Saluting General Solo: Aaron Allston's X-wing books remembered

Han Solo's character arc in the original trilogy of Star Wars was a remarkable one. It didn't seem likely that the guy who haggled over the cost of a ride to Alderaan would have a heart of gold, but he was the pilot of the "freighter ex machina" that let Luke destroy the Death Star. By the time he was outed as General Solo in Return of the Jedi, he was almost unrecognizable as the guy who wouldn't do a good deed without checking the ledgers. I always wanted to know what he was like as "a natural leader," and it frustrated me how little we got to see of this throughout the years of Star Wars media. Thankfully, Aaron Allston delivered.

"I saw Han Solo get off his ship once. He ignored me completely."

Aaron Allston's X-wing: Wraith Squadron and its sequels were unapologetically snarky. They had pranking pilots, running jokes about Janson's rear end, and secret identities that were not to be forgotten. The squadron came together with a roster full of people who should have been discharged from the Starfighter Corps already but had been found worthy of second chances.

Of course this was the squadron to serve under Han Solo. The General was ex-Imperial and nobody's idea of a quintessential hero. He was in charge of several ships and multiple fighter squadrons, but still looking for ways to be his old scoundrelly self. Said General Solo in his first appearance, "Officially, I'm hand-carrying orders regarding the hunt for Zsinj. Unofficially, I'm here to compare and evaluate on-base gambling all over the Alliance."

Han Solo on the Mon Remonda was finally at a happy medium in this era, but we really didn't see this until the third book of the series: X-wing: Solo Command. We saw his fast thinking and tactical instincts every time the battle group found itself outmatched or inconveniently close to the turbolasers of a Star Destroyer. Han memorably stalled an Imperial Warlord by letting Chewie respond to the terms of surrender that were being offered.

When I think of General Solo, though, I remember him eavesdropping on his pilots' strategy sessions instead of barking orders to anyone in his line of sight. I think he did nothing so helpful to the war effort as when he participated in a mutiny of anonymity that removed all rank and identity from the task force for a day so his people could be responsible only to themselves and loyal to each other.

Thanks to the late, great Aaron Allston for reminding us how much more there was to Han Solo than money.