into lots of planet-bound intrigue and action, which gives a real change of pace from the starfighter combat of the previous novel.
Corran’s relationship with Erisi is still a little oddly handled - too much tell without showing, although the Kuati-noble-and-telbun charade during their insertion into Coruscant works well. Sure, Corran is an analytical type of guy, but his mental discussion with himself around the costs and benefits of starting a sexual relationship with her feels a little unnatural to me, and feel a bit like the author unconvincingly lecturing his young teen audience. Scenes with Mirax are much better, but that might just be that I prefer the smuggler daughter of a smuggler to the heiress to a hereditary industrial/feudal fortune.
There is also the question of convenient plot coincidences. Coruscant is a city planet of many billion, perhaps trillion, beings. The odds of Corran spotting Kirtan Loor and Tycho Celchu by chance in an ecumenopolis like this are astronomically unlikely, as is his ‘by chance’ crashing a speeder bike into a building that just happens to be a Rebel safe house in which Wedge and the other Rogues are meeting. I guess this can be explained as the ‘will of the Force’, but I’d rather have a better reason!
These are about the only negatives I can find about this novel, although of course your mileage my vary—especially if you have a low tolerance for pages-long descriptions of starfighter duels and gunfights. It is certainly pulpy, but I love this stuff as long as the plot is gripping, and this book continues on from the strong story begun in X-Wing: Rogue Squadron.
The characters continue to be engaging, especially Coran and Wedge. The villains just get more villainous (especially Derricote), and I like the fact that Stackpole’s Imperials are not the incompetent buffoons that Kevin J. Anderson had begun characterising them as in the other Star Wars novels of the era. Ysanne Isard seems to be quite a masterful strategist, and a great antagonist. The character of Zekka Thyne was a bit wasted after all the build-up, but it made sense to deal with him in the way portrayed so as to not detract from the primary villains.
The post-Palpatine flavour of Coruscant was well evoked, especially since this was published in 1996, before the planet had ever been portrayed on screen—before even its short appearance in the Return of the Jedi special edition from 1997.
A couple of stray observations:
I’d forgotten how often Warlord Zsinj appeared as a background threat throughout the Rogue Squadron novels before becoming the primary antagonist in X-Wing: Iron Fist.
I had also totally forgotten about the minor character Portha the Trandoshan, and I look forward to finding out what (if anything) befalls him!
The discussion of interspecies sex is surprisingly deftly and sensitively covered for a book written in the 1990s. I certainly didn’t find it revolting like the relationship in Becky Chambers’ The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, instead it comes across more like the Madame Vastra and Jenny relationship from the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who, i.e. not done for titillation, but as an exercise in exploring consent and civilised open-mindedness. Plus, it’s quite funny, which helps.
The premise of this story is somewhat credulity-stretching. Using the pilots of the most celebrated Rebel squadron as a ground-based intelligence gathering team seems a wildly irresponsible tactic from Ackbar et al., and I am not quite sure I buy it, for at least two reasons: 1. It deprives the Alliance of a crucial starfighter force at a time when they would have been in high demand; 2. Pilots are not necessarily the best people to identify high value targets, despite what the author would have us believe. Still, this plot device does allow the cast to get into lots of planet-bound intrigue and action, which gives a real change of pace from the starfighter combat of the previous novel.
Corran’s relationship with Erisi is still a little oddly handled - too much tell without showing, although the Kuati-noble-and-telbun charade during their insertion into Coruscant works well. Sure, Corran is an analytical type of guy, but his mental discussion with himself around the costs and benefits of starting a sexual relationship with her feels a little unnatural to me, and feel a bit like the author unconvincingly lecturing his young teen audience. Scenes with Mirax are much better, but that might just be that I prefer the smuggler daughter of a smuggler to the heiress to a hereditary industrial/feudal fortune.
There is also the question of convenient plot coincidences. Coruscant is a city planet of many billion, perhaps trillion, beings. The odds of Corran spotting Kirtan Loor and Tycho Celchu by chance in an ecumenopolis like this are astronomically unlikely, as is his ‘by chance’ crashing a speeder bike into a building that just happens to be a Rebel safe house in which Wedge and the other Rogues are meeting. I guess this can be explained as the ‘will of the Force’, but I’d rather have a better reason!
These are about the only negatives I can find about this novel, although of course your mileage my vary—especially if you have a low tolerance for pages-long descriptions of starfighter duels and gunfights. It is certainly pulpy, but I love this stuff as long as the plot is gripping, and this book continues on from the strong story begun in X-Wing: Rogue Squadron.
The characters continue to be engaging, especially Coran and Wedge. The villains just get more villainous (especially Derricote), and I like the fact that Stackpole’s Imperials are not the incompetent buffoons that Kevin J. Anderson had begun characterising them as in the other Star Wars novels of the era. Ysanne Isard seems to be quite a masterful strategist, and a great antagonist. The character of Zekka Thyne was a bit wasted after all the build-up, but it made sense to deal with him in the way portrayed so as to not detract from the primary villains.
The post-Palpatine flavour of Coruscant was well evoked, especially since this was published in 1996, before the planet had ever been portrayed on screen—before even its short appearance in the Return of the Jedi special edition from 1997.
A couple of stray observations:
I’d forgotten how often Warlord Zsinj appeared as a background threat throughout the Rogue Squadron novels before becoming the primary antagonist in X-Wing: Iron Fist.
I had also totally forgotten about the minor character Portha the Trandoshan, and I look forward to finding out what (if anything) befalls him!
The discussion of interspecies sex is surprisingly deftly and sensitively covered for a book written in the 1990s. I certainly didn’t find it revolting like the relationship in Becky Chambers’ The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, instead it comes across more like the Madame Vastra and Jenny relationship from the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who, i.e. not done for titillation, but as an exercise in exploring consent and civilised open-mindedness. Plus, it’s quite funny, which helps.
July 24, 2009
Typical SW fare. Stackpole is a competent, but not inspired--nor inspiring--author.
Have you noticed that books not involving "force-sensitive" characters (we're down to Luke and Leia at the moment) have nothing about the Force--other than the obligatory "May the Force be with you" departure greeting? Just as people today say "Goodbye"--not thinking or caring that it's a contraction for "God be with you."
That said, the unnamed Force is a big player in this story. How else could you explain how a dozen folks scattered among a population of tens of billions happen to stumble into one another in the same bar and the same warehouse and the same apartment?
Speaking of impossibilities, late in the book a ship at the "edge" of the Coruscant system is counting down to single digit seconds before activating a device which will abort the Republic attack when they see the lights go off on the whole planet. (Don't ask.) Assuming they're far enough away to yank the Republic fleet out of hyperspace before they emerge next to the city-planet, they should be light-minutes--if not light-hours away. The timing doesn't work . . . at all. Good drama; poor science.
Have you noticed that books not involving "force-sensitive" characters (we're down to Luke and Leia at the moment) have nothing about the Force--other than the obligatory "May the Force be with you" departure greeting? Just as people today say "Goodbye"--not thinking or caring that it's a contraction for "God be with you."
That said, the unnamed Force is a big player in this story. How else could you explain how a dozen folks scattered among a population of tens of billions happen to stumble into one another in the same bar and the same warehouse and the same apartment?
Speaking of impossibilities, late in the book a ship at the "edge" of the Coruscant system is counting down to single digit seconds before activating a device which will abort the Republic attack when they see the lights go off on the whole planet. (Don't ask.) Assuming they're far enough away to yank the Republic fleet out of hyperspace before they emerge next to the city-planet, they should be light-minutes--if not light-hours away. The timing doesn't work . . . at all. Good drama; poor science.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2020
The Rogues are back for another adventure, this time going undercover to infiltrate Coruscant ahead of the rebel invasion. Does it make sense to send a squad of your most deadly fighter pilots on a spying mission? Maybe not! But I won't criticize Admiral Ackbar's tactical acumen when it results in a book this entertaining. Everything you want from a Rogue Squadron book is here: the shots are hot, the cannons loose, Tycho is sus, and even with most of the action taking place on the ground there's some dynamite battles.
March 5, 2024
4 out of 5 stars - a fitting follow up to Rogue Squadron.
This was a solid read and a great Star Wars book that followed “the regulars” during a time of war. If you like a book about battle, espionage, and revolution - this is for you.
This book felt more like it was setting something up that being its own contained story (which should be obvious given it is book 2 of 10 in this series).
For being an X-Wing series novel and follow up to “Top Gun in Space”, there was actually a scarcity of starfighter action. The bulk of this book takes place boots-on-the-ground with the liberation of Coruscant at the hands of the Rogues. On the subplots we are learning more about a mole in Rogue Squadron and an Imperial virus that targets alien life in an attempt to hand the Alliance a “broken” planet.
We didn’t get a host of new characters save for Pash Cracken, a well known generals son who joins the Rogues. We also get the return of the character of Winter.
All in all it is a good read, especially if you like world building.
