Rating: 
Summary: Masterfully done
Review: A great way to introduce newbies to the BattleTech Universe. And as for you hardcore fans, there's tons of new information concerning the Star League, every Clan, Comstar & the Blakists, and the Chaos March. Everything's changed.
Rating:
Summary: Essential book
Review: An excellent book. Anyone even remotely interested in BattleTech should pick up a copy. It gives a general overview for newcomers, and more detailed summaries of the major players for veterans of the game/universe. Final verdict: buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good timeline update sourcebook for BT
Review: Following his victory over the Clans in the Twilight of the Clans novel series, Victor Steiner-Davion returned home expecting to be hailed triumphant. Instead he found himself as a man without a country, as his throne had been usurped by his murderous, devious sister Katherine. Though throne-less, Victor salvages some power by being appointed Precentor Martial of Comstar and Commander of the Star League military. This sourcebook is presented as a briefing from Victor's top intel agent as an update on the present doings among the Inner Sphere realms, the Periphery, and the Clans. Including a nice military review of the Lyran and Davion halves of the former FedCom over which Victor had ruled, including unit loyalties and deployments, this book gives a good feeling of the major powers for each other as well as their internal assessments.This is a nicely presented sourcebook that allows a good continuation of a Battletech campaign in this time of turmoil before the FedCom civil war (when Katherine finally got hers) and the Word of Blake Jihad (though the WoB has already recaptured Terra and begun their buildup). There are many hints dropped of things that came later, proving the well-developed course of events that FASA had planned. For collectors and players alike, this book serves as a good game aid.
Rating:
Summary: Good timeline update sourcebook for BT
Review: Following his victory over the Clans in the Twilight of the Clans novel series, Victor Steiner-Davion returned home expecting to be hailed triumphant. Instead he found himself as a man without a country, as his throne had been usurped by his murderous, devious sister Katherine. Though throne-less, Victor salvages some power by being appointed Precentor Martial of Comstar and Commander of the Star League military. This sourcebook is presented as a briefing from Victor's top intel agent as an update on the present doings among the Inner Sphere realms, the Periphery, and the Clans. Including a nice military review of the Lyran and Davion halves of the former FedCom over which Victor had ruled, including unit loyalties and deployments, this book gives a good feeling of the major powers for each other as well as their internal assessments. This is a nicely presented sourcebook that allows a good continuation of a Battletech campaign in this time of turmoil before the FedCom civil war (when Katherine finally got hers) and the Word of Blake Jihad (though the WoB has already recaptured Terra and begun their buildup). There are many hints dropped of things that came later, proving the well-developed course of events that FASA had planned. For collectors and players alike, this book serves as a good game aid.
Rating:
Summary: Great source of info for new and old BattleTech fans!
Review: Having followed the BattleTech universe on and off for many years, I was pleasantly surprised to find this well-written supplement. I was a bit behind the times but Shattered Sphere did a brilliant job of filling me in. The rebirth of the Star League, the destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar, Task Force Serpent and Bulldog, the end of the Clan invasion, Sun-Tzu Liao's using SLDF peacekeepers to help him absorb the St. Ives Compact, and the Fall of Terra to the Word of Blake are just a few storylines touched on within these pages. Maps, character bios, and mission briefings all help to make the reader think they are reading a real secret report about the status of the Inner Sphere. Thanks to this book I am once again collecting BattleTech novels and sourcebooks.
Rating:
Summary: Very Useful
Review: I don't know about you, but I have neither the financial resources, time, or particular desire to try and keep up with the novels. FASA realizes this, so they give us Shattered Sphere. Basically, this book is a status update, similar to the long-out-of-print 30-year Update book, published just before the Clans appeared. It doesn't go into great detail on anything, but is very general about everything. It's told from the point of view of Victor Steiner-Davion's intelligence chief, so there is a bit of bias there (i.e. Draconis Combine's okay, but the Capellans and Katherine Steiner-Davion are EVIL). It's a very, very handy book. It should be a required purchase for anyone who owns Mechwarrior 3rd edition, and if you're at all interested in the politics behind the universe, for Battletech fans, too. If there'd been more (like, say, if it'd been twice the size), it'd've gotten five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Very Useful
Review: I don't know about you, but I have neither the financial resources, time, or particular desire to try and keep up with the novels. FASA realizes this, so they give us Shattered Sphere. Basically, this book is a status update, similar to the long-out-of-print 30-year Update book, published just before the Clans appeared. It doesn't go into great detail on anything, but is very general about everything. It's told from the point of view of Victor Steiner-Davion's intelligence chief, so there is a bit of bias there (i.e. Draconis Combine's okay, but the Capellans and Katherine Steiner-Davion are EVIL). It's a very, very handy book. It should be a required purchase for anyone who owns Mechwarrior 3rd edition, and if you're at all interested in the politics behind the universe, for Battletech fans, too. If there'd been more (like, say, if it'd been twice the size), it'd've gotten five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Extra Extra read all about it.
Review: I have been reading most of the newer novels that have been coming out about the inner sphere's attack on the clans. I had gotten this book before I got to the novels. It's not as dramatic as the novels, but it is an excellent sorce to sum up the history that occured in them. For the seasoned vets, who have played since 3025 or 3050 before all of the new advances, its a great way to catch up on what's going on. And if your new to the game, it gives a good starting point if you are ever interested in following any further.
Rating:
Summary: Extra Extra read all about it.
Review: I have been reading most of the newer novels that have been coming out about the inner sphere's attack on the clans. I had gotten this book before I got to the novels. It's not as dramatic as the novels, but it is an excellent sorce to sum up the history that occured in them. For the seasoned vets, who have played since 3025 or 3050 before all of the new advances, its a great way to catch up on what's going on. And if your new to the game, it gives a good starting point if you are ever interested in following any further.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect For New Fans of Battletech
Review: Shattered Sphere provides a great summary of the history of the Battletech universe for anyone who is new to Battletech. For those who enjoy reading the BT novels, this book is a great guide to help you sort out all the storylines that can seem a bit confusing. Even Battletech veterans will enjoy having this book around as a reference. I would recommend this book to all BT fans.
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