Battletech 43: Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII [Paperback]

Robert Thurston (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Roc; First Thus edition (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451457382
• ISBN-13: 978-0451457387
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Jade Falcon goodness, November 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Battletech 43: Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII (Paperback)

I've been into BattleTech for some time, but have only recently started up on the novels. I've read a few other Twilight of the Clans books and liked them, but this one was the cream of the crop. Sure, the 'Mech battles are a bit boring, but it was a good book. It is not ridiculous for one warrior to defeat three 'Mechs or the Black Widow, and the Clan culture is very interesting, if a bit alien. Of course, I'm a bit biased, being a Jade Falcon lover in a crowd of Inner Sphere book reviewers. To summarize my thoughts, if you like the Falcons or are neutral, but this book. If you hate them (you freak), stay away.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad book!, July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Battletech 43: Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII (Paperback)

Whereas consensus here seemed to state that the plot was OK, but the characters were lacking, I think the reverse.

The best part of the Battletech universe is not the tedious mech battles (which serve as a good backdrop), but the idea that each faction is complex. No one is a good guy or bad guy, its all a matter of perspective.

What I like about Thurston's writing is that (for the most part) the characters aren't either Kai Allard good, or Katrina evil. The characters act in a fresh, unexpected and more lively manner than most other predictable Btech characters. I thought Freebirth was a great example of that, but it seemed to be jeered non-stop. The plot was fairly standard and cliche, but I did like the idea of the inter-clan scientist rebellion.

The way I see it, leave it to Stackpole for the big plot twists and stuff and Thurston for fleshing in of details (no offense to the other fine authors).

2.0 out of 5 stars Poor Writing - Check out other Battletech Novels First, August 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Battletech 43: Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII (Paperback)

The writing meandered, jumping forward, rambling, then jumping forward again. It totally lacked energy, zing, excitement, anything. It is dead. For someone that has twenty-one novel credits, it was a... poor perfomance. If it weren't for wanting to read the ending of the Twilight of the Clans series, I would've scrapped the book after twenty pages. The characters were cookie cutter stale. They relied on allusions to past stories to carry the novel rather than on demonstrated actions, dialogue, or internal monologue. It tried, but failed, again and again, to capture the basics of good characterization. The action, usually a good trademark of Battletech novels, was laughable. Pardoe, Stackpole, and Coleman, other Battletech authors, make you smell the sizzling circuits, hear the explosions of autocannon fire, and see the dazzling PPC shots. When this novel tried action, it left me bored. It was similar to saying, "Bang bang, you got shot. Now, you shoot back. Bang zap, you missed." It was that bad. The battles that could have been interesting, like Victor Davion's Trial of Refusal to the Invader Clans and the battles between the Steel Vipers and Jade Falcons were barely touched. If you are a fan of the Battletech novels and a follower of the Twilight of the Clans series, I would try to find a plot summary and spare yourself the pain.