In the Empire's Service (Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Volume 6) [Paperback]

Michael A. Stackpole (Author), John Nadeau (Author), Jordi Ensign (Author)

Book Description

Series: Star Wars (Dark Horse) | Publication Date: May 5, 1999

Wedge Antilles is the premier X-wing pilot of the Rebel Alliance, and his Rogue Squadron is the most feared fighter wing in the Rebel fleet. But just as the New Republic has its top guns, so does the Empire -- the merciless Imperial 181st Fighter Division led by the Empire's greatest ace, Baron Fel, the man who trained Wedge and many of Rogue Squadron's best pilots. Wedge and the Rogues will get every opportunity to test the mettle of that training when Fel and the 181st are dispatched to square accounts with Rogue Squadron, once and for all!

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (May 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569713839
• ISBN-13: 978-1569713839
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,647,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael A. Stackpole is the New York Times bestselling author of over 40 novels, including I, Jedi and Rogue Squadron. He's won awards in the realms of podcasting, game designer, computer game design, screenwriting, editing, graphic novel writing and novel writing. He lives in Arizona and frequently travels the United States attending conventions and teaching writing workshops. His website is www.stormwolf.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of Star Wars, August 12, 2001

By 

Handofthrawn (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Empire's Service (Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Volume 6) (Paperback)

Stackpole takes over writing the series and immediately kicks it into high gear by throwing the Rogues right into the midst of the war. The Republic is beginning its campaign for Coruscant and starts by heading for the Core Worlds. In this case, the first step is Brentaal, the rich and influential Core world.

This arc is unique in that it gives both the Rebels and Imperials almost equal time. The faces of the Empire are many, and this arc shows a depth to it not acheived in anything else thus far. The scheming by Ysanne Isard is great, while you also see the varying faces of the Empire on Brentaal itself. Admiral Lon Isoto and Baron Soontir Fel are both Imperials, yet completely opposite characters. Isoto is an incompetant, vain, corrupt, lazy, and perhaps even slightly insane man, while Fel is a very smart, strong, moral, yet somewhat flawed figure. He is the greatest pilot in the Empire, and serves that Empire not because of who leads it, but because of simple loyalty to its people. As time goes on, it becomes more and more apparent to him that perhaps his view on things was flawed, and perhaps he need to rectify it. Along with Grand Admiral Thrawn, he is perhaps the best Imperial character to come out of the comics and novels.

The Rebels are interesting as well, and the Rogues are for the only time in the series at full strength. Balancing the stories of 12 pilots is not easy, but as events transpire some paths are split and some interconnect. Some, like Wedge, Tycho, Janson, Ibtisam, and Nrin, get more time, wheras ones like Dar Keyis and Standro are forced into the backdrop. But that's alright, for reason I won't get into lest I spoil things.

The art by Nadeau perfectly fits the whole 'war movie'-type feel of 'In the Empire's Service.' His technology and cityscapes are, as always, superb, and although his faces may be a little choppy at times, each person has his or her own face, which is very important with such a large cast. And David Nestelle's coloring prowess is once again demonstrated. Never slips, always consistent, always fitting the scene perfectly.

And who can forget the cliff-hanger last line of the series?

Bravo to the creators of 'In the Empire's Service'. They've produced one of the most insightful, well-written examples of 'Star Wars' ever published, and the series' lack of sales is truly shameful. Highly, highly reccomended work.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indeed a good book, December 21, 1999

By 

Michael Ip - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Empire's Service (Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Volume 6) (Paperback)

This is another good and exciting comics. Finally i get to meet the legendary pilot of the Empire as well as the Star Wars universe - Baron Soontir Fel. He remained a mystery until now, and kept the comic alive and exciting in leading the remarkable 181st squadron.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best SW Comics Ever, January 15, 2000

By 

"rogue_7" - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Empire's Service (Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Volume 6) (Paperback)

This is one of the greatest SW comics I have ever read.The Art and writing just meld in a perfect mixture. Stackpole's script is awsome, with its comedy, drama, and pain. The essentials of Star Wars are all here. The continuity between this and the X-Wing books is also nice, as this was the first four issue story arc in the 'Rise of Isard' arc of books, comprising a total of 12 issues. The plot is excellent, introducing what has become one of the most popular EU characters, Baron Soontir Fel. Nadau's pencils are great, with facial expressions and explosions all rendered realistically. Nestelle's colors are, as usual, are stunning. This is one book that belongs in all comic lovers and Star Wars maniacs Library's. 5/5.