The Ruins of Power (BattleTech)

BattleTech Universe #66

by Robert E. Vardeman

The destruction of the interplanetary communications net has isolated planets across the Republic of the Sphere. On the world of Mirach, a widening schism in the military between those who would break away threatens the peace and prosperity that have lasted for generations...

Once a formidable MechWarrior, Mirach governor Sergio Ortega now believes that diplomacy will win the day. His sons, Dale and Austin, are also stalwarts of The Republic and aspiring MechWarriors. Against growing civil unrest , they urge a military show of force before events spiral out of control. But Mirach has no military equipment up to BattleMech status. And the pacifist governor is slashing military spending.

Marta Kinsolving's Mirach Business Association has been converting IndustrialMechs into fighting machines. After putting down a civil uprising, MBA could field a force in the imminent civil war and split Mirach three ways. Although Austin believes that Marta may be complicit in murder, she may turn out to be the strongest ally the Ortegas have when open warfare erupts.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Ebooks

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Also writes as:
Daniel Moran
F.J. Hale
Edward S. Hudson
Karl Lassiter
Jackson Lowry

Reviews

[Grantcorp · Rating 1 out of 5]

The books in the "Mechwarrior: Dark Age" franchise continue their roller-coaster ride between entertaining and abysmal. "The Ruins of Power" unfortunately falls into the latter category, and it stumbles so hard into that hole that nothing seems to be able to save it.

After the epic "A Call to Arms" we are back to spy novel territory. Once again the plot is on a backwater republic world, Mirach, where some horrible caricatures are waging a political war on each other. The book's hero is a young cadet with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. He has trained to be a Mechwarrior all his life yet always stood in the shadow of his older brother (and then there's some whining about not getting enough respect from his strict father). The main cast is rounded out by a well-meaning sergeant, a clueless politician, a fat businessman and a shrewd woman with long fingernails.

Ho-hum.

Most of the story is devoted to our young hero as he tries to figure out who is behind the disruptive activities. As we suffer through his fruitless search a rebellion begins to stir and threatens to boil into full civil war. However, once the action slowly starts rolling it is completely unsatisfying and mostly involves impotent acts such as "hero launches surprise mech attack on army and is promptly defeated" or "assault class battlemech tries to police a city and ends up doing nothing but being shot at".

Interestingly, none of the main factions from the Dark Age storyline are duking it out in this book. Therefore, if you are looking to get up to speed on the Dark Age storyline you can safely skip this volume.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third 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 Robert E. Vardeman. 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 unrest grows on the planet of Mirach in the aftermath of the destruction of the HPG net. The governor of Mirach, Sergio Ortega, is trying to keep the peace through diplomacy while his opponents are advocating a violent overthrow of the government. Several on-world and off-world entities are vying to control the planet. It will take much sacrifice from Governor Ortega and his two sons to bring things to a peaceful settlement.

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly one of the worst books in the series. The author let's you know everything that's going on yet tries to add all these twists. But as the reader you know everything so the twist is for the characters only. Plus he makes the characters overly incompetent and in the dark. I feel that the book was for them and not the reader.

[Peter D. Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Painfully Boring

I got 44% of the book read and I just don’t hate myself enough to keep going. This is the most boring Battletech book to date.

[Josh Murphy]

"So You've Decided to Read Battletech: Dark Age" - Review 3

The main character of the previous DA book was named Ortega. The main character of this book is named Ortega. These two characters are in no way related. Why?!?

I think I'm going to shelve this one for now. I'm a few chapters in and am not feeling inspired to finish it. I'm more anxious to start the trilogy that starts with A Silence in the Heavens.

DA Callbacks



Review:



Assessment:

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can understand why so many give the book a poor review. They're expecting more fights and explosions. This one is more intrigue and details the higher reliance on conventional arms during the Republic Dark Age era. Still it doesn't deserve all the hate. It has some decent characters (none of them are perfect, they're more human), good pacing, it built to a climax with a larger scale battle. But that brings me to the end. I have no idea what happened. It's like it was written by a different author. Just when you think the characters have grown and learned from the events of the story, they don't and try to go back to status quo. Was an odd choice that leaves one feeling not quite satisfied. Still I'm definitely going to give this author more attention in future as his character driven story was very well done up till the very last few pages of this one. Which may have been an editing issue?

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Transparent bad guys, obvious plot twists, poor writing. The overall story arc among the books in the series is still really interesting, but I'm not sure if I'm going to slog through the shitty individual books to learn about it

[Richard Tran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like a rehash of Decision at Thunder Rift but no where as exciting.

[Chase Willett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow, not enough mech fights... but the ending was enjoyable. I think as a filler novel it was sufficient to the series.