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BattleTech Universe #44
Falcon Rising
As the Khans of the Clans gather on Strana Mechty to plan a new invasion of the Inner Sphere, Jade Falcon Khan Marthe Pryde strives to rebuild her Clan to its former glory. She bloods new warriors and wins others in Trials from other Clans, but she cannot waste any fine warrior - even those who are freeborn. She gives a Trinary composed entirely of freeborns to a freeborn Star Captain and allows Diana, the freeborn daughter of a Jade Falcon hero, to compete for a bloodname.
The Khans of the Steel Vipers - long-standing rivals of the Falcons - use these radical moves against Marthe, attacking her in the Grand Council. In the midst of this war of intimidation, the Inner Sphere accomplishes the unthinkable - an invasion of Clan space. But even that cannot stop Marthe Pryde or the Steel Vipers as their ripening conflict explodes into war...
The Khans of the Steel Vipers - long-standing rivals of the Falcons - use these radical moves against Marthe, attacking her in the Grand Council. In the midst of this war of intimidation, the Inner Sphere accomplishes the unthinkable - an invasion of Clan space. But even that cannot stop Marthe Pryde or the Steel Vipers as their ripening conflict explodes into war...
282 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 1, 2018
The core story of the Twilight of the Clans really ended with Book 7, Prince of Havoc, and this feels like an extended epilogue. The focus shifts from the Inner Sphere campaign against the Smoke Jaguars and their homeworld of Huntress and suddenly it's all about Clan Jade Falcon again. We had a similar interlude in this story with Book 4, Freebirth, which was also written by Thurston. And so I guess it sort of makes sense that they went this route.
The action is very far removed from the "main" story as we focus on Diana's efforts to win a Bloodname for herself. We get a l0t of Clan politics and the negative sentiments when it comes to freeborn warriors for the Pryde bloodname. We also get a subplot with Peri, Diana's mother, but it doesn't contribute much to things at this point beyond her continued probing into the conspiracy by the scientist caste to share genetic data freely between Clans.
In terms of structure the book feels like it was longer than it needed to be given the number of points it needed to hit and yet burdened with a fair amount of fluff here and there that dragged some scenes out. And considering the book covers Diana's bloodname quest of sorts and later some of the inter-Clan conflicts after the events of Prince of Havoc, it feels like quite a lot of narrative ground to address in one book.
But there are a lot of good scenes as the book does cover some of the battles of the bloodname contest, so that's fun. But they're not the most detailed combat descriptions versus some of the other Battletech novels, but at least there's an appreciation for tactics to some degree.
On the whole it's an okay book but it feels like a weird way to end this 8-book story arc. But the future of the Clans is where the real interesting stuff is bound to be and this novel does plant the sees for other stories to come.
The action is very far removed from the "main" story as we focus on Diana's efforts to win a Bloodname for herself. We get a l0t of Clan politics and the negative sentiments when it comes to freeborn warriors for the Pryde bloodname. We also get a subplot with Peri, Diana's mother, but it doesn't contribute much to things at this point beyond her continued probing into the conspiracy by the scientist caste to share genetic data freely between Clans.
In terms of structure the book feels like it was longer than it needed to be given the number of points it needed to hit and yet burdened with a fair amount of fluff here and there that dragged some scenes out. And considering the book covers Diana's bloodname quest of sorts and later some of the inter-Clan conflicts after the events of Prince of Havoc, it feels like quite a lot of narrative ground to address in one book.
But there are a lot of good scenes as the book does cover some of the battles of the bloodname contest, so that's fun. But they're not the most detailed combat descriptions versus some of the other Battletech novels, but at least there's an appreciation for tactics to some degree.
On the whole it's an okay book but it feels like a weird way to end this 8-book story arc. But the future of the Clans is where the real interesting stuff is bound to be and this novel does plant the sees for other stories to come.
May 24, 2021
A fine end to an era
Robert Thurston's work in the Battletech universe is classic, and this novel brings it all together. We see the many flaws, and some strengths, of the Clan way of life.
Reading this novel is absolutely a nostalgia trip, but it is also good science fiction, in the classic sense of examining our humanity through a fantastical lens.
A great read, but be sure to start with the Jade Phoenix trilogy, and don't skip the intervening novels from Thurston.
Robert Thurston's work in the Battletech universe is classic, and this novel brings it all together. We see the many flaws, and some strengths, of the Clan way of life.
Reading this novel is absolutely a nostalgia trip, but it is also good science fiction, in the classic sense of examining our humanity through a fantastical lens.
A great read, but be sure to start with the Jade Phoenix trilogy, and don't skip the intervening novels from Thurston.
June 28, 2017
Extremely sad that this is Thurston's last book in the universe. He has such a great way of communicating how clan culture is psychotic and pragmatic at the same time.
May 12, 2019
I absolutely love this book... I feel Robert Thurston and Blaine Lee Pardoe are this series' strongest writers.
Diana Pryde is without a doubt one of the most compelling female characters in the BattleTech universe. There is so much that stands between this woman and what she wants... culture, genetics, emotions, it's really a story about a character overcoming every hurdle thrown their way. But it never makes her just this super-powered "mary sue" character, she earns it... she's helped along the way and she fights for everything she gains.
The dialogue is solid and moves at a brisk pace, the setting is well described while leaving enough to allow your mind to create fantastic landscapes and architecture. It delves deeper into Clan Jade Falcon's oddly progressive crusader society, allowing the worker and scientist caste an incredible amount of leniency and outright freedoms. This book delves straight into how Jade Falcon is evolving to deal with Freebirth persons in the warrior caste, lead by the fact Aidan Pryde once masqueraded as a free birth when he was solahma.
It's an incredible journey into an interesting and alien culture to our own, yet born of ours in a logical way. I can't say enough good about this book... it is the best in the BattleTech series, it has the best to offer. Action, drama, romance, politics, intrigue and mystery... betrayal and reconciliation. It's one of my favourite reads, and is a book I pick up again from time to time to re-read it.
It is a horrible shame how that hack killed Diana Pryde off in the "dark age" series... the guy literally forgot Diana Pryde existed and wrote that she died in a shuttle when they brought Dark Age around. Just... disgusting misuse of a character and world.
Diana Pryde is without a doubt one of the most compelling female characters in the BattleTech universe. There is so much that stands between this woman and what she wants... culture, genetics, emotions, it's really a story about a character overcoming every hurdle thrown their way. But it never makes her just this super-powered "mary sue" character, she earns it... she's helped along the way and she fights for everything she gains.
The dialogue is solid and moves at a brisk pace, the setting is well described while leaving enough to allow your mind to create fantastic landscapes and architecture. It delves deeper into Clan Jade Falcon's oddly progressive crusader society, allowing the worker and scientist caste an incredible amount of leniency and outright freedoms. This book delves straight into how Jade Falcon is evolving to deal with Freebirth persons in the warrior caste, lead by the fact Aidan Pryde once masqueraded as a free birth when he was solahma.
It's an incredible journey into an interesting and alien culture to our own, yet born of ours in a logical way. I can't say enough good about this book... it is the best in the BattleTech series, it has the best to offer. Action, drama, romance, politics, intrigue and mystery... betrayal and reconciliation. It's one of my favourite reads, and is a book I pick up again from time to time to re-read it.
It is a horrible shame how that hack killed Diana Pryde off in the "dark age" series... the guy literally forgot Diana Pryde existed and wrote that she died in a shuttle when they brought Dark Age around. Just... disgusting misuse of a character and world.
October 15, 2021
BattleTech Book 44, and the last Twilight of the Clans, Book 8. The Star League has returned and denounced the Clan invasion. To survive the new universe, Clan Jade Falcon must make changes.
January 24, 2025
Good story. I just didn’t love it.
August 9, 2022
Twilight of the Clans 8
A good read, although it seems somewhat out of place as book 8 in the series.
Most of the action follows on from Freebirth (book 4), picking up on the mission that was given to Joanna of the Jade Falcons.
The majority of the book doesn't have any impact on (or get impacted by) the rest of the series. The second half is set after the defeat of the Smoke Jaguars by Taskforce Serpent, so may be why this novel was placed at the end.
The battles, especially in the second half are done well and there are some tense moments.
A good read, although it seems somewhat out of place as book 8 in the series.
Most of the action follows on from Freebirth (book 4), picking up on the mission that was given to Joanna of the Jade Falcons.
The majority of the book doesn't have any impact on (or get impacted by) the rest of the series. The second half is set after the defeat of the Smoke Jaguars by Taskforce Serpent, so may be why this novel was placed at the end.
The battles, especially in the second half are done well and there are some tense moments.
February 17, 2013
Not necessarily bad, but this really didn't fit in with the Twilight of the Clans plot arch, which dealt with the destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar by the second Star League.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews