The Scorpion Jar: A Battletech Novel (Mech Warrior Dark Age)

Rating:
Summary: Victor's Last Stand!
Review: Do you know what's wrong with the Inner Sphere of 3134? Well, Victor Steiner-Davion, ancient Paladin of the Sphere, certainly has an idea. As he prepares to break the dire news to his fellow Paladins when Exarch of the Sphere Damien Redburn calls for the election of his own successor, Victor's life of semi-retirement gets interesting once more. Unfortunately, two nightly assassins are a bit much to take on for an old warrior well past his 100st birthday. But then, Victor Steiner-Davion never really expected to die peacefully of old age anyway ...

Fans of classic BattleTech have to give credit to author Jason Hardy for not letting Victor just pass away in his sleep. Actually, the entire story is based on the question what dark secrets Victor had discovered that someone wanted him dead. And who?

Jason Hardy is a newcomer to writing BattleTech - but you won`t notice. Known perhaps for his two excellent, action-packed novels set in the Crimson Skies™-roleplaying universe, his Mechwarrior-debut couldn't have been much better - although the story doesn't allow for a lot of battlefield-action, as Paladin Jonah Levin investigates the prospect of corruption and murder at the highest levels of The Republic. But that's just fine. It's about high time to learn something about what's really going on in the The Republic, considering this is volume #13 of the Mechwarrior Dark Age series already. Of childish, petty faction leaders and their pointless bickering we have had about enough recently, thank you!

Jason Hardy's writing style and skills are fully up to the task, making The Scorpion Jar a nice change after the total failure of volume #12 „Hunters of the Deep", that really brought the series deep down, so to say. 313 pages (in finer print than usual, but also with ultra-short chapters) provide sufficient quantity. Believable characters, a storyline worth following, well-written and brief dialoge scenes and enjoyable - if rare- battle sequences make this book a page-turner. The fact that Hardy's sense of humor hits home and fits like an Atlas` foot on a scout vehicle doesn't exactly hurt, either. The layout of the story reminds me on some of Michael Stackpole's books, especially the cloak-and-dagger stuff, which takes up most of the plot. But Jason Hardy's protagonists are much less talkative than Stackpole`s, which gives the story a healthy pace. Easily one of my favorites beside #8 „Fortress of Lies" and a strong buy!

Rating:
Summary: Great read for newbies and hard-core game nerds alike!
Review: I am new to the BattleTech universe, but a couple of people in my Jane Austin book group recommended this title. I was hesitant, as I am not normally into Science Fiction, but once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down!

My main problem with SciFi is that character development and thematic construction are usually sacrificed in favor of technological mumbo-jumbo, frenetic action, and buxom women. I was pleasently surprised to find that Jason Hardy is able to keep the pace fast and furious, but, with great economy of words, develop characters that I really cared about. In addition, I was intrigued and, frankly, quite moved by Hardy's underlying thesis about technology's effect on interpersonal relationships vis a vis the many and exciting battles that make up this work. Also, Hardy does an excellent job of juxtaposing the violence and action with some "laugh-out-loud" humor. Hardy must have sat at the knee of some seriously funny people growing up to have learned to write like this. I would love to meet his inspiration, be it some comedian, or possibly an older brother.

My only quibble with the book is the underuse of one of the most fascinating characters, "Brigham". I felt that, were his role expanded, he had the heroic qualities to be a major protaganist, sort of an "Atticus Finch in the 25th Century".

All in all, I thought this was a fine work by one of our up and coming young writers. I would encourage everyone to read it. I am currently learning German so I can read the rest of Hardy's works.