Bred for War (Battletech, Book 16)
by Michael A. Stackpole
Our Price: $89.35
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.45 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Michael A. StackpoleEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1995-01-01
ISBN: 0451453794
Number of pages: 378
Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews of Bred for War (Battletech, Book 16)
Book Review: Great story and intrigue. Classic Battletech.
Summary: 3 Stars
I give Bred For War three stars for being a top-tier novel of the occasionally entertaining Battletech series.
Stackpole squeezes an incredible amount of content into 378 pages. He advances stories and characters at an amazing pace. I could select several other Battletech books that, combined, contribute less to the Battletech story arc than Bred For War does alone. Even casual conversations between civilians cover interstellar war news and detailed theories about Melissa Steiner's death. When characters discuss a leader, they will include his childhood history and the history of his ancestors two generations back. Nearly every major political group has an active role in this book.
Stackpole has a very clear, straightforward writing style. He communicates quickly and efficiently; he does not use flowery language. On a style spectrum with deadpan Tom Clancy on one end and poetic Shakespeare on the other, Stackpole lies close to Clancy. You will find no descriptions of the clouds, or the flowers in bloom, or unbridled love between lonely souls. Feelings are not explicitly stated, but rather inferred through actions.
Stackpole includes a huge number of characters, tied together through a web of feudal oaths, treaties, and ancient hatreds. Through covert operations, frame-ups, betrayals, and lies, human civilization is pulled into an all-out war. Stackpole handles the story threads well considering the breadth of the story. However, many scenes last barely two pages before shifting attention across the galaxy. I think Stackpole found himself rushed to wrap things up.
Victor Davion has inherited a realm that his father Hanse recently enlarged. Victor is Stackpole's major hero, largely due to Victor's focus on uniting with the other Successor Houses and combating their common enemy, the Clans. Unfortunately, the other House Lords are more focused on chipping away at Victor's realm. His sister Katrina seceded with half of his territory. Victor provides medical treatment for Joshua Marik, the heir of the Free Worlds League throne, in exchange for League war material that Victor needs against the Clans. Joshua is dying, and Victor takes a major risk in order to maintain the status quo with the League.
I took more interest in the secondary plot, featuring the conflict between the Wolves and the Jade Falcons. Stackpole obviously enjoys writing for the Wolves. They have a deeply noble character; they risk their lives for high ideals. The Wolf Clan leads the Warden clans and strives to calm the Crusader Clans' zeal. A minority of Crusaders amongst the Wolf Clan challenge the Wolf ilKhan's authority. This setup provides the classic literary theme of an honorable high leader, ilKhan Kerensky, combating dissension in his realm. He earned the Bloodname of the founders of the Clans, and remains true to their principles. I liked how the Wolf leaders remained stubborn and defiant despite overwhelming odds. There's a certain charisma in principled military commanders, and it really comes through with ilKhan Ulric Kherensky, Khan Phelan, and Khan Natasha Kerensky. The Wolves are also apparently the greatest warriors in the galaxy, and their spirit, skill, and pride radiate.
I found the battle scenes exciting and vivid. I wanted to see more; unfortunately they constitute a small portion of the book. This book is all about war, but concentrates mostly on moving the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has detailed conflict between major star empires with extreme ideologies. Apparently Stackpole was later dropped from the Battletech franchise; this reflects bad judgment on the part of the management. He played an instrumental role in defining the Battletech universe. I recommend Bred For War to all Battletech fans.
-Zach Zelmar
Summary of Bred for War (Battletech, Book 16)
After ascending the throne of the Federated Commonwealth, Prince Victor Steiner-Davion struggles to cope with the continuing threat of the Clans to the peace of the inner sphere and with the machinations of his own ambitious and treacherous sister.Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Battletech Novels Pt.1
Freebirth: Twilight of the Clans IVby Robert Thurston
Roc; Published: 1998-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $40.99
Battletech 35: The Hunters: Twilight of the Clans 3by Thomas S. Gressman
Roc; Published: 1997-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.00
Battletech 34: Grave Covenant: Twilight of the Clans 2 (v. 2)by Michael A. Stackpole
Roc; Published: 1997-09-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.39
Exodus Road: Twilight of the Clans 1 (Battletech)by Blaine Lee Pardoe
Roc; Published: 1997-08-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $64.99
Battletech 32: Binding Forceby Loren Coleman
Roc; Published: 1997-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $52.73
Double-Blind (Battletech , No 31)by Loren L. Coleman
Roc; Published: 1997-04-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.79
Impetus of War (Battletech 30)by Blaine Lee Pardoe
Roc; Published: 1996-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.93
Battletech 29: Black Dragonby Victor Milan
Roc; Published: 1996-11-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Operation Excalibur (Battletech)by William H. Keith
Roc; Published: 1996-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.90
Hearts of Chaos (Battletech Ser.)by Victor Milan
Penguin Books Canada, Limited; Published: 1996; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Operation Excalibur (Battletech)by William H. Keith
Roc; Published: 1996-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.90
Battletech 21: Blood Legacy: Blood of Kerensky 2 (Bk. 2)by Michael A. Stackpole
Roc; Published: 1995-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $25.99
Wolf Pack (Battletech # 4) (Vol 4)by Robert N. Charrette
Roc; Published: 1992-04-07; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $83.24
Battletech 15: Close Quarters (Bk. 15)by Victor Milan
Roc; Published: 1994-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.98
Battletech 18: Highlander Gambit (Bk. 18)by Blaine Lee Pardoe
Roc; Published: 1995-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.95
I Am Jade Falcon (Battletech 17) (Bk. 17)by Robert Thurston
Roc; Published: 1995-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.99
Malicious Intent (Battletech)by Michael A. Stackpole
Roc; Published: 1996-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.90
Battletech 19: Tactics of Dutyby William H. Keith
Roc; Published: 1995-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.76
Battletech 05: Natural Selection (Bk. 5)by Michael A. Stackpole
Roc; Published: 1992-07-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $49.86
Battletech 12: Assumption of Riskby Michael A. Stackpole
Roc; Published: 1993-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $122.71