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BattleTech Universe
BattleTech: Marauder
Something Lurks in the Shadows...
During the chaos of the Word of Blake's Jihad, the MechWarriors of the Federated Suns will go to any lengths to defend their nation from the Blakists' unholy terror - including making deals with the devil. But that devil might just be a literal one: an all-black Marauder, hidden for several decades, carries an aura of dread that infects everyone who encounters it. Many blame it for causing unexplained disappearances, odd technical failures, and even madness. But what is the so-called Dark One? Is it merely a ghost story told to scare pirates on the edge of the Periphery, or does something truly evil live beneath its cold, blackened armor?
This anthology collects the first three of Lance Scarinci's stories about the Dark One, along with a brand-new fourth story exclusive to this volume.
During the chaos of the Word of Blake's Jihad, the MechWarriors of the Federated Suns will go to any lengths to defend their nation from the Blakists' unholy terror - including making deals with the devil. But that devil might just be a literal one: an all-black Marauder, hidden for several decades, carries an aura of dread that infects everyone who encounters it. Many blame it for causing unexplained disappearances, odd technical failures, and even madness. But what is the so-called Dark One? Is it merely a ghost story told to scare pirates on the edge of the Periphery, or does something truly evil live beneath its cold, blackened armor?
This anthology collects the first three of Lance Scarinci's stories about the Dark One, along with a brand-new fourth story exclusive to this volume.
- GenresScience Fiction
156 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2022
25 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 12, 2023
Honestly this rating is probably too high. But, I haven’t read a battletech book in decades and I’m not really a Lovecraft guy and this is kind of a mix of both. I was surprised by how much I liked it.
September 2, 2022
Who doesn't love a Marauder. Not even the devil apparently....
Plenty of Battletech content, and more besides.
Plenty of Battletech content, and more besides.
September 14, 2022
Interesting Book
The premise behind these stories would initially make you think that they are ghost stories. But by the end of the fourth story you get the idea that what is happening comes from either demons or from some alien race that is more energy based that can cause people to go insane and also be able to teleport people out of sealed rooms and cockpits. Maybe by opening rifts or portals into another dimension. I definitely enjoyed all four stories. Definitely not ghost stories. Ghosts can't do the things that happened in these stories. Great Book worth reading.
The premise behind these stories would initially make you think that they are ghost stories. But by the end of the fourth story you get the idea that what is happening comes from either demons or from some alien race that is more energy based that can cause people to go insane and also be able to teleport people out of sealed rooms and cockpits. Maybe by opening rifts or portals into another dimension. I definitely enjoyed all four stories. Definitely not ghost stories. Ghosts can't do the things that happened in these stories. Great Book worth reading.
January 25, 2023
A fine addition to the Black Marauder Saga
I've been waiting to read this story ever since talking with Lance about his development of the Perseus Schell character several years ago and it was worth the wait.
Character development for Black Kevin is solid, even if his actual appearance is only hinted at in the new material, and develops the character for later stories.
If you enjoyed the three Interstellar Expeditions source books or are a fan of the Periphery, where Battletech seems to keep it's reserve of "strange and unusual" stories, this book is for you.
I've been waiting to read this story ever since talking with Lance about his development of the Perseus Schell character several years ago and it was worth the wait.
Character development for Black Kevin is solid, even if his actual appearance is only hinted at in the new material, and develops the character for later stories.
If you enjoyed the three Interstellar Expeditions source books or are a fan of the Periphery, where Battletech seems to keep it's reserve of "strange and unusual" stories, this book is for you.
April 10, 2023
Well, this was a very interesting track to take a Battletech series. And honestly I rather liked it. Amusingly enough, for years I had toyed with an 'alternate history' adventure game for Battletech where the scenario pitted a company of Battlemechs out exploring some far far far off world well away from the Inner Sphere, and encountering giant, well, monsters and demons. I have tons of Battlemechs for the game, and plenty of demons from my old DnD gaming days, but I never got stats really written up for them.
Now these stories come out and it has rekindled my interest in trying to take this project up again (next problem will be time; had a lot more free time a couple decades ago!).
Fun stories. I actually look forward to seeing if any more come out on this Marauder.
Now these stories come out and it has rekindled my interest in trying to take this project up again (next problem will be time; had a lot more free time a couple decades ago!).
Fun stories. I actually look forward to seeing if any more come out on this Marauder.
January 16, 2023
I enjoyed the new approach and blend of genres for this collection.
The stories are basically haunted Battletech. I think they all give an out for everyday nothing special trickery to be the cause, but they also lead down the path of supernatural and/or alien.
I enjoyed the blend here. It was a good distraction from the main line stories.
The stories are basically haunted Battletech. I think they all give an out for everyday nothing special trickery to be the cause, but they also lead down the path of supernatural and/or alien.
I enjoyed the blend here. It was a good distraction from the main line stories.
November 25, 2023
Good and spooky yet still somehow about big rock ‘em sock ‘em robots. I’ve read a LOT of Battletech books and I appreciate how this book tries to do something different while being true to the Cannon. Like many if in universe books I’d you like the universe you’ll like the book, but if you’re unfamiliar with it, then these stories might be a little too niche.
September 15, 2022
Finally a good new tale.
Not such a fan of Ghost Stories but this is well done. The end is a little rushed, but hopefully that will be finished in the next in the series.
Let's keep Battletech as Battletech and not get lost. Simplicity through Purity....
Not such a fan of Ghost Stories but this is well done. The end is a little rushed, but hopefully that will be finished in the next in the series.
Let's keep Battletech as Battletech and not get lost. Simplicity through Purity....
May 4, 2024
I really liked how different this was! It was a good read (no pun intended). The origin story was solid and the progression was wonderfully done. I really liked the nice little twist at the end to boot. Hope to see a continuation of this storyline at some point. 🙂
September 14, 2024
excellent idea and well written!
This was a great story. The supernatural mech and its effect on its operator. I would love to read more about this mechanical terror and while reading it i have my own short story in mind.
This was a great story. The supernatural mech and its effect on its operator. I would love to read more about this mechanical terror and while reading it i have my own short story in mind.
October 1, 2022
Good read
Interesting new take on the battletech universe with a series of linked stories all centred around a tainted evil black marauder
Interesting new take on the battletech universe with a series of linked stories all centred around a tainted evil black marauder
March 30, 2024
A fun cosmic horror departure from the typical big stompy robot stories.
November 6, 2025
Very fun mix of military sci-fi and horror. I especially liked the first two stories in this anthology.
October 24, 2024
"So You've Decided to Read Battletech" - Review 11
An anthology of four spooky stories.
But is it cannon?
Review:
Story 1: An eerie tale with the tone of a campfire ghost story. I liked how open-ended it was. Maybe the story is real, maybe it's not. 3/5
Story 2: A completely different type of horror, this is a tale of possession/obsession with a touch of The Cask of Amontillado. It loses some of the mysterious, eerie vibes by more concretely acknowledging the Marauder is indeed a force all its own. 2.5/5
Story 3: A, "I was there," story told by a drunk in a bar. Once again, horror takes a different approach, this time giving us excessive cruelty which I did not appreciate but it's a legitimate approach to horror and certainly made me feel horrified. The Marauder is more clearly defined which I didn't like (though the door is left slightly open that the Marauder really isn't autonomous.) 2/5
Story 4: Another change in tone, more in line with modern Battletech sensibilities EXCEPT for the supernatural/extra-dimensional/cosmic horror element. We are given some strong suggestions as to the exact nature of the Marauder. I like the story, but I dislike the thought of aliens, extra-planar creatures, or Ancient Old Ones in Battletech. 2.5/5
Assessment:
I mostly had fun with the stories but hope they are apocryphal. It would be neat if the Marauder series was an in-universe ghost story, told by grizzled MechWarriors to new recruits.
An anthology of four spooky stories.
But is it cannon?
Review:
Story 1: An eerie tale with the tone of a campfire ghost story. I liked how open-ended it was. Maybe the story is real, maybe it's not. 3/5
Story 2: A completely different type of horror, this is a tale of possession/obsession with a touch of The Cask of Amontillado. It loses some of the mysterious, eerie vibes by more concretely acknowledging the Marauder is indeed a force all its own. 2.5/5
Story 3: A, "I was there," story told by a drunk in a bar. Once again, horror takes a different approach, this time giving us excessive cruelty which I did not appreciate but it's a legitimate approach to horror and certainly made me feel horrified. The Marauder is more clearly defined which I didn't like (though the door is left slightly open that the Marauder really isn't autonomous.) 2/5
Story 4: Another change in tone, more in line with modern Battletech sensibilities EXCEPT for the supernatural/extra-dimensional/cosmic horror element. We are given some strong suggestions as to the exact nature of the Marauder. I like the story, but I dislike the thought of aliens, extra-planar creatures, or Ancient Old Ones in Battletech. 2.5/5
Assessment:
I mostly had fun with the stories but hope they are apocryphal. It would be neat if the Marauder series was an in-universe ghost story, told by grizzled MechWarriors to new recruits.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews