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I know this is a departure from the normal, but I had the urge to write this, and rather than having it take up space in a book review where it does not belong, I have chosen to instead take that material and make an essay out of it.
I am just about to review Wraith Squadron, and I found myself thinking about a couple of questions I see asked frequently on various Star Wars message boards. I don't recall if I have ever posted a reply to them on those forums, but I now choose to reply here. These two questions are, "Which author writes the better X-wing book, Michael Stackpole or Aaron Allston?" and "Which squadron do you prefer, Rogue or Wraith?"
I feel I should answer these two questions to make my position known. Which author is a better X-wing writer? Short answer: neither. Or maybe both. You see, when it comes right down to it, I can't truly choose. They have different writing styles and both have their strengths and weaknesses. Let me just lay this out as I see it in my mind. In some ways, I do feel Allston is a better author overall. I like the way he develops every single pilot in the squadron, along with other characters outside of the Wraiths. I love the way he combines humor and drama, and feel he may be one of the only authors I have ever read in any genre that combines the two elements so effectively. Each character gets some story time, and we feel that we know at least a little something about each and every one. On the other hand, Stackpole is better at writing political intrigue. The characters he does spend lots of time with, he vividly brings to life. He is not incapable of writing humorous scenes, and he did create Corran Horn, which automatically wins him bonus points in my book. I find his books more appealing on a gut level. In other words, there really is no one answer to that question. If for some reason you are reading this essay and haven't read the X-wing books, all I can say is to read all of the X-wing books and then decide which author's writing style is more appealing to you.
As for my squadron preference, I guess if someone held a gun to my head, I would have to say Rogue Squadron. I love Wraith Squadron to death, I love the way all the Wraiths are developed, and I especially love the sense of humor the books exhibit, but the Rogues just grab me for some reason. I also like Tycho, Gavin, and Ooryl quite a bit, and feel that if Corran did not exist, Tycho would probably be my favorite character. Not only that, but some of the Rogue stories just seem to have grabbed me a little more than the Wraith stories, which is another reason why they would probably rank a little higher. But the Wraiths always seem to creep their way into my mind and not let go. It's to the point where I've been reading a Rogue book and been thinking about the Wraiths and how I want to read about them. Then when I am finally reading a Wraith book, I find myself thinking about the Rogues and how much I like them.
I think I can now sum the answers to both questions into a single sentiment. My heart is torn. I love them both, but for different reasons. One is not really any better than the other, but both can be enjoyed equally. The only difference truly lies on a subjective level. In my case, I find myself liking the Rogues and Stackpole's writing slightly better, but yet not really being able to explain why. And, now that I think about it, I don't find not being able to explain it a bad thing at all.
Copyright February 5, 2002 by Kelly M. Grosskreutz.
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