Between the premature end of the “The Clone Wars,” rumors of a new animated series and a mysterious Facebook post of a TIE fighter from Dave Filoni, there’s been scuttlebutt from fans that the “X-Wing” saga might become a TV series. Although that’s unlikely to happen, it’s certainly fun to dream about when reading classics like “X-Wing: Solo Command” (1999), the final chapter of Aaron Allston’s “Wraith Squadron” trilogy.
This seventh book in the series has a particularly episodic feel, with the Wraiths going on a dangerous infiltration mission that barely involves X-wings before climbing into their cockpits for the epic finale — which also features Rogue Squadron, a bunch of other squadrons, Han Solo, a romance between Wraith pilot Myn Donos and possible defector Lara Notsil, a rivalry between Wedge and Imperial 181st pilot Soontir Fel … just to name a few threads. There are a lot of different points of view, a lot of different situations and a lot of different planets (most evocative is the ruins of a destroyed colony where the final starfighter duels commence). But, much like “The Clone Wars” TV series, it works because we like all the characters, and we revel in the variety of story types.
Notsil, in fact, might be the most compelling “Star Wars” character that no one ever talks about. Her bouncing back and forth between the good guys and the bad guys is not unique (see Shira Brie from the Marvel comics), nor is her changing of identities for undercover work (see Mara Jade and other Timothy Zahn creations). However, Allston doesn’t take the usual tack of portraying such a character as being cold and inhuman. Rather, Lara is fragile and likable — despite being very good at what she does, and very dangerous to her enemies. And, in a world where she’s made enemies of every human she’s met, who would be her best friend? Her Artoo unit, naturally. Arguably, Lara-Tonin is an even sweeter relationship than Lara-Myn.
So certainly, Allston is good at getting into characters’ heads. But one area where “Solo Command” falls a bit short is the brainwashing plot. The novel starts with an assassination attempt on Admiral Ackbar by an agent who is triggered with a key phrase by a Zsinj undercover agent. While the concept is solid — it’s a way for Zsinj to fracture the New Republic politically by causing a rift between humans and aliens — the explanation for how Zsinj pulls this off is a bit lacking. Still, it’s an engaging plot, and one that would be used again in the nine-book “Fate of the Jedi” series that wrapped up in 2012. (Although I’m an apologist for that series, comparing the two brainwashing plots supports the criticism that “Fate of the Jedi” was several books longer than it needed to be.)
The main arc — Solo’s mission to destroy pesky Warlord Zsinj — continues with some solid military writing that props up scenes that really would work better on a TV show, such as two capital ships exchanging point-blank turbolaser fire. We also get some sort of cloaking device that calls to mind the “Clone Wars” Season 1 arc about the Malevolence.
Next in the series, we have Stackpole’s “Isard’s Revenge,” where the Rogues pick up the cliffhanger of their rivalry with the Imperial Intelligence mastermind from the “Rogue Squadron” quadrilogy. By necessity, the “Wraith” trilogy similarly ends with Solo’s hunt for Zsinj unresolved — it leads into 1994’s “The Courtship of Princess Leia.” As a “Star Wars” continuity geek, I love how Allston is able to hook up with the Dave Wolverton book. However, fans reading the novels in order might be disappointed by that comparatively mediocre yarn.
Allston continues to prove that when it comes to “Star Wars” action on the printed page, it doesn’t get much better than “X-Wing,” and that’s why so many fans continue to clamor for more stories — in any medium.
Comments
“Notsil, in fact, might be the most compelling “Star Wars” character that no one ever talks about.”
Yes, absolutely! I agree! And her short cameo in Mercy Kill was both a nice epilogue, and a hilarious short scene. Truly a great character.# Posted By Andrew Gilbertson | 12/21/15 1:04 PM
The depth of the character roster on the X-wing books is part of what makes them so re-readable. I enjoyed them the second time through as if I was reading them for the first time. I read “Mercy Kill” but didn’t catch the Lara Notsil cameo. Something to look forward to on a re-read, I suppose.# Posted By John Hansen | 12/21/15 8:45 PM