A couple weeks ago I said to myself, “You know, we’re not in the middle of enough book series. Let’s add more.” And that’s how I decided to begin reading through the Star Wars Expanded Universe Legends series once again.
I decided to start at the beginning of the X-Wing series featuring such iconic characters such as Wedge Antilles, Corran Horn, Tycho Celchu, and more. I began reading Star Wars books at about eleven or twelve, first falling in love with the -what to me at the time felt incredibly dynamic and mold-shattering- Young Padawan series following the journey of Obi-wan Kenobi becoming a Jedi Knight.
I have to admit that I loved the books more than the movies and raced on into the Rebellion era, followed by the exciting New Republic era, the sweet Young Jedi Knight series, the heartbreaking New Jedi Order era, and then by the time Jacen Solo really broke my heart in the last series, I had turned to other stories for solace.
Now, it’s been some years since I read through the various series’ and I guess I’m looking to get my heart re-broken.
But, that’s not all I’ve been reading in the last few weeks, though I want to save those for separate reviews. So here’s my Star Wars experience so far.
Rapidfire Book Reviews
Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole
If you want to find a book that will literally throw you into the Star Wars universe, Rogue Squadron is one of those books that starts with a bang and keeps on going. Set not long after Return of the Jedi it follows the most infamous fighter squadron in the Rebellion, Rogue Squadron, led by ace pilot Wedge Antilles. In this book you meet the new class of Rogues and see them grow into the legends that save an entire galaxy from the insidious grasp of the remnants of the Empire.
Wedge’s Gamble by Michael A. Stackpole
They waste no time in going after the grand prize in the second book of this series. Coruscant, the seat of power in the galaxy, is currently under the fascist grip of former Imperial Intelligence director Ysanne Isard, known as Iceheart. Wedge, Corran, and the other Rogues are tasked with infiltrating Coruscant and coming up with a plan to take the shields that cover the entire planet down. This second installment is exciting, full of twists and turns, and has a shocking ending.
The Krytos Trap by Michael A. Stackpole
I don’t think it’s too much of spoiler to say that the Rebellion takes Coruscant and then works to become the New Republic, presenting a stable government to the rest of the galaxy. But the New Republic is still a baby government, and some things, like their justice system, have hardly been created. This third book is part prison escape, part legal drama, and part medical drama, as the New Republic faces the engineered bioweapon Iceheart left them while contemplating condemning one of their own to execution for murder and betrayal. I loved it, of course.
The Bacta War by Michael Stackpole
Here you see the Rogues in their original, swashbuckling form as the entire squadron resigns in order to be able to go after Iceheart as she hides away on Thyferra. The Rogues remember their rebellious origins and wage a guerilla war against Iceheart and her hold on most of the Bacta in the galaxy. Without it, many beings could die. This fourth novel ties up a lot of stories begun in the previous novels and is a fantastic send-off to the Rogues before Aaron Allston takes over the series and introduces Star Wars fans to what some call the second greatest fighter squadron of all time: the Wraiths.
I Get Nerdy
On TikTok, @writerknboe, I’ve been discussing the Star Wars books I’ve been reading and enjoying going into detail talking about what I think about each novel and Star Wars overall. If you’d like to get nerdy with me, please join me there!
Since, I’ve been reviewing books on this newsletter/blog I wanted to take the time to clarify my way of reviewing books. As a writer and a reader, there is a line I must tow and boundaries that should not be crossed.
The bottom line is that as a writer and aspiring published author, I am, in a way, reviewing the work of my peers. There is certainly room for honesty, and some opinions are merely personal preference, but what I do not want to do is overstep or take on a role that I should not.
That being said, here are some personal rules for reviewing books as an author/writer.
I don’t review books I did not like
This seems simple, but we all experienced the feeling of a reading experience that was utterly disappointing and yet who could we tell? I would love to gab about it with my friends (and I do) but as a writer it feels inappropriate to make negative content out of hand on someone else’s work.
Also, there’s the simple fact that if I did not like a book that much I probably did not finish it. And therefore I won’t be talking about it online at all.
Taking a page out of the rulebook of comedy
If I do have something say, mostly a personal opinion or preference, I take a page from comedy, where essentially, I punch up, not down. Meaning, I would be more apt to be critical of say, Orson Scott Card, than a debut author. That being said, I don’t set out to be critical (a critic is not a role I want to fill) but there are times where some things should be said. Or other times where an opinion must be expressed, and I know the author will be just fine (also, they don’t know I exist and probably wouldn’t care if they did).
I know the difference between criticism, personal opinion or preference, and literary analysis.
I’m not out here trying to be a critic. I mostly want to spread the love, so to speak, and talk about books and writing and everything I love about it. Sometimes I’ll get real nerdy about things (literary analysis or just me being obsessed) but I mostly just want to gab with fellow book lovers.
I can recognize when something is “not for me”
There's a difference between something not being for you and something being done badly. There are also things ‘not for you’ that you may actually find morally abhorrent or distasteful, but then common sense suggests that it would make sense to just not consume that type of media. I am a staunch proponent of common sense.
All of these are reasons why you may not find hard-hitting, deeply critical analysis of stories or negative reviews or anything that could be described using the word “hater”. I might one day (because I’ve been thinking about it) write in vague terms about certain tropes or plot devices that make me want to drink ‘the hatorade’, but I’m not going to be calling out any names. Which is not to say that I couldn’t. Or don’t, perhaps someday, want to. But in this instance (this instance being: book reviews, book discussions) I aim to be honest, but professional. Real, but kind.
But, honestly, my main goal is rule number 5:
If you like a book, shout it from the rooftops!
I really liked these last four Star Wars books. I also really enjoyed Sincerely, Secretary of Doom by Jennifer Kropf and Moonbound by Robin Sloan. Look out for reviews coming soon!
What are your thoughts about writers reviewing books? If you are writer, do you have your own set of rules? Let me know in the comments below!