Wing Commander #1: Pilgrim Stars

I've been a Wing Commander fan since 1990. I've read all the novels>except for End Run and parts of Action Stations. But I am not totally devoted to just WC. I like all kinds of science fiction, such as Star Trek, Starship Troopers (but I hated the movie, it required no intelligence to watch, but the book and CGI series are good), Star Wars,and seaQuest. I must say, this book isn't even close to describing the real WC universe. But it is rather good reading. If you don't consider it being a "real" WC book. Read it for the lessons it teaches and the story itself. Peter Telep, describes with a certain flair, the way he describes certain things definitely better than William R. Forstchen (he's pretty good, but not as good as Telep), one of the other WC authors. I suppose it is an artistic touch. The novel itself is not really centered on action and space combat. I view it as a moral lesson. The story involves genetically mutated humans known as Pilgrims. They were explorers that somehow mutated, have various special abilities, and they then somehow lost their humanity. These Pilgrims then try to conquer the "normal" humans. They get defeated, and the bitterness lasts among many of them. There's also a lot of prejudice as well from the normal humans. So one female Pilgrim and her followers try to inflict as much damage to the humans as possible. A story of revenge. The classic story of revenge... I know this sounds like racism from our time period, and it should. Why do people judge others by how they look, because they are different from you, who were their ancestors, and because they do things differently than you do? One of the reasons we have science fiction is to see into the future, and to see what remains from the past, so that we may ponder the intricate ways of fixing what is wrong. Still, we never even learn from history itself. Peter Telep has definitely given me some insight into what the future may be like if we don't fix what is going on now. Will there be more wars? Will there be racism? Will we finally achieve peace? I'll never live to see that far into the future, but we must change the present, before our descendants future is ruined...

You know, of all of the Wing Commander books i've read,(and i've read them all! ) this one has got to be one of my favorites. Mainly because it put a new spin on one of my favorite Wing Commander Characters. James 'Paladin' Taggart. He is the man to say the least. And the way he had the internal conflict between Duty, and 'Blood', was portrayed clearly and perfectly. Overall this book was great, I recommend it to EVERYONE who loves Science Fiction.

When a book comes out thats Wing Commander, I'm all over it. Sure, the movie is...banal (I'm being kind) but the novels by Telep more than make up for what is *shuddered* allowed in the movie. Peter Telep completely saves the outlandishly bad script for the movie and not only makes it readable but wholly enjoyable.And thats just the movie novel.Pilgrim Stars takes place immedately after the movie (I suggest reading the movie novel adaption as enough has been changed to make some minor confusion) and takes off at incredible speed. In fact, the Pilgrim heritage scenario that was bandied about in the film for no particular reason (other than bad plot) is incredibly (and trust me when I say that) brought to breathing, pulse pounding life. Things that were mentioned for twenty seconds in the movie are suddenly alive with movement. Much of the dialouge is sly and a bit cutting in some scenes, especially with the AI character Merlin.I recommend this book to those looking for an interesting read and anyone willing to give the WC: Movie world a second chance.Oh and Mr Telep? I'd like help on my script!

Author Peter Telep wrote another great book! I loved the characters and sometimes you grew to hate some. Once again, Peter did it. Can't wait for the next one.

Another great Wing Commander read from the guy that adapted the Wing Commander movie into novel form and performed the impossible--actually made it WORK into the WC game continuity.Pilgrim Stars is not like any other WC work to date. We actually get to see the Pilgrims alluded in the movie--we get to see them in ACTION, and they do a lot more than navigate quasars and whatnot. Continuing where the movie/movie novel left off, this is a novel that has Blair question his Pilgrim heritage, learn about it, and ultimately have to choose between the Confederation and a new Pilgrim Alliance... and he's not the only one of the familiar faces in the novel that have to make this choice. The ending's a great cliffhanger to Pilgrim Stars' eventual sequel, "Pilgrim Truth."Science fiction, a dab of fantasy, and throw in a WWII-in-space backdrop... great stuff!