This was a solid read and a great Star Wars book that followed “the regulars” during a time of war. If you like a book about battle, espionage, and revolution - this is for you.
This book felt more like it was setting something up that being its own contained story (which should be obvious given it is book 2 of 10 in this series).
For being an X-Wing series novel and follow up to “Top Gun in Space”, there was actually a scarcity of starfighter action. The bulk of this book takes place boots-on-the-ground with the liberation of Coruscant at the hands of the Rogues. On the subplots we are learning more about a mole in Rogue Squadron and an Imperial virus that targets alien life in an attempt to hand the Alliance a “broken” planet.
We didn’t get a host of new characters save for Pash Cracken, a well known generals son who joins the Rogues. We also get the return of the character of Winter.
All in all it is a good read, especially if you like world building.
November 28, 2021
4.5. Really fun, exciting adventure with an EEEEK climax :O I also liked seeing the New Republic/Rebellion's take over of Coruscant.
June 1, 2025
Throughly enjoyed this read. Bioweapon unleashed on a population as a means of control? Sounds familiar… Real excited to see where this series goes!
July 20, 2022
3.75/5 stars
July 29, 2021
It's rare for the tagline to live up to the item it's tagging, but for once Bantam didn't exaggerate. The X-Wing series is one of the real treasures of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and I had forgotten so much of why I love it. Perhaps the most concise evidence for its greatness is the fact that I read it first at age 14 and loved it -- and now over 14 years later, reading it again, I love it again. In other words, it holds up.
Michael A. Stackpole is a great author. In reading this, I've been reminded of all the reasons I used to follow his writing blog and advice columns and all. He breathes real life into his characters, and none more than Corran Horn, the hotshot pilot from Corellia who serves as the main character in this ensemble-based series that first took us away from the "main trio" of Luke, Han, and Leia.
Corran Horn is remarkably mature and introspective, highly analytical, intelligent, and resourceful. His background as an officer of CorSec and skill as a pilot make him a valuable asset to Rogue Squadron, but he has also been tested by grief and trial. Ego, its proper place and its downfalls, is a common theme throughout Corran's books, and I'm half in love with a man who can coolly analyze his thoughts while hotly kissing some chick in order to come to the conclusion that he needs to walk away fast.
In this book, Ysanne Isard -- one of the great underrated villains of the expanded universe -- more aggressively develops her plan to crush the rebel alliance once and for all. The empire is still fairly stable, secure on Coruscant under the city-planet's protective shields, and Isard is its tacit leader, empress in all but name, and in name, she is the Director of Imperial Intelligence. Her plan to end the rebellion? Infect Coruscant with a fast-incubating disease and then surrender the planet, leaving the rebels to bankrupt themselves in the efforts to stop the virus.
Without realizing that Coruscant is bait, the Alliance has sent Rogue Squadron undercover to infiltrate the Imperial Capital and find out all the information they can about its defenses, especially information on how to bring those planetary shields down. With a mole hidden somewhere among the Rogues and a parcel of thug convicts from Kessel to help (or not help), our band of heroes don't even know the level of danger they're playing with.
Smartly written, fast-paced, and compelling, Wedge's Gamble lives up to the high standard set in the first book and promises even better to come after a stunning cliffhanger ending. I've laughed out loud, gasped out loud, and even done a little self-evaluating on my own inspired by Corran's internal monologue, which tempts me to say that this series exists somewhere on a plane above the rest of the EU. As much as I love those adventure stories, there's something of philosophy that creeps into Stackpole, and I love him for it.
My only complaint is twin with my highest praise for him, and so it's just something I need to get over: no Star Wars author more aggressively asserts a galaxy-wide, governmentally-supported, anti-nonhuman bigotry more than Michael A. Stackpole. He paints Coruscant with "aliens-only ghettos" and "alien Jim Crow laws" like no other. Obviously this grates on me with my steadfast belief that such prejudice is impossible in an ancient galaxy on this scale; however, he turns such a sharp story on it that it's hard to complain. I've always said that nonhuman prejudice easily exists in individuals throughout the Empire, and so perhaps I can explain this by saying that on Ysanne Isard's Coruscant, this kind of bigotry becomes more widespread and enforced.
Why did I say twin with my highest praise? My highest praise of Stackpole is that he writes in a kind of casual way that takes for granted all the technology and "weird stuff," stripping off the sense of science fiction and making us think we're just reading daily life. When Star Wars first hit theaters, it stunned people because Lucas showed them a dusty, well-used universe -- this is the equivalent of what Stackpole's writing does. He's casual and offhand; his universe is dusty and lived-in. And I found out why by reading the dedication page of this book ("To the memory of Roger Zelazny") -- Roger Zelazny is one of my favorites, and this is his style of writing that I love so much
This review via The RebeLibrarian
Michael A. Stackpole is a great author. In reading this, I've been reminded of all the reasons I used to follow his writing blog and advice columns and all. He breathes real life into his characters, and none more than Corran Horn, the hotshot pilot from Corellia who serves as the main character in this ensemble-based series that first took us away from the "main trio" of Luke, Han, and Leia.
Corran Horn is remarkably mature and introspective, highly analytical, intelligent, and resourceful. His background as an officer of CorSec and skill as a pilot make him a valuable asset to Rogue Squadron, but he has also been tested by grief and trial. Ego, its proper place and its downfalls, is a common theme throughout Corran's books, and I'm half in love with a man who can coolly analyze his thoughts while hotly kissing some chick in order to come to the conclusion that he needs to walk away fast.
In this book, Ysanne Isard -- one of the great underrated villains of the expanded universe -- more aggressively develops her plan to crush the rebel alliance once and for all. The empire is still fairly stable, secure on Coruscant under the city-planet's protective shields, and Isard is its tacit leader, empress in all but name, and in name, she is the Director of Imperial Intelligence. Her plan to end the rebellion? Infect Coruscant with a fast-incubating disease and then surrender the planet, leaving the rebels to bankrupt themselves in the efforts to stop the virus.
Without realizing that Coruscant is bait, the Alliance has sent Rogue Squadron undercover to infiltrate the Imperial Capital and find out all the information they can about its defenses, especially information on how to bring those planetary shields down. With a mole hidden somewhere among the Rogues and a parcel of thug convicts from Kessel to help (or not help), our band of heroes don't even know the level of danger they're playing with.
Smartly written, fast-paced, and compelling, Wedge's Gamble lives up to the high standard set in the first book and promises even better to come after a stunning cliffhanger ending. I've laughed out loud, gasped out loud, and even done a little self-evaluating on my own inspired by Corran's internal monologue, which tempts me to say that this series exists somewhere on a plane above the rest of the EU. As much as I love those adventure stories, there's something of philosophy that creeps into Stackpole, and I love him for it.
My only complaint is twin with my highest praise for him, and so it's just something I need to get over: no Star Wars author more aggressively asserts a galaxy-wide, governmentally-supported, anti-nonhuman bigotry more than Michael A. Stackpole. He paints Coruscant with "aliens-only ghettos" and "alien Jim Crow laws" like no other. Obviously this grates on me with my steadfast belief that such prejudice is impossible in an ancient galaxy on this scale; however, he turns such a sharp story on it that it's hard to complain. I've always said that nonhuman prejudice easily exists in individuals throughout the Empire, and so perhaps I can explain this by saying that on Ysanne Isard's Coruscant, this kind of bigotry becomes more widespread and enforced.
Why did I say twin with my highest praise? My highest praise of Stackpole is that he writes in a kind of casual way that takes for granted all the technology and "weird stuff," stripping off the sense of science fiction and making us think we're just reading daily life. When Star Wars first hit theaters, it stunned people because Lucas showed them a dusty, well-used universe -- this is the equivalent of what Stackpole's writing does. He's casual and offhand; his universe is dusty and lived-in. And I found out why by reading the dedication page of this book ("To the memory of Roger Zelazny") -- Roger Zelazny is one of my favorites, and this is his style of writing that I love so much
This review via The RebeLibrarian
August 25, 2018
While I wouldn't say this is a bad book, it feels a little bit like a filler book, getting from the first one to the third one. My brother and sister strongly disagree with me, so I know it's just me. ;)
January 30, 2020
I think this was a lot stronger than the first book. Though I'd be hard pressed to tell you why. It might have to do with all the character stuff in this, which was excellent. Regardless, it's well worth reading.
May 12, 2021
Had a hard time slogging through this rubbish and I read Atlas Shrugged. So to help I picked up the audiobook which is equally bad but for other reasons. Clearly an easy pass. Don't do it. Find something better to spend your time reading. Life is too short.
July 19, 2020
For 2020, I decided to reread (in publication order) all the Bantam-era Star Wars books that were released between 1991 and 1999; that shakes out to 38 adult novels and 5 anthologies of short stories & novellas.
This week’s focus: Wedge’s Gamble by Michael A. Stackpole.
SOME HISTORY:
After introducing us to the next gen Rogues in the first X-Wing book, Stackpole turns around and gives us a book with very little starfighter action. Wedge’s Gamble almost serves as a sneak peek of Aaron Allston’s pilot/commando Wraiths, because the Rogues spend most of the book undercover on Coruscant. The title is a little confusing, though: if anything this is Admiral Ackbar and the Provisional Council’s gamble, not Wedge’s! Wedge’s Gamble made it to number fourteen on the New York Times paperback bestseller list for the week of May 26, 1996.
MY RECOLLECTION OF THE BOOK:
This book felt much more familiar than Rogue Squadron had, which leads me to believe that I probably skipped all the setup of book 1 and started with book 2 for my past rereads. We get more insight into Tycho’s situation, and a whole lot of intrigue.
A BRIEF SUMMARY:
The New Republic takes the first steps in invading Coruscant, and the Rogues are sent undercover to gain vital intelligence. But Ysanne Isard has been planning for their arrival, and is waiting to unleash the Krytos Virus on the unsuspecting non-human populace...
THE CHARACTERS:
Wedge has a lot on his plate in this book, but I felt like he handled everything well. I love his Colonel Roat disguise, and I’m pretty sure we’ll see it again. I’m less sure about his reasoning for keeping Tycho and Emtrey’s presence quiet; that just seemed to lead directly to Tycho’s arrest at the end.
Corran is much improved from the first book. He’s matured and is no longer an arrogant loner. While I think he’s needlessly harsh/distrusting of Tycho, he’s a more sympathetic protagonist this time around. He’s still not my favorite, though, mostly because I’m not a fan of cop characters. (Someone will yell at me that he was an investigator, but that just meant he wasn’t in uniform--still a cop!) A little progress is made in Corran’s love life as well; Erisi propositions him again, he turns her down, he talks to Mirax, but then he’s presumed dead.
We get a lot more about Tycho’s backstory, both from Tycho himself and from Winter. It makes Tycho’s plight all the more poignant. Here is a man who lost everything in a single second, joined the Rebellion, and then was captured by Isard. He doesn’t think he’s a spy, unwilling or otherwise, but that’s the worst part: Isard’s operatives are completely unaware of their programming until they’re activated. But Tycho’s repeated assurances of his innocence, as well as all the times he’s saved the Rogues, makes me 100% sure that he is not the spy. (And interestingly enough, book 2 ends with the spy’s identity still unknown!)
Gavin gets a bit more development than “teenage kid from Tatooine.” He’s never seen anything like Coruscant before, and he behaves in a believably naïve manner. I wish we could have gotten a little more of his relationship with his wingmate, though; at this point, we still know very little about Shiel. We also meet four new Rogues & soon-to-be Rogues. They’re not much different from the pilots they replaced, though. Instead of hotshot pilot Bror Jace we have…hotshot pilot Pash Cracken. Aril Nunb, a female Sullustan, takes the place of Andoorni Hui, a female Rodian. And our soon-to-be Rogues consist of another Bothan (Asyr Sei’lar) and Lujayne’s sister (Inyri Forge).
I was a little confused about Bror Jace’s fate. Wedge mentions the people that Rogue Squadron had lost in a throwaway line, and Jace was included. “Didn’t he go back to Thyferra?” I thought. It wasn’t until a few chapters later that Corran gave us the full story, and I really wish that the explanation had been pushed up earlier in the novel.
We’re introduced to Iella Wessiri, Corran’s former CorSec partner—now working for the New Republic. We are reintroduced to Winter, Leia’s eidetic aide. Iella will become a romantic interest for Wedge at a later point, and Winter and Tycho clearly have some past history.
Isard is undoubtedly intelligent, but we don’t know tons about her. At this point, she hasn’t developed much beyond “intense evil lady.” Kirtan Loor still feels like a lesser evil, a less threatening evil; I find it telling that when Corran sees him, he just wants to flipping murder him. Derricote is awful in a different way--he feels no compunction in creating a deadly virus that can liquidate someone. Gross.
Zekka Thyne just seems stupid. He’s stupid enough to antagonize Corran, and talk back to Loor. Are we seriously meant to believe that he was a high-ranking Black Sun official? That said, his death at Inyri’s hands felt too sudden to me. Her change of heart came a bit too fast.
ISSUES:
I find the essentialness of Rogue Squadron on Coruscant a little improbable. The Provisional Council has to send the Rogues to find out all sorts of information about planetary defenses and the mood of the people. But we promptly meet Iella and Winter, both working undercover for NR Intelligence. So...why didn’t they just rely on the intelligence provided by the operatives already in place? Why all the focus on discretely inserting the Rogues if they already have capable people on the ground?
Also improbable: Corran’s speeder bike chase that somehow involves all the Rogues. He’s running from Thyne, sends another speeder through the window where Wedge and co. are meeting, and then continues into Invisec where the rest of Rogue Squadron has been cornered by stormtroopers. While this did bring all the Rogues together, it was a bit too coincidental for me.
Borsk Fey’lya also comes up with a plan where Black Sun criminals will be unleashed on Coruscant to cause mayhem. This felt particularly jarring since I had just read Shadows of the Empire. Why would Leia (of all people) approve a plan to revitalize Black Sun? You know how bad they are! And if the probable outcome was that they’d cause mayhem, they really don’t. Thyne tries to kill Corran, Moff Vorru takes the lead, and they end up helping the Rogues.
I have a few concerns about the viability of Isard’s Krytos trap. She wanted the virus to be airborne, but Derricote was only able to produce a fluid-borne virus. Think something like cholera: you can become infected by coming into contact with a sick person’s vomit or blood, or if the water supply is contaminated. That seems like something that would be easier to combat--isolate the sick, and test the water supply for contamination.
On the whole, though, Isard’s virus is sadistically genius. It doesn’t have to be fatal, because there is a cure; but bacta is both limited and expensive, so the New Republic could very well bankrupt itself in trying to treat everyone. And the fact that it seems to solely affect nonhumans will likely raise tensions between the local populations.
NAZI GERMANY PARALLELS
Stackpole does some interesting worldbuilding with Coruscant’s non-human population. They’re forced to live in the Alien Protection Zone, or Invisec. It’s pretty much a ghetto: they’re walled in, living conditions are very poor, and it’s not safe. The contrast between the rest of Coruscant and this segregated neighborhood is very stark.
I also liked the insights we got about the Empire. When Wedge is entering Coruscant in his Colonel Roat disguise in Chapter 14, he thinks about the people within the Empire:
“The very same people he considered willfully ignorant would find him deluded and misguided. Half of them would deny there were any problems inherent in the Imperial system--as if slavery, anti-alien sentiments, and weapons that destroyed planets could be so easily forgotten. The other half might admit there were problems, but they would shy from accepting open insurgency against the legitimate government as a solution to them. For those people, working within the system was the way to achieve change, but they failed to realize that when a system had become as corrupt as the Empire, significant change was impossible without a shattering of the power structure.”
Usually, I alternate my reading each week between my Star Wars book du jour and something else. So it felt particularly prescient that this week, my other book was about tourists in interwar Germany (Travelers in the Third Reich: The Rise of Fascism: 1919–1945). Aesthetics-wise, the Empire has always been “Nazis, but in space,” and that never felt more evident than in this book. The Empire is racist and bigoted and completely rotten at the core.
IN CONCLUSION:
I could probably pick apart the logic in Wedge’s Gamble in even greater detail. (The Corusca Rainbow is waiting on the outskirts of the Coruscant system, to drag the other ships out of hyperspace if the shields aren’t down. Surely that’s too far to be able to surveil the situation? But I digress.)
Does it make any sense for Rogue Squadron to be undercover in this one? Not really. Did it have exciting action scenes and some much needed character development? Yes! So I guess I will rate this one: far-fetched in concept but surprisingly enjoyable in execution.
Next up: the second book in the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy, Shield of Lies by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.
My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/2ENEGzVrKLA
Attempt #1 at making Ryshcate (a failure!): https://youtu.be/wZYc48zmNBw
This week’s focus: Wedge’s Gamble by Michael A. Stackpole.
SOME HISTORY:
After introducing us to the next gen Rogues in the first X-Wing book, Stackpole turns around and gives us a book with very little starfighter action. Wedge’s Gamble almost serves as a sneak peek of Aaron Allston’s pilot/commando Wraiths, because the Rogues spend most of the book undercover on Coruscant. The title is a little confusing, though: if anything this is Admiral Ackbar and the Provisional Council’s gamble, not Wedge’s! Wedge’s Gamble made it to number fourteen on the New York Times paperback bestseller list for the week of May 26, 1996.
MY RECOLLECTION OF THE BOOK:
This book felt much more familiar than Rogue Squadron had, which leads me to believe that I probably skipped all the setup of book 1 and started with book 2 for my past rereads. We get more insight into Tycho’s situation, and a whole lot of intrigue.
A BRIEF SUMMARY:
The New Republic takes the first steps in invading Coruscant, and the Rogues are sent undercover to gain vital intelligence. But Ysanne Isard has been planning for their arrival, and is waiting to unleash the Krytos Virus on the unsuspecting non-human populace...
THE CHARACTERS:
Wedge has a lot on his plate in this book, but I felt like he handled everything well. I love his Colonel Roat disguise, and I’m pretty sure we’ll see it again. I’m less sure about his reasoning for keeping Tycho and Emtrey’s presence quiet; that just seemed to lead directly to Tycho’s arrest at the end.
Corran is much improved from the first book. He’s matured and is no longer an arrogant loner. While I think he’s needlessly harsh/distrusting of Tycho, he’s a more sympathetic protagonist this time around. He’s still not my favorite, though, mostly because I’m not a fan of cop characters. (Someone will yell at me that he was an investigator, but that just meant he wasn’t in uniform--still a cop!) A little progress is made in Corran’s love life as well; Erisi propositions him again, he turns her down, he talks to Mirax, but then he’s presumed dead.
We get a lot more about Tycho’s backstory, both from Tycho himself and from Winter. It makes Tycho’s plight all the more poignant. Here is a man who lost everything in a single second, joined the Rebellion, and then was captured by Isard. He doesn’t think he’s a spy, unwilling or otherwise, but that’s the worst part: Isard’s operatives are completely unaware of their programming until they’re activated. But Tycho’s repeated assurances of his innocence, as well as all the times he’s saved the Rogues, makes me 100% sure that he is not the spy. (And interestingly enough, book 2 ends with the spy’s identity still unknown!)
Gavin gets a bit more development than “teenage kid from Tatooine.” He’s never seen anything like Coruscant before, and he behaves in a believably naïve manner. I wish we could have gotten a little more of his relationship with his wingmate, though; at this point, we still know very little about Shiel. We also meet four new Rogues & soon-to-be Rogues. They’re not much different from the pilots they replaced, though. Instead of hotshot pilot Bror Jace we have…hotshot pilot Pash Cracken. Aril Nunb, a female Sullustan, takes the place of Andoorni Hui, a female Rodian. And our soon-to-be Rogues consist of another Bothan (Asyr Sei’lar) and Lujayne’s sister (Inyri Forge).
I was a little confused about Bror Jace’s fate. Wedge mentions the people that Rogue Squadron had lost in a throwaway line, and Jace was included. “Didn’t he go back to Thyferra?” I thought. It wasn’t until a few chapters later that Corran gave us the full story, and I really wish that the explanation had been pushed up earlier in the novel.
We’re introduced to Iella Wessiri, Corran’s former CorSec partner—now working for the New Republic. We are reintroduced to Winter, Leia’s eidetic aide. Iella will become a romantic interest for Wedge at a later point, and Winter and Tycho clearly have some past history.
Isard is undoubtedly intelligent, but we don’t know tons about her. At this point, she hasn’t developed much beyond “intense evil lady.” Kirtan Loor still feels like a lesser evil, a less threatening evil; I find it telling that when Corran sees him, he just wants to flipping murder him. Derricote is awful in a different way--he feels no compunction in creating a deadly virus that can liquidate someone. Gross.
Zekka Thyne just seems stupid. He’s stupid enough to antagonize Corran, and talk back to Loor. Are we seriously meant to believe that he was a high-ranking Black Sun official? That said, his death at Inyri’s hands felt too sudden to me. Her change of heart came a bit too fast.
ISSUES:
I find the essentialness of Rogue Squadron on Coruscant a little improbable. The Provisional Council has to send the Rogues to find out all sorts of information about planetary defenses and the mood of the people. But we promptly meet Iella and Winter, both working undercover for NR Intelligence. So...why didn’t they just rely on the intelligence provided by the operatives already in place? Why all the focus on discretely inserting the Rogues if they already have capable people on the ground?
Also improbable: Corran’s speeder bike chase that somehow involves all the Rogues. He’s running from Thyne, sends another speeder through the window where Wedge and co. are meeting, and then continues into Invisec where the rest of Rogue Squadron has been cornered by stormtroopers. While this did bring all the Rogues together, it was a bit too coincidental for me.
Borsk Fey’lya also comes up with a plan where Black Sun criminals will be unleashed on Coruscant to cause mayhem. This felt particularly jarring since I had just read Shadows of the Empire. Why would Leia (of all people) approve a plan to revitalize Black Sun? You know how bad they are! And if the probable outcome was that they’d cause mayhem, they really don’t. Thyne tries to kill Corran, Moff Vorru takes the lead, and they end up helping the Rogues.
I have a few concerns about the viability of Isard’s Krytos trap. She wanted the virus to be airborne, but Derricote was only able to produce a fluid-borne virus. Think something like cholera: you can become infected by coming into contact with a sick person’s vomit or blood, or if the water supply is contaminated. That seems like something that would be easier to combat--isolate the sick, and test the water supply for contamination.
On the whole, though, Isard’s virus is sadistically genius. It doesn’t have to be fatal, because there is a cure; but bacta is both limited and expensive, so the New Republic could very well bankrupt itself in trying to treat everyone. And the fact that it seems to solely affect nonhumans will likely raise tensions between the local populations.
NAZI GERMANY PARALLELS
Stackpole does some interesting worldbuilding with Coruscant’s non-human population. They’re forced to live in the Alien Protection Zone, or Invisec. It’s pretty much a ghetto: they’re walled in, living conditions are very poor, and it’s not safe. The contrast between the rest of Coruscant and this segregated neighborhood is very stark.
I also liked the insights we got about the Empire. When Wedge is entering Coruscant in his Colonel Roat disguise in Chapter 14, he thinks about the people within the Empire:
“The very same people he considered willfully ignorant would find him deluded and misguided. Half of them would deny there were any problems inherent in the Imperial system--as if slavery, anti-alien sentiments, and weapons that destroyed planets could be so easily forgotten. The other half might admit there were problems, but they would shy from accepting open insurgency against the legitimate government as a solution to them. For those people, working within the system was the way to achieve change, but they failed to realize that when a system had become as corrupt as the Empire, significant change was impossible without a shattering of the power structure.”
Usually, I alternate my reading each week between my Star Wars book du jour and something else. So it felt particularly prescient that this week, my other book was about tourists in interwar Germany (Travelers in the Third Reich: The Rise of Fascism: 1919–1945). Aesthetics-wise, the Empire has always been “Nazis, but in space,” and that never felt more evident than in this book. The Empire is racist and bigoted and completely rotten at the core.
IN CONCLUSION:
I could probably pick apart the logic in Wedge’s Gamble in even greater detail. (The Corusca Rainbow is waiting on the outskirts of the Coruscant system, to drag the other ships out of hyperspace if the shields aren’t down. Surely that’s too far to be able to surveil the situation? But I digress.)
Does it make any sense for Rogue Squadron to be undercover in this one? Not really. Did it have exciting action scenes and some much needed character development? Yes! So I guess I will rate this one: far-fetched in concept but surprisingly enjoyable in execution.
Next up: the second book in the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy, Shield of Lies by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.
My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/2ENEGzVrKLA
Attempt #1 at making Ryshcate (a failure!): https://youtu.be/wZYc48zmNBw
April 28, 2024
Continuing on after “X-Wing: Rogue Squadron” in my readthrough of Michael Stackpole’s X-Wing books is “Wedge’s Gamble”. After thinking the Rogue Squadron book was fine albeit disappointing, Wedge’s Gambit in my view was a big improvement.
Most Star Wars fans think of “Revenge of the Sith” and its exhilarating opening when they hear the phrase “Battle of Coruscant”. Well 9 years before that battle was shown in theaters, Stackpole depicted a much different battle on the planet in a different Star Wars’ era which Wedge’s Gamble covers. Most of the book is set up for the New Republic’s invasion of Coruscant and despite the fact they’re fighter pilots, Rogue Squadron is chosen to lead the initial reconnaissance and sabotage work in preparation for the space battle and invasion. As such, the book has far less of the dogfights than last book and much of the squadron’s mission and the book’s action instead feels more in line with what fans have seen in “Andor” or “Rogue One”. Despite not quite understanding why the Rogues were selected, the mission to Coruscant was entertaining. There’s a lot of exposition about the planet and the Empire’s control of it (this was pre-Phantom Menace mind you but Stackpole’s depiction does mostly line up with George Lucas’ vision), much of which related to the Empire’s oppression of non-humans and descriptions of the Imperial Palace and how this planet-wide city’s climate control works (and how this factors into the Rogue Squadron plans). The action in the city, both on the ground and in the skies, was pretty entertaining. The Empire’s plot to stop the Rogues and New Republic, while perhaps should have been kept a secret from the reader until the end, was much easier to follow than the last book’s (I honestly can’t remember what it was) and much more horrific.
