Rating: 
Summary: The Series Picks Up
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Better...
Review: Definitely an improvement over the first, this second book is fast paced without compromising the characters, full to the brim with action, and heartfelt as well, focusing on a wider spectrum of characters, from Wedge to Corran to the young Gavin Darklighter. The plot is a little simplistic, and the battle scenes a bit forced, but oddly enough it didn't seem to matter since this was mainly a book for character development. For those of you who've been following the "mainstream" expanded universe novels this one (and the entire series) should be particularly interesting, not only showing what was happening in the galaxy during this neglected three or four year period, but also giving interesting insights into how the rest of the galaxy, the "normal" people, see Luke, Han, Leia and the rest. This book also helped me to gain interest in Corran Horn, I character I previousely despised. Anyway, I won't spoil the plot for you, but if you like Star Wars, and action, than this series is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: More Excitement, More Energy, OVerall just great!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Corran is an important member of the Rogues.
Review: The rogue books are mostly about Wedge, but Corran horn gains importance in the Star wars universe.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating!
Review: Set directly after X-wing:Rogue Squadron. Wedge's Gamble, as the title reads, is refers to the New Republic's attempt to use Rogue Squadron to capture Coruscant from the Empire. Ysanne Isard (new leader of the Empire) is making a virus to inflict on Coruscant. (beware graphic details of the how the virus affects citizens of Coruscant, its not for the weak of stomach)
Rating:
Summary: Star Wars
Review: This is a good series of books, even though Luke, Leia, and Han are not usually a big part of the story. The books are interesting. The books are centered around Wedge and his x-wing pilots. These books are often funny. They also offer excitement in the form of x-wing battles.
Rating:
Summary: And so it heats up
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: X-Wing #2 - Spies in Space.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: So We've Taken to Espionage Have We...
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Coruscant Liberated
Review: Rogue Squadron is back again.This time their job is to find weak spots in Coruscant, the Imperial Center.Their problem is that they have to bring down the shields for the Rebellion to make a attack.Ysanne Isard, the Imperial leader, makes a deadly virus named Kryto the starts killing of the non-human population on Coruscant.Her plan is for the Republic to take Coruscant, then have to buy bacta, the only cure, and become bankrupt.To take Coruscant the Rebels send Corran Horn into a lighting storm to destroy a facility that lets the Rebels drive the Imperials out of Coruscant.Corran Horn gets captured by Ysanne Isard in the lighting storm, but Isard makes it seem he slammed into a building.They convict Tycho Cleucho of killing Horn.This is a must read for all Star Wars fans.
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