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BattleTech Universe #71
Fortress of Lies
After his victory of New Aragon, Duke Aaron Sandoval has the embattled Republic in his debt. But Sandoval's hidden agenda has more to do with his own power than any loyalty he ever had to The Republic of the Sphere. He'll spare no expense to achieve his ultimate goal.
When the Duke becomes the target of an assassination attempt, he realizes that his efforts to build a coalition against the invading House Liao are failing. Many planetary governors prefer capitulation to war. What he needs is a new ship and a new approach.
To launch his campaign, Sandoval sends his nephew Erik, fresh from the front lines, to Shensi. His job is to convince the governor to join his uncle's alliance instead of making peace with Liao. Although Erik is honored to be the Duke's strong right hand, he's convinced that his uncle's arrogance is getting the better of him. But what Erik doesn't yet realize is that his uncle will sacrifice anyone to achieve his dreams of glory...
When the Duke becomes the target of an assassination attempt, he realizes that his efforts to build a coalition against the invading House Liao are failing. Many planetary governors prefer capitulation to war. What he needs is a new ship and a new approach.
To launch his campaign, Sandoval sends his nephew Erik, fresh from the front lines, to Shensi. His job is to convince the governor to join his uncle's alliance instead of making peace with Liao. Although Erik is honored to be the Duke's strong right hand, he's convinced that his uncle's arrogance is getting the better of him. But what Erik doesn't yet realize is that his uncle will sacrifice anyone to achieve his dreams of glory...
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 3, 2004
2 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
J. Steven York
56 books36 followersOriginally hailing from the piney woods along the Alabama/Florida border, J. Steven York has wandered between many genres (science fiction, fantasy, mystery) and points on the map.
Though he now lives on the Pacific shore in Oregon, his current mystery series "Panorama Beach," is set in the sunny Florida panhandle during the 1960s, and its fictional environs are inspired by his real-life ancestral roots there, and his happy visits to the gulf coast when he was a child.
Though he now lives on the Pacific shore in Oregon, his current mystery series "Panorama Beach," is set in the sunny Florida panhandle during the 1960s, and its fictional environs are inspired by his real-life ancestral roots there, and his happy visits to the gulf coast when he was a child.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 7, 2019
This is the eighth book in the Mech Warrior Dark Age series. This series is a continuation of the Battletech series. The books in this series, like the books in the original Battletech series, are by various authors. This one is by J. Steven York. The Republic of the Sphere has known a long period of peace and prosperity. Then the interstellar communications network a.k.a. the HPG net is destroyed by terrorists and many planets in the Republic find themselves cut off from the rest of the galaxy with communications taking weeks or even months. Unrest leads to several factions on several planets trying to overthrow the local governments and seize power for themselves. In this one Duke Aron Sandoval and his SwordSworn warriors are fighting to keep House Liao and the Capellan Confederation from seizing control of the planets in Prefecture V. He also wants to replace the Republic of the Sphere in Prefecture IV and V with his own House of Davion. He will use any means to achieve his goal, including using his nephew Erik Sandoval. Even if it means Erik's death. This book is a great addition to this series with plenty of Mech battles and intrigue. A must-read for fans of the Battletech series.
October 30, 2018
I think the Dark Age novels have really been having some trouble finding their footing until now. It could be that we are setting up a new age in a well established universe that is vastly different from what has come before but this novel felt like it really solidified things. I'm actually really enjoying the stronger focus on combined arms and improvisation in this age, and a stronger focus on politics and intrigue then just the large scale mech warfare of the classic battletech novels though it has been a bit of a slow burn up to this point it feels like things are being to reach the boiling point. This has reinvigorated my interest in the series and I find myself really looking forward to the future novels where as before I was more just resigned to grinding through it for completions sake. I have a feeling that this series is one of those that will be greater being reflected in as a whole as opposed to the more stand alone nature of classic BattleTech.
July 21, 2021
Good pacing. Interesting prose. Characters are well developed. My issue with this one is I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be cheering on any character. The arch for the main character seems to be going from decent human being but lacking spine to being a horrible selfish power-mad individual that can stand up for himself and wants more power. I mean he's still not as bad as his older cousin but it doesn't make him better. It is refreshing to see Davionists being more grey to evil than the pristine good guys they used to be in older novels. It was short and sweet and to the point. On to the next one.
July 29, 2022
A good setup
Not bad story line. Thankfully no constant references to Capellan culture. The rest of the saga should prove a good read. More fighting.
Not bad story line. Thankfully no constant references to Capellan culture. The rest of the saga should prove a good read. More fighting.
January 11, 2023
Kind of boring. More of the same as the other books in the series so far. Neither of the main characters is particularly interesting or likable. Very bland.
May 3, 2023
"So You've Decided to Read Battletech: Dark Age" - Review 8
Erik Sandoval tries to recruit a neutral planet to the Sword Sworn (Davion) cause while his uncle engages in intrigue and politics. In the end, they all learn a valuable life lesson about the importance of honesty.
