The pilots of Alphabet Squadron all fly completely different ships — an A-Wing, a B-Wing, a U-Wing, an X-Wing and a Y-Wing. Thus the ebook’s title.
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When long-term followers of Star Wars novels see “Squadron” in a title, we instantly consider Michael A. Stackpole’s beloved 1996 novel Rogue Squadron. It kicked off an iconic 10-book X-Wing sequence that launched dozens of fantastic characters earlier than ending in 2012.
These books had been declared non-canon when Lucasfilm wiped a lot of the Star Wars slate clear in 2014 to make method for The Drive Awakens the next 12 months.
So there is a sense that Alexander Freed’s Alphabet Squadron, the primary ebook in a brand new trilogy set within the fascinating interval after the evil Galactic Empire’s defeat in Return of the Jedi, has to reside as much as Rogue Squadron’s legacy. Out now, it kicks off with TIE pilot Yrica Quell defecting from the Empire to the nascent New Republic however discovering herself mistrusted as she’s recruited by a morally questionable intelligence agent.
We additionally meet pilots Chass na Chadic, Nath Tencent and Wyl Lark, all of whom have grudges in opposition to Shadow Wing, an elite TIE squadron Quell was once part of. They’re joined by New Republic agent Kairos, a type of mysterious masked Star Wars characters we’re all fascinated by.
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Even hard-core followers will assume “I do not know any of those names” — and herein lies the issue with the primary a part of the novel. Freed jumps frantically between all of those characters’ views, so we do not have an opportunity to get to know them or have any motive to care about their fates, very similar to the squad in his 2015 novel Battlefront: Twilight Firm.
The writer’s setting the scene for these characters coming collectively to kind the titular squadron to allow them to search out Shadow Wing, nevertheless it’s a slog to learn since you aren’t given an opportunity to change into emotionally connected to anybody.
The center part, nonetheless, correctly slows issues down as squadron chief Quell struggles to get her unit working collectively. This provides us an opportunity to get to know the pilots’ motivations and see their group dynamic kind — it is by far the very best a part of the novel and does not go on lengthy sufficient.
Freed beforehand proved his expertise for stepping into characters’ heads by fleshing out Rogue One heroine Jyn Erso in that film’s wonderful novelization, so it is good to see this extra psychological strategy right here too. Every of their backstories proves distinctive and memorable.
This part is helped massively by the occasional presence of Common Hera Syndulla, whom followers of the Rebels CGI animated sequence will know and love. We meet her right here at a later level in her profession (Rebels was set earlier than A New Hope). Her charisma anchors this a part of the novel and offers our new heroes a way of objective, like Wedge Antilles did in Rogue Squadron.
Sadly, the ultimate third suffers from lots of the identical points as the primary because the squadron jumps into battle with some Imperial holdouts. We care concerning the characters extra at this level, however the continually shifting views, altering aims and poorly developed villains make for complicated and unsatisfying studying — it is easy to neglect why we began to care about them.
Alphabet Squadron rushes into motion with out establishing its characters first, then throws them right into a complicated battle in opposition to a principally faceless enemy. We be taught nearly nothing about Shadow Wing; these characters being fleshed out in a separate Marvel Comics sequence). Rogue Squadron, against this, had a beautiful villain in Ysanne Isard.
A minimum of this 408-page novel tantalizes us with the opportunity of a captivating sequel — which is able to presumably come out subsequent 12 months — with extra private stakes. Hopefully Freed will take the time to develop these characters extra earlier than throwing them into motion once more.
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron, from Del Rey, hits cabinets June 11.
