Moe the Great | 16 Feb 2015 7:24 p.m. PST |
Are there any Ogre based novels? I'm looking for some good reading material. Thanks Moe |
DesertScrb | 16 Feb 2015 7:32 p.m. PST |
There's some short fiction in The Ogre Book, which is available as a PDF at Warehouse 23. I think that's all there is. |
cloudcaptain | 16 Feb 2015 7:50 p.m. PST |
While not OGRE exactly…for large Cybertank novels you should look into Keith Laumer's BOLO series: link From Steve Jackson's site: Q. Is Ogre based on Keith Laumer's "Bolo" stories? A. No, it's a completely original background and technology. When Ogre was originally designed for Metagaming, the plan was to seek a Bolo license. But it cost too much to be worthwhile for such a small game (the original edition of Ogre was a $2.95 USD minigame). The owner of Metagaming said, "Invent a different background." Steve was happy to comply, as he had some ideas that were incompatible with the Bolo background. So it all worked out. The Bolo stories remain one of the two original inspirations behind Ogre – the other being a story called "Gottlos," by Colin Kapp – and we acknowledge the debt to Laumer's apocalyptic vision! |
Stryderg | 16 Feb 2015 9:12 p.m. PST |
A little searching on the interwebs turns up this: The Lone GEV, by Michael Stackpole. Fan written story on some dude's web site: link If you like John Ringo, one of his Posleen series books deals with a huge tank (named Bun-Bun). Not a self aware tank, but really big, and sporting tank turrets bolted on for more firepower. |
TNE2300 | 16 Feb 2015 9:20 p.m. PST |
the Bolo stories are an excellent read definitely worth the time |
Dodgyknees the Greek | 17 Feb 2015 3:34 a.m. PST |
Keith Laumer's Bolo stories are definately worth a read. Don't know about the collaborations with David Weber as I've not read them, anybody recommend them? |
Mute Bystander | 17 Feb 2015 4:40 a.m. PST |
That collaboration would seem to be either wonderful or horrible based on which traits of each author come to the fore… |
Dynaman8789 | 17 Feb 2015 6:20 a.m. PST |
The collaboration stories have the benefit of being short stories for the most part so worth the time to read. I don't remember a single Weberesque conference scene in any of them. |
Moe the Great | 17 Feb 2015 7:57 a.m. PST |
It sounds like I have some reading to do. Thank you all!!! |
DesertScrb | 17 Feb 2015 8:43 a.m. PST |
Wikipedia has a list of all the Bolo books: link These include Laumer's original works, anthologies of other authors' Bolo stories, and Bolo novels from other writers. |
cloudcaptain | 17 Feb 2015 9:48 a.m. PST |
The only Laumer book I didn't devour rapidly was "The Stars Must Wait". It was interesting but was mainly about interactions between people. Bolos took a definite back seat. It was a good read nonetheless but imagine having a craving for a chocolate milkshake and getting home to find they gave you vanilla instead. Not the end of the world but not exactly what you were hoping for either. |
napthyme | 17 Feb 2015 2:23 p.m. PST |
I know I read a series of short stories about forgotten cyber tanks that would come back to life and continue there missions, but not sure if that was the Bolo series or not. |
Moe the Great | 17 Feb 2015 2:54 p.m. PST |
That sounds like a good read… |
Dynaman8789 | 17 Feb 2015 6:01 p.m. PST |
Bolos coming back from the "dead" is a theme that has been done at least once. |
Ancestral Hamster | 17 Feb 2015 9:15 p.m. PST |
link I posted the above link at Boardgame Geek. It contains links to the Keith Laumer Wiki, the Wikipedia article on the Bolo series, and the Fifth Imperium, where you can download copies of some of the newer Bolo stories. It also has a more detailed bibliography of the various Bolo stories provided by another forum member, Peapicker. Peapicker points out that only Bolo: Annals of the Dinochrome Brigade(1976) was available to Steve Jackson when he wrote Ogre. |
Moe the Great | 18 Feb 2015 11:18 a.m. PST |
I just picked up a bunch of the Bolo books. I can't wait to start reading them.. |
Chuckaroobob | 18 Feb 2015 9:13 p.m. PST |
There are also the "Old Guy" books, written about a cybertank not related to the Ogres or Bolos. IIRC "Chronicles of Old Guy" is the name of the first one. They are on Amazon. |
Moe the Great | 26 Feb 2015 8:55 a.m. PST |
There are some interesting stories. It's making me want to get into some "Ogre-ish" type of gaming. Too bag the Ogre mini are so hard to find. I'll have to find some suitable replacements. Thanks everyone for you input. |