Led by Wedge Antilles, the legendary pilots of Rogue Squadron prepare to risk everything in their battle against the Empire.
Sleek, swift, and deadly, they are the X-wing fighters. And as the battle against the Empire rages across the vastness of space, the pilots risk both their lives and their machines for the cause of the Rebel Alliance. Now they must embark on a dangerous espionage mission, braving betrayal and death on the Imperial homeworld to smash the power of a ruthless foe!It is the evil heart of a battered and reeling Empire: Coruscant, the giant city-world from whose massive towers the Imperial High Command directs the war. The Rebels will invade this mighty citadel in a daring move to bring the Empire to its knees. But first Wedge Antilles and his X-wing pilots must infiltrate Coruscant to gain vital intelligence information. Capture means death, or worse–trapped in the clutches of the vicious leader known as “Iceheart,” Ysanne Isard, now Emperor in all but name.
And one of Rogue Squadron’s own is already her slave, a traitor hidden behind a mask of innocence, working to betray both colleagues and the Rebellion itself.
Author: Michael A. Stackpole
Cover Artist: Doaly
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Release Date: April 5, 2022
Pages:Â 400
ISBN: 978-0593497074
What’s it’s about?
The galaxy is in turmoil after the Battle of Endor and the death of the Emperor. The Rebellion has evolved into The New Republic and the Empire has weakened and fractured into disparate rival groups, desperate to fill the vacuum of power created by the loss of their leader.
As the New Republic moves from victory to victory it becomes clear that their legitimacy won’t be recognised until they control the former capital of the Republic/Empire, Coruscant, and quiet the Imperial propaganda working against them. Currently in the charge of the cold and ruthless Ysanne Isard and the largest and most recognised Imperial faction, the metropolitan and heavily defended world seems inpenetrable, with a full frontal assault seemingly doomed to failure.
Fresh from their victory at Borleias the surviving members of Rogue Squadron seem uniquely qualified for the task ahead. Firstly to release key members of Black Sun from Kessel and reinsert them back into Coruscant to sow discord and distract the Empire and secondly to abandon their X-wings and covertly infiltrate the Imperial Center to gauge the leanings of the populace and find a way to render the system’s shields and defences inert.
Naturally, it doesn’t completely go to plan….
Should I read this book?
Absolutely! If you’re interested in the fall of the Empire and how the Rebellion evolved after Endor then this is the book for you. This is a key title in the Legends telling of the last days of the Empire. This is the book where Coruscant falls. It’s obviously worth pointing out, however, that this is the second book in the X-Wing series so I strongly recommend that you read the first book, Rogue Squadron, before you dive into this one. I personally struggled with Rogue Squadron, finding the descriptive aerial battles hard to follow and overly long but I’m glad I stuck with the series as this book has a much driven story with laser focused plotting and more considered and balanced characterisation.
What did you like?
I’m a sucker for street level stories and Wedge’s Gamble revels in basking in the majesty of the upper levels of Coruscant and wallowing in the dangerous and decrepit undercity. It’s like Stackpole, with the aid of a time machine, somehow recognised my issues with his first book and stripped all of it away, leaving a much leaner and interesting story that allowed for much more well rounded and considered character development. Corran Horn is a much more relatable protagonist here, having been humbled by the events and losses at Borleias. He’s morphed from the arrogant and distant horndog of the first book into a inherently flawed but caring and loyal hero. Sure he’s still a little too interested in the opposite sex but it’s clear that in Wedge’s Gamble that he’s trying and has his priorities straight, mostly.
Similarly you feel the weight of the task ahead on Wedge’s shoulders. The stakes are incredibly high and it’s hard not to root for the rebel hero against increasingly insurmountable odds. Wedge is the strength and fortitude of these stories, carrying with him the losses and sacrifices of all his past squad mates and his reverence for Luke and Leia channelling it into his warm but stoic leadership.
The supporting cast are stronger this time around, especially the female characters. My biggest criticism of Rogue Squadron was that it treated it’s female characters as over-sexualised and one dimensional foils for Corran and I’m pleased to say that this time around they are mostly actual, believable women. Mirax is still overly jealous but it’s balanced well with Corran’s own romantic ineptitude.
What did you not like?
There’s a certain suspension of disbelief required as some of the key plot points are circumstantial and coincidental. Chance meetings and encounters that drastically inform the story on a world with a populace of three trillion make the galaxy seem much smaller than it is.
When the Rogue’s first infiltrate Coruscant they are split into different cells and each story thread introduces new characters and situations. This does take some getting used as it feels a little unwieldy trying to keep track of who is where and mysterious new female character is which. This does get much clearer as the story progresses and I’d say becomes one of the books strengths.
What’s next?
The third book in the X-Wing series is The Krytos Trap. Originally released in 1996, the same year as Wedge’s Gamble, there’s various editions out there to find but you’ll be happy to hear that it will be released as part of the Essential Legends Collection on August 2nd 2022.
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