BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Game Systems => General BattleTech Discussion => Topic started by: Cubby on 29 July 2018, 19:44:58
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Just finished the two new novellas, "The Anvil" (http://books2read.com/BattleTechTheAnvil) and "A Splinter of Hope," (http://books2read.com/BattleTechASplinterofHope) and can't wait to discuss them? Fire away!
(Remember, spoiler rules apply--hide that text where necessary!)
A Splinter of Hope: Violent expansion of the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine has cost recently crowned First Prince Julian Davion both his mentor and countless Federated Suns worlds. To rally his people, he funnels the fires of justice into an ambitious yet risky campaign to retake a vital system: New Syrtis, the occupied capital of the Capellan March. However, the Capellan people have fought dearly for their prize and will do anything in their power to hold onto it. Will Julian’s gamble preserve the future of the Federated Suns, or is the invasion doomed before it even begins?
The Anvil: Khan Malvina Hazen of Clan Jade Falcon is known throughout the Inner Sphere as a merciless, bloodthirsty tyrant. The next target for her scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners tactics is the Lyran Commonwealth world of Coventry: a persistent stain on the Jade Falcons’ history. But not all Falcons follow Malvina’s lead. Ordered to take Coventry at any cost, Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu wishes to see her Clan victorious, but no victory is worth the Jade Falcons losing their very soul. To stand up to tyranny and find an honorable path forward for her Clan, she must balance the razor’s edge between duty and honor—or die trying.
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Evil grin and chortle mode engaged...
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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Will these be available from the Catalyst store, or just those currently listed?
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Will these be available from the Catalyst store, or just those currently listed?
Hm...should be. I'll check.
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Kindle books preordered.
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Any suggestions from those behind the scenes as to the reading order of these vs. Shattered Fortress? I read on Blaine's blog that "The Anvil" was based off a few paragraphs in the sourcebook. Does the Shattered Fortress summarize any plot points or reveal any dramatic turns better experienced narratively?
I am very excited about the return of new fiction and was thinking of reading the novellas first when they come out. Thanks to all who helped make this happen!
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I finished reading The Anvil earlier (would have done that yesterday, but sadly no WiFi at work to download to my Nook). So glad to have fiction moving us forward again. I came in during the later stages of the Clan invasion and the fiction has always been a highlight for me.
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Any suggestions from those behind the scenes as to the reading order of these vs. Shattered Fortress? I read on Blaine's blog that "The Anvil" was based off a few paragraphs in the sourcebook. Does the Shattered Fortress summarize any plot points or reveal any dramatic turns better experienced narratively?
I am very excited about the return of new fiction and was thinking of reading the novellas first when they come out. Thanks to all who helped make this happen!
From what I've seen others say, read the novellas first.
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tag
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Novellas first—and that’s probably a good rule going forward, if/when there’s a situation like this again, fiction and a related sourcebook releasing at about the same time.
Management has said many times that they want “fiction to drive the universe again.” What that means to the rest of us is that you may find more enjoyment in experiencing events “as they happen,” viscerally and through the eyes of the characters living them, and then consult the sourcebook to see how it all fits into the bigger picture.
This is a flip from recent years, where sourcebooks were the main—and really, only—momentum forward. For all the good work BattleCorps produced, in many cases the authors were doing the reverse of what I just described: taking a few paragraphs or even less than that from a sourcebook, and expanding it into a fiction story. No shade, I did that with “Permanent Losses.” But these novellas work differently.
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I liked that the seeds of [CENSORED] demise have been planted. ;)
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About halfway through The Anvil as that was available on B&N. It's good. Some of the dialogue is a bit much, but it fits the pulp action as always. Definitely some stuff I didn't see coming.
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Nevermind; ignore this
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Surprisingly Amazon released these right at midnight...
Happy reading trothkin.
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Any info when I can get them on Drivethrurpg?
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I have to say in my first speed-read of Splinter of Hope it's very good. Finally a presentation of the Battletech universe that is the grey I (personally) always imagined it to be.
If this continues the way it's going this will truly be a year for Battletechs resurgence. Bravo and well done all.
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You can read the first two chapters on Barnes and Noble if you want something to hold you over.
As the smallest possible spoiler, Malvina Hazen wanting to touch absurdly hot things even with her prosthetic arm makes me think that she never bought off her slow learner trait from character creation...
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You can read the first two chapters on Barnes and Noble if you want something to hold you over.
As the smallest possible spoiler, Malvina Hazen wanting to touch absurdly hot things even with her prosthetic arm makes me think that she never bought off her slow learner trait from character creation...
Well, I have read the samples... now I want more. XD
I don't know who introduced Malvina Hazen but I truly hate her and I am still waiting for her demise. The moment they novellas will be on DriveThru* I am buying both of them.
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I'm probably misremembering but I think George R.R. Martin was her author.
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I'm probably misremembering but I think George R.R. Martin was her author.
That is a very cruel and unfunny joke
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Having both being delivered today, any reccomendation in reading order?
The Anvil before Splinter of Hope or vice versa?
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They’re independent stories, so it shouldn’t matter. For what’s it’s worth, though, the events of the novellas are basically simultaneous—“The Anvil” runs more or less concurrently with “Splinter.”
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Got them both today, and loved them! So nice to see some new fiction.
No spoilers, but they clear up a couple of things that we were left wondering about after ER3045, unless I've missed a source book, (status of New Avalon I'm looking at you!).
Also refreshing to see deeper motivations and reasons that the longer fiction allows; Julian actually feels multi-faceted to me now :thumbsup:
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Julian actually feels multi-faceted to me now :thumbsup:
Definitely. He felt too heroically one-dimensional in the MW:DA novels. Then was given these Big, Interesting Things to Do in ER3145 and FM3145--but because they're sourcebooks, we obviously didn't get a first-hand view of his perspective as a character.
It's to Phil's credit that he could fuse the two concepts in a successful way. And the novella definitely benefited from its expansion from the original Campaign Ops fiction.
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I'm curious how "The Anvil" might have turned out as a full length novel instead of the shorter-length novella. I was a bit disappointed on two fronts: Malvina being one dimensional evil and the fifteen [spoilered]s.
With more room to work, Malvina could have been something more than just a peripheral force of nature. And it's hard to discuss the [spoilered] without spoiling the plot, but again with more room to work the "will she or won't she" could have actually been suspenseful. For example, just as I could have been thinking "oooh, NOW she's gonna bend!" the protagonist got a bail-out by the story rapidly coming to a close.
Then again maybe my complaints ultimately stem from being a Malvina fanboy and she wasn't exactly given sympathetic treatment in this book :D
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I was glad to see both of these come out on days that I happened to have off. They were nice to read through in one morning.
Having read A Splinter of Hope just now, I have to say that these two books certainly hammer home the point that no one is safe -- as if The Anvil already didn't do that. I never read the Dark Age novels and so being introduced to a lot of these characters is interesting.
What I think is most interesting are the results of Daoshen Liao's decisions -- even if the decision-making is off screen. An attack on New Syrtis is an attack on the Confederation, which itself is an extension of the Chancellor; who sees himself as a god. To attack a god invites not just retribution, but divine retribution. That can manifest as some horrendous consequences.
I will be curious to see what happens afterward as a result.
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Question for the non-technologically savvy.
I don't have a kindle or a nook. I just want to read the dang thing on my iphone. Any recommendations where to buy and how to do so?
Thanks for helping a guy out!
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Both devices have respective apps that should allow you to view them on your phone. I know at least the Nook does.
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Question for the non-technologically savvy.
I don't have a kindle or a nook. I just want to read the dang thing on my iphone. Any recommendations where to buy and how to do so?
Thanks for helping a guy out!
Use iBooks. It's one of the pre-loaded apps that I know I ignored until literally an hour ago.
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I use the kindle app on my iPhone.
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ok, so I'll download an app and go from there. Thanks for the suggestions guys!
Cheers!
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I have to say I quite enjoyed Splinter of Hope. Without going into spoilers, I think it gives Fedrats and Crapellans a lot of what probably attracted them to each respective faction without being very hamfisted with stereotypes. As someone who was introduced to Battletech through reading the novels instead of actual tabletop games, Im glad that the novels are making a comeback. Here is hoping full length novels will be brought back as well as the novella was a little light on in-universe details.
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Ok, my dark age fu is weak. When did <redacted> get behind the wall and get out? Asking for Splinter of hope.
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Ok, my dark age fu is weak. When did <redacted> get behind the wall and get out? Asking for Splinter of hope.
Probably 3145. See page 25 of FM3145. Looks like it was probably part of the voyage from Callison.
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Ok, my dark age fu is weak. When did <redacted> get behind the wall and get out? Asking for Splinter of hope.
It's in Shattered Fortress
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So, I'm sure it's just an oversight, but in The Anvil we have a moment where Stephanie Chistu's Jade Hawk is referred to as an OmniMech. But the Jade Hawk is a Battlemech. Any chance we're getting an Omni variant of the ride? :D
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So, I'm sure it's just an oversight, but in The Anvil we have a moment where Stephanie Chistu's Jade Hawk is referred to as an OmniMech. But the Jade Hawk is a Battlemech. Any chance we're getting an Omni variant of the ride? :D
My guess is that its a simple slip up, I picked up a few other types of slip ups in there
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Not sure why the Lyran's aren't nuking the Falcons. The problem with the mongol doctrine is that the Lyrans can do it too.
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Spoiler - I have done my best to make this as illegible as possible. Highlight it if you want to see what I wrote.
Jade Falcons are apparently terrible at melee fighting. Clan Sea Fox should remember this for future trials. Someone grabbed a spear and the wielder was surprised! Apparently they use these spears often, as far as I can tell in color guard exhibitions.
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Not a pro-tip because I'm an amateur, but if you make text white, make it glow white and shadow white then it is very hard to read. At least for me.
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As for the stuff you were trying to hide, I don't think it was a total surprise that she would think to make that move, but more a surprise based on her previous reactions in that battle.
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It's in Shattered Fortress
Thank you Wantec, Tai Dai. Poking my way through it. I'm reminded of Lord Palmerston's famous quote. “England has no eternal friends, England has no perpetual enemies, England has only eternal and perpetual interests”
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Finally New novels to advance the timeline. YEAH :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Order both via amazon, and found both books to be surprisingly good.
Sad on some the characters outcomes, but left with hope for the future.
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Spoilers ahead!
My guess is that its a simple slip up, I picked up a few other types of slip ups in there
Anvil was pretty solid, outside of the detail problems that were not caught- which is a little problematic- but while I could deal with the narrative in A Splinter of Hope, I was not a fan of how the two main meta characters were portrayed. It was almost the same jarring continuity feeling from A Call to Arms to the Proving Grounds fiasco with Tassa Kay/Anastasia Kerensky. Danai's character was pretty well established in her last few MWDA novel appearances and IIRC she had quit referring to Daoshen as her 'brother' in her own mind since she had learned the truth. She was mentally capitalizing 'Enemy' like her old lancemate that was in command of the Dynasty Guard and she had not been that bloodthirsty- duty bound & unflinching but she solved some of her problems with guile.
Julian's difference is a bit more explainable for narrative purposes- 3-4 years leading a government in exile with most of his territory lost and being mostly at war since the mid 30s- first aiding the Republic, then being sent to die with the Lyrans against the Clans, and then finally struggling back to the FedSuns with the loss of a lot of support. However during all that time, he had led from the front and put his life on the line to protect other soldiers so some of the internal thoughts did not line up to who he had been. He had also been piloting a Templar III since his first appearance, and I expect Shattered Fortress will make the Dawn Guard's origin more clear. Edit- To be clear, I disagree with Cubby that he was one dimensional in MWDA. I think he was a tad naive while being so convinced of his place that he did not see himself being groomed to become First Prince. The faux relationship with Sandra Felon from Chesterton to keep Amanda Hasek happy, his involvement with Zhou & Levin balancing his commitments as a ally while serving his own House properly, and his interactions with rogue Knight Conner Monroe as the Fortress announcement spreads are all part of his development and show the depth IMO. He has ideals and he sticks with them . . . but you might say until he met Gavin, they were never challenged. We may not LIKE his decision but we know a lot more OOC details, and history is filled with power struggles within as enemies pound on the gate- along with how bad that turns out. Bonfire might start to show his pragmatism coming to the fore with his remarks to Anastasia about taking her from Alaric.
Roderick has green eyes- specifically noted b/c they are outside the Steiner norm, his Rifleman IIC had 2 LPL and 2 ACs, Ultras I think per MWDA and more importantly Bonfire of Worlds which was a CGL product.
Jasek pilots a Templar III, as discussed about the cover's being a Templar I. As described in the book, he was still sporting the Stormhammer colors- and it seemed they were rolled into his Arcturan Guards unit.
Anvil's biggest flaw was in a character who appeared in the opening of the story and the close- Cynthy . . . Malvina saved her from her infantry, spoiled her and yes treated her something like a pet. Malvina gave her treats- we see her eating a chocolate treat in Bonfire of Worlds on the bridge of a DS before a Trial- and at one point told her she would gift her the galaxy after killing everyone else off. She even seems to have mentally set her outside the way she views everyone else as being split into the caste system which caused some questions among the warriors about why the child/teen was special. Malvina loved her in her sick twisted way, and was raising a fellow psychopath . . . but five years later has so abused her and shifted her view of Cynthy that she uses her as a object lesson of what the IS will become & to unsettle other Falcons in different ways. Her ER3145 write up is definitely a POV character from the outside looking in and a single sentence from that seems to be where that version of the character came from while her interactions in Bonfire & MWDA novels paint a different picture. Do I have a problem with the epilogue foreshadowing? No, and I could definitely see Bonfire Cynthy doing the same thing though for different reasons.
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Funny you mention that, I noticed Cynthy feeling really different as well.
Also, was that some serious foreshadowing how she accepted and then hid that knife? And is Stephanie Chistu really that calculating?
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Jasek pilots a Templar III, as discussed about the cover's being a Templar I. As described in the book, he was still sporting the Stormhammer colors- and it seemed they were rolled into his Arcturan Guards unit.
Hunh? In the novella it was only ever described as a Templar I. It even carried the Prime loadout.
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Sure . . . but from Skye in Flight of the Falcon to Bonfire of Worlds, its a Templar III with a TRO-standard load out. With it sounding like it was his long time mech and the emotional attachment the subordinate had to 'his' mech . . . its a background detail problem just like the Jade Hawk being a Omni. Its why the cover was being dissected with the old Templar I in the wrong colors.
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Just thought of something that made me laugh!
Maybe in the Battle for New Syrtis, the Capellans did us a solid and destroyed the Garm factory line once and for all.
Burn it, burn it with fire!
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The Garm is a great mech . . . for killing vehicles.
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I was going to say, I seem to remember Cynthy killing someone...
Or watching someone be killed gleefully?
It's been a long time. But her personality makes a serious shift in this book.
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I am upset that Clan Sea Fox is not mentioned in A Splinter of Hope at all. I hope we are not forgotten in Shattered Fortress the same way. We got him there. [/quote]
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I was going to say, I seem to remember Cynthy killing someone...
Or watching someone be killed gleefully?
It's been a long time. But her personality makes a serious shift in this book.
Bonfire of Worlds, she set up a lower caste to be killed after 'he' made Malvina look foolish by leaving a workstation with a open mike. Bec is has his hunch and then sees Malvina find chocolate on the controls- which is what I referenced earlier.
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Not the first time that different authors have imbued a character with radically different personalities.
Just look at the many faces of Anastasia Kerensky.
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Those are solved by paying attention to the broad brush of the actions they performed. "That was another author" is an annoying argument to deal with. They still did the things they did in the novel.
Spoilers! To get them off my chest.
On Julian Davion's fate:
Guess the authors got tired of Gigavictor being Gigavictor, so they cut out all the excess. They may have cut a little too much, because he's Ox now. Hope the Davion family is robust.
On the end of Shredded Hope:
Apparently Danai is now an eldritch abomination, able to use Yen-lo-wang's axe to cut through space and time, do as she wishes and then return. She now is able to rebuke Daoshen. She's very powerful now.
ANd finally, it's not much of a spoiler, but Templar IIIs do suck and we seem them act as the Apollo principle in motion in both books here.
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The broad brush? I was pointing out the MWDA and more importantly Bonfire references to two of the three characters- which is the 'broader' brush.
A character changing from being pampered- given chocolate to eat on the bridge and in front of lower castes as she follows Malvina around and in another scene having her hair brushed gently by Malvina- then going to being a literal beaten, cringing, servile 'bellycrawler' character is quite different. Heck, I do not have Rending in front of me, but I think Malvina had Elemental body guards and a nurse assigned to Cynthi- most of which were killed in the blast to try to take out Malvina. Its not 'its another author,' its a different character.
Templar IIIs are ok, just giving up the greater pod space you get from the I's XL to get increased survival with the LFE.
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Templar IIIs are ok, just giving up the greater pod space you get from the I's XL to get increased survival with the LFE.
I happen to love the T III and have had luck with them.
Unfortunately I don't know the DA characters enough for personality changes. I do remember the Cynthy change. Cynthy becomes ilKhan?
Personally I don't see why Yen Lo Want is feared. I mean how much of Justin's mech is left in that thing? If you had an Orion with Alexander's ashtray and Teddy's seat cushions, would everyone be in awe of it?
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The broad brush? I was pointing out the MWDA and more importantly Bonfire references to two of the three characters- which is the 'broader' brush.
A character changing from being pampered- given chocolate to eat on the bridge and in front of lower castes as she follows Malvina around and in another scene having her hair brushed gently by Malvina- then going to being a literal beaten, cringing, servile 'bellycrawler' character is quite different. Heck, I do not have Rending in front of me, but I think Malvina had Elemental body guards and a nurse assigned to Cynthi- most of which were killed in the blast to try to take out Malvina. Its not 'its another author,' its a different character.
Cynthy was a kid back then, she's a teenager now. She being a different character is completely understandable.
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And if Cynthy was anywhere near the blast, well, PTSD can hit kids hard. Especially if she blamed herself (or was blamed at first by Malvina)
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Are these availble as PDF's? I don't have a reader or anything.
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Kindle and nook both have pc apps if you need to read on your laptop
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Cynthy was a kid back then, she's a teenager now. She being a different character is completely understandable.
Its about 4 and a half years from the end of Bonfire until we see her in Anvil. I am eagerly looking forward to Shattered Fortress because there are a few things that might change it, but when last seen in Bonfire Cynthi had taken Alek's place in Malvina's heart- if Malvina had her way Cynthi would be the sole survivor of the human race and inherit the whole of human space in her internal monologue.
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Got done reading The Anvil yesterday.
Malvina was not subtle with the new Falcon uniforms, was she?
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Malvina was not subtle with the new Falcon uniforms, was she?
I'm currently reading through "The Anvil" as well and was thinking the exact same thing.
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Cynthy was a kid back then, she's a teenager now. She being a different character is completely understandable.
She's also being raised by an unstable, violent psychopath who makes Romano Liao look calm and rational by comparison. Even if Malvina was treating her nicely before, it would be pretty unlikely that Cynthy's never felt her wrath in the intervening four years.
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Got done reading The Anvil yesterday.
Malvina was not subtle with the new Falcon uniforms, was she?
Pretty sure Malvina and subtle have never been on speaking terms.......
