Decision at Thunder Rift
Overview: “Thirty meters tall, 70 tons of quick-striding death and destruction, the armored war machines called BattleMechs are the fighting arms of the crumbling star empire locked in the horror of the Succession Wars. Their pilots are MechWarriors, 31st-Century knights riding armored machines powerful enough to take a city apart.”
Grayson Death Carlyle had been training to be a MechWarrior since he was 10 years old, but his graduation came sooner than expected. With his friends and family dead and his father’s regiment destroyed, young Grayson finds himself stranded on a world turned hostile. And now he must learn the hardest lesson of all: it takes more than a BattleMech to make a MechWarrior…
To claim the title of MechWarrior all he has to do is capture one of those giant killing machines by himself… If it doesn’t kill him first.
Pages: 374 Pages
Writer: William H. Keith Jr.
Recommendations:
Review By: Jason Schulte
Rating: 
I have delved into the vast Battletech universe through various mediums, from the classic board game to the thrilling computer games. My feelings towards this universe have always been a bit of a mixed bag – some aspects I loved, while others didn’t quite make the cut for my favorites list. So, when I picked up this book, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. As the first book ever published in the Battletech universe, it seemed like a good starting point.
The story unfolds on a peculiar backwater planet with a wonky rotation that messes with the concept of day and night. Despite the planet’s chilly nights and scorching days, it becomes the battleground for a group of MechWarriors led by Grayson Carlyle’s father. When tragedy strikes and Grayson’s father is killed in an ambush, the young warrior must navigate a hostile planet, scarce resources, and seek vengeance against those responsible.
I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised by how this book sucked me in from the get-go. I devoured it in record time, unable to tear myself away. Sure, there were a few moments where the story dragged a bit, but overall, it maintained a steady pace. The explanations of mech workings were clear and concise, making it accessible even to newcomers to the Battletech universe.
What really impressed me was the perfect balance between exposition and action. The narrative flowed smoothly, avoiding the tedious back-and-forth that plagues many action-packed books. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the story, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.
In conclusion, this book caught me off guard in the best way possible. I’m eagerly looking forward to diving into more adventures in the Battletech universe.