Way of the Clans (Mass Market Paperback)

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 learn what happens to Aidan Pryde following the rather remarkable events chronicled here are in luck, as this is just the first of three novels in the Legend of the Jade Phoenix Trilogy.

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.

Clan Jade Falcon is seen here with some rather interesting UnClan like happenings, but when thoroughly read 1-3 you will find that the entire series is very well worked out to the very end of the story of Aidan Pryde.

Folks that do not know much about the Clans will get some insight into their world and the feelings of Clanners vs. Spheroids (Inner Sphere people); to include the Freeborn and Trueborn castes and intermingling that happens between these people. Very insightful. -Remember though the unclan like statement at the beginning - it will rise up again in the books.

Good Reading to all...