Wing Commander: The Novel (Movie Universe, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Peter Telep (Author), Mike Finch (Author), Kevin Droney (Author), Chris Roberts (Creator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 1999

600 Years in the Future the Battle for Earth is About to Begin....

The egomaniacal alien Kilrathi have struck again, savaging a peaceful planet at the edge of space. And worse, they have captured a NAVCOM device that will lead them straight to Earth!

Chris Blair and his pal Maniac are "nuggets," cadets fresh from the Academy. Their first ship, the Tiger Claw, has an awesome mission: Recover the NAVCOM, and stop the Kilrathi at all costs.

But Blair's fighting wing--Earth's last hope--is seething with internal strife. For somewhere among the thin red line of heroes a traitor lurks!

Includes an 8 page full color photo insert.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Telep earned his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Central Florida, where he now teaches English. Mr. Telep is a recipient of the prestigious John Steinbeck Award for fiction and has written a number of science fiction and fantasy novels, including Descent (based on the popular computer game), the Squire Trilogy , and the Space: Above and Beyond books.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment (February 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061059854
• ISBN-13: 978-0061059858
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,620,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Telep raises the bar for Wing Commander books, January 31, 1999

By 

Ben Lesnick ([e-mail]) (Ashton, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wing Commander: The Novel (Movie Universe, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The WC universe has finally found itself an author who respects the source material and who can also tell one hell of a story - and the fan's have never had it so good. While Baen's Wing Commander novels usually cause the more fanatical WingNuts headaches with their continuity errors, this movie adaptation does just the opposite; it actually takes time to explain such problems caused by the movie's script! (according to the movies producers they `ignored' much of the original material - thank Sivar Peter Telep didn't). Of course, the writing also shines - anyone familiar with Peter Telep's previous books (Space: Above and Beyond, Descent) knows he can tell a great war story. I'm eagerly looking forward to the second book in the series, so we can see what the author can do without having to base everything around a movie script!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the Movie!, August 30, 2006

By 

Andre D. Ribeiro "dedecuscus" (Anaheim, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wing Commander: The Novel (Movie Universe, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Before I ever knew about this book I saw the Movie Wing Commander, and I was a little disapointed with it. I was expecting more, and there was a lot of potential for this story to becoma something like Star Trek or even Star Wars. But unfortunately it wasn't. Then I found out about this book, bought it and read it. And it was EXCELENT! Much better than the movie, really fun to read, really enjoyable, and not tiring at all! Great action, great story, great characters. Too bad PETER TELEP wasn't envited to write the movie script as well. I was really glad I bought it, and I recomend it for all the sci fi fans out there!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Telep Drives, September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wing Commander: The Novel (Movie Universe, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have never read or known anything about the Wing Commander universe until I saw the movie which left me eagerly awaiting to learn more. After reading thso novel, I felt full again. Now to preamble this review, it is generally that the novel of the movie far exceeds it and it is true once again of the work of Peter Telep. I can understand that any fanatic finds fault with incoming authors so it's best that I am bringing a completely new point of view coming here, leaving alone Chris Robert's movie script and concentrating on the storytelling of the author. Peter Telep's, work, I find to be inspired and driving as he easily dramatizes war with the decrepit and dark events cascading onto people--along with ship hull plating. He meticulously constructs his characters with each their own sorrow past, reflections of wars long ago, and then drives in the conscious rendering of how each person copes with his or her situation in the present. Each finds their own avenue of choice. Although the book remains albeit of dynamic story telling, (seeing the enemy Kilrathi's point of view is quite refreshing and all the time gives you a bigger broad of what it was like for them) Telep continuously paints out the emotions and actions on a level most efficient with war. Feeling that both sides of the battle, Confederation and Kilrathi, both suffer the same kind of agony, pain, and vengeance, Telep drives in the heart of his version of Wing Commander. Aside from the characters, the plot moves undulating with brilliant battles and scenes alive, although the landscape of space was not as unique or detailed as some Sci-Fi authors. Telep can find interesting ways of rewording the destruction of Dralthi fighters or Rapiers so that the story doesn't feel repetitive. He highly details the fighters yaws and pitches fully to the pilot's reactions, a technique of accuracy with enhances his story as if you were there with Blair in his Rapier or Gerald on the bridge in dead still and quiet. The book is a vibrant tableau of war hell. The ending is honorable as it pulls you in to really want to experience the next chapters. After, I myself, 'enduring' the extent of the hate of Pilgrams and this total unanswered void of Confederation and Pilgrim chaos, I find myself eagerly awaiting Telep's next novel and seeing what Pilgram Stars will lay ahead.