Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Michael Stackpole's "X_Wing" series follows the adventures of Wedge Antilles and Rogue Squadron in the years following Return of the Jedi. "Wedge's Gamble" is the second in the 4-book series that essentially tells one long story.

Stackpole successfully blends a military feel, a stereotypical elite (and unconventional) military unit, and the Star Wars universe to create an interesting and worthy addition to the Star Wars universe. Although occasionally some of the "big names" from Star Wars make an appearance or are mentioned, this series focuses on the pilots in Rogue Squadron.

In "Wedge's Gamble," the Rogue Squadron members go undercover on a mission that doesn't really require their piloting skills. This book is more of a spy thriller with lots of personal action on the ground than the previous book, and unfortunately it suffers because of this.

Stackpole's second book in the X-Wing series is a big drop-off from the first, even though it is true to the original Star Wars movies. However, this book sets the stage for the final two books in the series.

"Wedge's Gamble" is the second novel in the nine part X-Wing series set as part of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. It is set just after the first book, "Rogue Squadron" which began approximately two years after the events of "Return of the Jedi". Michael Stackpole had a lot to live up to with "Rogue Squadron" and he does an admirable job here and continues the X-Wing story.

With the military successes of Rogue Squadron in the first book, the leadership of the Alliance feels that it is now time to make a strike on the heart of the Empire itself, Coruscant. To do so, the rebels need some intelligence on Coruscant so they will be able to strike and pass through the planet's defenses and still be able to defend the planet should they prove successful. Thus begins a different sort of mission for the Rogues. The Rogues are sent undercover on Coruscant to gather intelligence and also to set up for the invasion force. Meanwhile the ruler on Corsuscant, Ysanne Isard, is setting a nasty trap for the Alliance. She is having her scientists work on a very deadly, and very contagious virus that acts similar to what we know as Ebola. The trick here is that this virus will only be effective on non-humans, which is a major backbone of the Alliance. Isard knows she can't hold Coruscant, but she wants to leave a surprise that may very well destroy the Alliance's ability to function. Nasty, indeed.

As in "Rogue Squadron", we still get exciting space battles, and the comraderie of the Rogues. Corran Horn, still the lead character, is becoming torn between two women: one is a Rogue, the other is a pirate. The romance angle here is told extremely well and should not put off the core fanbase of the series (younger males). We are introduced to an additional angle of intrigue, both with Isard and the Empire as well as a potential traitor in the midst of the Rogues. Stackpole is continuing a Star Wars series that is shaping up to be one of the best things in the Star Wars Universe. A Star Wars fan should start with "Rogue Squadron", but there is no need to stop there. There is great action and an interesting storyline.

-Joe Sherry

I have heard it said that you have to start something off with a bang, then you have to take it up a notch. This is also true if you are writting a book.

X-Wing #1 was fine although a bit slow it had to be to introduce us to characters we will get to know later.

X-Wing #2 is much more fast paced and will be that kind of book that you want read in one sitting.
I admit it does however geta little trying at times, Couresant is supposed to be the Empire's back yeard yet it seems at every turn we meet some new alien who is prepared to give aid to our Rouge Squadron friends.

Even if you hate this book its compleation is vital to understanding the rest of the serise so even if you hate this book and couldn't bring yourself to finish it get it at the library or something.

As I've stated in past reviews, I don't like science fiction. "Then why are you reading it?" you may ask. That's because I love the fantasy element so much I can live with reading through endless mechanical jargon. Star Wars normally has more sword fighting than shooting up stuff, therefore I enjoy it. This series though has been the exception to my "I hate mechanics" rule. It's fast paced and interesting and I've come to like the characters.

This second book in the series is refreshingly dogfight light. Very little actual spacecraft battle ensues. This is a very nice break from Rogue Squadron's battle heavy plot. This book deals mainly with Rogue Squadron infiltrating Coruscant for Republic take over. The final climatic scene involves a mirror, a reservior and someone ending up "dead". Of course they're not dead. Since when has anyone in Star Wars ever stayed dead a long amount of time? They couldn't even kill the Emperor the first time.

Corran is still the main player in this one. He's egotistical and cocky yet there's still something endearing about him that puts him on the list of favorite characters for me. Gavin Darklighter has a little more of a part in this one that makes the naive little farmboy a character that's hard not to like. Wedge himself is a great character, having spent most of his life killing yet still not used to it. Tycho also has grown on me in his own long suffering, quiet way. No way anyone in real life would put up with as much as he has and still be serving in the army.

Now to the weaknesses. Of course there is a scene that involves someone previously very bad reevaluating their life in like two minutes and saving everyone. Sure. That happens every day in a shoot out.The main villain STILL inspires no terror in me. I have reached the conclusion that I could take her. Last but not least the female characters are still not developed. Unfortunately it's still a man's world in Rogue Squadron appearantly.

Complaints aside, I'm ready for the next volume.

While I have to admit that the X-Wings series is a great concept, the first book, Rogue Squadron, was a little on the sluggish side for a book about space battles. The second in the series, Wedge's Gamble, kicks up the pace with tighter writing and a more interesting storyline.

This time around, the Rogues are sent undercover to Coruscant, capital of the Empire, in an effort to allow the New Republic to take it over. Stackpole handles the whole affair very well, making for a very gripping book. There are pleanty of good action sequences and plot twists to keep the reader interested from begining to end. Though I thought the final solution for the destruction of the shield generators and the battle for Coruscant were a little to quick and easy, its all negligable in the face of the excellent plot and story.

One important area in which Stackpole has improved from Rogue Squadron is his devolpment of the main characters. Yes, the book is still a little too Corran-heavy, but this time some of the other members of the Squadron also get in on the action. Particularly well done is Gavin, who is goven ample room to grow in this installment.

Also worthy of note is the improvement in the characterization of the Imperials. Ysanne Isard and Kirtan Loor actually feel threatening this time around, and there in genuine tension created when Isard reveals the Krytos virus and her plan for it. This improvement in the villians mnakes the book considerably more exciting than its predecessor.

Overall, I consider this to the best of Stackpole's X-Wing books. While there are a few faults, the book as a whole is very well done, making for a worthwhile Star Wars read.

This book really expands and goes deeper in plot than the first did. While Corran is still the main focus, more of the Squad is explored, especially Gavin Darklighter.

Since the Squad is sent to Coruscant undercover to help win it from the Empire, there's a lot of cloak and dagger action along with the flying. There's a few chases present, and more than once I was holding my breath in anticipation. With the involvement of a spy in Rogue Squadron I found myself just dying to know who it was, and Iceheart has a few surprises in store for the members of Rogue Squadron and the Rebellion. There's a cliff-hanger ending and I had to start on the next book right away.

Stackpole does a great job, but like the first, I found some of the battle scenes a little hard to follow. Other than that there was no problems with the book.

If you liked the first X-Wing book, you'll love this one even more! A much deeper plot, and it leaves you just begging for more. A defintate read for any Star Wars fan or of a great action book.

Highly reccommended.

X-Wings, tie fighters, evil Imperial plots, a traitor, and some really great characters(good and evil) all add up to another star wars thrillfest in this highly praised X Wing series. I have heard a lot of hype about this series and only recently started reading it. The first book was really good and this book is even better. The great Star Wars trademark action is here and the plot is very well thought out. The action is relentless but never gets on your nerves becasue it isn't just filler. Like I said, a very satisfying plot with action, mystery, solid dialogue, and even a little romance thrown in there. A great read that will leave you wanting more and there are no disappointments there because the series runs to 8 or 9 books so far.