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BattleTech Universe
BattleTech: Legacy: A BattleTech Anthology
IN THE 31ST CENTURY, LIFE IS CHEAP...
A Draconis Combine warrior struggles with immoral orders in the First Succession War. A House Davion MechWarrior participates in a risky heist as part of Operation Guerrero. A history buff battles the Word of Blake during the Liberation of Terra. What do these MechWarriors have in common? Each one pilots the same BattleMech, a survivor that has been repaired and rebuilt countless times throughout its long and bloody 300-year lifespan.
BATTLEMECHS ARE NOT.
The seventy-ton GHR-5H Grasshopper can outmaneuver and outlast some of the most fearsome enemy ’Mechs, making it an invaluable asset to battlefield commanders. Even an incapacitated Grasshopper will be rebuilt to fight another day, with a new pilot at its controls, because MechWarriors can be replaced, but ’Mechs cannot.
In BattleTech: Legacy, thirteen all-new stories chronicle the fortunes and tragedies of a single ’Mech across several tumultuous points in its wide-ranging combat history. Veteran BattleTech authors Kevin Killiany and Craig A. Reed, Jr. bookend this exciting collection, while other familiar names and new blood explore important moments in this ’Mech’s history of constant, unmitigated warfare that leaves no corner of the Inner Sphere untouched.
A Draconis Combine warrior struggles with immoral orders in the First Succession War. A House Davion MechWarrior participates in a risky heist as part of Operation Guerrero. A history buff battles the Word of Blake during the Liberation of Terra. What do these MechWarriors have in common? Each one pilots the same BattleMech, a survivor that has been repaired and rebuilt countless times throughout its long and bloody 300-year lifespan.
BATTLEMECHS ARE NOT.
The seventy-ton GHR-5H Grasshopper can outmaneuver and outlast some of the most fearsome enemy ’Mechs, making it an invaluable asset to battlefield commanders. Even an incapacitated Grasshopper will be rebuilt to fight another day, with a new pilot at its controls, because MechWarriors can be replaced, but ’Mechs cannot.
In BattleTech: Legacy, thirteen all-new stories chronicle the fortunes and tragedies of a single ’Mech across several tumultuous points in its wide-ranging combat history. Veteran BattleTech authors Kevin Killiany and Craig A. Reed, Jr. bookend this exciting collection, while other familiar names and new blood explore important moments in this ’Mech’s history of constant, unmitigated warfare that leaves no corner of the Inner Sphere untouched.
- GenresScience Fiction
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 22, 2018
Always good to read new Battletech fiction - especially well written stories like these.
January 27, 2022
An anthology series of short stories all centred around a single battlemech - a massive bipedal war machine of the future - and its pilots. I think overall the earlier stories are stronger than the later ones. In the latter entries there seems like a lot more setting exposition is being forced in, and the final (other than the epilogue) entry is particularly notable for battle scenes that seem to mostly comprise listing off as many different models of battlemech as the author can squeeze in.
Ultimately probably only for fans of the franchise (which I am, albeit largely a lapsed one).
Ultimately probably only for fans of the franchise (which I am, albeit largely a lapsed one).
August 7, 2020
Tracing the history of a mech from its inception to the deconstruction is a nice idea, especially in the event-rich universe of BattleTech. As us usual with anthologies, some stories were great, some not so much, but altogether gave a nice read.
What's In a Name? by Kevin Killiany: 3/5
2779,2830: At the dusk of Star League, Grasshopper is first made and given its name. Not bad, but the epilogue overstayed its welcome.
Swords of Light and Darkness, by Travis Heermann: 4/5
2797: At Kentares IV, Sword of Light company commander confronted with general moral decay (and conscience) makes his choice.
Fates and Fortunes, by Darrel Myers: 3/5
2840: At great costs, capellan techs do their best to restore the mech. Or at least to keep it functional.
The Forgotten Places, by Alan Brundage: 4/5
2973: In a desert, runaway davion militia tech makes a discovery that changes her fortune.
Oh! and there is a rare instance of (theoretically absolutely common) mech fight ended by withdrawal!
One Man's Thrash, by Philip A. Lee: 3/5
3004: Merc warrior in FWL pay is assigned the salvaged machine along with a terrible secret. Not bad.
Lightning Strike, by Geoff "Doc" Smith: 4/5
3039: The mech, refitted with lasers and experimental pulse lasers now fights for the AFFC in 3rd Lyran Guards. Pure mech on mech action as they clash with 17th Legion of Vega in the War of 3039.
Choices and Chances, by Chriss Hussey: 4/5
3049: Unsuccessfull commander of a mercenary lance wants to get away from it all, so she takes her 'Hopper to Erewhon - her bucolics are cut short though. Bit of a clichèe, but still enjoyable.
The Third Pillar, by Jason Hansa: 2/5
3057: The mech is now on lend to a kommandant of 36th Lyran Guards. Left behind the enemy lines on TsingTao, his combined group plan to leave in style, pulling off the Perfect Heist. Yeurghh.
Earthbound, by Aaron Cahall: 5/5
3060: An ex-Jade Falcon pilot, now driving a Roc, faces the Grasshopper (Northwind Highlander colours) when defending Huntress. Short and sweet.
Underfoot, by Robert Jeschonek: 3/5
3063: On Newtown Square amidst the Civil War, the mech and its pilot wage a war against all - and there are people watching...
