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Summary: X-Wing remains one of the best parts of Star Wars
Review: "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
Rating: 
Summary: a satisfying book
Review: Another good book in the star wars saga. What I especially like about the X-Wing series is that it focuses more around Wedge than Luke, Han, Leia, etc. which most of the other star wars novels don't do. I did feel that there should have been more time spent in the X-Wings battling, I'm sure the Rebellion has people better trained for that kind of operation than a bunch of fighter pilots.
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Summary: I think it was a great book. It is my favorite series
Review: Any one who likes Star Wars, and action, should read this
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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.
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Summary: A very exciting edition to the rouge squadran saga!!
Review: At the begginning of this book i was a bit worried about just how well it would compare to the brilliant first book but after the first few pages you soon realise that i'ts every bit as good. The people who say that it's to far fetched to be realistic i say one thing to "this is star wars what do you expect!!"
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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.
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Summary: That's a thrill !
Review: Fabulous ! This book really rocks ! I have already read SW books which actions actually happen after the plot of this book, and one could think that since we know what happens next, there's no real interest in discovering the Rebellion's taking Coruscant. Yet, it's all the contrary here : at every moment we're looking forward to seeing what happens next, there are a lot of surprises, and all of that makes it a terribly thrilling and exciting book on which you're stuck until you've finished it. Mickael Stackpole is a really very great writer, at least the equal of Timothy Zahn I would say, and he has managed to create around Wedge a new genuine set of characters into whom and into whose adventures one can easily have a great interest, and characters who are really consistent, I mean with a deep and great personnality. So, this is one of the greatest SF books I have ever read (after Hyperion and its sequel, of course), hence it's truely worth its five dollars : this won't ruin you, and you shall spend some good time with it.
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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: 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.
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Summary: Neck & Neck between this one and Iron Fist for my favorite
Review: I absolutely loved this book. Even if you know minimal about star wars, this is still a great book. Stackpole pulled off a super book, so artisticly explaining how the fearless pilots of Rogue Squadron infilirated the capital of the empire, made new allies, and overthrew the heart of the Empire. Be amazed as Corran Horn manages to ensure the victory of the alliance in a single stroke of the Z-95's laser cannon. What a great book! Thumbs up to you Stackpole.
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