Comments on: Suvudu Star Wars Gateway Series: Jump Into The Expanded Universe With X-Wing: Wraith Squadron

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:31 +0000

I’m in the Rogue Squadron camp as well for a better gateway book. While it does make sense to start with Heir to the Empire with the big 3, or even The Paradise Snare getting into Han’s backstory, one of the best parts of the EU is all the new characters and the minor ones you meet in the movie (or don’t learn their names) that provide a new aspect. Stepping into the EU with a little less familiarity with characters is worth it.

I’m also surprised to not see Darth Bane: Path of Destruction mentioned. I used it as a pick for a book club and really opened up some eyes for people not knowing what SW EU would be like.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:28:23 +0000

I remembered when this book came out it sat in my shelf for a couple of months. Who was this Allston guy? Where is Stackpole? A new squadron? I want the Rogues. You know how it is. When I finally gave it a chance I loved it. The only time I’ve cried reading a book was with this series. It was funny and smart and I really cared about the characters. Are there better entry points to Star Wars novels? Yes, but these books are great so a new reader would not be sorry.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:12:11 +0000

I have to disagree with using “Wraith Squadron” as a jumping off point to Star Wars EU.

The Wraiths… as fun a group as they are… don’t really appear anywhere outside of this series. So, for readers looking to get into the EU, the Wraith series doesn’t set anything up other than Courtship of Princess Leia (which I would argue shouldn’t be in the first four star wars books someone new to the books reads).

Looking for a jumping off point in the X-Wing series, the first of those books actually works better… it introduces a character (Corran Horn) who does appear in a number of books after the X-Wing series, it helps develop the Rogue pilots we heard about in ESB, and sets up the Wraith novels.

However, as a first article on a jump off point to the Star Wars EU, it seems like the honor should have gone to the book that really jump-started the EU: Heir to the Empire.

By: Veratainer

Veratainer — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:53:02 +0000

Once I read the X-Wing novels, I got really curious about Wedge’s youth, and how he got to know some of the new characters we meet in thr Rogue squadron series (I mean the Terrik family). So I read the Rogue squadron comics. This backstory becomes rather important, as one family, the Fels, is seen quite a lot in other novels. In The New Jedi order, or Fate of the Jedi.

By: Ian Miller

Ian Miller — Sat, 05 May 2012 09:10:13 +0000

I think there are more characters from the films in Wraith Squadron than in Rogue Squadron – Han shows up. Leia is the first one to show up in the Rogue series, and she doesn’t appear until Wedge’s Gamble.

As for “will Mercy Kill gain anything if someone reads Wraith Squadron and then jumps straight to Mercy Kill?” I think the answer is “Yes, definitely.” Allston has made it clear that it will bridge the gap between Solo Command and FotJ, and the excerpt in Apocalypse/Scourge starts not too many years after the Zsinj campaign.

Also, since Wraith Squadron is a new plotline, new villain, and new squadron, I really don’t see the objections to it over Rogue Squadron. Does it gain context and enjoyment if you’ve read Rogue Squadron? Of course – but it’s not necessary.

By: Dom

Dom — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:01:53 +0000

I have to agree with Shepherd492 here. By Wraith Squadron, Wedge is already pretty well developed, as is the context of the New Republic. I think fans who are really just jumping into the EU would have a hard time jumping into a book without any major characters from the movie. Also, I wonder how much the new Mercy Kill book will actually continue off the 1990s X-Wing. After all, in the timeline they’re like 30 years apart and so much has happened in between.

By: EUFan

EUFan — Sat, 05 May 2012 05:45:04 +0000

Nevermind. Wrong book-Mercy Kill was what i was talking about. That’s what i get for posting at 1 in the morning.

By: EUFan

EUFan — Sat, 05 May 2012 05:43:42 +0000

Oh, wait. Nevermind. Wrong book- Mercy Kill was what i was talking about. That’s what i get for posting at 1 in the morning

By: EUFan

EUFan — Sat, 05 May 2012 05:41:23 +0000

Waitaminute… they said that Wraith Squadron was going to take place (at some point) after FOTJ:Apocalypse. What’s the big change about?! And besides, T.Z’s Heir to the Empire trilogy is what i think is a good jump point for the EU. Of course, Wookieepedia is also the place to go to catch up.
Dang it, and i was getting excited about this one. I guess no more post-FOTJ stuff till after Celebration 6.

By: Ian Miller

Ian Miller — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:09:43 +0000

I don’t think there’s anything \just\ about Allston’s Mercy Kill coming out soon – it makes perfect sense to provide a pointer back to Wraith Squadron in preparation – and they are both equally excellent starting points.