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Blaine Lee Pardoe
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Battletech 18: Highlander Gambit Paperback – June 1, 1995

by Blaine Lee Pardoe (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Ace
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    4.25 x 1 x 7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0451453816
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0451453815
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Blaine Lee Pardoe is the author of nine books in the BattleTech and MechWarrior series. Additionally, he is an associate director at Ernst & Young, LLP. He resides with his family in Virginia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ace; 0 edition (June 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451453816
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451453815
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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Blaine Lee Pardoe

Blaine Lee Pardoe

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Blaine Pardoe is an award winning New York Times bestselling author who lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia. He is the author of numerous science fiction, military history, true crime, horror, and business leadership books. He is considered one of America's best writers about the Great War. His books have been published in six languages and he has been a featured speaker at the U.S. National Archives, the United States Navy Museum, and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
16 global ratings
thought this was collector edition missing corner on cover it's tarnished a yellow brownish tint
1 Star
thought this was collector edition missing corner on cover it's tarnished a yellow brownish tint
Thought this was a collectors edition it's tarnished yellow brownish tint and the front cover is missing it's upper right corner not at all what I thought I had bought according to the pictures of the book, it looked brand new so I am not pleased at all with this copy I hardly ever have given bad reviews but this is not acceptable for the amount I paid $29.99 should have been more like $4.95
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Top reviews from the United States

Tim
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best Battletech books I've read
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2007
This was the first Battletech universe book I had read, so I had a little trouble at first sorting out factions and characters, but it unfolded into a wonderful plot and a memorable clan of highlanders.

The "fight scenes" were described very well.

The last 1/3rd of the book was very exciting, I couldn't put it down. Wish I could share more, but I don't want to spoil it for you.
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Nora Sullivan
1.0 out of 5 stars thought this was collector edition missing corner on cover it's tarnished a yellow brownish tint
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
Thought this was a collectors edition it's tarnished yellow brownish tint and the front cover is missing it's upper right corner not at all what I thought I had bought according to the pictures of the book, it looked brand new so I am not pleased at all with this copy I hardly ever have given bad reviews but this is not acceptable for the amount I paid $29.99 should have been more like $4.95
Customer image
Nora Sullivan
1.0 out of 5 stars thought this was collector edition missing corner on cover it's tarnished a yellow brownish tint
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2023
Thought this was a collectors edition it's tarnished yellow brownish tint and the front cover is missing it's upper right corner not at all what I thought I had bought according to the pictures of the book, it looked brand new so I am not pleased at all with this copy I hardly ever have given bad reviews but this is not acceptable for the amount I paid $29.99 should have been more like $4.95
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Arlene H. Maeda
4.0 out of 5 stars Highlander Gambit
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2001
Major Loren Jaffay of the elite troops of the Death Commandoes of the Capellan Confederation is sent on a mission to destroy the "evil" Highlander Regiment because they deserted the Confederation in thier time of need. I think this is a pretty exciting book to read because in the middle of Jaffay's mission the Highlanders split up and battled the Eighth's RTC units. Buy this book it is a good read!!
2 people found this helpful
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Zachary Zelmar
2.0 out of 5 stars Boring, flat, predictable
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2005
When the Northwind Highlanders abandoned the Capellan Confederation, some members resigned from the unit and remained loyal to the Confederation. Death Commando Loren Jaffray is the grandson of one of these former Highlander officers. Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao sends Loren to neutralize the Northwind Highlanders through intrigue and lies.

The characters lack any depth, ensuring that the book will end predictably.

Loren agonizes over his mission. Due to his relation to a former officer, he is treated as part of the Highlander extended family. He must betray and destroy the people who have taken him in. Pardoe repeatedly tells the reader about Loren's dilemma. He is not subtle about it; do not bother to pay close attention in order to delve into Loren's mind. Pardoe just states outright that Loren feels guilty, that he feels a familial connection, and that he must complete his duty anyway. He does this so often that it quickly proves boring. There is never any real doubt about what Loren will do in the end.

Colonel Macleod immediately and irrationally trusts Loren. He knows that Loren is a Death Commando, trained in espionage and sabotage, sworn to serve Chancellor Liao, arch-rival of the Highlanders. Yet Macleod quickly invites Loren into the War Room, makes him an officer, and entrusts him with dangerous secrets. It makes no sense.

The villain, unsurprisingly, is utterly evil and dishonorable.

This book features ample `Mech combat. The battles are adequately described and the tactics are interesting, but with such boring characters and predictable plot developments, the battles lack suspense or drama.

I saw nothing original or inspirational in Highlander Gambit. It is a forgettable book.

-Zach Zelmar
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Joshua Wong
1.0 out of 5 stars this book is just...
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2001
since only braine lee pardoe writes about the highlanders, there is really no other writers i can compare him to. but rather than writing about them indepth he just writes about them alot. there is just that difference. his characters are rather, i should say, flat. who would trust a death commando so blatently even though he has some 'family connection'? it makes the colonel macleod look like a gullible old man.
being a death commando, their loyalty to the chancellor is not as easily swayed as loren is. making him a totally unbelivable death commando. even the supposed self-conflict is nothing but his own annoying rants.
one more thing, the epilogue with the conversation between jerry cranston AKA galen cox and victor steiner-davion was so out of their respective characters. especially for victor who seems old, cranky and highly irritable. please, victor is way beyond that.
and ROC, bring back michael stackpole.
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