David's Review of X-wing: Wedge's Gamble

5/5 Rancors - X-wing: Wedge's Gamble by Michael Stackpole is the second book in the X-wing series that got off to such a rousing start with Rogue Squadron. In this book the Rebels are continuing with their campaign to capture Coruscant, the heart of the Empire. We are about three years after the Battle of Endor, and Wedge Antilles and his band of X-wing pilots are selected to infiltrate Coruscant to obtain vital intelligence information. Capture would mean death or enslavement by Ysanne Isard ("Iceheart"), the Director of Imperial Intelligence by job title but actually the de facto Emperor. The odds for success are heavily stacked against Rogue Squadron as they are not flying the X-wings in battle but are clearly outside their comfort zones skulking through the intrigues of Coruscant in disguise. However, as Corran Horn would say - "Never tell me the odds." Also, to add to their challenges, one of Rogue Squadron's members is a slave to Iceheart and a traitor to the squadron.

To further complicate matters, Rogue Squadron earlier had been sent to the spice mines of Kessel to arrange for the freedom of sixteen of the galaxy's worst criminals. These freed criminals were then let loose on Coruscant with hopes that they would foster chaos. This turns out later on to have been a shaky decision. Rogue Squadron spends the majority of the book setting up and carrying out an extremely complicated plan to knock out Coruscant's shields and allow an armada led by Admiral Ackbar to attack the planet.

Wedge's Gamble is an excellent follow-up to the first book. The by-play among the squadron members is great fun; the action scenes are extremely well done: and Mr. Stackpole leaves you at the end of the book wondering what has happened to Corran Horn and ready to move straight on in to the third book in the series. Don't miss this one.