Solaris VII is the Game World, a planet of spectacle and intrigue entirely devoted to ferocious gladiatorial combat. Except on Solaris, the gladiators aren’t people—they’re BattleMechs, thirty-foot high, walking engines of war.

David Singh is a down-on-his-luck ’Mech pilot with just enough skill and raw guts to attract all the wrong kind of attention. Singh’s dream is to become a championship fighter in the games. He’s an underdog, but his flamboyant fighting style gives him a solid chance of making the jump. But he’ll have to watch his step.

Because on Solaris, the most dangerous contests take place outside the coliseum.