Star Wars: The X-Wing Series, Volume 1: Rogue Squadron

By: Michael A. Stackpole

Narrated by: Henry Thomas

Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

They are the X-wing fighters: sleek, swift, and deadly. And as the struggle rages across the vastness of space, the fearless men and women who pilot them risk both their lives and their machines. Their mission: to defend the Rebel Alliance against a still powerful and battle-hardened Imperial foe in a last ditch effort to control the stars!

Its very name strikes fear in enemy hearts. So when Rebel hero Wedge Antilles rebuilds the legendary Rogue Squadron, he seeks out only the best, the most skilled, the most daring X-wing pilots. Through arduous training and dangerous missions, he weeds out the weak from the strong, assembling a group of hard-bitten warriors willing to fight and ready to die.

Antilles knows the grim truth: that even with the best X-wing jockeys in the galaxy, many will not survive their near suicidal missions. But when Rogue Squadron is ordered to assist in the assault of the heavily-fortified Imperial stronghold of Black Moon, even the bravest must wonder if any at all will survive.

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©1996 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM. (P)1996 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM.

Horrible

What disappointed you about Star Wars?

It was horrible. Too much sound effects drown out reader. Story was too much abridged.

Has Star Wars turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes if they are like this one.

How could the performance have been better?

Soften the sound effects. Do an unabridged version

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Star Wars?

Unabridged version is a must. Sounds effects should be very soft in the background not over powering drowning out the reader.

Good, but SEVERELY abridged

Henry Thomas's performance is good, but some of the charters sound too similar. It lacks the details that make it a really good book, as the abridged story just leaves out too much of what make the book so much more enjoyable and complete.

Good Delivery of a Chopped Product

Would you try another book from Michael A. Stackpole and/or Henry Thomas?

Yes, if presented unabridged.

What could Michael A. Stackpole have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I do not believe the issues here were Stackpole's as I enjoyed the original book itself. Rather, the story presented for the audiobook was so hacked up that much of the good detail and character development was lost.

Have you listened to any of Henry Thomas’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I am not familiar with Thomas' other work. The reading here was rather well done. If there were moments where some characters sounded too similar, it can be forgiven with there being so many characters to deal with. Overall, I liked his delivery, and consider it the high point of this rendition.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. I had not realized this was an abridged version when I bought the audiobook. Even beyond that, there was a particularly poor job done of reducing the work. I thoroughly enjoyed the original paperback, yet this script lacks the character development and suspense from the novel. Had I not already been up on the novel itself, this would have been a dull story careening from one barely connected fight to another. Frankly, I expected much better, and will refrain from buying any further abridged versions of this series.

Any additional comments?

The background noises and effects were entertaining, and could have added a lot to an unabridged version of the book, but they are not enough to save this chopped up script. This is the most disappointing audiobook I have purchased to date, and makes me leery of buying any more Star Wars audiobooks.

Poorly done

Mediocre story abridged badly and performed indifferently. Eight more words because Amazon says I must.

don't buy

the abridged version is so bad.

this is to good of a story to even present this chopped up P o s.

Abridged version, I wish I never bought you

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I read the unabridged version many times. The abridged version leaves many of the characters one dimensional. Stackpole wrote a wonderful dialogue between characters, and this audio book version removed it, and added sound effects and music that took away from the story.

Would you ever listen to anything by Michael A. Stackpole again?

I would if it was not the abridged version

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I suppose he did okay, but the music and sound effects take away from the story.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

This book is fine. The abridged, Hollywood audio book was unsatisfying.

Any additional comments?

If this was remade in the unabridged version, without the sound effects, I would buy that.

abridged version. feels empty by the end.

man I wish it wasn't abridged. a real shame. I can't see how someone can enjoy the whole series without the removed content. as a solo experience, it works but felt it ended abruptly.

Hoping for a better read in the third book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

An unabridged read.

What did you like best about this story?

Ambiant sounds during scenes.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Pronunciation accuracy of specific 'Star Wars' names, ships, planets, etc. Obviously the reader hasn't been a fan for long, if at all.

Could you see Star Wars being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I've read this series a few times and think there is plenty of substance for TV or movies. Hopefully not by the sci-fi channel... They can't match the CG or the casting to keep up with the original movies.

should have told the whole story

these books would be perfect if they had not left out huge sections of the story. you miss out out on some of the plot and and it makes it harder to understand the next book.

Corus'c'ant?!

I didn't realize that this was abridged. not a fan of abridged books for the most part but whatever. What really got me was the mispronouncing or misspelling of Corusant.

Hard to hear

The narrator’s performance is extremely flat. There is little effort make to distinguish characters and the music ends up drowning out the narration when it starts

Narrator not engaging at all

I am a life long Star Wars fan, however never ventured into the expanded universe as much. Yes, condemn me haha. I remember seeing the original trilogy at the cinema when they first came out. Anyhow everyone says this series is great to read. I am going to buy the written version as I have been totally put off by the narrator. As someone said, he sounds bored throughout and really does little to engage a listener.

Love the book - even 16 years after reading it!

I love the X-Wing series - games, comics and books - Stackpole and Holland really do make the EU come alive for the Rogues and other pilots!

an ok story

Not my favourite star wars story, but i can see why others will like it

Narrator is rubbish

One of the best Star Wars series abs they find one of the worst narrators ever . I struggled to carry on after a cpl of chapters . Thank god I’ve got them all in Print format

very enjoyable.

Great lead into a great story. looking forward to the second part and beyond.

A lot of original text missing

Severely truncated compared to paper edition. Good narration, although with unnecessary sound effects. Would not recommend.

Remove the sound FX!

I was really shocked to hear this one full of sound FX which in some places stop you hearing the voice.

I can't recommend this book until those are removed.

God Awful audiobook

The audiobook is hard to follow, jumps to one place to the other. Henry Thomas does one voice so you can't really tell when he jumps from one character to the other. Skippable. I would just buy the book and read it. I myself will buy a kindle and read the books that way.

The VERY Abridged Version

Cuts a hell of a lot out of the original story. Might be able to get on board if it was read by someone like Marc Thompson. This guy is painful to listen to though.