BKWAYCLN.RVW
 
%A   Thurston
%C   2801 John Street, Markham, Ontario, Canada   L3R 1B4
%D   1991
%G   0-451-45101-5
%I   Penguin/Signet/Roc
%O   U$4.50/C$5.50
%S   BattleTech
%T   "Way of the Clans - Legend of the Jade Phoenix"
 
This is volume one of the "Legend of the Jade Phoenix" in the "BattleTech"
series.  No, I did not get that confused.  Not RoboTech, but BattleTech.  You
will not find BattleTech on the Saturday morning cartoons.  (At least, I
*assume* you won't:  I didn't check.)  BattleTech is a system of cooperative,
interactive video games produced by Virtuality, FASA and/or Edison Brothers.
 
BattleTech takes place at a sufficient distance from us in space and time that
the authors must think the laws of logic no longer apply.  Having run away from
a dying civilization, the BattleTech "Clans" look forward to the day when they
can fight their way back in and gift the remnant savages with that same
civilizaiton.  Or as much as they remember, anyway.  One is reminded of the
joke, "What is the difference between the Clans and yogurt?  Yogurt has live
culture."
 
Civilization from the Clans would be a dubious gift, at best, since the Clans
have discarded pretty much everything except war.  Actually, the Clans don't
know much about war, either.  Basically, all they do is fight.  Amongst
themselves.  In enormous, bidpedal fighting machines called BattleMechs (or
Mechs, for short).
 
About the technology implied by the Mechs, perhaps the less said, the better. 
They are, of course, subject to destruction, by minimally armed, and
unarmoured, infantry, so the military economics of the devices lose right
there.  They vary tremendously in ability, without, it seems, any consequent
costs.  They use "long range missiles" -- at visible distances.  In front plan,
most look remarkably like "mutant gunfighters of the old west".  The only other
weapon, aside from some very standard sidearms, is a whip with a guided tip. 
(Apparently, the laws of physics don't apply, either.)
 
The technical implausibilities of this book were not, however, the most
striking feature.  All the soft sciences come in for a beating, too.  The Clans
are intent upon retaking "inner space", so all effort and materials are
directed towards that end.  The goal is so worthy that any waste is evil.  So,
how do they train their young?  By attrition.  Only two or three percent of
live births "graduate" to adulthood.  There is a rigid caste system that
restricts merit ranking.  Unlike any historical warrior caste ruling class
(except the Spartans, who didn't last long and were mainly mercenaries for the
other Greek states), none of the Clan rulers have any extracurricular
interests.  All negotiations are conducted through combat.  Groups of genetic
clones develop different body structures and hair colour.
 
Maybe this *is* from Saturday morning cartoons ...
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKWAYCLN.RVW

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