Birds Without Wings

Average customer rating:

Unforgettable

When and empire collapses all perish under it

Is Louis de Bernieres married?

your efforts will be rewarded

A subject not often written about

Birds Without Wings
Louis De Bernieres
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Corelli's Mandolin: A Novel

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ASIN: 1400043417
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Book Description

Louis de Bernières’s last novel, Corelli’s Mandolin, was met with the highest praise: “Behind every page,” said Richard Russo, “we sense its author’s intelligence, wit, heart, imagination, and wisdom. This is a great book.” A. S. Byatt placed the author in “the direct line that runs through Dickens and Evelyn Waugh.” Now, de Bernières gives us his long-awaited new novel. Huge, resonant, lyrical, filled with humor and pathos, a novel about the political and personal costs of war, and of love–between men and women, between friends, between those who are driven to be enemies.

It is the story of a small coastal town in South West Anatolia in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire told in the richly varied voices of the people–Christians and Muslims of Turkish and Greek and Armenian descent–whose lives are rooted there, intertwined for untold years. There is Iskander, the potter and local font of proverbial wisdom; Karatavuk–Iskander’s son–and Mehmetçik, childhood friends whose playground stretches across the hills above the town, where Mehmetçik teaches the illiterate Karatavuk to write Turkish in Greek letters. There are Father Kristoforos and Abdulhamid Hodja, holy men of different faiths who greet each other as “Infidel Efendi”; Rustem Bey, the landlord and protector of the town, whose wife is stoned for the sin of adultery. There is a man known as “the Dog” because of his hideous aspect, who lives among the Lycian tombs; and another known as “the Blasphemer,” who wanders the town cursing God and all of his representatives of all faiths. And there is Philothei, the Christian girl of legendary beauty, courted from infancy by Ibrahim the goatherd–a great love that culminates in tragedy and madness. But Birds Without Wings is also the story of Mustafa Kemal, whose military genius will lead him to victory against the invading Western European forces of the Great War and a reshaping of the whole region.

When the young men of the town are conscripted, we follow Karatavuk to Gallipoli, where the intimate brutality of battle robs him of all innocence. And in the town he left behind, we see how the twin scourges of fanatical religion and nationalism unleashed by the war quickly, and irreversibly, destroy the fabric of centuries-old peace.

Epic in its narrative sweep–steeped in historical fact–yet profoundly humane and dazzlingly evocative in its emotional and sensual detail, Birds Without Wings is a triumph.

Customer Reviews:

Unforgettable.......2007-09-13

I have always been interested in modern history of Turkey and Greece, but never really had a chance to read up on it. This book is my first encounter with Turkey/Greece modern hystory, and I would say I learned a lot! Not just the history, but the religions and the relationships between Muslims and Christians in Turkey then, the cultures, etc. and how the wars affected them.

About the book, this is my first time to read this author's book, and I had to get used to his style. Each chapter is dedicated to one specific character, in relation to the events and to the other characters. In other words, one chapter is about Iskander the potter, another chapter is about Philothei, etc. Some chapters are written in 3rd person, some in 1st person. So at first, it was like bits and pieces, patches put together, and not continuous story. But once I got used to the style, it went pretty quickly, and I was so absorbed. Using both 3rd person and 1st person gave glimmering colors to the characters. YOu can see and understand the people in different light, which leads you to get to know them so intimately. They are so vividly alive that you almost think you've grown up with them since childhood.

He writes with absolute confidence and assurance, in an as-a-matter-of-factly way, but it's not dry like some books written by some of the modern writers. Instead, it is rich and powerful, and it contains good humor too. Some scenes are very moving, but he doesn't linger or make them emotional more than he needs to. And that makes those scenes even more precious and unforgettable.
The history is so complicated, and I don't know how he sorted everything out and put it into a story such as this one.

In any case, it's one of the best books I've read this year so far, and I will remember the characters and the story for a very very long time.

When and empire collapses all perish under it.......2007-07-07

This is the best novel I have read so far by a non turkish author displaying the human drama during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
You will not be able to put down the book until you reach its end.

Is Louis de Bernieres married?.......2007-04-07

If not, do you think he would consider marrying me? Or, if he is already married, I'd be glad to be his concubine. His prose is so heart-stirringly beautiful that it hurts. I could almost not stand knowing that this book was going to end, which is no mean feat when you consider that the eventual death of the town beauty is revealed in the beginning of the story, removing any sort of dramatic suspense of the sort lesser writers employ to keep their readers turning the pages.

Which is not to say that this book is not completely engaging and entertaining in the conventional sense, because it certainly is. One of the most enchanting things about this book, in fact, is that you are so drawn in to the lives of so many different characters, some of whom appear only fleetingly, and many of whom lead particularly uneventful lives. What is so compelling is the way de Bernieres weaves their narratives together, and conveys how all his characters are caught up in the historical forces that are swirling around them.

It is sobering to read this book and realize that the same historical forces are actually wreaking havoc in the very real and non-fictional world today. Were it not for having discovered de Bernieres and his glorious prose, I am not sure that I would have the strength to go on. His presentation of the inexorable chaos born of indefatigable nationalism may be spot-on, but it does not make one feel at all optimistic about an amelioration of the current state of World Events.

However, as long this is a world where books such as this can be read, there is some solace in being, as de Bernieres says, a "bird without wings" rather than a "[person] without sorrows".

your efforts will be rewarded.......2006-12-07

This is the best book I have read in a long time. Having said that, this book is not for everyone. I had read 'Corelli's Mandolin" 10 years ago so I was familiar with the writing style of this author, which I believed helped.
This book takes patience and work but I feel is well worth the great amounts of both. I am of Greek descent and rarely have I heard the "Turkish side" of the events of 1921 between Greece and Turkey. De Bernieres has a great knack for interweaving historical events with both fictional and factual characters. In doing so, he creates a novel much like Hemingway did in his war novels. Stories that are both international and personal. And, with much heartache. As usual, stories such as these say as much about the period they are depicting as today unfortunately. (I'm curious if George w. could even get through the 1st chapter of this book.) I hope they make this into a movie and that it does not become the catastrophe that the film version of 'Corelli's Mandolin" ended-up being. I highly recommend this book to serious readers.

A subject not often written about.......2006-09-11

Another reviewer described reading this novel as a beverage - the first half a fine cognac - a sip at a time. The second half more like cold water that one gulps down. I have to agree. I read the first 2 chapters over twice to become acquainted and remember the characters. The story develops slowly but holds your interest. As the book continued more characters were introduced and the reader is drawn into the town & country. There are many characters each representing a bit of knowledge about the time & place. Theodorus the merchant who built the town pump, Drusella a Greek who must leave Turkey, the town intellectual who reads greek, the Armenian apothecary, Tamara who is stoned for being unfaithful and becomes a prostitute etc. The muslim leader, Abdulhamid Hodja, gives someone who is not familar with the religous laws some insight so they do not seem as oppressive as imagined. The muslim Turks are not taught to read a disadvantage when compared to the Greeks and Armenians.
I'm not sure the biography of Ataturk was as insightful.
But this is a book I would not have missed reading.

Average customer rating:

I hate to spoil the party, but...
perfection on the page
I laughed so hard, I nearly died!
Gods and monsters
A wonderful read

On The Wings of Heroes
Richard Peck
Manufacturer: Dial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0803730810
Release Date: 2007-02-15

Book Description

Davy Bowman's brother and their dad hung the moon. Dad looks forward to Halloween more than a kid, and Davy's brother, Bill, flies B-17s. Davy adores these two heroes and tries his best to follow their lead, especially now.

World War II has invaded Davy's homefront boyhood. There's an air raid drill in the classroom, and being a kid is an endless scrap drive. Bill has joined up, breaking their dad's heart. It's an intense, confusing time, and one that will invite Davy to grow up in a hurry.

Still, Richard Peck is a master of comedy, and even in this novel of wartime uncertainty, he infuses his tale with humor: oddballs and rascals and boyhood misadventures alongside the poignant moments. This is one of Richard Peck's very finest novels—a tender, unforgettable portrait of the World War II homefront and a family's love.

Customer Reviews:

I hate to spoil the party, but..........2007-08-27

I grew tired of this book about halfway through and put it down. The prose is perfect, the imagery vivid, but nothing kept pulling me further into the book. I feel hesitant criticizing the award-winning author, but I can't imagine a middle school boy reading this book unless he had to, because nothing much really happens.

perfection on the page.......2007-08-11

Richard Peck is the best. He makes you want to turn the page for all the right reasons. Add this book to the long list of other great things RP has written. Bravo!

I laughed so hard, I nearly died!.......2007-07-27

(Listened to this book on CD) This book is a real gem. I rented some books on tape from my local library for a trip. This was the first one I popped in. I was rivited!! I laughed so hard....I thought I was gonna die. I even had to stop at a rest stop to use the mens room. While I was in there, the last scene of the story came to my mind and I began to laugh uncontrollably!. The man beside must have thought I was a real nut. This is truly a well written, well read book. I ended up listening to it over again...3 times. In fact I never even touched the other books I rented. I tried to listen to one other and almost immediately had to pop it out and put "Wings Of Heros" back in. I made my kids and wife listen to it. I love this book! I cannot highy reccommend it enough. The Charactors are priceless. It is one of the few books on tape that I would say is perfect! The scene where the boy is in school and they are having a practice air raid will leave you in stitches! The man who read this did such a good job, that I'm not sure I would have loved it as well as I do If I had read it myself. If you need a good laugh and love a good story and want to feel really good all over...do yourself a favor and rent or buy this book...then go for a 4 hour drive and enjoy!

Gods and monsters.......2007-05-14

Richard Peck is such an old-fashioned guy. Go through his books and look what you find. Nasty bullies getting their due. Pranks. Upright citizens. Heroes. Work that makes a boy strong. And wise old people who dole out necessary advice and make the rest of us look weak in comparison. It takes a couple heaping helpfuls of nostalgia to write a Richard Peck book, and as far as I can figure it, nostalgia falls into two distinct categories: Good Nostalgia and Bad Nostalgia. Bad Nostalgia bores the socks off its readers. It wallows too deeply in the idea of how great things used to be and would rather eat its own shoes than allow that there might be some pretty great things going on right now. Good Nostalgia's a different beast entirely. It conjures up the past, transplanting its readers to another time. A time where there was good and there was bad, but most of all there was just a world that wasn't too unlike our own. "On the Wings of Heroes" is rife with Good Nostalgia. It bears the flaws of its genre without apology, but is a pretty good book in the end anyway.

Everyone has to have a hero. For Davy it's his older brother Bill. It's World War II and Bill's off to fight in a handsome B-17, carrying with him his small town's good wishes. Life before and during the war couldn't be more different. Before the war Davy spent a lot of time with his best friend Scooter, trying out their new bikes, enjoying Halloween, and playing in the warm summer nights. During is different. Now the kids are doing regular collections for the war effort. Bill's been sent off to fight and Davy's avoiding the malevolent (not to say violent) Beverly C. while dealing with family worries to boot. With a great cast of kooky characters and superb writing, a book that could have been yet another dull historical novel distinguishes itself. A great slice from the past.

A co-worker of mine is a gigantic Richard Peck fan. She's read his books cover to cover and then back again. As such, she's probably his biggest critic. After going through "Heroes", she found she was not entirely impressed. Richard Peck lite, she called it. She even pointed out certain elements to me. The dirty bully girl in the book? Wasn't she in a couple of his stories before? Ditto the ancient teacher idea, the pranks, and even the Midwestern setting. To her eyes, he's done it all before and he's done it better. Be that as it may, I am not a fan of her caliber. I read A Long Way From Chicago and A Year Down Yonder and enjoyed them just fine. Then I read The Teacher's Funeral and Here Lies the Librarian and was disappointed. So for me, "On the Wings of Heroes" represents a return to form. Sure Peck is reusing some old tropes and techniques. Still, if you take the book in and of itself and don't compare it to his past or future work, I think it stands rather nicely all on its own. It may not garner the biggest awards out there, but there's no doubt in my mind that it'll have its fans.

Peck's writing makes the whole enterprise well worth a peek anyway. First of all, he's funny, which is of vast unrecognized importance. Like any kid assigned this in school, I actually wasn't too keen on reading, "On the Wings of Heroes." Historical fiction is fine and all but I shy away from it when I can. So it's nice to get sucked into novel, especially if it's against your will. The individual sentences get all evocative and suggestions are made of future events. For example, whenever Davy's father hears of an injustice or a wrong, we hear that, "something coiled in him again." That "something" never uncoils in this book, but I suspect that it probably happens long after this particular story is over.

Of course, Peck writes of a white white world. If you're looking for a little diversity, he's not your man. It doesn't usually occur to me when I read him, but this book in particular shows just how pale as newly fallen snow Peck's universe is. He doesn't deal with racism or social injustice much at all. So when the DAR gets a mention, it sticks out more for me than it might if there was a single African-American character living in this Midwestern American town. Those of you who would prefer to read a book with a little more racial complexity would do well to look to another novel.

Will kids read it? Not if you don't sell it to them. Look, if a kid is standing in front of a row of books and one book has the title, Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians and the other book reads, "On the Wings of Heroes" which book is the kid going to pick up first? I mean some will read this book and love it, no question. It sounds odd to say, but the book this reminded me the most of was Ray Bradbury's, Dandelion Wine. Know me and know my love of "Dandelion Wine" and you'll see how grand a compliment this really is. It doesn't have Bradbury's dark surreal undercurrents, of course, but there's a lot of joy here and a lot of familiar ideas. Plus, other books crop up in the old memory as well, like the moment when the root beer brewing in the basement explodes like a fourteen gun salute. It reminded me of nothing so much as the brewing that goes on in that great 30s novel, Cheaper by the Dozen]. Though it shouldn't be confused with an accurate representation of the past in all respects, there's a lot in Peck's novel to enjoy. It has the ability to make children nostalgic for a time they will never know. Recommended.

A wonderful read.......2007-04-27

I cannot think of any author who does more to refresh the palate and revive the spirit than Richard Peck. He has such fun telling a story. His uplifting and moving novel, On the 'Wings of Heroes' was exactly what I was in the mood for.

This book is an extension, of sorts, of a short story he contributed to 'Guys Write for Guys Read' by Jon Scieszka about his wonderful father and his love of Halloween.

This story begins on the eve of WWII. Peck perfectly evokes a time when neighbors knew each other and families banded together to support their community and the war effort with scrap metal drives, jalopy parades, black outs and tire rationing.

Davy Bowman's beloved older brother enlists and becomes a B-17 bombardier, flying missions over Germany. Davy worships his brother and his dad. His father loves his boys and fears for the oldest one because, as a WWI veteran, he knows war. The relationship between the boys and their dad is wonderfully written. Peck commented at a book signing, "I'm trying to share my father with boys who don't have them."

Sugar rationing, milkweed collecting and Boy Scout paper drives are part of the lives of Davy and his best friend Scooter. School teachers are called away to work in the war plants leaving bullies free reign in the classroom. News on the radio is all important and loving grandparents arrive to help out when times are tough.

The town is full of Peck's typically quirky characters and life lessons. Is the shotgun wielding Miss Titus crazy or the canniest substitute teacher in the world? What is in the trunk in Mr. Stonecypher's scary attic?

Certainly, Davy's heroes are his father and his brother but after reading this book you understand the heroism of those on the home front too: the long retired teacher who steps into the classroom again; the father whose son did not come home from WWI but supports the war effort; the victory gardens; blue, silver, and gold stars in the windows representing families in waiting or grieving.

The beauty, tenderness and humor in this very American story put it at the top of my favorite books list.

Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

A pleasing transition piece...

Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 1
Haden Blackman , Michael Stackpole , Mike Baron , Various , Tomas Giorello , and Allen Nunis
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1593075723

Book Description

The greatest starfighters of the Rebel Alliance become the defenders of a New Republic in this massive collection of stories featuring Wedge Antilles, hero of the Battle of Endor, and his team of ace pilots known throughout the galaxy as Rogue Squadron! Meet the Rogues for the first time and learn the fate of the galaxy immediately after the events of Return of the Jedi as the Rebellion's best pilots battle remnants of the Empire wherever its ugly agenda of fear and domination appears. Along with the critically-acclaimed X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair, this jam-packed volume contains tons of material never before collected! This volume contains never before collected material, including Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Leader #1-3, Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Rebel Opposition #1-4, Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair #1-4, and Star Wars Handbook: X-Wing Rogue Squadron.

Customer Reviews:

A pleasing transition piece..........2006-07-13

...from The Truce at Bakura (the fairly tame EU novel by Kathy Tyers) to the X-wing novels (written by Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston).

In it, we can see the formation of the the infamous Rogues as a mix of both Classic Trilogy, Novel, and Comic characters all with their various back-stories (some of which are thin, some quite fleshed out and continuous) and the like.

While the adventures are formulaic and a tad predictable (as are MOST space operas), they're still fun and in keeping with the pace and flow you could find in movies.

Look for tie-ins to the novels and both the Classic Trilogy and the Prequels, but basically just sit back and enjoy tame, but comfortable series of storytelling.

Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens: Uniforms, Wings & Insignia of Usaaf Airmen in World War II (Schiffer Military History)

Average customer rating:

Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens: Uniforms, Wings & Insignia of Usaaf Airmen in World War II (Schiffer Military History)
Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens
this book has many appealing aspects
A MUST HAVE FOR MILITARIA ENTHUSIASTS!
Outstanding reference for WWII wings, insignia and uniforms.

Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens: Uniforms, Wings & Insignia of Usaaf Airmen in World War II (Schiffer Military History)
Jon A. Maguire
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0887405789

Book Description

This new look at the uniforms and insignia of the USAAF during the World War II years covers a broad range of clothing, collar insignia, rank insignia, shoulder/sleeve insignia and squadron patches. Additionally, there is an in-depth examination of wing qualification badges. Actual items are presented in nearly 600 illustrations in full color, and also as they appeared in actual war-era photos. Actual uniform regulations and illustrations from the 1943 and 1944 Officers Guides are also provided. Silver Wings, Pinks & Greens will be a useful addition to the libraries of collectors, historians, modelers and veterns alike. Jon Maguire is also the author of American Flight Jackets, Airmen & Aircraft: A History of U.S. Flyers' Jackets from World War I to Desert Storm(with John Conway). Jon lives in Oklahoma City, Ok.

, over 500 b/w and color photos, 8 1/2" x 11"

Customer Reviews:

Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens: Uniforms, Wings & Insignia of Usaaf Airmen in World War II (Schiffer Military History).......2007-03-10

First and Last stop for WW II U.S. Army Air Force uniform information !

Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens.......2006-02-23

Only book of its kind I could find. Referred to me by a true expert in WW2 Army Air Corp flight ware, patches and pins. I found it not only complete, factual and full of information but very personal at times;

Glynn Furr..

this book has many appealing aspects.......2000-02-26

I am 2LT Jesse Irwin Carnes [USAF-CAP, 16010th Composite Squadron]. I REALLY recommend this book by Jon Maguire, i.e., "Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens." Anyone who is SERIOUS about collecting WWII militaria, especially uniforms, pilot's wings, etc., then THIS book is SINE QUA NON ... it is indispensable.

So, how is it SO indispensable? It helps you know WHAT to look for when you collect militaria from this genre. It helps you to develop an "eye" for what is correct in authentic items.

Secondly, Jon Maguire's descriptions enable you to KNOW what WIEGHT or colour or texture a GENUINE article should be.

Any suggestions for a "Revised" edition by Maguire? He might want to add a 1-2 page writeup on the "Best-of-the-best" militaria items, such as A-2 flight jackets by "RoughWear" [no longer in business] or uniforms [and especially officer's visor service caps] by the inimitable "Luxenberg" [also no longer in business] and so forth.

Secondly, sometimes his foto light was a shade deviant, so that the reddish-russet officer's officer's shoes looked more tan-brown. How do I know? I own an "NOS" [new old stock] pair of UNissued officer's low quarters. They are a burnt-orange reddish-brown, like some of the early war visor service caps.

I also own a full set of officer's PINKS, and under flourescent light, they look mauve/pink. His fotos looked more khaki.

But this can be improved in time. Nonetheless, this book rates 5 stars for EFFORT and for its overall USEFULLness.

BTW, if Jon Maguire reads this, can he write me for suggestions and queries?

thanx ;

*salute*

2LT Jesse Irwin Carnes

A MUST HAVE FOR MILITARIA ENTHUSIASTS!.......1999-04-18

This is the best reference book that I have found so far for identification and history of USAF wings. A book like this pays for itself the first time you use it as a buyer, seller, or collector.

Outstanding reference for WWII wings, insignia and uniforms........1998-07-02

For collectors of WWII wings and related insignia, this is an outstanding reference guide. Normally, reference books on wings contain errors relating to the wings period of manufacture, however the author is on the mark each time. The photographs are excellent, including a short section on hallmarks. Highly recommended!!

Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Star Wars Omnibus
The continuing adventures of Rogue Squadron are well worth a look

Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 2
Michael A. Stackpole , Jan Strnad , Ryder Windham , John Nadeau , Gary Erskine , and Jordi Ensign
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1593076193

Book Description

As the Empire withers away and the New Republic grows, one team of ace starfighters takes on the most critical missions to ensure freedom in a galaxy long oppressed - Rogue Squadron! Collecting X-Wing Rogue Squadron #9-20, this mammoth volume includes "Battleground Tatooine," "The Warrior Princess" and "Requiem for a Rogue." Whether it's keeping a massive weapons cache out of the hands of Jabba the Hutt's would-be successors, brokering peace on a planet racked by civil war, or rescuing a downed cruiser from the jaws of an ancient evil, no task is too treacherous for the heroes of Rogue Squadron!

Customer Reviews:

Star Wars Omnibus.......2007-09-21

The book was good and complete. All that would be expected. Less than 5 stars as the book binding is already breaking down.

The continuing adventures of Rogue Squadron are well worth a look.......2006-12-05

Star Wars Omnibus: X-wing Rogue Squadron Volume Two compiles several multi-issue arcs of the Dark Horse comic book saga in one handy volume. The premise of the omnibus books is to give Dark Horse a way to present novel-length stories in a single collection and also to provide a home for single issues or short stories that might otherwise be forgotten. The book includes three four-issue story arcs, along with a single issue one-off. The presentation of the omnibus is very attractive and clean, with a lot of content packed between the covers.

The four stories are as follows:

"Rogue Squadron Special" - This story is the one issue tale and it takes place a few weeks after the Battle of Endor. Wedge and the Rogues liberate the planet Tandankin from Imperial oppression, but are dismayed to find the citizens criticizing their methods and the collateral damage caused by the battle. Fortunately, Luke Skywalker is still a member of Rogue Squadron and he steps forward to explain to the mob why exactly Wedge Antilles is such a great guy. It's a fun walkthrough of Wedge's movie highlights and also establishes him as the fearless leader we are to follow in the upcoming comics.

"Battleground: Tatooine" - An Alliance agent is on Tatooine investigating the struggles of local warlords to take control of the planet and their possible Imperial connections. Rogue Squadron is sent to assist her in any way required. This story was terrific: action-packed, lively, varied, and with an interesting mystery at its core. Bib Fortuna makes an intriguing appearance in a drastically altered form (inspired by a short story in the book Tales from Jabba's Palace), and we take an exciting side trip to the Twi'lek homeworld Ryloth.

