BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat

BattleTech Game Systems => General BattleTech Discussion => Topic started by: roosterboy on 20 April 2019, 22:15:41

Title: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: roosterboy on 20 April 2019, 22:15:41
Catalyst Game Labs is pleased to present the first two books of Herb Beas' Forgotten Worlds serial, originally published in 2007 and 2008.

Book 1: The Hunt for Jardine and Book 2: Finding Jardine are attached to this post.

Book 3: Escape from Jardine is currently being posted (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65085.0) on the Fan Fiction board and can be discussed there (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65086.0).
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Knightmare on 20 April 2019, 22:30:07
 :thumbsup: Thanks Rooster! Thanks CGL!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Orwell84 on 20 April 2019, 23:02:10
Thanks for this, much appreciated :)
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Frabby on 20 April 2019, 23:57:44
Aaah, good old BattleCorps goodness. Nostalgia...

These are the unchanged original BC files, right?
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 21 April 2019, 00:08:31
Oooh, nice!   :o
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 21 April 2019, 00:19:20
Will read tomorrow for sure.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: mikecj on 21 April 2019, 11:38:37
Thanks for posting these again!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: cklammer on 21 April 2019, 11:44:29
Very nice - thank you so very much. :))

Also: nice formatting for reading on ebook readers without further tweaking  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: IronSphinx on 21 April 2019, 12:40:08
Yay!!!! I love this series!! Always wondered what happened to the good Doctor and her companions. Thanks CGL & Herb!! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Frabby on 21 April 2019, 14:02:27
Yay!!!! I love this series!! Always wondered what happened to the good Doctor and her companions. Thanks CGL & Herb!! :thumbsup:
We've known how the story ends since it was one of the "between the lines" stories on the WizKids website.
Her grandchildren (?) exchanged messages via LinkNet trying to piece together the puzzle of why the WoB had hunted down their family. Even in the Dark Age their search caused enough alarm for an unnamed agency to sabotage a civilian liner DropShip, with hundreds dead. (But really, you're asking for something like that when you name your DropShip the Lusitania IV (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Lusitania_IV)...)
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: rebs on 21 April 2019, 14:31:10
Thank you, CGL!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 21 April 2019, 21:07:07
Yay!!!! I love this series!! Always wondered what happened to the good Doctor and her companions. Thanks CGL & Herb!! :thumbsup:

I found, years after my tenure ended, that I couldn't leave the story unfinished, especially with so much of that third book already written, so the last year or so was spent finishing it off between other projects of my own, with an eye toward release on the Fanfic boards because, well, I figured there were folks like you, IronSphinx.

We've known how the story ends since it was one of the "between the lines" stories on the WizKids website.
Her grandchildren (?) exchanged messages via LinkNet trying to piece together the puzzle of why the WoB had hunted down their family. Even in the Dark Age their search caused enough alarm for an unnamed agency to sabotage a civilian liner DropShip, with hundreds dead. (But really, you're asking for something like that when you name your DropShip the Lusitania IV (https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Lusitania_IV)...)

Heeee! That was a fun series of articles I wrote. And while it DOES suggest how the story ended, well, I had a fourth "book" in mind to explain what really happened to Stevens and co. after the events of the main story, and lay the groundwork for the adventures of Brooke's grandkids, Stefka and Yeska Riviera. Woulda been neat, but I never took that one any farther than a vague idea.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 22 April 2019, 00:31:26
Good to have new (partially) fiction from you Herb.  :)
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Frabby on 22 April 2019, 01:17:20
Heeee! That was a fun series of articles I wrote. And while it DOES suggest how the story ended, well, I had a fourth "book" in mind to explain what really happened to Stevens and co. after the events of the main story, and lay the groundwork for the adventures of Brooke's grandkids, Stefka and Yeska Riviera. Woulda been neat, but I never took that one any farther than a vague idea.
Oh. Oh oh. Now it all comes together...
Brookly Stevens is Devlin Stone!
 :ugly_stupid:   :lol:

Incidentally, given she had grandchildren - were her children ever mentioned anywhere?
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 22 April 2019, 01:46:35
Good to have new (partially) fiction from you Herb.  :)

Thanks, though I should note that this is likely my very last one. I just wanted to get it out of my system.

Oh. Oh oh. Now it all comes together...
Brookly Stevens is Devlin Stone!

Incidentally, given she had grandchildren - were her children ever mentioned anywhere?

Nope, because as of 3067, she and Tyler hadn't had any.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Bosefius on 22 April 2019, 13:52:42
Thank you Herb!!!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: IronSphinx on 22 April 2019, 22:41:12
I found, years after my tenure ended, that I couldn't leave the story unfinished, especially with so much of that third book already written, so the last year or so was spent finishing it off between other projects of my own, with an eye toward release on the Fanfic boards because, well, I figured there were folks like you, IronSphinx.

It is greatly appreciated.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: beachhead1985 on 23 April 2019, 01:06:22
This is Awesome!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 23 April 2019, 15:19:06
Thank you Herb!!!

No need to thank me for the re-release of the first two books. That was beyond my means.  8)

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: MoleMan on 24 April 2019, 08:53:31
Wow, is there any other Battletech fiction on here released like this? Not including all the fan fiction backlog I'm working my way through :D
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 24 April 2019, 09:05:03
To the best of my knowledge, no.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Mendrugo on 24 April 2019, 09:32:21
Wow, is there any other Battletech fiction on here released like this? Not including all the fan fiction backlog I'm working my way through :D

The downloads section has a BattleCorps fiction sampler:  http://www.battletech.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BattleCorps-Fiction-Sampler.pdf
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: MoleMan on 25 April 2019, 03:54:20
Brilliant thanks, it just so happens that this is the first time I've ventured into this section of the  forum and this thread was at the top, awesome find! Cheers
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: avon1985 on 25 April 2019, 05:08:48
WOW, nice surprise! Thanks, good to read these again!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: DarkLloyd on 25 April 2019, 15:32:33
This is Awesome Herb!

Thank you for giving us another look into these stories.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 25 April 2019, 18:48:07
This is Awesome Herb!

Thank you for giving us another look into these stories.

All I did was finish the third book with an eye toward public release on the Fanfic boards. Everything else came from folks other than me.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: tapdancingbeavers on 26 April 2019, 03:11:07
All I did was finish the third book with an eye toward public release on the Fanfic boards. Everything else came from folks other than me.

- Herb

Everyone's part is appreciated.  :)
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Dq3 on 26 April 2019, 19:37:29
Thank you very much to Herb and everyone who helped with the re release of 1+2! I've been trying to piece together the first two books from my old battlecorps downloads for over a year now, it'll be great to finally get to see one of my favorite stories wrapped up.  :D
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 27 April 2019, 03:42:20
Everyone's part is appreciated.  :)

Agreed!

Thank you very much to Herb and everyone who helped with the re release of 1+2! I've been trying to piece together the first two books from my old battlecorps downloads for over a year now, it'll be great to finally get to see one of my favorite stories wrapped up.  :D

Thank YOU, Dq3, and may I also say (judging from your post count), welcome to the forums!

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Dq3 on 27 April 2019, 11:28:19
Thanks Herb, I did have a question regarding the boarding action on the 'Sac; and I apologise in advance if this was answered somewhere previously, but I was wondering what model the BA/ PAL suit was? I was thinking Tornado or Nighthawk based on the timeline and the fact that it had fully articulated hands, or was it a custom MD job? Just curious!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: mikecj on 27 April 2019, 14:33:58
I love seeing the MD's fleshed out (pun intended) and expanded even further than we saw in the other works.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 27 April 2019, 15:24:40
Thanks Herb, I did have a question regarding the boarding action on the 'Sac; and I apologise in advance if this was answered somewhere previously, but I was wondering what model the BA/ PAL suit was? I was thinking Tornado or Nighthawk based on the timeline and the fact that it had fully articulated hands, or was it a custom MD job? Just curious!

I believe that trooper was using a Nighthawk XXI PA(L). It was left vague in the story largely to demonstrate the relative inexperience the Sacajawea's crew had with battle armor, while also leaving room for me to maybe develop something special later (which I never did).

I love seeing the MD's fleshed out (pun intended) and expanded even further than we saw in the other works.

Thank you! That was one reason I decided to write this story... I mean, after the reason that I basically wanted my own Indiana Jones/Lara Croft type character in BT. ;)

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Esskatze on 09 May 2019, 01:47:27
Big thanks to the powers that be at CGL for releasing the first two parts and to you, Herbert, for taking the time to finish that trilogy. I always wondered how the hunt for Jardine would end. Great read!  :)
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 10 May 2019, 21:53:49
Thank YOU for enjoying them!

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 13 May 2019, 21:27:49
Hi,

So, Chapter 5 of Book 3 is now posted, for those who are interested.

And I have made a brief statement about it in the associated discussion thread you may want to read through as well.

In the meantime, adieu!

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 20 May 2019, 01:51:16
Yo,

So, Chapter 6 of Book 3 is now live!

Enjoy!

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Zinmar on 03 June 2023, 12:22:41
Are the first two books ever going to be released in paperback?
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 03 June 2023, 12:57:29
Are the first two books ever going to be released in paperback?

It is my understanding that they plan to combine all three books into a paperback or POD release later this year.

Whether or not that ACTUALLY happens, though, is beyond me.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Zinmar on 03 June 2023, 13:33:19
Fingers crossed that it happens. Nothing against kindle but I prefer an actual book in my hands.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 03 June 2023, 18:45:51
Fingers crossed that it happens. Nothing against kindle but I prefer an actual book in my hands.

I'd like to hold a copy myself, if I'm being honest. Though I may be a bit biased.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: pokefan548 on 03 June 2023, 21:11:29
I'd like to hold a copy myself, if I'm being honest. Though I may be a bit biased.

- Herb
Within reason, there's absolutely no shame in wanting to keep the fruits of your labors displayed on the shelf.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 29 June 2023, 12:51:16
EDIT: seeing the answer on Sarna from 2020 I still would like to ask: is there a plan for post Jardine content still in the ‘works’ anywhere for ‘book four’?

Also random: while on Sarna I read about the Steven’s grandchildren (sourced from Dark Age: 3136 Levin’s Lost). Do we know when the Steven’s had a child? I don’t recall in the novels stating that (yes ‘published later’), so I’d hypothesize that it was somewhere after Jardine before her death clearly.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Hellraiser on 29 June 2023, 13:18:29
Catalyst Game Labs is pleased to present the first two books of Herb Beas' Forgotten Worlds serial, originally published in 2007 and 2008.

Book 1: The Hunt for Jardine and Book 2: Finding Jardine are attached to this post.

Book 3: Escape from Jardine is currently being posted (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65085.0) on the Fan Fiction board and can be discussed there (https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=65086.0).

I'm not seeing the attachments anymore.
Are they still available?
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Frabby on 29 June 2023, 14:16:32
The Book 3 previews were taken down when CGL purchased the manuscript for publication as proper canon. Previously, it was technically non-canonical fan fiction.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 29 June 2023, 15:24:47
EDIT: seeing the answer on Sarna from 2020 I still would like to ask: is there a plan for post Jardine content still in the ‘works’ anywhere for ‘book four’?

Also random: while on Sarna I read about the Steven’s grandchildren (sourced from Dark Age: 3136 Levin’s Lost). Do we know when the Steven’s had a child? I don’t recall in the novels stating that (yes ‘published later’), so I’d hypothesize that it was somewhere after Jardine before her death clearly.

Well, after they eventually combine the three published parts in a combined omnibus (supposedly later this year), there have been discussions of me doing a follow-on. I have outlined a full three-book sequel, and submitted it for approval some time back, but it's still just a "maybe" at this time until I hear otherwise.

And as to the Stevenses' grandkids, well, that's rather another story entirely (pun semi-intended). I have ideas and material in the works related to them, but yeah, a lot relies on maybes and I-don't-knows at this moment.

I will concede that these Stevenses have no kids at the time of the Jardine events. Their relationship has a few issues that make children rather difficult right now... ;)

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: Tyler Jorgensson on 30 June 2023, 08:53:04
Cool thanks a lot
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: heist08 on 30 June 2023, 10:38:17
I, too, would love to see this series continue. I’d also love to see stories detailing the Stevens grandkids’ adventures.

Heist08
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: niall78 on 03 July 2023, 07:06:59
I'm not seeing the attachments anymore.
Are they still available?

Wondering this myself. I bought the paperback recently 'Escaping Jardine' - where can I purchase the first two parts of this story?
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 03 July 2023, 07:23:06
Wondering this myself. I bought the paperback recently 'Escaping Jardine' - where can I purchase the first two parts of this story?

They're still not out in print (supposed to be a compilation of all three parts later this year), but I know you can find them in e-book format on Amazon, at least.

On GCL's site, they seem to be on sale here:
Part 1 = https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-the-hunt-for-jardine-forgotten-worlds-part-one
Part 2 = https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-finding-jardine-forgotten-worlds-part-two

Hope that helps.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: mikecj on 03 July 2023, 14:35:16
I'd love to see a follow-on trilogy.  there was so much about the M-D we never saw and Appy was a pretty interesting character.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 03 July 2023, 16:48:57
I'd love to see a follow-on trilogy.  there was so much about the M-D we never saw and Appy was a pretty interesting character.

Well, good news, I suppose! If the outline I sent is accepted and the story continues, Apollyon makes more than a few appearances in it, as do some other MDs of note.

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: niall78 on 03 July 2023, 17:57:25
They're still not out in print (supposed to be a compilation of all three parts later this year), but I know you can find them in e-book format on Amazon, at least.

On GCL's site, they seem to be on sale here:
Part 1 = https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-the-hunt-for-jardine-forgotten-worlds-part-one
Part 2 = https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/collections/battletech/products/battletech-finding-jardine-forgotten-worlds-part-two

Hope that helps.

- Herb

Thanks Herb. I'm a dead tree maniac when it come to BT so I'll wait for a physical release. Have a few more to read so I'll put 'Escaping' into hibernation until a full release. Love the whole Stephens arc as it hits all my BT sweet points - lost world's, Comstar manipulation,  Jihad Era and the Explorer Corps.

It's great to see Jihad stores like this hitting the shelves. It's one of the best Eras in the cannon that was unfortunately let down by a lack of novel support at the time - even if the source books were some of the best ever published. I say this as a guy who was on board from the 4th Succession War as well. Jihad kicks ass. I look forward over the next few years to reading more fiction relating to this era.
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 04 July 2023, 08:14:11
I thank you very much for those kind words, Niall! It was unfortunate that we couldn't produce novels in that time, to be sure. That fact alone informed the whole execution of the Jihad-era more than any other factor. (If anyone's keeping score, the next most impactful factor was the need to satisfy continuity in two directions--past and future--at the same time.)

Unfortunately, I can't guarantee that the sequel series will ever get greenlit and written at this time (that decision is above my pay grade now), but if it does, I hope the result doesn't disappoint. I had a blast just writing the detailed outlines alone!

- Herb
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: mikecj on 04 July 2023, 11:48:38
Ok, Indiana Brook better get the hat when she gets back to civilization!
Title: Re: Forgotten Worlds Books 1 and 2
Post by: HABeas2 on 04 July 2023, 19:14:03
Ok, Indiana Brook better get the hat when she gets back to civilization!

Assuming Tyler's not using it, maybe she will!

- Herb