Rating: 
Summary: A Solid, Yet Unexceptional Battletech Story
Review: "Path of Glory" is a solid effort by first time author Bills. I rank it a tad higher than 3 stars, but round it down since it is closer to 3 than 4 stars. It is a good story that is hindered primarily by its brevity. The characters and the story are interesting, but the length of this novel limits the exposition and exploration that would have done a better justice to this story.The bulk of this story takes place in 3062. It tells the story of Zane, a Mechwarrior in Clan Nova Cat. After the Star League Defense Force (SLDF) had traveled to the Clan Homeworlds, and challenged the Clans to a Trial of Refusal on the issue of the Clans' invasion of the Inner Sphere, Clan Nova Cat decided to side with the SLDF, and fought in the Trial as part of the SLDF. The Clans were incensed by this action, and voted to Abjure, cast out, the Nova Cats, giving them 30 days to leave Clan space. Some Clans didn't wait for the 30 days to expire before launching attacks on the Nova Cats. As a result, the Nova Cats lost large numbers of warriors in battle, who fought hopeless rearguard actions, but were able to evacuate some of their civilian populations to the Nova Cat holdings in the Inner Sphere. Zane feels betrayed by his leaders, first, for siding with the Inner Spere forces. Second, for agreeing to accept worlds from the Draconis Combine. Zane has a counterpart, Palmer Yoshio, a Draconis Combine officer who feels betrayed, first, that his nation has let in the Nova Cats, and second, that his nation has not gone after the powerful Clan Ghost Bear, which still holds Combine territory. "Path of Glory" tells the story of these two warriors, disparate, but similiar men, and their emotional and mental sorting out of their predicaments. It also features high level intrigue, and gives a nice glimpse into Clan Nova Cat, including a meeting with Minoru, a Nova Cat warrior, who was born in the Inner Spere with the the last name of Kurita. Oh yes, there's a good bit of action as well. This is a solid story, with intriguing characters. Although it deserved and needed greater length to fully do this story and these characters justice, this a nice first effort by Mr. Bills.
Rating:
Summary: A Solid, Yet Unexceptional Battletech Story
Review: "Path of Glory" is a solid effort by first time author Bills. I rank it a tad higher than 3 stars, but round it down since it is closer to 3 than 4 stars. It is a good story that is hindered primarily by its brevity. The characters and the story are interesting, but the length of this novel limits the exposition and exploration that would have done a better justice to this story. The bulk of this story takes place in 3062. It tells the story of Zane, a Mechwarrior in Clan Nova Cat. After the Star League Defense Force (SLDF) had traveled to the Clan Homeworlds, and challenged the Clans to a Trial of Refusal on the issue of the Clans' invasion of the Inner Sphere, Clan Nova Cat decided to side with the SLDF, and fought in the Trial as part of the SLDF. The Clans were incensed by this action, and voted to Abjure, cast out, the Nova Cats, giving them 30 days to leave Clan space. Some Clans didn't wait for the 30 days to expire before launching attacks on the Nova Cats. As a result, the Nova Cats lost large numbers of warriors in battle, who fought hopeless rearguard actions, but were able to evacuate some of their civilian populations to the Nova Cat holdings in the Inner Sphere. Zane feels betrayed by his leaders, first, for siding with the Inner Spere forces. Second, for agreeing to accept worlds from the Draconis Combine. Zane has a counterpart, Palmer Yoshio, a Draconis Combine officer who feels betrayed, first, that his nation has let in the Nova Cats, and second, that his nation has not gone after the powerful Clan Ghost Bear, which still holds Combine territory. "Path of Glory" tells the story of these two warriors, disparate, but similiar men, and their emotional and mental sorting out of their predicaments. It also features high level intrigue, and gives a nice glimpse into Clan Nova Cat, including a meeting with Minoru, a Nova Cat warrior, who was born in the Inner Spere with the the last name of Kurita. Oh yes, there's a good bit of action as well. This is a solid story, with intriguing characters. Although it deserved and needed greater length to fully do this story and these characters justice, this a nice first effort by Mr. Bills.
Rating: 
Summary: Let there be mercy
Review: Bow, how interesting.When I bought this book I hoped to get some new plots about the uprising in the Lyran empire. Well, I was disappointed. The storyline is very thin. Mechwarrior of the Novacats meets vision and changes. In the end he appears to be the silent hero. That there is a reference in the end to the mechwarrior series says enough about this book. The good storylines are finished. This was defenitely the last Battletech book I bought.
Rating: 
Summary: Clanner
Review: I am not going to pretend that I do not find books featuring the clans interesting. The entire mythos surrounding them has always interested me and this book looks further into one of the more mystical clans - the Nove Cats. The book readily shows how this clan is attempting to intergrate itself with the conquering Inner Sphere and the feelings of warriors from both sides as to these affairs. It may not further the primary story line of the civil war but it does begin a very important secondary plot that may well spill over into the main conflict. If I were reading this story as a stand alone, with no knowledge of the current storyline I would give it top marks, the author is very gifted and his mix between action and thought is very well balanced and I will certainly be anticipating more of his work.
Rating:
Summary: Clanner
Review: I am not going to pretend that I do not find books featuring the clans interesting. The entire mythos surrounding them has always interested me and this book looks further into one of the more mystical clans - the Nove Cats. The book readily shows how this clan is attempting to intergrate itself with the conquering Inner Sphere and the feelings of warriors from both sides as to these affairs. It may not further the primary story line of the civil war but it does begin a very important secondary plot that may well spill over into the main conflict. If I were reading this story as a stand alone, with no knowledge of the current storyline I would give it top marks, the author is very gifted and his mix between action and thought is very well balanced and I will certainly be anticipating more of his work.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful, Masterful, a must have.
Review: I found this book continues the in the grand tradition of excellent Battletech novels. Let me be honest, this isn't the best book I have ever read, but I found myself unable to put it down. Mr. Randall N. Bills carries the torch from Mike Stackpole and Bryan Nystul with a wonderful first novel. I can't wait to read his next novel...
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not good enough.
Review: I have been a Battletech fan and player for almost a decade and have been following the product line's constant degeneration for many years. I thought the Battletech universe was lost after the infamous hidden designs were no longer available to us and Stackpole and Nystul left the team. This book provides a very small glimmer of hope... While the novel's characters lack the depth we're used to from a Stackpole story, the combat scenes aren't quite so deficiant. Additionally, I must admit that the book took a turn that I never would have anticipated. All in all, I think this Bills guy is a pretty good Battletech developer, but he'll never fill Nystul's shoes and he sure as Hell will never even come close to doing as good of a job as Stackpole did fleshing out the Battletech universe. May Hanse and Ian Davion rest in peace...
Rating:
Summary: good book!!
Review: I like the charicter descriptions you really can tell how they felt. The story is full of suprise and comes down to reality at the end-people die in wars!
Rating:
Summary: off to a good start
Review: I'll have to agree that when Stackpole left FASA a LOT of the magic when with him. There are several talented authors still write in the BT story line such as Keith, Charrette and others. ROC is putting a word limit on the books now, so that's hurting the story line & characters. I gave it 4 stars because it's his first Battletech book and there's always room for improvement. Yes the characters could have had a bit more depth in them and it could have been a little longer, but ROC sets the limit. Against it was a solid story line that needs some polishing done. I'd like to see Mike Stackpole back writing more Battletech!
Rating: 
Summary: Where is the BattleTech love?
Review: It isn't here. Ever since Stackpole stopped writing for FASA, the whole BattleTech series has gone down the tubes. Incomplete story lines, unfinished characters, leaps of judgement by supposed rock solid characters, etc. This book is yet another example that the story line in the BTech universe is wavering like a California quake. Without preamble we learn that Clan Nova Cat is the target of every clan, they are seeking its destruction. This was never introduced. You get 3 pages of explaination. Minubo Kurita is adopted into the clan. When did this take place? And on and on. Hopefully the BTech universe will get a pickup some time down the road.
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