This is an influential book for a battletech enthusiast. If he wants to dive into the world of House Kurita; also known as The Draconis Combine. Robert Charrette does a great job immediately as the story starts with an assassination. The death of the Coordinator and the ascension of the new Dragon.
What is the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine?
Heir to the Dragon centers on the son of the Coordinator. The Coordinator is the ruler of House Kurita and basically reigns over one of the largest of five Houses in the Inner Sphere. Each Coordinator is the military leader of The Combine for life. Usually his successor is his first-born son, or daughter sometimes. Another name the Coordinator is always called by is The Dragon, of the Draconis Combine.
Understanding the Time-line of Heir to The Dragon.
From my reading of the book, the beginning of the book is taking place just before, during or after the Fourth Succession Wars. This is a Pre-Clan-Invasion storyline. Also FYI, Charrette wrote this in the 1980s. It’s one of the original Battletech books.
One thing I love about “Heir to The Dragon” is that it fills in the culture of the Draconis Combine.
They rooted the Draconis Combine in Japanese culture. House Kurita are the descendants of the Samurai and base a lot of their principles on the ancient Bushido Code. The Bushido Code is a code of honor and morality of the Samurai. This book does a great job in developing that culture and giving it depth during a time when Battletech was still new to the gaming world.
A code of honor and deceit.
I loved that the true nature of power, which is control, is shown here. Ruthless men will stop at nothing to keep power. The honor of the Bushido-code is balanced with multiple sub-factions fighting for power. They will kill, lie and spy to gain control. And if you are caught working against the Coordinator, you won’t just be punished, you and your whole family will die; unless you are connected to someone too important to kill.
Shogun and Tai-Pan.
The whole setup of the Draconis Combine reminds me of one of my favorite books, although not as encompassing Tai-Pan by James Clavell. I can’t really compare the two books because they have so many differences. Heir to the Dragon is Science Fiction and Tai-Pan is literary Fiction. James Clavell wrote on an enormously detailed scale. Heir to the Dragon is more of a Novella in comparison.
The main characters of Heir to the Dragon.
The main protagonist is Theodore Kurita the new Heir to The Dragon, the presumed next inline to the Coordinator. His father, Takashi Kurita, the current Coordinator, is a ruthless leader and a harsh father. He routinely makes things difficult for Theodore.
The drama of Heir to The Dragon
There are sinister forces trying to win Theodore Kurita’s favor. Plots and secret societies vie for power. A son struggles for his father’s favor while he has a forbidden romance. As a Mechwarrior, he could win glory and possibly win his father’s respect.
For fans of Battletech or anyone looking for an exciting novella, I highly recommend Heir To The Dragon by Robert N Charrette. The criticism of this book is that it’s short, but it is a great lead into: “Wolves on The Border,” and even “Lethal Heritage.” Even if you’re not into Battletech, this book should provide enough excitement and intrigue for everyone.