"Warrior Princess" - Rogue Squadron receives surprising news: one of their pilots, Plourr, is actually a princess on the planet Eiattu! The team sets off to the politically-divided planet to try and help Plourr reclaim her heritage and fix the broken government. This story features a terrifically unsettling panel of Darth Vader playing with toy TIE fighters and X-wings with a psychotic child member of the royal family. The plot overall is solid but fairly predictable.

"Requiem for a Rogue" - A Bothan passenger liner has gone missing and Rogue Squadron sets off to find out. They succeed, but all is not as it seems on the fourth planet of the Malrev system. This story drops an interesting Sith aspect into what are usually more military-focused plotlines with the Rogue Squadron series. The villains are fairly cheesy but the sacrifice required by the pilots at the tale's climax is affecting.

This omnibus provide excellent value and is a nice long read for those of us who don't fancy collecting individual issues of comics. I'm looking forward to reading Volume Three sometime in the near future.

Starfighters of Adumar (Star Wars: X-Wing, Book 9)

Average customer rating:

Different from the rest...
A great conclusion to the series.
Unbelievable. Utterly bad.
A very good conclusion to the series
In It For The Laughs

Starfighters of Adumar (Star Wars: X-Wing, Book 9)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553574183
Release Date: 1999-08-03

Book Description

Book 9 in the exciting series!

The X-wing fighter pilots have earned their reputation as the Rebel Alliance's ultimate strike force by overwhelming enemies with their rapid-fire assaults. But now they are about to embark on a diplomatic mission that will prove to be even more hazardous than all-out combat....

The neutral world of Adumar has decided to pick a side in the war to control the galaxy. Delegates from both the New Republic and the Empire have been invited to Adumar, and each camp will be given a chance to plead its government's case. But there is one small catch: since the Adumari prize military skill above all else, they insist that both delegations be composed exclusively of fighter pilots. For pilot Wedge Antilles and his company, it's an unfamiliar exercise in diplomacy--and one that's filled with unexpected peril. For once they arrive, the X-wing pilots are challenged by Adumar's fierce warriors and attacked by Imperial assassins bent on eliminating all competition. But these challenges pale in comparison to the threat posed by a rogue Republic agent...one who is determined to win Adumar's allegiance once and for all--even if it costs the X-wing pilots their lives.

Customer Reviews:

Different from the rest..........2007-06-05

This is unique in the X-wing series in it's focus on only four established characters. At first, I was disappointed because my favorites weren't included in the story. But once the book was really going, it was great. There wasn't the constant shifting of viewpoints between many characters that the other X-wing books have. Overall, I think I like Allston's X-wing books a bit better than the Stackpole ones. This is a very enjoyable book, worth reading. I just hope the series doesn't end yet. It's the only series I've ever made it past book three in. I have them all. Each book is good fun reading.

A great conclusion to the series. .......2007-01-26

This book is unlike the other X-Wing novels, in that it is stand alone, not part of a series, or even a very significant part of galactic events. There isn't even a whole squadron, just three pilots.

It's a fun and funny read, on par with everything you expect from the series. It isn't the best book int he series, but it features a really interesting culture and the characters introduced are certainly worth reading.

Overall, this book isn't the must read that I feel the first 7 books are, but it's a worth addition, and a great way to conclude the series.

Unbelievable. Utterly bad........2007-01-24

First off, let me point out that I have read a score or better Star Wars themed novels. In each of these, the reader goes to a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. That said, the theme of the book fits this genre well, but the plot is abysmal. I felt that in this book, the author kept painting the characters into difficult corners and had to magically develop illogical escapes. Now, Star Wars is full of unlikelihoods, but the situations encountered here are beyond impossible, which makes this into a sort of ridiculous farce of a more serious-themed book. I've not been impressed with any of Allston's contributions to the X-Wing series. I think Stackpole did a very fantastic job with the first 4 and then the 8th books in the series, but I would skip the ones written by Allston.

A very good conclusion to the series.......2006-03-24

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself having to keep from laughing out loud at times. This was probably one of the best of the series and I'm glad Allston is still writing for Star Wars. If you have read the other x-wing books and not this one you won't want to miss this one. I don't know if there will ever another x-wing book but if there isn't it was probably the second best series next to the New Jedi Order. Any Star Wars fan would enjoy this book. Get it and enjoy your time reading.

In It For The Laughs.......2006-02-22

This is a great book, especialy for the laughs. take a look.
Excerpt from Starfighters Of Adumar, Page 201-
He heeled over until he could see Janson again. Janson's Blade was now sideways, its lone wing pointed towared the ground, and was beginning a looping desent to the ground.
But Janson was free of it. The pilot wa in open air, a meter-square flat device abovew him; he hung bby straps from it. Wedge nodded; this had to be the Blade's pilot-descent mechenism, a primatie repulsorlift device that lowered the pilot at a safe speed.
Safe, that is, unless someone was still shooting at the pilot. Wedge saw a Blade diving towared the defensless pilot. He saw Janson pulling out his blaster pistol, as though a weapon that small could do and significant damage to a fighter, and open fire.
The incoming fighter exploded. Wedge resolved to find out just what sort of pistlo Janson was carying-

This is a great taste of some of the humor involved in this book of a far off planet, a corrunpt dictator, and four X-Wing pilots, whose ultamite mission, is to save the day.

Solo Command (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 7)

Average customer rating:

Solo vs. Zsinj
Another great x-wing book.
Yet another solid X-Wing novel
Star Wars the way it should be: fun and exciting
Solo Command

Solo Command (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 7)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553579002

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This is a fast-moving and exciting installment in the X-wing series, the third by Aaron Allston. Once again, Wedge Antilles, "Face" Loran, and the other pilots of Rogue and Wraith squadrons are up against the Warlord Zsinj, who this time is trying to foment mistrust and fear between the human and non-human allies of the New Republic. A series of assassinations by Twi'leks and Gotals has led to the Provisional Council withdrawing all members of these races from active duty. Wedge suspects the aliens have been brainwashed, but it won't be easy to prove.

To defeat Zsinj, the Rogues must destroy his flagship--the super star destroyer Iron Fist--but first they have to persuade Zsinj to risk it in battle. In an attempt to draw him into the open, they mock up a copy of the Millennium Falcon and use it to attack Zsinj's many business interests.

Featuring a guest appearance by General Han Solo, this is a well-written addition to the X-wing series. Allston develops excellent camaraderie between the pilots as they play elaborate practical jokes on one another between missions. And there are plenty of missions, with at least half a dozen set-piece engagements, some in space, some planetside, all described in loving and convincing detail. --Elizabeth Sourbut

Book Description

Wraith Squadron: they are the Rebel Alliance's ultimate strike force. Sleek, swift, and deadly, they are the first in battle, the last line of defense. Now they must find and destroy a wily enemy more powerful than the Empire itself.

Their covert mission has been a success. The enemy has been vanquished. Or so they thought. The Super Star Destroyer Iron Fist somehow escaped destruction and with it the New Republic's greatest threat, the infamous warlord Zsinj. To defeat him, Wraith Squadron must join a combat task force led by the only man crafty enough to beat Zsinj at his own game: Han Solo.

But Zsinj knows the X-wing fighters' indomitable courage is both their greatest strength--and their greatest weakness. For even against the most overwhelming odds, the Rebels will fight to the death. And that will leave Zsinj the galaxy's unchallenged master!

Customer Reviews:

Solo vs. Zsinj.......2005-12-30

The wraiths and Rogues, under the command of General Han Solo, go after the warlord Zsinj and his super star destroyer Iron Fist. This book is a nice mix of action, emotional turmoil, and hilarious hijinks. Wraith squadron has proved itself to have just as good as characters as Rogue squadron, if not better, simply because of all the flaws in their personalities.

This book does a great job of incorporating all the story lines and finishing off the three book cycle. Highly suggested for all star wars fans.

Another great x-wing book........2005-10-06

This was a good conclusion to the "Wraith Squadron" trilogy of the x-wing series. Overall it was an intertaining read and I found myself laughing out loud at times. However, the ending to me left a little to be desired. There are two more x-wing novels after this that are stand along novels, but they are stand alone novels. I would recommend this book, read it if you get a chance.

