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My Love Affair with BattleTech

May 7, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

A small selection of my Battletech books

I’d be really curious how many people who read this post are already familiar with BattleTech.

For those who aren’t, here’s a very brief summary: BattleTech was originally designed as a board game in the 1980s, but then grew into a somewhat enormous universe. There have been over 100 novels written about the universe, video games, card games, and even an animated TV show. The world revolves primarily around combat between huge, 30-100 ton war machines.

I came to the world through the novels. In middle school I was looking for something new, and the images of giant machines fighting on the covers of trade paperbacks were enough to make me ask for one every time I visited a bookstore.

As a younger reader, I loved the books. They are filled with action, and were my sci-fi equivalent of candy. I remember a vacation when I packed one duffel bag full of clothes and another full of Battletech books. My parents actually got after me because we were driving through beautiful national parks and I had my face buried deep in my books.

However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve occasionally gone back and reread a handful of the books. Every time I do, I discover something I was too young to realize before. Most recently, I’ve realized that the novels, in particular, have created a universe almost unparalleled outside of comic books. The universe spans hundreds of worlds, hundreds of years, and a cast of characters both loved and hated. There have been universe-altering events, much like the crossover events of Marvel comics.

The scope of what the universe accomplished, especially considering the fact that the books were written in the 90s, before shared universes were common, is terribly impressive. Even decades after the creation of Battletech, there are new games coming out (and yes, I play Mechwarrior Online and the brand new Battletech game. I love them both.), and there are fans who remain committed to the universe.

I think that what I love about this universe is that there are so many ways to fall in love. If you like tactical board games, there’s an entry point. If you love thoughtful, first person shooters, there’s an entry point. And if you simply enjoy stories where 100 ton machines duke it out with overpowered weapons, there’s a place for you, too.

Filed Under: Essays Tagged With: Battletech, essays

Release of Primal Dawn

September 26, 2016 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Top of the morning, everybody!

I know this has already gone out on all the channels, but I wanted to make sure it could be seen here, too. I’m really excited to announce the official release of my newest story, Primal Dawn.

Primal Dawn is a new endeavor for me, a short sci-fi story about first contact. It’s an idea I’ve had bouncing around in my head for quite a while, and after finishing the Nightblade trilogy, was looking for a bit of a change of pace.

The story comes in at about fifty thousand words, so a little less than half of a full Nightblade novel. This was a lot of fun to write, and I hope you all enjoy as well. If you’re interested in learning more, the link is below:

Primal Dawn

Take care all!

Ryan

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: amazon, Battlestar Glactica, Battletech, books, indie publishing, new, primal dawn, publishing, Sci-Fi, science fiction, self-publishing, space

“Good” Literature

June 7, 2016 by Ryan Leave a Comment

I think a lot about what makes “good” literature, and if there is an opposite of being a snob, I think that’s where I am these days.

I’ve written before about what makes a story enjoyable for me, but I’m always interested in our culture’s attempt to label some art good and some bad.  I think it would be useful if we could move beyond those simple descriptions.

Most recently, I’ve been taking a break from big, dense books, and reading old BattleTech novels I just uncovered when cleaning out my basement.  When I was younger, I lived for these books, and at times I would read more than one a day.

For those who don’t know BattleTech, it is a popular sci-fi universe in which large war machines kick the crap out of each other.  As a kid, I loved them, excited to read about thirty foot towers of destruction.  Turns out, as an adult, I still do.

The books certainly won’t win any prestigious literary awards.  But, even with a more experienced eye, there’s still a lot I love about them.  They’re well-paced, the universe is expansive and fascinating, and come on, you have huge machines firing tremendous weapons at each other.  It’s the equivalent of sci-fi candy, and I’m eating it by the fistful.

I don’t think we should judge people on what they like in terms of art, and I don’t really think there’s any objective standard for what’s good and what’s not.

What’s more important is this – did you love it?  If you did, then it’s good art for you.  If you didn’t, then it’s not good art for you.  But it may be for another.

Stay awesome friends,

 

Ryan

Filed Under: Essays Tagged With: Battletech, essays

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