Alphabet Squadron - Book Review

“The Empire was crumbling every day. Trillions of people were free because of the Rebellion.”

With the destruction of the second Death Star the Rebellion was over for many, but in stark reality the war was only just beginning. Much of recent canon Star Wars material has sought to fill the gaps of the years in between the fall of the Empire and the establishment of the New Republic. Alexander Freed’s first installment of his ace piloting trilogy, Alphabet Squadron, follows in this vein, while bringing a breath of fresh air to the Star Wars universe. One might initially expect a similar storytelling experience to the ever popular X-Wing series of the Legends timeline—Alphabet Squadron carries a far more matured portrayal of the realities of life for soldiers and even galactic civilians post Imperial rule.

Many readers might be daunted by the lengthy exposition of the novel which shifts perspectives and storylines in an eccentric manner. However, one cannot help but be captivated by the enigma that surrounds the story’s central protagonist Yrica Quell. This is not the first time we have seen heroes who have jumped ship from enemy lines to join the Rebellion. Quell, however, is not the idealistic and starry-eyed freedom fighter that we have seen in the likes of Wedge Antilles and Thane Kyrell. Rather, she is highly cynical and her motivations are far from altruistic. One of the driving forces of the novel was the slow unravelling of her character. Freed provides just enough crumbs to draw readers in while leaving them craving more.

As the novel progresses Freed slowly introduces us to a handful of unconventional heroes. Star Wars has always been brimming with the unlikeliest heroes hailing from the most unlikely of places, providing much appeal for individuals who have felt different or misplaced in their own lives. The crew of the newest piloting team, Alphabet Squadron, reminds us that despite the scars and damages of our past experiences, our value and contributions are unparalleled. Whether we hide ourselves from the world like the mysterious Kairos or try to drown our sorrows akin to Nath Tensent, our potential cannot and should not be underestimated.

The plot of Alphabet Squadron is highly character driven as can be expected in the first novel of any trilogy which deals with multiple protagonists. At times, this resulted in a less than thrilling plot, bogged down by what initially seemed like inconsequential details and events. Despite this, readers will be rewarded with their perseverance, as Freed beautifully constructs multidimensional characters with a complex and interconnected plot which continues to amaze as the trilogy progresses. It is only as we delve further into the novel and the second and third installments that we can completely recognize Freed’s genius which is reminiscent of the work of Timothy Zahn in his Thrawn novels.

Alphabet Squadron is a welcome addition to the Star Wars canon. Drastically different from the familiar piloting tales of the past, Freed balances military strategy and language with humanizing experiences that allows readers to connect with the galaxy’s newest band of heroes. Alphabet Squadron will leave you eager for future installments featuring this aviating fivesome.