As for the characters, I did like the Rogues as a group a lot more than last book. Wedge as always is great (what can I say I’m a fanboy) and Corran Horn, while still not my favorite, was a lot more likable. The various aliens in the Squadron were good in the usual Star Wars alien sidekick way, while the female Rebels were honestly a bit underwhelming (they frankly blended together with how beautiful and talented they’re supposed to be with only superficial changes to their personalities/backstories). The Empire and criminal villains meanwhile were the weakest of the ensemble cast, the Black Sun drug lord being by far the worst/underdeveloped and Director Isard honestly not leaving much of an impression despite being the overarching villain. In short Stackpole’s depiction of the Empire is a lot less nuanced than say Timothy Zahn’s.
Besides some weaknesses and weird creative choices, “Wedge’s Gamble” was the entertaining Star Wars content I was hoping the X-Wing books would be. We’re halfway through Stackpole’s (initial) run, so hopefully the next two books are as good as book 2.
Most Star Wars fans think of “Revenge of the Sith” and its exhilarating opening when they hear the phrase “Battle of Coruscant”. Well 9 years before that battle was shown in theaters, Stackpole depicted a much different battle on the planet in a different Star Wars’ era which Wedge’s Gamble covers. Most of the book is set up for the New Republic’s invasion of Coruscant and despite the fact they’re fighter pilots, Rogue Squadron is chosen to lead the initial reconnaissance and sabotage work in preparation for the space battle and invasion. As such, the book has far less of the dogfights than last book and much of the squadron’s mission and the book’s action instead feels more in line with what fans have seen in “Andor” or “Rogue One”. Despite not quite understanding why the Rogues were selected, the mission to Coruscant was entertaining. There’s a lot of exposition about the planet and the Empire’s control of it (this was pre-Phantom Menace mind you but Stackpole’s depiction does mostly line up with George Lucas’ vision), much of which related to the Empire’s oppression of non-humans and descriptions of the Imperial Palace and how this planet-wide city’s climate control works (and how this factors into the Rogue Squadron plans). The action in the city, both on the ground and in the skies, was pretty entertaining. The Empire’s plot to stop the Rogues and New Republic, while perhaps should have been kept a secret from the reader until the end, was much easier to follow than the last book’s (I honestly can’t remember what it was) and much more horrific.
As for the characters, I did like the Rogues as a group a lot more than last book. Wedge as always is great (what can I say I’m a fanboy) and Corran Horn, while still not my favorite, was a lot more likable. The various aliens in the Squadron were good in the usual Star Wars alien sidekick way, while the female Rebels were honestly a bit underwhelming (they frankly blended together with how beautiful and talented they’re supposed to be with only superficial changes to their personalities/backstories). The Empire and criminal villains meanwhile were the weakest of the ensemble cast, the Black Sun drug lord being by far the worst/underdeveloped and Director Isard honestly not leaving much of an impression despite being the overarching villain. In short Stackpole’s depiction of the Empire is a lot less nuanced than say Timothy Zahn’s.
Besides some weaknesses and weird creative choices, “Wedge’s Gamble” was the entertaining Star Wars content I was hoping the X-Wing books would be. We’re halfway through Stackpole’s (initial) run, so hopefully the next two books are as good as book 2.
August 1, 2025
Much more enjoyable than the first book. Where the first book was closer to a 2/5, this is easily a 4. And the main reason that makes it better is we spend much more time with characters like Wedge, Admiral Ackbar, and others, and Corran Horn doesn’t hog all the light.
What I have realized from this book, however, is why I don’t like Corran Horn as a character. It’s because he’s an Alpha Male written by a Gamma Male. He’s a nerd’s attempt at writing a high-status leader of men who is desirable and the envy of other men. This was made clear when Corran Horn shared a story of how he once took a Bothan out, which was told in the same manner of how a nerd in high school asks the undesirable girl out to prom and deluded himself into thinking he was somehow the envy of all the men in the room.
Again, the story is quite good. Better than the first book, and it’s all leading to some very important moments in Star Wars. But the thing that holds it back the most is its leading protagonist.
What I have realized from this book, however, is why I don’t like Corran Horn as a character. It’s because he’s an Alpha Male written by a Gamma Male. He’s a nerd’s attempt at writing a high-status leader of men who is desirable and the envy of other men. This was made clear when Corran Horn shared a story of how he once took a Bothan out, which was told in the same manner of how a nerd in high school asks the undesirable girl out to prom and deluded himself into thinking he was somehow the envy of all the men in the room.
Again, the story is quite good. Better than the first book, and it’s all leading to some very important moments in Star Wars. But the thing that holds it back the most is its leading protagonist.
October 5, 2024
Not as good as the first in the series, but certainly saved by the ending. Also, quite a bit more talk of Spicy Themes than I typically read in other Star Wars books.
January 1, 2024
Star Wars Legends Project #325
Background: Wedge's Gamble was written by Michael A. Stackpole and published in May of 1996. It is the second of the X-Wing series of novels (five of which were written by Stackpole). Stackpole has also written and co-written a number of other Star Wars things across various media.
Wedge's Gamble takes place about three years after the Battle of Endor (7 years after the battle of Yavin), and begins a month after the conclusion of Rogue Squadron (my review). The main characters are Corran Horn, Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, and the other surviving pilots of Rogue Squadron, along with major appearances by Mirax Terrik, Iella Wessiri, Winter, and others. The villains include Ysanne Isard and Kirtan Loor. The story takes place in a few locations, but mostly on Coruscant.
Summary: Thanks to Rogue Squadron's improbable success in their first mission as a unit, the stage has been set for a strike at the seat of galactic power on Coruscant itself. But first, they'll need a way to compromise the planetary shields without destroying them. With their ability to assess the victory conditions from a pilot perspective, the job falls to Rogue Squadron and a ragtag group of dubious allies. Little do they know, Ysanne Isard is laying a trap that, if triggered, will consume the entire New Republic.
Review: This is where the foundation Stackpole laid with Rogue Squadron really starts paying off. The major characters are established, and he starts building out an even larger and equally-compelling supporting cast. Combine this with the action, suspense, and intrigue of the New Republic's conquest of Coruscant and you have the recipe for an absolutely top-notch Star Wars book.
If I have one complaint (and this was not something I remember noticing the first time I read the book), it's that several events in the story lean pretty heavily on a level of coincidence that stretches suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. This is, after all, a planet-wide city with trillions of people, but somehow multiple major scenes hinge on characters just randomly bumping into each other (in one case very literally) because they happen to end up in the same place at the same time for no really good reason.
That aside, it's really amazing how much this book accomplishes in a compact space. There are so many moving parts, so many characters, so many objectives, but it never feels like Stackpole has bitten off more than he can chew. He lands every set piece, every plot point, and every sudden twist in a way that is thrilling and engaging, and doesn't ever feel over-explained or rushed. The X-Wing series has fully come into its own with this book.
A-
Background: Wedge's Gamble was written by Michael A. Stackpole and published in May of 1996. It is the second of the X-Wing series of novels (five of which were written by Stackpole). Stackpole has also written and co-written a number of other Star Wars things across various media.
Wedge's Gamble takes place about three years after the Battle of Endor (7 years after the battle of Yavin), and begins a month after the conclusion of Rogue Squadron (my review). The main characters are Corran Horn, Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, and the other surviving pilots of Rogue Squadron, along with major appearances by Mirax Terrik, Iella Wessiri, Winter, and others. The villains include Ysanne Isard and Kirtan Loor. The story takes place in a few locations, but mostly on Coruscant.
Summary: Thanks to Rogue Squadron's improbable success in their first mission as a unit, the stage has been set for a strike at the seat of galactic power on Coruscant itself. But first, they'll need a way to compromise the planetary shields without destroying them. With their ability to assess the victory conditions from a pilot perspective, the job falls to Rogue Squadron and a ragtag group of dubious allies. Little do they know, Ysanne Isard is laying a trap that, if triggered, will consume the entire New Republic.
Review: This is where the foundation Stackpole laid with Rogue Squadron really starts paying off. The major characters are established, and he starts building out an even larger and equally-compelling supporting cast. Combine this with the action, suspense, and intrigue of the New Republic's conquest of Coruscant and you have the recipe for an absolutely top-notch Star Wars book.
If I have one complaint (and this was not something I remember noticing the first time I read the book), it's that several events in the story lean pretty heavily on a level of coincidence that stretches suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. This is, after all, a planet-wide city with trillions of people, but somehow multiple major scenes hinge on characters just randomly bumping into each other (in one case very literally) because they happen to end up in the same place at the same time for no really good reason.
That aside, it's really amazing how much this book accomplishes in a compact space. There are so many moving parts, so many characters, so many objectives, but it never feels like Stackpole has bitten off more than he can chew. He lands every set piece, every plot point, and every sudden twist in a way that is thrilling and engaging, and doesn't ever feel over-explained or rushed. The X-Wing series has fully come into its own with this book.
A-
March 1, 2020
Well, this was a bit of a disappointment. Wedge’s Gamble focuses on a convoluted espionage plot line that just didn’t thrill me the way the fighter pilot exploits of the first book did. Stackpole also leans on some frustrating coincidences. The gang is split up and given cover identities, but the way Corran manages to bump into them all in the span of one speeder bike-induced action sequence really strains credulity.
There’s a darker, seedier vibe that matches the book’s focus on the galaxy’s underbelly. The developing plot thread of a cruel, devastating disease engineered by the Empire definitely involved some descriptions I could have done without.
I’m also not digging Stackpole’s overemphasis on the main cast constantly thinking about and discussing sex and relationships. Don’t you all have a job to do...? Sure, these things are just part of life no matter what, but if I have to read another passage in this series about Corran agonizing over whether or not to sleep with one of his beautiful female colleagues I will throw my tablet out the window.
Still, it’s not all bad. I liked the additional focus on Gavin Darklighter, who should be protected at all costs. Wedge and Leia have the chance to catch up at the beginning of the novel, and it’s a touching scene. Winter, one of my favorites, also gets to play a large role in this story. With Corran cliffhanger-ed into a pretty dire situation at the end of the novel, I’m both concerned and very interested in finding out where things go from here.
There’s a darker, seedier vibe that matches the book’s focus on the galaxy’s underbelly. The developing plot thread of a cruel, devastating disease engineered by the Empire definitely involved some descriptions I could have done without.
I’m also not digging Stackpole’s overemphasis on the main cast constantly thinking about and discussing sex and relationships. Don’t you all have a job to do...? Sure, these things are just part of life no matter what, but if I have to read another passage in this series about Corran agonizing over whether or not to sleep with one of his beautiful female colleagues I will throw my tablet out the window.
Still, it’s not all bad. I liked the additional focus on Gavin Darklighter, who should be protected at all costs. Wedge and Leia have the chance to catch up at the beginning of the novel, and it’s a touching scene. Winter, one of my favorites, also gets to play a large role in this story. With Corran cliffhanger-ed into a pretty dire situation at the end of the novel, I’m both concerned and very interested in finding out where things go from here.
January 11, 2022
The second installment in the X-Wing series carries the same charm as the first, and Rogue Squadron’s mission is more detailed and thrilling, but certain elements hold the novel back slightly. Due to how the first four X-Wing novels tell an overarching story, I can imagine that my opinion on the individual books will change once I have the whole picture. For now, because this installment is the middle of the story, I feel unsure about critiquing different aspects of the narrative because they might be resolved at a later time.
The death of Bror Jace, which took place in-between novels, felt a little strange, especially since he was set up as the best in Rouge Squadron by the end of the last novel. I understand there is likely a comic that covers this part of the story, but the relationship that Bror had with Corran was significant enough that I think Bror deserved some better treatment in this book. However, this is one of those elements that might be addressed at a later time since Corran might try to investigate the ambush that caught Bror, or I also wouldn’t be surprised if Bror was actually still alive and simply captured because of how the story placed his death in an awkward spot.
The infiltration of Coruscant was incredibly interesting; the division of the squadron members into small teams and the level of secrecy and rigidity regarding the mission information both added to the mission’s sense of urgency and importance. I think the novel could have taken advantage of these smaller teams to devise more character confrontations and discussions that wouldn’t have taken place otherwise, but the team-ups are still compelling, and the actions the characters take to complete their respective sub-missions are written well.
Corran teaming up with Erisi did give another opportunity to explore the romance sub-plot, and I’m still happy with how the romance is being handled. The way that Corran weighs his interest in Erisi with his interest in Mirax is rather mature.
Moving over to the Empire’s side of the narrative, I’m still not terribly impressed with Iceheart as a villain. She doesn’t carry much of a threatening presence. Loor’s reactions to meeting with her are the closest we get to understanding the effect she has on other people, but Iceheart still hasn’t done much. She has only threatened and sent chills down Loor’s spine, but she hasn’t displayed any real punishment for a subordinate’s failure, and as a result, the reader doesn’t know how seriously to take her as a threat.
Loor was consistent with his portrayal in the last novel, and he’s definitely the more interesting villain because of his connection with Corran, but he’s still depicted as a valuable asset for the Empire rather than a menace for the Rebellion.
The spy subplot with suspicion circling around Tycho Celchu made some slight developments, and I’m invested in discovering more. Tycho is a likable character, so on one hand, I want him to be innocent, but on the other, evidence is rising against him. I’m still not really convinced he’s the spy because of how hard the narrative seems to be pushing forward others’ suspicion towards him. At the very least, if he is the spy, I’m hoping for another layer to be revealed. For example, he could be unaware that he’s the spy in the same way Emtrey is unaware of his extra programming. I just can’t imagine anyone from Alderaan willingly helping the Empire.
A small appearance from Lieutenant Needa in the climax of the novel also felt out of place. If they bring back his character in the next two books, I’ll be fine with the introduction here, but otherwise the appearance feels unwarranted.
Aside from the story, I also have a small annoyance with Stackpole’s writing style. He seems to be trying too hard to make the novel sound like it takes place in the Star Wars universe. Phrases like “as sure as the Emperor is dead” or “they go together like oxygen and hydrogen,” as well as repeated references to the Thrawn trilogy, specifically the Katana fleet, tend to take me out of the experience rather than reinforce the immersion.
Frankly, I’m being overly critical because this is the second novel. Because it still hasn’t wrapped everything up in a nice bow, it’s difficult to be confident about how I’d rate it.
With all my complaining, I still greatly enjoyed the book! I especially think the climax of this novel was greater than the last, partly because of the greater stakes, but also due to the constant smaller problems that appeared and brought up the tension. And I can’t go without saying that all of the characters are likable despite the differing levels of development.
I’m still looking forward to the next book, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes!
The death of Bror Jace, which took place in-between novels, felt a little strange, especially since he was set up as the best in Rouge Squadron by the end of the last novel. I understand there is likely a comic that covers this part of the story, but the relationship that Bror had with Corran was significant enough that I think Bror deserved some better treatment in this book. However, this is one of those elements that might be addressed at a later time since Corran might try to investigate the ambush that caught Bror, or I also wouldn’t be surprised if Bror was actually still alive and simply captured because of how the story placed his death in an awkward spot.
The infiltration of Coruscant was incredibly interesting; the division of the squadron members into small teams and the level of secrecy and rigidity regarding the mission information both added to the mission’s sense of urgency and importance. I think the novel could have taken advantage of these smaller teams to devise more character confrontations and discussions that wouldn’t have taken place otherwise, but the team-ups are still compelling, and the actions the characters take to complete their respective sub-missions are written well.
Corran teaming up with Erisi did give another opportunity to explore the romance sub-plot, and I’m still happy with how the romance is being handled. The way that Corran weighs his interest in Erisi with his interest in Mirax is rather mature.
Moving over to the Empire’s side of the narrative, I’m still not terribly impressed with Iceheart as a villain. She doesn’t carry much of a threatening presence. Loor’s reactions to meeting with her are the closest we get to understanding the effect she has on other people, but Iceheart still hasn’t done much. She has only threatened and sent chills down Loor’s spine, but she hasn’t displayed any real punishment for a subordinate’s failure, and as a result, the reader doesn’t know how seriously to take her as a threat.
Loor was consistent with his portrayal in the last novel, and he’s definitely the more interesting villain because of his connection with Corran, but he’s still depicted as a valuable asset for the Empire rather than a menace for the Rebellion.
The spy subplot with suspicion circling around Tycho Celchu made some slight developments, and I’m invested in discovering more. Tycho is a likable character, so on one hand, I want him to be innocent, but on the other, evidence is rising against him. I’m still not really convinced he’s the spy because of how hard the narrative seems to be pushing forward others’ suspicion towards him. At the very least, if he is the spy, I’m hoping for another layer to be revealed. For example, he could be unaware that he’s the spy in the same way Emtrey is unaware of his extra programming. I just can’t imagine anyone from Alderaan willingly helping the Empire.
A small appearance from Lieutenant Needa in the climax of the novel also felt out of place. If they bring back his character in the next two books, I’ll be fine with the introduction here, but otherwise the appearance feels unwarranted.
Aside from the story, I also have a small annoyance with Stackpole’s writing style. He seems to be trying too hard to make the novel sound like it takes place in the Star Wars universe. Phrases like “as sure as the Emperor is dead” or “they go together like oxygen and hydrogen,” as well as repeated references to the Thrawn trilogy, specifically the Katana fleet, tend to take me out of the experience rather than reinforce the immersion.
Frankly, I’m being overly critical because this is the second novel. Because it still hasn’t wrapped everything up in a nice bow, it’s difficult to be confident about how I’d rate it.
With all my complaining, I still greatly enjoyed the book! I especially think the climax of this novel was greater than the last, partly because of the greater stakes, but also due to the constant smaller problems that appeared and brought up the tension. And I can’t go without saying that all of the characters are likable despite the differing levels of development.
I’m still looking forward to the next book, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
Star Wars: Wedge's Gamble book two of the Rogue Squadron Series, was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Michael A Stackpole. This novel is part of the Expanded Universe , aka, Legends timeline. This tale takes place during the New Republic Era, about seven years after the battle of Yavin.
SUMMARY: New Republic forces (still referred to the Empire as rebels) desire to topple the remnants of the Empire that control Imperial Center on Coruscant. Intel proves that taking the planet will be an enormous challenge with their miniscule numbers, as the defenses on Coruscant appear to be impenetrable by outside forces. A plan is devised that seems utterly reckless and risky. However, despite the baffling plan, Rogue Squadron will do as ordered. Rogue Squadron, led by Wedge Antilles, are to extract dangerous members of Black Sun from Kessel and release them on Coruscant to rebuild their organization in hopes to overthrow the imperial cell, controlled by Ysanne Isard. Rogue Squadron makes the bold move of ditching their starfighters to take to the streets of Imperial Center to gather intel on planetary defenses and specific targets.
Meanwhile, the Empire is experimenting with a deadly virus that painfully kills the infected victim, by liquifying their insides.. General Derricote is the one heading the experimentation of the Virus, called Krytos. It's designed to target specific species that are non-human. The plan is to direct the Rebels attention to the infected, to drain their funds on the cure of this potential galactic crisis.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
I wasn't a big fan of the the first X-Wing book, Rogue Squadron, but that didn't stop me from being excited to pick Wedge's Gamble. I really don't care for this second book the series either. I have some of the same complaints for this story as I did with the prior X-Wing book; it can be a bit confusing at times to follow the action. Space battles and space ships are cool to see on the big screen or to even play in a video-game, but reading the action... can be a challenge.
I enjoyed the elements that didn't focus on a lot of action. I liked the briefings and strategic meetings. When the characters and politicians gathered to discuss how they would manage their assault on Imperial Center for example, are the most interesting parts of the story for me. I found myself getting lost in some of the action and getting really bored with it. That said, Wedge's Gamble does make an unexpected shift from space battles to on-the-ground action, which is much easier to follow, but still... a bit too easy to get bored with.
Stackpole introduced a new type of superweapon that is really different for Star Wars. Thankfully, it wasn't some giant, planet basting laser beam... it's a bioweapon, a virus called Krytos. Krytos is a highly disturbing and a brilliant, fresh move for Star Wars weaponry. It's pretty simple, but it sure is sick and twisted.
Corran Horn is character that I'm really not liking. He's like the Tom Cruise of Star Wars. Gets all the babes, handles all the action, cocky, the best at everything. I don't like how Stackpole added in sexual stuff in the story. It really did feel out of place. It's suggested that Corran has been everywhere, done a lot of things with a lot of ladies... a skanky man for sure.
Do I recommend Star Wars: Wedge's Gamble? If you like liked the first book, you may like this one. If you didn't like the first book... I say give this one a shot before calling it quits.
Rating: This book receives a C+.
SUMMARY: New Republic forces (still referred to the Empire as rebels) desire to topple the remnants of the Empire that control Imperial Center on Coruscant. Intel proves that taking the planet will be an enormous challenge with their miniscule numbers, as the defenses on Coruscant appear to be impenetrable by outside forces. A plan is devised that seems utterly reckless and risky. However, despite the baffling plan, Rogue Squadron will do as ordered. Rogue Squadron, led by Wedge Antilles, are to extract dangerous members of Black Sun from Kessel and release them on Coruscant to rebuild their organization in hopes to overthrow the imperial cell, controlled by Ysanne Isard. Rogue Squadron makes the bold move of ditching their starfighters to take to the streets of Imperial Center to gather intel on planetary defenses and specific targets.
Meanwhile, the Empire is experimenting with a deadly virus that painfully kills the infected victim, by liquifying their insides.. General Derricote is the one heading the experimentation of the Virus, called Krytos. It's designed to target specific species that are non-human. The plan is to direct the Rebels attention to the infected, to drain their funds on the cure of this potential galactic crisis.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
I wasn't a big fan of the the first X-Wing book, Rogue Squadron, but that didn't stop me from being excited to pick Wedge's Gamble. I really don't care for this second book the series either. I have some of the same complaints for this story as I did with the prior X-Wing book; it can be a bit confusing at times to follow the action. Space battles and space ships are cool to see on the big screen or to even play in a video-game, but reading the action... can be a challenge.
I enjoyed the elements that didn't focus on a lot of action. I liked the briefings and strategic meetings. When the characters and politicians gathered to discuss how they would manage their assault on Imperial Center for example, are the most interesting parts of the story for me. I found myself getting lost in some of the action and getting really bored with it. That said, Wedge's Gamble does make an unexpected shift from space battles to on-the-ground action, which is much easier to follow, but still... a bit too easy to get bored with.
Stackpole introduced a new type of superweapon that is really different for Star Wars. Thankfully, it wasn't some giant, planet basting laser beam... it's a bioweapon, a virus called Krytos. Krytos is a highly disturbing and a brilliant, fresh move for Star Wars weaponry. It's pretty simple, but it sure is sick and twisted.
Corran Horn is character that I'm really not liking. He's like the Tom Cruise of Star Wars. Gets all the babes, handles all the action, cocky, the best at everything. I don't like how Stackpole added in sexual stuff in the story. It really did feel out of place. It's suggested that Corran has been everywhere, done a lot of things with a lot of ladies... a skanky man for sure.
Do I recommend Star Wars: Wedge's Gamble? If you like liked the first book, you may like this one. If you didn't like the first book... I say give this one a shot before calling it quits.
Rating: This book receives a C+.
May 14, 2025
It’s a second installment and it’s successful in setting up the series with a trajectory readers can be intrigued to find out more. Does it follow up as successfully to the previous novel in the series? No, but it’s not a bad book. I stand with others that write about Corrans sudden sexual drive being turned up to 11 in this book where every being that remotely looks like a woman has to have their body salaciously described and an option for him to bed. It’s lacking in tact and any perceived romance quickly just fizzles and turns to lust in some form. I did like the relationship he begins to form with Mirax as that was better written but still it feels stilted and almost forcing the “enemies to lovers” trope.
Rogue squadron having zero experience in espionage and all being thrust into personas felt…. ambitious? And of course foolish. Rebel intelligence is even mentioned in the series so why isn’t a single agent even briefing them on how to avoid suspicion? The rationale of the alliance being spread too thinly so they have to use the most famous, publicized, and ‘talented’ squadron of ace pilots to do espionage makes alliance leaders look a lot less tactically inclined.
Let’s not forget the backdrop is the capital of the empire and possibly one of the most heavily secured and monitored planets in the entire galaxy. Even at the scale of a galaxy and trillions of beings on one planet it seems entirely improbable they would be able to finesse a plan in such a short amount of time that gets them everything and more. Even factoring in Isards plan to relinquish coruscant. If anything, it might just detract from her character as cunning and intellectual. I hope there’s redemption further in the series for her as I’m tired of Star Wars authors creating villains that have their intellects touted just end up as all bark and no bite when coming up with “strategies” to win and they think sacrifice is the only way forward.
Aside from criticism, it’s a decent read and most definitely reads and feels like a second installment setting up a larger plot. I just wish he had maybe made it more bulletproof than the paper thin plot we got.
Rogue squadron having zero experience in espionage and all being thrust into personas felt…. ambitious? And of course foolish. Rebel intelligence is even mentioned in the series so why isn’t a single agent even briefing them on how to avoid suspicion? The rationale of the alliance being spread too thinly so they have to use the most famous, publicized, and ‘talented’ squadron of ace pilots to do espionage makes alliance leaders look a lot less tactically inclined.
Let’s not forget the backdrop is the capital of the empire and possibly one of the most heavily secured and monitored planets in the entire galaxy. Even at the scale of a galaxy and trillions of beings on one planet it seems entirely improbable they would be able to finesse a plan in such a short amount of time that gets them everything and more. Even factoring in Isards plan to relinquish coruscant. If anything, it might just detract from her character as cunning and intellectual. I hope there’s redemption further in the series for her as I’m tired of Star Wars authors creating villains that have their intellects touted just end up as all bark and no bite when coming up with “strategies” to win and they think sacrifice is the only way forward.
Aside from criticism, it’s a decent read and most definitely reads and feels like a second installment setting up a larger plot. I just wish he had maybe made it more bulletproof than the paper thin plot we got.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2020
It was inevitable that my recent immersion in the Star Wars Extended Universe/Legends media would lead me to Michael Stackpole's "X-Wing" series. Given the interconnected nature of the works, the references to events from it in Timothy Zahn's Hand of Thrawn duology left me wanting to read the characters and events mentioned. And the first book, Rogue Squadron, was enjoyable enough as an inaugural volume that introduced some appealing characters while laying the groundwork for future volumes.
