“X-Wing: Wraith Squadron” (1998), the fifth book in the “X-Wing” series, introduces us to the misfits of a newly formed squadron whose pilots boast a mix of piloting and commando skills, along with author Aaron Allston, who takes the series’ reins from Michael A. Stackpole.
Allston was the first author of the Bantam era to have such a sense of fun with “Star Wars” that some passages are outright humorous. When Wes Janson — essentially serving as Wedge’s casting director — mentions that an Ewok with leg and arm extensions is auditioning for a spot in the squadron, it leads to a running “Yub, yub” punchline throughout the book.
In my head, I had ranked Allston as a superior writer to Stackpole, but at this point in my re-reading project, I put Stackpole a bit higher. His plots are easier to follow. At times in “Wraith Squadron,” I didn’t understand the exact nature of the mission. Allston recovers by the end, though, delivering a whiz-bang last 100 pages or so.
The plot — which involves the Wraiths disguising themselves as Imperials and hitting Warlord Zsinj’s bases (they even have two TIE fighters to help with the trickery) — doesn’t kick in until after page 100. However, Allston proves himself to be at least an equal to his “X-Wing” predecessor in the arena of characters. Whereas Stackpole zeroed in on a few now-iconic characters (Wedge, Tycho and Corran), Allston gives almost equal time to all 12 members of Wraith Squadron.
The de facto main character is Kell Tainer (who returned in Timothy Zahn’s “Scoundrels” earlier this year), a demolitions expert who fears he will screw up the same way his father did and get his whole squadron killed. He also fears Janson, who was forced to shoot down Kell’s father. Meanwhile, he finds time to romance fellow pilot Tyria in a rather cute subplot.
Allston pushes the envelope with Piggy, who — thanks to Imperial experimentation — is the only highly intelligent Gamorrean in existence. It’s a risky character, as readers could’ve shut the book on him as quickly as if the Ewok pilot had been real. But Piggy ultimately proves that risky writing leads to the best writing, and readers ultimately agreed; the Gamorrean returned as the main character in 2012’s “Mercy Kill,” the 10th and most recent “X-Wing” book.
The character I remembered most, though, is Garik “Face” Loran, an Imperial propaganda film child star who now flies for the New Republic. His special skill is, of course, acting, and he has the perspiration-inspiring task of tricking Zsinj into thinking he’s one of his own officers. (By the way, “Wraith Squadron” is the first book where Zsinj, a side note throughout the “Rogue Squadron” quadrilogy, finally becomes the main nemesis. The ultimate showdown looms ahead in Book 7, “Solo Command,” which ties in with “The Courtship of Princess Leia,” where the warlord was first mentioned.)
The pleasant sense of lightness that permeates “Wraith Squadron” results in more of a punch to the gut when pilots are killed. There are some matter-of-fact deaths in the final battle that almost (but not quite) made me want to put the book down to honor the deceased pilot.
One thing I slightly struggled with in the final act are the really short chunks of writing as the action shifts between perspectives. I ultimately went with it, but I find Stackpole’s sense of pacing to be pretty much perfect; Allston comes off as a bit choppy by comparison, but then again, probably any author would.
Despite his risk-taking, Allston is also a modest writer who respects fans’ attachment to Stackpole’s work. In the final pages, Wedge — who leads both the Rogues and the Wraiths — tells Admiral Ackbar: “I’m not really as close to the Wraiths as I am to the Rogues, sir.” Wedge has a running bet with Ackbar: If the Wraiths prove their worth, they’ll be commissioned as an official squadron. If not, Wedge has to take a military promotion that will force him to leave his X-wing cockpit for good.
While some readers might disagree, Allston doesn’t give himself credit for proving his worth just yet. But on the final page he invites readers to at least join him for the ride ahead: “Your three months aren’t up, General. You are still in danger,” Ackbar tells Wedge.
Comments
For my money, the Wraith Squadron ‘trilogy’ beats out even the Thrawn trilogy and Kyle Katarn’s saga for my favorite expanded universe saga. When people rag on the EU, they are usually thinking of the Crystal Star, or early marvel comics; when I defend the EU as an absolutely amazing work of art, it is these books that are on my mind. The character arcs of the Wraiths, and particularly their wrap-ups both good and bad (and some unconfirmed until Mercy Kill) are really what sticks with me whenever I think of Star Wars beyond the films.# Posted By Andrew Gilbertson | 12/21/15 1:00 PM
Yes, I agree that the Wraith trilogy is superior — a notch better than the Thrawn trilogy and way better than the Katarn trilogy (which I didn’t really care for as books — and I’m not familiar with the gaming side of it). I have a suspicion that a lot of the “EU sucks” crowd simply stopped reading with “Crystal Star” and they are therefore unfamiliar with the great stuff that came afterward. I can’t prove it, though. I lament that we didn’t get more X-wing books while Allston was alive, while Stackpole was still a SW author and while SW was still owned by Lucas. I suppose 10 books is nothing to sneeze at, but it’s clear to me that Stackpole and Allston had an extra level of enthusiasm when writing these characters rather than writing for larger sagas such as NJO, LOTF and FOTJ.# Posted By John Hansen | 12/21/15 8:44 PM