6 replies to this topic

[Sigilum Sanctum]

BattleTech and MechWarrior have been in my sphere of interest for quite a long time now. MechAssault was my first foray into the series, which was fun for a console game at least. Before that however, I had read a few of the older manuals and TRO's my friends had. This was some 10 odd years ago.

Despite MechAssault being a poor representation of what BattleTech/MechWarrior are, I thought they did set a well enough precedence to get me interested in the series and lore as a whole.

The question of the matter is which novels should I start with to get into the lore and setting of this universe?

[latinisator]

For Inner Sphere quarrels (4th succession war) go for the "Warrior" trilogy (Michael A. Stackpole: En Garde, Riposte, Coupé).

For MW:O's current setting (Clan Invasion) go for the "Blood of Kerensky" trilogy (Stackpole again, Lethal Heritage, Blood Legay, Lost Destiny) and / or Robert Thurstons "Legend of the Jade Phoenix" trilogy (Way of the Clans, Bloodname, Falcon Guard).

For the aftermath of Tukayyid you might want to check out the "Twilight of the Clans", in which both MechWarrior 3 and MechCommander took place (founding of a new Star League, annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar, Great Refusal (End of the Clan invasion)):

1. Blaine Lee Pardoe, Exodus Road
2. Michael A. Stackpole, Grave Covenant
3. Thomas S. Gressman, The Hunters
4. Robert Thurston, Freebirth
5. Thomas S. Gressman, Sword and Fire
6. Thomas S. Gressman, Shadows of War
7. Michael A. Stackpole, Prince of Havoc
8. Robert Thurston, Falcon Rising

Edited by latinisator, 15 August 2015 - 10:29 PM.

[SnagaDance]

If you want to see more of the Merc side of things there's:

1. Close Quarters
2. Hearts of Chaos
3. Black Dragon
By Victor Milán. Describing a rather wacky merc unit and its elite scout in the Draconis Combine (post-Clan Invasion)

Wolves on the Border
By Robert N. Charrette. Describing the most elite merc unit the IS has in the run-up to the 4th Succesion War (~3025) so about 25 years before MWO's timeline.

The first 3 books from the Saga of the Gray Death Legion
1. Decision at Thunder Rift
2. Mercenary's Star
3. The Price of Glory
By William H. Keith Jr. I don't like them too much story wise, but they provide a better in depth look in some of the technical, environmental and social aspects of the BattleTech universe.

[Hawk819]

SnagaDance, on 16 August 2015 - 11:39 PM, said:

If you want to see more of the Merc side of things there's:

1. Close Quarters
2. Hearts of Chaos
3. Black Dragon
By Victor Milán. Describing a rather wacky merc unit and its elite scout in the Draconis Combine (post-Clan Invasion)

Wolves on the Border
By Robert N. Charrette. Describing the most elite merc unit the IS has in the run-up to the 4th Succesion War (~3025) so about 25 years before MWO's timeline.

The first 3 books from the Saga of the Gray Death Legion
1. Decision at Thunder Rift
2. Mercenary's Star
3. The Price of Glory
By William H. Keith Jr. I don't like them too much story wise, but they provide a better in depth look in some of the technical, environmental and social aspects of the BattleTech universe.

I love Wolves on the Border! Bob Charette allows the reader to see the character as he sacrifices and gives for the DCMS. He also shows the comradeship between Jaime Wolf and the main character. Love it love it love it.

[SnagaDance]

Hawk819, on 17 August 2015 - 07:14 PM, said:

I love Wolves on the Border! Bob Charette allows the reader to see the character as he sacrifices and gives for the DCMS. He also shows the comradeship between Jaime Wolf and the main character. Love it love it love it.

It's really a great book. I also like the look it gives at the mysterious Wolf's Dragoons, and how even such a powerful unit may fall prey to political manipulations.

The second Wolf's Dragoons book 'Wolves on the Border' is a big disappointment in comparison, or at least to me. The general storyline is less epic, most of the main characters seem to lack conviction, I can't even remember a cool mech battle from it.

Heir to the Dragon by Charrette is another must read though IMO. Great look at the Combine around the war of '38 and the rise of Theodore Kurita.

[Sigilum Sanctum]

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I've already ordered En Garde and now I'll keep this thread saved so I can slowly read most if not all these

[Skylarr]

• I would start with the Warrior Trilogy

The Warrior Trilogy, by Michael A. Stackpole, is about the events before and during the Fourth Succession War. The main acts are the wedding of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner, the experiences of Justin Xiang on Solaris VII and as spy on Sian, the vendetta between Morgan Kell and Yorinaga Kurita, the machinations of Michael Hasek-Davion and of subversive elements inside the Steiner nobility, ComStar's secret manipulations and of course the most important battles of the war.

• Warrior: En Garde (August 1988)
  
• Warrior: Riposte (October 1988)
  
• Warrior: Coupé (April 1989)

• Heir to the Dragon, by Robert N. Charrette, follows Theodore Kurita for twenty-two years as he learns to survive and thrive in the subtle and deadly courts of the Draconis Combine. The novel is also the only narrative of the War of 3039.

• The Saga of the Gray Death Legion is a series of books about the famed Gray Death Legion mercenary unit. Most of the novels are by William H. Keith, Jr., with additional writing by Andrew Keith and Thomas S. Gressman. (This is the Mercenary unit that found the Helm Memory core that brought back Star League Tech right as the Clans hit.)

• Decision at Thunder Rift by William H. Keith, Jr. (June 1986)
  
• Mercenary's Star by William H. Keith, Jr. (June 1987)
  
• The Price of Glory by William H. Keith, Jr. (October 1987) (Helm Memory Core was Found in this book
  
• Blood of Heroes by Andrew Keith (July 1993) ( From This book on is about the Unit after the Clan Invasion)
  
• Tactics of Duty by William H. Keith, Jr. (August 1995)
  
• Operation Excalibur by William H. Keith, Jr. (August 1998)
  
• The Dying Time by Thomas S. Gressman (January 2002)

• The Legend of the Jade Phoenix trilogy, by Robert Thurston, is the story of the fall and redemption of Aidan Pryde, hero of Clan Jade Falcon.

• Way of the Clans (August 1991) (This happens in Clan space before the Clan Invasion)
  
• Bloodname (October 1991) (This happens in Clan space before the Clan Invasion)
  
• Falcon Guard (December 1991) (This is about Aiden Pryde during The Invasion including the Battle of Tukayyid)

• Blood of Kerensky is a trilogy by Michael A. Stackpole about the start of the Clan Invasion.

• Lethal Heritage (September 1989)
  
• Blood Legacy (December 1990)
  
• Lost Destiny (April 1991)

You can also look here for a list of BattleTech Novels.