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BattleTech Universe #70
By Temptations and By War
When The Republic of the Sphere was established, it absorbed a quarter of Capellan Confederation space. Now that the crippled Republic is embattled everywhere, the Confederation Chancellor sends an operative into former Capellan territory to nurture the seeds of rebellion.
Freedom fighter Evan Kurst has resisted The Republic's "benevolent occupation" of the world of Liao for as long as he can remember. He has fought side by side with agents from the Confederation, and rallied other fighters to the cause. Until now, his efforts have been in vain.
In the chaos of the interstellar communications blackout, Kurst sees a new chance to liberate his homeworld and return it to its rightful rulers. The Chancellor's support is assured, and embodied in the person of Mai Wa, the operative sent to ensure Kurst's success. But Mai has betrayed Kurst before, and Kurst's biggest problem remains knowing whom to trust in a world where today's ally is tomorrow's enemy.
Freedom fighter Evan Kurst has resisted The Republic's "benevolent occupation" of the world of Liao for as long as he can remember. He has fought side by side with agents from the Confederation, and rallied other fighters to the cause. Until now, his efforts have been in vain.
In the chaos of the interstellar communications blackout, Kurst sees a new chance to liberate his homeworld and return it to its rightful rulers. The Chancellor's support is assured, and embodied in the person of Mai Wa, the operative sent to ensure Kurst's success. But Mai has betrayed Kurst before, and Kurst's biggest problem remains knowing whom to trust in a world where today's ally is tomorrow's enemy.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Loren L. Coleman
106 books39 followersLoren L. Coleman (born 1968) is a science-fiction writer, born and grew up in Longview, Washington.
He is known for having written many books for series such as Star Trek, Battletech/Mechwarrior, Age of Conan, Crimson Skies, Magic: The Gathering and others. Former member of the United States Navy, he has also written game fiction and source material for such companies as FASA Corporation, TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast.
In early 2010s, he began writing The ICAS Files series, science fiction short-stories. [wikipedia]
He is known for having written many books for series such as Star Trek, Battletech/Mechwarrior, Age of Conan, Crimson Skies, Magic: The Gathering and others. Former member of the United States Navy, he has also written game fiction and source material for such companies as FASA Corporation, TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast.
In early 2010s, he began writing The ICAS Files series, science fiction short-stories. [wikipedia]
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 12, 2019
This is the seventh book in the Mech Warrior Dark Age series. This series is a continuation of the Battletech series. The books in this series, like the books in the original Battletech series, are by various authors. This one is by Loren L. Coleman. The Republic of the Sphere has known a long period of peace and prosperity. Then the interstellar communications network a.k.a. the HPG net is destroyed by terrorists and many planets in the Republic find themselves cut off from the rest of the galaxy with communications taking weeks or even months. Unrest leads to several factions on several planets trying to overthrow the local governments and seize power for themselves. In this one the disgraced Paladin Ezekiel Crow has returned to his homeworld of Liao in yet another persona. Here he hopes to settle down and put his past behind him. He soon finds himself thrust back into his planets problems when a representative of Jacob Bannon once again threatens to expose him to the world. Meanwhile, in the chaos of the interstellar communications blackout, freedom fighter's Evan Kurst and his old mentor Mai Wa are stirring up students and the public alike to take this opportunity to free their world from the rule of the Republic of the Sphere and return it to the Capellan Confederation. Most of this book is involved with the intrigue of the politics of trying to overthrow the government of the Republic of the Sphere. The last few chapters are where most of the action takes place and the Mech fighting happens. Never the less this book is another good read in this series.
July 16, 2022
Seriously enough, just kill off all references to Samauri culture
Seriously enpugh. One of the most boring of the Mechwarrior storylines. Underhanded, back stabbimg, lying and deceitful, time to end this poor storyline.
After 500 years the rest of the Inner Sphere and the clans would simply wipe out and divide up House Kurtia. The entire galaxy hates them, time to eradicate house Kurtia. Do it in one book. No one cares about all the description of clothing, bored to death with false honor and Japanese terms.
Seriously enpugh. One of the most boring of the Mechwarrior storylines. Underhanded, back stabbimg, lying and deceitful, time to end this poor storyline.
After 500 years the rest of the Inner Sphere and the clans would simply wipe out and divide up House Kurtia. The entire galaxy hates them, time to eradicate house Kurtia. Do it in one book. No one cares about all the description of clothing, bored to death with false honor and Japanese terms.
June 28, 2021
Best of the Mechwarrior Dark age novels so far. Decent characters, doesn't drag too much, ripping good battle scenes from mid to end of book, and actual meaningful progression of the battletech story overall. Still, it's dark age. So you have to be willing to step into this part of the timeline. Glad they finally killed off that idiot ex-paladin from the previous trilogy. Good job. Onward to the next in the series.
December 7, 2022
Idk didn’t really like it that much. I hate the Chinese terms as they are distracting and I don’t know how to pronounce them. Yeah, maybe I should look them up. But I really hate books on the capellan confederation, and yet I don’t mind House kurita stories. This one just seemed to drag on and I was disappointed. I was intrigued by the black paladin story and it was kind of just blah. I was told this is where the DA books get good, and maybe it just didn’t live up to the hype.
December 14, 2023
"So You've Decided to Read Battletech: Dark Age" - Review 7
Things start to happen.
DA Callbacks
Bannson returns in a major role, as does Crow. Bannson's two mercs, Jack and Dian also return.
