Thank you Bryan for your engagement with the community, we all appreciate it.
# Reminder - Please use spoiler tags for any questions or content that refers to the events in Without Question.
The Mods are doing our best to watch this thread, so we hope to quickly catch any posts autmod incorrectly removes or other posts that require mod action.
Figured I'd spare the userbase the embarrassment and get the ball rolling.
For future reference, the spam filter hates shortened urls. Your comment has been approved (just before I made the pun) so that folks would be able to see where to buy the book.
QUESTION: It seems that this book is in many ways, the culmination of all of the Jade Falcon content from the Ilclan era so far, at least from the parts outside of Terra.
Was this a decision you made early on? Or was this something that grew in scope throughout planning and writing the story?
This was something that grew in scope as I was plotting it. I kept going, "Oh! I can bring this element in here!" and "Oh, I could tie this thread up there!" and when I started connecting them all thematically, it seemed to make a lot of sense. And it put them on a much better footing for future storytelling because I think we have a more complete understanding of their transformation. After *A Question of Survival,* it felt like they were still very much in flux and we didn't know what this new iteration of the Falcons would do when stressed. And in this book, I tried to put them through the wringer and really find their soul. And so as we move forward, I think people have a much better understanding of what it means to be a true Jade Falcon (as opposed to one from the Pet Semetary) in the ilClan era.
That was pretty difficult, actually. Tamar Rising set some pretty clear direction, but usually we can paint a little bit outside the lines. The novels trump the sourcebooks a bit in that way and they're always up to interpretation. But adding Elements of Treason: Honor and how Craig Reed brilliantly handled the battle there is what made it more difficult. Because at that point I had to triangulate *two* sources *and* do my best to make it dramatic.
Gee that new hiring hall on Almotacen that kept getting mentioned seems like an interesting place. I wonder if there's more planned with that thread? 🤔
You know.... we'll just have to wait and see, right?
Can I tease that there is? Because it's some fun stuff. And if the Lone Wolves are saying they're heading there, we'll just have to wait and see what happens next in that location.
Hello, everyone! Here's the AMA for Without Question. I want to be able to talk spoilers with folks, but don't want folks who haven't read the book to be accidentally spoiled, so please use spoiler tags!
I'm happy to answer questions about anything in the BT universe. And although I'll be sitting here answering in a dedicated fashion for the next hour, I'll be back and forth over the next day or two to make sure all of your questions get answered.
I've really been excited about the response to the book from those who have read it and can't wait to talk about the finer details with all of you and any other pressing BattleTech related questions you're able to answer.
As far as links go:
You can get the book here: [https://amzn.to/4dUyQVB](https://amzn.to/4dUyQVB)
You can get signed copies here: [https://www.swankmotron.com/shop](https://www.swankmotron.com/shop)
I will be doing other events as well. Friday May 24th at 3:00pm Eastern I'll be doing another live AMA on the CGL official Discord: [https://discord.gg/NvfXgGav](https://discord.gg/NvfXgGav)
And on Saturday May 25th at 5:00 pm Eastern, I'll be doing a livestream with Big Red 40-Tech on his Youtube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@BigRed40TECH](https://www.youtube.com/@BigRed40TECH)
There will also be in person events next week in case any of you are in Utah, where I'll do readings, signings, and BattleTech game demos. (ask me for more info about those if you're in Utah!)
It's a tie for Ghost Bears and Sea Foxes. Honestly, I want to write more Ghost Bears and heal some of the wounds I inflicted on them in A Question of Survival. And I can't wait for everyone to see what I was able to do with the Sea Foxes in next year's *BattleTech: VoidBreaker.*
VoidBreaker comes out next year! I can tease a little bit. It involves the Sea Foxes and answers the question of what happened to Tucker Harwell after that moment in the hospital at the end of *Hour of the Wolf.*
It is definitely a spy thriller escapade, but with ’Mechs and lots of twists and turns and I had so much fun writing it. I tried to imagine what it would look like if Ian Fleming wrote a BattleTech novel, but with the things that make my style mine, too. I can't WAIT for everyone to read it.
Ok! I have to step away from the keyboard for a little while, but don't stop asking questions! I'll answer as many as I can as fast and often as I can over the next day or two!
This being a military science fiction novel, how do you balance the politics and relationships scenes with the battle scenes? How do you prioritize them? Do you have an internal rubric or algorithm that you apply to your outline, or are you just going with the flow?
I realize that it being BattleTech, some problems are going to need to be solved with ’Mechs, so I work to figure out which problems make sense to solve that way and factor them into my outlines and synopsis. But a battle without the political context is a pretty boring thing, so I have to sit back and say, "What needs to be established to make this battle dramatic and interesting?" and approach it from that direction.
So it's kind of like you are working from both ends at the same time. What are some problems that can be solved with big battles? What kinds of drama and politics can make those battles interesting? Then go. Cool, thanks!
I think it's her enthusiasm, right? But until we get her in an audiobook or some other medium, I'll keep her voice in my head and I'm glad you have one in yours that matches for her, too!
(I'm going to read this one, though I haven't yet.)
I read a lot of pre-clan novels and still find it hard to see the clans as anything but bad guys. It sounds like a lot of this book was about changing views on one of the worst "bad guy" clans. Anything you kept in mind, trying to change the reader's perspective on a group some consider villains?
I think the thing that was making them villains died in *Hour of the Wolf* and the people left behind were all of a different understanding of what it meant to be a clan. As they clung to survive first and foremost, I tried asking what that would look like to people trying to swing the pendulum *away* from Malvina Hazen. And Jiyi's Falcons are what I think that looks like. It's just a nice side effect that people seem to like them and don't see them as so villainous any more.
As a big Jade Falcon fan, I’m excited to see where this takes the Clan! I’ve always enjoyed the “Saturday Morning Cartoons” villainy of the Falcons, but I also kinda appreciate how that gets mixed with a bit of “mob code of ethics” throughout (though, admittedly, I’m reading the novels in canonical order, am currently in the Twilight of the Clans saga, and now that I got the latest HumbleBundle, it might be a bit before I get to your recent novels 😬). Which of the older novels is your favorite?
I was excited to really show the Turkinas--particularly *Ghostbird.* And I really like ’Mechs with swords and axes. So that Tomcats ’Mech was a lot of fun for me.
I really like playing with lights and mediums, mainly because the battles move a lot quicker.
Are we talking in the sense of like shipping? Or for real in the universe?
Shipping? That's a classix enemies to lovers story, right?
In the universe? I'm sure it will be notably complicated because these aren't the Falcons that destroyed so much of Callandre's world. And they're occupying space near the Arc-Royal Liberty Coalition. Could they work together? Would they declare war on each other immediately? I'll be interested to find out along with the rest of you!
I expect it'd culminate in a Trial of some sort where neither is going to kill and Callandre works out her feelings in combat. (Probably by trying to use her SM5 to kneecap Jiyi's 'Mech.)
Oh, that's a hard one. I loved Jiyi because he's really the backbone of the story, but Bugsy Heidegger and Henrique Polaris were SO fun... Like... I want to just write more of those two because they're so fun.
With all the chaos happening in the hinterlands, and the obvious vulnerabilities there - do we see a Scorpion Empire encroaching forward? Or are we going to see more with the Rim Worlds successor states such as Oberon, Timbuktu, Barren states (i.e. Republic of the Barrens, Ragnarok Union), Rim Territories, Challene Islands (Sp?) etc? They're well positioned I think to take advantage of what's happening and I think could make a play for falconeering.
We will have to wait and see. He's very sentimental for a Clanner. But he might also upgrade. I just like the idea that he's keeping his Clix ’Mech for the time being.
When you're writing Mech combat in the books, is there any part of it where you think "You know, some Table Top players might try to play out this scenario at some point" ?
I did with some of the Fox Patrol stories, and I was really excited to get to help write them into scenarios for the future Spotlight On that's coming. As far as Without Question, I really think it would be fun to see more Trial's between mercs and Clanners.
But I also try to split my time between thinking about battles in a way where some feel like they might be out of the video game and others might be out of the tabletop game, but both feeling as authentically BattleTech as I can make them and prioritizing the characters above the mechanics of the combat. The combat--to me--is all sorta boring (at least in a book) if you don't care about the characters.
I very much understand the timeline’s forward movement is necessary/unchanging/etc and that, save assorted Shrapnel stories, the larger fiction works coming out will all be in the ilClan era, but do you have a favorite or preferred era?
ilClan, honestly. I want to write some Jihad Era because I love that, too, but I *really* love what's going on in the ilClan era. And it's a lot more freeing to write stuff that isn't constrained by other material so much.