Yet another solid X-Wing novel.......2005-08-07

Solo Command - X-Wing Book Seven (1998.) Book seven in a nine-part series.

INTRODUCTION:
The Star Wars film series is, without question, the greatest science fiction series of all time. George Lucas captured the minds of people young and old across the world. But as anyone knows, there were only three films (this was before the prequels), and for many people, this just wasn't enough. And thus, the Star Wars Expanded Universe was born. The Expanded Universe consisted of comic books, video games, novels, and other media. Many of the stories focused on the characters in the films, many focused on unknown characters from the same universe. Among the authors who tried their hands at creating Star Wars novels was Aaron Allston. In the mid-late nineties, Michael A. Stackpole created the four-book X-Wing series. The X-Wing series was announced to continue beyond Stackpole's initial four books, but with a different author. How does Allston's take on this series compare to Stackpole's? Read on for my review of Iron Fist, Allston's third X-Wing novel, and the seventh overall.

STORYLINE:
The New Republic Military is still pursuing its greatest threat - the space warlord known as Zsinj. The group's recent attempts have crippled his forces greatly, but he remains at large, and a threat to the galaxy. Fortunately, everyone's favorite smuggler, Han Solo, has received a general position with the New Repuplic, and now serves as one of the commanders aboard Mon Remonda, one of the New Republic's biggest and strongest ships. He formulates a new plan against Zsinj, which involves forming a temporary alliance with members of the Empire (so that they can use some of their technology), as well as sending out a fake Millennium Falcon on raids against Zsinj's military, to lure him out of hiding and into the ultimate military space offensive - one that will cripple the loser badly.

OPINIONS:
Overall, I was very satisfied with this story. I doubted this series would do well without Stackpole at the helm, but I was dead wrong. Although I DO think Stackpole is the better X-Wing author, Allston does a damn good job. Rather than sticking with the Rogues Stackpole made us all familiar with, Allston focuses almost exclusively on the Wraiths, but he DOES work on incorporating those characters into the story moreso here than in his previous two X-Wing novels, due to the partnership between the Rogues and Wraiths. I have only two complaints with this novel. First and foremost, Allston introduces too many characters in too little time. The only real complaint I have here is the complaint that Allston likes to drag the chapter lengths out just a little too long. We're not talking the unbearable Alan Dean Foster lengths here, but still, I prefer Stackpole's "short and to the point" chapter style. Despite minor flaws, this is an excellent book. Allston is a great author, and I hope he decides to write additional Star Wars novels.

EDITION NOTES:
This novel is still in print and readily available at most bookstores. Can't say much else here.

OVERALL:
In the end, I must say that I am very satisfied with this story, and I am not at all reluctant to say that it would make for a fantastic movie - if George Lucas decides to make future Star Wars movies, this is a novel I would strongly recommend converting to the big screen. If you're a Star Wars fan who wants to go beyond the films, Stackpole and Allston's X-Wing series should appeal to you - that is, unless, you just want to follow the exploits of the main classic trilogy characters. Just make sure to start with Book One and read the series in order, or you may be left dazed and confused.

Star Wars the way it should be: fun and exciting.......2005-06-28

"Solo Command" is the seventh volume in the X-Wing series and is the concluding book of Aaron Allston's trilogy about exploits of the Wraith Squadron founded by Wedge Antilles. To give a quick refresher, Wraith Squadron was formed because Wedge's Rogue Squadron was so well known as being the best that anytime the Rogues were dispatched on a mission any chance of covertness was eliminated. While the Rogues were the best of the best, a Star Wars Top Gun squadron, the Wraiths were chosen from the dregs of the New Republic. These are the pilots who, for one reason or another, were going to wash out. This isn't to say that these pilots can't fly an X-Wing, because they can, but rather it was often behavioral issues that caused the problem. But Wedge didn't form the Wraiths to be an elite unit like Rogue Squadron. Wraith Squadron is to be a unit designed to get the pilots in close and do insurgency missions, often on the ground. The primary mission of the Wraiths has been against the Warlord Zsinj, a former Imperial turned criminal who is the largest threat to both the New Republic and the vestiges of the Empire.

Finally the New Republic and the Wraiths will be going after Zsinj directly. The plan is to attempt to lure Zsinj into a battle where his flagship, the Iron Fist, can be captured or destroyed. To do this, the Wraiths are using Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon as bait...or a decoy of the Falcon. The Wraiths, the Republic, and even an officer in the Empire are working together to attack the businesses of Zsinj so that he will be forced into combat.

Meanwhile, Zsinj is working against the New Republic by activating a project of his to install fear and distrust between humans and non-humans in the Republic, and it was this original mixing of the races that proved so strong for the New Republic in light of the anti-alien stance of the Empire. But now this is being threatened and the Council of the New Republic has no evidence that the events are anything other than attacks by the individual races.

"Solo Command" is quite possibly the best of the three Wraith novels and is as good as some of the Rogue books. It still features a rather large amount of humor and jokes and pranks with the Wraith pilots, but features a faster moving plot that actually seems to be going somewhere. The previous two Wraith books didn't really seem to advance any sort of storyline. Something else that I liked here was that the Rogue Squadron was included on the main mission here, so there was intermingling between the two X-Wing squadrons that Wedge commands. Han Solo also makes a guest starring appearance here and it was nice to see how he fits into all of this (thus far in the chronology he hasn't had a lot to do, though I know he's been busy and will get a larger role in future novels).

All told this was a satisfying conclusion to the Wraith trilogy and it leads into the storyline of "The Courtship of Princess Leia". "Solo Command" features excellent action scenes and space battle sequences with the X-Wings. Fast paced, fun, and exciting. It's exactly what Star Wars should be.

-Joe Sherry

Solo Command.......2004-10-12

This is one of the best books of all the series. I have been reading this series for over a year now and it's quite addicting. These books are so much fun to read because I love the action they carry in each book, and it really gets deep into the characters lives. Most of the time I won't read a book unless it has a lot of action. The characters have been in these book the whole time and my favorite is Wedge Antilles(the captain of the fighter squadron).After finishing "Solo Command" there are only two books after that, in the series.
Most of the story is based on a squadron of fighter pilots chasing down a warlord that is causing mass chaos in the universe. These pilots then have to chase him down and use all the strength they have to stop Warlord Zsinj from ruling the known universe. It's takken them all seven books so far and they are hoping to end his rule in this book. I am hoping that the last two books in the series stay this good and I should complete this series in a little while.

Iron Fist (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 6)

Average customer rating:

More Wraiths
Best of Allston's x-wing books!
Another excellent X-Wing novel
a worthwhile entry in the X-Wing series
Excelent continuation of the X-Wing series!

Iron Fist (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 6)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553578979
Release Date: 1998-07-06

Amazon.com

Listening to books in the X-Wing series is a lot like listening to the classic radio dramas that are Star Wars' wellspring. Words, music, and sounds create a vibrant world in the mind's eye, full of action and suspense. Tony Award nominee Anthony Heald (Anything Goes and Love! Valor! Compassion! ), fashions many easily differentiated voices, human and alien--yet always with restraint, never caricature. He brings a great deal of enthusiasm to the second book in the series to feature Wraith Squadron, a collection of misfits and losers who are meant to take on the missions that no normal X-Wing squad can handle. In X-Wing Iron Fist, the Wraiths are assigned to help bring down the corrupt Lord Zsinj and his Super Star Destroyer, Iron Fist. To do so, the Wraiths must pose as pirates and try to join Zsing. For the Wraiths, though, being outlaws comes easily. This is a rousing tale that combines with the equally rousing John Williams score to create fine space opera that will be enjoyed by all ages. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --Brooks Peck

Book Description

They are the Rebel Alliance's ultimate strike force--sleek, swift, and deadly. For these X-wing fighters, no job is too dirty or too dangerous. Now they must rise to meet an impossible challenge: stop a powerful warlord by pretending to be his ally.

Against all odds, the controversial Wraith Squadron has survived its first covert mission. But now they are called upon to cheat death twice. This time Wedge Antilles sends them in to stop the warlord Zsinj and his Super Star Destroyer, Iron Fist. If Zsinj joins the Empire, it could turn the tide of war against the Rebels. The Wraith Squadron's mission: infiltrate the warlord's fleet and uncover his carefully guarded plans. To do so, they must pose as ruthless pirates seeking to join Zsinj's forces. And that means first becoming pirates in space lanes teeming with Imperial Navy patrols. If that isn't enough to get them killed, they'll have to pass one last test--a suicide mission for Zsinj.

Can they survive the test and turn the tables on Zsinj?

Or is this the end for Wraith Squadron?

Customer Reviews:

More Wraiths.......2005-12-30

This book continues the adventures of Wraith Squadron, the misfit cousin of Rogue Squadron. All the pilots are a bit off in the head, but what they lack in professionalism, the make up for in luck and skill. Though you rarely get to see main stream star wars names like skywalker, Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca, it's still star wars through and through.

This book is highly suggested for those who like action oriented Star Wars literature.

Best of Allston's x-wing books!.......2005-10-06

Overall a great read and well worth your time. The "misfits" of wraith squadron continue their effort against the warlord. I liked this book. Read it at all cost. Well maybe not all cost but take the opportuntity if if arises.

Another excellent X-Wing novel.......2005-08-05

Iron Fist - X-Wing Book Six(1998.) Book six in a nine-part series.

INTRODUCTION:
The Star Wars film series is, without question, the greatest science fiction series of all time. George Lucas captured the minds of people young and old across the world. But as anyone knows, there were only three films (this was before the prequels), and for many people, this just wasn't enough. And thus, the Star Wars Expanded Universe was born. The Expanded Universe consisted of comic books, video games, novels, and other media. Many of the stories focused on the characters in the films, many focused on unknown characters from the same universe. Among the authors who tried their hands at creating Star Wars novels was Aaron Allston. In the mid-late nineties, Michael A. Stackpole created the four-book X-Wing series. The X-Wing series was announced to continue beyond Stackpole's initial four books, but with a different author. How does Allston's take on this series compare to Stackpole's? Read on for my review of Iron Fist, Allston's second X-Wing novel, and the sixth overall.

STORYLINE:
This book picks up where the last one left off. Wedge Antilles has shaken off the doubts of most of the individuals in New Republic high command that his Wraith Squadron wouldn't work, due in no small part to the success of a recently-successful mission by the newly-formed commando/pilot unit. The New Republic's highest-ranking military personnel realize that the greatest threat of all in these times is Zsing, the warlord who commands the Super Star Destroyer Iron Fist. In order to get close to him and formulate a plan to take out his weapon of war, members of Wraith Squadron perform a strange mission that has serious potential - impersonating pirates. By doing so, they can attract Zsing's attention, enter his service, and take him down from the inside out. But will their strategy against the warlord be a successful one?

OPINIONS:
Overall, I was very satisfied with this story. I doubted this series would do well without Stackpole at the helm, but I was dead wrong. Although I DO think Stackpole is the better X-Wing author, Allston does a damn good job. Rather than sticking with the Rogues Stackpole made us all familiar with, Allston focuses almost exclusively on the Wraiths - characters new to this novel. I really missed characters like Ooryl, Nawara Ven, and Corran Horn, but I don't blame Allston for focusing more on new characters. And unlike the previous novel, Allston actually tries to incorporate some of the classic X-Wing series characters itno this story. I have only two major complaints with this novel. First and foremost, Allston introduces too many characters in too little time. But it's not like he's the only author that has ever done that. Still, it's a problem since we had so many other characters introduced in the last book in a relatively-quick time. The other complaint is that Allston likes to drag the chapter lengths out. We're not talking the unbearable Alan Dean Foster lengths here, but still, I prefer Stackpole's "short and to the point" chapter style. Despite minor flaws, this is an excellent book. Allston is a great author, and I hope he decides to write additional Star Wars novels.

EDITION NOTES:
This novel is still in print and readily available at most bookstores. Can't say much else here.

OVERALL:
In the end, I must say that I am very satisfied with this story, and I am not at all reluctant to say that it would make for a fantastic movie - if George Lucas decides to make future Star Wars movies, this is a novel I would strongly recommend converting to the big screen. If you're a Star Wars fan who wants to go beyond the films, Stackpole and Allston's X-Wing series should appeal to you - that is, unless, you just want to follow the exploits of the main classic trilogy characters. Just make sure to start with Book One and read the series in order, or you may be left dazed and confused.

a worthwhile entry in the X-Wing series.......2005-05-11

"Iron Fist" is the sixth book in the X-Wing series and is also the second volume in Aaron Allston's trilogy about the Wraith Squadron. After being formed by Wedge Antilles in "Wraith Squadron", the Wraiths are out to eliminate one the biggest enemies of the new Republic: the Warlord Zsinj. Unlike the legendary Rogue Squadron of the first four books, Wraith Squadron is more of a covert insurgent squadron than the elite pilots that comprise the Rogues. The purpose of the Wraiths is completely different.

To get close enough to Zsinj to destroy him, the Wraiths pose as a band of pirates looting and attacking former Empire outposts and installations. They come to the attention of Zsinj and the Wraiths finally have their chance to take out Zsinj, but the risk is great. Being identified as Republic will eliminate any chance of a covert action against Zsinj and the chance of all of the Wraiths being killed in action is great. But the mission is more important than their lives.

This book had a somewhat slow start, but Allston soon picked up the pace with well written space battles and a lot of humor. The humor is something that sets this little series apart. The Wraiths are almost constantly joking and pulling pranks on each other all the while working to complete their mission. It really is a treat to read for the Star Wars fan. The X-Wing books, "Iron Fist" included, seem to have a very good grasp of the heart of Star Wars. It's fun. These books would likely have made good movies had George Lucas decided to take the series in this direction. I scarcely need to recommend the sixth X-Wing book because anybody who has read this far certainly already enjoys the series. But, if a reader is looking to get into the Star Wars novels, the X-Wing series is an excellent place to begin. Start with "Rogue Squadron" and work through the series.

-Joe Sherry

Excelent continuation of the X-Wing series!.......2004-02-26

Iron Fist continues the adventures of the controversial X-Wing unity Wraith Squadron. After masquerading as Imperials in the last book, the squadron now is disguised as pirates in attempt to bring down Warlord Zinj. Allston is clearly more comfortable with his characters and they are indeed in rare form. Yet although these are clearly well-written characters, Allston does not hesitate to kill or injure them. He also includes a brand new person into the Wraith mix. Gara Petothal was an Imperial Intelligence officer in the previous X-Wing book. Now disguised as a victim of Imperial exploitation and under the identity of Lara Notsil, she has joined Wraith Squadron, confused as to where her loyalties lie: with her squad mates who trust her or with the Imperials who trained her. Wedge Antilles continues to develop into a stronger character, but what is most impressive is Allston's portrayal of Han Solo. Rather than Solo the rogue and smuggler or even family man from previous books, Allston presents General Solo. Here he is a soldier and tactician, a commander, not just a man with a blaster about to kill the enemies personally. Allston also does a great job with his villains. Both Zinj and Melvar come to life in an interesting way. Unlike other Imperial soldiers, Zinj is not a great tactician like Thrawn, nor is he a force-wielder like Vader and the Emperor, nor is he insane like Isard. Instead he is a soldier who understands the importance of manipulation and subterfuge as well as knowing when to fight and when to retreat. Overall, Iron Fist is an entertaining and well-written Star Wars book. It goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Isard's Revenge (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 8)

Average customer rating:

The triumphant return!
Another great x-wing book.
not quite up to the level of Stackpole's other X-Wing
Stackpole's Final X-Wing Book is the Finale of A Master
Series entry has clear case of sequel fatigue.

Isard's Revenge (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 8)
Michael A. Stackpole
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553579037
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Amazon.com

Michael A. Stackpole returns as author of the eighth book in the X-Wing series, taking over again after three novels from Aaron Allston. Wedge Antilles has transferred back from Wraith to Rogue Squadron, and many of the characters from Stackpole's first four books reappear, including Ysanne Isard, the villain of Book 4, The Bacta War.

Now that Grand Admiral Thrawn is dead, the New Republic wants to go after the warlords and decides to make an example of Krennel, who murdered a whole family in his rise to power. But Krennel has an unexpected ally: the treacherous Isard, whom the Rogues thought they had killed, is now plotting their downfall. She uses New Republic prisoners, with whom Rogue pilot Corran Horn was held for a while, as bait. The plot twists and turns, sometimes confusingly, as Krennel, Isard, and the Rogues try to outguess one another.

As ever in the X-Wing books, there are plenty of space battles, with Wedge Antilles, now promoted to general, leading the way. Meanwhile, the aversion Imperials feel toward nonhumans and the tensions between the various species making up the New Republic provide a couple of subplots that make this a thoughtful, action-packed installment in the series. --Liz Sourbut, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

Sleek, swift and deadly, the famed X-Wing fighters have earned their reputation as the Rebel Alliance's ultimate strike force the hard way--first in battle, the last line of defense.  Now they must make a deal with the devil herself--an enemy whose ultimate goal is their total annihilation.

It's the kind of mission only Wedge Antilles and the Rogue Squadron would dare to undertake.  Against impossible odds they will stage a daring raid into an enemy stronghold--only to be rescued from certain destruction by an unexpected ally.

Ysanne Isard, the ruthless Imperial commander, has appeared on the scene seemingly from out of nowhere.  Now she proposes a most unusual alliance, offering to help Wedge rescue his captured comrades from Imperial Warlord Admiral Krennel's sadistic prison camp.

But her offer is not without a price.  Wedge must lead Rogue Squadron in Isard's deadly struggle against an enemy made in her own image.  It's an offer Wedge would love to refuse, for Isard is certain to betray them.  But how can they leave their comrades at Krennel's mercy?  The answer is: they can't--even if it means being caught between Krennel's ruthlessness and Isard's treachery.

Customer Reviews:

The triumphant return!.......2006-11-06

As far as I'm concerned, this book ties for my favorite X-wing book, coming in dead-even with The Bacta War. I like that the threads of the surrounding universe are pulled together here, starting with the attack on the Bilbringi Shipyards from the finale of The Last Command. It was an excellent place to put Rogue Squadron into the story, and it allows us, the readers, to see a small touch of the Thrawn Crisis from the perspective of Corran Horn and the others.

Another factor that makes me enjoy this book so much is Prince-Admiral Delak Krennel, the main antagonist for the book (despite the title of the story). He is an Imperial Admiral who murdered the sucessor to Emperor Palpatine and stole his holdings, a dozen worlds and enough ships and soldiers to defend them. He has taken no offensive action against the New Republic since taking control of the Ciutric Hegemony, but the New Republic has decided that ANY former Imperial warlords must be crushed and swiftly. I love the fact that Krennel's Hegemony is invaded to further the political ends of the New Republic, not because he's been out attacking innocent civilians, or building a doomsday device, or displays amazing Dark Jedi powers.

The battle sequences in this book are phenomenal, and the political intrigue between Isard, Krennel, Wedge and others is top-notch. I am also very impressed with Stackpole's use of the Bothans (particularly Borsk Fey'lya) and that irascible rogue Booster Terrik. In all courts, a masterpiece!

Another great x-wing book........2006-01-24

I liked this book. Stackpole returns to write another x-wing adventure and does well. It is not the best of the series but better than most Star Wars books written between the Thrawn trilogy and the New Jedi Order. The thing that bothered me was the summary on the back cover had little or nothing to do with the story. This book is worth the time to read and it will be enjoyable.

not quite up to the level of Stackpole's other X-Wing.......2005-09-23

"Isard's Revenge" picks up the action smack in the middle of a big space battle against the forces of the Grand Admiral Thrawn. Those who have read Timothy Zhan's "The Last Command" will be very familiar with this space battle as this is the battle which closes the Thrawn Trilogy. Now we see it more specifically from the perspective of the Rogues. But where this battle was conclusion in Zahn's book, it is only prologue in "Isard's Revenge". With Thrawn now out of the way, the New Republic must further solidify its authority throughout the galaxy and the best way to do this is to take the fight to the warlords who have carved out little niches of galaxy for themselves. To start, the New Republic will attack a warlord named Krennel. Krennel provides the New Republic some moral authority in their military action because in his rise to power he had murdered several political figures including an entire family and it is under the pretext of bringing Krennel to justice that the New Republic will take him down. Assigned to this, of course, is the Rogue Squardron, the best of the best.

At the end of "The Bacta War", Ysanne Isard was presumed killed when her shuttle was destroyed at Thyferra. Thus was one of the nastier elements of the Empire eliminated. But she didn't die and she is back trying to bring Krennel into power. Or...is she? As the former Intelligence Director of the Empire her motives are her own and are seldom shared with others. As events unfold the Rogues begin to believe that it is possible that Isard really is alive. The thought is frightening, but they have a mission to do.

Michael Stackpole's four previous X-Wing novels were suburb. They were fast paced, exciting, and often funny. I was looking forward to reading "Isard's Revenge" moreso than many other Star Wars novels. Here Stackpole slows down the pace and somehow the novel does not work as well as his previous books had. The reason why is unclear. It features the same characters and many of the same traits that made the other novels so good but this one is lacking "something". It is difficult to say what except that this book is not as fast paced, exciting or funny as the others. It is still a decent enough story, but the action does not have the same sense of importance compared to Isard's release of the Krytos virus in the early X-Wings. The stakes are lower.

Still, X-Wing is one of the best parts of the world of Star Wars and "Isard's Revenge" is book 8 of 9. It is worth reading for fans of Star Wars, Stackpole, and X-Wing. It is just not quite up to the level of the first four X-Wing novels.

-Joe Sherry

Stackpole's Final X-Wing Book is the Finale of A Master.......2004-02-29

Isard's Revenge is the 5th and final X-Wing novel written by Michael Stackpole. Beginning with one of the final scenes from Tim Zahn's The Last Command, Isard's Revenge segues seamlessly into the expanded universe. With the Imperials once again in retreat, the New Republic looks to liberate some worlds from a psychopathic Warlord named Krennal. Wedge Antilles, now a general, and the rest of Rogue Squadron are thrust into a espionage ladden maze full of double crosses and unexpected allies. Not only is danger lurking around every corner but an old enemy arises to give Antilles, Horn and Celchu the ultimate plan to bring down Krennal, but what is the cost of this information? At times Isard's Revenge is a rip-roaring space saga, at others it does fade a bit, yet overall it's a great read and a compelling comclusion to Stackpole's X-Wing books.

Series entry has clear case of sequel fatigue........2003-11-08

Perhaps they needed a new writer to create a new story because Stackpole's return to the X-Wing line is a tired affair, its plot having that stale 'one sequel too many' flavor that overplayed franchises tend to get after awhile. This entry skips ahead several years to the climax of the Thrawn Trilogy (which I have yet to read - having all the books characters and plots be connected is both a blessing and a curse, it is almost impossible to figure out where to start without worrying about spoilers for other books) and the weakened New Republic sets its eyes on a war criminal warlord named Krennel. But so has Ysanne Isard, didn't one of the Wraith's say they suspected she was still alive? The enemy of my enemy is my ally, right? Maybe. There is plenty of action, but it lacks the emotional investment that Allston managed to put into the fun, exciting, and, most surpisingly, funny (but the right kind of funny) Wraith Squadron series, and the book did not grip my attention the way the far superior Solo Command did. So it goes.

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YOU DO NEED A WEATHERMAN (PERSON) TO KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS-PART II
PSYCHOS WITH PRETTY WHITE FACES
An intense reflection on a chaotic time
Fugitive Days - A good lesson
Rationalizing Terrorism

Fugitive Days
William Ayers
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0807071242

Book Description

Bill Ayers was born into privilege and is today a highly respected educator and community activist. For ten years, he lived on the run as a fugitive, stealing explosives, planting bombs, hiding from the law, and practicing "tradecraft" out of a John Le Carre novel. This portrait of a young pacifist who became a founder of one of the most militant political organizations in U.S. history is drawn with amazing candor and immediacy. Ayers begins with his education as a rebel, his increasing sense of horror at the American involvement in Viet Nam, and his growing love for his comrade Diana Oughton. He takes us to the streets of Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago, inside the Days of Rage, SDS, the Black Panthers, and deep into the Weather Underground. At the center of the book is a terrible explosion-an apparent accident-in which Diana and two other comrades are killed. The organization is fragmented, and Ayers is shattered. Slowly he begins to rebuild his life, as a fugitive, with the help of Bernardine Dohrn, whose likeness hangs in every post office in America on the Ten Most Wanted list. Bill and Bernardine become Joe and Rose, working to disarm splinter groups, helping break Timothy Leary out of jail, creating elaborate false identities, and carrying out strategic, bloodless bombings, including one actually inside the Pentagon. Ayers and his comrades become America's other Viet Nam vets. This is the story of one boy's journey into life-his complicated love for his parents and the society that raised him, his coming of age into a world in flames, falling deeper and deeper into a single-minded way of thinking and the loss that all that represented. Ayers writes openly about his regrets, and what he continues to believe was right. Fugitive Days is about a young dreamer, troubled by what he saw, struggling to find a way to make the world a better place, and now grappling with his own story, crafting narrative from memory's elusiveness.

Customer Reviews:

YOU DO NEED A WEATHERMAN (PERSON) TO KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS-PART II.......2007-07-04

Recently in this space I reviewed the documentary Weather Underground so that it also makes sense to review the present book by Bill Ayers, one of the `talking heads' in that film and a central leader of both the old Students for a Democratic Society and the Weather Underground that split off from that movement in 1969 to go its own way. Readers should see the documentary as it gives a fairly good presentation of the events around the formation of the Underground, what they tried to accomplish and what happened to them after the demise of the anti-war movement in the early 1970's.

To get a better understanding of what drove thousands of young American students into opposition to the American government at that time the documentary Rebels With A Cause (also reviewed in this space) is worth looking at as well. Between those two sources you will get a better understanding of what drove Professor Ayers and many others, including myself, over the edge. Professor Ayers makes many of those same points in the book. Thus, I only want to make a couple of political comments about the question of the underground here. They were also used in my review of the Weather Underground documentary and apply to Professor Ayers thoughts as well. I would also make it very clear here that unlike many other leftists, who ran for cover, in the 1970's I called for the political defense of the Weather Underground despite my political differences under the old leftist principle that an injury to one is an injury to all. Moreover, and be shocked if you will, the courageous, if misguided, actions of the Weather Underground require no apology today. I stand with the Professor on that count. Here are the comments.

"In a time when I, among others, are questioning where the extra-parliamentary opposition to the Iraq War is going and why it has not made more of an impact on American society it was rather refreshing to view this documentary about the seemingly forgotten Weather Underground that as things got grimmer dramatically epitomized one aspect of opposition to the Vietnam War. If opposition to the Iraq war is the political fight of my old age Vietnam was the fight of my youth and in this film brought back very strong memories of why I fought tooth and nail against it. And the people portrayed in this film, the core of the Weather Underground, while not politically kindred spirits then or now, were certainly on the same page as I was- a no holds- barred fight against the American Empire. We lost that round, and there were reasons for that, but that kind of attitude is what it takes to bring down the monster. But a revolutionary strategy is needed. That is where we parted company.

One of the paradoxical things about the documentary is that the Weather Underground survivors interviewed had only a vague notion about what went wrong. This was clearly detailed in the remarks of Mark Rudd, a central leader, when he stated that the Weathermen were trying to create a communist cadre. He also stated, however, that after going underground he realized that he was out of the loop as far as being politically effective. And that is the point. There is no virtue in underground activity if it is not necessary, romantic as that may be. To the extent that any of us read history in those days it was certainly not about the origins of the Russian revolutionary movement in the 19th century. If we had we would have found that the above-mentioned fight in 1969 (the SDS splits) was also fought out by that movement. Mass action vs. individual acts, heroic or otherwise, of terror. The Weather strategy of acting as the American component of the world-wide revolutionary movement to bring the Empire to its knees certainly had (and still does) have a very appealing quality. However, a moral gesture did not (and will not) bring this beast down. While the Weather Underground was made up a small group of very appealing subjective revolutionaries its political/moral strategy led to a dead end. The lesson to be learned; you most definitely do need weather people to know which way the winds blow. Start with Karl Marx."

PSYCHOS WITH PRETTY WHITE FACES.......2006-10-07

TO THINK THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL MAKE MONEY OFF THIS HOGWASH IS VERY DISTURBING. THE AUTHOR GOES ON AND ON ABOUT HOW "RIGHT" HE WAS TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES - WITHOUT MENTIONING THE PEOPLE HE HURT BY HIS ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. BUT WHAT REALLY BOTHERS ME, IS HIS MEMORY OF A 1981 ROBBERY WHERE 3 INNOCENT MEN WERE KILLED IN COLD BLOOD - THE AUTHOR DOESN'T EVEN CALL IT A ROBBERY - BUT A WAY TO GET MONEY FOR THE CAUSE. FURTHERMORE, HE GOES ON AND ON ABOUT THE HORROR OF SPECIAL RIGHTS OF WHITES OVER BLACKS, BUT FAILS TO MENTION THAT IN THE TRIAL OF THE 1981 ROBBERY KILLERS, THE BLACK ACTIVISTS GOT 75 YEARS TO LIFE, BUT KATHY BOUDIN - A WHITE FRIEND OF THE AUTHOR - PLEA BARGAINED WITH THE HELP OF HER WHITE DADDY LAWYER AND ONLY GOT 20 YEARS AND IS NOW OUT ON PAROLE. DID SHE HELP HER BLACK FELLOW ACTIVISTS? HELL, NO. WHAT HYPRICATES!!!

An intense reflection on a chaotic time.......2006-07-27

An intense reflection on a chaotic time

First and foremost, I have to say that I met Bill Ayers and Bernandine Dohrn years back at one of their speaking engagements. This was just months before Fugitive Days came out. It was fascinating to hear part of their story as well as their thoughts about our political climate back then (Spring 2001). That said, many of the reviews I have read on the book aren't fair to Professor Ayers - either his life or work. As an activist, I know what it's like to be angry about serious political issues. As a history teacher, I have developed an intellectual framework that helps me understand the context in which the Weathermen (and later, Weather Underground) came to be. And as a student of political science, I know that violence is used by people all over the world as a means to an end (good or bad, right or wrong). Strangely enough, many US citizens are quick to condemn groups like the WU while never objecting to the violent acts that their own government commits abroad. How many soldiers did we lose in Vietman? Under 60,000. How many Vietnamese died? Estimates claim between 2-3 million. If we believe in self-determination, then why is it our policy to meddle in the affairs of so many other countries where we are unwelcome to a large segment of the population? Something is really wrong. People like Bill Ayers couldn't sit idly by while our government killed people and wasted money on the Vietnam War. The WU destroyed property for a cause. Well, so did the Sons of Liberty during the Boston Tea Party amidst our Revolutionary War era. How many people criticize the Sons of Liberty for their unlawful actions? Not many. This event is discussed in middle school, high school, and college history classes and not once have I heard anyone strongly object to the act of destroying tea for political reasons. Why? Partly because our revolution was successful and we are free today thanks to people who challenged British authority. In other words, the colonists (soon after, US citizens) benefitted from the act as tensions grew between the colonies and King George III. Ultimately, the Tea Party pushed us closer to independence. Anyways, my point is that you cannot vilify Bill Ayers