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BattleTech Universe
The Gray Death Legion Trilogy: BattleTech Legends Box Set #1
THE FIRST TRILOGY IN THE EPIC SAGA OF FUTURE WAR...
Thirty meters tall, seventy tons of quick-striding death and destruction, the armored war machines called BattleMechs are the front-line forces of the crumbling star empire locked in the horror of the endless Succession Wars. Their pilots are MechWarriors, 31st-century knights riding armored machines powerful enough to destroy an entire city.
AND THE BEGINNING OF A LEGEND…
The Gray Death Legion Trilogy brings together three complete Battletech novels featuring one of the most popular mercenary units ever created—the Gray Death Legion.
DECISION AT THUNDER RIFT
Grayson Death Carlyle had been training to be a MechWarrior since he was 10 years old, but his graduation came sooner than expected. With his friends and family dead and his father's regiment destroyed, young Grayson finds himself stranded on a world turned hostile. Now he must learn the hardest lesson of it takes more than a BattleMech to make a MechWarrior...
But to claim that title, all Grayson has to do is go out and capture one of those giant killing machines...if it doesn't kill him first.
MERCENARY’S STAR
Galatea. The Mercenary's Star. Even the most down on their luck units can find work here. Leading the new Gray Death Legion has been challenging for Grayson Death Carlyle, so when a job comes their way, he’s only too happy to take it. The train the local resistance on the planet Verthandi to resist their Draconis Combine masters.
But things do not go well from the moment the Legion arrives. Trapped on Verthandi and facing a superior force and a fractured populace, the men and women of the Legion find themselves in a situation that makes the campaign on Trellwan look like a walk in the park. And Grayson quickly learns that repeating his past successes may not be so easy this time…
THE PRICE OF GLORY
The Gray Death Legion is in the employ of the Free Worlds League, and has even been given a landhold on the planet Helm. But dark forces conspire against them, and the Legion soon finds themselves declared renegade war criminals, fair game for anyone to attack.
Now they are on the run on their home planet, trying desperately to reach safety before the might of House Marik falls upon them. They are about to discover the true motives of those who engineered their downfall.
And what they discover will change the Inner Sphere forever…
Thirty meters tall, seventy tons of quick-striding death and destruction, the armored war machines called BattleMechs are the front-line forces of the crumbling star empire locked in the horror of the endless Succession Wars. Their pilots are MechWarriors, 31st-century knights riding armored machines powerful enough to destroy an entire city.
AND THE BEGINNING OF A LEGEND…
The Gray Death Legion Trilogy brings together three complete Battletech novels featuring one of the most popular mercenary units ever created—the Gray Death Legion.
DECISION AT THUNDER RIFT
Grayson Death Carlyle had been training to be a MechWarrior since he was 10 years old, but his graduation came sooner than expected. With his friends and family dead and his father's regiment destroyed, young Grayson finds himself stranded on a world turned hostile. Now he must learn the hardest lesson of it takes more than a BattleMech to make a MechWarrior...
But to claim that title, all Grayson has to do is go out and capture one of those giant killing machines...if it doesn't kill him first.
MERCENARY’S STAR
Galatea. The Mercenary's Star. Even the most down on their luck units can find work here. Leading the new Gray Death Legion has been challenging for Grayson Death Carlyle, so when a job comes their way, he’s only too happy to take it. The train the local resistance on the planet Verthandi to resist their Draconis Combine masters.
But things do not go well from the moment the Legion arrives. Trapped on Verthandi and facing a superior force and a fractured populace, the men and women of the Legion find themselves in a situation that makes the campaign on Trellwan look like a walk in the park. And Grayson quickly learns that repeating his past successes may not be so easy this time…
THE PRICE OF GLORY
The Gray Death Legion is in the employ of the Free Worlds League, and has even been given a landhold on the planet Helm. But dark forces conspire against them, and the Legion soon finds themselves declared renegade war criminals, fair game for anyone to attack.
Now they are on the run on their home planet, trying desperately to reach safety before the might of House Marik falls upon them. They are about to discover the true motives of those who engineered their downfall.
And what they discover will change the Inner Sphere forever…
- GenresScience FictionFiction
1288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2019
313 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
William H. Keith Jr.
81 books178 followersBill Keith was raised in the mountains of western Pennsylvania, and served in the Navy as a corpsman for many years. In addition to writing fiction and non-fiction works, he is an award-winning illustrator/artist.
He has also published under the psuedonyms:
Ian Douglas (SF series: Heritage, Legacy, Inheritance, Star Carrier, Andromedan Dark)
H. Jay Riker (SEALS:The Warrior Breed series)
Keith Douglass (Carrier and Seal Team 7 series)
Bill Keith
Keith William Andrews (Freedom's Rangers series)
Robert Cain (Cybernarc series)
He has also published under the psuedonyms:
Ian Douglas (SF series: Heritage, Legacy, Inheritance, Star Carrier, Andromedan Dark)
H. Jay Riker (SEALS:The Warrior Breed series)
Keith Douglass (Carrier and Seal Team 7 series)
Bill Keith
Keith William Andrews (Freedom's Rangers series)
Robert Cain (Cybernarc series)
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 21, 2023
Feels like reading an early 90's action movie !
This triology is filled with action and, considering the time it was written in, very cool plot twists and suprises. (Some things are feeling a little bit "cliche" for modern standards).
From this read, you'll get a mercenary story with its typical moments of heroism, betrayel, love, drama and a good chunk of likable pro- and antagonists.
The key characters are very well written and experience a steady logical character developement across the three books.
In addition to the main plot many lore-related details were explained, which makes it a perfect entry in the Battletech universe.
This triology is filled with action and, considering the time it was written in, very cool plot twists and suprises. (Some things are feeling a little bit "cliche" for modern standards).
From this read, you'll get a mercenary story with its typical moments of heroism, betrayel, love, drama and a good chunk of likable pro- and antagonists.
The key characters are very well written and experience a steady logical character developement across the three books.
In addition to the main plot many lore-related details were explained, which makes it a perfect entry in the Battletech universe.
July 10, 2022
Gray Death Legion's beginnings
I loved these stories and how much lore they show of the universe of Battletech. Grayson's struggles to keep the legion alive and how often his luck held out when it shouldn't have go perfectly within this universe. Especially when you take into account the TTG and how often defeat can be snatched from the jaws of victory due to one dice roll.
I loved these stories and how much lore they show of the universe of Battletech. Grayson's struggles to keep the legion alive and how often his luck held out when it shouldn't have go perfectly within this universe. Especially when you take into account the TTG and how often defeat can be snatched from the jaws of victory due to one dice roll.
October 30, 2024
The Gray Death Legion Trilogy stands as a cornerstone of BattleTech fiction. William H. Keith Jr.'s writing brings the universe to life with vivid detail and compelling characters.
Readers follow the journey of Grayson Death Carlyle from green recruit to respected leader. His growth and the development of the Gray Death Legion provide a satisfying story arc across the three novels.
The books offer a mix of political intrigue, personal drama, and intense mech combat. Keith balances these elements skillfully, creating a well-rounded narrative that appeals to various reader interests.
While some plot points may feel familiar to seasoned science fiction fans, the BattleTech setting provides a unique backdrop. The intricate universe lore enhances the reading experience without overwhelming newcomers.
The trilogy's pacing keeps readers engaged throughout. Each book builds on the previous, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that leaves room for further adventures.
For BattleTech enthusiasts, these books offer essential background on a legendary mercenary unit. New readers will find an accessible entry point into the vast BattleTech universe.
The Gray Death Legion Trilogy remains a recommended read for science fiction and military fiction fans alike. It captures the essence of the BattleTech franchise while telling a gripping human story.
Readers follow the journey of Grayson Death Carlyle from green recruit to respected leader. His growth and the development of the Gray Death Legion provide a satisfying story arc across the three novels.
The books offer a mix of political intrigue, personal drama, and intense mech combat. Keith balances these elements skillfully, creating a well-rounded narrative that appeals to various reader interests.
While some plot points may feel familiar to seasoned science fiction fans, the BattleTech setting provides a unique backdrop. The intricate universe lore enhances the reading experience without overwhelming newcomers.
The trilogy's pacing keeps readers engaged throughout. Each book builds on the previous, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that leaves room for further adventures.
For BattleTech enthusiasts, these books offer essential background on a legendary mercenary unit. New readers will find an accessible entry point into the vast BattleTech universe.
The Gray Death Legion Trilogy remains a recommended read for science fiction and military fiction fans alike. It captures the essence of the BattleTech franchise while telling a gripping human story.
October 20, 2021
First read and always a good read.
These are the first books that got me hooked on BattleTech even though I played the game for years. This gives the BattleTech games a good background for all the board games we played. BattleTech at its best. This a coming of age story, mixed with good dose of war, and betrayal. This series is a great page-turner that's hard to let go once you start reading.
These are the first books that got me hooked on BattleTech even though I played the game for years. This gives the BattleTech games a good background for all the board games we played. BattleTech at its best. This a coming of age story, mixed with good dose of war, and betrayal. This series is a great page-turner that's hard to let go once you start reading.
February 8, 2022
This was an entertaining read. It's nice to get a different mix of futuristic war that is similar to Warhammer 40k. It is amazing how much Games Workshop has borrowed from the Battletech universe. From combat armor, warlord titans, to drop pods. They are both very different, but the influence is undeniable. Warhammer may be more grim-dark, but some of the combat and violence in these books surpasses 40k in its visceral detail. You can always tell when a veteran writes combat.
June 13, 2022
Young apprentice buids a mech regiment from scratch
A young upcoming apprentice mechwarrior faces ruin, but endeavours to rebuild anew a mech regiment from the ruin and goes from strength to strength making and losing comrades along the way
A young upcoming apprentice mechwarrior faces ruin, but endeavours to rebuild anew a mech regiment from the ruin and goes from strength to strength making and losing comrades along the way
March 15, 2020
Love this series.
Love this series. This is the novel series that got me interested in battletech. I would recommend this series to all my friends.
Love this series. This is the novel series that got me interested in battletech. I would recommend this series to all my friends.
April 25, 2020
Enjoyable enough read for nostalgia's sake. BattleMechs are fun. Weak characterisation and improbable romance, but let's be honest, we're not really reading this for the humans.
February 22, 2023
Don't enjoy this as much as the stackpole spine novels, but definitely worth a read.
January 22, 2025
They're pulpy and readable. They're not amazing but they are fun for what they are and the combat and strategic elements feel plausible and engaging.
February 28, 2021
Good story
I have always enjoyed battletech both lore and game. This series is amazing and contains everything I like to see in a good story. Simply a good read.
I have always enjoyed battletech both lore and game. This series is amazing and contains everything I like to see in a good story. Simply a good read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews