BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #6

BattleTech Universe #Mag6

by Philip A. Lee, Blaine Lee Pardoe, Craig A. Reed Jr.

FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE! The Official BattleTech Magazine surges onward, waging wars that will decide the fate of the BattleMech-dominated future of the 31st century and beyond! Follow a quest for quick cash that yields unusual Star League relics. Commiserate with an aging MechWarrior convinced he is cursed with the devil’s luck—which is about to run out. Listen to the tale of how mercenary commander Ace Darwin obtained his iconic ’Mech—but how much of his story is true? Within these pages, you will visit Terra after the dawn of the ilClan era, venture into the postwar period of the Aurigan Coalition, and travel to the far-flung worlds of the Scorpion Empire in the Deep Periphery. Then you will dive into the intrigue and vice of Solaris VII in the beginning of a new, four-part serial novel.Choose your plan of attack with technical readouts, after-action reports, a deep dive into plasma technology, a treatise on covert-ops poisons, and a look at Free Worlds League politics, along with playable scenarios and more—all loaded into your autocannon by both BattleTech veterans and new voices from the Inner Lee PardoeCraig A. Reed, Jr.E. Clark AveryJason SchmetzerJames BixbyM. W. HaydenMark HillDaniel IsbernerAlexander J. RothKen’ HornerJames KirtleyWunji LauEric SalzmanJoel SteversonStephen Toropov

Genres: Science Fiction

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2021

Reviews

[Urgewyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed Shrapnel's collection of short stories, "in universe" commentary, new mechs and adventures. I've particularly enjoyed Tales from the Cracked Canopy because I'm a complete sucker for that whole trope.

However, this time out two things bugged me more than usual :

1) The absolute lack of editing there seems to be. Spelling and grammatical errors abound throughout the issue. While a certain level of errors are expected because, hey, it's Catalyst, it seemed a lot more obvious this time around. It wasn't up to the usual fiasco of a Shadowrun book, at least.

2) Blaine "Robert E." Lee Pardoe's story continuing the saga from the yawnfest that was Hour of the Wolf. You take the biggest event in recent Battletech history, give it to their worst author and then let the guy come back to bore us again with another story. I don't really get it. How do you make the invasion of Terra BORING?!?! And then somehow manage to write a follow up short story that's just as boring? I mean, I was barely awake to notice his usual personal politics oozing out of the story.

In the future, I should probably just skip Pardoe's stuff unless I have insomnia. The rest of the stories were great, though!

[Faith McClosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner

Shrapnel 6 does not disappoint, living up to previous offerings with a wide variety of awesome Battletech content. All of the stories are solid reads, with a few excellent standouts. We get the beginnings of a serialized story from Craig Reed that will leave you wanting the next Shrapnel to release so you can read more. There is even a story set in the periphery of the HBS Battletech game. There's something for everyone in this edition, you will not be disappointed.

[Walter Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories

A great collection of short stories, covering all kinds of subjects and from different backgrounds and times and settings in the battletech universe.

[Kevin K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid anthology of Battletech stories, although I could take or leave stuff in that occurs after 3080 (it just isn't my jam). If you like Battletech, you'll like this.

[Tim Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine collection of Battletech short stories - less good if you are not a fan already.