Customer Reviews

Isard's Revenge (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 8)

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Although I was pleased to see the return of the Rouges in this book, I thought that the last Rouge Squadron based novel did a good job of tying up all the loose ends with the characters, which lead to this book running low on character development. The return of Isard was a big disappointment at the start, because the first four books were dedicated to her downfall and her "death". I felt as if Stackpole ran out of ideas for villains and was just using an old one to create a new book, but then as the plot progressed I ended up liking the book, as Stackpole used his fleshed out characters like Corran and Gavin, and highly descriptive battle sequences to move the mediocre plot along. Overall a fun read but lacking depth.

After Allston's three-book cycle, Stackpole returns with another X-Wing book to tie up the loose ends from his previous novel, The Bacta War. While Isard's Revenge is an excellent read, I have to say that it's biggest strength is Stackpole's excellent writing style. His plot threads for this one are slightly lacking.

Isard's Revenge covers everything Stackpole has ever written on Rogue Squadron. This includes the novels AND the comics, for those who think Krennel was a one-shot character. While it's not really necessary to read the comics, they do supplement the book rather nicely. In fact, halfway through I actually went out and picked up the comics. The book picks up at the very end of Zahn's novel "The Last Command" (in fact, Tycho's dialogue is pulled word-for-word.) After the battle, the New Republic decides to go after the remaining Imperials, and choose Krennel as their target. Through a series of plot twists, Rogue Squadron is assumed dead, and teams up with Isard to destroy Krennel.

Stackpole's biggest problem has always been character development. He gets Corran, Gavin, and Wedge down just fine, but long-standing characters such as Inryi Forge and Ooryl are still releatively underdeveloped. Especially lacking is Hobbie; one would think that after been left out of seven X-Wing books, he would finally get some decent dialogue. Also, you can immediately pick out from the Dramatis Personne who dies and who lives. Stackpole has written himself into a corner in that he doesn't have any characters he's willing to sacrifice.

The plot and various sub-plots don't really kick in till halfway through the novel when Isard shows up. With that said, there's some really good stuff here, including Asyr and Borsk, the mini-adventure the droids have, and seeing Wedge finally get promoted to general. Stackpole has also learned to tighten his dogfight scenes, though the amount of description he puts into each and every exploding TIE Fighter can be overkill. There are times when simply stating "the TIE Fighter exploded in his viewport" will sufficed.

Isard's Revenge comes recommended because of Stackpole's writing style and the fact that it ties up the X-Wing series nicely. It may not quite be up to the standards of the previous books in the X-Wing series, especially when compared to the character development of Allston, but it is still superior to most Star Wars novels.

I was extreamly thrilled when Stackpole started writing the X-wing series again. Although Alston has done a formiable job, and provided tons of humor, Stackpole is king. I admit, Gavin Darklighter is my favorite character, so one who's read the book would understand why I was so mad. I use 'mad' strongly here, 'cause they won't let me type anything stronger. I did not understand Asyr's 'mission', nor did I get the need for Iella and Mirax to help her. It was ironic how Mirax was off helping Asyr, and Corran was helping Gavin. OK, that sorta gives it away. Sorry. :) I will say that this book *can* get boring at times, and I didn't understand some. But I thought it was worth my money, and hey, you can always return it and say the "I never read it" kinda thing. ~Nishana

Going from one of Allston books in this series back to Stackpole is like trading in your Porsche Boxster for a Fort Escort......It really slows down and the ride is a lot less fun. The first 3/4 of this book is filled with meaningless conversations between various characters, plotting and planning secessions, and various political maneuvering.........boring. The book doesn't get going until the last 1/4 and then as in other of Stackpole's books the story is just too weird and unbelievable to keep you interested.

Stackpole is one of the best writers in the Xwing series, the only problem with this book is that it lacks the inminent doom for rogue squadron and the succes over insurmountable odds that permeate all of the books in the series.

Character development is great and the plotline is efficient, not amazing, but just eficient.

I can say this is the lousiest book in the Xwing series,, but that does not mean it is a bad book, just not up to the great standards setted by previous books.

This book was excellent and I suggest reading if if you like Corran Horn, He's the MC if you ask me. E-mail me if you want to talk about SW, My family hates talking about it.

When I started to read this book I was pretty skeptical about whether it was going to be interesting, but as I got deeper into the plot I was amazed. Mike, another great book.

Isard's Revenge is a quick read, but savory. For a SW fan it's like eating that wonderous dessert after the meal and realizing that you're down to the last bite so you had better enjoy every crumb. The SW universe is a great playroom, and this novel provides some great imagination blocks.

I was happy seeing the Rogues back again but what got me was that Krennal came out of nowhere. Like the first book you have to build up the charaters, when the Wraiths came in Allston used Warlord Zinj(or how ever you pronounce his name) an already big part in the original 4 well not that big you never met him but you heard about him from the third and lots from the fourth. But Krennel he just came out of thee blue. Anyway I don't like what Asry(the Bothan) did to Gavin. And I just don't like Borsk Fey'lya. Other then that a great book added to the series.

Too many holes left me feeling unsatisfied. Isard is too easily killed. Once again some new Rouges come in just to be killed off. Tycho and Myn are anonymous. Krennels forces are too weak for him to have never been overun by Thrawn or Isard previously. Palleleon only gets a mention. Why are there so many operatives in New Republic intelligence that work for the imperials and why aren't the Wraiths ever called into these big Republic op's. At least Whistler and Gate have a piece of the story though and this is a new idea for Stackpole. Is Councillor Feylya the new Palpatine? It is very unlikely that any Imperial would be stupid enough to use AT-AT Walkers against air attacks, I mean you can just park behind them and shoot their legs out! And why does Corran get shot so often these days? If the lightsaber is such a good cutting tool why doesn't everyone have a similar thing? If cloneing is so easy why weren't there two or three of each Imperial genius and less incompetent stormies? I don't want reality I just want beleivability Mr Stackpole.