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BattleTech Universe #81
Fortress Republic
Julian Davion - Prince's Champion of the Federated Suns - is a warrior who has lost his way. Amidst political turmoil and the shifting fortunes of war, he struggles to find his destiny...
Julian's First Davion Guards have restored order on Terra. The Republic is closing it borders, keeping its core intact while leaving farther-flung worlds to fend for themselves. But The Republic is not only being attacked from without - it's being undermined from within, and the hunt for seditionists continues.
Ex-knight and now-senator Conner Rhys-Monroe still leads the fight to destroy The Republic from the inside. He is expertly opposed by Countess Tara Campbell, leader of the Highlanders and The Republic's best hope on the outside. Terra lies at the center of their titanic tug-of-war, where Julian struggles to keep his footing in a situation shifting like blood-drenched quicksand.
Julian's First Davion Guards have restored order on Terra. The Republic is closing it borders, keeping its core intact while leaving farther-flung worlds to fend for themselves. But The Republic is not only being attacked from without - it's being undermined from within, and the hunt for seditionists continues.
Ex-knight and now-senator Conner Rhys-Monroe still leads the fight to destroy The Republic from the inside. He is expertly opposed by Countess Tara Campbell, leader of the Highlanders and The Republic's best hope on the outside. Terra lies at the center of their titanic tug-of-war, where Julian struggles to keep his footing in a situation shifting like blood-drenched quicksand.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
107 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 1, 2019
This is the eighteenth 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 Republic is facing attacks on several fronts. Exarch Jonah Levin has decided that the only way to save the Republic is to enact a secret protocol that was developed by Devin Stone. This secret protocol is known as "Fortress Republic".
Meanwhile Exrach Levin has sent Julian Davion out to several planets to ensure that they are not taken over by rival powers. He and his friends will face strong opposition by disgruntled ex-knight Conner Rhys-Monroe and his supporters.
This book has many more Mech battles that the last several books and is a major slug fest. I recommend it to fans of Battletech and Military Science Fiction.
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 Republic is facing attacks on several fronts. Exarch Jonah Levin has decided that the only way to save the Republic is to enact a secret protocol that was developed by Devin Stone. This secret protocol is known as "Fortress Republic".
Meanwhile Exrach Levin has sent Julian Davion out to several planets to ensure that they are not taken over by rival powers. He and his friends will face strong opposition by disgruntled ex-knight Conner Rhys-Monroe and his supporters.
This book has many more Mech battles that the last several books and is a major slug fest. I recommend it to fans of Battletech and Military Science Fiction.
May 3, 2023
"So You've Decided to Read Battletech: Dark Age" - Review 17
Continuing immediately from Sword of Sedition.
DA Callbacks:
Our main callbacks are Johna, Eric, Aaron, Julian, Caleb, and Calandra.
Review:
Like Sword of Sedition, this book juggles multiple perspectives. But I think this one is quite a bit more effective. Maybe because rather than introducing tons of new characters, we stay with the same ones from the previous book. We have some clear bad/insane guys to root against and the good guys pull together as a fun, multinational band of warriors. This is Game of Thrones lite.
Assessment:
A 3. I enjoyed the politics, the insane king trope, the multinational fighting force, the good guys making impossible decisions, and the chance to revisit old characters. I liked seeing the Sandovals finally splitting ways and am looking forward to their inevitable clash. I liked seeing Julian coming into his own. I didn't like (or didn't understand/care about) Julian and Co's mission. The stakes weren't established clearly enough. Nothing much seemed to come from the fallen Knight storyline. And there was an implied rape, which is never something I like in my escapist reading. But the good outweighed the bad.
Lasting Impressions
In this section, I return long after reading to give my remembered impressions. Did this book stand the test of time?
A bit. I remember the major plot points. I remember who was in it. But none of the characters left a lasting impression. They all sort of mush together.
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Fortress Republic
Flight of the Falcon
Sword of Sedition
Target of Opportunity
Blood of the Isle
Fortress of Lies
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
Heretic's Faith
The Ruins of Power
Daughter of the Dragon
In a special list all its own for being the absolute worst:
Hunters of the Deep
Completely Skipped:
Patriots Stand
Continuing immediately from Sword of Sedition.
DA Callbacks:
Our main callbacks are Johna, Eric, Aaron, Julian, Caleb, and Calandra.
Review:
Like Sword of Sedition, this book juggles multiple perspectives. But I think this one is quite a bit more effective. Maybe because rather than introducing tons of new characters, we stay with the same ones from the previous book. We have some clear bad/insane guys to root against and the good guys pull together as a fun, multinational band of warriors. This is Game of Thrones lite.
Assessment:
A 3. I enjoyed the politics, the insane king trope, the multinational fighting force, the good guys making impossible decisions, and the chance to revisit old characters. I liked seeing the Sandovals finally splitting ways and am looking forward to their inevitable clash. I liked seeing Julian coming into his own. I didn't like (or didn't understand/care about) Julian and Co's mission. The stakes weren't established clearly enough. Nothing much seemed to come from the fallen Knight storyline. And there was an implied rape, which is never something I like in my escapist reading. But the good outweighed the bad.
Lasting Impressions
In this section, I return long after reading to give my remembered impressions. Did this book stand the test of time?
A bit. I remember the major plot points. I remember who was in it. But none of the characters left a lasting impression. They all sort of mush together.
DarkAge Tier List
from favorite to least favorite
Scorpion Jar
Service For the Dead
A Silence in the Heavens
Fortress Republic
Flight of the Falcon
Sword of Sedition
Target of Opportunity
Blood of the Isle
Fortress of Lies
By Temptations and By War
A Call to Arms
Truth and Shadows
Ghost War
Heretic's Faith
The Ruins of Power
Daughter of the Dragon
In a special list all its own for being the absolute worst:
Hunters of the Deep
Completely Skipped:
Patriots Stand
December 26, 2022
Interesting read
Interesting read I am liking these late Dark Age books very much as they flesh out the characters that appear as major players in the New ilclan era of the battletech universe. Some interesting battle descriptions and also the cloak & dagger world of inner sphere politics and spies, great fun.
Interesting read I am liking these late Dark Age books very much as they flesh out the characters that appear as major players in the New ilclan era of the battletech universe. Some interesting battle descriptions and also the cloak & dagger world of inner sphere politics and spies, great fun.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews