18 replies to this topic

[Alistair Steiner]

I attempted to message Russ, but it seems his inbox is full. I am a huge fan of the BattleTech novels, and have spent every trip to a bookstore scouring the shelves in the hopes that a book would be there. Alas, it's like trying to find LosTech. But when I discovered that the BT books were digitized and put on Kindle, I decided I would like that eReader, which was bought for me for Christmas. I got the Warrior and Blood of Kerensky Trilogies, but not long after, all BT books (Except Dark Age) were taken from the listing. Russ mentioned that the issue was known and that it was temporary, but that has been months ago now. I was hoping to get some answer from the folks in charge as to the situation. I know they're feverishly working on MWO (totally understandable), but I wanted to make sure it was simply going to be taken care of later, rather than them having hit some Harmony Gold-esque block that will prevent me from getting any more use out of my Kindle. Okay, I can get other books, sure, but BT was the reason I wanted a Kindle.

I certainly hope it is not a permanent issue, since getting the novels in print is becoming increasingly difficult, and an eReader solution would help fans new and old to get the novels and delve deeper into the BattleTech universe that this game hopes to bring to life.

Anyway, I just want to say again how much I appreciate the devs working so hard on the game. But since they have rights to the IP (from my understanding), I hope they manage to make the novels accessible to a new generation of fans via eReaders so that people who start with a fun game about stompy robots blowing crap up (much like myself back in 2000) can sate their curiosity for the fiction with the books, and become as fanatical as I am about the amazing storylines behind all the battlefield action.

Thanks again,
Alistair Steiner

[Kid Weeb]

I too bought a Kindle mainly for BT novels. Like you, I saw them pulled from Amazon. I sent an e-mail to the devs at Catalyst and received a prompt reply from Randall Bills. He first stated that Catalyst has not lost the right to publish Battletech in print or e-pub. He then stated that their licensor requested that the novels be pulled temporarily while they research some issues with some works of fiction contracted by previous companies. Whatever that means, he also stated that he fully expects the novels to return to Amazon soon. That was on January 27, 2012. Since then, I keep checking Amazon and all I am seeing as far as newly released are short stories and the BattleteCorps Anthology 3 which was released June 11th. So here's hoping that the issues get cleared up soon because I'm trying to read the novels in some semblance of order according to the Canon timeline and have hit an empty spot.

Good Hunting!

[Alistair Steiner]

Thanks for the response, man. I greatly appreciate it. Yeah, I've noticed the short stories as well. Hopefully we'll have access again soon. I want to eventually put the whole series on my Kindle. And if MWO does well, we have have more coming out (prior to the Jihad mess).

[Kid Weeb]

I pretty much gave up on the Dark Age story line after reading a few of the novels in paperback. However, I may have to revise my thinking because I believe that's where the Republic of the Sphere got its beginning. The nice people over at Catalyst/BattleTech have continued the Jihad and Republic storyline so that's where my reading will continue. Really disliked the DA and never bought into the Jihad being so successful in its implementation in the IS. Haven't read enough of the Clans War of Reaving, even though I have the sourcebook, to form an honest opinion. Anyway, guess I have some serious reading and catching up to do in the BattleTech universe. Of course, I will have to do this reading between now and August 7th. After that, it's back in time to 3049 and Mech time.

[Onatic]

Yeah, I ran into some that didn't work too, but i just uploaded 3 to my Kindle and it seems to all be there. Good luck!

[Mech79]

I have always been a fan of the game but would like to read the books I have the links her but does anybody know the sequence or a list I would love to start from the beginning but if somebody recommends a different place to start I am all for it

[Alistair Steiner]

mech79, on 09 November 2012 - 09:42 AM, said:

I have always been a fan of the game but would like to read the books I have the links her but does anybody know the sequence or a list I would love to start from the beginning but if somebody recommends a different place to start I am all for it

You have asked the right question! I just happen to have a list that I keep bookmarked for that very purpose. However, the list doesn't go very far into the "Dark Age" saga, though I admit, that's not necessarily a bad thing. And timeline-wise, it's entirely unimportant to MWO. Anyway, here is the link. Happy reading, my friend!

[Mech79]

Damn nice now they are in order on my phone to read through the proper time line thanks

[Alistair Steiner]

Happy to be of service.

[Smudge504]

Absolutely unbelievable!!! thank you so much for the above help, just downloaded the warrior trilogy, blood of Kerensky and the Twilight of the Clans, can't wait to get stuck into them. thanx

[Egomane]

I'd like to remind everyone that there are no free legal sources for the battletech novels or sourcebooks except for a few releases that can be found on the official websites.

Any link to a website that offers such a service must therefore be considered an illegal source and it's distribution to the MWO-forums is prohibited.

[Hex Pallett]

Alistair Steiner, on 09 November 2012 - 07:38 PM, said:

You have asked the right question! I just happen to have a list that I keep bookmarked for that very purpose. However, the list doesn't go very far into the "Dark Age" saga, though I admit, that's not necessarily a bad thing. And timeline-wise, it's entirely unimportant to MWO. Anyway, here is the link. Happy reading, my friend!

Woah that's a lot of books....

[Pht]

Alistair, this is a common problem.

Just an FYI, lots of people pass around links to illegal downloads of the novels; watch out for that.

PGI does not hold the actual BT ip. Topps holds that IP; which catalyst has the rights to use/develop.

MS holds the rights for video games in the BT IP; PGI has the MW ip on "lease" from them, as it were.

---

Beyond that:

Get your titles and ISBN numbers here:

http://www.sarna.net...ttleTech_novels

and you should have luck finding them here:

http://www.bookfinder.com/

---

If you are anywhere near jacksonville fl, go to chamblin's book mine. As of at least four years ago they had virtually ALL of the BT novels, new and old : http://www.chamblinbookmine.com/

... and please, remember to sell back your old BT novels and other books that you don't want anymore so I have a reason to keep going to chamblins...

Edited by Pht, 25 March 2014 - 01:48 PM.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Pht, on 25 March 2014 - 01:45 PM, said:

If you are anywhere near jacksonville fl, go to chamblin's book mine. As of at least four years ago they had virtually ALL of the BT novels, new and old : http://www.chamblinbookmine.com/

And here I am... about as far from there as I could get without being on the north end of the state.

[Pht]

Shar Wolf, on 25 March 2014 - 02:13 PM, said:

And here I am... about as far from there as I could get without being on the north end of the state.

Not that I know squat about alaska, having never been there... but nothing in title wave or c&m used books in anchorage?

[Alaskan Nobody]

Pht, on 25 March 2014 - 02:38 PM, said:

Not that I know squat about alaska, having never been there... but nothing in title wave or c&m used books in anchorage?

Anchorage is about an hours drive from where I live.


...and I don't drive.
(seriously, I am absent minded and squirrel! ...distract-able enough that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to even try)

Edit: every now and then one of the books pops up in one of the local second-hand book stores - but they are usually ~8+ dollars used.

Edit: Had the Warrior Trilogy go on sale once on Amazon (kindle edition) ~5$ for the combo edition- but none of the others have yet. (that I have seen)

Really want to read the rest of Victor Milans books - Close Quarters is one of my favorites.

Edited by Shar Wolf, 25 March 2014 - 02:44 PM.

[YaKillinMeSmalls]

My guess? Harmony Gold sued because many of the books have Unseen mechs in the artwork.
That would fit with the line about "some issues with some works of fiction contracted by previous companies".

[Pht]

YaKillinMeSmalls, on 26 March 2014 - 11:55 AM, said:

My guess? Harmony Gold sued because many of the books have Unseen mechs in the artwork.
That would fit with the line about "some issues with some works of fiction contracted by previous companies".

I doubt that's the entire reason.

The later books don't have the unseens artwork in them, and you can't get them either... and no, I don't mean the MWDA books.

[Hammerhai]

I have noticed the same issues with my favourite book IP, Shadowrun. Everything got pulled off Amazon and that seems to be it then. Sad Panda.

Like I said elsewhere:

Lawyers, Politicians, Beancounters, Markete(e)rs and other such vermin.