The Scorpion Jar (Mechwarrior: Dark Age, No. 13)

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...Read more

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...Read more

I gave up on Mechwarrior after trudging through the 1/2 dozen novels following Stackpole's "Ghost War". Two years later, I picked up where I left off with "Fortress of Lies", which I actually found to be quite good. My joy was short-lived and I died a little on the inside when I read what I believe to be the worst book in the series - "Patriot's Stand". Even though the writing got better after that atrocity, I was on the verge of giving the serie up for dead. Fortunately, "Hunter's of the Deep" caught my interest, not because it was great, but because it was different and I found it interesting, if not inconsistent with what we should expect. "The Scorpion Jar" was definitely the light at the end of the tunnel and has helped to reassert my intnerest in the Mechwarrior series. Granted, there is VERY little mech combat in this book, but it is packed full of the back-stabbing politics that made Battletech so engrossing. I would say, without reservation, that this is BY FAR the...Read more