The lore of the mechwarrior universe is kinda amazing. Anyone have any books they would recommend? Avid reader so a series of books would be awesome.
thx in advance.
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Looking For A Mechwarrior Book
Started by Damon Morr, Feb 27 2017 09:23 PM
5 replies to this topic
#2
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- Little Helper
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Posted 28 February 2017 - 12:09 AM
Well, you're not the first to ask, but have a look at this link first:
http://www.stargazer..._novel_list.htm
Now pay attention, that is the chronological order of the books, and certainly not the recommended reading order. The actual order would depend on your interests.
For instance, the very first book 'Sword and Dagger' was the first book realised in concept (though the second released iirc) and it's full of all kinds of weird bits that are off. You can just feel how they were still trying to flesh out the setting.
As for your personal interests, are you more interested in the Inner Sphere houses or the Clans? Maybe mainly interested in mercenaries?
The first 3 books of the Gray Death Legion give excellent insight in the ways of a mercenary unit around 3025, and some looks at their House employers.
The 3 Warrior books are the grand House books, here the fate of large portions of the Inner Sphere hangs in the balance and you'll meet some of the top players in the universe. Also around 3025.
More interested in the Clans? The Blood of Kerensky trilogy is where they come into the big storyline.
Both Wolves on the Border and Heir to the Dragon from Robert N. Charette are recommended reads, though the book on the Wolves is probably better after having read Blood of Kerensky and Heir to the Dragon can do with info from both Blood of Kerensky and the Warrior books to help fill in background.
Loren L. Coleman's books are a great way of getting a look at the Capellan Confederation and transforming them from evil puching bags (their previous role in the books it seems) into their own fully fletched faction with its upsides and downsides.
Also, if you're not afraid of a strong (and simultaniously broken and twisted) female lead, I'd recommend the books of Victor Milan. Less focussed on mech combat it also deals with the down and dirty of the people on the ground, plus it shapes the image of one of the more eclectic Mercenary units in the BattleTech universe.
And then there's all the books in between.
Lastly, here are some books I'd personally avoid:
Both books by James D. Long (Black Thorns, Mary Sue mercenary unit, or, how to get away with being stupid and still end up with loads of awesome Clan tech, twice)
Star Lord (it's like some horrible B-movie, maybe if you actually pretend it's a B-movie shown in a theatre in the BattleTech universe it would be palpable)
Ideal War (the Vietnam war in a ham fisted way)
Some people may add Far Country to that list. I think it's a bit of a classic, but it's really an old style science fiction novel and can hardly be called BattleTech as it's completely removed from the setting in both time and space. So this might be an interesting read at a later time, much like Sword and Dagger. Not because it's really that good, but how it's a quaint niche within BattleTech lore. More an academic interest if you will.
http://www.stargazer..._novel_list.htm
Now pay attention, that is the chronological order of the books, and certainly not the recommended reading order. The actual order would depend on your interests.
For instance, the very first book 'Sword and Dagger' was the first book realised in concept (though the second released iirc) and it's full of all kinds of weird bits that are off. You can just feel how they were still trying to flesh out the setting.
As for your personal interests, are you more interested in the Inner Sphere houses or the Clans? Maybe mainly interested in mercenaries?
The first 3 books of the Gray Death Legion give excellent insight in the ways of a mercenary unit around 3025, and some looks at their House employers.
The 3 Warrior books are the grand House books, here the fate of large portions of the Inner Sphere hangs in the balance and you'll meet some of the top players in the universe. Also around 3025.
More interested in the Clans? The Blood of Kerensky trilogy is where they come into the big storyline.
Both Wolves on the Border and Heir to the Dragon from Robert N. Charette are recommended reads, though the book on the Wolves is probably better after having read Blood of Kerensky and Heir to the Dragon can do with info from both Blood of Kerensky and the Warrior books to help fill in background.
Loren L. Coleman's books are a great way of getting a look at the Capellan Confederation and transforming them from evil puching bags (their previous role in the books it seems) into their own fully fletched faction with its upsides and downsides.
Also, if you're not afraid of a strong (and simultaniously broken and twisted) female lead, I'd recommend the books of Victor Milan. Less focussed on mech combat it also deals with the down and dirty of the people on the ground, plus it shapes the image of one of the more eclectic Mercenary units in the BattleTech universe.
And then there's all the books in between.
Lastly, here are some books I'd personally avoid:
Both books by James D. Long (Black Thorns, Mary Sue mercenary unit, or, how to get away with being stupid and still end up with loads of awesome Clan tech, twice)
Star Lord (it's like some horrible B-movie, maybe if you actually pretend it's a B-movie shown in a theatre in the BattleTech universe it would be palpable)
Ideal War (the Vietnam war in a ham fisted way)
Some people may add Far Country to that list. I think it's a bit of a classic, but it's really an old style science fiction novel and can hardly be called BattleTech as it's completely removed from the setting in both time and space. So this might be an interesting read at a later time, much like Sword and Dagger. Not because it's really that good, but how it's a quaint niche within BattleTech lore. More an academic interest if you will.
#3
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- Legendary Founder
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Posted 01 March 2017 - 10:29 PM
THX!
I just read Decision at Thunder Rift last night and currently reading Mercenary's Star now. so far not bad.
I just read Decision at Thunder Rift last night and currently reading Mercenary's Star now. so far not bad.
#4
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- Caladbolg
- 654 posts
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- LocationBirdhouse
Posted 02 March 2017 - 02:31 AM
My first BT book actually was Far Country, I liked it! I think its a good entry to the BT universe since the scale of the whole story is rather small without any big politics in the background. Also: Locusts as heroes 
#5
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- Shredder
- 3,811 posts
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- LocationInside the Mech that just fired LRM's at you
Posted 02 March 2017 - 08:54 AM
I personally enjoy the Dark Age series of MechWarrior, my favorite being "Target of Opportunity".
#6
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- The Raider
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Posted 02 March 2017 - 05:59 PM
Far Country is often considered as the one that should never be read and tossed out entirely. It was an early novel before they had set up close scrutiny and or established the fictional universe's full assumption. There are intelligent aliens in Far Country - something that was later nixed with an Only Humans Are Sentient rule that has been followed closely ever sense. Also by later canon a misfired jump can still only go 40 light years - not millions of them out to unknown territory.
That said, I remember it being a decent story. Light on the Mech action though as only a few Mechs are on the planet.
That said, I remember it being a decent story. Light on the Mech action though as only a few Mechs are on the planet.
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