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Battletech: Kell Hounds Ascendant Trilogy #1
BattleTech: Not the Way The Smart Money Bets
THE RULES OF THE GAME HAVE JUST CHANGED…
Brothers Morgan and Patrick Kell have just landed on Galatea, the mercenary planet known for its brutal arena ’Mech combat games. They intend to found their own merc unit, building it from the ground up, but there are a few obstacles in their way. The first is a corrupt general fronting for the second, a local crime lord named Haskell Blizzard who crushes anyone he sees as a threat. And the Kell boys offering lucrative contracts for the best ’Mechwarriors and techs on the planet is a definite threat to his illegal empire.
But what Blizzard doesn’t know is that the Kell brothers have faced long odds before, and come out on top every single time. And with the help of some old and new friends, they’re going to take this crime lord down using his own tactics against him.
When the chips are down, the smart money is always on the brothers Kell.
Brothers Morgan and Patrick Kell have just landed on Galatea, the mercenary planet known for its brutal arena ’Mech combat games. They intend to found their own merc unit, building it from the ground up, but there are a few obstacles in their way. The first is a corrupt general fronting for the second, a local crime lord named Haskell Blizzard who crushes anyone he sees as a threat. And the Kell boys offering lucrative contracts for the best ’Mechwarriors and techs on the planet is a definite threat to his illegal empire.
But what Blizzard doesn’t know is that the Kell brothers have faced long odds before, and come out on top every single time. And with the help of some old and new friends, they’re going to take this crime lord down using his own tactics against him.
When the chips are down, the smart money is always on the brothers Kell.
- GenresEbooksScience Fiction
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 29, 2019
Classic Battletech - what's not to love!
September 6, 2020
This exploration of the origins of the Kell Hounds turned out to be a different experience that wasn't what I expected. Normally it's a rush to get to the first battle of the mercenary group but this novella just dove into the early days of the group, the initial recruitment efforts, and the unusual challenges Morgan and Patrick Kell face on Galatea, where the entire story is set.
This may not be a high stakes book that pulls in all the big players of the Inner Sphere, but it's a solid adventure in the BattleTech universe and a glimpse behind the curtain for one of the most celebrated mercenary groups around.
This may not be a high stakes book that pulls in all the big players of the Inner Sphere, but it's a solid adventure in the BattleTech universe and a glimpse behind the curtain for one of the most celebrated mercenary groups around.
July 3, 2023
The Kell hounds are propably among my favourite unit in Battletech, so naturally, i'd be drawn to a novel series that explores the inception of this legendary mercenary group. And i wasn't dissapointed. Morgan and Patrick must navigate the peculiar political situation of Galatea and outmanouvre the local mafiaboss blizzard.
I found it a bit lacking in mech-action (the reason i usually come to battletech novels), while the political rivalry between blizzard and the kell brothers is interesting, it does feel a bit surface level.
All in all, an interesting exploration of the origin of one of the most iconic battletech mercenary groups, but a bit lacking in substance.
I found it a bit lacking in mech-action (the reason i usually come to battletech novels), while the political rivalry between blizzard and the kell brothers is interesting, it does feel a bit surface level.
All in all, an interesting exploration of the origin of one of the most iconic battletech mercenary groups, but a bit lacking in substance.
June 28, 2021
The brothers Kell are on the planet Galatea to get their mechwarrior outfit up and running. They'll need to hire techs and mech pilots as they're starting from scratch.
But the planet is run by essentially a mobster who has his hands into everything. And the the head of planetary defense is on the take.
I used to play both Mechwarrior and Battletech and it's been a while since I read any of the novels. Michael Stackpole is among the best of the Battletech writers
But the planet is run by essentially a mobster who has his hands into everything. And the the head of planetary defense is on the take.
I used to play both Mechwarrior and Battletech and it's been a while since I read any of the novels. Michael Stackpole is among the best of the Battletech writers
March 31, 2019
Good classic battletech
A nice bit of classic battletech lore on one of the cornerstone units of the inner sphere. While it leaves you wanting more and isn’t as well developed as a full length novel, it definitely scratches the itch for those who are looking for classic pre-clan succession war lore.
A nice bit of classic battletech lore on one of the cornerstone units of the inner sphere. While it leaves you wanting more and isn’t as well developed as a full length novel, it definitely scratches the itch for those who are looking for classic pre-clan succession war lore.
April 18, 2020
A fun look at Battletech history
The whole Kell Hounds Trilogy has been kind of a behind-the-scenes look into the lore of the Battletech universe, before even most of the Legends books were set. It was fun to read about Patrick and Morgan Kell and their contemporaries, Katrina Steiner, Ian Davion, and others. Great books, highly recommended.
The whole Kell Hounds Trilogy has been kind of a behind-the-scenes look into the lore of the Battletech universe, before even most of the Legends books were set. It was fun to read about Patrick and Morgan Kell and their contemporaries, Katrina Steiner, Ian Davion, and others. Great books, highly recommended.
March 19, 2019
A story I've wanted for years.
Stockpile at his best telling an interesting story with good characters. It's about the people. Not the machines. Stackpole understands that simple fact.
Stockpile at his best telling an interesting story with good characters. It's about the people. Not the machines. Stackpole understands that simple fact.
March 21, 2019
Good read
The characters are well crafted . The heros and the villians. The plot is believable and entertaining. If you are a fan of the battletech universe this book will not disappoint. None of the mechs suffered a Stackpol
The characters are well crafted . The heros and the villians. The plot is believable and entertaining. If you are a fan of the battletech universe this book will not disappoint. None of the mechs suffered a Stackpol
March 28, 2019
Meh, I expected better? Just felt off I guess
Decent story. It was not great though but worth the price of admission as it were. Been done before. Meh.
Decent story. It was not great though but worth the price of admission as it were. Been done before. Meh.
April 3, 2019
Estacione does it again
Just hippy to see a great author as Mr Stackpole return to this universe. A great read for fans of battletech
Just hippy to see a great author as Mr Stackpole return to this universe. A great read for fans of battletech
April 21, 2019
Like old times
Reading this short story was like coming home. No one writes Battletech like Michael A Stackpole. Love the characters so much.
Reading this short story was like coming home. No one writes Battletech like Michael A Stackpole. Love the characters so much.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews