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Hunter
Hunter is a short Sci-Fi story set in a dark and desperate world.
10 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2010
27 people are currently reading
834 people want to read
About the author
Wil Wheaton
103 books232k followersWil Wheaton loves to tell stories. He’s been doing it his whole life.
By age ten, he had already been acting for three years. In 1986, at age 12, he earned critical acclaim as Gordie Lachance in Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me; at 14, he began his four-year turn as Wesley Crusher on the hit TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Since then, Wil has appeared in dozens of films and TV series, with recurring roles on TNT’s Leverage, SyFy’s Eureka, and the hit webseries The Guild. He is the creator, producer, and host of the wildly successful webseries Tabletop, credited with reigniting national interest in tabletop gaming. Most recently, he played a fictionalized version of himself on CBS’s The Big Bang Theory, one of the most highly rated and watched sitcoms of the last decade.
An accomplished voice actor, Wil has lent his talents to animated series including Family Guy, Teen Titans, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. His video game credits include four installments each of the Grand Theft Auto and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series, as well as Fallout: New Vegas, DC Universe Online, and Broken Age.
His audiobook narration of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list, and was one of Goodreads’ 10 Best Narrator and Audiobook Pairings of All Time. He has also lent his voice to titles by John Scalzi, Randall Monroe, and Joe Hill.
When he isn’t acting, narrating, or podcasting, Wil Wheaton is writing.
A lot.
He is the author of Just A Geek, Dancing Barefoot, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, Hunter, and Dead Trees Give No Shelter, plus a forthcoming novel, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything. He has contributed columns to Salon.com, The A.V. Club, LA Weekly, Playboy, The Washington Post, and the Suicide Girls Newswire.
In recent years, Wil has earned recognition as an outspoken mental health advocate, chronicling his own journey in his blog and as a public speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. His powerful, candid essay about his struggle with chronic depression and anxiety garnered national attention.
Wil lives in Los Angeles with his badass, irrepressible wife Anne, two rescued dogs, one cat, and two vintage arcade cabinets. If you’re not a robot, you can reach him at: wil at wilwheaton dot net.
By age ten, he had already been acting for three years. In 1986, at age 12, he earned critical acclaim as Gordie Lachance in Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me; at 14, he began his four-year turn as Wesley Crusher on the hit TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Since then, Wil has appeared in dozens of films and TV series, with recurring roles on TNT’s Leverage, SyFy’s Eureka, and the hit webseries The Guild. He is the creator, producer, and host of the wildly successful webseries Tabletop, credited with reigniting national interest in tabletop gaming. Most recently, he played a fictionalized version of himself on CBS’s The Big Bang Theory, one of the most highly rated and watched sitcoms of the last decade.
An accomplished voice actor, Wil has lent his talents to animated series including Family Guy, Teen Titans, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. His video game credits include four installments each of the Grand Theft Auto and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series, as well as Fallout: New Vegas, DC Universe Online, and Broken Age.
His audiobook narration of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list, and was one of Goodreads’ 10 Best Narrator and Audiobook Pairings of All Time. He has also lent his voice to titles by John Scalzi, Randall Monroe, and Joe Hill.
When he isn’t acting, narrating, or podcasting, Wil Wheaton is writing.
A lot.
He is the author of Just A Geek, Dancing Barefoot, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, Hunter, and Dead Trees Give No Shelter, plus a forthcoming novel, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything. He has contributed columns to Salon.com, The A.V. Club, LA Weekly, Playboy, The Washington Post, and the Suicide Girls Newswire.
In recent years, Wil has earned recognition as an outspoken mental health advocate, chronicling his own journey in his blog and as a public speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. His powerful, candid essay about his struggle with chronic depression and anxiety garnered national attention.
Wil lives in Los Angeles with his badass, irrepressible wife Anne, two rescued dogs, one cat, and two vintage arcade cabinets. If you’re not a robot, you can reach him at: wil at wilwheaton dot net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 24, 2014
Fans of the 80s-90s TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation know Wil Wheaton as the actor who played Wesley Crusher for several seasons. Since then, however, he's apparently developed a second career as an author. My only prior acquaintance with his work was my recent read of another of his freebie short stories, The Monster in My Closet, which I checked out via a link in one of my groups. Although I didn't rate it, I didn't care much for it; so my friend Amber (who'd given both stories five-star reviews) suggested this as an example of his work that I might like better.
The two stories are very different in setting and subject matter; but both are short, exhibit all of Aristotle's classic unities, and have only a few significant characters (here, two). Our setting here is a far-future, human-colonized planet, now under the boot of a vicious and brutal conquering alien race, the Gan. Pyke is a "pragmatist," a human turncoat who captures humans who are still fighting and turns them over to the Gan (after getting his jollies by brutalizing and abusing them). Teenaged Nina is his current prey.
Both stories have other commonalities, one being that they're both competently written, in a way that's crafted to serve the intended effect. Another is that the adjectives "dark" and "grisly" apply to both. This isn't a rosy, feel-good tale by any stretch of the imagination (although going into much more detail about the plot, as in the other case, would quickly involve major spoilers). But the moral and psychological quality of its darkness is significantly different from the other story, and that's reflected in the different way I handled the rating. Of course, unlike Goodreads' three and four-star ratings, a five-star rating doesn't necessarily mean that I "liked" this one; it's the type of work you experience rather than like. Literally, five stars indicates that I found it "amazing;" it amazes in its unflinching exploration of the dark side of human nature, the originality of its plotting, and the powerful way in which it achieves its effect. And it's a story with something constructive to say.
If I have a serious criticism, it's that although this is apparently a stand-alone story, there are significant elements of the plot and world-building that cry out for more development and explanation. This could easily be a teaser for a full-length novel (and that novel would be one I could see myself reading). Readers who want to avoid bad language should be warned that there's some of that here, including three or four f-words. (I rated it the way I did despite that.)
This story can be read for free at this link: www.goodreads.com/reader/10572-hunter .
The two stories are very different in setting and subject matter; but both are short, exhibit all of Aristotle's classic unities, and have only a few significant characters (here, two). Our setting here is a far-future, human-colonized planet, now under the boot of a vicious and brutal conquering alien race, the Gan. Pyke is a "pragmatist," a human turncoat who captures humans who are still fighting and turns them over to the Gan (after getting his jollies by brutalizing and abusing them). Teenaged Nina is his current prey.
Both stories have other commonalities, one being that they're both competently written, in a way that's crafted to serve the intended effect. Another is that the adjectives "dark" and "grisly" apply to both. This isn't a rosy, feel-good tale by any stretch of the imagination (although going into much more detail about the plot, as in the other case, would quickly involve major spoilers). But the moral and psychological quality of its darkness is significantly different from the other story, and that's reflected in the different way I handled the rating. Of course, unlike Goodreads' three and four-star ratings, a five-star rating doesn't necessarily mean that I "liked" this one; it's the type of work you experience rather than like. Literally, five stars indicates that I found it "amazing;" it amazes in its unflinching exploration of the dark side of human nature, the originality of its plotting, and the powerful way in which it achieves its effect. And it's a story with something constructive to say.
If I have a serious criticism, it's that although this is apparently a stand-alone story, there are significant elements of the plot and world-building that cry out for more development and explanation. This could easily be a teaser for a full-length novel (and that novel would be one I could see myself reading). Readers who want to avoid bad language should be warned that there's some of that here, including three or four f-words. (I rated it the way I did despite that.)
This story can be read for free at this link: www.goodreads.com/reader/10572-hunter .
September 1, 2011
This is a good move on the part of Wil Wheaton. I never would have committed to reading an entire novel just because he -- a sci-fi actor and geek personality -- wrote it. But a short story on a pay-what-you-want scale, that is different. Because I definitely can, and did, take 15 minutes to check out Hunter, which teases the reader with the existence of an interesting, untapped science-fiction world. And I liked it -- there wasn't enough to love -- but it left me wanting more, and I'm hoping this will one day be a prologue to a full-length sci-fi novel, which now, after sampling the goods, I would look forward to reading.
January 28, 2014
This was a pretty good read. Pyke is a colonist who works for the alien race called Gan to capture rebels of the resistance and bring them in to the Gan. It's only when the girl he's hunting captures him with her telepathic abilities that he becomes the prey and is given a taste of his own medicine. I enjoyed this short story and will reccomend this to others. Definitely check this story out.
January 1, 2013
I really wanted my rating to be one star and the review to simply read Bazinga. Come on, that's funny.
Okay, on to the review...
Short story indeed. I was picturing the old black and white Twilight Zones while I was reading it. I really liked it. I think it would be a great opening action scene to introduce Nina... so now I want the rest of that story. I want to know how she ended up out there doing what she's doing. Come on Wil Wheaton! We want more!
Okay, on to the review...
Short story indeed. I was picturing the old black and white Twilight Zones while I was reading it. I really liked it. I think it would be a great opening action scene to introduce Nina... so now I want the rest of that story. I want to know how she ended up out there doing what she's doing. Come on Wil Wheaton! We want more!
April 14, 2011
So Wil Wheaton took a step and wrote a piece of fiction. It's short. I read it in about 10 minutes and is more of a vignette than an actual complete short story. And I loved it! It grabbed me and ran through broken down streets and a very post-apocalyptic type setting without actually being a post-apocalyptic story. The ideas that Wil has in this short piece could easily be turned into a full length novel if given the chance. (At least in my opinion.)
There were two thoughts going through my head when I first read Hunter...actually there were three -
1. There was only one editing mistake in the entire thing. (A he/she issue late in the story easily missed.)
2. Wow!
3. I want to read more.
There were two thoughts going through my head when I first read Hunter...actually there were three -
1. There was only one editing mistake in the entire thing. (A he/she issue late in the story easily missed.)
2. Wow!
3. I want to read more.
September 3, 2011
Short, not bad, but not really different.
It didnt make me wish for a longer version, didnt care for the characters or world,
the aliens were confusing and without purpose, i've read much better and interesting short stories than this one.
Still, i was curious for Wheaton work and it was free so, give it a try if you want...
It didnt make me wish for a longer version, didnt care for the characters or world,
the aliens were confusing and without purpose, i've read much better and interesting short stories than this one.
Still, i was curious for Wheaton work and it was free so, give it a try if you want...
September 13, 2014
This short story has a cool twist that I wouldn't want to reveal, but it's gruesome to an almost horror-like level.
I didn't know the actor Wheaton could write so well, but I will seek out more of his work.
Recommended for sci-fi/dystopian fans.
I didn't know the actor Wheaton could write so well, but I will seek out more of his work.
Recommended for sci-fi/dystopian fans.
October 13, 2011
(From my blog, Word Vagabond: Reviews of Independent and Small Press Books. http://wordvagabond.wordpress.com/ )
When the rebel-hunter Pyke chases a teenage girl into a dark alley, he expects to have a bit of fun before turning her over to his alien masters. What he finds will turn his world inside-out.
This short story by geek icon Wil Wheaton feels like the preface to something larger. The exposition is handled beautifully, setting the atmosphere of a world under siege in a few words, without feeling clunky. While this story is strong enough to stand alone, I would be very interested in a reading a novel-length work in this world.
Although his descriptions are definitely a strong point, Wheaton’s characters are intriguing as well, particularly Nina. I did find the main character’s evolution a bit less than convincing, though. For most of his life, Pyke is himself a resistance fighter, and then one day suddenly decides it’s more practical to work for the enemy. There’s certainly a streak of sadism involved in his decision, but mention of a precipitating event might have given the character more depth.
I really enjoyed this piece, and I hope it will be followed up by many more!
When the rebel-hunter Pyke chases a teenage girl into a dark alley, he expects to have a bit of fun before turning her over to his alien masters. What he finds will turn his world inside-out.
This short story by geek icon Wil Wheaton feels like the preface to something larger. The exposition is handled beautifully, setting the atmosphere of a world under siege in a few words, without feeling clunky. While this story is strong enough to stand alone, I would be very interested in a reading a novel-length work in this world.
Although his descriptions are definitely a strong point, Wheaton’s characters are intriguing as well, particularly Nina. I did find the main character’s evolution a bit less than convincing, though. For most of his life, Pyke is himself a resistance fighter, and then one day suddenly decides it’s more practical to work for the enemy. There’s certainly a streak of sadism involved in his decision, but mention of a precipitating event might have given the character more depth.
I really enjoyed this piece, and I hope it will be followed up by many more!
October 14, 2013
Please don't be put off by my rating... Definitely read this! It's a great little short story it terms of being short and sweet with a certain degree of moral depth, BUT I judged this harshly as I wish the author had let himself go a bit further. I feel that this author wanted to get this story onto paper, but realized the dangers of overwhelming readers by immersing them in this world so he kept it simple. Sadly, in doing so I feel that the authors voice is a bit lost in the very straight-forward way this story is told (though the "dialogue" considering the condensed nature of the piece feels solid and real). I definitely plan on reading more by Wheaton in hopes of getting a better feel for his style and voice.
April 20, 2014
While poking around Goodreads, searching for that "next great read", I stumbled upon the author profile of Wil Wheaton, who is probably best known for his role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Needless to say, I had to check out his work, and Hunter was the sampler of choice due to its sci-fi underpinnings. I have to say, I enjoyed it. It is an exceptionally short story that consumed 5 minutes of my time, but its dark subject matter appealed to me. Wil appears to have a knack for story telling, if judgment can be cast upon a composition that's only 250 words in length.
October 19, 2011
Pyke is living in a grim, desperate world, a colony world that has been invaded by a conquering alien force. There's an active, determined resistance--and Pyke used to be part of it. Six months ago, though, he decided it was hopeless, and decided to join the winning side. He's working for the Gan, now, hunting down resistance fighters. And today, he's after one more rebel, a teenage girl who'll be an easy target. Won't she?
This is a short story, so there's not a lot of room for development, but Wheaton makes good use of it. We care about Pyke, his target, and their world. I hope we'll be seeing more of it.
Recommended.
This is a short story, so there's not a lot of room for development, but Wheaton makes good use of it. We care about Pyke, his target, and their world. I hope we'll be seeing more of it.
Recommended.
May 11, 2015
I didn't realize this was a super short story available online when I added it to my to-read shelf a year ago. As one reviewer mentioned, releasing a short story was a good move. Why would anyone trust a sci-fi actor with a full book? Instead, this was a quick 10-pages that proved Wheaton can actually write.
Anyway, interesting premise - especially with Nina and her tricks. Honestly, this would make a great one-off sci-fi episode on a show like Twilight Zone (or Black Mirror if they added some more tech). I'm not sure it could fill an entire book, but I could see Nina's story becoming something more complex and exciting with the Hunter as one of many encounters along the way.
Anyway, interesting premise - especially with Nina and her tricks. Honestly, this would make a great one-off sci-fi episode on a show like Twilight Zone (or Black Mirror if they added some more tech). I'm not sure it could fill an entire book, but I could see Nina's story becoming something more complex and exciting with the Hunter as one of many encounters along the way.
January 26, 2012
This is a really well written and captivating short story. I just wish it wasn't so short! I read it while I was waiting for my car to be worked on and within those few pages, I was really drawn in by the characters and world Wil has created and I was really sad to see it end! I sat there with questions! What happens next?? What happens next??
I recommend this quick read to all scifi fans. :) I really hope to see a companion piece written if he never decides to expand this particular story into a full length novel. Thanks for sharing, Wil! I look forward to more from you. :)
I recommend this quick read to all scifi fans. :) I really hope to see a companion piece written if he never decides to expand this particular story into a full length novel. Thanks for sharing, Wil! I look forward to more from you. :)
July 24, 2016
A very short story with a solid story concept. Descriptively written for its length, an alien world invaded by a very mean race, a city mostly destroyed, and a traitor to his own race facing the horror he has inflicted.
My only criticism - there was so much potential for a novella, if not a full-length novel, that it felt like the brevity took something away from me and reduced the emotional impact of the story.
Kudos to making use of the serial comma! (It's a pet peeve that most of modern writing from books to business correspondence has dropped the comma before the and.)
