MechWarrior: Technology of Destruction [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Various (Author) "As with most things concerning BattleTech/MechWarrior, this book has been a labor of love from the concept stage..." (more)
Key Phrases: fusion reactor, Inner Sphere, Great Houses, Leutnant Roos (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A lavishly illustrated, full-color book, MechWarrior: Technology of Destruction brings the BattleTech and MechWarrior universes to life like never before.

Over the past 20 years, millions of words, pictures, games, television shows, computer games, and miniatures have created the MechWarrior world. Now this oversized book from WizKids, Inc. allows you to take a look inside the technology that makes the universe tick.

Nothing has ever captured the beauty and terror inspired by the mechanical kings of the 31st-century battlefield—BattleMechs—like Technology of Destruction. Filled with stunning computer-generated images, this book shows the inner workings of BattleMechs and battle armor, and it includes two-page scenes of battles on various planets.

This book features four fold-out sections, including a map of the Inner Sphere and a size-comparison chart of BattleMechs, vehicles, armor, and infantry. Technology of Destruction also highlights units and the history of the MechWarrior universe.

A must-have for any MechWarrior, robotics, or science fiction fan, Technology of Destruction is the ultimate resource for the MechWarrior universe!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 68 pages
• Publisher: WizKids LLC (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590411277
• ISBN-13: 978-1590411278
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #539,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Decent, if you can stand it, July 2, 2004

By	"web_raptor" - See all my reviews

I was told about this book by a friend, a fellow BattleTech fan. I saw it here online and decided to purchase it. While it wasn't wholly a waste of money, I was disappointed that I didn't look into the details of the book carefully enough.

While having some information about the Classic BattleTech universe that FASA created, the book is mostly about the WizKids version. I don't care for Dark Ages; I've always been perfectly happy with the classic BattleTech, and Dark Ages to me feels like a shift from gritty sci-fi to anime. Many of the faction logos look like low-budget designs that someone pounded out in a weekend, not the elegant ones from the Classic BattleTech series. Many of the 'Mechs are just cheap, lazy redesigns of Classic BattleTech 'Mechs with creative names like "Mad Cat III" or "Mongoose II," and I was surprised to learn that the Atlas now has horns growing out of it's mouth, and a glass-topped head. The Summoner (aka Thor) is even worse, as apparently now the cockpit is a soup can, and the shoulder-mounted missile pack is larger than the torso.

The images in this book are a mixed blessing. There are some awesome 3D images in it (namely the cockpit view and cutaway images near the center), but fans of Classic BattleTech will likely feel left out. The whole Dark Ages concept feels to me like a colossal raping of everything FASA did.

In short: If you're a fan of 3D anime-ish walking robots, or if you like MW: Dark Ages, buy this book. If you're a Classic BattleTech fan and don't fall into the two above categories, don't.

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a collectors book..., April 14, 2004

By	"revleverage" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This book truly lives up to its name. You basically have a collection of data on most every category of mech, infantry unit and vehicles in the Mechwarrior: DA universe. The book is primarily an eye-candy book for those Mechwarrior fans who can't get enough. The short story (involving Tamara Duke of the Stormhammer faction and Thos Cardella) is an excellent read which serves to tantalize those who have been reading the DA novels. Astute MW clixers will note that Duke and Cardella were the prizes for the DFA marquee.

A must have for avid Mechwarrior collectors. Others should be able to live without it.

8 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best BattleTech Universe book yet, March 24, 2004

By	Shawn Smith (Barrington, New Hampshire USA) - See all my reviews

This is, by far, the best BattleTech universe book I've ever read. It has great background on the Classic BattleTech universe and the MechWarrior: Dark Age universe. It also has some great computer-generated images of the new (and old) 'Mechs, vehicles, power armor, and infantry. A must for any BattleTech or MechWarrior fan.