Rating: Summary: Almost Perfect Review: Oh, How I loved this book! Finally, someone has picked up on Tim Zahn's reference to Wedge/Iella in VISION OF THE FUTURE. I have waited through 8 x-wing books for Wedge to finally get Iella, and countless other books reading in vain for a hint of their future. Oh, yeah, did I forget to metion that Wes Janson brings a little bit of comic relief? Actually, he brings a whole lot. Not even the Imperial palace could hold his ego... This book (the ninth in the series) feels like a reunion with old friends. All the characters are masterfully written and placed in situations that test them to no end. This is Allstons best X-Wing novel, and second only to the near-perfect Bacta War. My only complaints? Not long enough, and where are the rest of the Rouges? I'm a Corran fan myself. Oh, well. I like Wedge just fine. A wonderful peice of fiction.
Rating: Summary: We need more of this! Review: Aaron Allston...the brilliantly creative writer of the X-wing, Wraith Squadron series has done it again. Starfighters of Adumar has taken 4 New Republic pilots and thrown them in for the run of their lives. The point of view of the main pilot (Wedge Antilles) is fantastic. Not only do we get to see more of the inner workings of his mind, but also see how he respondes to varius situations. Like Allston's Wraith Squad series...this book definetly does not lack its humour as well as its seriousness. I found myself cracking up in the very beginings of his book. The antics of maturity level 0, Wes Janson, followed by the mornfull faced, Derek "Hobbie" Klivian make up the most of the humour in this book. But never underestimate Wedge...for he has his own idea of humour as well. The story line covers the major aspects of a great read: humour, love, facinating settings, conflicts (great ones too!), and the most important...great characters in themselves. Trust me, one wont be dissapointed with this book. If you're waiting for a few things to be tied up...Iella fans you know what Im talking about...they get tied up here. This book is a definete recommendation...Just one thing....Can we get more of this?!
Rating: Summary: Radiant Review: Everyone has their favorite SW novelist, and Allston is mine. Props to Stackpole and Zahn, but I simply enjoy Allston so much. One of my favorite things about his writing is that he doesn't neglect the minor characters, and this holds true in this novel, as well as his other XWing novels. There is less development of the main characters than in the previous novels; I think Allston assumes that anyone who's gotten this far knows who the main group is. However, he takes our previous assumptions and runs with them, creating a story that, however predictable the plot, glistens with the reality of the characters.
Rating: Summary: Fantastic Conclusion to the X-Wing Series A+ book Review: Starfighters of Adumar marks the final book in the X-Wing series. Written by Aaron Allston, Starfighters of Adumar focuses on a mission undertaken by General Wedge Antilles, Colonel Tycho Celchu, Major Wes Jansen & Major Hobbie Klivian to the planet of Adumar, a place that venerates starfighter pilots. Once there the pilots find that not only are things different from what they were told but the Imperials are also vying for the planet. To top it off, their only way to stay alive depends on the undercover Intelligence agent Iella Wessiri who is not exactly feeling happy with Antilles these days. A fun book, Allston fills the pages with a well-contrived plot, sharp dialogue, heart pounding action and a strong dose of humor. This is one of the finest books in the X-Wing series and leaves the reader wishing that Allston and Stackpole would both return to the X-wing cockpit to expand on the adventures of these elite fighter pilots.
Rating: Summary: Allston gives us another winner ¿ Review: Aaron Allston has given us another winner of a novel. "Starfighters of Adumar", set at the time of "Planet of Twilight" (9 years after "Return of the Jedi"), has Wedge Antilles and a few of his squadron-mates play diplomats to a newly rediscovered world that dislikes typical politicians but reveres fighter pilots above all others. Needless to say, things don't go exactly according to plan and only quick wits and highly-tuned reflexes will be able to allow our heroes to survive. The humor in this book is probably the best yet in all of Star Wars. The play between the less-than-mature Wes Janson and straight-man Wedge Antilles is hilarious. Couple this with the action readers have come to expect from the X-Wing series and you've got a real exciting read. So, why did I only give it 4 stars instead of 5? Well, for one I am a tough grader. I think I have only given three Star Wars books 5 stars. In addition, this book is not perfect. For one thing it is far too short. You are turning the pages and you think you've gotten to the end of the second-to-last chapter and then there's no more when you turn the page. That's it, the book ends. Certainly a disappointment. A slightly more subjective point is that I thought the culture of Adumar to be too extreme. I've heard some decent explanations of this from other proponents of this novel but none satisfy me perfectly. What it all comes down to is that this is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Even if you haven't read any of the X-Wing series yet you could jump right into this one and not be confused by references to past events. I highly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: Series bows out with wit, action, and affection. Review: Aaron Allston closes out the X-Wing Series with this stand alone novel that has Wedge Antilles and his team of sarcastic wingmen off to play diplomat. The plan is to encourage the neutral world of Adumar to join the New Republic. What they discover is that Adumar is only one or two civilized steps above utter barbarism, with starfighters routinely killing each other in needless honor duels. Making matters worse is the arrival of Imperial delegates wishing to woo Adumar over to the Empire and a New Republic diplomat that believes that any means are justified by the end (i.e. getting Adumar into the New Republic). I'm not the most well read Star Wars fan, so some of the plot lines mentioned early on left me going, huh? But when the novel gets cooking it becomes a tasty adventure with all the epic battles one has come to expect from this galaxy far, far away.
Rating: Summary: favorite book Review: "Starfighters of Adumar" is my favorite book in the X-Wing series, in the Star Wars series, and in the entire world. I'm not just a crazy Star Wars fan; I read all kinds of other books. And I still have yet to find one that is better and that I enjoy more than "Starfighters of Adumar." Character development, plot, general writing style, humor, action...All of it is done supremely well, in the way that only Aaron Allston can. I first bought this book when I was twelve or thirteen, and read the entire thing from cover to cover within about five hours, three of which were spent hiding under the covers of my bed after lights-out, reading with a flashlight. It is that effing brilliant. Wedge is a wonderful narrator, and it is amazing to finally see an author really let go on his personality. By that, I don't mean that he changed dramatically or anything; I mean that Wedge finally has a distinct, unique voice. I really liked that he found his woman (who I'm not going to name for fear of spoilers :) ), and it wasn't cheesy, stupid, or absolutely ridiculous (*coughcallistacough*). There were some great lines said between them, and it was a believable relationship. The best relationship of all, though, is the one between Wedge and his pilots. Specifically, between Wedge and Janson. Wes Janson has been my favorite character in the Star Wars series ever since the words 'yub yub' came out of his mouth in "Wraith Squadron." It was great to see him finally get the spotlight that he deserves in SoA. He really was the core of the book, as someone said before. There are so many good lines of his from the book that I can't even list them (although I do have quite a few committed to memory). He's not ALWAYS funny, and he's meant to be obnoxious, yet he doesn't get on the reader's nerves. He had some great interchanges with Wedge (who played the straight man, as another reviewer put it), as well as Hobbie, who's the perfect wingman for him with his dour look on life. I couldn't believe it when I picked up the book and saw that Hobbie actually had lines. Unbelievable. And he's funny as hell to boot! One scene that comes to mind in particular is where an intruder has come into the four pilots' apartment on Adumar late at night. Hobbie wakes up, trips over a chair, points his comlink at the intruder, and determinedly clicks it, sure that he's shooting a blaster at him. :D Another bit that I think of is the "I should do bacta endorsements" part. He's a great character. I literally laugh out loud while reading this book; it's hilarious. Tycho turns out to have this faintly sarcastic sense of humor that's greatly entertaining; one of the best lines in the book comes from him. "Oh, Hobbie and the ground get along a little too violently when they get together." The whole book isn't fun and games, though. Despite all the great banter and humor, there's a serious undercurrent and an entertaining, intriguing plot. Dogfights, groundfights (I was SO excited to see them get in fist and blaster fights), political intrique, and humor form the backbone of this book. I absolutely love it. I've read it cover-to-cover at least 25 or 30 times. My copy is literally beginning to fall apart at the seams from overuse. I highly recommend this book, to a Star Wars fan or otherwise. I'll close with some favorite lines/bits from the book. Mind you, these are from memory, so they won't be exact. "So it's like a blaster you have to hit someone with? I have to have one." -Janson "Don't give him a new kind of weapon. It will be like giving a lightsaber to a two-year-old." -Tycho "I'm so glad the people here like to wave and shake hands." -Janson "Why's that?" -Wedge "What if their way of greeting visiting dignitaries was to throw paint?" -Janson "Point taken." -Wedge "As you can see, I've provided amusement for Janson for years." -Tomer "Efficient use of effort. When do we eat?" -Hobbie "You can't see her now." -Hobbie "Why not?" -Wedge "You're all sweaty from the fight." -Hobbie "He's right. You stink of sweat, and smoke, and the wine the minister spilled on you--" -Janson "He missed me." -Wedge "I don't think so. Anyway, you're not fit for a liaison tonight. I guess I'll have to go in your place. I'm ready for this assignment, sir." -Janson "This isn't a lia-- Tycho, if he keeps this up, Hobbie gets to pick his clothes for the next week." -Wedge "Oh, good." -Hobbie "It's obvious they adore you. You could throw up on yourself and they'd love it. By nightfall, they'd all be doing it. They'd call it 'the Wedge Purge'. They'd be eating different-colored foods to add variety..." -Janson "Tycho, I thought you'd be able to do what I never could. Get Wes up to an emotion age of 14, maybe 15." -Wedge "No. No power in the universe could do that. Not Darth Vader and the dark side of the Force, not the nuclear devastation of an exploding sun." -Tycho "They'd be competing for distance and volume." -Janson "Wes, just shut up." -Wedge
Rating: Summary: One of my favorite SW books Review: If we count I Jedi, i think this is book 10, and the final rogue book so far. aaron allston does a fantastic job of combining characters primarily created by others. Here, wedge is asked to be a "diplomate" for the new republic on a world that reveres pilots. Adumar is a feudel world where pilots are the josting knights.
Rating: Summary: Funniest SW book-EVER!!! Review: Without a doubt, one of the best of the SW EU and not a Jedi in sight! In fact, none of the Big Three (Luke, Han or Leia) make an appearance-this details the adventures of what my friends and I call the Fab Four: Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, Wes Janson and Derek "Hobbie" Klivian! Find out why the sun offends Wedge and what he asks Janson to do about it! Will Wedge find true love? All this and more!
Rating: Summary: Star Wars, Xwing Review: This is an interesting book. I would recommend reading it. It does help to somewhat fill in some of the gaps in Wedge's life.
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