I Am Jade Falcon (Battletech)

Rating:
Summary: Thurston writes the best Battletech books period
Review: Generally you'll find the readers that dislike him of the younger teen persuasion.

I think these same people fawn over Loren Coleman whose writing style can be summarized by "ruby beams seared out against the ferrofibrous as metal melted into the ground"

Don't let the lower reviews fool you, this is easily the best Battletech novel there is followed closely by his undeservedly reviled FreeBirth and Falcon Rising... Generally battletech books don't make me laugh or strike me as humorous but these have some comic gems in it. Their actions are subtle and the humor may be a bit too dry for the average hack sci-fi novel reader.

No, I know. Battletech novels fall into 1) The uber political by Stackpole which I love. 2) the tediously agonizing battle descriptions and predictable plots twists

Thurston offers none really. Sure there is some intrigue and battle but the focus is the characters, their quirks and interesting details in day to day Clan life.

Star Commander Joanna has about 100x more personality than Natasha Kerensky ever did. No doubt Stackpole is tops at creating a universe and factions but sometimes made HIS characters into fluffy jr. high youth group do gooders. Not Clan Jade Falcon warriors though. Sarcastic, existential and brash all in one. IMHO the least interesting Thurston character easily trumps the cookie cutters heroes that Coleman and Gressman push out.

Rating:
Summary: arrggghhhhh!!
Review: I have no trusted Thurston, and I never will. I can never forgive him for the death of Natasha.

Rating:
Summary: Indomitable human spirit, passionate warriors
Review: I really liked the Legend of the Jade Phoenix trilogy. In this sequel, Thurston continues to flesh out the Jade Falcon clan. This is a great book, though I found it a little weaker than the original trilogy, which had a more focused plot and atmosphere.

Now that Aidan Pryde has met a heroic death, Joanna takes center stage. Joanna was always a wonderful character and she deserves more attention. She has an unconquerable spirit. Despite being - if I recall - in her 30s, incredibly fit, and a seasoned fighter, her clan considers her old and weak, unfit for honorable duty. They consider her contemptible for even being alive, as a true warrior should have died in battle by now. She is almost universally hated and despised. Of course, Joanna never worries about how others perceive her. She returns their hatred in greater measure. She hates her commanders, authority in general, the younger Falcon generation, the Wolves, the other Clans, and the Inner Sphere. She hates her lack of a bloodname, she hates the shame she holds after Twycross, she hates witnessing affectionate feelings, she hates her age, and she hates her miserable future. Her hatred is so strong that it is something pure. It allows her to win against daunting odds. Her pride and stubbornness are unmatched, and she never admits weakness. Joanna will take cheap, underhanded attacks in order to win.

Joanna is now the Old Guard, a proud Falcon watching her clan deteriorate. Her new commander is frail and refuses her challenges for trials. Young warriors show romantic attachment to each other. They chant, "Praise Aidan Pryde," in a ritualistic fashion. The scientist caste is defying the warrior caste. Joanna remains a purist, raging against the changes occurring around her.

This passage reveals a lot about Joanna's personality:

Diana: "Stop it, Joanna. You are spooking me. You will not die. You will go on forever. Mean people do."
Joanna: "Yes, I am mean and I hear that it is the miserable fate of mean people to die in bed."

Joanna has two friends, though she would never admit it. Like Joanna, they are pariahs among the Falcons. Diana is mildly interesting. Horse has a great cynical dry humor, is diversely educated in the midst of narrow-minded warriors, and is an unappreciated warrior.

Pay attention to Star Colonel Ravill Pryde. He is a short, frail warrior who refuses challenges, tries to win the admiration of his troops, borrows from Aidan's glory, uses devious tactics, and relies more on wits than warrior rage; by Joanna's standards, he is a deviant Falcon, yet he is amazingly successful. He is dislikable and admirable at the same time.

All four of these characters reveal something about Aidan Pryde, who left behind a legendary legacy.

The writing quality, while solid, has declined after the Jade Phoenix trilogy. For instance, observe these weak insults:
Joanna: "Castilla."
Castilla: "My name is ugly in your mouth."
Joanna: "Your mouth is ugly."
...
Castilla: "Your breath is foul."

Also, parts of the story proved weak. Joanna is asked to solve a mystery, and she uncovers secrets with ridiculous alacrity and ease.

Some readers complained about the ending. I believe it works very well; consider Joanna's spirit and methods.

I recommend I Am Jade Falcon for any Battletech fan. It features indomitable human spirit, refusal to accept mediocrity, fierce competitiveness, and stubborn pride.

Rating:
Summary: Better then some
Review: I red this book recently and I must admit it is better then most. This book goes into the story of Joanna the jade falcon. Without reading this book some of the other ones are a little more confusing but it is not a must read. All together though this book is well written and a good read.

Rating:
Summary: I think it was the best book I've ever read
Review: I thihnk the battle between Star Commander Johanna and the infamous Khan of the Wolves Natasha Kerensky was excellent. I loved the book, although I wish the battle ended the the opposite person as its victor. My best friend would love to read the book, for I've told her how great I think it was. And I think the people who read this and really liked this book should bring it back through petitions and popular demand!

Rating:
Summary: What?
Review: I think this is one of the worst books in the whole Battletech universe. The plot is slow moving, some of the questions that this book raised haven't been aswered in a satisfactory way YET, and for all saints sake, the "I am Jade Falcon" manouvre is one of the most stupid excuses to kill a character that I've ever read. Natasha Kerensky, the Black Widow, died because the author wanted to get rid of her and wasn't able to create a story worth of accomplishing so.

Rating:
Summary: Has its moments
Review: I'm not a fan of Robert Thurston. There's too much baggage in the two books of his I have read, as he seeks to rub your nose yet again in how vitally important Aidan Pryde (praise Aidan Pryde!) was to the functioning of the universe from now until the end of time. Oh, and introduce you to yet another nefarious plot involving the honorless freebirth scum of the scientist cast and their tinkering with the legacy of Aidan Pryde (praise Aidan Pryde!) who was vitally important to the functioning of the universe from now until the end of time.
However! I rather like "I am Jade Falcon", because Star Commander Joanna is such an unashamedly bad-tempered and aggressive character who won't stop fighting anything and everything till the last possible moment. And Ravill Pryde, her new commanding officer with annoyingly cheerful and devious ways, has his charms as well. If you ignore the Aidan Pryde (praise Aidan Pryde!) element, this is not a bad mix of action and intrigue in which (gasp!) both Joanna and Ravill Pryde LEARN SOMETHING.

Rating:
Summary: Thurston has done an excellent job with this one
Review: One of the best Battletech books I've reafd, much less published. I liked the characters' buildup and the plot of the story. A must read for all Battletech fans.

Rating:
Summary: Gotta love Star Commander Joanna
Review: Star Commander Joanna is back! That "loveable" character from the Jade Phoenix Trilogy again graces the Battletech universe with her disdain for authority and bitter cynicism. This time, she has to become a spy in order to unravel a puzzle that could threaten the Clans breeding system. Top that off with a one on one fight with the legendary Natasha Kerensky of the Wolves, and you've got a great book.

Rating:
Summary: I think it was the best book I've ever read
Review: This Story is one of the finest stories ever told of the power of the Human spirit. Sometimes the power to hold on or to achieve is not always in our best interest. The story unfolds the struggle of one warrior who wants to die in battle, brave and honorable. With the character hardened in youth and made bitter with age. The want to crush your enemy can consume even your thoughts and dreams. With the last of the book unfolds the tale of treachery and deceit. A must read for all BattleTech Fans.