Homecoming, by Alex Fauth: 2/5
3078: As a part of the Coalition forces, the mech comes to Bryant once again. This time, it is piloted by DCMS warrior intending to avenge his family slain on Benjamin, and comes to face a WoB militia warrior protecting his family in a Shadow Hawk. Meh
End of the Road, by Craig A. Reed: 4/5
3078, Terra: The mech is piloted by a history doctoral candidate serving in Stone's Lament. Some epic battle scenes (surprising, right?), and it felt good.
Where Legends Come to Rest, by Philip A. Lee: 5/5
3084/3090: That mech's history is finaly concluded, but its legacy remained. Epilogue as it should be.
What's In a Name? by Kevin Killiany: 3/5
2779,2830: At the dusk of Star League, Grasshopper is first made and given its name. Not bad, but the epilogue overstayed its welcome.
Swords of Light and Darkness, by Travis Heermann: 4/5
2797: At Kentares IV, Sword of Light company commander confronted with general moral decay (and conscience) makes his choice.
Fates and Fortunes, by Darrel Myers: 3/5
2840: At great costs, capellan techs do their best to restore the mech. Or at least to keep it functional.
The Forgotten Places, by Alan Brundage: 4/5
2973: In a desert, runaway davion militia tech makes a discovery that changes her fortune.
Oh! and there is a rare instance of (theoretically absolutely common) mech fight ended by withdrawal!
One Man's Thrash, by Philip A. Lee: 3/5
3004: Merc warrior in FWL pay is assigned the salvaged machine along with a terrible secret. Not bad.
Lightning Strike, by Geoff "Doc" Smith: 4/5
3039: The mech, refitted with lasers and experimental pulse lasers now fights for the AFFC in 3rd Lyran Guards. Pure mech on mech action as they clash with 17th Legion of Vega in the War of 3039.
Choices and Chances, by Chriss Hussey: 4/5
3049: Unsuccessfull commander of a mercenary lance wants to get away from it all, so she takes her 'Hopper to Erewhon - her bucolics are cut short though. Bit of a clichèe, but still enjoyable.
The Third Pillar, by Jason Hansa: 2/5
3057: The mech is now on lend to a kommandant of 36th Lyran Guards. Left behind the enemy lines on TsingTao, his combined group plan to leave in style, pulling off the Perfect Heist. Yeurghh.
Earthbound, by Aaron Cahall: 5/5
3060: An ex-Jade Falcon pilot, now driving a Roc, faces the Grasshopper (Northwind Highlander colours) when defending Huntress. Short and sweet.
Underfoot, by Robert Jeschonek: 3/5
3063: On Newtown Square amidst the Civil War, the mech and its pilot wage a war against all - and there are people watching...
Homecoming, by Alex Fauth: 2/5
3078: As a part of the Coalition forces, the mech comes to Bryant once again. This time, it is piloted by DCMS warrior intending to avenge his family slain on Benjamin, and comes to face a WoB militia warrior protecting his family in a Shadow Hawk. Meh
End of the Road, by Craig A. Reed: 4/5
3078, Terra: The mech is piloted by a history doctoral candidate serving in Stone's Lament. Some epic battle scenes (surprising, right?), and it felt good.
Where Legends Come to Rest, by Philip A. Lee: 5/5
3084/3090: That mech's history is finaly concluded, but its legacy remained. Epilogue as it should be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2019
A series of short stories spanning 300+ years of one 'mech, a Grasshopper, beginning with it's construction during Star League era, through to the aftermath of the Blakist jihad.
Overall very good, however in some of the stories perhaps I expected a bit more on the 'mech as the protagonist of the story, rather than the background of the story.
Overall very good, however in some of the stories perhaps I expected a bit more on the 'mech as the protagonist of the story, rather than the background of the story.
March 23, 2020
Maybe it is nostalgia speaking, but this ticked a ton of boxes. Stomping mechs blowing each other up over 300 years never gets old. The story format, of following a single mech instead of the pilot was also novel.
Standard issue violence with strong allusion to the seedier side of life and mild use of strong language peppered through.
Standard issue violence with strong allusion to the seedier side of life and mild use of strong language peppered through.
March 13, 2021
I enjoyed the continuing theme and storyline of one mech through the ages of Battletech history. The overall quality of the collection was great with some thinner stories boosted by other great ones. The intrigue and small action to start and finishing with big brawling was a great arc. Even the epilogue with some human element to the Battletech story was a good final punctuation.
January 30, 2018
Another series of Battletech short stories. These were somewhat tied together by having a 'mech, a Grasshopper, in all of the stories. The connection to the 'mech was a little tenuous in some of the stories.
November 2, 2018
Lives are cheep, Mechs aren't
A good if all too brief view of what it actually means to have a 300 year old war machine, from walking off the factor floor to a final resting place. Not world building, but history building for the Battletech universe.
A good if all too brief view of what it actually means to have a 300 year old war machine, from walking off the factor floor to a final resting place. Not world building, but history building for the Battletech universe.
August 4, 2019
Its a great journey through the battletech-universe from the very first beginning to the end. And the main charakter could be nothing else than a battlemech. Surviving wars, protecting his pilots and writing historie. Storys full of heart, warfire and great characters.
May 24, 2020
Review
Great book want more about this topic ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Great book want more about this topic ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
February 5, 2023
Good old fashioned battles and politicking. Great work.
September 29, 2024
entertaining
Most of the stories are really good, a few, not so much. But it was really neat seeing the beginning and end of a mech. Def worth a read
Most of the stories are really good, a few, not so much. But it was really neat seeing the beginning and end of a mech. Def worth a read
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews