Bookshelf @~Two book reviews this issue - in a moment David Froude will tell @~us about BATTLETECH: LEGEND OF THE JADE PHOENIX: VOLUME 1 - WAY @~OF THE CLANS, but first ... a review which is an extract from a @~letter that Alex sent me. I enjoyed the write-ups a lot and Alex @~said I could use them here. I have truncated some of the reviews @~so as not to spoil the endings for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. The Devil Princes Reviewed by Alex van Kaam Today I finished the Devil Princes, it's about Kirth Gersen who lived on the planet 'Fraaibergen' (Dutch for Nicemountain I hope). In the year 1499 (new calculation) the whole population on his planet was killed or enslaved by 5 criminals, each of them ultimate at their 'job', and for this occasion they joined forces and they became the Devil Princes. Kirth and his grandfather are the only survivors, his grandfather takes Kirth (a boy then) to Earth and there he trains Kirth in all kinds of professions so that when he is old enough he will kill all five of the Princes. The first book is called the Starking and it is about Kirth's hunt for Attel Malagate who is, as he finds out later, a starking, a non-human race. The second book is called The Killing Machine and in this book Kirth hunts down Kokor Hekkes who comes from a planet that was once colonised by humans but for some reason was 'lost'. Kokor is the only one on this planet with a spaceship. Kirth eventually finds the planet and discovers that this whole planet is still in the middle ages, Barbarians, Berserkers, Kings and all that stuff, this has a very surprising end. The third book is called The Palace Of Love and it is about Viole Falushe, this is a bit boring and hasn't such a spectacular end. The fourth book is called The Face and it is about Lens Larque, who loves to play jokes on everybody, he comes from a desert planet where the humans are large and ugly because of the planet's climate and slowly (about 1000 or so years) humans adjust to their planet. Kirth find Lens on another planet where Lens wanted to buy a house, but this planet is colonised by a cult who thinks they are more than others so Lens doesn't get his house. In return Lens buys the moon of this planet and he sends a mining company to this moon ... This book has a great ending. The last book is called The Book Of Dreams and it is about Howard Alan Treesong, who lived as a boy on a dull farming planet, he has a great imagination and he writes a book called the book of dreams. In this book he gives life to seven Paladins, himself as Immir the colorless, Jeha Rais the black, Loris Hohenger the red, Mewness the green, Spangleway the yellow, Rhune Fader the blue, and Eia Panice the white one. When the book is stolen Howard kills a school mate, who he thinks has stolen it, and he leaves the planet, now many years later Kirth finds this planet and the book ... This was the best of them all, maybe because I have something with Paladins, I have to have at least one in my RPG games. The great thing about this book is there is so much in it, like newspaper articles about planets, or about one of the 5, lots of data on planets and their 'strange' human population. And when Kirth needs lots of money you know where he got it, it isn't just there. There is really a good and deep background, this universe really could be there, just great. @~I like books with a believable setting too. Does anyone else @~have any good examples? ------------------------------------------------------------------ And the second review is:- 2. BATTLETECH: LEGEND OF THE JADE PHOENIX: VOLUME 1 - WAY OF THE CLANS AUTHOR - ROBERT THURSTON Reviewed by David Froude The Battletech books are Science Fiction and the action in "The Way of the Clans" takes place in the 31st century. The Battlemechs are the ultimate war machines, the Clan Warriors are the ultimate warriors resulting from centuries of controlled breeding. Clan warriors pilot the battlemechs, the most powerful war machines ever built. The Clans have evolved from the Regular Star League Army which settled in the Periphery (unknown worlds beyond the borders of the Inner Sphere) after the collapse of the Inner Sphere Star League in the 28th century. The Inner Sphere are known worlds, originally populated from Terra. The Clan is divided into various "castes" and candidates failing to become warriors are integrated into the lower (inferior!) castes. These lower castes include scientists and technicians. This volume tells the story of one of these special breed, Aiden, who aspires to be a warrior of Clan Jade Phoenix, the training he undergoes and the trials he undertakes to become a Clan Warrior who are the best warriors in the galaxy. Aiden is a member of a group which comprises a number of potential clan warriors of both sexes. The group is from a warrior caste eugenics programme who have the same genetic background, resemble each other and have been raised together in what is known as a "sibko". As they mature they are continually tested and those found wanting are discarded. The story begins where the sibko start their warrior training and continues through their training failures and successes to the ultimate selection of the few remaining candidates who aspire through battle to achieve the distinction of "Clan Warrior". It covers the changing attitudes of members of the sibko and their relationships and attitudes to their instructor, other castes and each other. Sketches and brief information on the specifications of the Battletech machines which are covered in the story are provided at the end of the book. Robert Thurston is the author of "Alicia II" and "A Set Of Wheels" and the "Battlestar Galactica" series. Rating: VG A very good read. - o -