Battletech 01: Way of the Clans

The Battletech Universe can seem a little complicated for those new to the series; there are so many books covering different historical eras and personalities, almost all of which are related in one way or another, that one hardly knows where to begin. You basically have to study Battletech history in order to fully understand each book's place in that history. I speak from personal experience here, as I'm still new to these books myself. I don't know if Way of the Clans is a good starting point in terms of the timeline, but it's certainly a good starting point in the sense that it draws the reader right into the world of Battletech with a fascinating story. Not only does Way of the Clans introduce you to the clan structure of the outer worlds of the Sphere, it takes you all the way through one young man's training to become a MechWarrior. Back in the twenty-eighth century, Aleksandr Kerensky took all of his supporters and established his own society outside the Inner Sphere; with the intention of one day returning and re-establishing the old government, Nicholas Kerensky began developing the most dangerous soldiers possible. The society is built almost solely upon the central importance of warfare, and it is the dream of every child to become a warrior. Some are bred for the task, and the highest honor a warrior can achieve is the acquisition of a Bloodname and inclusion in the genetic warrior pool. The trueborn are artificially created via genetic engineering from the bloodlines of the most accomplished warriors, and these youngsters are all raised and trained together from birth. Each sibko may only produce one or two warriors, however - only the very best succeed, while the others are killed or assigned to work among the lower castes. Freeborns, those born by natural means, also can earn warrior status, but their lower caste forbids them from fighting on the front lines. Aidan Pryde is a trueborn who wants desperately to earn warrior status in the Jade Falcon clan (which numbers among the mightiest of all the clans) to which he was born, but he is a little different from the other members of his genetic grouping, or sibko. We follow him all the way through the warrior training program, which culminates in the Trial that determines whether or not he will earn the right to lead a monstrous Battletech in battle. The way of the clans makes for an almost unendurable struggle to earn one's place among the warrior caste; here, the individual is stressed over the group mentality, and a true warrior is expected to do anything to reach his/her objectives. Alongside the story of Aidan's perilous journey into adulthood we get insightful journal entries from the camp commander enlightening us on the theory and practice of the mysterious ways of the clan. This coming of age story is bursting at the seams with action and remarkable insights into clan society, making it a truly compelling addition to the Battletech Universe. Those eager to l

This is a great book for veterans of the Battletech universe, or general sci-fi fans alike. The reader is introduced to a strange culture where genetic engineering is favored over natural birth, and where being a warrior is the pinnacle of existance.Unlike some Battletech novels, character interaction and development is not sacrificed for action. Aidan, Joanna, Horse, and Marthe have complex feelings and relationships that are deep enough to hold up over the sequels and other stories that they appear in. The book also is a good stand-alone read, although the whole Jade Phoenix series is reccomended. Definately one of the crown jewls of the Battletech novel series.

This novel introduced me to Battletech. While I've never played the RPG, I've managed to continue collecting and reading all of the novels. This one, without a doubt, is an excellent novel. Introducing Aidan Pryde of Clan Jade Falcon, Battletech readers are introduced to the Way of the Clans. This first volume details how Clan warriors are bred and trained. We follow Aidan on his exploits through Clan space as he attempts to become a warrior for the Jade Falcons. Readers are also introduced to Marthe Pryde, who continues to play a role in the current Battletech storyline. This novel is an excellent bridge into the Battletech universe. Unfortunately, with Mechwarrior: Dark Age being released, this book is behind the times, but if you can find the Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy, I thoroughly recommend it. See also Blood of Kerensky Trilogy for more about the Clans.

I first came to Battletech by playing the Mechwarrior2 computer game. When I found out there were novels set in the Battletech Universe I figured this was a good place to start.What a story! Great mech action and human drama, with a nice lead to the next book(s). The characters were well developed, interesting and strong. You get a great feel of how a Clan warrior is created and what they have to go through to become warriors. It's pretty brutal stuff. I went out and purchased Bloodname and Falcon Guard right after I finished it just to make sure I had them on hand.A good book, and great place to begin the Battletech journey!db

I beleive that this book is the best intro to the the B-Tech universe. It got me "HOOKED" at age 11, and I still read it. I am still re-reading all my "Tech" books, they are the best works of sci-fi literature... In my opinion!