Hey Folks, quick hits (the best kind right now). We’re recapping the new fiction stuff for Battletech that was discussed at Pax Unplugged. Some of this is already out (and we’re in the process of reviewing a couple), but we’ve got some delights to share with you. So, buckle up, buttercups, let’s ride the fiction train all the way down.
Letter of the Law, (Philip Lee) is out now and is another fine Ilclan Era story about the Stewart family and its attempt to reclaim their ancestral home. A very insightful look at the Free Worlds League and its many disparate voices in the Ilclan Era. (we’ll have a full review of this in a couple of weeks).
Shrapnel 19 drops next week! Featuring a host of new authors and stories about the Sea Foxes, the Spirit Cats, and the Periphery. Should be a fun read
Fox Patrol has a couple of new hits coming
Lone Wolf and Fox is in the queue, with a new story called Jade Foxes (supposed to be about the battle of Sudeten, this time from the Fox Patrol’s perspective)
A currently untitled short novel about the Lone Wolves on Almotacen, (A tie in for Hot Spots Hinterlands)
There are discussions about the next step in the saga of the Sudeten Falcons, but that’s a discussion between a couple of the authors and still on the drawing board.
The next year of Fiction is the “Year of Terra” according to John Helfers (Battletech Fiction Director).
Trial of Birthright (Michael J. Ciaravella) is finished and ready to roll out by the end of December. Featuring the immediate aftermath of the Ilclan Trial, this novel is the start of a “Star League” series and focuses on the immediate decisions Alaric has to make in the aftermath of the trial. (From a personal perspective, this is probably the most interesting of the unreleased works so far. There’s a lot of moving parts on Terra, and i can’t wait to see what Michael does with this).
Voidbreaker (Bryan Young) releases January 24th (Happy Burthday to me). This is the story of the Sea Fox Watch and their struggle to find Tucker Harwell to find a solution ot the HPG crisis. One part Spy Thriller, One part science experiment, Voidbreaker is a delightful mystery.
Blood Will Rise (Tom Leveen) Is supposed to release in April. It’s a direct sequel to Blood Will Tell and features the Capellan Confederation and its efforts to deal with the Republic. It also deals with the complexities of the relationship between Daoshen and Danai. It’s the first full length novel from Tom and i’m very curious to see how this one turns out.
The Long Road (Jason Hansa) is about the winding path Tara Campbell takes after the Ilclan Trial. Jason’s work is always a fun read, and evidently he pitched this one and got it finished in record time. Release is projected for Gencon, but the timetables are always in motion.
The Founding of the Clans Trilogy (A potential jump in point for folks coming in off the Mechwarrior 5 Clans computer Game) is in progress, but doesn’t have anything definite yet.
In the Shadow of the Dragon (Craig A Reed, Jr) is a late Dark Age novel about Yori Kurita and her efforts to maintain her grip on the throne. This novel is already out and is a fun read (Expect a review in the first couple weeks of January)
A Treachery of Ravens (Michael J. Ciaravella) is in progress, but has scant details beyond having a Snow Raven focus.
BattleCorp Anthologies are being “remastered” with new covers. Short Novels are also being revisited, and returned to print.
Den of Wolves is in Progress.
War of Reaving Trilogy is currently in process. Forward progress is going, and two of the three authors are making solid progress. Publication is slated for some time next year.
A set of novellas about the Ghost Bear Civil war have been sent in for editing.
Graphic Novels! Bryan Young and Michael Stackpole are rocking and rolling, with the first writing pass almost done. It’s almost ready for an editorial pass.
(Huge Thanks to Lorcan Nagle for providing a transcript of the Fiction Panel which you can watch for yourself here)
So, what does this mean for Battletech Fans? A lot actually. We’re seeing a lot of progress moving forward into the Ilclan Era. The Fiction aspect of the setting is supposed to drive the boat, and we’re getting a lot of fantastic fiction. With more and more stories filling in the gaps around the edges, The tapestry of this 40 year old setting is getting richer and more defined.
The Battletech Setting is rich with stories about a host of topics (Intergalactic War does come up a lot). We get more and more stories every year, and this crop of authors is doing amazing work telling stories about this new era. I for one, can’t wait to see what surprises are in store for us next year. Happy reading friends and remember, we have a surprise for you on Friday.
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