DA Callbacks
Our main protagonist, Erik Sandoval, returns from Call to Arms. In that book, he was a slimy womanizer and a self-serving backstabber. He starts this book in the same way, unabashedly ogling his cousin's valet every chance he gets.
The Capellan invasion continues from the previous book, By Temptations and by War.
Review:
Pretty good. Not a lot of action. The political theatre was entertaining. Of the two main characters, I found the Duke a lot more engaging. Both main characters are bad guys, but the duke's theatrics were more fun than Erik's womanizing and agonizing over his identity. Even better than the Duke were the secondary characters. They all have fairly distinct personalities that added a lot of color to the in-between scenes.
Assessment:
Fun for the whole Sandoval family! (Good)
Lasting Impressions
In this section, I return long after reading to give my remembered impressions. Did this book stand the test of time?
Yes. It's a memorable book and I think of it somewhat fondly. I recall Erik (who is inconsistently portrayed between books). I recall having fun reading about his Uncle Aaron setting up a traveling embassy. I recall Erik's somewhat boring adventures on some planet under attack by pirates hired by Aaron to look like a Liao raid. And I recall Erik being a bit of a bastard when he recruits some lady spy at the end.
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Target of Opportunity
Fortress of Lies
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
The Ruins of Power
Erik Sandoval tries to recruit a neutral planet to the Sword Sworn (Davion) cause while his uncle engages in intrigue and politics. In the end, they all learn a valuable life lesson about the importance of honesty.
DA Callbacks
Our main protagonist, Erik Sandoval, returns from Call to Arms. In that book, he was a slimy womanizer and a self-serving backstabber. He starts this book in the same way, unabashedly ogling his cousin's valet every chance he gets.
The Capellan invasion continues from the previous book, By Temptations and by War.
Review:
Pretty good. Not a lot of action. The political theatre was entertaining. Of the two main characters, I found the Duke a lot more engaging. Both main characters are bad guys, but the duke's theatrics were more fun than Erik's womanizing and agonizing over his identity. Even better than the Duke were the secondary characters. They all have fairly distinct personalities that added a lot of color to the in-between scenes.
Assessment:
Fun for the whole Sandoval family! (Good)
Lasting Impressions
In this section, I return long after reading to give my remembered impressions. Did this book stand the test of time?
Yes. It's a memorable book and I think of it somewhat fondly. I recall Erik (who is inconsistently portrayed between books). I recall having fun reading about his Uncle Aaron setting up a traveling embassy. I recall Erik's somewhat boring adventures on some planet under attack by pirates hired by Aaron to look like a Liao raid. And I recall Erik being a bit of a bastard when he recruits some lady spy at the end.
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Target of Opportunity
Fortress of Lies
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
The Ruins of Power
May 18, 2014
We are at the eighth volume of the Mechwarrior Dark Age tie-in novels and by now the Republic of the Sphere is under attack by Capellan Confederate forces, which have invaded Prefecture 5. As the flame of war threatens to spread to the neighbouring Prefecture 6, Duke Aaron Sandoval, Prefect of Prefecture 4, sensing both the imminent danger as well as an opportunity to consolidate his own power, attempts to rally local Republic worlds to join his own Swordsworn faction in opposing the confederate invaders. The Swordsworn are in turn closely allied with the empire of the Federated Suns. This is Battletech as we know and love it, a complex web of factional wrangling for power.
The story centers on the efforts of both the Duke himself as well as his younger cousin Erik Sandoval-Groell, as they both confront and attempt to stop the invading confederate aggressors. Erik first appeared in the second volume of the Dark Age series, where he was a ruthless and cunning politician and Mechwarrior. In "Fortress of Lies" however, he has been given a less imposing side, standing in the shadow of his older cousin and anxiously awaiting for a pat on his head like an obedient dog.
Family drama aside, "Fortress of Lies" is an important part of the Dark Age saga and features a couple of memorable battles, but is also dragged down by an out of character romantic drama which I could have done without.
The story centers on the efforts of both the Duke himself as well as his younger cousin Erik Sandoval-Groell, as they both confront and attempt to stop the invading confederate aggressors. Erik first appeared in the second volume of the Dark Age series, where he was a ruthless and cunning politician and Mechwarrior. In "Fortress of Lies" however, he has been given a less imposing side, standing in the shadow of his older cousin and anxiously awaiting for a pat on his head like an obedient dog.
Family drama aside, "Fortress of Lies" is an important part of the Dark Age saga and features a couple of memorable battles, but is also dragged down by an out of character romantic drama which I could have done without.
September 14, 2009
This was actually, honestly, a really good book. I think this is the best this kind of series can get, and I hope this author continues on to write his own original fiction, as he really is a talented storyteller.
November 2, 2010
These books are getting better (though I've skipped the poorly rated ones)...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews