 Recommend Me Some Shadowrun Fiction |
  |
 Jun 20 2006, 08:23 AM
Post
#1
|
|
|
Target  Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: 22-May 06 From: Bellevue, WA Member No.: 8,590  |
I picked up a Shadowrun book from the library for super cheap and liked what I read. I want to buy more, but don't know where to start. Any recommendations?
|
 |
 
|
|
Jun 20 2006, 09:01 AM
Post
#2
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 831 Joined: 5-September 05 From: LAX, UCAS Member No.: 7,687 |
Most of the novels are pretty good with the notable exceptions of Shadowboxer and The Forever Drug. :P I'd have to say the best SR novels are (in order) are 2XS, Burning Bright, and Black Madonna. The Secrets of Power trilogy is also very good, as are Into the Shadows and Wolf & Raven.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 20 2006, 10:59 AM
Post
#3
|
|
|
Target Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 23-May 06 From: California Free State Member No.: 8,597 |
My favorites are the two short story anthologies, Into the Shadows and Wolf and Raven. Into the Shadows is particularly good to get an idea of what a shadowrun is like and the effects a shadowrun can have. Tom Dowd's books, Burning Bright and Night's Pawn are also good, but they're about movers and shakers of the world. I also recommend Nigel Findley's books, 2XS, Shadowplay, House of the Sun, and Lone Wolf.
I really didn't like Black Madonna, when I first read it, and I like it even less now because of all the Dan Brown nonsense. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 20 2006, 07:06 PM
Post
#4
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 749 Joined: 28-July 05 Member No.: 7,526 |
I havent read many but I hated books by Nyx Smith (Striper Assassin). Into the Shadows was cool and I dug Preying for Keeps. And some others, but those stood out.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 20 2006, 07:08 PM
Post
#5
|
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,430 Joined: 10-January 05 From: Fort Worth, Texas Member No.: 6,957 |
Definitely 2XS and the Secrets to Power trilogy. The first was the opening trilogy to the world of SR novels and makes for an excellent introduction to the world. The second is only a vague haze in my hole-filled memory but I do remember comparing some of the other books I read to it later and finding them wanting.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 20 2006, 07:46 PM
Post
#6
|
|
|
Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
2XS is one of the best SR novels ever released. I also liked Night's Pawn.
If I were you, I'd avoid Mel Odom ("Run Hard, Die Fast" and "Preying for Keeps"). IMO, he doesn't know how to make a book interesting. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 20 2006, 10:41 PM
Post
#7
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 511 Joined: 19-August 02 Member No.: 3,139 |
I'd throw out a counter vote for Mel Odom's books; Preying for keeps and Head hunters. Those are a couple of good SR books. One of my other favs is Burning Bright.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 20 2006, 10:49 PM
Post
#8
|
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,430 Joined: 10-January 05 From: Fort Worth, Texas Member No.: 6,957 |
Oh yeah, Night's Pawn was good.
I don't remember which book it was that had Leonardo in it (Black Madonna?) but if you're into immortal elves it's a good read. If you're one of the people that prefer to ignore that side of shadowrun then avoid it like the plague. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 05:32 AM
Post
#9
|
|
|
Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
I'd also like to vote for "Into the Shadows." It's an anthology of short stories that serves as a great intro for the beginning SR reader.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 06:59 AM
Post
#10
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 193 Joined: 5-January 06 From: Louisiana Member No.: 8,132 |
Definately the 'Secrets of Power' trilogy (Never Deal with a Dragon/Choose Your Enemies Carefully/Find Your Own Truth), '2XS', and 'Into the Shadows'...Basically what everyone else is saying.
Avoid Lisa Smedman, Marc Gascogne(sp?), or Nyx Smith at all costs. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 07:15 AM
Post
#11
|
|
|
Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
Actually, I did like Lisa Smedman's "Bloodsport" for the incredible detail she put into the descriptions without slowing things down. I swear, it felt like I was watching a movie in my head - I remember during some gory scenes, closing my eyes to shut the images off, only to realize that they were in my head and couldn't be shut off. THAT is the sign of some good writing, to me.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 07:24 AM
Post
#12
|
|||
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 193 Joined: 5-January 06 From: Louisiana Member No.: 8,132 |
Was that the one set in Aztlan? If so, I'd say it was her best, but still nothing to write home to mom about. I own every one of the english novels and have read them all up to "Lucifer Deck", which was so much garbage that I couldn't finish it and haven't read (but have bought) another SR novel since. |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Jun 21 2006, 08:16 AM
Post
#13
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 100 Joined: 7-December 05 Member No.: 8,054 |
This will probably generate quite a bit of heat, but I really liked Dead Air. It's a really good example, in my opinion, of Shadowrun that does not involve the core concept, of the hard core cyberpunk runner crew.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 02:34 PM
Post
#14
|
|
|
Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,546 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 |
Not shadowrun but cyberpunk, I'd HIGHLY recommend finding Dogfight, a short story and part of the Burning Chrome anthology. With a little looking you can find it online (or I can find it for you, if you ask nicely enough). Also, anything by Bruce Sterling.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 02:43 PM
Post
#15
|
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,430 Joined: 10-January 05 From: Fort Worth, Texas Member No.: 6,957 |
Also not shadowrun, but Steve Perry's Matador novels are good examples of sci fi and have a shadowrunesque theme to them: a small group of well trained operatives against The Man.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 03:16 PM
Post
#16
|
|
|
CosaNostra Deliverator Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 346 Joined: 29-January 05 From: Philadelphia, PA Member No.: 7,034 |
These aren't Shadowrun but I recommend looking at:
Burn by Jonathan Lyons Most of Neal Stephenson's books The Transmetropolitan series by Warren Ellis The Takeshi Kovacs novels by Richard K Morgan The Marid Audran/Budayeen books by George Alec Effinger |
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 04:39 PM
Post
#17
|
|
|
Target Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 23-May 06 From: California Free State Member No.: 8,597 |
Well, if we're going to open this to beyond the Shadowrun-branded novels, I have to second the late George Alec Effinger's Buyadeen books, When Gravity Fails, Fire in the Sun, The Exile Kiss, and Buyadeen Nights. They're among my favorite books and I'm sure that anyone who liked 2XS would like them too. The definitive book for riggers is Walter Jon Williams' Hardwired. It's excellent for other reasons too, but it's the best description of what it is like to have kerosene running through your veins. You can read a non-rigging excerpt online. The sequels, Voice of the Whirlwind and Angel Station, are still good, but are in a future past cyberpunk. To get an idea of rockers and simsense/BTL abuse, I would recommend Norman Spinrad's Little Heroes. There's also John Shirley's Eclipse Trilogy, Eclipse, Eclipse Corona, and Eclipse Penumbra.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 05:13 PM
Post
#18
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 358 Joined: 12-May 05 From: The nearest UV host near you... Member No.: 7,390 |
Psychotrope is one of my favorite SR novel.
So are Burning Bright and Night's Pawn. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 08:07 PM
Post
#19
|
|
|
Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
I completely forgot about Psychotrope. That's another good one - very trippy and out of the ordinary for SR, but good.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 09:35 PM
Post
#20
|
|
|
Karma Police Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,358 Joined: 22-July 04 From: Gothenburg, SE Member No.: 6,505 |
I recommend you pick up Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon instead of the SR novels. Licensed SR novels just can't compete to original fiction from a good author. I still enjoy reading SR novels though, but I wouldn't say any of them are must-reads. My absolute favourite is Findley. His books comes a bit closer than the others to having some value beyond the fan community.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 21 2006, 10:40 PM
Post
#21
|
|||
|
CosaNostra Deliverator Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 346 Joined: 29-January 05 From: Philadelphia, PA Member No.: 7,034 |
Mintcar: I'm a big fan of the Takeshi Kovacs novels and have been looking for something similar. Any suggestions? |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Jun 22 2006, 12:26 AM
Post
#22
|
|||
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 595 Joined: 12-May 05 Member No.: 7,392 |
[ScottishBrogue] Ach, sir! I'm standin' right here! [/ScottishBrogue] |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Jun 22 2006, 02:48 AM
Post
#23
|
|
|
Target Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 26-February 06 Member No.: 8,308 |
The BEST Shadowrun Fanfiction you will ever read (IMHO) is Shapcano's series, URL below:
http://www.shapcano.com/ Find the three full novel length fanfics Inheritence, Demands and Debts and read them! They star the most fascinating and compelling Physical Adept ever: Owen Glendower AKA Grey AKA Glndwyr (I'll leave you to discover where the names originate) and in the latter books, his team the Lost Boys. The plot is varied, exciting and unusual; the dialogue and character development insiring and the combat scenes refreshingly accurate, in both martial arts terminology (I swear the author must be a student of this subject and Japanese, or else his wiki-fu is just very strong :) and the sheer deadliness of real combat. No, 'oh look, I just took a Panther round at point blank in the left testicle, oh well'. You will not regret reading this fanfic, I know I haven't, and then you can join the crowd in bugging Shapcano for a fourth book. Another good, but unfortunately currently unfinished SR fanfic is 'Clever Hans' by S'Tar'Kan, URL below: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2559477/1/ check these out. all of you. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 22 2006, 11:42 PM
Post
#24
|
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,640 Joined: 6-June 04 Member No.: 6,383 |
Hmm, was The Terminus Experiment the one with cybered vampires and lesbians? If so, I think you should read that one, because it has lesbians.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 23 2006, 12:59 AM
Post
#25
|
|
|
Target Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 23-May 06 From: California Free State Member No.: 8,597 |
Yes, the Terminus Experiment had lesbians, one of them an elf, as well as a stripper, and a sex scene. However, I can't recall any brown nipples.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 23rd April 2024 - 08:52 AM |
Topps, Inc has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. Topps, Inc has granted permission to the Dumpshock Forums to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with the Dumpshock Forums in any official capacity whatsoever.