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BattleTech Universe #29
Highlander Gambit
Death Commando Loren Jaffray is dispatched to the planet Northwind to destroy the elite Northwind Highlanders by winning their trust and starting a war from within--but Loren is waging his own personal battle between honor and duty. Original.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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163 people want to read
About the author
Blaine Lee Pardoe
94 books116 followersBlaine Pardoe is a New York Times Bestselling and award winning author of numerous books in the science fiction, military non-fiction, true crime, paranormal, and business management genre's. He has appeared on a number of national television and radio shows to speak about his books. Pardoe has been a featured speaker at the US National Archives, the United States Navy Museum, and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. He was awarded the State History Award in 2011 by the Historical Society of Michigan and is a silver medal winner from the Military Writers Society of America in 2010. In 2013 he was awarded the Harritt Quimby Award as part of the induction ceremony at the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. Mr. Pardoe is also a member of the League of WWI Aviation Historians.
His books have even been mentioned on the floor of the U.S. Congress. His works have been printed in six languages and he is recognized world-wide for his historical and fiction works. He can be followed via Twitter (bpardoe870)
His books have even been mentioned on the floor of the U.S. Congress. His works have been printed in six languages and he is recognized world-wide for his historical and fiction works. He can be followed via Twitter (bpardoe870)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 11, 2024
Nice plot and twists. Good action. Slow in a few spots. Overall, engaging, entertaining, and exciting!
February 17, 2013
This is the worst Battletech book I have ever read.
Summary: Capellan Death Commando Loren Jaffray is dispatched to infiltrate the Northwind Highlanders mercenaries as retribution for the Highlanders abandoning the Capellan Confederation years beforehand. The Highlanders are unsatisfied with their current employer, the Federated Suns. The Highlanders break their contract, prompting a the Federated Suns to attack. Enamored with how noble, Scottish and honorable the mercenaries are (in spite of the fact that they are guns for hire who have now twice betrayed their employers), Jaffray feels pangs of guilt as he goes about his secret mission (the author just tells you that he feels guilty periodically). Eventually, Jaffray abandons his mission and fully embraces the Highlanders as they battle against a mustache-twirling Federated Suns colonel (yes, he actually does twirl his mustache as he schemes against the Highlanders).
Bad writing, a predictable plot and a burning need to show you how damn noble (and Scottish) the Highlanders are.
Summary: Capellan Death Commando Loren Jaffray is dispatched to infiltrate the Northwind Highlanders mercenaries as retribution for the Highlanders abandoning the Capellan Confederation years beforehand. The Highlanders are unsatisfied with their current employer, the Federated Suns. The Highlanders break their contract, prompting a the Federated Suns to attack. Enamored with how noble, Scottish and honorable the mercenaries are (in spite of the fact that they are guns for hire who have now twice betrayed their employers), Jaffray feels pangs of guilt as he goes about his secret mission (the author just tells you that he feels guilty periodically). Eventually, Jaffray abandons his mission and fully embraces the Highlanders as they battle against a mustache-twirling Federated Suns colonel (yes, he actually does twirl his mustache as he schemes against the Highlanders).
Bad writing, a predictable plot and a burning need to show you how damn noble (and Scottish) the Highlanders are.
October 9, 2024
It's like the most two-star book to ever two-stars.
Sun-Zhu Liao has a plan. With a Marik-Davion war starting (and thinking that he caused it) and the first moves in a Federated Commonwealth civil war because of it, Liao sends one of his 'are we the baddies' Death Commandos to the planet of Northwind, home of the Northwind Highlander mercenary group, ostensibly to turn them away from Davion, their current employer, but secretly to destroy them, avenging his Grandfather whom they quit working for in order to work for Davion.
It is not the worst Battletech book that I have read, but it is the blandest. This is frustrating because it should not be.
Liao sends Loren Jaffray. Jaffray's grandfather was a member of the Highlanders, but part of the minority who refused to switch sides to Davion, thinking it dishonorable. This gives him an in with the Highlanders, which is what Liao hopes to use as an in to his offer to set them wholly independent, but also his Death Commando status makes him the ideal secret agent to ensure Liao's sudden but inevitable betrayal goes smoothly.
All the set up is there for a great Battletech story, notably the giri/ninjo conflict. It is also essential Battletech in its 'boots on the ground' frame. We only see the ramifications of the contest of powers from the people who are buffeted around by the titans at war. And in general, Davion is the antagonist in the book, which is an autumnal breeze across usual Designated Protagonist status.
There are two problems. The first, lesser, problem is that the plans do not make sense. Liao's plan is more one that I could see from his grandfather. The 'i tricked you into doing what you intended to do, twice!'. The main local antagonist's plan makes no sense, amounting to 'if I destroy it, I can control it.' Yes, I know of the Battle of Bến Trewe, but it makes no sense in the context of What does he think is is going to rule?
This is largely forgivable. Scenery does not chew itself. What is not forgivable is how there is no conflict.
For there to be someone in conflict between love and duty, there has to be a conflict between love and duty. Here it is a conflict between the love and duty of the Highlanders and nothing. I was worried it was going to be something much more outright racist, with Jaffray's unit described as a mindless fanatics or some pseudo-Confucian sayings about honoring ones ancestors, but it is not even that. Jaffay is never shown with any sort of feeling or loyalty to his original unit. He has no friends, with no mention of his family outside of the context of their remembrances of the Highlanders. Nothing is shown. Nothing is told. The extent of the problem is the descriptions of Jaffray as being conflicted.
This is frustrating. It is frustrating to read, because it is uninteresting. But it is frustrating because it is a lot more interesting than ever developed. Jaffray's family has as good if not better claim to honor than the other Highlanders. Living under diaspora, they choose to stay and not break their promises, even when offered what they held the most dear of a return to the homeland. Equally interesting is Jaffray's own story, and what it means to be a third generation minority who has risen to the top of the military elite in an adopted nation. There would be a lot of resonance for the plot of the book.
But, instead, nothing. Nothing there, even not an obvious straw man, deprives the book of rising action.
The writing is good. The fights are okay. The love story is subdued to the point of feeling bowdlerized. I do like that the author, similar to Keith Jr., is mindful of tactics, and discusses the how of what is going on in a fight rather than just the punchies. But the whole thing goes off like a damp squib.
Sun-Zhu Liao has a plan. With a Marik-Davion war starting (and thinking that he caused it) and the first moves in a Federated Commonwealth civil war because of it, Liao sends one of his 'are we the baddies' Death Commandos to the planet of Northwind, home of the Northwind Highlander mercenary group, ostensibly to turn them away from Davion, their current employer, but secretly to destroy them, avenging his Grandfather whom they quit working for in order to work for Davion.
It is not the worst Battletech book that I have read, but it is the blandest. This is frustrating because it should not be.
Liao sends Loren Jaffray. Jaffray's grandfather was a member of the Highlanders, but part of the minority who refused to switch sides to Davion, thinking it dishonorable. This gives him an in with the Highlanders, which is what Liao hopes to use as an in to his offer to set them wholly independent, but also his Death Commando status makes him the ideal secret agent to ensure Liao's sudden but inevitable betrayal goes smoothly.
All the set up is there for a great Battletech story, notably the giri/ninjo conflict. It is also essential Battletech in its 'boots on the ground' frame. We only see the ramifications of the contest of powers from the people who are buffeted around by the titans at war. And in general, Davion is the antagonist in the book, which is an autumnal breeze across usual Designated Protagonist status.
There are two problems. The first, lesser, problem is that the plans do not make sense. Liao's plan is more one that I could see from his grandfather. The 'i tricked you into doing what you intended to do, twice!'. The main local antagonist's plan makes no sense, amounting to 'if I destroy it, I can control it.' Yes, I know of the Battle of Bến Trewe, but it makes no sense in the context of What does he think is is going to rule?
This is largely forgivable. Scenery does not chew itself. What is not forgivable is how there is no conflict.
For there to be someone in conflict between love and duty, there has to be a conflict between love and duty. Here it is a conflict between the love and duty of the Highlanders and nothing. I was worried it was going to be something much more outright racist, with Jaffray's unit described as a mindless fanatics or some pseudo-Confucian sayings about honoring ones ancestors, but it is not even that. Jaffay is never shown with any sort of feeling or loyalty to his original unit. He has no friends, with no mention of his family outside of the context of their remembrances of the Highlanders. Nothing is shown. Nothing is told. The extent of the problem is the descriptions of Jaffray as being conflicted.
This is frustrating. It is frustrating to read, because it is uninteresting. But it is frustrating because it is a lot more interesting than ever developed. Jaffray's family has as good if not better claim to honor than the other Highlanders. Living under diaspora, they choose to stay and not break their promises, even when offered what they held the most dear of a return to the homeland. Equally interesting is Jaffray's own story, and what it means to be a third generation minority who has risen to the top of the military elite in an adopted nation. There would be a lot of resonance for the plot of the book.
But, instead, nothing. Nothing there, even not an obvious straw man, deprives the book of rising action.
The writing is good. The fights are okay. The love story is subdued to the point of feeling bowdlerized. I do like that the author, similar to Keith Jr., is mindful of tactics, and discusses the how of what is going on in a fight rather than just the punchies. But the whole thing goes off like a damp squib.
November 28, 2023
The latest book in my Battletech read through was Highlander Gambit by Blaine Lee Pardoe, and it started off as one might expect of a military science fiction book written in 1995. A speech given in a Drop Ship called the Stone Wall Jackson. I shouldn't have been surprised but hopefully in our future our drop ships aren't named after Confederate Generals.
Going from there, the story follows Loren Jaffray a Capellan Confederation military operative tasked with destroying the famed Northwind Highlanders mercenary company from within. Intrigue ensues, eventually culminating with a moral quandary for Jaffray, does he betray his Capellan lord Sun-Tzu or the merc company that has welcomed him like a family?
The story was OK, I didn't grow to like any of the characters and the plot was formulaic. The Scottish troupes were a bit much and yes the villain twirled his mustache (I read that in another review and couldn't believe it but it was there). I really wanted to like this book, I keep reading about the Northwind Highlanders but sadly the only book about them I've read so far has been this one, which is a skip unless you are a Battletech completist like me. Not as bad a Far County but it's up there as one of the worst.
Going from there, the story follows Loren Jaffray a Capellan Confederation military operative tasked with destroying the famed Northwind Highlanders mercenary company from within. Intrigue ensues, eventually culminating with a moral quandary for Jaffray, does he betray his Capellan lord Sun-Tzu or the merc company that has welcomed him like a family?
The story was OK, I didn't grow to like any of the characters and the plot was formulaic. The Scottish troupes were a bit much and yes the villain twirled his mustache (I read that in another review and couldn't believe it but it was there). I really wanted to like this book, I keep reading about the Northwind Highlanders but sadly the only book about them I've read so far has been this one, which is a skip unless you are a Battletech completist like me. Not as bad a Far County but it's up there as one of the worst.
Read
February 6, 2023got this from a friend who bought it from one of those used book street sellers somewhere near rustaveli and when i saw it at their pregame we drunkenly dared if i could finish it in 3 days (it's stupid ik). Accidentally finished in 2 because u rlly do get kinda wrapped up w how the ending will pan out. but overall surprisingly not a bad book despite sci-fi not being my thing - it's kinda like starwars but in book form so u have more space than a movie to understand the characters inner thoughts a bit more.
March 30, 2020
Love this book. Glad I could download it on kindle.
Love this book. Glad I could download it on kindle. Love the action and intrigue. Cannot wait to see what happens next.
Love this book. Glad I could download it on kindle. Love the action and intrigue. Cannot wait to see what happens next.
July 3, 2021
Sun-Tzu Liao has a plan to take Northwind from the Federated Commonwealth, will it succeed? BattleTech Series book #27, set in 3057.
August 23, 2023
Top of the line
Fantastic storyline, little wordy. Sets up future confrontations and continued storyline. Classic Battletech, not the newer woke garbage or Microsoft "darkage".
Fantastic storyline, little wordy. Sets up future confrontations and continued storyline. Classic Battletech, not the newer woke garbage or Microsoft "darkage".
February 1, 2022
"Death Commando Loren Jaffray is assigned a nearly impossible new mission--to destroy the elite Northwind Highlanders. As the grandson of famous Highlander warriors, Jaffray is perfect for the job. He can win their trust, then divide and conquer. But Loren is also waging a personal battle, one between honor and duty."
This is the summary of the book's plot. If you enjoyed reading that summary you're going to love this book, because either Mr. Pardoe suffered some kind of head injury or he thinks his readers did as that same summary is repeated again, and again, and again, ad nauseum throughout the course of the novel as if we're reading some sort of dense classical tome that needs to be Cliff Noted as opposed to a book about space robots pew-pewing each other. Even on the sliding scale of Battletech novels this is pretty bad, with broad characters motivated largely by plot convenience, forgettable action and a central drama that manages to not just be uncompelling, but also resolve in the least interesting way possible. Does he choose kin or country? *SPOILERS* It doesn't matter. I remember liking some of Pardoe's other books, so maybe this was just a misfire, but woof, completionists only on this one.
This is the summary of the book's plot. If you enjoyed reading that summary you're going to love this book, because either Mr. Pardoe suffered some kind of head injury or he thinks his readers did as that same summary is repeated again, and again, and again, ad nauseum throughout the course of the novel as if we're reading some sort of dense classical tome that needs to be Cliff Noted as opposed to a book about space robots pew-pewing each other. Even on the sliding scale of Battletech novels this is pretty bad, with broad characters motivated largely by plot convenience, forgettable action and a central drama that manages to not just be uncompelling, but also resolve in the least interesting way possible. Does he choose kin or country? *SPOILERS* It doesn't matter. I remember liking some of Pardoe's other books, so maybe this was just a misfire, but woof, completionists only on this one.
February 9, 2018
Set in the same timeframe and conflict as "Bred for War", this follows an attempt by Sun-Tzu Liao to take the planet Northwind from Victor Davion.
The Northwind Highlanders mercenary unit are officially under the command of Davion after they took the planet from the Capellans. Into this mix, Liao drops one of his own warriors who has family ties to the Highlanders to neutralise them as a force.
Lots of action, good to see the Davions not being shown as the superior/moral forces that they usually are. There are a few parts towards the middle where "It's a trap!" comes too regularly.
The Northwind Highlanders mercenary unit are officially under the command of Davion after they took the planet from the Capellans. Into this mix, Liao drops one of his own warriors who has family ties to the Highlanders to neutralise them as a force.
Lots of action, good to see the Davions not being shown as the superior/moral forces that they usually are. There are a few parts towards the middle where "It's a trap!" comes too regularly.
November 15, 2016
Meh. Loads of Mech action which is what I come to BattleTech books for. Loads of hokey Highlander stuff, costuming, scottish accents, family loyalty. I knew the end of the book at the 25% mark but it was still enjoyable getting there.
Highlander characters are always flat and this book is no exception. Once its mentioned that somebody is a Highlander you know what they'll do in pretty much any instance...
Highlander characters are always flat and this book is no exception. Once its mentioned that somebody is a Highlander you know what they'll do in pretty much any instance...
Read
June 27, 2016Uncertain when read. Before 2003.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews