Iron Fist (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 6)

by Aaron Allston

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553578979
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Random House Worlds
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.6" x 0.8" x 4.1"

Customer Reviews

It Keeps Getting Better

I have to admit, while I am definatly in favor of having the Star Wars storyline continued through novels, a vast majority of those which have been written and published have been far from up to snuff. Sure, Zahn's works a fabulous, and Mike Stackpole writes some pretty good stuff, but a lot of the Star Wars literature, like Anderson's and Hambly's books, leave A LOT to be desired. Fortunatly, some visionary decided to allow Aaron Allston to try his hand at writing Star Wars. Allston takes Yoda's imfamous (and overused) words to heart and doesn't try, but does. The second X-Wing trilogy is, in my humble opinion, the finest work of Star Wars literature next to Zahn's books.Iron Fist picks up right where Wraith Squadron left off. Having defeated Admiral Trigit, the Republic decides the time has come to go after Warlord Zsinj. Of course, it wouldn't be Wraith Squadron to do things the simple way and engage Zsinj in a head to head fight, so Allston concieves a clever (and often entertaining) means of getting to Zsinj covertly.Like Wraith Squadron, Iron Fist demonstrates Allston's outstanding skill in portraying realistic characters. Each of the Wraiths has a distinct personality, and I generally found something to like about each of them. Particularly interesting is Lara Notsil, who I first feared would be generic. No spoilers, but she turns out to have a great deal more deapth than it originally appears. Allston also does a great job of getting the reader to feel some emotions. The Wraiths, unlike Stackpole's Rogues, have a strong humorous side, and some of the practical jokes they pull on each other are laugh out loud riots. The infamous Lieutenant Kettch returns, and he has an even greater role here than in Wraith Squadron. But not everything is fun and games. The Wraiths, unlike the Rogues (am I getting repetitive?), are mortals, and they do die on occasion. In Iron Fist, Allston writes the greatest death scene in Star Wars history, one which truly conveys the pain felt for the loss of a friend. Warlord Zsinj gets a larger role this time, giving the reader more imformation on his character. Zsinj, along with General Melvar, seem to have a bit more humor about them than most Imperials (for proof, check out the "New Oldtown" scene), but it makes them a little less generic, and Zsinj still does a far better job than most Star Wars antagonists at actually seeming threatening.This is one of the greats as far as Star Wars literature goes. Read it, then get Solo Command. Because, believe it or not, as good as this one is, Solo Command is even better.

A more than worthy edition to the series

To be honest, space battles and action, action, action and nothing but action have never really been my thing. Oh, I like them, (otherwise why would I be a Star Warsfan) but I generally prefer intracite plots and character interactions. It sounds impossible, but trust me on this one; this book has it all! Everything; plot, battles,characters, you name it, was crafted together into one great story almost flawlessly. And as if that wasn't good enough, these books can also be hilarious! Anyway, theWraiths have survived their first mission together, but the trials have not ended for them. Zinj (or however you spell his name) still lives and rumers are beginning tosurface about the possiblity of Isard herself being still alive somewhere. In this book, the main focus shifts to a character I find most interesting, Garik "Face" Loran, aformer child actor who made Imperial propaganda "holoflicks". Anyway, I won't spoil the plot, but really, this book and the rest of the series is definitely worthwhile. Iwas sitting on the edge of my seat during the battle scenes, rooting all the way for Face and Dia, and nearly in tears for Ton Phanan. :-( Speaking of Dia, I was veryglad for her edition to the cast; I hate to admit it, but before her I always saw Twi'lek females as being complete and total..., mostly, but Dia totally blew all myexpectations away, and new she's one of my favorites. I recommend this series mostly to adults and teenagers.

Far beter than Stackpole!

A great novel, I loved it. Exept for Zinsj's rediculous defeat at the conclusion of the novel (the way that MonCal cruiser succesfully battled two SSD's was almost like an ant beating up an elephant) and the fact that it adds yet another Super stardestroyer to the already enourmous amouth of vessels of this class in this series, I have no complaints.I liked to see a bit of humour in a star Wars novel, most writers seem to forget that too was part of the original movies. The squadron's pilots acted in a way that I can imagine that real pilots do (joking around, arguing among themselves etc.). It wasn't all 'we have to defeat the empire or the galaxy will be lost' all over again. Zsinj was a believable evil-doer, and was just as mean and heartless as a good villian is supposed to be. To my opinion, Allston's X-wing novels are a lot better than those written by Stackpole (which I myself consider to be not much more than fair, to be honest).

Wriath Squadron Trilogy (Wraith Squadron/Iron Fist/Solo Cmd)

Star Wars books sometimes suffer from life- and galaxy-shattering plots, to the point the they are often depressing, unbelievable, and sometimes just stupid. The Wraith Trilogy (Rogue Squadron: Wraith Squadron/Iron Fist/Solo Command) is almost the antithesis, injected with humor and life, even though the characters are self-professed screw-ups about to be washed out of piloting. Instead of being a lot about piloting and aerial dogfights, this unit is made up of commandos who are also great pilots. The characters are mainly new and untried, and desperate to impress their commander, Wedge Antilles, hero of the New Republic, who creates this unit to meet a real need. The Wraiths learn to trust each other, cheer together when they succeed and cry real tears when missions don't go according to their plan, and they lose friends and comrades. Though these stories were obviously conceived to dove-tail into "The Courtship of Princess Leia," they are great stories, with many funny lines and situations. Its not all comedy -- the unit helps one member through manic depression and career-ending insanity, another is a spy who ends up wanting to be just an honest pilot, another is a former slave who is forced to murder a squadron mate, yet another realizes that he is the killer of the father of one of his pilots, another seeks to contact a traitor to learn about his sister, etc. Heady and heavy stuff! Since none of these are main or film characters, there is no fear of contradicting continuity for the characters of this series. I became a Star Wars novel fan through these lines of books. I admit, I am disappointed with most of the other novels, and always wish that more Wraith Squadron books could be written instead, even as children's books, if need be!

FANTASTIC!

Aaron Allston does it again! Another AWESOME book! It's full of romance, action, suspence, and even tragedy. The kind of book I like to read.