3 replies to this topic

[CarnifexMaximus]

TL;DR (but I hope you do) What should a novice to BattleTech fiction read after finishing Kerensky triology?

So yesterday I plowed through the last 300 pages of Lost Destiny in a single sitting. I grew up playing mechwarrior games but never paid much attention to the lore and fiction. I guess at the grade school to junior high age, big stompy walking tanks blowing crap up is all you need. Any story or socio-political/emotional motivations driving the world and its characters was not really necessary at all for me.

Having obtained a B.A. in history and being more in tune with the epic pageant of mankind's follies and triumphs; Battletech speaks to me unlike any other genre of sci-fi or fiction in general.

I feel odd as I know the Kerensky trilogy is, generally speaking, right in the middle of the Classic BattleTech timeline. Thanks to sarna I know the broad strokes, but I must read something to fill that in.

Should I back track and read about the older generation? Hanse Davion, his brother Ian, Kai's father, Yen-Lo-Wang, and the 4th succession war? (I despised Romano Liao and Sun-Tzu so much during the whole Outreach summit in 3051)

I also was glued to the pages during Natasha Kerensky's deposition to the clan council about the Dragoons 25 years or so scouting in the Inner Sphere.

But I really need to know what happens to Kai, Diedre Lear, Victor, Omi, Phalen and that ******* ******* Vlad.

I know we eat, sleep and breathe BattleTech for the Mechs. But I have always been struck about how rich and detailed the pre battlemech time line is. The Russian Civil War of 2011-2014 (kinda glad we are skipping that right now). And the vindication of Kearney and Fuchida’s research allowing humans to travel to the stars (and return home in their same epoch). Has anyone bothered to write Sci-Fi in the BattleTech universe pre introduction to the BattleMech?

I thank you all for your suggestions... I am finishing my first semester in grad school and am going into crazy-hermit-finish-my-term-paper mode so I will be hitting the books (but not quite these kind of books). Come December 21st I really look forward to reading more battletech.

Edited by CarnifexMaximus, 24 November 2012 - 01:52 PM.

[HellsBlackAces]

Read the House books! If you like history their pretty much your go to source followed by the sourcebooks covering wars.

If you want to cover the backstory without spending a lot of time you've already been given a recap of the Warrior Trillogy in the Blood of Kerensky Trilogy so you can skip that. The first Gray Death Legion Trilogy doesn't cover any big things you don't know so you can save those for later.

That pretty much just leaves Wolves on the Border and Heir to the Dragon. It also helps that they're pretty much the best two Battletech Novels. Wolves on the Border will cover the side of the Fourth Succession war you didn't get a recap of in Blood of Kerensky and Heir to the Dragon covers the War of '39 and the rise of Theodore Kurita.

If you want coverage of the other wars during the 3000-3049 period (Anton Marik's Revolt/Andurian Succession War/Ronin War) Historical Brush Wars is you're go to book. Since you hate the Cappies you'll want to read about the War of Andurian Succession in particular.

[Thom Frankfurt]

Should I back track and read about the older generation? Hanse Davion, his brother Ian, Kai's father, Yen-Lo-Wang, and the 4th succession war?

*Looks around nervously for Death Commando's or MASK agent before leaning in to add his two cents*

Excellent Idea! I'd reccomend the Warrior Trilogy, despite how it doesn't end nice for my house. There's some goofy parts, but all in all not bad and it sets the political situation for the BOK trilogy.

The Gray Death saga is a fantastic read, I highly reccomend those books. They take place in the waining years of the 3rd SW, though I'm not sure on dates as there was none in the books. Like I said, it's a good read and it's fun to see how the mighty Gray Death started out.

Legend of the Jade Phoenix is great too if you're in the mood for a Clan story. As far as vat-brats go, Aiden Pryde is THE MAN!

(I despised Romano Liao and Sun-Tzu so much during the whole Outreach summit in 3051)

There's a reason some call her Bloody Romano Liao, she's batshrimp crazy. Sonny boy on the other hand, is pretty genious. In some of the later books it's revealed that the act on Outreach was just that, an act. I offer the following books to support my claim; Double Blind, Binding Force, Highlander Gambit, Threads of Ambition, and Killing Fields.

Oh and the Twillight of the Clans is pretty decent as well.

[etarm]

Resurrecting an old thread. What book (assuming there is one) should I read to follow the career of Kai Allard Liao following Lost Destiny?