Wolves on the Border

BattleTech Universe #8

by Robert N. Charrette

Bushido governs all these concepts. As a MechWarrior of the Draconis Combine, Minobu Tetsuhara was bound b Bushido - a code that demands loyal service - to the devious Warlord Grieg Samsonov.

But when Minobu came upon a strange blue-and-gold Archer, the field littered with its vanquished opponents and its weapons now empty, Bushido also dictated that he not destroy the honorable but helpless warrior. And so he rescued Jaime Wolf.

Minobu was then assigned as liaison to the Wolf's Dargoons, one of the Combine's most elite mercenary units, who treated him with the respect due a fellow warrior. When the mercenaries refused to renew their contract with Samsonov, Minobu was instructed to destroy them.

Now Bushido dictates that Minobu oppose his honorable foe, a man with whom he has served and who deserves far better than betrayal...

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy, Role Playing Games, Fantasy

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Credited on some German editions as "Robert N. Charette".

Reviews

[Joseph Thai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book stands above all other Battletech novels (I know, that's not saying much). Still, it's pretty enjoyable and you don't need to know anything about the universe or the meta-plot to read it. The characters are interesting and the battles don't read like a transcript from a Battletech game. This is the only Battletech novel I would recommend to someone who isn't already a Battletech fan. If the idea of a Black space-samurai piloting a 10-meter tall walking tank sounds awesome to you, you would probably like this book.

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Combates al mando de un mech.-

Género. Ciencia ficción.

Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Lobos en la frontera (publicación original: Wolves on the Border, 1988) conoceremos a Minobu Tetsuhara, caído en desgracia y destinado para servir como oficial de enlace con los mercenarios (perdón, Unidades Profesionales) de los Dragones de Wolf, un grupo que aunque ahora está en el bando del Condominio Draconis luchó contra él hace poco tiempo al servicio de la Casa Steiner. Libro que pertenece a la serie Battletech, de carácter independiente pero cuyos eventos se pueden colocar (y en parte están relacionados) en el segundo libro de la trilogía El sol y la espada, La gran alianza.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Mirnes Alispahić · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as the books based on a board game goes, I think this one as good as it gets. Unlike the abysmal Dragons of Autumn Twilight which I wouldn't find entertaining even if I was 20 years younger when I read it, Wolves on the Border has its qualities. For one, Charrette is a better writer and he tries to carry the story as best he can. Main problem of this novel is time span which makes it hard for Charrette to assemble cohesive story, but he has to cut it into chapters which are months apart in a way that it reminds of cutscenes in a video game. Second problems which only enhances the first one is a large assembly of characters who have their POV.
Set those aside, story is good. Minobu Tetsuhara is a black samurai from 31. century who serves House Kurita and rides his 70 tons Mech. Dishonored, he has to be liaison to Wolfe's Dragoon, mercenary company who started working for House Kurita having been on the opposite side earlier. Soon, friendship between Minobu and Jaime Wolf, commander of Dragoons starts to flourish as Minobu discovers that Jaimes and his Dragoons are more honorable that previously thought.
But what will happen when duty and honor stand in the way of friendship? Will two friends go against each other?
Parts with Minobu are the one that are best written and his and Jaime's characters are most fleshed out. Others are just carboard cutouts used to fill the gaps. Last two chapters are great, especially the ending.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the Wolf's Dragoons have shown up in other books and their legend is well known within the game, this is the first novel to finally delve into their story and give us a little insight into one of the most renowned mercenary outfits in all the Inner Sphere. In terms of the BattleTech universe, this book happens before the Warrior Trilogy and it actually might be pretty meaningful to read it between the first and second books of the Warrior trilogy at the very least.

Charrette is the fourth author I've read in this universe so far and he did a pretty good job on this novel. I think I still prefer Stackpole over all, but Charrette managed to craft a great story to supplement the game. At this point the major House books have been published by FASA and after having read the Kurita house book, this book is very well written within the universe. This book focuses on the time when the Dragoons were hired by the Draconis Combine and in true Combine fashion they hope to keep the Dragoons trapped within the Combine system, but the Dragoons prove to be a harder quarry to trap.

