You are not ready for Alphabet Squadron. No really: you’re not.
More than likely, you have an image in your mind for what you think Alexander Freed’s latest Star Wars book may be like. Maybe you think it’s going to be like the X-Wing books from Legends or maybe you’ve read his other Star Wars books and know how weighty they can be. You think you’re ready for this book but you’re not… and that’s not even remotely a bad thing.
Alphabet Squadron follows a team of pilots, brought together somewhat by chance and somewhat by a desire for revenge in the last days of the Empire. At the unit’s heart is Yrica Quell, a former Imperial pilot from the 204th Shadow Wing who defected in the wake of Operation Cinder. Each of the pilots flies a different rebel starfighter but they are all worn down by the horrors of war and carry that burden with them every day. Pulled in a hundred different directions, the New Republic’s resources are limited which means General Syndulla can’t spare a fleet or even multiple squadrons to hunt down Shadow Wing. If they’re going to be stopped, it’s up to Alphabet Squadron… assuming they figure out how to work together as a unit first.
Alphabet Squadron is not an easy read. Its subject manner is heavy at times which means this is not a book you can speed-read. (No, not even me.) And, like I said before, that’s not a bad thing. There are no books in Star Wars the feel quite like Freed’s and truly embody the horrors of war. Much like in his first novel Twilight Company, these pilots aren’t the best of the best or the heroes who get all of the accolades or even, in some case, the defectors welcomed personally into the New Republic by Leia Organa. These are the rank and file. Their closest brush with greatness is General Syndulla. (Don’t get me wrong: Hera is pretty darn great.) It makes for a different sort of story than the one we’re used to reading. This is the sort of book that demands your attention and that you savor every last page.
And then there’s Yrica Quell. Star Wars has never had a protagonist quite like her before. We’ve had Imperial defectors before and we’ve had soldiers dealing with the effects of years of war but there’s something about how they combine together in Quell that makes her fresh and new. It’s difficult to not want to try and help her even though she’d likely reject your help. To go too far into her story would be to spoil it but she feels so painfully real in so many ways. There are still two books left in the trilogy but I haven’t the faintest clue where her story might go and that excites and intrigues me in a way that only a Star Wars book series can.
The other members of Alphabet Squadron are all distinct characters with their quirks. Nath Tensent is often as infuriating as Kairos is mysterious. Chass na Chadic’s love of listening to music while she flies in combat is endearing while Wyl Lark is a genuine delight who should be protected from this mess of a galaxy. They’re a varied crew and watching them come together over the course of the novel is one of its many joys amidst the emotional blows Freed so excels at.
Also of note amongst the cast of characters is IT-O, an Imperial torture droid turned medical/therapist droid and Colonel Shakara Nuress, the head of the 204th Fighter Wing. We’ve gotten more than a few memorable droids in the Star Wars universe over the last few years but we’ve never seen any quite like IT-O. For one, it’s nice to see mental health care playing a role in the galaxy especially for soldiers like Yrica and for another, IT-O has a quiet depth that helps it stand out from the snarky and/or slightly murderous droids we know so well. Colonel Nuress provides the Imperial point of view for the book. Interestingly enough, she’s not caught up with the New Republic on a personal level but rather continuing to fight for an Empire she’s supported for decades even if it’s failing and she’s taking orders from a dead man via an unnerving droid. Finally, also worth noting is that Freed writes an excellent Hera Syndulla, offering readers a window into a time in her life we hardly know. She’s a particularly lovely foil for Yrica for reasons that become clearer as the story unfolds and hopefully we’ll see more of her in the sequels.
Alphabet Squadron may not be the Star Wars book for everyone but if you want a Star Wars book with pilots and to take you on an emotional journey, this is absolutely the book for you. Now… if someone could make the sequel appear in my hands already, that would be swell.
Thank you to Del Rey for providing an advance copy of the book for review purposes.