Craig
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Length of the book wouldn't have helped make Malvina more understandable. If you want this, go to Vic's books that cover her rise to power. She is who she is. Her choice of uniform fits here. She's the kind of person that would choose that, regardless of the implications. For her, it is a way to see those who really follow her and her doctrine.
There's some reality with Malvina. The Clans tend to follow winners and Malvina is winning, meaning they can overlook HOW she wins.
I can't go on without revealing "stuff."
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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The really funny thing with Malvina?
Just how good is the Sea Fox Watch? How good is their personality/predictive analysis?
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I can't go on without revealing "stuff."
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
No, go on. We like when Stuff is revealed.
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I do always crack up when people say I get paint schemes wrong or the variant of the 'Mech isn't right. First off, paint schemes change over time in 'Mech units. Second, sometimes your main ride gets blown up and you replace it with something close to it. A lot of stuff happens "off camera" that is not worth referencing in something short like a novella.
I didn't feel married to the paint scheme from the Click-Mechs for Jasek...it really is that simple. I rather like how it came out.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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Of course, plenty of us don't have the slightest clue what Jasek's Clicky-Tech paint scheme was anyway.
What surprised me in the mech department was the traditionalist Falcon piloting a Jade Hawk and the Mongol piloting a Thor. That was pretty much the opposite of what I expected.
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I do always crack up when people say I get paint schemes wrong or the variant of the 'Mech isn't right. First off, paint schemes change over time in 'Mech units. Second, sometimes your main ride gets blown up and you replace it with something close to it. A lot of stuff happens "off camera" that is not worth referencing in something short like a novella.
I didn't feel married to the paint scheme from the Click-Mechs for Jasek...it really is that simple. I rather like how it came out.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
Actually your description of the colors did match Jasek's Stormhammer paint scheme, but what I was pointing to was the cover art which did not. The scheme was also in several CGL products, so its not just Clicky. As for the Templar I vs III, part of that same discussion was that it would give him more firepower than his III had at the expense of endurance and while a rare mech for the Lyrans his rank would likely have it passed his way.
Roderick's eyes & the Rifleman were more of a discrepancy- his color was 'weird' for a Steiner, and Shattered Fortress clearly says he had a RLF IIC 3 (cannot remember if it was customized) which is in line with the Bonfire and the customization easy to guess at from the description.
Anyway, I think its a detail thing and was not trying to slam your work- your work is what got me into BT, the good old MW2 Guide.
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I didn't take it as a slam. It made me smile.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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I know this is a stickler kind of thing, but is the Main Battletech website (Latest Releases page) going to be updated with the newly released novels and the like? I used to use that as a backup just in case I missed something in the forums, but if that is out of date and the store is not very helpful to find new products it adds difficulty to finding new Battletech items that I have been jonesing/itching (like an addict) for.
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Everybody's probably still recovering from GenCon.
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Ahh, that makes sense, Thanks! I am very happy to have new stuff to get lost in.
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I read "The Anvil" first since Pardoe is my favorite BTech author (a position further cemented by what happened with Jasek) and then felt bad because I figured "A Splinter of Hope" couldn't possibly compare, but I was decidedly wrong. Having enjoyed both greatly, then blazing through "Shattered Fortress," I'm really excited for the next few years of products.
Well done, gentlemen.
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I know this is a stickler kind of thing, but is the Main Battletech website (Latest Releases page) going to be updated with the newly released novels and the like? I used to use that as a backup just in case I missed something in the forums, but if that is out of date and the store is not very helpful to find new products it adds difficulty to finding new Battletech items that I have been jonesing/itching (like an addict) for.
It was mentioned to me last week (I'm not ignoring you, Moonsword, I swear!) and it's on my list to do.
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Malvina left subtle in the rearview mirror about 100 kilometers ago...
And, for the record, there was a reason for the uniform thingy. Everything in The Anvil is there for a reason. One of the cool parts of BattleTech is when you finally make those connections and say, "Damn, I have to go back and re-read that part from book X now!"
Sinister chortle mode on...
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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How long is it going to be before she changes her title to Fuehrer?
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Just so you guys know the spoiler button is operational again. You don't have to write out the spoiler tag.
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Question regarding The Anvil and A Splinter of Hope, while they are available on Kindle, are they expected to make it to drivethrurpg or the Catalyst store as an ebook purchase sometime in the future? I like to keep all my items in one or two places :) Thanks!
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Question regarding The Anvil and A Splinter of Hope, while they are available on Kindle, are they expected to make it to drivethrurpg or the Catalyst store as an ebook purchase sometime in the future? I like to keep all my items in one or two places :) Thanks!
They are already on DriveThruFiction.
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They are already on DriveThruFiction.
Dang it! When did they move the e-books over there? I was still looking on the RPG site where they had put up all the Legends stuff and didn't see them. I ended up having to fight my way through the B&N Nook ecosystem to get them!
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Dang it! When did they move the e-books over there? I was still looking on the RPG site where they had put up all the Legends stuff and didn't see them.
Same here! Now I will know to look there in the future. They are now added to the archive.
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Can we all agree that, "Chistu's Knife," is now the BattleTech analogue to, "Checkov's Gun?"
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No. The defining requirement of Chekov's Gun is that it's introduced early in the story, plays no part in most of the story after that, and is recalled to serve a purpose vital to the climax.
In order for it to qualify it has to actually matter, not just be hinted at.
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And typically it doesn't serve as a focus of the scene it's introduced in.
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At this point, it appears likely to be a plot device...but as to how it will be used, that is not at all clear. Well, it's probably going to stab someone, but who, when, where, and why are still up for debate. I know which aorta I would prefer it gets plunged into, but don't assume that I'm necessarily going to get what I expect. If this were real life, I'd yell 'Occams Razor!' and say we know where it's probably going, but we are talking about writers here; I trust that group of plot-twist-loving mongrels about as far as I can throw them when it comes to foreshadowing!
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No. The defining requirement of Chekov's Gun is that it's introduced early in the story, plays no part in most of the story after that, and is recalled to serve a purpose vital to the climax.
In order for it to qualify it has to actually matter, not just be hinted at.
Fair enough. I'm rather deficient in memory for tropes, apparently.
At this point, it appears likely to be a plot device...but as to how it will be used, that is not at all clear. Well, it's probably going to stab someone, but who, when, where, and why are still up for debate.... I trust that group of plot-twist-loving mongrels about as far as I can throw them when it comes to foreshadowing!
This is more like what I was thinking.
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Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Then again, I am getting more diabolical in my old age. So is the knife could be a metaphor or something else.
You'll just have to wait until next summer to find out. Same Bat-time - same Bat-channel.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Then again, I am getting more diabolical in my old age. So is the knife could be a metaphor or something else.
You'll just have to wait until next summer to find out. Same Bat-time - same Bat-channel.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
Well, at least we can be pretty sure it doesn’t show up in ‘Hour of the Hrm-grumble-cough’, right!?
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My preferred theorizing on literary devices is Cynthy having become a metaphor for the Inner Sphere.
I think it's fun to imagine we've been foreshadowed a Malvina ilKhan-dom. One ultimately made temporary by those she abuses and meant to rule. "Chistu's Knife" can factor in as a metaphor for the means to Malvina's end at the hands of the sphereoids :)
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I prefer to think of the knife as a metaphor for the fact that Malvina's going to be murdered by that knife before the year is out.
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<sing>
The life of the khan is ended by the knife..</sing>
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Is that why there are so many knife nuts in the BattleTech universe right now?
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No . . . its because an enemy cannot push the button with a knife through their hand.
(https://68.media.tumblr.com/3e7cd489c69778dae1afd028f9f4ae35/tumblr_mnb02ru7f31rncapmo1_500.gif)
MEDIC!
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*hits the button with his other hand and nukes the complex anyways*
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I figure the fine craftsmanship of the blade will inspire in Cynthy a love of artisanal, hand-worked goods. She will start to sneak off to find joy in basket weaving, or perhaps competitive speed-knitting, with the local people. Then one day, while Malvina is eating her morning Angry-O's, she will choke on them and Cynthy will not be there to give her the Heimlich maneuver to save her life having snuck away to be part of a local crafts fair. When she returns to see her tormenter and mother dead, she realizes that the only thing of lasting value in this life are hand-made consumer goods and runs off to join the mercantile Sea Foxes.
fin
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A General question, is the layout of these two new novels the new layout standard for BT novels?
They seems to have not as many pages as the old have and how the story is told and unfolded seem to be somewhat rushed.
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They were both described as Novellas, IIRC.
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For best reading experience you want to be using either Caliber or the defunct Mobipocket reader, because I know Mobipocket does and I would be very surprised if Caliber doesn't allow the use of external font styles and whats better then reading a BT book in the BT font in the color scheme of your favorite faction?
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A General question, is the layout of these two new novels the new layout standard for BT novels?
They seems to have not as many pages as the old have and how the story is told and unfolded seem to be somewhat rushed.
Because, as Decoy notes, they were specifically intended as novellas. In fact, Blaine's story is even kinda-sorta a bit on the long side for a novella.
Going forward, fiction specifically intended as novels will be the length you'd expect--and even a good measure longer than some of the late-era CBT Roc novels, which were published under word counts that were really pretty laughable. "...and then the GDL died. The end."
I know the fiction side of the house is eager to get a chance to stretch their legs, and aware of the need to give customers appropriate bang for their buck. Think of these novellas as appetizers, not dinner.
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Because, as Decoy notes, they were specifically intended as novellas. In fact, Blaine's story is even kinda-sorta a bit on the long side for a novella.
Going forward, fiction specifically intended as novels will be the length you'd expect--and even a good measure longer than some of the late-era CBT Roc novels, which were published under word counts that were really pretty laughable. "...and then the GDL died. The end."
I know the fiction side of the house is eager to get a chance to stretch their legs, and aware of the need to give customers appropriate bang for their buck. Think of these novellas as appetizers, not dinner.