This story centers around a disgraced samurai Minobu assigned to be liaison officer with the Dragoons. The Draconis Combine is very prejudiced against any mercenaries teaching their citizens and warriors that mercenary's have no honor. Given this stance, I've always found it strange that they bothered to hire mercs in the first place, never mind such high profile ones like the Wolf's Dragoons. However, it does make some sense when they have a history of absorbing merc units by ensaring them in a debt scheme they can't escape. This was never going to work with the Dragoons though because they get their supplies by other means. So, if the Combine wants to control the Dragoons, it was always going to take other means.

Minobu is surprised to find Jamie Wolf and his Dragoons to be incredibly honorable and this sort of creates a bit of a personal conflict for him when it comes to helping Wolf and serving Kurita. I thought Charrette did a great job of also showing that divide in the society about some people that wholly adopt the ways of Bushido and those who mostly follow what they have to, such as Warlord Samsonov, the warlord who's jurisdiction the Dragoons find themselves under. When it appears Minobu is becoming more loyal to Wolf rather than Samsonov they decide to try and split the two up. However, it is too late and Minobu and Wolf have already formed a very strong friendship. The novel really centers around these two and we follow them through the hardships as they both try to find a way to survive as the Combine tries to ensnare the wolves.

The one complaint I have about the story is that, while everything is dated, sometimes it was hard to remember between chapters how big of a time jump happened. It's not really like the Warrior Trilogy or Gray Death where each novel was in a sequence of events. Instead, Wolves on the Border covers years of employment for the Dragoons. So, some chapters will suddenly jump months, especially, when I felt like there might be more to say about a particular scene. Regardless, while this was distracting at times, overall the main point of the story gets across quite well. The 'Mech battles were very well written and luckily Charrette never fell into the trap like the early authors where they just tried to recount a tabletop game when they first started out. At least Charrette had the foresight to realize this would make for bad reading. There's a lot of political intrigue in this novel, which you should come to expect from the series if you've been reading the books in order. I find some of this the most compelling aspect of the books half of the time.

Due to the fact that the book tries to cover a pretty long time frame compared to the other novels so far, some characters that are introduced are only there very briefly. The fact that the Dragoons are a large company means its it is tough to get to know all the different characters, so some characters aren't as deeply developed as others. Basically, Minobu wound up being the most developed character in the entire book. We do run into some other famous characters, such as Natasha Kerensky, but her unit, the Black Widows, didn't show up as much as I expected. There were still some pretty cool characters that I had wished we'd run into more often. But, I understand that within a single book that would be hard, I almost felt like this should have been it's own trilogy.

In the end, if you've enjoyed the other BattleTech books, then I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy this one too. I'm glad BattleTech has been able to find consistently solid authors to flesh out their world and even though this book felt slightly disjointed at times, Charrette still did a great job crafting the overall story and making it an exciting read.

[Eddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an excellent use of an intertwined series of books. Although a great standalone novel, this also acts as a kind of coda to the previous Warrior trilogy, explaining one small scene in book two of that trilogy, while also paralleling the plots of those books. I can certainly see why many Battletech fans rave about these early novels.

[H.L. Reasby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! The characters are really complex and wonderfully written. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

[Mitch Workman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant voice in the magnificent opera that is Battletech

So much goes into writing a complex and compelling political narrative. Robert N. Charrette achieves that with Wolves on the Border.

Following DCMS officer Minobu Tetsuhara while he is assigned as a liaison officer to the legendary mercenary unit Wolf's Dragoons, Wolves on the Border takes us into the 31st century world of Battlemech combat and political subterfuge. Contracted to House Kurita, the Dragoons find themselves being forced into a corner, being robbed of the crucial battlefield salvage they require to keep their 'Mechs functional.

With little support from the Draconis Combine, plots begin to fall into place to press the Dragoons into service with the DCMS permanently. This leads to a devastating confrontation between Jaime Wolf's mercenaries and the Kurita units now being commanded by his friend, Tetsuhara.

This book delivers the Battletech goods with every bit of prowess that the previous works by Stackpole, Keith, and Mayhar did before.

[Kavinay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm generally interested in BT for the Clans and their psycho-culture. The 3025 and Succession War campaigns generally are just grist for the Kerensky mill for me (i.e. this is why you needed Operation Revival).

That being said, Charrette's depiction of Minobu Tetsuhara is deceptively good. The novel isn't really about Wolf's Dragoons. It's actually a really good take on the noblest of Inner Sphere warriors set against the Game of Thrones style politics of the Successor Lords and pretenders. Even when you know how the book will end, it's still a very compelling read and develops so much of the DCMS culture beyond the otaku-ness of Stackpole's novels.