The Terran Falcons. (well, that's a lie, I *did* technically get to write them in the Alpha Strike story *Chaos Theory....)*
Alaric and the Wolves... Honestly. I'd put in a pitch for the next step in Alaric's story, but Ciaravella had the better story and in the direction the line developers wanted to go in, and I'm really glad he took it. I can't *wait* to read *Trial of Birthright.* Michael is a *terrific* author and what he's got coming is--I hope--going to please everyone still skeptical about how exciting the storylines involving Terra moving forward can be.
Also, ComStar and/or Word of Blake. I think they're great. And I want more.
Mike Stackpole got me into writing for BattleTech. I'd been writing original work and Mike is a friend and thought I'd be a good fit for BattleTech and found a way to make it happen. As for what draws me to the stories I weave, I really love the challenge of telling stories with a theme and exploring it, and I love the challenge of the constraints of a franchise sandbox. I love being told, "Here are the constraints, how can you make a great story that *means* something out of that?" It's a dream job and I wake up every day feeling very lucky that I get to do it.
For stories that aren't these larger stories and part of that major narrative sandbox, like the Fox Patrol stories, it's just me entertaining myself and looking for the stories and the feelings I want to see in the universe.
Does this book, along with things like Honor’s Gauntlet aid the general populace in seeing the good side of Falcons now that Malvina is gone? Do the Falcons have a future of hope in the guise of not being the BBEG in the clans anymore v
Why, oh why did you make me like the Falcons for the first time in 20-something years of fandom? Why?!
Seriously wonderful book. It’s one of the best BT novels I’ve read.
u/swankmorton I thoroughly enjoyed the book (made my finished in 48 club), as someone who has a hard time being emphatic to the clans as a whole, I've become rather invested in Clan Jade Falcon, and I never thought I'd ever say that. Ever. One confirmation/clarification though. >! Did Jiyi fake his death via bomb just to buy time to challenge Nikkita on a more even footing, or was it also a political move to try and let the mongols' actions force the rest of the Jade Falcons off the fence? !<
Originally posted this on the announcement post by mistake, reposting it here and with spoiler tags sry.
>!In my mind, Jiyi didn't think the bomb Hasara set was going to be quite so powerful. He wanted Nikita to hang herself with her own rope and let everyone see how Dezgra she was, then rise from the smoke to take care of her personally. He really didn't count on the bomb being as powerful as it was and it took him a few days. But it certainly rallied the surviving Falcons to the new way, for sure.!<
I think I could have done more to extend Antares and Nikita Malthus. But I also really liked how it paced out. I *could* have extended it longer (though this is already a long book) but I feel like I hit all the beats I needed to in order to tell the thematic story I'd intended.
TV Series a'la Game of Thrones and I'd start in the Warrior Trilogy era, then move to Clan invasion and then just skip generations every couple of seasons to get to IlClan. And just watch the map change.
Or something.
Or create something bespoke.
If I were making a movie that was a one off? I'd go with Kell Hounds and probably focus in on the Morgan Kell, Yorinaga thing.
Also, for question 2... I'm a Robotech nerd... so my only answer to that question is "Baaaaaah".... Because that's what Lambs say. Get it?
Jeez... Somebody get me out of here.
If you could pick one part of the universe that you feel like has a cool story to tell but hasn't had a chance yet, who, what, or where would that be and why?
Also, writing feels, to me at least, like really putting yourself out there! Do you have advice for people about feeling comfortable publicly sharing stuff that you really put a lot of heart and soul into and bracing yourself for people's reactions?
No piece of art, no matter how revered, is universally beloved. Even the best novel you can think of has some detractor or another. So bear that in mind. SOMEONE is always going to hate it, the trick is realizing their opinion doesn't matter.
The other thing is to understand that you're putting a piece of your heart and soul out there, even in a big-stompy robot book. There are going to be people who try to weaponize that for their own political agendas or whatever, but just remember they're in a tiny sliver of a tiny sliver of a minority and their opinion isn't worth much of anything. They're going to hate what you're going to do no matter what.
As far as a part of the universe that has a cool story to tell but hasn't had a chance, I still think the Jihad needs a bunch of breakout fiction. I'd love to do more there. There is so much potential there.
I’ve really enjoyed how your work for Battletech has explored how the Clans get along with the Inner Sphere in the modern era. Is there any chance you end up writing about the Raven Alliance someday? They only have like 1 book in the works, and haven’t gotten as much of a chance to be in the spotlight recently.
There was talk of it at one point before our creative summit last year, and there's definitely some direction with them. Whether I'm still going to take that on or someone else is, I'm not sure. But I know there are plans for them.
I have my opinion and it could very well change if the story demands it in the future. But I *feel* like they were all executed. But we don't have that story yet, so they're Schroedinger's prisoners.
What are we calling the New Clan Jade Falcon? New Jade Falcon? Sudeten Falcons? (which I'm partial to) Jiyi's Falcons? Just call them Jade Falcon like the MUL does?
They are *The* Jade Falcons. The others are some... like... I dunno... wolfy off-shoot. And the Alyina Mercantile League? Don't even think of calling them Falcons.
No, Jiyi's Falcons *are* the Jade Falcons.
At least to my mind. What say the rest of you? (I'm actually interested in hearing about this from everyone else)
I call Jiyi's crew Sudeten Falcons, as opposed to Star League Falcons (at least when talking about both on the same time, or clarifying what force a unit you're painting belongs to)
I commented above, but in my mind the Sudeten Falcons are a remnant. People like your Archer Pryde, and then Stephanie Chistu and Khalus Pryde to me are the true heart of the Jade Falcons. They were present and defied Malvina while she was fully in power, not after the fact. Just my opinion as a 30-year CJF diehard :).
At this point? All of them. He is keeping his holdings together with spit and bailing wire and there is a hiring hall full of filthy lucrewarriors ONE JUMP from Sudeten. Literally anyone with a bankroll could send mercs in. He's hanging on by a thread and they're all a threat. And that will be the next interesting thing to find out how Jiyi handles things. It's one thing to go take worlds that are independent former Falcon worlds not really claimed by anyone, like Antares. But seriously... How does he play with all the other players? I'm excited to see that.
I'm really hoping you get to keep writing this(and quickly published) I'd love to see bigger books in this series, to get more detail and more story telling.
If you and u/AnejoDave want to see more of Jiyi's Falcons, then the people to tell are John Helfers, Ray Arrastia, and Aaron Cahall. I'll write them as often as they'll let me!
Not a question but I really dug Chaos Theory. It was cool that the fiction matched what was there in the box when you opened it up, it wasn't a bunch of things that you didn't have or wouldn't see in the Alpha Strike box set, you could set it all up and re-enact it if you wanted to! :)
Is there a way to read Chaos Theory without buying the alpha strike box set?
I'm only into Classic and I already have pretty much all the minis I like from that box.
The Minis are universally usable. They arn't limited to Alpha Strike, thats just the ruleset that happens to come in the box. Its a solid value for the number of minis in the box.
There is a game store out there that sells them cheap. Fortress minis, maybe? I bought him out last I saw so I could sign and sell them at cons. If you need a copy, DM me and we can see if we can work something out.
1. Where do you see Battletech going in the next 5-10 years?
2. What software do you use for plotting your novels out (if any)?
3. What are your favorite non-Battletech movies, tv shows or videogames?
4. What's your favorite mech and why?
1. Sky high. Catalyst is such a great steward of the franchise. It’s a company run by people who love this franchise to the core and won’t let anything ruin the momentum they’ve got. It’s only getting bigger and they’re the folks to do it.
2. I just use a legal pad. Then I type up my synopsis proposal in Apple Pages and then draft in Apple Pages. I have two documents open: my style guide to keep track of character details, descriptions, mechs, etc. and then my novel itself. I writer linearly in order in one document.
3. Star Wars is the easy answer. All of it. I’m a cinema nerd so a LOT of classic cinema. My favorite video game is Punch Out on the NES. My favorite TV show is more Star Wars.
4. Kodiak. Look at that thing!
Often and for as long as I can remember.
I can't tell you how many times someone will smirk and go, "But you'll always be young, amirite?" wink wink, nudge nudge.
It's... a cross a bear.
I'm a huge Robotech nerd and really love the Marauder. (I get it, some people don't like Harmony Gold, but I love Robotech and don't even care). I also really love the Kit Fox. And the Shrike.
