Falcon Guard (novel)

This article is about the novel. For the military unit, see Jade Falcon Guards (Clan Jade Falcon).

Falcon Guard
Product information
Type	Novel
Author	Robert Thurston
Pages	272
Cover Artwork	Bruce Jensen
Interior Artwork	Earl Geier (see Notes)
Publication information
Publisher	Roc Books
Product code	LE5129
First published	3 December 1991
ISBN-10	0451451295
ISBN-13	978-0451451170
Content
Era	Clan Invasion era
Timeline	3051 – 3052
Series	Legend of the Jade Phoenix
Preceded by	Bloodname

Falcon Guard, by Robert Thurston, is the final book in the Legend of the Jade Phoenix trilogy. The story covers Star Colonel Aidan Pryde assuming command of the disgraced Falcon Guards and leading them to redemption at the Battle of Tukayyid.

From the back cover

“

In 2786, the elite Star League Army fled the Inner Sphere, abandoning the senseless bloodshed ordered by the Successor Lords. Now, almost three hundred years later, the Clans, heirs of the Star League Army, turn their eyes back upon their former home. Nothing will stop them from raising the Star League banner over Earth once again. For two years, the Clans BattleMech war machines have overwhelmed the armies of the corrupt Successor Lords. Now, at the gates of Earth the Clans must fight one final battle, a battle that will decide the fate of humanity for all time. For Star Colonel Aidan Pryde of Clan Jade Falcon the battle is more than a question of military conquest. It is an affirmation of the superiority of the Clan way, a way of life that he has sworn to uphold despite his fear that the noble crusade has fallen prey to the lust and ambition of its commanders.

”

Summary

Star Colonel Aidan Pryde commands the dezgra and re-formed Falcon Guard after their defeat on Twycross. He leads them in the Clan Jade Falcon attack on Tukayyid, which results in a draw for the Clan…a total loss, if not for Aidan. He is killed defending the retreat of the Clan and his daughter, Diana. His genetic legacy is accepted into the gene pool of Clan Jade Falcon with great honor.

Featured Characters

• Star Colonel Aidan Pryde
• MechWarrior Diana
• MechWarrior Horse
• MechWarrior Joanna
• Loremaster Kael Pershaw
• Star Commander Marthe Pryde

Featured Places

• Quarell
• Tukayyid
• Twycross

Featured BattleTech

BattleMechs

• Bombardier
• Centurion
• Dire Wolf
• Enforcer
• Executioner
• Hatchetman
• Hellbringer
• Mad Dog
• Mist Lynx
• Stormcrow
• Summoner
• Timber Wolf
• Vindicator
• Viper
• Warhawk

Notes

• While the book itself claims all the interior illustrations were drawn by Jeff Laubenstein, they were in fact drawn by Earl Geier. The text in question is unchanged from earlier titles in the Jade Phoenix trilogy which Laubenstein was the interior artist.

Foreign-Language Editions

German

A German edition, translated by Reinhold H. Mai, was published by Heyne in 1993 as Falkenwacht (ISBN 9783453065932). The book had several printings, including a fourth printing in 1995 under the same ISBN. This was republished as an EPUB by Ulisses Spiele in 2017 as BattleTech Legenden 15 - Jadephönix 3 : Falkenwacht (ISBN 9783957526151).

Hungarian

A Hungarian edition, translated by Würth Attila, was published by Beholder in 1998 as Sólyom gárda.

Russian

A Russian edition, translated by F. Bastian, was published by Армада (Armada) in 1995 as Клан Кречета (ISBN 5879941256). A reprint was published in 2001 (ISBN 5309002073) by Армада-пресс (Armada-Press) as part of a different series produced in collaboration with Дрофа (Drofa).

Covers

• 

  Original 1991 cover. Art by Bruce Jensen

• 

  UK book front cover. Art by Bruce Jensen

• 

  1993 German edition. Art by Bruce Jensen

• 

  2017 German edition (reprint).

• 

  1998 Hungarian edition.

• 

  1995 Russian edition.

• 

  2001 Russian edition (reprint).