Review:
The political intrigue really ratchets up in this book. If I were a longtime Battletech reader, I'd probably be celebrating the return of a major antagonistic House. Speaking of, all the main characters are antagonists. I actually wound up rooting for Crow (or should I say Daniel) as he was by far the most likable of a thoroughly unlikable cast. The book's conclusion felt significant to the overall plot of the series. And the writing, overall, was better than average.
Assessment:
Pretty good.
Spoilers
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
No. Could not remember this book until reading my own review. Having jogged my memory, I don't recall the book fondly. I recall being bored by the main character and disappointed with Crow's end.
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Target of Opportunity
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
The Ruins of Power
Things start to happen.
DA Callbacks
Bannson returns in a major role, as does Crow. Bannson's two mercs, Jack and Dian also return.
Review:
The political intrigue really ratchets up in this book. If I were a longtime Battletech reader, I'd probably be celebrating the return of a major antagonistic House. Speaking of, all the main characters are antagonists. I actually wound up rooting for Crow (or should I say Daniel) as he was by far the most likable of a thoroughly unlikable cast. The book's conclusion felt significant to the overall plot of the series. And the writing, overall, was better than average.
Assessment:
Pretty good.
Spoilers
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
No. Could not remember this book until reading my own review. Having jogged my memory, I don't recall the book fondly. I recall being bored by the main character and disappointed with Crow's end.
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Target of Opportunity
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
The Ruins of Power
May 18, 2014
The Dark Age series is finally kicking into high gear. As unrest continues to spread through the worlds of the Republic of the Sphere, age old grudges come back up to the surface as nationalist freedom fighters/terrorist cells begin undermining the local government on planet Liao. Originally a world ceeded from the Capellan Confederation, the local population now long to embrace their heritage, and ridding themselves of their benevolent yet oppressive Republican rulers in the process.
Meanwhile, the Capellan Confederation war machine comes to life and begins invading border worlds, marching straight for Liao. The book follows a circle of friends at the military academy, torn between loyalties old and new. Gradually they slip deeper and deeper into radicalism until finally events are beginning to spiral out of control.
The plot as such is quite interesting and the escalation of events is handled very well (granted, I can't recall very many student revolts in world history where the kids proceed to kick military behind). Most of the cast are quite bland and unlikeable though. A couple of interesting characters do return from the previous book, yet they are wasted away and given nothing meaningful to do.
The writing style is alright although I didn't care much for all these loose Chinese words and phrases being tossed into the narrative for (I assume) some exotic flavour. The book also suffers from tired anachronisms such as "aviators", "caesar-cut", "wireless phone", "burritos" and "jeans". Yet in spite of its flaws "By Temptations and By War" remains an important entry into the Dark Age storyline which should not be circumvented.
Meanwhile, the Capellan Confederation war machine comes to life and begins invading border worlds, marching straight for Liao. The book follows a circle of friends at the military academy, torn between loyalties old and new. Gradually they slip deeper and deeper into radicalism until finally events are beginning to spiral out of control.
The plot as such is quite interesting and the escalation of events is handled very well (granted, I can't recall very many student revolts in world history where the kids proceed to kick military behind). Most of the cast are quite bland and unlikeable though. A couple of interesting characters do return from the previous book, yet they are wasted away and given nothing meaningful to do.
The writing style is alright although I didn't care much for all these loose Chinese words and phrases being tossed into the narrative for (I assume) some exotic flavour. The book also suffers from tired anachronisms such as "aviators", "caesar-cut", "wireless phone", "burritos" and "jeans". Yet in spite of its flaws "By Temptations and By War" remains an important entry into the Dark Age storyline which should not be circumvented.
December 14, 2008
I would have an incredibly hard time giving more than three stars to any Battletech book simply because there's only a certain level of pulpiness that is expected, and actually desired, from books in this vein. They're supposed to focus more on being fun to read than on being highly meaningful and deeply important.
That said, the best books of this sub-genre of entertaining serial sci-fi/fantasy pulp type are the ones that honestly try to tell a dramatic, moving story, rather than those that kind of wallow in their shallowness. Some authors seem to think that because the book is of this type, that they should just write the literary equivalent of a soap opera; albeit a soap opera with giant battle armor and lasers.
This was definitely an example of the way that one of these books should be done. It was literate, intelligent, and engaging, without taking itself too seriously. I was impressed by the conjecture on the ways in which an established culture–in this case Chinese–would or would not be able to evolve and remain relevant over the course of millennia.
The one negative thing I will say is that this book, as with many of its ilk, could really have benefited by having a better editor. I get the feeling that the publisher isn't inclined to use their top talent on these types of books, which I suppose is understandable, but I always find myself wanting to correct things...
That said, the best books of this sub-genre of entertaining serial sci-fi/fantasy pulp type are the ones that honestly try to tell a dramatic, moving story, rather than those that kind of wallow in their shallowness. Some authors seem to think that because the book is of this type, that they should just write the literary equivalent of a soap opera; albeit a soap opera with giant battle armor and lasers.
This was definitely an example of the way that one of these books should be done. It was literate, intelligent, and engaging, without taking itself too seriously. I was impressed by the conjecture on the ways in which an established culture–in this case Chinese–would or would not be able to evolve and remain relevant over the course of millennia.
The one negative thing I will say is that this book, as with many of its ilk, could really have benefited by having a better editor. I get the feeling that the publisher isn't inclined to use their top talent on these types of books, which I suppose is understandable, but I always find myself wanting to correct things...
May 16, 2011
The Black Paladin returns to Liao with good intentions and pretty much just messes up everything for The Republic. The Capellan stories have always been a bit lackluster in the Battletech universe.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews