Andrew's Review of X-wing: Starfighters of Adumar

5/5 Rancors - Set further out on the Star Wars Expanded Universe timeline than the other novels in the top-notch X-wing series, Aaron Allston's Starfighters of Adumar is a superb conclusion to the nine-book saga following various X-wing pilots and their leader Wedge Antilles. Allston wrote four of the nine books, and while his prior volumes featured his creation Wraith Squadron, in this book he focuses tightly on classic members of Rogue Squadron: Wedge, Tycho, Janson, and Hobbie. These guys represent four very distinctive personalities and are terrific teamed together.

The biggest asset of Starfighters of Adumar is its sheer readability. Allston is known for interjecting large quantities of humor into his Star Wars stories and he is firing on all cylinders here. This book is genuinely funny: the chuckles come often and almost never feel forced. The interplay among the four pilots contains many laugh-out-loud lines. There are plenty of serious moments in the story as well: Allston strikes a perfect balance between the absurd and the dramatic. Also benefiting the story is the tight focus on the four pilots and their single mission. Devoting the entire plot to one mission gives it room to breathe and plenty of space to effectively detail the intriguing societies of Adumar. Star Wars books have a habit (inspired by the films, no doubt) of rapid planet-hopping, but this time around we really get to know this one locale and that is a major plus.

Beyond the pilots, Allston also does a good job of advancing the romantic relationship between Wedge and Intelligence officer Iella Wessiri. The opening scene of the book, featuring Wedge and former love interest Qwi Xux, is awkwardly handled but does set the stage nicely for Iella to enter the picture. Also of interest is the reappearance of Admiral Rogriss, an atypical Imperial officer who is placed into a striking ethical dilemma closely akin to one Wedge is grappling with. Rounding out the primary characters of the tale are the feisty Adumarian warrior Cheriss, the enigmatic Republic representative Tomer Darpen, and the "two-headed" ex-tabloid reports Hallis.

Adumar is a world splintered into nation-states, rather than the unified world governments we generally encounter in the New Republic. Most of the book takes place in the violent duel-happy nation of Cartann, ruled by a set-in-his-ways and arrogant leader named Pekaelic. The lack of value placed on human life in Cartann appalls Wedge and Allston takes us through Wedge's interesting moral deliberations as he struggles to reconcile his diplomatic assignment with his core beliefs. Again, the time Allston takes to flesh out Cartann and the world of Adumar truly pays off as the detailed background lends itself to high-quality character building.

Starfighters of Adumar is flat-out good Star Wars action and adventure. Allston does a great job of balancing characters and plot, humor and action, and romance and conflict. After nine books, the X-wing series was still going strong, and although I don't expect to ever see another entry, especially in light of the publisher change to Del Rey years ago, I would love to see books ten and beyond someday if there's any way to make that happen.