Wedge’s Gamble - Book Review

First published in 1996, X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble, written by Michael A. Stackpole, is the second installment in the X-Wing series of novels and in 2022 has gotten The Essential Legends Collection paperback treatment. Only the Force knows if all ten X-Wing novels will be repackaged this way, but with artist Doaly once again providing the cover art, we can only dream (imagine what that bookshelf would look like!).

Wedge’s Gamble picks up where book 1 left off, a month after the conquest of Borleias and the death of Rogue Squadron member Bror Jace. The squad is getting used to the constant inflow of new members, with Wedge confident that no matter what the current makeup is, he’s recruiting the best of the best. The Rebels/New Republic now have their sights set on reclaiming Coruscant for their own. It’s currently being run by would-be Emperor Ysanne “Iceheart” Isard, a cruel and cunning villain leading the charge against the Rebels. The New Republic hatches a plan which involves letting crime syndicate prisoners free from the planet Kessel to ease their capture of Coruscant, while Iceheart has a plan of her own involving a biological threat which could wreak gag-inducing havoc on the Rebels’ plans. Plus there’s an Imperial spy in the midst of the Rebels, thwarting their efforts every step of the way.

The post-Empire timeline in which Wedge’s Gamble takes place has been rife with content from Legends days to current. From the original Thrawn trilogy to The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, storytellers have been filling this space with tales for decades now, and for me it still remains enjoyable. There’s just something about the Rebels figuring out how to run the galaxy while Imperial forces remain a threat that provides plenty of conflict. Having familiar faces intermix with new allies and enemies expands the storytelling landscape in a way that (so far at least) hasn’t gotten old. Wedge’s Gamble balances the familiar and the new in a way that will keep you engaged and excited to find out what happens next. The interwoven plots in the book work together in a way that keeps you on your toes. Stackpole does a great job of keeping his chapters paced in a way that never focuses on one plot for too long before jumping to another.

If you’re a fan of written descriptions of dogfights this book will be a standout. If you’re like me, those portions of the book might be more of a challenge to get through. Stackpole is definitely talented in all the technical jargon when it comes to battles between spaceships, but these moments can seem like distractions to the overarching story at times. Additionally, the number of plots going on at once naturally adds to the amount of characters in the narrative mix. At times the headcount of characters involved may be hard to track, with their various species and unique names, which may require some brain power upfront but pays off come novels’ end. Also, by the end of the book I struggled determining just what it was exactly that Wedge gambled (if anyone has thoughts on this please let me know).

Wedge’s Gamble The Essential Legends Collection edition paperback and audiobook (a new recording by the legendary Marc Thompson) are out now, so make it your galactic mission to add this to your Star Wars book collection.