By contrast, Wedge's Gamble is something of a ominous letdown. With the New Republic preparing to take the strategically important planet of Coruscant, the pilots of Rogue Squadron are infiltrated onto it as part of an intelligence-gathering mission. This was the first warning sign for me, for while I get the need to keep the story focused on the main characters, the need for pilots to serve as covert operatives seemed more than a stretch. Yet this was a minor complain when set against the plan hatched by Ysanne Isard, the former head of Imperial Intelligence and the main antagonist of the series. Her scheme to spread a virus designed to sicken and kill missions of non-humans was far too mustache-twirling for my taste. For a series known for its complex and nuanced villains, having one engaged in such an overly-complicated effort to commit genocide while sowing political discord over medical supplies is something of a letdown. Though I'm hoping that the later volumes move past this, the fact that the fourth one is entitled The Bacta War suggests that the rest of Stackpole's series are going to be grounded in it, which is why I'm having trouble finding the motivation to pick up the next book.
By contrast, Wedge's Gamble is something of a ominous letdown. With the New Republic preparing to take the strategically important planet of Coruscant, the pilots of Rogue Squadron are infiltrated onto it as part of an intelligence-gathering mission. This was the first warning sign for me, for while I get the need to keep the story focused on the main characters, the need for pilots to serve as covert operatives seemed more than a stretch. Yet this was a minor complain when set against the plan hatched by Ysanne Isard, the former head of Imperial Intelligence and the main antagonist of the series. Her scheme to spread a virus designed to sicken and kill missions of non-humans was far too mustache-twirling for my taste. For a series known for its complex and nuanced villains, having one engaged in such an overly-complicated effort to commit genocide while sowing political discord over medical supplies is something of a letdown. Though I'm hoping that the later volumes move past this, the fact that the fourth one is entitled The Bacta War suggests that the rest of Stackpole's series are going to be grounded in it, which is why I'm having trouble finding the motivation to pick up the next book.
March 3, 2021
Picking up where the previous installment in the series ended, Rogue Squadron is now set with another “impossible” task: claim Coruscant for the Rebellion. Gripping action sequences (that are much easier to follow than those shown in the first installment) and surprisingly intense political games littered throughout, “Wedge’s Gamble” drives the progression towards the end of the Galactic Civil War naturally.
The characters in this are great. The rapport (and in some cases distrust) between previously established Rogue Squadron members is fantastically pushed further. I of course absolutely loved “reintroduction” of established characters from the accompanying “Rogue Squadron” comic series.
I did have some trouble keeping along whenever the squad split up during a chunk of the book since some characters would go several chapters without being mentioned. I found myself, a few times, flipping back several chapters just to remember what the characters were doing previously. Besides that, the only reason I didn’t give this book five stars is the awkwardly sexual nature of the protagonist. I can respect what the author was going for (90’s edginess which meant sex and violence), but it ultimately wasn’t for me. While often the scenes themselves weren’t overtly distasteful, but I was often reminded of the subreddit “r/menwritingwomen” from various descriptions of the female characters.
The characters in this are great. The rapport (and in some cases distrust) between previously established Rogue Squadron members is fantastically pushed further. I of course absolutely loved “reintroduction” of established characters from the accompanying “Rogue Squadron” comic series.
I did have some trouble keeping along whenever the squad split up during a chunk of the book since some characters would go several chapters without being mentioned. I found myself, a few times, flipping back several chapters just to remember what the characters were doing previously. Besides that, the only reason I didn’t give this book five stars is the awkwardly sexual nature of the protagonist. I can respect what the author was going for (90’s edginess which meant sex and violence), but it ultimately wasn’t for me. While often the scenes themselves weren’t overtly distasteful, but I was often reminded of the subreddit “r/menwritingwomen” from various descriptions of the female characters.
February 19, 2023
This was a great sequel to the first book. Book 1 was really great at establishing the new characters. Wedge’s Gamble raises the stakes.
As a (George Lucas era) Star Wars fan I always wondered how the Rebels take back Coruscant. The heart of the Old Republic and now the Empire. I will say I was a little disappointed that we only really saw the space battle and Rogue Squadron’s perspective. I was hoping on seeing the infantry troops land and see how they took control of the planet.
But the Epilogue chapter was great! Definitely left me wanting to read the third book in this series. Just like the first book I listened to the audiobook read brilliantly by Marc Thompson and followed along in the actual book. Reading along with the audiobook just increases the experience with the sound effects and Star Wars music. It makes you feel like you’re listening to a movie.
I know some people complain about the sexual content. At times I was thinking it dragged on but I honestly don’t mind some romance in Star Wars. Another reason why I don’t think it bothered me as much as others is because there’s so much more in the book than just romance. As a prequel fan I loved them being on Coruscant! So yes, there is definitely more romance in this book than in the first one. But I’d say there’s more action and suspense.
As a (George Lucas era) Star Wars fan I always wondered how the Rebels take back Coruscant. The heart of the Old Republic and now the Empire. I will say I was a little disappointed that we only really saw the space battle and Rogue Squadron’s perspective. I was hoping on seeing the infantry troops land and see how they took control of the planet.
But the Epilogue chapter was great! Definitely left me wanting to read the third book in this series. Just like the first book I listened to the audiobook read brilliantly by Marc Thompson and followed along in the actual book. Reading along with the audiobook just increases the experience with the sound effects and Star Wars music. It makes you feel like you’re listening to a movie.
I know some people complain about the sexual content. At times I was thinking it dragged on but I honestly don’t mind some romance in Star Wars. Another reason why I don’t think it bothered me as much as others is because there’s so much more in the book than just romance. As a prequel fan I loved them being on Coruscant! So yes, there is definitely more romance in this book than in the first one. But I’d say there’s more action and suspense.
July 3, 2021
This one was great, even better than Rogue Squadron. It included less descriptions of starfighter battles, maybe that's why I preferred it. I just tend to get lost during those parts, I have trouble picturing in my head what's happening. That issue did come up here during the ground combat chapters, but I was more willing to forgive it because I think it was meant to be confusing and disorienting. We were made to feel the same way as the characters.
The undercover plotlines are very cool, both in the way they allow for both world-building and more character development, as well as how they eventually converge. We do seriously get more character development in a chapter or two of this book than the entirety of Rogue Squadron. There are also some hard-hitting, extremely well-written passages that were as applicable to the real world of the 90s as they are today, stuff that's so well-written that it barely belongs in a Star Wars book.
There's very little involvement from the antagonists in this one, but I liked their chapters even more than in Rogue Squadron and I think what it's setting up will have a great payoff for the next two books. The ending is fantastic, and makes me very excited for the rest of the Rogue Squadron arc.
The undercover plotlines are very cool, both in the way they allow for both world-building and more character development, as well as how they eventually converge. We do seriously get more character development in a chapter or two of this book than the entirety of Rogue Squadron. There are also some hard-hitting, extremely well-written passages that were as applicable to the real world of the 90s as they are today, stuff that's so well-written that it barely belongs in a Star Wars book.
There's very little involvement from the antagonists in this one, but I liked their chapters even more than in Rogue Squadron and I think what it's setting up will have a great payoff for the next two books. The ending is fantastic, and makes me very excited for the rest of the Rogue Squadron arc.
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July 5, 2020
I haven’t read Wedge’s Gamble since elementary or middle school! This book definitely overshadows the first novel in both plot and character development. Corran is still a bit of a baby but his ability to mature nullifies some of my annoyance with him. Stackpole seems to get getting into the swing of writing these and the action descriptions were much easier to follow than it’s predecessor. He also seems to really love the lore of the planets and the cultures they represent; which is comforting. Other authors (notably KJA) seem to point out the differences instead of the similarities between races. Stackpole really makes the galaxy feel inclusive on the rebellion’s side and exclusive on the imperial side.
Also, I think it’s interesting finding errors in books - twice I read “spitted” instead of “spotted,” near the end of the novel. This is the first printing of the novel.
I give it a solid 4.5 squints out of 5.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS...
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My two favorite parts were the sex talk Corran had to give Gavin regarding getting it on with other species’ and the inclusion of Captain Needa’s cousin, who was hilarious and ridiculous.
Also, I think it’s interesting finding errors in books - twice I read “spitted” instead of “spotted,” near the end of the novel. This is the first printing of the novel.
I give it a solid 4.5 squints out of 5.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
My two favorite parts were the sex talk Corran had to give Gavin regarding getting it on with other species’ and the inclusion of Captain Needa’s cousin, who was hilarious and ridiculous.
August 26, 2021
It's hard to rate Legends novels anything higher than a visible 3 stars in this day and age. Especially when (no offense to Michael Stackpole) the content being produced current for books like the High Republic entirely eclipses that of the 90s Legends novels. It's just better and more cohesive content. Full stop. Alphabet Squadron is the direct competitor and the Second Novel of that series was far more thought provoking and moving than this novel. THAT BEING SAID. I still enjoyed this a lot and the climax was a lot of fun, having the Rogues mostly out of their X-Wings kinda sucked but I get it, can't have them doing that all the time I suppose. I will mark it here as 3 but it is a more of 3.5 star review.
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