This was originally on a link, but the link went bad. This list is not my original work. Thanks go to M. Menard I think. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: lost@insync.net (Brian Ladd) Reply-To: lost@insync.net Newsgroups: rec.games.mecha Subject: Battletech Novel Listing - Version 4 Date: Sun, 04 Feb 1996 11:03:10 GMT Organization: Lost Enterprises Message-ID: <311491cd.39625548@news.insync.net> Battletech Novels Listing Revision 4 as of 2/96 Brian Ladd M. Menard lost@insync.net mmenard@aol.com Versions: 2,3,4 Version 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes for Revision 4: -------------------------------------------------------- Here we are at revision 4 and from the romours going around, I'll be adding more books to this list soon. I've also added the reprints into the listing. But, as I don't yet own any copies of the reprints, I've only added placeholders in the list on the Concise section of the list. And as I get the reprints, I'll add them to the list like the rest. Notes for Revision 3: -------------------------------------------------------- Well, I've gone in and made some corrections. Mostly spelling and the summaries that I had left out. I also went in and added the ISBN's for each book in the list. Notes for Revision 2: -------------------------------------------------------- This is the listing that was posted, graciously enough, by M. Menard. I have gone in and reformatted this listing and added some details that I thought might help the reader. This listing is going to be broken down into three distinct regions: 1: A concise listing of all of the Battletech novels printed to date. 2: An expanded listing with small paragraphs about each book. 3: The original listing posted by M. Menard. (mail headers and misc gone.) All entries are going to follow the same format for each of the two newer listings. The listings will be sorted by first release date. I didn't include the re-release of the Gray Death Saga because I don't have them and I can't fill in information I don't have. Here's the basic layout for the first two sections: Section 1 Title: Title of the novel Series: Series of novels or stand alone. Author: Author of the novel Year: Year novel was published Publisher: Publisher that released the novel ISBN: International Standard Book Number (Don't blame me for the layout, I just typed them in.) Section 2 Title: Title of the novel Series: Series of novels or stand alone. Author: Author of the novel Year: Year novel was published Publisher: Publisher that released the novel ISBN: International Standard Book Number Main Character(s): The main character(s) in the novel Synopsis: One line desciption of the novel Description: The paragraph desciption from the rear cover I have also taken the liberty to go ahead and include the graphic novel and the collection of short stories. While they aren't tru novels, I included thhem here because they are good reading. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Section 1: The Concise Listing Title: Decision at Thunder Rift Series: Grey Death Trilogy (1st printing) Author: William H. Keith, Jr. Year: 1986 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: ??? Title: The Spider and the Wolf Series: Single Graphic Novel Author: Gideon & Scott Oehler Year: 1986 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-017-4 Title: Mercenary's Star Series: Grey Death Trilogy (1st printing) Author: William H. Keith, Jr. Year: 1987 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-030-1 Title: The Price of Glory Series: Grey Death Trilogy (1st printing) Author: William H. Keith, Jr. Year: 1987 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-038-7 Title: The Sword and the Dagger Series: Single Author: Ardath Mayhar Year: 1987 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 0-931787-77-7 Title: Warrior: En Garde Series: The Warrior Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-046-8 Title: Warrior: Riposte Series: The Warrior Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-068-9 Title: Shrapnel: Fragments from the Inner Sphere Series: Single - Collection of short stories Author: Various - Jordan K. Weisman, Ken St. Andre, Tara Gallagher & James Lanigan, Susan Putney, William H. Keith Jr., Mark O'Green, Elizabeth T. Danforth & Michael A. Stackpole, Bear Peters, George O'Dahjungle Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-082-4 Title: Wolves on the Border Series: Single Author: Robert Charrette Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-073-5 Title: Warrior: Coupe Series: The Warrior Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1989 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-087-5 Title: Heir to the Dragon Series: Single Author: Robert Charrette Year: 1989 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 55560-095-6 (or 1-55560-095-6 ??) Title: Lethal Heritage Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy (1st printing) Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1989 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-091-3 Title: Blood Legacy Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy (1st printing) Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1990 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-092-1 Title: Lost Destiny Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy (1st printing) Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1991 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-094-8 Title: Way of the Clans Series: Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1991 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45101-5 Title: Bloodname Series: Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1991 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45164-3 Title: Falcon Guard Series: Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1991 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45200-3 Title: Wolf Pack Series: Single Author: Robert Charrette Year: 1992 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45150-3 Title: Natural Selection Series: Single Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1992 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45172-4 Title: Decision at Thunder Rift Series: Grey Death Trilogy (2nd printing) Title: Mercenary's Star Series: Grey Death Trilogy (2nd printing) Title: The Price of Glory Series: Grey Death Trilogy (2nd printing) Title: Ideal War Series: Single Author: Chistopher Kubasik Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45212-7 Title: Main Event Series: Single Author: Jim Long Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45245-3 Title: Blood of Heroes Series: Single Author: Andrew Kieth Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45259-3 Title: Assumption of Risk Series: Single Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45283-6 Title: Far Country Series: Single Author: Peter L. Rice Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45337-9 Title: D.R.T. Series: Single Author: James D. Long Year: 1994 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45364-6 Title: Close Quarters Series: Single Author: Victor Milan Year: 1994 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45429-4 Title: Bred For War Series: Single Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-454411-3 Title: I am Jade Falcon Series: Single Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45380-8 Title: Highlander Gambit Series: Single Author: Blaine Lee Pardoe Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0451-45381-6 Title: Tactics of Duty Series: Single Author: William H. Keith, Jr Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0451-45490-1 Title: Lethal Heritage Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy (2nd printing) Title: Blood Legacy Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy (2nd printing) Title: Lost Destiny Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy (2nd printing) Title: Star Lord Series: Single Author: Donald G Phillips Year: 1996 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA ISBN: 0-451-45530-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Section 2: The Expanded Listing (with short descriptions) Title: Decision at Thunder Rift Series: Grey Death Trilogy (1st printing) Author: William H. Keith, Jr. Year: 1986 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): The Gray Death Legion Synopsis: The creation of the gray Death Legion Description: Die, MechWarrior! Die! Thirty meters tall, 70 tons of quick-strifing death and destruction, the armored war machines called BattleMechs are the fighting arms of the crumbling star empires locked in the horror of the Succession Wars. Their pilots are MechWarriors, 31st-Century knights riding armored machines powerful enough to take a city apart. Grayson Death Carlye had been training to be a MechWarrior since he was 10, but his graduation came sooner than he expected. With his friends and family dead, his regiment vanished, young Grayson finds himself stranded on a world turned hostile. And now he will have to learn the hardest lesson of all: it takes more than armored weaponry to make a MechWarrior. To claim the title of MechWarrior, he will have to build a BattleMech regiment from the ground up. All he has to do iscapture one of those giant killing machines by himself. If it doesn't kill hime first. BattleTech: Decision at Thunder Rift is the first in a series of full-length science fiction novels set in the universe of BattleTech, the exciting line of SF games and products from FASA Corporation. Title: The Spider and the Wolf Series: Single Graphic Novel Author: Gideon & Scott Oehler Year: 1986 Publisher: Fasa Corp. Main Character(s): Wolf's Dragoons, Anton & Janos Marik Synopsis: Marik civil war kills Jaime Wolf's brother & Wolf's revenge. Description: The beginning of a legend... Here is Natasha Kerensky, the infamous Black Widow, in one of here unit's first and most daring missions...a deadly mission of revenge against Anton Marik, the rebel of the Free Worlds League. [Editor Note: This is a graphics novel & a scenario pack.] Title: Mercenary's Star Series: Grey Death Trilogy (1st printing) Author: William H. Keith, Jr. Year: 1987 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): The Gray Death Legion Synopsis: The Gray Death Legion's first mission as a unit. Description: The Gray Death Legion, born of treachery and deceit, takes its first job, serving as the training cadre for farmer rebels on the planet Verthandi. Though Grayson Carlyle has the knack for battle strategy and tactics, getting the bands of Verthandian freedom fighters to unite against their superior foes is not always easy. The Legion has no choice this time. It must win or die, because the only way off planet is via the capitol city, controlled by the minions of Carlyle's nemesis, Kurita's Duke Ricol. The story of Grayson Death Carlyle and the Gray Death Legion began in the novel Decision at Thunder Rift and continues in this second BattleTech novel of the Gray Death's adventures. Title: The Price of Glory Series: Grey Death Trilogy (1st printing) Author: William H. Keith, Jr. Year: 1987 Publisher: FASA Corp. ISBN: 1-55560-038-7 Main Character(s): The Gray Death Legion Synopsis: The Gray Death Legion gets betrayed & finds memory core. Description: The Gray Death Legion has been betrayed. After a year-long campaign in the service of House Marik, Grayson Carlyle and the warriors of the Gray Death Legion were ready for a rest. But their home base has been destroyed, their families scattered, and now they have been branded as outlaws. A lost Star League treasure is at stake in a suspenseful race agianst time. Even if he iis successful, Carlyle must ally himself with old enemies and his former employers in a savage battle where both sides learn THE PRICE OF GLORY. Title: The Sword and the Dagger Series: Single Author: Ardath Mayhar Year: 1987 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Hanse Davion & Arden Sortek Synopsis: Operation Doppleganger: the replacement of Hanse Davion with a double by Maximilian Liao. Cause of forth Succession War. Description: MechWarriors believe that the only way to kill a BattleMech is with another 'Mech... But Generals know that the best way to kill an amry of 'Mechs is with a well-placed dagger. The five houses of the Successor States employ both warfare and treachery in their efforts to gain control of the interstellar empire once known as the Star League. Huge man-like walking tanks called BattleMechs rule the battlefields, but intrigues and plots rule the imperial courts. Hanse Davion is Prince of the Federated Suns, the largest of the five warring Houses...an idealistic man who has had to learn that politics is neither honorable nor staightforward. Arden Sortek is the commander of Hanse Davion's personal guard. Although a long-time friend of Hanse's, he has not yet learned the lessons of power. Through a chance series of events he stumbles upon a plot of such magnatude that it threatens the balance of power of Inner Sphere. Unfortunately, no one will believe him...Indeed, they think he is quie mad. Is Arden crazy or is someone trying to kill Hanse Davion? Title: Warrior: En Garde Series: The Warrior Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Justin Allard, all House rulers, Melissa Steiner, and Kell Hounds Synopsis: Justin's trial, Melissa's near capture & the begining of the Fourth Succession War. Description: THE ARCHON-DESIGNATE UNDER SIEGE! Melissa Steiner, heir-apparent of the Lyran Commonwealthh, has been hijacked aboard her interstellar Jumpship, just when her secret betrothal to Prince Hanse Davion of the Federated Suns would cement the most powerful alliance in the Inner Sphere... Meanwhile, two half-brothers, Justin & Daniel Allard, find themselves fighting on opposite sides of the Inner Sphere's endless battles. Stripped of his rank, honor, and even name, Justin Xiang Allard is exiled to Solaris VII, and there wages war agianst Hanse Davion's surrogates in the gladitorial arenas. His brother, Daniel, a lance commander in the dreaded Kell Hounds mercenary battalion, uncovers the plot agianst Melissa Steiner and undertakes to ensure her safety - and along with it, the safety of the Inner Sphere. Both men face fierce fights, but in the Inner Sphere, where nobles have schemed for centuries to win ultimate power, those who interfere with the Successor Lords are sometimes called heroes, and sometimes called victims. Will the beautiful Melissa be rescued? Will Justin Xiang redeem himself? Find out in...WARRIOR: EN GARDE! Title: Warrior: Riposte Series: The Warrior Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Justin Allard, all House rulers, Wolf Dragoons, Yorinaga Kurita, Morgan Kell, marriage of Hanse Davion & Melissa Steiner Synopsis: The Fourth Succession War, Duel between Yorinaga Kurita & Morgan Kell, Justin Xiang works for Max Liao Description: For over 250 years, war, petty hatreds, and slowly failing technology have halted all attempts to unify the Inner Sphere. Five Successor States, splintered remnants of the great Star League, now struggle for control. But all that will soon change when Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner marry. As the cement an alliance betweentheir two powerful Houses, the balance of power among the Warlords of the Inner Shpere irrevocably changes. A new golden age of peace and prosperity may soon replace hundreds of years of interstellar war. A golden age is not part of Maximilian Liao's plan. He has just joined with Duke Micheal Hasek-Davion and Justin Xiang, a former Davion officer, to set in motion a sinister plot to rip apart the Federated Suns asunder. And in Kurita space, Yorinaga Kurita has suddenly reappeared to claim his place as one of the finest warriors of all time. Though many had thought him dead, Yorinaga is very much alive as he prepares his unit for their final confrontation with the Kell Hounds. Title: Wolves on the Border Series: Single Author: Robert Charrette Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Wolf Dragoons & Takashi Kurita Synopsis: House Kurita tries unsuccessfully to absorb Wolf's Dragoons. Also coverw some of the Fourth Succession War Description: BUSHIDO Life, Death, Honor, Fealty Bushido is the code that governs all these concepts. As a MechWarrior of the Draconis Combine, Minobu Tetsuhara is bound by Bushido, a code that demands loyal service to the devious Warlord Grieg Samsonov. When Minobu came upon a strange blue and gold Archer, the field littered with its vanquished oppenents, and its weapons now empty, Bushido dictated that he not destroy an honorable but helpless warrior. For that he became one of the Dispossesed, stripped of his BattleMech, and without