Test of Vengeance (Battletech) [Paperback]

Bryan Nystul (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Roc (June 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451458362
• ISBN-13: 978-0451458360
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,160,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great Idea.... Horribly Executed., May 11, 2004

By 

Dave - See all my reviews

This review is from: Test of Vengeance (Battletech) (Paperback)

I was so looking forward to the story of a Clan Elemental. I actually teased myself by reading all the other Battletech books I bought this week first. However, the butchering of Clan culture just about made my eyes bleed. The only thing Bryan got correct was the lack of contractions. I kept waiting for Clan artillary to show up. The fact that it was no biggie that that the Ghost Bears have freebirth scum as mech pilots!?!?! Dear lord, kill me now. The clanners joking and flirting during unit formations.... where are the razor blades? Junior warriors questioning the qualifications of their Star Captain (twice in the same meeting) and living to tell!?!? What I finally concluded was that the book was originally written about conflict between the Dracs and the Draconis March worlds, focusing on armored infantry, but then Bryan decided it would work better as an Elemental story and went back and just changed what HAD to be changed to force into a clan story template. I can't comment on his writing style because I could not read more than one page at a time without putting the book down to vent my frustration at the butchery I was witnessing. Someone else, please write an Elemental story!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Clans at Play amidst a Universe in turmoil., July 6, 2001

By 

"nova3059" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Test of Vengeance (Battletech) (Paperback)

Honestly, the Fed-Com Civil War would be good read, as it will be finally of focus in Patriots and Tyrants. However, the BattleTech Universe does not revolve around the Inner Sphere. The events chronicled in Test of Vengence describe events unfolding in the Clan Sphere, and the impact that it has on the Steiner vs. Davion conflict. All the last few books released has been "setting up" events that led to the outbreak of Civil War. Will it destroy the fledgling Star League and throw humanity back into the dark ages? Well, you'll have to read the books and follow the chain of events to get to the "meat" of the matter. Last comment: the Crusader Wolf Clan is kicking themselves in the ...by rubbing the Ghost Bears the wrong way. Soon we'll have a united Rasalhague people if they are lucky...don't know what I'm talking about? Where have you been the last 14 years (3049-3063)?

This book is a good read...one of the best tales about new Clan life in the Inner Sphere. But do read all the books...to get a better understanding of the universe. Go Clanners! Go Kerensky's hope!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst. Battletech. Book. EVER., May 31, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Test of Vengeance (Battletech) (Paperback)

I have a lot of patience for the bad writing and plotting inherent in reading the Battletech books. It's something you learn to live with - even appreciate - as you read these books.

I survived the crippling of some of the better characters in Stackpole's later books, the glossing over of important facts in many of Coleman's books, and even the butchering of the Japanese language that occurred at the hands of all of the authors. (with the exception of Charrette, one of the few truly excellent writers in this series)

There have been some bad books - some really bad books - in this series. But none of them have come close to the sheer, terrifying awfulness that is 'Test of Vengeance.'

Nystul may be an excellent game designer, but his writing is atrocious. From the first battle scene where he describes the 'Gnome' battle-armor as requiring 'an extra shot to finish off' (destroying the illusion separating the game dynamics from the reality of the book) to the use of allusions and slang by the Clanners that they never would have used, Nystul weaves a story that breaks the rules set forth by the authors who came before him.

Toward the end, I was forced to skim the book because the mangling of Clan culture was so profound that I couldn't even finish the book. That has never happened with a Battletech book, and I've read some very, very bad Battletech books.

Battletech is my favorite 'pulp' series, and I am willing to forgive a lot of issues with these books. But as much as I wanted to enjoy this book for its unique perspective on Elementals, the fact that it got everything so very wrong prevented me from doing so.

I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this book to anyone, regardless of how much of a fan of the Battletech universe they are.

(as I have ties to the Battletech community, I will make this an anonymous review to avoid unecessarily hurting feelings)