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Science Fiction & Fantasy |
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Iron Fist (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 6)
written by Aaron Allston
Studio : Random House Audio
by Random House Audio
Release Date : 1998-07-06
Publisher : Random House Audio
Released : 1998-07-06
Availability : In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Number of Items : 2
EAN : 9780553524970
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 81 reviews)
List Price : $16.99
Our Price : $13.25
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Product Description |
They are the Rebel Alliance's ultimate strike force--sleek, swift, and deadly. For these X-wing fighters, no job is too dirty or too dangerous. Now they must rise to meet an impossible challenge: stop a powerful warlord by pretending to be his ally.
Against all odds, the controversial Wraith Squadron has survived its first covert mission. But now they are called upon to cheat death twice. This time Wedge Antilles sends them to stop the warlord Zsinj and his Super Star Destroyer, Iron Fist. If Zsinj joins the Empire, it could turn the tide of war against the Rebels. The Wraith Squadron's mission: infiltrate the warlord's fleet and uncover his carefully guarded plans. To do so, they must pose as ruthless pirates seeking to join Zsinj's forces. And that means first becoming pirates in space lanes teeming with Imperial Navy patrols. If that isn't enough to get them killed, they'll have to pass one last test--a suicide mission for Zsinj.
Can they survive the test and turn the tables on Zsinj?
Or is this the end for Wraith Squadron? |
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Americancivilwar.com |
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Listening to books in the X-Wing series is a lot like listening to the classic radio dramas that are Star Wars' wellspring. Words, music, and sounds create a vibrant world in the mind's eye, full of action and suspense. Tony Award nominee Anthony Heald (Anything Goes and Love! Valor! Compassion! ), fashions many easily differentiated voices, human and alien--yet always with restraint, never caricature. He brings a great deal of enthusiasm to the second book in the series to feature Wraith Squadron, a collection of misfits and losers who are meant to take on the missions that no normal X-Wing squad can handle. In X-Wing Iron Fist, the Wraiths are assigned to help bring down the corrupt Lord Zsinj and his Super Star Destroyer, Iron Fist. To do so, the Wraiths must pose as pirates and try to join Zsing. For the Wraiths, though, being outlaws comes easily. This is a rousing tale that combines with the equally rousing John Williams score to create fine space opera that will be enjoyed by all ages. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --Brooks Peck |
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Good Deal |
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Not as fast paced as the firt of Allston's books in this series, but still easier to read that Stackpole's books. |
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The continuing adventures of Wraith Squadron |
Iron Fist is the sixth book in the X-wing series and the second one by Aaron Allston after four by Michael Stackpole. In both of Mr. Allston's books, we follow the adventures of Wraith Squadron, a group of skilled pilots put together by Wedge Antilles basically to wreak havoc on Warlord Zsinj. The members of Wraith Squadron can certainly fly, but they are also competent commandos, snipers, spies, and infiltrators. The cast of characters has not changed dramatically from the previous book. They are an interesting mix of humans and aliens, and Antilles gives them a lot of freedom to innovate as they move from fight to fight.
In this book the members of Wraith Squadron changed tactics and posed as a pirate band in order to gain Zsinj's confidence and join his loose organization of raiders. In order to pull this off, they participate in several raids as pirates and manage to attract the attention of Warlord Zsinj. I found some of these raids to be confusing and kind of helter-skelter. However, Mr. Allston makes up for that with a huge battle at the end of the book. He also manages to leave plenty of room for the next book in the series.
Each of the books in the X-wing series includes a list of characters at the front of the book. The list also specifies species and home planets. This information is very handy and helps the reader to draw a mental picture of individuals, especially if you go to the trouble to read about the species in some of the Star Wars reference books such as The New Essential Guide to Alien Species. The characters are uniformly interesting even though some of their exploits are completely over the top. That really shouldn't bother most readers. If you are worried about things being over the top, you wouldn't be a Star Wars fan anyway.