honor. Minobu was then assigned as liaison to one of the Combine's most elite mercenary units, who treated him with the respect due a fellow warrior, and gave him the use of a BattleMech once more. the skill and power of the mercenaries is unparalleled, and when they refuse to renew their contracct, Minobu is instructed to use all means to destroy them. Now Bushido dictates that Minobu oppose his honorable foe in the blue and gold Archer, a man with whom he has served and who deserves better than betrayal... Jaime wolf and Wolf's Dragoons. Title: Warrior: Coupe Series: The Warrior Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1989 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Justin Allard, all House rulers, Kell Hounds, Genyosha Synopsis: The winding down of the Fourth Succession War, Maximilian Liao's death, and the return of Justin Allard. Description: THE HONEYMOON IS OVER. The armies of Prince Hanse Davion continue to advance through the Capellan Confederation all but unopposed. Maximilian Liao's realm crumbles around him, yet within the madman's court, his two faithful advisors plot Hanse Davion's downfall. Justin Xiang, disgraced and exiled by the prince himself, devises a that wil use Davion's own technological advances against him. Justin's partner, Tsen Shang, executes an even more crippling blow - a strike into the heart of the Federated Suns meant to destroy the ability of Davion's forces to travel between the stars... Half a galaxy away, assassins stalk Archon Katrina Steiner and her daughter, Hanse's wife, Melissa Steiner, through the secret passages of her own palace whle scheming nobles form treacherous power alliances that threaten to deleiver the Lyran Commonwealth to Katrina's enemies. Theodore Kurita masterminds an invasion of the Commonwealth that will cut it off from its ally, the Federated Suns. Yet the only MechForce capable of blunting that invasion - the Kell Hounds - are invovled in a deadly game of search and destroy with the most fearsome Kurita unit ever formed - the Genyosha! In a world where 10-meter-tall war machines are the soul of the battle, assassins are tools of state policy and a spy's loyalty is always for sale, nothing but death and destruction are certain. Who can you trust, and for how long? And, in the bitter end, how will you be betrayed? Hanse Davion's forces are winning. For now... Title: Shrapnel: Fragments from the Inner Sphere Series: Single - Collection of short stories Author: Various - Jordan K. Weisman, Ken St. Andre, Tara Gallagher & James Lanigan, Susan Putney, William H. Keith Jr., Mark O'Green, Elizabeth T. Danforth & Michael A. Stackpole, Bear Peters, George O'Dahjungle Year: 1988 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Too many to list, there are fifteen (15) stories. Synopsis: A collection of different viewpoints on life in the Inner Sphere, some are really good! Description: Shrapnel, those unexpected bits of hot metal that strike by chance. Soldiers in combat philosophize that when your time is up, that's it - there's no avoiding a bullet that "has you name on it." But when Shrapnel arrives, it is addressed, "Occupant: To whom it may concern." This collection of short stories are fragments, unexpected bits of life and death in the Inner Sphere. The sudden salty taste of blood. The acrid smeel of scorched metal. A hot cup of coffee after a long night's battle. Shrapnel is images and experiences frozen in the mind of the observer. Title: Heir to the Dragon Series: Single Author: Robert Charrette Year: 1989 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Theodore Kurita, Takashi Kurita, & the Yakuza Synopsis: The rise to power of Theodore Kurita & The War of 3039. Description: A FLASH OF STEEL, a thin crimson line, and a foamy gurgle of confusion marked the beginning of Takashi's rule, and the passing of Theodore's grandfather. Theodore Kurita is the: son of Takashi Kurita, and heir apparent to the Draconis Combine, one of the most powerful realms of the Inner Sphere. But the Draeonis Combine has never been a place of smooth transitions. Historicallv, a Kurita proves himself a fit leader by a successful bid for power, political or...otherwise. Theodore's perilous journey to power is a twenty-year odyssey beginning with his graduation from Sun Zhang Military Academy. At each level of ascendancy, Theodore finds that keeping power is far more difficult than getting it, and failure lies in wait at every turn. Theodore's tactical knowledge is put to the test all too many times. His successes in impossible situations are dismissed as smoke and mirror trickery by some, but lauded as genius by others. Upon reaching the level of Lord of the Combine Military, his new power allows him to see the uncertain future of his people. Theodore must step carefully as he bargains for his future with ComStar, the mystic sect, and the Yakuza, an interstellar network of organized crime. All the while, maintaining an uneasy truce with the man whom he must one day depose...his father, Coordinator of the Draconis Combine! Title: Lethal Heritage Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1989 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Kell Hounds, all House Leaders, Comstar, Clans Synopsis: The introduction of the Clans Description: THEY ARE COMING. From beyond the Periphery comes a threat. A military force of unknown origin. NOTHING WE HAVE CAN STOP THEM. Their power speed and ferocity are unparalleled. Some of the finest warriors and ablest units have challenged them and failed. No force from the Inner Sphere has faced them and won. THE CLANS An alien juggernaut whose sole reason for being is battle. A race that selectively breeds itself for combat. HUMANITY'S ONLY HOPE IS AN ALLlANCE OF MORTAL ENEMIES. The Federated Commonwealth and The Draconis Combine, interstellar empires at war for 300 years, must now stand side by side or face certain destruction. Title: Blood Legacy Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1990 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Kell Hounds, all House Leaders, Comstar, Clans Synopsis: The continuation of the Clan Invasion Description: THEY HAVE ARRlVED. The Clan invaders have chosen their next objective - Luthien, capitol of the Draconis Combine. House Kurita must now fight for survival on its homeworld. NOTHING WE HAVE CAN STOP THEM. Hanse Davion is presented with a situation undreamt of... final defeat of the Dragon - House Kurita. Should he attack his distracted foe and destroy the enemy his family has battled for over 300 years? Or should he reinforce a fellow House of the Inner Sphere against a force that Davion ond the Federated Commonwealth might not otherwise defeat when the time comes? THE CLANS. Since appearing in the Inner Sphere, the Clans have moved from planet to planet with utter disregard for any opposing force. Their technology is superior to anything the Inner Sphere possesses. Their race is selectively bred for combat. They appear to be unstoppable. HUMANlTY'S ONLY HOPE - AN ALLIANCE OF MORTAL ENEMIES - MAY BE DOOMED. ComStar, the semi-mystic sect that controls interstellar communication, moves to engineer circumstances that will hurl Davion, Kurita, and the Clans into a war that will leave ComStar in a position to dominate what was once the Star League. Title: Lost Destiny Series: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1991 Publisher: FASA Corp. Main Character(s): Kell Hounds, all House Leaders, Comstar, Clans Synopsis: End of Clan invasion, The Battle of Tukayyid, colapse of Comstar Description: THEY AHVE CONQUERED The Clan invaders are driving toward their ultimate objective - Terra, cradle of humankind and hub of the Comstar communications network. NOTHING WE HAVE CAN STOP THEM The heir to the throne of the Draconis Combine is missing. Whole regiments of BattleMechs lie smashed like abondoned toys. Rasalhague is overrun. The Clans are sweeping toward the center of the Inner Sphere in a relentless tide. THE CLANS Invaders from beyond the Periphery, the Clans have beaten the forces of the Inner Sphere repeatedly. Warriors bred for battle and mated to fantastic war machines, Clansmen live for victory and pray for death before defeat. HUMANITY'S ONLY HOPE IS THE INNER SPHERE'S MOST POWERFUL TRAITOR Comstar betrayed the Inner Sphere by aiding the Clans in their conquest. Now the mystic sect that controls all interstellar communications must face the Clan hordes alone. The untested warriors of Comstar are the Inner Sphere's lasat defense against total defeat. Title: Way of the Clans Series: Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1991 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Aiden Pryde, Joanna, Horse, Clan Jade Falcon Synopsis: A look at the Clan training system as a Clanner. Description: In the 31st century, the BattleMech is the ultimate war machine. Thirty meters tall, and vaguely, menacingly man-shaped, it is an unstoppable engine of destruction. In the 31st century, the Clans are the ultimate warriors. The result of generations of controlled breeding, Clan Warriors pilot their BattleMechs like no others. In the 31st century, Aidan aspires to be a Warrior of Clan Jade Falcon. To win the right to join his Clan in battle, he must succeed in trials that will forge him into one of the best warriors in the galaxy, or break him completely. In the 31st century, Aidan discovers that the toughest battle is not in the field, but in his head-where failure will cost him the ultimate price: his humanity. Title: Bloodname Series: Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1991 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Aiden Pryde, Joanna, Horse, Clan Jade Falcon Synopsis: Aiden fails bloodname test, hides as a freebirth another chance. Also starts to question Clan caste system. Description: TRUEBIRTH-Born in the laboratory, these genetically engineered soldiers train to be the ultimate warriors. They are the elite pilots of the Clan's fearsome BattleMech war machines. FREEBIRTH-Born of the natural union of parents, these too are soldiers, but pale imitations of their truebirth superiors. Despised for their imperfections, they fight where and when their Clan commands. Aidan has failed his Trial of Position, the ranking test all truebirth warriors of the Clan Jade Falcon must pass. He is cast out. Disgraced. His rightful Bloodname is denied him. But with a Bloodname, all past failures are forgiven. With a Bloodname comes respect. With a Bloodname comes honor. Aidan will do anything to gain that name. Even masquerade as the thing he has been taught to despise. A freebirth. Title: Falcon Guard Series: Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1991 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Aiden Pryde, Joanna, Horse, Clan Jade Falcon Synopsis: Aiden gets bloodname, becomes a warrior and invades the Inner Sphere. Unfortunately, dies in the process. Description: A CLASH OF EMPIRES In 2786, the elite Star League Army fled the inner Sphere, abandoning the senseless bloodshed ordered by the Successor Lords. Now, almost three hundred years later the Clans, heirs of the Star League Army, turn their eyes back upon their former home. Nothing will stop them from raising the Star League banner over Earth once again. A CLASH OF ARMIES For two years, the Clans' BattleMech war machines have overwhelmed the armies of the corrupt Successor Lords. Now, at the gates of Earth the Clans must fight one final battle, a battle that will decide the fate of humanity for ail time. A CLASH OF CULTURES For Star Colonel Aidan Pryde of Clan Jade Falcon the battle is more than a question of military conquest. It is an affirmation of the superiority of the Clan way, a way of life he has sworn to uphold despite his fear that the noble crusade has fallen prey to the lust and ambition of its commanders. Title: Wolf Pack Series: Single Author: Robert Charrette Year: 1992 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Jaime Wolf, Wolf Dragoons & Elson Novacat Synopsis: A major rebellion within Wolf's Dragoons Description: THE SUCCESSION WARS THE MARIK CIVIL WAR THE WAR OF '39 THE CLAN INVASION WOLF'S DRAGOONS WERE VICTORIOUS IN THEM ALL For fifty years, the five mercenary regiments of Wolf's Dragoons have been the toughest MechWarriors in the Inner Sphere. Whatever the job, whatever the odds, Jaime Wolf's Dragoons always won. Now an aging Colonel Wolf is facing the biggest challenge of his career. And the enemy is not an Inner Sphere Lord or a Clan Khan but a rebellion among his own men! Title: Natural Selection Series: Single Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1992 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Victor Steiner-davion, Phelan Ward, Nelson Geist, Red Corsair Synopsis: A pirate raider threatens the peace, Melissa Steiner is assassinated. Description: THE CLAN WAR HAS ENDED IN AN UNEASY PEACE... sporadic Clan incursions into Inner Sphere territory supply mercenaries like the Kell Hounds with more work than they can handle...border raids sharply divide the Federated Commonwealth's political factions, bringing further instability to the realm standing between Clan's goals and anarchy. And while secret ambitions drive plans to rip the Commonwealth apart, Khan Phelan Ward and Prince Victor Davion - cousins, rulers, and enemies - must decide if maintaining the peace justifies the actions they will take to preserve it. Title: Ideal War Series: Single Author: Chistopher Kubasik Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Paul Masters, Thomas Marik, rebels Synopsis: Paul Masters is sent to stop a rebelion and finds out what the rebels are fighting and why. Ends rebellion. Description: FIGHTING DIRTY Captain Paul Masters, a Knight of the House of Marik, is well versed in the art of BattleMech combat. A veteran of countless battles, he personifies the virtues of the Inner Sphere MechWarrior. But when he is sent to evaluate a counterinsurgency operation on a backwater planet, he doesn't find the ideal war he expects. Instead of valiant patriots fighting villainous rebels, he discovers a guerrilla war-both sides have abandoned decency for expediency, ideals for body counts, and honor for victory. It's a dirty, dirty war.... Title: Main Event Series: Single Author: Jim Long Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Jeremiah Rose Synopsis: The creation of the Black Thorns. Description: Dispossessed in the battle of Tukayyid, former Com Guard soldier Jeremiah Rose wants nothing more than to strike back at the Clans who destroyed his 'Mech and his career. Dreams of swift vengeance turn to nightmares when every effort he makes to rejoin the fight to protect the citizens of the Inner Sphere is rejected. Forced to win a new BattleMech by fighting on the game world of Solaris VII, Rose recruits other soldiers from the arenas to create a new mercenary unit and take his grudge back to the invaders. Unfortunately, Rose is long on battle experience and desperately short on business skill. Turning a band of mismatched MechWarriors into an elite fighting unit becomes harder than he imagined when Rose is forced to fight his fellow MechWarriors in order to fight the Clans. Title: Blood of Heroes Series: Single Author: Andrew Kieth Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Gray Death Legion Synopsis: The Gray Death is given Glengarry, rebels try to take control of the planet from the Federated Commonwealth. Description: Melissa Steiner's assassination ignited the fires of civil war, and now secessionist factions clamor for rebellion against the Federal Commonwealth. The rebels' plans hinge on gaining control of the Skye March, and thus controlling the crucial Terran Corridor. Throughout the March, civil and military leaders plot to take up arms against Prince Victor Steiner-Davion. The final piece of the plan requires the secessionist forces to gain access to the planet Glengarry and the mercenary group that calls it home: the Gray Death Legion. When Prince Davion summons Grayson Death Carlyle and his wife, Lori, to the Federated Commonwealth capital, the rebel forces seize their chance to establish a garrison on Glengarry. The rebels didn't expect the legion's newest members to take matters into their own hands..... Title: Assumption of Risk Series: Single Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Kai Allard-Liao, Victor Steiner Davion, Tormano Liao, Katherine Steiner-Davion, Ryan Steiner Synopsis: Kai attempts to hide from the universe, Tormano involves him in politics, Ryan is assassinated, Katherine starts her climb to power. Description: Solaris Vll, the Game World, is the Inner Sphere in microcosm, and Kai Allard-Liao is its Champion, veteran of the war against challengers who wish his crown for their own. There is no place he would rather be. Then the political realities of the Federated Commonwealth intrude on Solaris. Ryan Steiner, a man sworn to dethrone Victor Steiner-Davion, comes to Solaris to orchestrate his rebellion. Tormano Liao, Kai's uncle, redoubles efforts to destroy the Capellan Confederation, and Victor Davion plots to avenge his mother's assassination. In one short month, Kai's past, present and future collapse in on themselves, forcing him to do things he had come to Solaris to avoid. If he succeeds, no one will ever know-but if he fails, he'll have the blood of billions on his hands. Title: Far Country Series: Single Author: Peter L. Rice Year: 1993 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Yubari Takuda Synopsis: After a misjump, crew is stranded on planet outside the Inner Sphere with an intelligent alien race & some humans. Description: FIRST STRIKE Sho-sa Yubari Takuda leads a Draconis Elite Strike Team, one of the Combine's elite commando units. Well versed in techniques of conventional and unconventional warfare, even MechWarriors respect and fear the prowess of these deadly warriors. A follower of the ancient code of the samurai, Sho-sa Takuda firmly believes in the superiority of the Combine warrior culture and has always maintained that it would produce a harmonious and prosperous society-if only the realm could be freed from the pressures of foreign aggressors. But when a JumpShip malfunction catapults Takuda's team and a company of mercenary MechWarriors beyond known space, he finds long-held beliefs challenged. For the warriors find themselves on a planet inhabited by a primitive alien race, a race enslaved by the descendants of another group of humans-from the Draconis Combine. Title: D.R.T. Series: Single Author: James D. Long Year: 1994 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): The Black Thorns Synopsis: The Black Thorns are sent to garison Wolcott, and must fight the Clans to stay alive. Description: DEAD RIGHT THERE Jeremiah Rose and the Black Thorns, flush with their success against the Jade Falcons on Borghese, head to Harlech to draw a new assignment. Their only requirement: Their new job must let them face off against the Clans. They find more than they bargained for. Their assignment: Garrison duty on Wolcott-a Kurita planet deep in the heart of the Clan Smoke Jaguar occupation zone. Wolcott is besieged, but protected from further Clan aggression by the Clan code of honor. Wolcott makes a useful staging area for Kurita raids on Smoke Jaguar-occupied territory. The pay is good. The advance is unbelievable. But they have to live to spend it. Title: Close Quarters Series: Single Author: Victor Milan Year: 1994 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Cassie Suthorn, Camacho's Caballeros Synopsis: The Caballeros must defend Chandrasekhar Kurita from an assassination attempt. Description: Resourceful, ruthless, beautiful, apparently without fear, Scout Lieutenant Cassie Suthorn of Camacho's Caballeros is as consummately lethal as the giant BattleMechs she lives to hunt. Only one other person in the freewheeling mercenary regiment has a hint of the demons which drive her. When the Caballeros sign on to guard Coordinator Theodore Kurita's corporate-mogul cousin in the heart of the Draconis Combine, they think they've gotthe perfect gig: low risk and high pay. Cassie alone suspects that danger waits among the looming bronze towers of Hachiman - and when the yakuza and the dread ISF form a devil's alliance to bring down Chandrasekhar Kurita, only Cassie's unique skills can save her regiment. All she has to do is confront her darkest nightmares. Title: Bred For War Series: Single Author: Michael A. Stackpole Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Victor Davion, Katherine Steiner, Clan Wolf, Thomas Marik, Clan Jade Falcon, Assassin Synopsis: Thomas marik discovers his sons death, starts a war. Clan Wolf undergoes a Trial of Refusal and loses. Katherine takes over the Lyran Alliance. Creation of the Chaos March Description: A PERILOUS LEGACY Along with the throne of the Federated Commonwealth, Prince Victor Steiner-Davion inherited a number of problems. Foremost among them is the Clans' threat to the peace of the Inner Sphere - and a treacherous sister who wants to supplant him. The expected demise of Joshua Marik-heir to the Free Worlds League, whose very presence maintained peace-also endangers harmony. Victor's idea is to use a double for Joshua, a deception that will prevent war. But secret duplicity is hard to maintain, and war erupts anyway, splitting the Inner Sphere and leaving the Federated Commonwealth defenseless. And when Victor thinks things can get no worse, word comes that the Clans, once again, have brought war to the Inner Sphere.... Title: I am Jade Falcon Series: Single Author: Robert Thurston Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Joanna, Natasha Kerensky, Clan Jade Falcon Synopsis: Joanna is sent undercover to discover a conspiracy within Clan Jade Falcon & Clan Wolf. Covers part of the Trial of Refusal. Description: SHAME OR GLORY? For years, Star Commander Joanna has had to live with the shame of the Jade Falcon defeat at Twycross, and the nightmares of the heroic Aidan Pryde flaunting his bloodname in her face. Now, with the arrival of the new Star Colonel Ravill Pryde, who will lead them against the Wolf Clan, Joanna must once again fight for her chance to recapture the glory of her victory at Tukkayid. But will her advanced age bring her to defeat again, or will being a Jade Falcon be enough for her to take on the legendary Black Widow in a repeat battle at the Great Gash on Twycross? Title: Highlander Gambit Series: Single Author: Blaine Lee Pardoe Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Loren Jaffray, Victor Davion, Sun-Tzu Liao, Northwind Highlanders Synopsis: Loren is sent to destroy the Highlanders and make Northwind an independant world. Description: "AUTHORIZED TO SACRIFICE YOUR PERSONAL HONOR..." With these words Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao dispatched Death Commando Loren Jaffray to the planet Northwind His mission: to singlehandedly destroy the elite Northwind Highlanders, the mercenaries who abandoned the Capellans in their hour of need thirty years before. As the grandson of famous Highlander warriors, Jaffray is the perfect instrument to exact Sun-Tzu's revenge. He can win the mercenaries' trust, then divide the Highlanders from within to ignite a war for control of their homeworld. But Prince Victor Davion is not about to give up this key planet without a struggle. And now, while Northwind and the rest of the Sarna March erupt in war, Loren must wage his own personal battle one between honor and duty. A battle that can only be fought alone. Title: Tactics of Duty Series: Single Author: William H. Keith, Jr Year: 1995 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Gray Death Legion Synopsis: A plot to destroy the Gray Death Legion and take over their planet. Awaiting sequel... Description: CHAOS ON CALEDONIA Tyranny. Rebellion. War. Treachery, tribulation, and a relentless slide into the bloody jaws of Armageddon! Inseurrection sweeps through the fragmenting Federated Commonwealth, pitting Steiner against Davion forces, and civilians against their petty oppressors. On Caledonia, it's no different - except that the mercenary Gray Death Legion is caught in the middle of it all. Alex Carlyle, haunted by the gruesome specter of war, and Davis McCall, a veteran legionaire and native Caledonian, unexpectedly find themselves key players in a popular revolt against a cruekl and despised Davion-backed governor. When the Gray Death Legion is called upon to put down this very rebellion, they all find themselves pawns in a deadly game of manipulation and betrayal. But Grayson Carlyle, tactician supreme and founder of the Legion, is bound by the highest duty - to protect civilization from self-destruct no matter what the odds.... Title: Star Lord Series: Single Author: Donald G. Phillips Year: 1996 Publisher: ROC - Penguin Books USA Main Character(s): Knights of the Inner Sphere Synopsis: Decendant of Stefan Amaris is trying to discredit the Knights of the Inner Sphere and establish a new Star League. Several people are sent to find out source of the plot and stop it. Description: STEFAN THE TERRORIZER An ancient evil has slumbred for centuries, passing from generation to generation, until one day a man discovers the truth about his genetic heritage - and proclaims himself Star Lord of the Inner Sphere. Disguising his army of renegade mercenaries as Knights of the Inner Sphere, the self-appointed Star Lord launches a series of raids that threaten and terrorize the universe! But Thomas Marik, leader of the Free Worlds League, cannot afford to have his Knights tarnished - and two can play the game of impersonation. With the help os a trustedadvisor, Thomas comes up with a plan to infiltrate the evil Star Lord's backwater legions. Enter Duncan's Demons, a company of MechWarriors so improbable only desperation could have dreamed them up. Two soldiers seeking justice, a dishonored Clanswoman, a ne'er-do-well gambler and a real Knight of the Inner Sphere are entrusted with saving the Free Worlds League. But first they must learn to get along.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Section 3: Orginal Posting (with mail headers and other garbage removed) From: mmenard@aol.com (M Menard) Newsgroups: rec.games.mecha Subject: Re: B-Tech Books... Date: 26 Jun 1995 03:18:40 -0400 In reponce to your question: >I would appretiate someone Emailing me or posting a list of the older >B-tech books that are not in the current series. ie-> "Wolves on the >Boarder" etc. not "Bread for War" This is the complete list as I know it (with copyright date). I went ahead and sent a list of all the books: 1. Grey Death Trilogy (1st printing) Decision at Thunder Rift (1986) Mercenary's Star (1987) The Price of Glory (1987) 2. The Sword and the Dagger (1987) 3. Wolves on the Border (1988) 4. The Warrior Trilogy - Warrior: En Guarde (1988) Warrior: Riposte (1988) Warrior: Coupe (1989) 5. Heir to the Dragon - (1989) 6. The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy - Lethal Heritage (1989) Blood Legacy (1990) Lost Destiny (1991) 7. Legend of the Jade Phoenix - Way of the Clans (1991) Bloodname (1991) Falcon Guard (1991) 8. Wolf Pack (1992) 9. Natural Selection (1992) 10. Ideal War (1993) 11. Main Event (1993) 12. Blood of Heroes (1993) 13. Assumption of Risk (1993) 14. Far Country (1993) 15. D.R.T. (1994) 16. Close Quarters (1994) 17. Bred For War (1995) 18. I am Jade Falcon (1995) 19. Highlander Gambit (1995) There should be 27 books in all. I placed the Grey Death Trilogy first because this is when the first printing occured. A reprint of these are available. (They came out either right before or right after the Jade Falcon Trilogy.) Hope this helps. This list is not in order of time periods but is in order of copyright date. For those books printed in the same year, I made a rough (real rough) attempt to put them in appropriate order. - Michael