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The Capellan Solution #1
Threads of Ambition
Sun-Tzu Liao is the first Lord of the resurrected Star League. In the last year of his reign, he decides to milk his power for every ounce of benefit to himself. His dream to rebuild his Capellan Confederation at any cost is about to become a reality. His first victim: his own aunt, Candace Liao, who deserted the Confederation in the Fourth Succession War, taking the St. Ives Compact with her.
Answering Sun-Tzue's call to battle is Warrior House Hiritsu, always ready to serve, and the Hustaing Warriors, who will do what is necessary to get the job done. As border skirmishes between BattleMechs turn bloody, military units rally to Candace Liao's call to hold the line. Both Sides are unyielding in this hard-fought war. And as Capellan fights Capellan, the high price of glory will be paid in full...
Answering Sun-Tzue's call to battle is Warrior House Hiritsu, always ready to serve, and the Hustaing Warriors, who will do what is necessary to get the job done. As border skirmishes between BattleMechs turn bloody, military units rally to Candace Liao's call to hold the line. Both Sides are unyielding in this hard-fought war. And as Capellan fights Capellan, the high price of glory will be paid in full...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
22 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Loren L. Coleman
107 books39 followersLoren L. Coleman (born 1968) is a science-fiction writer, born and grew up in Longview, Washington.
He is known for having written many books for series such as Star Trek, Battletech/Mechwarrior, Age of Conan, Crimson Skies, Magic: The Gathering and others. Former member of the United States Navy, he has also written game fiction and source material for such companies as FASA Corporation, TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast.
In early 2010s, he began writing The ICAS Files series, science fiction short-stories. [wikipedia]
He is known for having written many books for series such as Star Trek, Battletech/Mechwarrior, Age of Conan, Crimson Skies, Magic: The Gathering and others. Former member of the United States Navy, he has also written game fiction and source material for such companies as FASA Corporation, TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast.
In early 2010s, he began writing The ICAS Files series, science fiction short-stories. [wikipedia]
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 13, 2024
Loren Coleman’s Threads of Ambition is a rare treat of mecha political theater.
Perhaps unlike other readers of this book I stumbled upon it by accident. The brother of a close friend of mine had recently gone to a garage sale and acquired a large collection of Science Fiction books. He subsequently bestowed them upon me. I have never read anything in the BattleTech series, nor do I really know what it is. However, I will say I am a fan of many mecha related stories/games (Gundam, Armored Core, MechWarrior, etc.). I had low expectations for this old, somewhat dingy book. I was very happily surprised.
Coleman is a very competent writer. The plot of Threads does not have high peaks nor does it have low lows, as a result, this book had a high potential to be very boring. It is Coleman’s writing that keeps it just interesting enough to make it a very enjoyable read.
If you enjoyed Threads of Ambition and haven’t read the Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN graphic novels, I highly recommend it.
If you like some political theater, simple but enjoyable mecha fights, Chinese history, and galactic empires I’d say you will have a good time with Threads of Ambition. I would give this a 8 out of 10.
Perhaps unlike other readers of this book I stumbled upon it by accident. The brother of a close friend of mine had recently gone to a garage sale and acquired a large collection of Science Fiction books. He subsequently bestowed them upon me. I have never read anything in the BattleTech series, nor do I really know what it is. However, I will say I am a fan of many mecha related stories/games (Gundam, Armored Core, MechWarrior, etc.). I had low expectations for this old, somewhat dingy book. I was very happily surprised.
Coleman is a very competent writer. The plot of Threads does not have high peaks nor does it have low lows, as a result, this book had a high potential to be very boring. It is Coleman’s writing that keeps it just interesting enough to make it a very enjoyable read.
If you enjoyed Threads of Ambition and haven’t read the Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN graphic novels, I highly recommend it.
If you like some political theater, simple but enjoyable mecha fights, Chinese history, and galactic empires I’d say you will have a good time with Threads of Ambition. I would give this a 8 out of 10.
October 20, 2021
BattleTech 45, Capellan Solution #1. Sun Tsu uses his position as First Lord of the Star League to reclaim some of his realm lost to the Fourth Succession War. This book takes place around the same time as Book 42, Shadows of War and carries over to the same time as Book 43, Prince of Havoc.
January 29, 2026
Now as First Lord, SZL moves against his rebellious provinces.
This is structurally the way that I like my Battletech, where there is the political, strategic, and tactical levels, all operating independently but interelatedly. This is also perspective-wise how I like my Battletech, where we see things from multiple sides in the conflict, often where the involvement of a different PoV character is only apparent in context. And anyone can die.
I do not understand why this book did not come before Prince of Havoc, in how we get to see first-hand events that occur there, and with a lot of it about things that then happen in that book. But at this point my fidelity to order in reading these books is starting to slip based on what material that I like and do not, so it is more a matter of curiosity.
Like before, the racism is largely subsided, to the point that it almost becomes a character flaw. The portrayal here of SZL is 'sure, I guess,' in that the inscrutability is still key to the character, rendering Asians as aliens, and there are those egregious moments particularly early on in the book, but there is something resembling an interesting character here trying to have his time on stage. Or at least the prospect of one, I remain somewhat wary.
Unfortunately, the book is flawed. I think that Coleman has all the right instincts but not the chops to pull off what he is doing. Things start unclear, and there is periodic moments that took a re-read to follow right. The funny thing is that even in this, often the good instincts show through: there are some excellent uses of what is not described going on.
There is also this all too fan-fic-ish plot thread. It fills an interesting space in the book in terms of PoVs, but it is too Biggles, too plucky people doing good things and failing in ways that teach positive lessons, and who are all self-aware and like talking about it. Again, good instincts in terms of some sort of story like this, about this side of the conflict, but it feels overly generic, a bad take on Golden Age science fiction.
This is structurally the way that I like my Battletech, where there is the political, strategic, and tactical levels, all operating independently but interelatedly. This is also perspective-wise how I like my Battletech, where we see things from multiple sides in the conflict, often where the involvement of a different PoV character is only apparent in context. And anyone can die.
I do not understand why this book did not come before Prince of Havoc, in how we get to see first-hand events that occur there, and with a lot of it about things that then happen in that book. But at this point my fidelity to order in reading these books is starting to slip based on what material that I like and do not, so it is more a matter of curiosity.
Like before, the racism is largely subsided, to the point that it almost becomes a character flaw. The portrayal here of SZL is 'sure, I guess,' in that the inscrutability is still key to the character, rendering Asians as aliens, and there are those egregious moments particularly early on in the book, but there is something resembling an interesting character here trying to have his time on stage. Or at least the prospect of one, I remain somewhat wary.
Unfortunately, the book is flawed. I think that Coleman has all the right instincts but not the chops to pull off what he is doing. Things start unclear, and there is periodic moments that took a re-read to follow right. The funny thing is that even in this, often the good instincts show through: there are some excellent uses of what is not described going on.
There is also this all too fan-fic-ish plot thread. It fills an interesting space in the book in terms of PoVs, but it is too Biggles, too plucky people doing good things and failing in ways that teach positive lessons, and who are all self-aware and like talking about it. Again, good instincts in terms of some sort of story like this, about this side of the conflict, but it feels overly generic, a bad take on Golden Age science fiction.
March 2, 2019
It has always felt a little weird to me how stories focused on the Capellan Confederation didn't quite grip me as much. I guess we can blame years of mis-characteracterizing the likes of Sun Tzu Liao as your sort of stereotypical mustache-twirling villain, if you get my drift.
But the events of the Twilight of the Clans coupled with this duology help flesh him out a lot more and give him more depth. And the overall development of thing in how he manages to perform a soft invasion of the St. Ives Compact while remaining semi-neutral as First Lord of the Star League was quite the master stroke.
It gets a little messy with all of the jumping around between different POV characters on both sides of the conflict, but I suppose that was to be expected. For the most part it was still a good run and a promising start to a larger story.
But the events of the Twilight of the Clans coupled with this duology help flesh him out a lot more and give him more depth. And the overall development of thing in how he manages to perform a soft invasion of the St. Ives Compact while remaining semi-neutral as First Lord of the Star League was quite the master stroke.
It gets a little messy with all of the jumping around between different POV characters on both sides of the conflict, but I suppose that was to be expected. For the most part it was still a good run and a promising start to a larger story.
October 21, 2017
M.Coleman mastered the Battletech universe and you got a solid Battletech books.. so why only 3 stars?
I enjoy it less because the book is a feeling of déjà vu. The political intrigues, battle heat cockpit, loyalty questioning, 'rogue' pilot... I have seen this ingredients in previous Battletech books.
Like most Battlech novels, it has many characters and change of scene so it can be confusing.
So like I said, a solid Battletech book, Coleman introduce us to the Capellan history in a very living way.
I recommend the book and I will read Capellan book number two.
June 24, 2019
Emotionless
I did not connect with any of the characters as they were not built in this book at all. Altogether emotionless just get it done tyoe of a performance from the author. Where was the excitement?
I did not connect with any of the characters as they were not built in this book at all. Altogether emotionless just get it done tyoe of a performance from the author. Where was the excitement?
May 19, 2022
One of the better written battletech books. Glad to know I'm not the only.one who overthinks his actions in conversation and overanalyzes every reaction
February 28, 2025
Mediocre and never got invested in the story.
September 10, 2020
Sun-Tzu Liao's tenure as head of the reformed Star league is closing to an end. He sends out a message to troops from his own Capellan Confederation to take back worlds that seceded during the fourth Succession War and formed the St. Ives Compact.
Lots of action, with a small amount of political maneuvering behind the scenes as he moves forces into place under the Star League banner while he still has the chance.
Looks at the conflict from both sides, with several interesting side plots.
Lots of action, with a small amount of political maneuvering behind the scenes as he moves forces into place under the Star League banner while he still has the chance.
Looks at the conflict from both sides, with several interesting side plots.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews