Any fans of the Shadowrun novels here?, And what's your favorite? Options

[Vegetaman]

I own about a dozen or so of the novels myself. I'm a younger gamer, and have only been into Shadowrun for about 7 or 8 years now, so a lot of the older novels were out of print when I went to start buying them. I only own the SR3 and SR4 core rulebooks, to boot. But I absolutely love the novels. It's been a couple years since I have read one. I just picked up the three newest Steven Kenson books at Barnes and Noble around Christmas Time but haven't gotten around to reading them yet. I liked his last sequence of books (Technobabel, Crossroads, Ragnarock, and The Burning Times), so I figured I'd give his newest ones a shot.

I seem to recall Wolf & Raven being one of my favorite. Kid Stealth is the type of person you'd never want to meet running the shadows (unless he was on your side). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

Reminds me of trying to get ahold of the SR3 core rulebook in around 2002... I ordered it from Best Buy, Hastings, and a bunch of other stores and they could never get me a copy in. We were on vacation in some other state and found a mall with a giant role playing store. Amongst hundreds of books, mostly D&D, I found 4 Shadowrun Books. SR3 Core Rulebook, Cannon Companion, Man & Machine, and Germany Sourcebook. Of course, I had to choose just one - so I got SR3.

Any more novels slated to come out in the near future?

EDIT: Also, any fans of the Genesis or SNES Shadowrun games? I like them both and think they're a lot of fun. Albeit probably non-cannon.

[Stahlseele]

Shelly for example . . a Shadowrun Frankenstein and a snotty Orc-Detective with a Sense of Humor . . i like those a litte bit more light-hearted/silly character types ^^
Or the Troll Ultra with the golen Mickey Mouse emblem on his Tusk . . allways asking questions/annoying people because he wanted to win in a game-show and get the jackpot of 1 Million Nuyen *g*

[mike_the_fish]

My favorite Shadowrun novel? Easy one - Technobabel. One of my all time favorite "game fiction" books, easily.

[Vegetaman]

My favorite Shadowrun novel? Easy one - Technobabel. One of my all time favorite "game fiction" books, easily.

I really do enjoy this book, too. It was my first Shadowrun novel I bought and read. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[mike_the_fish]

It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember thinking that Technobabel was more than just a good piece of game fiction - it actually stood up as being a "good novel" as well. Great stuff.

[Vegetaman]

Indeed. Very good stuff.

Any of you guys like the Shadowrun video games (SNES and Genesis)?

[paws2sky]

I own the Secrets of Power books. I think I like them mostly because they feature some of the iconic SR characters: Sally Tsung, Ghost-Who-Walks, Dodger... Okay, not so much Dodger, but the rets of the crew is pretty cool.

I had a friend lend me Striper: Assassin because he was raving about it. After about 50 pages, it was clear that it wasn't for me.

Other than that, I really haven't messed with the SR novels.


Some non-SR books I've enjoyed, if you can find them:

Bad Voltage by Jonathan Littell - my all time favorite cyberpunk genre novel. Set in Paris, France.

Cybernetic Jungle by SN Lewitt - really neat look at the Sao Paulo sprawl. Not Shadowrun (at all), but between the Capoeira scenes, Santeria scenes, insane usues of crossbow pistols, and the usual sneaky covert activity, this could easily be set in the SR world.

[Stahlseele]

i own all of the SR-Novels, and the new germany only books . . but those ain't as good as the old stuff mostly <.< . .

[Fortune]

If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be Night's Pawn.

[DTFarstar]

Wolf and Raven has been my favorite so far, but I haven't been able to get most of the books people are here tout as the best, though I try sometimes. I hate being broke. I never beat either game, but I enjoyed playing both of them. I wish I still had access to them, but none of my old systems work anymore.

Chris

[Vegetaman]

I wanted to read The Dragon Heart Saga, but all I have is Beyond The Pale (Book #3). The Shadowrun universe and timeline is just so... Amazing. And the novels reflect this.

But yes, Wolf & Raven I recommend to everyone.

Also, the Genesis Shadowrun game is very true to the SR2 P&P system I believe. The karma system is awesome. You get hired by various Mr. Johnsons to do runs, but there is an overall story, too.

The SNES version is... Well, more story-based. You have a lot of set events you have to do. And very few side-quests, if any, really.

[cryptoknight]

Born to Run, Poisoned Agendas, Fallen Angels comes to mind as a great series.

The Secrets of Power is another good set.

Into the Shadows was a nice anthology

[Vegetaman]

Born to Run, Poisoned Agendas, Fallen Angels comes to mind as a great series.

Good. I just bought those but have not read them yet.

How are the other 3 new books? A Fistful of Data, Aftershock, and Drops of Corruption? I'm thinking of buying them when I have a spare $20 to spend.

You can buy a lot of novels for what the sourcebooks cost. And for a college kid on a budget, that's the way to go.

Sadly, I never see Shadowrun books at used book stores or my public library, though.

[Stahlseele]

After-Shocks was kinda nice, if i am remembering the right book . .
i liked the pacifistic troll with the troll-bow *g*
And the orcish hacker going BUNDAA all the time was funny too ^^

[It trolls!]

My favorites to this day are Preying for Keeps and it's sequel Headhunters, both by Mel Odom. Mostly because they were about a team of regular runners instead of some World-saving-Nadia-Daviar-fondling-Superdrake or similar things. It's not that I don't like the Dragonheart saga in particular, I just don't like the whole "the world is at stake" part in Shadowrun as such.
I always wanted to read the books by Nigel Findley: 2XS, etc. because they've been so often recommended to me, but the Terminus Experiment scared me away from reading Shadowrun novels until recently.

[Vegetaman]

My favorites to this day are Preying for Keeps and it's sequel Headhunters, both by Mel Odom. Mostly because they were about a team of regular runners instead of some World-saving-Nadia-Daviar-fondling-Superdrake or similar things. It's not that I don't like the Dragonheart saga in particular, I just don't like the whole "the world is at stake" part in Shadowrun as such.
I always wanted to read the books by Nigel Findley: 2XS, etc. because they've been so often recommended to me, but the Terminus Experiment scared me away from reading Shadowrun novels until recently.

I liked Headhunters, but had no idea that there was another book that came before it. Dang.

There was another book I liked that had to do with HMHVV, I believe. Was it... The Terminus Experiment?

[cryptoknight]

Good. I just bought those but have not read them yet.

How are the other 3 new books? A Fistful of Data, Aftershock, and Drops of Corruption? I'm thinking of buying them when I have a spare $20 to spend.

You can buy a lot of novels for what the sourcebooks cost. And for a college kid on a budget, that's the way to go.

Sadly, I never see Shadowrun books at used book stores or my public library, though.

I liked A fistful of Data... Drops of Corruption I was in the middle of and put aside because a friend decided to loan me a bunch of books to read...It seemed pretty good.. but not up to the others. When I finish the book I'm currently on... I will pick it backup... I couldn't find Aftershock around me.

[Vegetaman]

I liked A fistful of Data... Drops of Corruption I was in the middle of and put aside because a friend decided to loan me a bunch of books to read...It seemed pretty good.. but not up to the others. When I finish the book I'm currently on... I will pick it backup... I couldn't find Aftershock around me.

I have turned to Amazon.com to buy books. If I go to Barnes and Nobles, the cost the same, plus you have to pay taxes. And if you order enough stuff from amazon, you get free shipping. Their Shadowrun selection is fairly limited though, it seems.

[Stahlseele]

Terminus Experiment . . genetically altered HMHVV and "Things"(i refuse to call them Vampires, even in the Shadowrun Meaning) of all Meta-Races with Cyber-Ware . . *shudders*

[cryptoknight]

I have turned to Amazon.com to buy books. If I go to Barnes and Nobles, the cost the same, plus you have to pay taxes. And if you order enough stuff from amazon, you get free shipping. Their Shadowrun selection is fairly limited though, it seems.

I do similar for game books... but for fiction nothing beats sitting down in Borders and reading a chapter or two to see if you want to finish the book.

[Stahlseele]

heh, good old german thoroughness . . i have at least half a dozend of shops where i can buy ALL novels and Game-Books if i were to look around for some time in this City of mine ^^

[Vegetaman]

The only things I ever see in our Barnes and Noble is the 6 new Shadowrun novels, the SR3 rulebook, the SR4 rulebook, and Street Magic. And since I bought a bunch of novels and an SR4 rulebook... They haven't replenished their stash, it would seem. For shame.

[It trolls!]

Terminus Experiment . . genetically altered HMHVV and "Things"(i refuse to call them Vampires, even in the Shadowrun Meaning) of all Meta-Races with Cyber-Ware . . *shudders*

Hot lesbian shadowrunners slaughtering genetically engineered cyberzombie vampires. If it had been a video game, Uwe Boll would be all over it.

[Vegetaman]

Hot lesbian shadowrunners slaughtering genetically engineered cyberzombie vampires. If it had been a video game, Uwe Boll would be all over it.

I'd have watched. I just remember being hooked to the book at the time. Of course I was a teenager at the time and too stupid to not be amazed by such content. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

That being said, I still like that book.

[Stahlseele]

ah, yes, i forgot about the lesbians . . i would so watch that movie/play that video-game *grins*
i will however, NEVER forget about the Gay Troll/Giant-Couple *shudders*