Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand

Perhaps the best and worst thing one can say about an Aaron Allston novel is that it contains competent space action. That is to say, this is a novel with little ambition that it accomplishes spectacularly well. There are space battles, interesting tactics, and quips, and there are definitely times I'll take successful nonambition over failed ambition. Allston knows what he wants this book to be, an he does it well, which is more than you can say for a lot of New Jedi Order novels.

One thing I will always remember about this book is thinking that Wedge Antilles could die. Chewbacca showed that main film characters weren't safe, and Anakin Solo showed that main novel characters weren't safe-- next to them, Wedge is small potatoes, so I show more was on the edge of my seat the first time I read it. The effect is somewhat muted thirteen years later, however.

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Plot: The follow-up to Rebel Dream; picks up the plot where that one left off and brings it to a temporary conclusion. It's part of a series, and the big background plot arc does not get advanced at all with this one. Together with its prequel, it's a very contained story.

Characters: The focus is on a small number of known players, with the occasional walk-by of old acquaintances. The characters are kept the way they're generally drawn, though Allston dares to let them discover humor and even sarcasm.

Style: Solid writing that doesn't take itself too seriously. Star Wars novels that make the reader laugh are rare, but this one manages on occasion. Good balance between the overall series main plot and this duology's smaller plots - other show more books in the series bring everything bar the kitchen sink, this one doesn't.

Plus: Solid entertainment. Humour, especially situational humour.

Minus: One of the main plot devices is given away very early in the book rather than to keep it hidden until the end. Tension doesn't quite build because of that.

Summary: Just as Rebel Dream, a pleasant story to read that delivers on the promise of good entertainment. show less

Great story, interesting new villain, good conclusion (not rushed) and finally we get rid of Senator Shesh!

Good! not as funny as his Xwing books, but this storyline is a serious one. cool ideas