The Bacta War (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 4)

Rating:
Summary: The best of the X-Wing series!
Review: While I was slow to get into the series, I am sad to see it go. Bacta War is a fitting conclusion to the series. The dog fights are some of the best I have ever read. The moments between the action were captivating. A must-read

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT X-WING BOOK
Review: This is by far the best of the X-wing series books. It was by far a great end to a great series. A whopping 10 for it

Rating:
Summary: Best X-Wing Book Yet!!!
Review: This, without question, is THE greatest X-Wing book! The dogfights are a must, and Iceheart's Star Destroyer Attacks are riveting! Plus, this book unravels alot of cool stuff, like Corran Horn meeting Booster Terrik! It's to die for

Rating:
Summary: You can not put it down!
Review: I think this is Micheal Stackpole's best book of the series. It is an excellent conclusion to the X-wing series I am sorry to see it go

Rating:
Summary: Stackpole is one of the best Star Wars has to offer
Review: "The Bacta War" is the fourth book of the nine book X-Wing series. It is also the concluding book of a four novel story arc which follows the Rogue Squadron two years after the events of "The Return of the Jedi". At the end of the third book, "The Krytos Trap" Rogue pilot Corran Horn was presumed dead while trying to free Coruscant of the Krytos virus. Perennial suspect and Rogue member Tycho Celchu is believed to be the traitor who caused Horn's death. While Celchu is under arrest we soon learn that Corran Horn is alive, though not well. He is a prisoner of Ysanne Isard at the infamous Lusankya prison. It is because of his release from Lusankya that Celchu is believed to be a double agent for the Empire. A good portion of "The Bacta War" is spent with Corran Horn and his attempts to escape from Lusankya.

The rest of the book, however, deals with the "bacta war" itself. After giving up Coruscant to the krytos virus and to the Alliance, Ysanne Isard, a top Empire Intelligence Official and de facto ruler, has escaped to Thyferra. Thyferra is the only planet in the galaxy which still makes the healing bacta wonder drug. Allowing control of bacta to stay in the hands of Isard would be disaster for the Rebel Alliance. But, because Isard gained control of Thyferra legally, the Alliance cannot attack without losing credibility or its moral strength. The Rogues take matters into their own hands and resign from the Alliance to fight their own war and get Isard out of Thyferra.

There is a smaller subplot which has to do with the investigation of Tycho Celchu, but the direction this novel takes is more towards the war against Isard and Horn trying to escape. In the process Horn learns more about his heritage and we are treated to another excellent Star Wars novel by Michael Stackpole. He is able to mix humor, action, and tell a good story that keeps the reader interested the entire way through. He introduces new characters, strengthens our interest in older characters, and adds to the depth of the Star Wars Universe. He also does a good job in completing the four book story arc of the Rogue Squadron. Surely there are other battles, but this is sufficient. The next X-Wing book will be Aaron Allston's "Wraith Sqaudron", which introduces a new X-Wing squadron unrelated to the Rogues. Stackpole is one of the best Star Wars authors out there, and this book is not a let down.

-Joe Sherry

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Finish to the First X-Wing Set!
Review: The Bacta War was the first X-Wing novel I ever read. It's dynamic storytelling hooked me right away even though I didn't know all the history of the previous 3 books. Stackpole is at his best mixing up space dogfights with brutal firefights and large scale planetary conquest. Yet for all its grandeur, this story is an intimate one. The moment when Corran Horn meets his girlfriends father is hysterical yet at the same time totally believable. This is Star Wars on a new level. The characters introduced and continued in the first 3 novels come alive with a vividness that is startling. The villain is totally evil and because of the way Stackpole played in the treachery of a Rogue, the story takes on a more personal note for the reader. They identify more with the renegade Rogues, creating a tense and sweeping space yarn. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Stackpole Does It Again In Book 4 !!
Review: Once again, Michale Stackpole promises an exciting and suspenseful adventure. Boy, does he ever deliver! As we enter this, the fourth book in the X-wing series, the members of Rogue Squadron have resigned their commissions. Their intentions are very clear - to free Thyferra from the clutches of Iceheart, better known as Ysanne Isaard. They get some help along the way, some of it from unlikely sources.
This novel is rich with action - dogfights galore! And the plot twists! Plus, this novel heralds the return of some of the older squadron members (from the comic book series), as well as expanding on such characters as Iella Wessiri and Mirax Terrik. Booster Terrik puts in his appearance in this novel. And Expanded Universe fans are also given a real treat as Talon Karrde puts in an appearance.
Although some parts of the book are rather predictable, others will blow you out of the star system! But be warned, there is very little in the way of ground fighting in this part of the series. It's almost all starfighting! As far as I'm concerned, this book holds it own with the others in the series, although boook three is still my favorite thus far. Stackpole seems to have ironed out the kinks in the series that he experienced in the first novel. Now the action is fast-paced and intense, enabling the reader to become so engrossed that they nearly finish the novel in one day!

Rating:
Summary: A Solid Ending, But Not Without Faults
Review: This has been, overall, a great series, and this book was one of the best. Tieing up most of the loose ends, (Isard, Mirax and Corran, etc) it also didn't shy away from showing some of the best character interactions I've seen yet, which really made me care about these characters. On a lesser note, we finally get to find out where Bacta comes from! I've been reading the New Jedi Order for a while, so I know what happens to Corran later in life, but still, I was very pleased, if not surprised, by his devopments in this book. I'd recommend this series mostly to teenagers and adults, due to some adult themes. Besides that though, this book was highly enjoyable and I look forward to the next one!