Author Topic: Future Novels?  (Read 19163 times)

Border Legion

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Future Novels?
« on: 14 September 2012, 16:39:23 »
To the Powers That Are;

as i approach an age where i can let my kids run wild (being in the 20s), I long for some new battletech novels that will give me an afternoon or evening of time spent with my big giant robot friends.  Alas as i keep an ear to the threads and to battlecorps, i find that there is not a new one coming.

Please give ANY author a chance to entertain me again.  I don't ask much, just a chance for some unknown child of Phelan and Rhanna to move the wolves in exile to start set the universe right as they establish their own history.


or any other story that so strikes your fancy. 

Thank you from the

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roosterboy

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #1 on: 14 September 2012, 16:45:42 »
Little chance of new print novels in the near future for various reasons. Instead, BattleTech fiction is concentrating on the Blitzkrieg ebooks from BattleCorps.

Border Legion

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #2 on: 18 September 2012, 15:44:59 »
 >:D NO NO NO. 

You are supposed to say that they have 10 new novels that are awaiting the covers and they will be released 1 each month, starting 1 October and running through July.

I understand that they have none.  But a guy can wish right?
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Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #3 on: 26 September 2012, 14:54:29 »
Little chance of new print novels in the near future for various reasons. Instead, BattleTech fiction is concentrating on the Blitzkrieg ebooks from BattleCorps.

Ugh, this is not good news.  I am very, very, VERY tired of the Clans and have no interest in novels focused on them.  It's sad too because I would just love to drop some money on some new BT novels.....not focused on the clans.

Is there any reason for the Blitzkrieg focus?

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #4 on: 26 September 2012, 15:04:00 »
I was under the impression that Blitzkrieg was the name of the publication series, not the specific Clan stories. The reason the two we have so far are Clan-focused is because that's what authors submitted. If nobody submits an IS-themed story, well....no IS-themed story gets published.
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Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #5 on: 26 September 2012, 16:03:35 »
I was under the impression that Blitzkrieg was the name of the publication series, not the specific Clan stories. The reason the two we have so far are Clan-focused is because that's what authors submitted. If nobody submits an IS-themed story, well....no IS-themed story gets published.

Well, then I hope there is an IS themed story submitted then :)

So what exactly is the Blitzkrieg theme supposed to be then?

roosterboy

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #6 on: 26 September 2012, 16:10:44 »
So what exactly is the Blitzkrieg theme supposed to be then?

There is no overarching theme to the Blitzkrieg fiction. The name Blitzkrieg just pertains to the format: shorter, more focused novels than what appears or has appeared in print.

Weirdo

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #7 on: 26 September 2012, 16:12:30 »
Well, then I hope there is an IS themed story submitted then :)

Easiest way to know would be to write and submit a story. Then you'd know for sure if something was in the submission pipeline.
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Wereferret

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #8 on: 26 September 2012, 17:44:27 »
I have to say I really like the Blitzkrieg series personally.  My reading time is stretched thin as a now-working adult, and because I travel a lot I use my Nook almost exclusively for reading these days on airplanes.  The Blitzkrieg books are just long enough to keep me entertained through a business trip and let me come home feeling satisfied that at least I finished *something*!   :o  I also found most of the shorts I've read so far to be pretty interesting and well-written, and indulge my preference for stories that peer into quirky little corners of the BT universe.  I liked how Ghost Bear's Lament took place entirely on a dying dropship. 

Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #9 on: 26 September 2012, 18:29:20 »
Easiest way to know would be to write and submit a story. Then you'd know for sure if something was in the submission pipeline.

HAH!  Well if I were a writer then that would be a great idea.  But I am not so I have to rely on the mercy of the publisher and the writer.

Russian_Messiah

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #10 on: 18 October 2012, 13:41:10 »
battlechat 29/09/2012

Quote
<DeJaVu>: Hi, mr Beas. Is there any news on paperbooks?
<DeJaVu>: for example - Dark Age 31
<Habeas2>: DeJaVu - Sorry, I have no news on paperbacks. As it stands, I would not expect to see them resume this year or next, but it remains solidly on my list of goals.

 :(

Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #11 on: 23 October 2012, 01:49:52 »
Couldn't they at least publish new eBooks?  Seems like there is a demand for fiction.  Kind of sad that they focus on print media when it would be cheaper to produce an eBook.

roosterboy

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #12 on: 23 October 2012, 02:15:25 »
Couldn't they at least publish new eBooks?

If they could, they would.

Quote
it would be cheaper to produce an eBook.

Not really. The bulk of the costs in producing a book do not occur in the printing stage.

trboturtle

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #13 on: 23 October 2012, 12:04:56 »
Couldn't they at least publish new eBooks?  Seems like there is a demand for fiction.  Kind of sad that they focus on print media when it would be cheaper to produce an eBook.

It has to do with things that are beyond CGL's control. While I don't have any details, I do know it's not just one thing, but several things that's keeping Batletech Novels of any sort off the market. Believe me, if CGL could publish novels, they would. But they can't, and I know it's a sort subject with them.

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Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #14 on: 24 October 2012, 14:32:38 »
I'd settle for Battlecorp fiction to be released in eBook format.  There's plenty to read there but it is mostly in PDF format.

 :(

cavingjan

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #15 on: 28 October 2012, 09:09:42 »
They release an anthology of the BC fiction each year. They have also been releasing some of the serials as epub and mobi formats.

Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #16 on: 29 October 2012, 22:38:44 »
They release an anthology of the BC fiction each year. They have also been releasing some of the serials as epub and mobi formats.

Yeah, I've gotten everything they have released as an eBook, which gives me some hope for future releases.  It's just such a small amount of fiction.  I just need more more more!   [drool]

Trystan Thorne

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #17 on: 18 November 2012, 12:54:48 »
I hope they'll be able to re-release the classic and the dark age novels as E-books someday.
I'm also a big Shadowrun fan and I know that there is some licensing issue there that currently prevents them to re-release the old Shadowrun novels as E-books. But they are working to sort it out.
I suspect it's the same issue for the BattleTech novels and I hope that if they sort out the Shadowrun novels, that the BattleTech novels can be re-released too.

Personally I would also like to see the German FanPro BattleTech novels as E-books once day (fortunately, I can read German too), but I doubt that will ever happen.

EDIT:
Well, some good news for people who can read German. Ulisses is publishing their books as E-books now.
Here the link of the news: http://www.ulisses-spiele.de/neuigkeiten/2012-11-18-battletech-romane-nun-auch-als-ebooks/
There will be two new BattleTech novels per year.

It also looks like as they will try to re-publish all the German FanPro BattleTech novels as well a E-books. Looks like I might have spoken too soon about the books unlikely to be re-published. :)
« Last Edit: 29 November 2012, 22:48:34 by Trystan Thorne »

Toqtamish

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #18 on: 03 December 2012, 18:40:37 »
What are the Blitzkrieg books exactly ? I don't have a battlecorps membership and decided not to get one as I read a review that says not much new stuff has been added to it and older stuff you have to buy to read it.

roosterboy

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #19 on: 03 December 2012, 18:58:45 »

Jaim Magnus

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #20 on: 04 December 2012, 11:05:09 »
What are the Blitzkrieg books exactly ? I don't have a battlecorps membership and decided not to get one as I read a review that says not much new stuff has been added to it and older stuff you have to buy to read it.

I periodically get a membership and unfortunately it's hit and miss.  Sometimes there's lots of stuff coming out but then other times a month or more will pass with nothing new.  So it ends up being a bit of a gamble.
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Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #21 on: 05 December 2012, 16:22:48 »
I periodically get a membership and unfortunately it's hit and miss.  Sometimes there's lots of stuff coming out but then other times a month or more will pass with nothing new.  So it ends up being a bit of a gamble.

More like a scam IMO.  I just got burned again waiting for material to come out.  Never again.

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #22 on: 05 December 2012, 17:08:06 »
What are the Blitzkrieg books exactly ? I don't have a battlecorps membership and decided not to get one as I read a review that says not much new stuff has been added to it and older stuff you have to buy to read it.

The Blitzkrieg ebooks are available for sale without a BattleCorps membership.
The last four items on this page http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=27_35_221.
Or they can be ordered from DriveThruRPG, Amazon and maybe some others.
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roosterboy

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #23 on: 05 December 2012, 18:34:23 »
More like a scam IMO.  I just got burned again waiting for material to come out.  Never again.

I'm sorry, but how exactly is it a scam? By your own admission you waited until a story you wanted had been released before signing up/renewing your subscription. The way BC has always operated is that you get access to all fiction released during your subscription period and everything else you have to pay extra for. If you wait until after the story is published on the site, of course it won't be included as part of your subscription because you weren't a subscriber when it was released. Seems more like you not understanding how it operates than it being a scam.

Berkyjay

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #24 on: 06 December 2012, 01:58:55 »
No, I understand exactly how it operates.  I keep signing up in hopes that things have changed and they actually supply a constant monthly source of material that justifies a monthly subscription.  I will admit that a scam implies a willful intent to deceive, which I do not think that they are doing.  But to operate as they do in requiring a monthly subscription but not provide a monthly supply of content that at least matches the value of that subscription is pretty disingenuous.

I've had on and off subscriptions since 2009 and I paid for plenty for their fiction through Battleshop because I love reading Battletech fiction and I want to support them, which I why i keep coming back and subscribing and which is why I keep speaking up about it.  I WANT to give them my money.  But I want fair value for what I am paying for.  And to have a subscription service where you can go months without any new content or at most one new short story a month for $10 per month is NOT fair value.  The whole venture is a joke at this point in time.  They need to just get rid of the subscription model  and open up all of their fiction on Battleshop for purchase.  That way people can buy whatever new fiction comes out, without having to maintain a subscription.

Toqtamish

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #25 on: 06 December 2012, 09:21:37 »
  And to have a subscription service where you can go months without any new content or at most one new short story a month for $10 per month is NOT fair value.  The whole venture is a joke at this point in time.  They need to just get rid of the subscription model  and open up all of their fiction on Battleshop for purchase.  That way people can buy whatever new fiction comes out, without having to maintain a subscription.

This is a good point and a good idea. If they cannot make print novels they should at least make the ebook/pdfs available for purchase. Would likely be a better revenue generator too.

Trystan Thorne

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #26 on: 09 December 2012, 03:36:24 »
I have to agree on the subscription model.
I think that it actually hurts more than anything else.

Just selling the full catalogue of the short stories in epub/mobi/pdf formats would be great. EBook readers did get very popular in recent years after all.

blitzy

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #27 on: 09 December 2012, 12:37:26 »
And to have a subscription service where you can go months without any new content or at most one new short story a month for $10 per month is NOT fair value.  The whole venture is a joke at this point in time.  They need to just get rid of the subscription model  and open up all of their fiction on Battleshop for purchase.  That way people can buy whatever new fiction comes out, without having to maintain a subscription.

I kind of agree here.  I haven't ever gotten a subscription for the reasons above, but I've bought all the e-books novels from battlecorps, and am slowly replacing all my old print books with e-books as money permits.
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SCC

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #28 on: 16 December 2012, 03:46:08 »
Hopefully when the Dark Age is finished off it will have one or more novels, proper novels but not in print, none of this multi-part stuff

Merwyn

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Re: Future Novels?
« Reply #29 on: 16 December 2012, 10:35:50 »
I really, really hope that TPTB will soon make a big push so that there will be new novels when the 3250 era rolls around. Herb mentioned in that chat that new novels "remains solidly on [his] list of goals." As far as I'm concerned it should be at the very top of his list, and I say this not just because the novels are my favorite part of the universe. I've noticed that activity on this board has decreased over time, and I believe that the reason for this is lack of new novels. Certainly it can't be for lack of new sourcebooks, miniatures or even video games. Even if novels aren't what a number of players most enjoy about the BT universe, they were what made people become fans of this or that faction rather than another.

IMO the Warrior Trilogy is the main reason why there are more FedSuns and Lyran fans than those of other Inner Sphere factions, and the Blood of Kerensky series is why the original four invading Clans have more fans than the other Clans. And novels spurred lively debate over the latest actions or the superiority of characters or factions, something else that's been missing of late on this board. Being told that a character does this or that lacks the dramatic impact it would have if first told in a well-written, well-developed novel. Would you have had the same emotional reaction to Hanse's "Here, my love. I give you the Capellan Confederation!" if you're read about it in sourcebook instead of it being the culmination of dozens of pages of story in a novel? I certainly wouldn't.

Having new novels to read, and knowing that there would soon be even more new novels published, made me feel part of an exciting living, growing universe. Short stories and novellas can be fine complements to full-length novels, but for me the former can never replace the latter. Long-term character development, exciting buildup -> climax -> resolution sequences of major importance to the setting, an abundance of details about the universe - for me short stories and novellas simply cannot provide those, or at least not nearly enough to feel truly satisfying.

If there are no new novels, then it must be because someone somewhere, or perhaps several someones, keep(s) saying "no." Unless those people are completely unreasonable and are just being obstructive for the sake of obstruction, there must be some way of convincing them to change their stance, some way of coming to a satisfying agreement for all, and the sooner the better.

Oof. I hope I haven't offended anyone with this rant.

 

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