The next book, X-wing: Solo Command, will continue the adventures of Wraith Squadron, and I look forward to it. |
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The search for Warlord Zsinj and the Iron Fist continues |
The adventures of Wraith Squadron continue in Iron Fist, book six in the X-wing series and Aaron Allston's second contribution. The Wraiths have successfully completed their first covert mission, although there were losses along the way. One of the elements that keeps these books engaging is that characters are actually killed once in a while, giving them an element of danger sometimes lacking in the books following the main film characters. To replace Wraith's losses, they pick up Dia Passik, a Twi'lek and former slave dancer, Shalla Nelprin, a martial arts expert, and Castin Donn, a computer hacker who has issues with non-human species.
As the story begins, the Wraiths are brainstorming in an attempt to discern Zsinj's overall plan. Several entertaining team sequences lead to the conclusion that the key to Zsinj is his Super Star Destroyer Iron Fist. But how to draw him out? They develop a plan to pose as pirates in the hopes of gaining Zsinj's attention and eventually taking a shot at him. The first mission involves stealing equipment including TIE Interceptors for the pirate charade they've planned. From there the missions involve staged pirate assaults on various shipping and planetary concerns aligned with Zsinj.
The Wraiths' fake pirate band is named the Hawk-bats and skilled actor Garik "Face" Loran poses as their leader, General Kargin. The Wraiths walk a delicate line between pretending to be pirates and not actually inflicting harm on innocent civilians. It's an intriguing tactic and it feels more like a strategy of the Rebellion rather than the legitimate government of the New Republic. However, it's part and parcel of the infiltration tactics Wedge established as a cornerstone of Wraith Squadron. In the end this pretend-pirate strategy does not force the team into any significant moral dilemmas with one exception that takes place in a memorable dinner sequence with Warlord Zsinj himself on the Iron Fist.
A small concern I had with the fifth book, Wraith Squadron, was somewhat magnified in Iron Fist. Allston's plots feel a shade unfocused, as the team seems to drift from mission to mission. I believe this may a deliberate tactic by Allston to capture the feel of being sent on missions that don't always have clearly explained objectives; it also plays into the chaotic vibe of the Wraiths as a group as they try to figure out who they are and what they can do stop an elusive enemy. However, for the reader it can come across as disjointed, and occasionally in the middle of a chapter I had to back up a bit to remind myself exactly what planet and what mission they were currently on.
Rich characterizations continue to be Allston's strength in this volume. The arc of Lara Notsil, a former Imperial agent now aligned with the Wraiths and struggling to find her true identity, is compelling. Castin Donn's arrogance coupled with his keen computer skills lead him to an unnecessary end but also to a key aspect of the final plan to take on Zsinj. Face and Ton Phanan have a moving sequence together mid-book and almost every character in this large cast gets an opportunity to shine.
The climactic battle is fantastic as I've come to expect from the prior books in the series. Zsinj is not content with just one Super Star Destroyer, and he makes a play for a second being built at the Kuat Drive Yards in a move which places various members of the Wraiths and Rogues on both sides of the battle (although all working for a common purpose, of course). Great action, high stakes, and as usual not all the pilots come through unscathed.
Iron Fist is a worthy continuation of the X-wing saga. Allston is one of the most amusing writers in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and more jokes hit than miss. His characterizations are a strong point and aid in overcoming any lack of focus in the plot.
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More Wraiths |
This book continues the adventures of Wraith Squadron, the misfit cousin of Rogue Squadron. All the pilots are a bit off in the head, but what they lack in professionalism, the make up for in luck and skill. Though you rarely get to see main stream star wars names like skywalker, Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca, it's still star wars through and through.
This book is highly suggested for those who like action oriented Star Wars literature. |
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Best of Allston's x-wing books! |
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Overall a great read and well worth your time. The "misfits" of wraith squadron continue their effort against the warlord. I liked this book. Read it at all cost. Well maybe not all cost but take the opportuntity if if arises. |
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