The latest work to come from major Battletech writer and “spine novel” contributor Blaine Lee Pardoe, “Hour of the Wolf” neatly closes the door on the Dark Age era of Mechwarrior/Battletech history which officially kicked off all the way back in 2002. It also lays a foundation for the new era of the ilClan which is just beginning. Fans of the classic Battletech novels, the tabletop game, the Mechwarrior series of computer games, and backers of the 2019 Kickstarter campaign will all want to pick this one up. The first 226 pages encapsulate the battle of Clans Wolf and Jade Falcon against the Republic of the Sphere, as described on the novel’s back cover. The second half of the book truly takes the reader into the new historical era. The two halves are so distinct, that they could have been separate novellas on their own, and that may have been a wiser decision. It is in the book’s second half that we are treated to two great twists. Even though the Battletech fan who has been following this fictional setting for years may think that they have accurately predicted the outcome of the book’s events, these twists will likely delight readers and get them ready for the fiction that is to follow. One of the most interesting aspects of this specific novel is that the battles are set on Earth – called “Terra” in the Battltech fiction of the future. The reader gets the definite impression that Mr. Pardoe has personally traveled to many of the locations he describes, or at least has studied them intensely. In all of the Battletech canon – one hundred or so novels – there are very few scenes and even fewer major battles set on Terra itself, despite the importance of “humanity’s homeworld” in the fiction. Since this entire novel, 370 pages, is set on Terra and describes a major war there, the unfamiliar feeling of having actually been to locations that are described here gives the novel a unique feeling within the history of Battletech, and should surprise and entertain readers when a location they have been to gets mentioned. Major characters from previous novels have their stories wrapped up. Wholly new characters emerge as the action unfolds. A vehicle crew gets multiple scenes and appreciative dialog with other characters, practically a first in the Battletech fiction. Despite the numerous factions and many characters running through the book, each character seems distinct and well-thought out.One major criticism that I have of the book is that the outcomes of the major battles, in both the first and second parts of the book, do not deviate much from expectations. I think the previous novels clearly set up the winners of both battles, and fans of the series could probably predict the outcomes without reading this book. I still enjoyed the journey to get there, but the destination seemed to be clearly in view from several novellas back. Like many fans of this series, I first picked up the tabletop game back in the 1990s, and have played games set in this universe practically every year of my life since then. To receive answers to questions we have had for decades, to correctly (or incorrectly) predict the outcomes of the book’s major events, and to cut ties to familiar characters while embracing new ones – these are the reasons why this fictional setting has endured more than 30 years and always seems to come back from a down period. This is a great time to check out the other novels in this series and to start playing Battletech games at your friendly local game store.