[Heinz Reinhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Battletech was one of my childhood joys. It was my first shared universe love, before Star Wars briefly took over my affections which in turn was conquered by the worlds of Warhammer 40K and Warhammer Fantasy. I had thought of diving back into the novels (too stretched financially to get into the tabletop or the PC realms), but without an Ebook reader it was too costly.
Then I got an Ebook app, and discovered most of the original run of novels was in digital format.
I chose Wolves on the Border as my return trip into what is still a bit of nostalgia.
Set during the time period immediately before the final Succession War, the book follows a House Kurita Mechwarrior by the name of Minobu Tetsuhara who comes to be the liaison for Wolf's Dragoons, the greatest mercenary force in the Inner Sphere.
Tetsuhara befriends the leader of the Dragoons, Jaime Wolf, and earns the jealous ire of his fellow Kuritan officers, and a district warlord by the name of Grieg Samsonov. Byzantine intrigue abounds as Samsonov as his confederates attempt to discredit both Tetsuhara and the Dragoons, eventually forcing them into a tragic, bloody conflict.
If you are familiar with the lore of the universe you will recognize some of these names, especially that of the Black Widow: the beautiful, charming, yet profanely badass Natasha Kerensky. (Clearly whoever designed her character either had a huge crush on Russian women, or had a Russian girlfriend as Natasha reminds me so quintissentially of most of the Russian ladies I have had the honor of knowing and not be killed by in my life).
There is also a very brief hint of the Dragoons true origins.
All in all an excellent read, good for fans of military sci-fi in general as well as Battletech as there is a great deal of emphasis placed on operational planning as well as tactics and even, gasp, logistics. Certainly more than what snobs would call braindead pulp.

[Timothy Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost skipped this book because i don't really care much for the Wolfs Dragoons but I'm glad I didn't.
It's well written and a fun read.
I did struggle to ever really understand the motivations of the antagonists other than three being mustache twirling villains.
And the scene of the heroes heavy handed tactics I dealing with protestors was uncomfortable and other modern readers might feel the same.

[Xan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Otro agujero en la trama de Battletech que se cierra. Como siempre acabo el libro con ganas de instalar los juegos y volver a probar mi habilidad con los mechs. Seguiré buscando esos libros que aún no he leído.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not my thing...

[Logan Kedzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like duty vs. desire story about the love between a member of the Wu-Tang Clan and a crypto-fascist spy. Or the Healing of the Centurion's Servant but with giant robots.

Wolves on the Border is operatic. I do not mean space opera, as Battletech books occupy more of the mil sci-fi side of things; I mean that, when thinking about how this would be adapted, it would require a libretto.

It is also, technically, the first Clan book, as all the clues that Wolf's Dragoons are actually the Clan are there, usually as less as clues and more as unanswered nonsense and dangling plot.

The Dragoons, who, at this point, have worked for every house but Kurita, are hired by Kurita. This is a source of trouble within Kurita, as they seem to detest mercenaries so much that they'd never hire them, but I think that the plot contrivance is that Kurita is looking to get the better of the situation by cracking the secret sauce of the Dragoons. Minobu, a mechwarrior without a mech, is made the primary liaison, intended as a throwaway position, but things happen.

Calling Minobu and Jamie in a bromance feels insulting. The way to characterize it is to not characterize it, because how you choose to characterize is the question of the text.

There are some stellar moments here because Charrette knows exactly how to employ PoV. Like my eyes rolled at Jamie's test of Minobu at his walking into their staff meeting, but not only does its explication of Minobu's process do a lot for his and Jamie's characters, but the reprisal of the scene with other commanders, under their PoV, makes both scenes more meaningful as you see those commanders falling for the traps set, and gives more weight to what otherwise might be missed subtly different treatment by Jamie.

The text seems at or near the limit of fetish about honor in Kurita, and I cringe a bit every time they're referred to as "snakes," which feels too on the nose and somehow not comparable to something like 'fed rat' but it is not a uniquely Japanese ideal, and it is expressly one that classical Japanese narrative dwells in, as well as military and war narrative in general. You don't need to advance further in the Western corpus than the Iliad to find western versions of the conflict, so I am a little curious as to how it might be perceived, or at least perceived now, not in the 80s. And the invocations of Ki are just too much.

But Minobu being a black man takes some of the sting out, I think, of that trite presentation of bushido. Sometimes it feels like there is some order of racial essentialism, particularly with Liao, but here I take the emphasis as being on the adapted versions of things. All the houses are engaging in some sort of historical cosplay, be in the Teutonic one of Stenier or the...er....slightly different Teutonic eras of Davion, or the other other Teutonic one of Marik Look, basically, I want to think that this is lampshading all of that.

Because, as someone on record as not liking either faction that the main characters are from, this was a pretty darn good book. I found myself emotionally invested in their problems, because the authors gave the characters impossible problems, or ends with only sad solutions, and did a decent job as to convincing the reader that these people are good military commanders. Maybe it is a bit too stereotyped, but from beginning to end you have memorable scenes, from Minobu's home life on the edge to Jamie's Shakespearean moment with Takashi at the wedding reception.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I sometimes feel like I'm being overly critical of these pulp sci-fi novels made to sell cardboard and lead, but even with some lingering hesitations about the racism or whatever you want to call it, I think that this book proves you can take what is a sort of one-off irrelevance in the plot arc and deliver a five-star text, through what amounts to landing single after single with classic stories and hookable characters.

[Clint the Cool Guy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I give up. I just can’t read this. I don’t know why it has any good reviews, other than there weren’t any other Battletech books to compare it to at the time. Super, super dry and boring. About a dishonored Kuritan samurai, I guess. Why we’re supposed to care, I don’t know. He’s been sent to join some Wolf’s Dragoons who Kurita has hired against the Davions for extremely vague reasons.

This book suffers a lot from what most BT books suffer from: an inadequate explanation for the war at hand, people who act like comic book stereotypes instead of acting realistically, and no sense conveyed of the true cost and horror of war. As a result it’s just about impossible to take seriously at all. And even if you could take the idea of 50 foot mechs as “for fun” and not for serious, the earnest seriousness of how this story is written negates that. Not one person in the story ever makes a joke or hardly acts human at all.

I thought I could keep reading but I can’t force myself to continue this dreck. Not recommended.

[ComputerGuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't just a great BattleTech book; it's a high-water mark for licensed fiction and a masterpiece of military science fiction. Robert N. Charrette crafts a tense, character-driven political thriller that transcends its "real robot" premise.

The story is a gripping exploration of honor, loyalty, and the impossible choices leaders face in wartime, perfectly embodied in the complex relationship between the legendary mercenary commander Jaime Wolf and the Draconis Combine's Minobu Tetsuhara. This is not a simple tale of good versus evil; it's a nuanced look at conflicting codes of ethics and the personal cost of duty. The 'Mech combat is visceral and tactical, but it always serves the larger narrative of cultural clashes and personal sacrifice.

Wolves on the Border is a cornerstone of the BattleTech universe, proving that the best stories are about the people inside the machines. It is absolutely essential reading for any fan of the franchise, and a fantastic novel in its own right.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rare Battletech novel that does not focus overly on the battles. This one follows the Wolf's Dragoons and their tenure as mercenaries to the Draconis Combine. Our protagonist, Minobu Tetsuhara, is a samurai of african descent, under House Kurita, working as the liaison for Wolf's Dragoon's. The Dragoons find themselves under the thumb of a vicious warlord who wants to ensure they don't work for anyone other than House Kurita ever again.

While many Battletech novels focus on the 'mechs themselves and the battles players love to enact in the tabletop game, this one only has a few notable battles. A lot of time is spent on Jamie Wolf and Minobu Tetsuhara and their friendship. The characters are well realized and likeable. The plot is tense although the motives of the villains were a bit confusing or convoluted to me. And the final battle was excellently written.

I quite liked this book in comparison to other Battletech novels I've read. It is steeped in the Kurita Samurai culture, and its clash with the mysterious Dragoons mercenaries, so if you dislike these aspects this might not be for you. This book is also nicely focused on these few characters without ever really jumping around to big galactic events or major players. I wish more Battletech novels did that.

[Heiki Eesmaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Military sci-fi can make some really infuriating villains by placing them upwards in the chain of command and constantly displaying their lack of commendable qualities. Never have I felt it done as strongly as in this book.

I have read it fits well between books 2 and 3 of Warrior trilogy, which is pretty good as well. I think Charrette in general is a better writer than Stackpole though. Strictly not necessary, if you know something about that era Battletech, you'll be able to figure out that Wolf's Dragoons are part of Clan vanguard / reconaissance. Or something. I don't think the book ever states it that explicitly but there are a lot of clues.

I had a blast reading it.

[Joe Beet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story punches above its weight because it surprised me how enjoyable it was. Yes, it's characters are tropey and the villains openly twirl moustaches in naked bids for power, but the story arc of Minobu Tetsuhara managed to actually be quite tragic and moving by the end.

No small feat for a book about big mechs stomping around and punching each other.

A grounded feel to a setting that, despite best efforts, is still a little fantastical. I ended up rooting for the characters and hoping for a resolution when the two heroes of our stories cross paths, despite being fairly 2D characters.

For its length, a good read! First time reading BattleTech, and it held up. Here is to hoping the rest are at least as good (or at least have some deeper character motivations).

[Clementine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am finally getting back into reading after stopping due to highschool burnout. Found this at the local Salvos, and thought it would be the perfect kind of braindead pulpy nonsense to ease my way back in, but the complexity of Minobu's character surprised me. It takes "haha space samurai" and turns it into a serious culture, with all the politics and backstabbing such a society would encourage. As someone who knows nothing about the surrounding setting, I never felt like the novel failed to properly explain anything that was not intentionally supposed to be unknown. I would be very surprised if the other Battletech novels get even close to this level of writing though, will have to try a few more out to test if I am correct!

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regarded by some as one of the best Battletech books, Wolves on the Border provides an engaging and action-packed narrative for fans of the series. Even those unfamiliar with the Battletech universe can find much to enjoy. The story offers insights into the future of the Battletech universe, and the Epilogue features a compelling throwback to a previous book in the series. A recommended read for anyone fascinated by the blend of samurai ethos and giant stompy robots in battle. While the book contains violence, it is not gratuitously graphic, making it suitable for teenagers. The language is advanced but not unnecessarily complex or foul, maintaining a balanced tone throughout.

[Ned Leffingwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolves on the Border is a sci-book written in the Battetech tabletop game universe. Battletech features wars fought with giant robots, and if that is what you are looking for this book will not disappoint. Things this book was good at was providing great descriptions of giant robot combat and showing the politics and combat etiquette of the Battletech universe. There were chunks of the book that felt as though nothing was happening. Also, one critical event in the book is never fully explained. If you want to know more about the Battletech universe this is worth a read.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though it was certainly interesting, a bit clever, and presented some fun insights into a fictional universe I only know a little about, the story itself moved a little too slowly for my tastes and seemed to be overly concerned with being the taut political thriller that is isn't. A fun, light read entirely suitable as a palate cleanser between more meaningful books.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 8 of the BattleTech Series, this takes place during the Gray Death Legion Trilogy into the Warrior Trilogy, ending in the Warrior Riposte Novel time frame. Tells the story of Wolf's Dragoons and their service to House Kurita, the last major house the Dragoons had to take contract with... Gives hints to the Wolf's Dragoons origins, especially once the Blood of Kerensky Trilogy is read.

[Michael T Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so I read this via abridged audio book, and it went VERY fast and was HEAVILY edited. All I remember is it's all about the bushido code, and of course there's some seppuku involved. Not a bad tale overall, I don't think, but it definitely didn't engage me enough to want to read more.

[Tim Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually a re read for me - with the benefit of hindsight it's interesting to see the odd clan word (like hegira) quietly worked in. It's one of the best Battletech books out there, though not quite as good as Victor Milan's.

[Andrés Pérez Camarasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic Battletech book, in tone and structure.
It is a "intermediate book" kind of story. The setting is a minor conflict that has huge repercusions for the plot as a whole, but they just asume you are a fan and know a lot of things.
I liked it because I'm a fan, but is not a great book.

[Marr-Randall Umali · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Battletech novel I ever read. A used copy I found in a bookstore in Saint John. Changed my life.

[Stewart Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Battletech is a franchise from my childhood. I had a hard time keeping up with the names and time jumps.

[Jeremiah Mccoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid game tie in novel

If you are not a battletech fan already, this may not work for you but it is solid military fiction from that world

[Hans Melius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begins slow.

A little too slow for my taste, however, the action and the stakes are raised near the end of the book.