Ah, thank your this . :)
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I didnt specifically see it mentioned anywhere, but will there be printed/pod versions of these? I know there were some at Gencon that sold out instantly, I just hope those werent the only ones ever. I have every battletech novel that was released (in english anyway) and the collector in my chafes at digital only mainline fiction.
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I didnt specifically see it mentioned anywhere, but will there be printed/pod versions of these?
As stated in the original announcement (https://bg.battletech.com/news/new-battletech-novellas-available-for-pre-order/), the same print omnibus launched at Gen Con will be available via print-on-demand on or about Oct. 1. As far as I've heard, and as recently as two weeks ago, that was still the plan.
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As stated in the original announcement (https://bg.battletech.com/news/new-battletech-novellas-available-for-pre-order/), the same print omnibus launched at Gen Con will be available via print-on-demand on or about Oct. 1. As far as I've heard, and as recently as two weeks ago, that was still the plan.
Awesome, thanks!
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Where can I get the novelas in hard copy?
Thanks.
D55
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Where can I get the novelas in hard copy?
Thanks.
D55
Look up two posts.
As stated in the original announcement (https://bg.battletech.com/news/new-battletech-novellas-available-for-pre-order/), the same print omnibus launched at Gen Con will be available via print-on-demand on or about Oct. 1. As far as I've heard, and as recently as two weeks ago, that was still the plan.
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So does anyone have a link to the POD option for this? Its after 10/1...
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*crickets*
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I've inquired, and heard the same. Will ask again tonight.
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Is the combined Novellas going be available Print-On-Demand in month or so?
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I just said, that’s what I’m going to ask again about.
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I'm just one of the authors - so I have no idea.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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Meanwhile I have now gotten around to the novellas, after Shattered Fortress.
I read A Splinter of Hope first, and have yet to get around to Anvil. I was actually going to give Anvil a miss, because it seemed like an entirely Jade Falcon story, but on closer inspection the Lyrans seem to be prominent too, and that's good.
Anyway, my thoughts on A Splinter of Hope...
Generally quite pulpy and fun, the action was exciting, and the plot motored along at a good pace. There were a couple of little editing errors - most notably at one point using 'Calvary' instead of 'Cavalry' (unless there's really a Capellan unit out there named for the hill on which Jesus died) - but for the most part nothing too bad.
Honestly, my one major complaint is that it wasn't long enough. It feels like there's an entire novel's worth of content here. I'm also a bit sad that our viewpoint characters died. I liked Mal, and it would have been nice to read more about her career in the AFFS. She's an interesting idea for a character: descended from Clanners, and feels connected to and/or vaguely idolises a Clan warrior ethic, but nonetheless not a Clanner. I imagine how it might go if she were to meet a real Jade Falcon. Somehow I suspect she'd end up hating them, and wouldn't that be fascinating? Similarly, Eliza's status as a genuine true believer in the Celestial Wisdom made for a nice change from the usual array of Capellan backstabbers, and Lee is good at writing death scenes.
Getting into Julian's head was much-needed, of course, and I think Lee manages to strike a decent balance between writing him as an ordinary person who worries just like anyone, and writing him as someone a bit more professional or regal. It worked for me: he felt quite human, and I'd like to read more about him. Did he appear in any earlier novels? I do hope there's a novel out there of Julian and Callandre's crazy adventures fighting the Falcons. :)
On to Anvil!
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Getting into Julian's head was much-needed, of course, and I think Lee manages to strike a decent balance between writing him as an ordinary person who worries just like anyone, and writing him as someone a bit more professional or regal. It worked for me: he felt quite human, and I'd like to read more about him. Did he appear in any earlier novels? I do hope there's a novel out there of Julian and Callandre's crazy adventures fighting the Falcons. :)
Julian Davion first appeared in the Dark Age novels with Callandre, Sword of Sedition and Fortress Republic. He was very well written, but this was his very beginnings of his military Career. I think one of the things that was confusing in those novels, that he was always listed as the Commander of the First Davions, but not his actual rank (if i am remembering it right).
I hope a author will take up the challenge to back fill Julian and Callandre's adventures, but i don't see it happening anytime soon.
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Awww. :(
I want to read about a straitlaced Davion heir and a wild, vengeful mercenary scion rampaging through the Falcon OZ, fighting impossible odds, and constantly escaping by the skin of their teeth. That sounds glorious.
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[Reposting:]
So, having now finished The Anvil as well, some thoughts...
Broadly speaking I liked A Splinter of Hope more: that novella was a bit higher on characterisation, and had a couple of characters growing throughout. The Anvil is longer, but most of that length is battle scenes. I like a good, exciting battle scene as much as the next person, but they need to be balanced out.
I did quite like the extent to which the Lyrans were portrayed as competent and militarily skilled. Memetic Lyran incompetence has been a problem with that faction for a long time, and is particularly bad in the Dark Age plot, where it seems as though the Commonwealth's role has mainly been to be a punching bag for the Clans. So I definitely appreciated Pardoe going to an effort to make the Lyrans a credible force here. And with only a single 'Lyran recon lance' joke!
I'm genuinely unsure how I'm supposed to feel about Stephanie Chistu or the Jade Falcons. This might be part of why the novella didn't work quite as well for me as the other one. In A Splinter of Hope, it was reasonably clear who you're meant to sympathise with in any given moment: broadly speaking the Davions are the good guys and the Capellans are the bad guys, and while we might understand or empathise with Zhao to an extent, we want her side to lose. In The Anvil, that feels less clear. When Stephanie fights Jasek or Roderick, it's not immediately clear who I'm supposed to be barracking for. Normally I'd think we're supposed to go for the Lyrans - and for most of the novella they are written as the good guys, so to speak - but both battles are written from Stephanie's perspective, and she's generally presented as the 'good' Jade Falcon, in contrast to the moustache-twirling Yaroslav.
So it feels less clear what the work is actually saying. Stephanie is a polite, fair-minded person who doesn't believe in using nuclear weapons, but she's also helping a genocidal maniac prosecute unprovoked wars of aggression, and she clearly endorses Clan aggression. I feel like I am supposed to like her as a person, but also want for her to lose? But that leads to a particular ambivalence when she's fighting Jasek, a character I also like (which surprised me; I haven't read DA novels, but sourcebooks gave me the impression Jasek was a treacherous opportunist).
It's possible that this ambivalence is the point, of course. War is morally complicated, there are good people on both sides, and so on. But this is not for the most part a morally complicated story. Yaroslav is just evil and a jerk. Roderick is just heroic and noble and so on. I can't decide whether the ambiguity occasioned by Stephanie is let down by the rest of the story, or whether the author is trying to do something with Stephanie that the setting and story just can't support.
At any rate, the result is that I finished the novella feeling puzzled rather than satisfied. It's always interesting when I finish a story thinking "I'm not sure what I think of that", but it's also less emotionally involving and satisfying.
What else...
I felt the novella was a bit confused about melee combat. It notes several times that it's taboo for the Clans, which is true, and the Lyrans note that Stephanie seems to be unusual in having a preference for it. However, firstly that seems to conflict with the picture of Stephanie as an honour-bound traditionalist, and secondly there are bits of Stephanie's own internal narration where she engages in melee combat and then feels bad about it. Er, if she feels bad about it, why is her 'mech modified for melee combat?
I like the idea of Roderick's speech, but, alas, Henry V it is not. I don't want to be too judgemental here, because I can't reasonably expect a pulp novella like this to be Shakespeare, but I must confess that I don't think stirring battlefield orations usually include the phrase "I say **** them". Again, nice idea, but didn't quite get there in practice - and the idea of stirring up the troops for a large battle is perhaps undermined by the story's actual resolution.
Also, the Alamo is required reading at the Nagelring? Really? ???
I mean, it makes sense for classics of Earth military history to be studied, but the Alamo isn't exactly Cannae... I was under the impression that the Alamo wasn't very interesting in terms of military strategy, to make it worthy of study. Plus if the goal was to name a historical conflict in which a force suffered a great loss, but increased their morale in response and rallied to defeat the intruder, wouldn't there be more prominent, more historically relevant examples? Kentares springs to mind, or on the off chance that they reached the Inner Sphere, the death of Nicholas Kerensky.
Anyway, lots of action, good fun, some things I quite liked and a couple of things that I didn't so much, and I just don't know how I'm supposed to feel about the central character.
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Reposting? Did this get trimmed?
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Small moderation issue. It's all fixed now. :)
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I've been thinking about how A Splinter of Hope ended, mainly because it takes that splinter and drives it somewhere unpleasant. I don't even like Robogigavictor. So, here's how I'd go about changing it so it feels a little more *right* It is Robogigavictor's book, after all. Have Danai maim Julian on Marlette. Let Julian's recovery be a part of the book as well. When Danai meets Julian again on New Syrtis, have it be a "Warrior vs. Soldier" moment. She *COULD* attack Julian and probably kill him, but Danai and the 2nd MAC would die with Julian and the CC would still have to deal with a twoish front war plus whatever shenanigans the MoC is getting the CC into. My two cents.
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I enjoyed both stories over all, but was a little disappointed in how Danai was portrayed. It felt like they could have replaced her with a randomly generated Capellan officer and the only thing that would have needed to be changed was the name. She wasn't the main character so I guess she didn't need a lot of depth here, but if that's the case, why not just use generic Capellan officer #457? She's a more interesting character in the Dark Age books.
Cynthy and Malvina were different than what I expected as well, but I took that more as Malvina's continued descent into madness and Cynthy being stuck in the middle of it all. Clearly the calming affect Cynthy used to have on Malvina is no longer in play.
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So... Its November now. Print on demand?
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It's what I have been waiting for.
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John Helfers posted on Facebook that it won't be in paperback any time soon, and if it is, it will be part of an anthology.
I found out in the same post. Pretty bummed.
Blaine "Buck" Pardoe
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Darn. :-\