128 replies to this topic

[Cattra Kell]

Redtail, on 16 November 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:

My first experience with BattleTech/MechWarrior lore was literally right where we'll be in about a year and a half... The Kell Hounds' first contact with the Clans.

First and favorite.

I always pictured myself at that point in that situation... The decided underdog, having to make a quick fight-or-flight decision... You have no idea what I'm up against, half expecting a bastardized set of pirate 'mechs causing my own 'mech's targetting computer to tweak-out like a meth addict at a light show.

For the longest time, that was the only canon BattleTech I was familiar with.

Its not a bad place to start at. Usually when I encourage people to pick up the books I loan them a copy of my "Jade Phoenix Trilogy" (the 3 in 1 book) and also all three books of "The Blood of Kerensky."

Edited by cattra kell, 16 November 2011 - 08:14 PM.

[DocBach]

I liked the writing of Michael Stackpole better than any of the other writers, but the Black Thorns novels stuck out to me a lot - not because of the quality of writing (and certainly not for the ultra ****-erotic cover of DRT - what was up with that, art director??) - I liked how most of them didn't make it through either of the books. The Gray Death Legion pretty much made it through everything (well, until Hesperus), and heroes like Victor and Kai and Phelan have been through so much war without a scratch - the idea that these guys could actually die was inspiring to me and I ran a lot of my campaigns the same way. My usual motiff was to kill off any characters my players started to get attached to!

Edited by DocBach, 16 November 2011 - 08:25 PM.

[Hollister]

My favorite book was Freebirth. I just liked the overall story, it pulled me in and just kept liking it. Also had the Land-Air mechs which were really cool.. wish they had them in MWO. They are not in current timeline and would just be another thing to balance.

[sr cabal]

trycksh0t, on 15 November 2011 - 02:13 PM, said:

Wolves on the Border by Robert N. Charrette, no contest.

It's the story of Wolf's Dragoons service with the Combine, told from the perspective of Minobu Tetsuhara, possibly the most tragic character in the BattleTech Universe. A story of true honor, sacrifice, betrayal, and friendship. Fantastic read, I highly recommend it.

I'll second that as my favorite book as well. Jamie Wolf was deeply affected by Minobu's sacrifice in the end. I believe that Jamie Wolf threw down Minobu's swords right down in front of Takashi Kurita and declared a personal war between the Dragoons and the Combine on the eve of the 4th Succession War.

[Creel]

sr_cabal, on 16 November 2011 - 10:08 PM, said:

I'll second that as my favorite book as well. Jamie Wolf was deeply affected by Minobu's sacrifice in the end. I believe that Jamie Wolf threw down Minobu's swords right down in front of Takashi Kurita and declared a personal war between the Dragoons and the Combine on the eve of the 4th Succession War.

He did indeed, at Hanse Melissa's wedding reception.

"From this day, the Dragoons are at war with you and your House, Takashi Kurita! If you think you can take us, go ahead and try. We'll see you in ruins. Watch your border!

Edited by Creel, 17 November 2011 - 01:25 PM.

[Undead]

I Am Jade Falcon. Joanna vs. Natasha, 'nuff said.

[Blackangel]

Wolves on the border, Wolf's Dragoons
and the Grey Death series, and Kell Hounds books.
Catalyst Games short stories vol 1, vol 2 .


i have them all including some alternate covers and redo's and the mwda / aod series thats newer
of the mwda the first one i like the most Ghost Knight.

[Alizabeth Aijou]

Wait... can I have Far Country as my favourite novel?
It is just soo awesome to bash every once in a while.

[Cattra Kell]

Alizabeth Aijou, on 18 November 2011 - 02:58 AM, said:

Wait... can I have Far Country as my favourite novel?
It is just soo awesome to bash every once in a while.

We should ask Bryan if the Tetatae are a playable race in MW:O

[VEDRFOLNIR]

I loved Twilight of the Clans series - I just kept thinking 'Finally! Take the war to the Clans!'

My favorite book, hands down, was The Hunters from that series. Tom Gressman was able to stitch together a large ensemble cast of characters together, make them believable and gave them depth. From a writer's perspective, I also enjoyed how he was able to give even minor characters 'their moment in the limelight'.

Oh, and WarShip combat. WarShip. Combat.

[Yeach]

A little late to this thread but my first Battletech novel was Assumption of Risk by Stackpole. I think borrowed it from the library, I'm still looking to find that book again.
So hard to choose favorite novels so I'm going to say "Natural Selection" 2nd book I read from Stackpole.

[Ave]

"Heir to the Dragon" and "Wolves on the Border" by Robert N. Charrette are my favorite Battletech Novels. Love the characters in it, and the internal conflicts they face.

[Rhinehart]

A Rare book I'm fortunate enough to own is "The Sword and The Dagger" by Ardath Mayhar. I don't know that I'd call it the best battletech book but it goes back very far, into the plot by Maximillian Liao to replace Hanse Davion with a double and deals with a great clash of philosophy between Hnse and a much younger Ardan Sortek. That single plot started so much action that impacted the entire Inner Sphere. A good read if you can find it.

[sr cabal]

VEDRFOLNIR, on 18 November 2011 - 08:31 AM, said:

I loved Twilight of the Clans series - I just kept thinking 'Finally! Take the war to the Clans!'

My favorite book, hands down, was The Hunters from that series. Tom Gressman was able to stitch together a large ensemble cast of characters together, make them believable and gave them depth. From a writer's perspective, I also enjoyed how he was able to give even minor characters 'their moment in the limelight'.

Oh, and WarShip combat. WarShip. Combat.

Hell yes...the warship combat. I loved how they continue to build up Morgan Hasek-Davion.....and then he goes the way of most of my favorite characters....

[Exigo]

All the books in the Dark Age series

[Boneripper]

It would be the Jade Phoenix Trilogy for me. A great look into what it was to be a mech warrior in the clan. I was done with the books in 2 day's. I never done that in my life before. Everything was on hold until I was done. lol

[John Clavell]

Wolves on the boarder. Love this book so much.

[Fiachdubh]

I was lucky enough that The Blood of Kerensky trilogy were the first BT books I read that featured the clans (had read one pre-invasion novel beforehand). My previous experiance of BT and clans was MW2 years earlier but thankfully I didnt really get what was going on at the time so reading the Kerensky novels first ment I was in the dark almost as much as the characters which made it all that much more enjoyable. It was my introduction to the clans other than JF and the Wolves. Love all Stackpoles work both BT and Star Wars.

Also really enjoyed The Jade Phoenix trilogy and the Twilight of the Clans series amongst many others. BT novels in general were a pretty high standard for the most part.

Edited by Fiachdubh, 20 November 2011 - 03:18 PM.

[Yeach]

So um what do you guys think about the illustrations in the novels?
Did it help the story along or did it they destroy any sense of realism?

[CaveMan]

Yeach, on 21 November 2011 - 10:09 PM, said:

So um what do you guys think about the illustrations in the novels?
Did it help the story along or did it they destroy any sense of realism?

What illustrations? You mean the appendix section at the back with scanned TRO drawings of the 'Mechs? Or were there actual BT novels with scenes illustrated in them?

Now I'm imagining a mechwarrior children's book. "My First Atlas" or something.