Customer Reviews

Ghost War (Mechwarrior: Dark Age #1)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

For those who've read a lot of books by Michael Stackpole, they will be pleased to see him go back to a first person narrative and a brash, active, go-for-it type of hero (easily compaired to Wolfgang Kies). For those who've read tons of Battletech-novels, this one might seem very different from Stackpole's other books in the series. There are hints of the larger picture in this universe, the so-called center-thread Stackpole used to "own" before ... but the events are not of the same magnitude: the plot is about single planets (perhaps indicative of the communications problems that define this new era) instead of star-spanning realms or even the whole Inner Sphere. Then again, as it was probably intended, it is a good jumping-on point for new readers (new players of the new game) with only minimal referals to all that happened a century before.
My only real "beef" with the book, is that 95 % of the story could just as easily have been set in another story- or game-universe (heck, it would've been a good Wolf & Raven story) ... with only a few Mech-battles thrown in.

Oh how death does walk again... Stackpole's maiden novel in the new Mechwarrior Dark Age Era is, in my honest opinion, the fourth best book in the entire Battletech/Mechwarrior series (the first three being the Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, also by him). Although written in the first person, a new point of view for the series, Sam Lubin is compelling as a mech jockey for hire w/ a penchalant for bad luck and the narrator of the story... his story. The character of Mason Dunne provides an anti-Sam, and Janella Lakewood rounds out the compilation with both a strong authority, and a soft tenderness only a Knight-Errant could provide. The opposition of course is not only portrayed as ruthless, cunning, and abominable... but also beautiful and attractive in this time of crisis. Their true identity is of course part of the guessing game that draws you into the book. The energy Stackpole spends here is not wasted... he does not give Lubin the invincible Victor trait he has been highly criticized for. In fact, it literally looks as if Victor is on his last legs... but his legacy is already present to carry on for him. While much has been revealed, there is still much to be revealed but this is as good a start as anyone could ask for. This is a book for everyone... for old CBTers this is a good way to look at the new era... for new MWDAers this is a bold entry into their new world... and for people who just like a good story with intrigue this is the book for you... or someone you like.

Welcome to the Dark Age, courtesy of Michael Stackpole. After a leap of several decades into the future from the last Battletech novel, things have changed far more, perhaps, than during the entire succession wars period. Nearly all the familiar characters from the past are dead, leaving only a very limited tie to the past; in fact there is really only one returning character from the old days.

Humanity is still fractured with regards to any single galactic government, but there has been an inroad to peace, if only in a limited region of space. Unfortunately, though this new principality has been around for a while, it is not so secure as its residents might hope. The initiation of the Dark Age concept actually occurs several months before the book begins, with the centuries-old, high-speed interstellar communications network being sabotaged by unknown conspirators. This has forced all the interdependent worlds to begin fending for themselves for the first time in a long time. The results are frightening, with power being seized by very unsavory individuals.

Writing in the first person, a first for any of the Battletech/Mechwarrior series, Stackpole shows the same brilliant prose and excellent action and intrigue that his readers have come to expect from him. While the game line might not appeal to all the old fans, I think that the new storyline will. Except for a few re-drawn political lines, the universe is still recognizable. And for new readers to the game universe, Stackpole does a good job in bringing the reader up to speed on the past 60+ years of the Inner Sphere. I highly recommend this book.

The departure of Mike Stackpole from the BattleTech series saddened me to no end, back when it happened. He was the one B-tech author I could really stand to read-in all honesty, Mech Combat isn't that interesting to read about, but Stackpole's byzantine plots and general COOL Political and covert-ops storylines were a joy to read, and his characters, while not all believable, were people that I found really interesting, and at times unpredictable.

Now, to my surprise, he's returned to the B-tech scene with this new book, Ghost War.

The book starts out confusing. I missed most of the rest of the books in the MechWarrior series, so I go from about 3065 to about 31something in a snap. Suddenly, everyone's dead!! Several of the main characters from the old books had kicked the bucket, Victor Davion is old and feeble, and this Republic is here again. This is dissapointing...I hated the republic.
So imagine my surprise and joy when it all starts tumbling down! I look forward to another succession war soon.

Anyway. Mike stackpole has a unique writing style that never fails to dissapoint. His interesting dialogues and humor that creeps up on you unexpectedly and evokes a laugh from you always keeps me entertained and wishing for more, and, as always, the plotline doesn't dissapoint, with just the right amount of intrigue to keep you turning pages.

4.5 stars, I give this one, mostly lacking the half for it's setting. Hopefully they'll start the 5th sucession war soon and get me really into it.

I've never read any of the other MechWarrior or BattleTech series of books, yet I have been very interested in the MechWarrior PC games. As a matter of fact, I have MechWarrior 3 on my computer, and I am looking forward to upgrading my gaming system to Microsoft's X-Box just so I can have Mech Assault. If there is anything that I can say about MWDA:Ghost War, it's that I love this book! I was warned (I read another review)that I would be in for a ride. And I have been on one since the first page. And it hasn't changed my opinion about the game, whatsoever. Every step I take in a 'Mech, is an imaginery walk in Mason's 'Mech. Michael Stackpole's Mason Dunne tells it like it is, and can walk the walk to prove it. Although, if you leave it to Lady lakewood, he's a bit clumsy. However, Stackpole has a good sense of deception. I was fooled by the Sam Donnelly/Mason Dunne character and his intentions. I was even more fooled by the so-called arrest by Janella Lakewood. No need to say more and ruin the story there.
Yet, I give the same warning to those who are about pick up this book: your in for one hell of a ride!
I hope that the remaining three books, and all of the others are just as exciting as this one. For a first timer, and an avid fan of Briam Lumley's Necroscope Series, this is a very decent change of pace for me. Every page read is a new lesson learned in playing the game. But then again, I'm just a junkie for this kind of stuff, and I have a run-away imagination. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Anyway, read MWDA: Ghost War. Live it, feel it, explore it, chew on it for lunch! You'll find it pleasing to the palate. Especially if you envision it with today's headlines of war here, impending war there, you'll raise an eyebrow at some of the similarities. There's a sign post up ahead - "Warning: 'Mech Crossing" Just pray that its a Ghost Knight.
I give MWDA:Ghost War, 4 stars. Add 1 because at this point I haven't finished reading as of yet. And I'm waiting for the next one to arrive.

I came into this book knowing absolutely nothing about the Mechwarrior or Battletech universe, and I naively had my doubts about the caliber of novels in this specific genre. Maybe it's the fact that I associate Battletech with PC and console gaming, but I was afraid this was just going to be a rather simplistic novel that served little purpose beyond framing a context in which huge metallic monsters can go at each other tooth and nail. My doubts turned out to be incredibly unfounded. I found Ghost War to be a complex, surprising, challenging read that combined action, drama, and well-placed bits of humor in a finely crafted package.

I did worry that I would be at a disadvantage here, not having read any of the earlier Battletech novels, but this first entry in the Mechwarrior: Dark Age series may well have posed fewer problems for me than for many of the Battletech gurus out there. Knowing nothing of the earlier history, I had no worries or questions about changes that had taken place in the Battletech universe during the preceding and apparently murky Golden Age of Peace spoken of here from the vantage point of 3132-3133. Much of that earlier history would seem to be minimized, in fact, because the computer network basically holding the Republic together over "the missing years" has now been taken out by unknown offenders, doing much to isolate the individual planets. With interplanetary communication greatly reduced, society's unsavory forces begin to climb back out of the shadows. Racial and cultural tensions increase, and greedy men seize the opportunity to play their little games of power. With internecine conflict simmering on a number of planets, the Republic finds its golden era of peace greatly threatened from within.

Fortunately, the Republic has certain individuals trained to observe, report, and work to forestall messy new conflicts in its sphere of influence. Special operatives dubbed Ghosts can be sent to infiltrate questionable planet-based organizations and work to ferret out the identities of the true bad guys out there, and the hero of this novel is one of the best. The story actually threw me for a bit of a loop about one hundred pages into it. I would like to say that Ghost War kept me guessing, but in all honesty I was so unprepared for what happened that I wasn't aware I should have been guessing in the first place. Battletech and Mechwarrior veterans are far too knowledgeable to fall for the plot device that zinged me, I imagine, but I did indeed get zinged. For this reason, I will refrain from really going into any detail about the plot.

I have sort of looked down upon series books of this type in the past (it's shameful, I know), but I vow to change my attitude from this point on. Ghost War is an intricate, carefully woven story that keeps the reader on his toes until the very end. My first Battletech novel will not be my last, and I can only hope that other Battletech authors can rival the talent of Michael A. Stackpole.

Battletech books have always been fun 300-page novels. And Ghost War is certainly that but no more. Credit has to be given to Stackpole for using a different perspective and having the unenviable job of taking the Dark Age storyline on its maiden voyage. He holds up rather well, his writing is often smart and sometimes clever even if the story isn't. But Stackpole has fun fleshing out the Dark Age universe and does a good job painting a gritty covert war undermining a peaceful era.
However the story is long on exposition and short of everything else. Many pages are chewed up by the main character explaining some plan, part of history or motives of other characters. The main character himself is almost James Bond-like. He can charm the ladies, outsmart the local government and is always one step ahead of his enemy. When all else fails, he happens to be a crack Mechwarrior. Thus since he cannot fail there is little suspense. By the end of the book the reader is still left with the big questions from the start. Ghost War is more of an elaborate prologue to MechWarrior Dark Age than anything else.
Still it's fun and it's good to see something fresh in the Battletech storyline.

I was shocked when I discovered I enjoyed reading this. I was much a fan of the old storyline (at least before it went down hill in the end) and was expecting to hate this "prequel" which turned out to be a sequel instead. Well done and professionally written Michael Stackpole pulls off a nice take on the future of the Battletech Storyline with the first novel in the new Mechwarrior Darkage series. I hope the rest of the movels are as well done as this is. There is a plot twist that wasn't too transparent most Btech fans will enjoy as the continued existance of at least one character from the old storyline. Be ready for something different yet the same and pick up your copy today!

Ok, if you are looking for great literature what are you doing reading Mechwarrior? This isn't something you'd read in a lit class, but it is one of the best mechwarrior/battletech books I've read. It is classic Stackpole in the vein of his Blood of Kerensky series. Stackpole does a great job of advancing the series 60 years and explaining what has happened since the revolution---without making the book boring or preachy. He gives us enough facts that we think we might know what happened, but there is still plenty of room for future writers to work with. I particularly liked the new hero... and hope to see some of the supporting cast again.

This is a great book and having read many other Stackpole and Battletech books, I judge this one to be excellent. I highly reccomend reading this one. It is a riveting tale of how a Mr. Sam Donnely (an alias) tries to help the failing Republic. Whether you are new to the books or and old ventran, i reccomend it.