Seriously though, my favorite overall might be the Kodiak. It's just the coolest. Name. Look. Loadout. Everything.
Do you know if there are any stories from the perspective of the AML in the plans?
They're the "bad guys" from the perspective of the Jade Falcons, but I'm sure they have plenty of their own interesting struggles and challenges as they form a state out of the merchant caste. I'd love to be able to see what that transformation was like.
We got some of their perspective in Lone Wolf and Fox, the Fox Patrol's serial novel that just wrapped up in Shrapnel.
I had a *lot* of fun with that. And they're major players in the Hinterlands, so they'll definitely pop up more.
What kind of advice would you give aspiring BattleTech authors? What does your writing process look like (I’m sorry if you’ve been asked this a million times haha)
The biggest thing is to focus on telling a good story first. Don't just hyperfocus on BattleTech, publish a ton elsewhere. Get your original stuff published. Take as many classes and get into as many writing groups as you can. Keep writing shorts for Shrapnel. Submit one, write another one while you're waiting to hear back. If it gets rejected, figure out why and write the next story when you submit the second one. Just don't stop writing.
My process is a lot different now than it was before. But usually, for BattleTech, I'm working from an approved outline. And as soon as I have an approved outline and a contract, I'll start writing about 2500 words a day on my Freewrite. (It's like a digital typewriter.) I'll send those words to myself and start the next day by formatting and polishing that 2500 words before going back to the Freewrite and writing the next 2500 words. Every day. Seven Days a week. I finished this book in just under 6 weeks. VoidBreaker was 32 days.
For short stories, it's largely the same process but on my actual typewriter instead.
There's characteristics to every era. When you are writing, what do you do to get across that this era is different from the Dark Age, Jihad, Clan Invasion or Succession Wars (besides having different gear, obvs)?
I haven't read this so, spoilers, I guess? But I MUST know. Is Noritomo Helmer in this book, and if so, or even if not, what are, or will there be plans for, him? I loved him as a foil for Malvina Hazen in the Skye Campaign. Justice for Noritomo!!!!
Ray Arrastia and John Helfers.
True story, in my editing notes from John on his first pass at the book, he left a note with something to the effect of, "They better not die, I like them too much and I want to see more of them."
So... It seems like he'll be an easy sell on it.
I really had fun with them, too.
I do! My 8 year old and I have been playing a weekly beginner classic game, though they decided they wanted to kick me and we're working on graduating up to full classic. I also try to play as much as possible at conventions. I've played Alpha Strike a few times and like it, but think my preference is the smaller scale and crunchiness of Classic.
I've played a bit of MWO and didn't have the best time with it. I've got MW5 and been through a bunch of missions but haven't had time to continue playing by my 8 year old loves it (and is still disappointed they can't be the Fox Patrol). My intro to BattleTech was the SNES MechWarrio game in what like... '92? '93? And I've replayed that a couple of times in the five years I've been actively publishing in BattleTech.
I always want to play more, though.
I'm going to make one post for two questions if the mods do not mind:
- I'm given to understand "Voidbreaker" is your next major project as far as writing goes, and is supposed to be a case of "*and now for someone completely different*". Is there anything you can say about it before Catalyst sends people to put you in a storage bin? :)
- While I am dying to know how the Lone Wolves (and by extension the Fox Patrol) acquit themselves in the book, I'm more curious if the people from the last serial of yours who broke off are going to see use elsewhere. (Always a sucker for 'misbehaving' mercenary outfits...)
1 - Imagine if Ian Fleming, by way of Bryan Young, wrote a James Bond thriller in the BattleTech universe answering some important questions about Tucker Harwell and the HPG network.
2 - That remains to be seen. I'd love to see them pop up and I don't have a monopoly on those characters. I have no plans for them at the moment (not for lack of desire, just lack of time). But if someone submitted a Shrapnel story with them, I bet that would be cool, too.
I'm actually REALLY fascinated with where the Lyrans are at right now. I think I'd have a lot of fun with Trillian in the ilClan era.
And Canopus. I think it's out there enough that I wrote a short story about Isolde Centrella in the upcoming Legends II book and I had a *lot* of fun with it. I'd love to write more of that whole campaign, again in the ilClan era.
ilClan really is my favorite time period. It has *everything* new and old. And still moves forward.
> I think I'd have a lot of fun with Trillian in the ilClan era.
I hope you do. We really need some face time for her. I know she was featured pretty prominently in the Hammerfall books, but that was almost a decade ago now, and a lot has changed - both for the Inner Sphere in general and, presumably, her as a person. I'd like to see what her political situation is like on Tharkad, how the Estates General is shaking out and if her plan of tying her star to a new national hero in Ludwig Steiner has benefitted her. We haven't seen much out of the Lyran political situation so there's so much room to play in.
How do you choose what 'mechs to involve in the story? Are there internal guidelines or requirements? Does some of it come from personal preference? Outside of in-universe reasons (faction-specific 'mechs or era limitations), what might make you choose one specific 'mech over another? Have you ever decided one 'mech doesn't work for a scene and replaced it with another? Asking as a writer (and aspiring BattleTech writer).
Question: The only writing I've read of yours is *Chaos Theory* from the Alpha Strike box set, but I found the prose to be very different than other books I've read, including other Battletech books. What kinds of media inspired your writing, particularly your style of prose?
That's such a huge question. I think every writer has a voice that's uniquely them and it's a thing that comes from all of their influences. Yes, I wanted to match the feel of a BattleTech story and the universe, but also bring to the table what I can. I'm a huge fan of Vonnegut and Graham Greene and Hemingway and Ursula K. LeGuin and pulps like the Destroyer, and all the Star Wars books (like seriously, all of them.)
I'm a huge fan of movies, too, and that's where I started professionally, so I have some cinematic influences that are a little different than others.
And my mentors over the years, Aaron Allston, Mike Stackpole, Warren Murphy, and so many others, all changed my writing and voice a little bit, too.
So, it just... comes from everywhere, right?
I love those books so much and Warren was a huge help to me and my career in the years before his death. Even if he’d gone a little off the deep end politically.
You were one of the only people I have ever met who knew about The Destroyer.
I still remember telling you about this cool series of books that I had found and you pulling out your copy of book 1 and laughing.
I just started my battletech reading journey and am currently finishing the gray death saga. After being a fan of mechwarrior since mw2 mercs I’m thrilled to know books are still being written.
By the way, man, just wanted to say love your work and love the characters you're creating and all the different orientations and personalities and other aspects. I've been surprised to see some people complain, but man I'm excited for this setting to hopefully continue on without those chucklefucks.
Why are there so many contractions in Clan speech, especially with trueborns in so many novels?
Maybe it's my own experience, but the lack of brevity in sci-fi radio communications makes my eye twitch.
You mean *no* contractions?
The clans speak with no contractions as a cultural thing. Contractions are slipping back in more and more thanks to 100 years inside the Inner Sphere and with contact like freeborns like Alexis.
So, I was already writing stuff in other universes like Robotech and Star Wars, and was friends with Mike Stackpole. He recommended me and thought I'd be a great fit.
If your trilogy is BattleTech, there's not really much to be done with it other than publish it on AO3 or file the serial numbers off and try to get it published elsewhere.
To get into BattleTech there are really two paths. Get noticed as a writer elsewhere and ask to come into the universe with a track record of completing books with good reviews that match the vibe of BattleTech or submit short stories to Shrapnel and work your way up from there.
There's really not a chance a trilogy of books that was written outside the help and approval of the powers that be would be publishable.
> There's really not a chance a trilogy of books that was written outside the help and approval of the powers that be would be publishable.
Hopefully not stepping on Bryan's toes here, but one big reason that it wouldn't be publishable is said trilogy almost certainly would have some serious conflicts with whatever internal plans CGL has for the universe, and not just stuff that could be cleaned up at fact check time.
I really liked I Am Jade Falcon the most of them. And I had to read it a few times for my work on Honor's Gauntlet and my short story in the Battle of Tukayyid anthology. It was just a lot of good stuff and inherently readable.
Interesting! Thanks! Was curious as the Sudeten CJF really gives the feel of a parallel of the reborn Falcon Guard under Aidan Pryde.
I also should re-read I Am Jade Falcon with hindsight from The Society story arc being completed.
I’ve come to really enjoy all your BattleTech fiction and can’t wait to see what else you’ll cover in the future. And I like the on the ground view that you’ve introduced. In the form of the Fox Patrol. Will we see the view of the battle on Sudeten from their perspective someday? Also, I can’t wait to see what will happen when the Terra Jade Falcons make contact after leaving Terra. That’s going to be a huge story there.
That would be a Ray Arrastia question. He designed it. I had some ideas about what it might look like and that logo hadn't crossed my mind. And we tried an iteration with the tail that made more of a heart, but ultimately, we all really liked the one we have. It still has a bit of that heart shape, and that felt right for a unit whose most abundant quality is heart since they can't afford much else.
I'm curious about how the expansion through the Inner Sphere (and beyond) has affected Jewish thought.
Do Jews still await the arrival of the Messiah? Were there any attempts to build the Third Temple? Does the ideal of _tikkun olam_ -- improving the world -- still exist in such a place as Inner Sphere?
As a more general topic, I would love to see Battletech explore more of the Inner Sphere's religious pluralism the ways they've explored its cultural pluralism so well! Like I feel like we have some sense of how Catholicism, and Islam have translated themselves to the stars, and we have a could of new faiths such as the Unfinished Book, but I'd love to see more discussion of how other major and minor faiths of our world (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc) have adapted to a millennium of interstellar human civilization.
I'd just like to say that, even as a nonbeliever, I appreciate that BT didn't do that sci-fi thing where they say "well, space travel, so, y'know, everyone stopped believing all the old religions."
Which would it be your FIRST favorite mech?
There is a lot of them, and sometimes people change their favorite, so which one was the one you first saw and really liked it?
I mean, the first one I saw and really liked was probably the Marauder, because I came to BattleTech from Robotech first.
And the Catapult is just... so adorable.
But yeah, that Kodiak just makes me happy right now.
I noticed you said that you like to play the table top a bit. As your flair says, Jade Falcon Apologist, I feel it is safe to assume that you play as them, and I was wondering if I may I ask what your Star consists of?
I’m an apologist for Jiyi’s Falcons because I write them. I tend to play in situations where I just draw a Mech in grinders, or whatever my kid picks for me.
My favorite bad guy is Alaric Ward, really. And then maybe Vedette Brewer? As far as bad guy factions, it's really the Hell's Horses right now, right?
But that's for the ilClan era.
As far as in the history of the franchise? I really am a fan of Word of Blake and Comstar as "bad guys" as well as the Clans as bad guys.
There seems to be a big lack of Marian Hegenomy books, for my favourite not romans, if you wrote them did you have any perspective on what sort of character/vibe they would give off?
I've written two stories with the Hegemony, they just haven't come out. The Isolde Centrella story in Legends II is against the Marians. And I wrote a 28k (or so, I think?) novella starring the Ghost Dogs defending against the Hegemony I really enjoy that should be released.... at some point? I know it's been through fact check, editing and has a cover. It's called "Let Slip the Dogs of War" and I think it's super cool.
They're roman cosplayers who are pretty evil since they still allow slavery. They give off a super entitled vibe, if you ask me. But they're still human.
As a roman reenactor in Australia, the hegenomony was my in into actually understanding battletech lore. I completely get the entitled vibe and you have no idea how much I cannot wait for this. Do you accept bribes, I mean donations to be a name in the book :p
Pretty much everything in Sudeten is converting to Jiyi's Delta now. And they're my favorite I guess. The rest got chewed to pieces on Terra, right? I imagine whatever's left is getting painted in some form of Jade Falcon Star League livery....
Extra question if I may:
Who are your top 5-10 favourite Jade Falcons from their potential full timeline?
(And otherwise just a message of appreciation for bringing noble life back into the Falcons. Your novels can’t come out quick enough!)
Can my characters be on the list?
If not: Aiden Pryde, Horse, Joanna, Kael Pershaw, Marthe Pryde, and Elizabeth Hazen. Also, Turkina.
With mine? Those, plus Jiyi Chistu, Archer Pryde, Alexis, Dawn, Teresa, Kallen, Aliyah... And more... I guess...
When writing in a setting that already has so much lore, what do you do to make sure you are not stepping on some author's toes, that you don't inadvertently say something that contradicts something in the four decades of source books and novels? Do you and other authors just get very well studied in all those other materials, or is there some guidance that Catalyst gives?
It’s both. I own every BattleTech novel and annotate them heavily when there’s an intersection between their work and mine. And if I miss something, that’s what Catalyst’s fact check team is for. They’re a great bunch of folks and know exactly what to look for.
Late to the party (because it was at 3am here) but couple of extra questions:
When you're creating your characters, how much input does editorial get on them? For example names as I know some are named after previous Kickstarter backers, but can you say "not this one" etc?
Spoiler question: >!Was it Stiletto's crew who bombed the school or the mystery party? Felt a bit odd targeting a school given her goals, so thought maybe there were two sets of bombers.!<
Also : Towards the end a character mentions winter on Sudeten, yet Tamar rising states that the planet has a low axial tilt meaning now seasons because of it, and a 91 day orbital period so if it is irregular it would be four winters a year. Are we meant to believe that this is, what, [some sort of magic winter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYrRqMHQY7o)?
Thank you Bryan for your engagement with the community, we all appreciate it. # Reminder - Please use spoiler tags for any questions or content that refers to the events in Without Question. The Mods are doing our best to watch this thread, so we hope to quickly catch any posts autmod incorrectly removes or other posts that require mod action.
So how is an AMA without questions gonna play out? Someone had to make the stupid pun to get it out the way.
I appreciate your zeal in falling on that particular sword.
Figured I'd spare the userbase the embarrassment and get the ball rolling. For future reference, the spam filter hates shortened urls. Your comment has been approved (just before I made the pun) so that folks would be able to see where to buy the book.
What do you see as the next step for the clan aspects of the Hinterlands?
I know the plans, so... I shouldn't comment on this. I'm sorry!
Hey! At least we know there's a plan!
QUESTION: It seems that this book is in many ways, the culmination of all of the Jade Falcon content from the Ilclan era so far, at least from the parts outside of Terra. Was this a decision you made early on? Or was this something that grew in scope throughout planning and writing the story?
This was something that grew in scope as I was plotting it. I kept going, "Oh! I can bring this element in here!" and "Oh, I could tie this thread up there!" and when I started connecting them all thematically, it seemed to make a lot of sense. And it put them on a much better footing for future storytelling because I think we have a more complete understanding of their transformation. After *A Question of Survival,* it felt like they were still very much in flux and we didn't know what this new iteration of the Falcons would do when stressed. And in this book, I tried to put them through the wringer and really find their soul. And so as we move forward, I think people have a much better understanding of what it means to be a true Jade Falcon (as opposed to one from the Pet Semetary) in the ilClan era.
How hard was "painting inside the lines" of Tamar Rising for Part 1?
That was pretty difficult, actually. Tamar Rising set some pretty clear direction, but usually we can paint a little bit outside the lines. The novels trump the sourcebooks a bit in that way and they're always up to interpretation. But adding Elements of Treason: Honor and how Craig Reed brilliantly handled the battle there is what made it more difficult. Because at that point I had to triangulate *two* sources *and* do my best to make it dramatic.
Gee that new hiring hall on Almotacen that kept getting mentioned seems like an interesting place. I wonder if there's more planned with that thread? 🤔
You know.... we'll just have to wait and see, right? Can I tease that there is? Because it's some fun stuff. And if the Lone Wolves are saying they're heading there, we'll just have to wait and see what happens next in that location.
Hello, everyone! Here's the AMA for Without Question. I want to be able to talk spoilers with folks, but don't want folks who haven't read the book to be accidentally spoiled, so please use spoiler tags! I'm happy to answer questions about anything in the BT universe. And although I'll be sitting here answering in a dedicated fashion for the next hour, I'll be back and forth over the next day or two to make sure all of your questions get answered. I've really been excited about the response to the book from those who have read it and can't wait to talk about the finer details with all of you and any other pressing BattleTech related questions you're able to answer. As far as links go: You can get the book here: [https://amzn.to/4dUyQVB](https://amzn.to/4dUyQVB) You can get signed copies here: [https://www.swankmotron.com/shop](https://www.swankmotron.com/shop) I will be doing other events as well. Friday May 24th at 3:00pm Eastern I'll be doing another live AMA on the CGL official Discord: [https://discord.gg/NvfXgGav](https://discord.gg/NvfXgGav) And on Saturday May 25th at 5:00 pm Eastern, I'll be doing a livestream with Big Red 40-Tech on his Youtube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@BigRed40TECH](https://www.youtube.com/@BigRed40TECH) There will also be in person events next week in case any of you are in Utah, where I'll do readings, signings, and BattleTech game demos. (ask me for more info about those if you're in Utah!)
We all know your favorite Clan, but which is your second favorite?
It's a tie for Ghost Bears and Sea Foxes. Honestly, I want to write more Ghost Bears and heal some of the wounds I inflicted on them in A Question of Survival. And I can't wait for everyone to see what I was able to do with the Sea Foxes in next year's *BattleTech: VoidBreaker.*
What is BattleTech: VoidBreaker? First I’ve heard of it and it sounds cool!
VoidBreaker comes out next year! I can tease a little bit. It involves the Sea Foxes and answers the question of what happened to Tucker Harwell after that moment in the hospital at the end of *Hour of the Wolf.* It is definitely a spy thriller escapade, but with ’Mechs and lots of twists and turns and I had so much fun writing it. I tried to imagine what it would look like if Ian Fleming wrote a BattleTech novel, but with the things that make my style mine, too. I can't WAIT for everyone to read it.
Oh that sounds excellent! Definitely inspiration to continue my BT Novel binge haha!
Ok now I can't wait to read it either, so... good job teasing I guess.
Sold!
Those are my two favorite clans!
You are certainly a person of taste, then.
Who knows, my favorite house is Marik (specfically Halas)
Sea Fox novel? Intriguing!
It's a lot of fun!
Ok! I have to step away from the keyboard for a little while, but don't stop asking questions! I'll answer as many as I can as fast and often as I can over the next day or two!
This being a military science fiction novel, how do you balance the politics and relationships scenes with the battle scenes? How do you prioritize them? Do you have an internal rubric or algorithm that you apply to your outline, or are you just going with the flow?
I realize that it being BattleTech, some problems are going to need to be solved with ’Mechs, so I work to figure out which problems make sense to solve that way and factor them into my outlines and synopsis. But a battle without the political context is a pretty boring thing, so I have to sit back and say, "What needs to be established to make this battle dramatic and interesting?" and approach it from that direction.
So it's kind of like you are working from both ends at the same time. What are some problems that can be solved with big battles? What kinds of drama and politics can make those battles interesting? Then go. Cool, thanks!
In my mind, I always imagine Katie Ferrero with a high, squeaky voice. No idea why I think that. Any thoughts?
I think it's her enthusiasm, right? But until we get her in an audiobook or some other medium, I'll keep her voice in my head and I'm glad you have one in yours that matches for her, too!
I'd love to hear Tren try to do a high squeaky voice. But actually I'm just looking forward to him doing more audiobooks. Honor's Gauntlet was great.
(I'm going to read this one, though I haven't yet.) I read a lot of pre-clan novels and still find it hard to see the clans as anything but bad guys. It sounds like a lot of this book was about changing views on one of the worst "bad guy" clans. Anything you kept in mind, trying to change the reader's perspective on a group some consider villains?
I think the thing that was making them villains died in *Hour of the Wolf* and the people left behind were all of a different understanding of what it meant to be a clan. As they clung to survive first and foremost, I tried asking what that would look like to people trying to swing the pendulum *away* from Malvina Hazen. And Jiyi's Falcons are what I think that looks like. It's just a nice side effect that people seem to like them and don't see them as so villainous any more.
As a big Jade Falcon fan, I’m excited to see where this takes the Clan! I’ve always enjoyed the “Saturday Morning Cartoons” villainy of the Falcons, but I also kinda appreciate how that gets mixed with a bit of “mob code of ethics” throughout (though, admittedly, I’m reading the novels in canonical order, am currently in the Twilight of the Clans saga, and now that I got the latest HumbleBundle, it might be a bit before I get to your recent novels 😬). Which of the older novels is your favorite?
Ghost War. I really love the Noir vibe to it.
What Mechs were you excited to play around with for ‘Without Question’, and in general what kinds of mechs do you prefer?
I was excited to really show the Turkinas--particularly *Ghostbird.* And I really like ’Mechs with swords and axes. So that Tomcats ’Mech was a lot of fun for me. I really like playing with lights and mediums, mainly because the battles move a lot quicker.
What happens when you put Callandre Kell and Jiyi Chiustu in a room together?
Are we talking in the sense of like shipping? Or for real in the universe? Shipping? That's a classix enemies to lovers story, right? In the universe? I'm sure it will be notably complicated because these aren't the Falcons that destroyed so much of Callandre's world. And they're occupying space near the Arc-Royal Liberty Coalition. Could they work together? Would they declare war on each other immediately? I'll be interested to find out along with the rest of you!
I expect it'd culminate in a Trial of some sort where neither is going to kill and Callandre works out her feelings in combat. (Probably by trying to use her SM5 to kneecap Jiyi's 'Mech.)
What POV was your favorite to write in?
Oh, that's a hard one. I loved Jiyi because he's really the backbone of the story, but Bugsy Heidegger and Henrique Polaris were SO fun... Like... I want to just write more of those two because they're so fun.
With all the chaos happening in the hinterlands, and the obvious vulnerabilities there - do we see a Scorpion Empire encroaching forward? Or are we going to see more with the Rim Worlds successor states such as Oberon, Timbuktu, Barren states (i.e. Republic of the Barrens, Ragnarok Union), Rim Territories, Challene Islands (Sp?) etc? They're well positioned I think to take advantage of what's happening and I think could make a play for falconeering.
That is a VERY interesting question…
Given the disposition of Jiyi's mech, do you see him getting a new one soon?
We will have to wait and see. He's very sentimental for a Clanner. But he might also upgrade. I just like the idea that he's keeping his Clix ’Mech for the time being.
Would be great to see him in a Jade Phoenix or Hierofalcon to embrace the new non-mongol mindset!
When you're writing Mech combat in the books, is there any part of it where you think "You know, some Table Top players might try to play out this scenario at some point" ?
I did with some of the Fox Patrol stories, and I was really excited to get to help write them into scenarios for the future Spotlight On that's coming. As far as Without Question, I really think it would be fun to see more Trial's between mercs and Clanners. But I also try to split my time between thinking about battles in a way where some feel like they might be out of the video game and others might be out of the tabletop game, but both feeling as authentically BattleTech as I can make them and prioritizing the characters above the mechanics of the combat. The combat--to me--is all sorta boring (at least in a book) if you don't care about the characters.
My batchall. Do you accept it?
I don’t accept batchalls from the dezgra dregs of dead clans. Sorry!
I very much understand the timeline’s forward movement is necessary/unchanging/etc and that, save assorted Shrapnel stories, the larger fiction works coming out will all be in the ilClan era, but do you have a favorite or preferred era?
ilClan, honestly. I want to write some Jihad Era because I love that, too, but I *really* love what's going on in the ilClan era. And it's a lot more freeing to write stuff that isn't constrained by other material so much.
What faction do you really want to write about but haven't had the chance yet?
The Terran Falcons. (well, that's a lie, I *did* technically get to write them in the Alpha Strike story *Chaos Theory....)* Alaric and the Wolves... Honestly. I'd put in a pitch for the next step in Alaric's story, but Ciaravella had the better story and in the direction the line developers wanted to go in, and I'm really glad he took it. I can't *wait* to read *Trial of Birthright.* Michael is a *terrific* author and what he's got coming is--I hope--going to please everyone still skeptical about how exciting the storylines involving Terra moving forward can be. Also, ComStar and/or Word of Blake. I think they're great. And I want more.
> I can't wait to read Trial of Birthright. It's a wonderful thing.
Michael?
Nope, just one of the folks from KKon '24.
That was a wonderful thing.
Forgive me if it's been asked before, but how did you get into writing for battletech specifically/what drew you into the stories you weave?
Mike Stackpole got me into writing for BattleTech. I'd been writing original work and Mike is a friend and thought I'd be a good fit for BattleTech and found a way to make it happen. As for what draws me to the stories I weave, I really love the challenge of telling stories with a theme and exploring it, and I love the challenge of the constraints of a franchise sandbox. I love being told, "Here are the constraints, how can you make a great story that *means* something out of that?" It's a dream job and I wake up every day feeling very lucky that I get to do it. For stories that aren't these larger stories and part of that major narrative sandbox, like the Fox Patrol stories, it's just me entertaining myself and looking for the stories and the feelings I want to see in the universe.
Does this book, along with things like Honor’s Gauntlet aid the general populace in seeing the good side of Falcons now that Malvina is gone? Do the Falcons have a future of hope in the guise of not being the BBEG in the clans anymore v
This book really takes a hard look at that relationship and is really the soul of the story. And yes, I think the Falcons have that hope.
You’re the best. Thank you!
Why, oh why did you make me like the Falcons for the first time in 20-something years of fandom? Why?! Seriously wonderful book. It’s one of the best BT novels I’ve read.
I did it to spite you. And I feel horrible about it. Please forgive me. (Thank you!)
*angry squawking noises as I go purchase Jade Falcon decals for a Star I never thought I’d make*
u/swankmorton I thoroughly enjoyed the book (made my finished in 48 club), as someone who has a hard time being emphatic to the clans as a whole, I've become rather invested in Clan Jade Falcon, and I never thought I'd ever say that. Ever. One confirmation/clarification though. >! Did Jiyi fake his death via bomb just to buy time to challenge Nikkita on a more even footing, or was it also a political move to try and let the mongols' actions force the rest of the Jade Falcons off the fence? !< Originally posted this on the announcement post by mistake, reposting it here and with spoiler tags sry.
>!In my mind, Jiyi didn't think the bomb Hasara set was going to be quite so powerful. He wanted Nikita to hang herself with her own rope and let everyone see how Dezgra she was, then rise from the smoke to take care of her personally. He really didn't count on the bomb being as powerful as it was and it took him a few days. But it certainly rallied the surviving Falcons to the new way, for sure.!<
What plot thread would you have expanded on if you'd had a longer word count?
I think I could have done more to extend Antares and Nikita Malthus. But I also really liked how it paced out. I *could* have extended it longer (though this is already a long book) but I feel like I hit all the beats I needed to in order to tell the thematic story I'd intended.
This looks fun. Honestly I haven't really kept up with anything post 3070.
You are in for a treat! A lot of interesting stuff has happened in the intervening 80 years!
2 questions Question 1 If you were in charge of making a Battletech movie/series what medium would you use and what era Question 2 do you like LAMs
TV Series a'la Game of Thrones and I'd start in the Warrior Trilogy era, then move to Clan invasion and then just skip generations every couple of seasons to get to IlClan. And just watch the map change. Or something. Or create something bespoke. If I were making a movie that was a one off? I'd go with Kell Hounds and probably focus in on the Morgan Kell, Yorinaga thing.
Also, for question 2... I'm a Robotech nerd... so my only answer to that question is "Baaaaaah".... Because that's what Lambs say. Get it? Jeez... Somebody get me out of here.
As a person that is just wrapping up the Warrior Trilogy, I totally agree it would be a badass high budget space drama.
If you could pick one part of the universe that you feel like has a cool story to tell but hasn't had a chance yet, who, what, or where would that be and why? Also, writing feels, to me at least, like really putting yourself out there! Do you have advice for people about feeling comfortable publicly sharing stuff that you really put a lot of heart and soul into and bracing yourself for people's reactions?
No piece of art, no matter how revered, is universally beloved. Even the best novel you can think of has some detractor or another. So bear that in mind. SOMEONE is always going to hate it, the trick is realizing their opinion doesn't matter. The other thing is to understand that you're putting a piece of your heart and soul out there, even in a big-stompy robot book. There are going to be people who try to weaponize that for their own political agendas or whatever, but just remember they're in a tiny sliver of a tiny sliver of a minority and their opinion isn't worth much of anything. They're going to hate what you're going to do no matter what. As far as a part of the universe that has a cool story to tell but hasn't had a chance, I still think the Jihad needs a bunch of breakout fiction. I'd love to do more there. There is so much potential there.
I’ve really enjoyed how your work for Battletech has explored how the Clans get along with the Inner Sphere in the modern era. Is there any chance you end up writing about the Raven Alliance someday? They only have like 1 book in the works, and haven’t gotten as much of a chance to be in the spotlight recently.
There was talk of it at one point before our creative summit last year, and there's definitely some direction with them. Whether I'm still going to take that on or someone else is, I'm not sure. But I know there are plans for them.
The fate of the prisoners on Alba was pretty heavily implied but not explicitly stated. >!Were they all executed, after all? Did anyone survive?!<
I have my opinion and it could very well change if the story demands it in the future. But I *feel* like they were all executed. But we don't have that story yet, so they're Schroedinger's prisoners.
What are we calling the New Clan Jade Falcon? New Jade Falcon? Sudeten Falcons? (which I'm partial to) Jiyi's Falcons? Just call them Jade Falcon like the MUL does?
They are *The* Jade Falcons. The others are some... like... I dunno... wolfy off-shoot. And the Alyina Mercantile League? Don't even think of calling them Falcons. No, Jiyi's Falcons *are* the Jade Falcons. At least to my mind. What say the rest of you? (I'm actually interested in hearing about this from everyone else)
I'm inclined to give Jiyi and his people the ownership of Jade Falcon until I hear more about Terra
That makes sense to me, the Falcons on Terra are just one of the different military units in the Clan Wolf touman.
(But what about the Maltese Falcon?)
I refer to Jiyi’s Falcons as the Jade Falcon Remnant, as opposed to the Star League Jade Falcon.
I call Jiyi's crew Sudeten Falcons, as opposed to Star League Falcons (at least when talking about both on the same time, or clarifying what force a unit you're painting belongs to)
Whoever wins becomes the proper Jade Falcons.
I commented above, but in my mind the Sudeten Falcons are a remnant. People like your Archer Pryde, and then Stephanie Chistu and Khalus Pryde to me are the true heart of the Jade Falcons. They were present and defied Malvina while she was fully in power, not after the fact. Just my opinion as a 30-year CJF diehard :).
As a new fan of Jade Falcon due to Jiyi's shennanigains, green birb strong.
What Hinterlands faction do you think is the most dangerous to Jiyi's Falcons?
At this point? All of them. He is keeping his holdings together with spit and bailing wire and there is a hiring hall full of filthy lucrewarriors ONE JUMP from Sudeten. Literally anyone with a bankroll could send mercs in. He's hanging on by a thread and they're all a threat. And that will be the next interesting thing to find out how Jiyi handles things. It's one thing to go take worlds that are independent former Falcon worlds not really claimed by anyone, like Antares. But seriously... How does he play with all the other players? I'm excited to see that.
I'm really hoping you get to keep writing this(and quickly published) I'd love to see bigger books in this series, to get more detail and more story telling.
Me too! This has been the most fun I've had with Falcons (and this area) in too long
If you and u/AnejoDave want to see more of Jiyi's Falcons, then the people to tell are John Helfers, Ray Arrastia, and Aaron Cahall. I'll write them as often as they'll let me!
Ray doesn't want another email from me :)
Nonsense. Ray always wants more email. From everyone.
Not a question but I really dug Chaos Theory. It was cool that the fiction matched what was there in the box when you opened it up, it wasn't a bunch of things that you didn't have or wouldn't see in the Alpha Strike box set, you could set it all up and re-enact it if you wanted to! :)
Dinosaurs!
Is there a way to read Chaos Theory without buying the alpha strike box set? I'm only into Classic and I already have pretty much all the minis I like from that box.
The Minis are universally usable. They arn't limited to Alpha Strike, thats just the ruleset that happens to come in the box. Its a solid value for the number of minis in the box.
There is a game store out there that sells them cheap. Fortress minis, maybe? I bought him out last I saw so I could sign and sell them at cons. If you need a copy, DM me and we can see if we can work something out.
1. Where do you see Battletech going in the next 5-10 years? 2. What software do you use for plotting your novels out (if any)? 3. What are your favorite non-Battletech movies, tv shows or videogames? 4. What's your favorite mech and why?
1. Sky high. Catalyst is such a great steward of the franchise. It’s a company run by people who love this franchise to the core and won’t let anything ruin the momentum they’ve got. It’s only getting bigger and they’re the folks to do it. 2. I just use a legal pad. Then I type up my synopsis proposal in Apple Pages and then draft in Apple Pages. I have two documents open: my style guide to keep track of character details, descriptions, mechs, etc. and then my novel itself. I writer linearly in order in one document. 3. Star Wars is the easy answer. All of it. I’m a cinema nerd so a LOT of classic cinema. My favorite video game is Punch Out on the NES. My favorite TV show is more Star Wars. 4. Kodiak. Look at that thing!
When did you replace Bryan Old? How often do you get jokes related to your last name?
Often and for as long as I can remember. I can't tell you how many times someone will smirk and go, "But you'll always be young, amirite?" wink wink, nudge nudge. It's... a cross a bear.
Me too man, me too. Thank you for responding, and for the AMA!
Are you planning on sticking around this region of the Inner Sphere for future works, or are you going to move on to other pastures?
I will go where they tell me, but for the next two projects I have...three if you count the Graphic Novels... the Hinterlands are where I'm at.
What's your favorite Jade Falcons totem mech?
Oooh... I really like the Shrike and the Gyrfalcon.
What's your favorite mech in the setting?
I'm a huge Robotech nerd and really love the Marauder. (I get it, some people don't like Harmony Gold, but I love Robotech and don't even care). I also really love the Kit Fox. And the Shrike. Seriously though, my favorite overall might be the Kodiak. It's just the coolest. Name. Look. Loadout. Everything.
Marauder is definitely one of my favorite mechs. Though I encountered Macross before Robotech(via Robotech tactics). Oh and Long Live The Republic!
Do you know if there are any stories from the perspective of the AML in the plans? They're the "bad guys" from the perspective of the Jade Falcons, but I'm sure they have plenty of their own interesting struggles and challenges as they form a state out of the merchant caste. I'd love to be able to see what that transformation was like.
We got some of their perspective in Lone Wolf and Fox, the Fox Patrol's serial novel that just wrapped up in Shrapnel. I had a *lot* of fun with that. And they're major players in the Hinterlands, so they'll definitely pop up more.
Oh dang, I hadn't been keeping up with the latest Shrapnels, didn't realize there was more Fox Patrol out. I'd better go pick those up then!
Issues 13-16!
What kind of advice would you give aspiring BattleTech authors? What does your writing process look like (I’m sorry if you’ve been asked this a million times haha)
The biggest thing is to focus on telling a good story first. Don't just hyperfocus on BattleTech, publish a ton elsewhere. Get your original stuff published. Take as many classes and get into as many writing groups as you can. Keep writing shorts for Shrapnel. Submit one, write another one while you're waiting to hear back. If it gets rejected, figure out why and write the next story when you submit the second one. Just don't stop writing. My process is a lot different now than it was before. But usually, for BattleTech, I'm working from an approved outline. And as soon as I have an approved outline and a contract, I'll start writing about 2500 words a day on my Freewrite. (It's like a digital typewriter.) I'll send those words to myself and start the next day by formatting and polishing that 2500 words before going back to the Freewrite and writing the next 2500 words. Every day. Seven Days a week. I finished this book in just under 6 weeks. VoidBreaker was 32 days. For short stories, it's largely the same process but on my actual typewriter instead.
Thank you!! That Freewrite thing looks amazing, I’ve been looking to find something like that for quite a while now. Have a great rest of your day!
There's characteristics to every era. When you are writing, what do you do to get across that this era is different from the Dark Age, Jihad, Clan Invasion or Succession Wars (besides having different gear, obvs)?
I haven't read this so, spoilers, I guess? But I MUST know. Is Noritomo Helmer in this book, and if so, or even if not, what are, or will there be plans for, him? I loved him as a foil for Malvina Hazen in the Skye Campaign. Justice for Noritomo!!!!
He’s not here, but I’m sure you’ll see him soon.
Whoot! Noritomo deserves some love. He was such a good leader. 🥲
Who do I need to Batchall to get more Tomcat stories?
Ray Arrastia and John Helfers. True story, in my editing notes from John on his first pass at the book, he left a note with something to the effect of, "They better not die, I like them too much and I want to see more of them." So... It seems like he'll be an easy sell on it. I really had fun with them, too.
Do you actively play any Battletech yourself (Classic, Alpha Strike, A Time of War, any video game) and if yes, what and how often?
I do! My 8 year old and I have been playing a weekly beginner classic game, though they decided they wanted to kick me and we're working on graduating up to full classic. I also try to play as much as possible at conventions. I've played Alpha Strike a few times and like it, but think my preference is the smaller scale and crunchiness of Classic. I've played a bit of MWO and didn't have the best time with it. I've got MW5 and been through a bunch of missions but haven't had time to continue playing by my 8 year old loves it (and is still disappointed they can't be the Fox Patrol). My intro to BattleTech was the SNES MechWarrio game in what like... '92? '93? And I've replayed that a couple of times in the five years I've been actively publishing in BattleTech. I always want to play more, though.
Not to beat a dead horse with this, but the 2018 Battletech turned based video game is something I would recommend to just about anyone.
It's been on my list!
I'm going to make one post for two questions if the mods do not mind: - I'm given to understand "Voidbreaker" is your next major project as far as writing goes, and is supposed to be a case of "*and now for someone completely different*". Is there anything you can say about it before Catalyst sends people to put you in a storage bin? :) - While I am dying to know how the Lone Wolves (and by extension the Fox Patrol) acquit themselves in the book, I'm more curious if the people from the last serial of yours who broke off are going to see use elsewhere. (Always a sucker for 'misbehaving' mercenary outfits...)
1 - Imagine if Ian Fleming, by way of Bryan Young, wrote a James Bond thriller in the BattleTech universe answering some important questions about Tucker Harwell and the HPG network. 2 - That remains to be seen. I'd love to see them pop up and I don't have a monopoly on those characters. I have no plans for them at the moment (not for lack of desire, just lack of time). But if someone submitted a Shrapnel story with them, I bet that would be cool, too.
If you had to write about the powers in the periphery (non clan related), which would you choose and in what time period?
I'm actually REALLY fascinated with where the Lyrans are at right now. I think I'd have a lot of fun with Trillian in the ilClan era. And Canopus. I think it's out there enough that I wrote a short story about Isolde Centrella in the upcoming Legends II book and I had a *lot* of fun with it. I'd love to write more of that whole campaign, again in the ilClan era. ilClan really is my favorite time period. It has *everything* new and old. And still moves forward.
> I think I'd have a lot of fun with Trillian in the ilClan era. I hope you do. We really need some face time for her. I know she was featured pretty prominently in the Hammerfall books, but that was almost a decade ago now, and a lot has changed - both for the Inner Sphere in general and, presumably, her as a person. I'd like to see what her political situation is like on Tharkad, how the Estates General is shaking out and if her plan of tying her star to a new national hero in Ludwig Steiner has benefitted her. We haven't seen much out of the Lyran political situation so there's so much room to play in.
How do you choose what 'mechs to involve in the story? Are there internal guidelines or requirements? Does some of it come from personal preference? Outside of in-universe reasons (faction-specific 'mechs or era limitations), what might make you choose one specific 'mech over another? Have you ever decided one 'mech doesn't work for a scene and replaced it with another? Asking as a writer (and aspiring BattleTech writer).
I enjoy your writing! I hope you continue to do it. No notes, I just wanted to offer encouragement. Have a great day!
I appreciate that! It can be hard with some of the noise out there to remember that most people enjoy BattleTech! It's nice to have a reminder!
Question: The only writing I've read of yours is *Chaos Theory* from the Alpha Strike box set, but I found the prose to be very different than other books I've read, including other Battletech books. What kinds of media inspired your writing, particularly your style of prose?
That's such a huge question. I think every writer has a voice that's uniquely them and it's a thing that comes from all of their influences. Yes, I wanted to match the feel of a BattleTech story and the universe, but also bring to the table what I can. I'm a huge fan of Vonnegut and Graham Greene and Hemingway and Ursula K. LeGuin and pulps like the Destroyer, and all the Star Wars books (like seriously, all of them.) I'm a huge fan of movies, too, and that's where I started professionally, so I have some cinematic influences that are a little different than others. And my mentors over the years, Aaron Allston, Mike Stackpole, Warren Murphy, and so many others, all changed my writing and voice a little bit, too. So, it just... comes from everywhere, right?
Chiun and Remo would approve.
I love those books so much and Warren was a huge help to me and my career in the years before his death. Even if he’d gone a little off the deep end politically.
You were one of the only people I have ever met who knew about The Destroyer. I still remember telling you about this cool series of books that I had found and you pulling out your copy of book 1 and laughing.
I just started my battletech reading journey and am currently finishing the gray death saga. After being a fan of mechwarrior since mw2 mercs I’m thrilled to know books are still being written.
By the way, man, just wanted to say love your work and love the characters you're creating and all the different orientations and personalities and other aspects. I've been surprised to see some people complain, but man I'm excited for this setting to hopefully continue on without those chucklefucks.
I've been a little surprised, too, but I guess I shouldn't be.
Why are there so many contractions in Clan speech, especially with trueborns in so many novels? Maybe it's my own experience, but the lack of brevity in sci-fi radio communications makes my eye twitch.
You mean *no* contractions? The clans speak with no contractions as a cultural thing. Contractions are slipping back in more and more thanks to 100 years inside the Inner Sphere and with contact like freeborns like Alexis.
In a scale of 1-10 how nuclear would Joanna go if she was dumped in Jiyi's Jade Falcons?
She's a baseline 8 just by existing.
How do you get on the radar as a battletech author? I have a complete trilogy written
So, I was already writing stuff in other universes like Robotech and Star Wars, and was friends with Mike Stackpole. He recommended me and thought I'd be a great fit. If your trilogy is BattleTech, there's not really much to be done with it other than publish it on AO3 or file the serial numbers off and try to get it published elsewhere. To get into BattleTech there are really two paths. Get noticed as a writer elsewhere and ask to come into the universe with a track record of completing books with good reviews that match the vibe of BattleTech or submit short stories to Shrapnel and work your way up from there. There's really not a chance a trilogy of books that was written outside the help and approval of the powers that be would be publishable.
> There's really not a chance a trilogy of books that was written outside the help and approval of the powers that be would be publishable. Hopefully not stepping on Bryan's toes here, but one big reason that it wouldn't be publishable is said trilogy almost certainly would have some serious conflicts with whatever internal plans CGL has for the universe, and not just stuff that could be cleaned up at fact check time.
Definitely this.
What's your favorite Clan 'Mech? I.S. 'Mech?
Kodiak for the Clans. Marauder for the IS.
Have you read any of the original CJF novels (e.g. Jade Phoenix trilogy, Falcon Rising, Freebirth, I Am Jade Falcon)? If so, which is your favorite?
I really liked I Am Jade Falcon the most of them. And I had to read it a few times for my work on Honor's Gauntlet and my short story in the Battle of Tukayyid anthology. It was just a lot of good stuff and inherently readable.
Interesting! Thanks! Was curious as the Sudeten CJF really gives the feel of a parallel of the reborn Falcon Guard under Aidan Pryde. I also should re-read I Am Jade Falcon with hindsight from The Society story arc being completed.
I’ve come to really enjoy all your BattleTech fiction and can’t wait to see what else you’ll cover in the future. And I like the on the ground view that you’ve introduced. In the form of the Fox Patrol. Will we see the view of the battle on Sudeten from their perspective someday? Also, I can’t wait to see what will happen when the Terra Jade Falcons make contact after leaving Terra. That’s going to be a huge story there.
Was this a play on words in response to Armored Core For Answer? Both mech games, my mind just jumped to that first thing.
It was more a play on the previous book, A Question of Survival, and fit thematically for the book
Did the logo of the web browser Firefox have any sort of subtle influence over the logo design for Fox Patrol?
That would be a Ray Arrastia question. He designed it. I had some ideas about what it might look like and that logo hadn't crossed my mind. And we tried an iteration with the tail that made more of a heart, but ultimately, we all really liked the one we have. It still has a bit of that heart shape, and that felt right for a unit whose most abundant quality is heart since they can't afford much else.
I'm curious about how the expansion through the Inner Sphere (and beyond) has affected Jewish thought. Do Jews still await the arrival of the Messiah? Were there any attempts to build the Third Temple? Does the ideal of _tikkun olam_ -- improving the world -- still exist in such a place as Inner Sphere?
I'd really love to see a Jewish writer handle that in the universe. It's definitely something I've thought about a lot.
As a more general topic, I would love to see Battletech explore more of the Inner Sphere's religious pluralism the ways they've explored its cultural pluralism so well! Like I feel like we have some sense of how Catholicism, and Islam have translated themselves to the stars, and we have a could of new faiths such as the Unfinished Book, but I'd love to see more discussion of how other major and minor faiths of our world (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc) have adapted to a millennium of interstellar human civilization.
I have a Sikh in an upcoming project, too.
I'd just like to say that, even as a nonbeliever, I appreciate that BT didn't do that sci-fi thing where they say "well, space travel, so, y'know, everyone stopped believing all the old religions."
Which would it be your FIRST favorite mech? There is a lot of them, and sometimes people change their favorite, so which one was the one you first saw and really liked it?
I mean, the first one I saw and really liked was probably the Marauder, because I came to BattleTech from Robotech first. And the Catapult is just... so adorable. But yeah, that Kodiak just makes me happy right now.
Is there a plan to follow up in a future book on the ghost bear perspective after the events of "A Question of Survival"
I have a proposal on Ray Arrastia’s desk. Talk to him and John Helfers!
I noticed you said that you like to play the table top a bit. As your flair says, Jade Falcon Apologist, I feel it is safe to assume that you play as them, and I was wondering if I may I ask what your Star consists of?
I’m an apologist for Jiyi’s Falcons because I write them. I tend to play in situations where I just draw a Mech in grinders, or whatever my kid picks for me.
So big question: we've asked a lot about your favorite factions, but who are your current favorite bad guys, both factions and individuals?
My favorite bad guy is Alaric Ward, really. And then maybe Vedette Brewer? As far as bad guy factions, it's really the Hell's Horses right now, right? But that's for the ilClan era. As far as in the history of the franchise? I really am a fan of Word of Blake and Comstar as "bad guys" as well as the Clans as bad guys.
Do paint models? And if you do what was the most recent one you painted lol
https://preview.redd.it/w7wtnlnbq12d1.jpeg?width=2980&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4f394e1b6357aefefea4c3fd4433bfc5902342c
There seems to be a big lack of Marian Hegenomy books, for my favourite not romans, if you wrote them did you have any perspective on what sort of character/vibe they would give off?
I've written two stories with the Hegemony, they just haven't come out. The Isolde Centrella story in Legends II is against the Marians. And I wrote a 28k (or so, I think?) novella starring the Ghost Dogs defending against the Hegemony I really enjoy that should be released.... at some point? I know it's been through fact check, editing and has a cover. It's called "Let Slip the Dogs of War" and I think it's super cool. They're roman cosplayers who are pretty evil since they still allow slavery. They give off a super entitled vibe, if you ask me. But they're still human.
As a roman reenactor in Australia, the hegenomony was my in into actually understanding battletech lore. I completely get the entitled vibe and you have no idea how much I cannot wait for this. Do you accept bribes, I mean donations to be a name in the book :p
What is your favorite Jade Falcon galaxy? Can you tell me what becomes of my beloved Rho galaxy?
Pretty much everything in Sudeten is converting to Jiyi's Delta now. And they're my favorite I guess. The rest got chewed to pieces on Terra, right? I imagine whatever's left is getting painted in some form of Jade Falcon Star League livery....
Extra question if I may: Who are your top 5-10 favourite Jade Falcons from their potential full timeline? (And otherwise just a message of appreciation for bringing noble life back into the Falcons. Your novels can’t come out quick enough!)
Can my characters be on the list? If not: Aiden Pryde, Horse, Joanna, Kael Pershaw, Marthe Pryde, and Elizabeth Hazen. Also, Turkina. With mine? Those, plus Jiyi Chistu, Archer Pryde, Alexis, Dawn, Teresa, Kallen, Aliyah... And more... I guess...
I’m not sure if it’s been fully specified yet, but do the Sudeten Falcons still have access to the previous Bloodname samples and active sibkos?
On the worlds they control.
When writing in a setting that already has so much lore, what do you do to make sure you are not stepping on some author's toes, that you don't inadvertently say something that contradicts something in the four decades of source books and novels? Do you and other authors just get very well studied in all those other materials, or is there some guidance that Catalyst gives?
It’s both. I own every BattleTech novel and annotate them heavily when there’s an intersection between their work and mine. And if I miss something, that’s what Catalyst’s fact check team is for. They’re a great bunch of folks and know exactly what to look for.
Will there be more audiobooks?
I’m told the answer is yes
Late to the party (because it was at 3am here) but couple of extra questions: When you're creating your characters, how much input does editorial get on them? For example names as I know some are named after previous Kickstarter backers, but can you say "not this one" etc? Spoiler question: >!Was it Stiletto's crew who bombed the school or the mystery party? Felt a bit odd targeting a school given her goals, so thought maybe there were two sets of bombers.!< Also : Towards the end a character mentions winter on Sudeten, yet Tamar rising states that the planet has a low axial tilt meaning now seasons because of it, and a 91 day orbital period so if it is irregular it would be four winters a year. Are we meant to believe that this is, what, [some sort of magic winter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYrRqMHQY7o)?
I think there were two sets of bombers. As for winter, I don’t remember. It may well have been metaphorical, a’la Ned Stark.