Wedge's Gamble (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 2) [Paperback]

Michael A. Stackpole (Author)

Book Description

Series: Star Wars: X-Wing | Publication Date: May 2, 1996

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--enslavement by 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Book 2 in the exciting series!

The eagerly-awaited new entry in the thrilling X-wing saga finally arrives.

From the Publisher

Book 2 in the exciting series!

The eagerly-awaited new entry in the thrilling X-wing saga finally arrives.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Spectra; First Edition edition (May 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553568027
• ISBN-13: 978-0553568028
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,033 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 More Excitement, More Energy, OVerall just great!, February 10, 2004

By 

J. K. Moser "JKM" (Flemington, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wedge's Gamble (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 2) (Paperback)

If the first book in the X-Wing series was great, then Wedge's Gamble, the second in the acclaimed X-Wing series was phenominal. It took everything great about the first book and turned up the heat. Wedge's Gamble, has WEdge Antilles and his Rogue Squadron on an impossible mission: disable the shields of Curuscant, the seat of Imperial Power. They have to deal with rogue agents, unpleasant surprises, deadly enemies and a traitor or two in their midst. Stackpole takes his characters and crafts a remarkable story. As a stand alone book its very good as part of the X-Wing series its awesome. Once again Stackpole focuses on Corran Horn a character who is not omnipotent, who does make mistakes, sometimes crucial ones. He is a very strict former cop who has the ego of an elite pilot just to make things interesting. It's not just Horn who is well drawn but the other characters as well. As the main villain Isard is chilling, but it's the hidden agenda of Fliry Vorru that hinges the story. Full of laserfights, space battles and one really big storm, Wedge's Gamble is a superb addition to the X-Wing series and the expanded universe.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars X-Wing #2 - Spies in Space., August 15, 2002

By 

Chadwick H. Saxelid "Bookworm" (Concord, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wedge's Gamble (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 2) (Paperback)

Having introduced the core cast of characters in Rogue Squadron, author Michael Stackpole now begins weaving plot lines that will no doubt run through the next few books in the series. As the first story ended the Rebellion had won a strategic victory that could be the first step to capturing the Imperial Capital planet of Coruscant, or so they have been led to think. The new Imperial Leader Ysanne Isard actually has an evil scheme to destroy the Rebellion, and our characters seem to be playing right into her slimey hands.

Sadly Stackpole cheats a bit in his narrative, characters bump into each other far too easily on what is supposed to be such a crowded and construction jumbled planet, also a team of elite fighters sent on a spying mission? The Rebellion can't be that hard up for agents and warriors. On the plus side Stackpole allows the emotional toll of living a resistance fighters life show in his characters, which makes the tension all the more real, as does his frequent use of cliffhanger chapter endings. In the end the pluses outweight the minuses and Star Wars X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble remains a taut read until the climatic battle. Recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the first book, but still a good read, September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wedge's Gamble (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 2) (Paperback)

This book wasn't as good as the first one, but is still worth a read.

Michael A. Stackpole is a great writer, and this book is no exception - the writing is great. It's the story line that isn't so great. First off, a squadron of fighter pilots would never be given the mission that Rogue Squadron gets. These guys are pilots, yet for some reaon they are sent undercover on a reconnaissance mission to infiltrate the very heart of the empire - Imperial Center on Coruscant. This makes the entire story a little tough to swallow.

Second problem is the way the Rogues keep bumping into one another. It would never happen on a world as huge as Coruscant.

Third issue is the way Wedge reacts when Corran reports seeing one of the Rogues meeting with Imps. Corran is a realiable source, and he saw it with his own eyes. Yet Wedge totally blows it off, even though they're in the midst of such a sensitive mission. Totally unrealistic.

Anway, it's still worth the read, and has a good ending. I hope book three is better.