Customer Reviews

Path of Glory (Battletech, 49)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Path of Glory" is a solid effort by first time author Bills. I rank it a tad higher than 3 stars, but round it down since it is closer to 3 than 4 stars. It is a good story that is hindered primarily by its brevity. The characters and the story are interesting, but the length of this novel limits the exposition and exploration that would have done a better justice to this story.

The bulk of this story takes place in 3062. It tells the story of Zane, a Mechwarrior in Clan Nova Cat. After the Star League Defense Force (SLDF) had traveled to the Clan Homeworlds, and challenged the Clans to a Trial of Refusal on the issue of the Clans' invasion of the Inner Sphere, Clan Nova Cat decided to side with the SLDF, and fought in the Trial as part of the SLDF. The Clans were incensed by this action, and voted to Abjure, cast out, the Nova Cats, giving them 30 days to leave Clan space. Some Clans didn't wait for the 30 days to expire before launching attacks on the Nova Cats.

As a result, the Nova Cats lost large numbers of warriors in battle, who fought hopeless rearguard actions, but were able to evacuate some of their civilian populations to the Nova Cat holdings in the Inner Sphere.

Zane feels betrayed by his leaders, first, for siding with the Inner Spere forces. Second, for agreeing to accept worlds from the Draconis Combine.

Zane has a counterpart, Palmer Yoshio, a Draconis Combine officer who feels betrayed, first, that his nation has let in the Nova Cats, and second, that his nation has not gone after the powerful Clan Ghost Bear, which still holds Combine territory.

"Path of Glory" tells the story of these two warriors, disparate, but similiar men, and their emotional and mental sorting out of their predicaments. It also features high level intrigue, and gives a nice glimpse into Clan Nova Cat, including a meeting with Minoru, a Nova Cat warrior, who was born in the Inner Spere with the the last name of Kurita. Oh yes, there's a good bit of action as well.

This is a solid story, with intriguing characters. Although it deserved and needed greater length to fully do this story and these characters justice, this a nice first effort by Mr. Bills.

Randall N. Bills has replaced Bryan Nystul as the BattleTech line developer at FASA. Considering this, the novel is a must read. It may not be a core novel in the development of the BattleTech universe, but its worth grabbing if only to check out the new developer's perception of certain facets of the universe. His interpretations of things (such as clan honor, etc etc) will be canon soon enough...

As for the book itself, its not bad. It isn't a Stackapole book, but it is certainly better than the slop RoC has been sending down lately (Measue of a Hero and Starlord come to mind as particularly atrocious novels). Attention to character is important, glad to see that getting some consideration once again. Entertaining reading with a well paced plot and relevant characterizations. More writing of this quality and the Battletech line will be alive and vibrant again.

This average btech novel mainly serves as throw in for some open questions after the Star League's successful attempt to bring a decisive end to the clan invasion of the inner sphere.
The issue dealt with focusses on Clan Nova Cat's search for a new home and a new identity within the Draconis Combine. At the same time Randall Bills uses his book to roughly describe the problems at hand for the current 1st Lord of the SL, Theodore Kurita. On one side is the impending civil war that threatens the Federated commonwealth; on the other side looms imminent desaster as the Combine is lead into a clash with the mighty Ghost Bear Dominion.
Considering all these ancillary conditions Bills manages quite well to weave a coherent story around his main protagonist Mechwarrior Zane. Yet, at the end, I cant deny the feeling that too many issues were left a bit short, and questions which arose during this novel were left unanswered. But, sadly, this has become a major problem for the majority of recent btech novels as too few books are being used to describe the political developments of over 25 involved factions in a short and recapulating manner, whereas at the same time, the original focus of btech, which is mech combat, also shouldnt fall too short.
Under these aspects Path of Glory needn't stand back behind most of the other btech novels since the end of the 'Blood of Kerensky' trilogy: There is a plot and people involved, there is some mech combat, there are several side infos for the main fasa plot, but in the end everything comes a tad short.
Bottom line: The interested btech reader, who wants every tiniest piece of info bout the general fasa story, might want this book to fill some gaps. But the average sci-fi reader, who's tempted to read some btech novel to get his routine dose of war machine combat, might want to look for some more detailed and exciting reading.

I am not going to pretend that I do not find books featuring the clans interesting. The entire mythos surrounding them has always interested me and this book looks further into one of the more mystical clans - the Nove Cats. The book readily shows how this clan is attempting to intergrate itself with the conquering Inner Sphere and the feelings of warriors from both sides as to these affairs. It may not further the primary story line of the civil war but it does begin a very important secondary plot that may well spill over into the main conflict.

If I were reading this story as a stand alone, with no knowledge of the current storyline I would give it top marks, the author is very gifted and his mix between action and thought is very well balanced and I will certainly be anticipating more of his work.

Like most new Battletech books it is only decent,the shorter book lengths being forced on the writers. Randall does a fair job of breathing life into the main character. Despite this handycap. I am sure most of these authors wish they could do more. I felt a little suprised by Zane's death. That event should have had more foreshadowing. But I blame the publishers not the author. for my above mentioned reasons

The BT books seem to ether be so-so or stink altogether anymore. This falls in to the so-so part. The book had an interesting premise, one that has not been fully explored this late in to BT. That 2 warriors from opposing sides should now have to live with each other in peace time. While the culture clash is noting new to BT, that it is between the now friendly Nova Cats and their long time enemy the Draconis Combine at least had promise. Unfortunetly the book is told almost entirely from the Clanner's perspective, and he does not reveal anything new. The more interesting charactor is the Combine Mechwarrior but he gets so little time that he might not exsist altogether. This is the author's first BT book and it shows. I got tired of being told "this is how a Mech works and why"-I know that already, stop wasting paper! This isn't poorly written, the author does put a little more color in to the charactors that usual. I like many times how he described things even though it got very redundant. Simply put, read this if you like the Clans but don't expect anything new.

The book does not dip into the interesting plot between Katherine and Victor. It barely enhances the current plot where Victor asks his troops to back him up in retaking his Federated Commonwealth. The only interesting plot in the whole book, is toward the end where, the Clan(i won't say which one) once again commences attack on the Draconis Combine. If this wasn't the next installment in the battletech series, i wouldn't have even bothered to buy and read the book. But if your a fan of the series then its a must read, since every book in the series does advance the overall story-line, no matter how insignificant.

The severe blow that was dealt when Michael Stackpole left this series is still apparent. The latest books lack depth of character, plot and intrigue. Path of Glory only typifies this. The protagonist seems destined for a change of heart from the moment he is introduced. The Nova Cat Khan who potentially could be a great new charismatic leader in the Battletech Universe is watered down dissappointingly to say the least. A certain Clan invades the Draconis Combine and it is described as an afterthought. In my opinion, the only reason to read this book is to stay up to date on the Clans.

It isn't here. Ever since Stackpole stopped writing for FASA, the whole BattleTech series has gone down the tubes. Incomplete story lines, unfinished characters, leaps of judgement by supposed rock solid characters, etc. This book is yet another example that the story line in the BTech universe is wavering like a California quake.

Without preamble we learn that Clan Nova Cat is the target of every clan, they are seeking its destruction. This was never introduced. You get 3 pages of explaination. Minubo Kurita is adopted into the clan. When did this take place? And on and on. Hopefully the BTech universe will get a pickup some time down the road.

I have enjoyed this series of Sci-Fi books and this is one of my all time favorits. It shows what it is like for Clanners who have been forced to change and adapt to living in the Innerspher. True Glory is with ones own quest for a better way of life and understanding ones place in it.