My only criticism - there was so much potential for a novella, if not a full-length novel, that it felt like the brevity took something away from me and reduced the emotional impact of the story.
Kudos to making use of the serial comma! (It's a pet peeve that most of modern writing from books to business correspondence has dropped the comma before the and.)
March 21, 2011
As other reviewers have said, I enjoyed the universe presented in this short story and would love to read more. I found the bounty hunter main character a bit one dimensional and unlikeable, but that may have been the point. If Wil turns this into a longer story, I hope he uses this portion as more of an introduction to the other characters featured in the story and chooses to focus less on the bounty hunter.
June 6, 2011
This was a short story with a facinating world to explore. I loved the concept of the hunter becoming the prey and was interested in what was going on from the first word. I would love, as many others have already mentioned I'm sure, to read more about this world and its strong characters.
Though I loved every word of this short story, I was left wanting a lot more. I guess that's what makes an amazing author. Well done and I can't wait to read more of Wil Wheaton's works.
Though I loved every word of this short story, I was left wanting a lot more. I guess that's what makes an amazing author. Well done and I can't wait to read more of Wil Wheaton's works.
August 3, 2011
This was a short story but it was so powerful. A very quick read but definitely what could be an amazing start for a full length novel. There are a lot of dystopian books out there but this one reminded me of older science fiction like Marion Zimmer Bradley's A Door Through Space which could inspire a new generation of science fiction writers. This was just absolutely amazing and something I hope Wheaton turns into a full novel. Just crazy amazing.
September 1, 2011
I had heard that Wil Wheaton had become a fairly notorious blogger and writer but I had no idea he was this good. This was a VERY short tale of a traitorous mercenary working for alien invaders and it starts out exciting and ends even better. I loved how much detail and emotion he was able to put into such a short story. I would love to see this concept expanded into a full length story. I will easily recommend checking this one out. I was very impressed.
August 14, 2012
A good short story should cause interest in the surrounding story, and this one does that. You want to know more. The adult feeling comes through as well, at a time when apocalyptic future is often told from the perspective of teenagers. A minor criticism would come with regards to the character names... maybe just a personal feeling, but made up future names often feel forced to me. Good work overall.
July 10, 2013
it was just OK. with a little more investment and some professional editting Wil could have made this work the first chapter of a longer story. however, this does not represent a completed work. even as a short story it missing an ending. short story for is much harder than novel form. lots to squeeze into a short format. that said, I enjoyed it enough to pay 1 buck for it. however he will have to step it up in order to get anymore money out of me.
February 11, 2011
I'm not the biggest fan of serious unadulterated sci-fi, but I really liked this. Wil, you rock, and your writing is better than you let yourself believe it is. Nice work. This would be a great one to expand into a longer piece. 5 pages is not enough for the interesting world you've created here...
February 11, 2011
Wow, this is a neat sci-fi world and concept. Maybe I'm a sadist, but I kind of wanted to see more of the bounty hunter's victims get brought back on him. Also, I freakin' love psychic anything, so winwinwin.
Should be a longer story! I hate great short stories, I always feel mildly anxious at the end of them because they shouldn't be over. Hint Hint. ;-)
Should be a longer story! I hate great short stories, I always feel mildly anxious at the end of them because they shouldn't be over. Hint Hint. ;-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2011
Picked up solely because I like Wil Wheaten, this is a curious little short story - and like many short stories, discussing any of the plot would give it away, as there is so little of it. It does feel like it should be the start of something more, whether it's an introduction to some longer work or just a particular setting, but the ending didn't leave me satisfied, either way.
October 20, 2011
This is not anything like what I normally read. I will admit that the only reason I read it is because Wil Wheaton wrote it. It was dark and creepy and very short. I don't think I could have read it much longer. Given the dark and creepy part.
But it was well written. It did what a good book is supposed to do by putting you in the action. You felt right along with Pyke.
But it was well written. It did what a good book is supposed to do by putting you in the action. You felt right along with Pyke.
December 27, 2011
I've seen sci-fi done every which way. I may not read as much of it as the average fan, but it's definitely my favorite genre as far as movies and TV.
Other than his blog, this was the first of Wheaton's writings I'd read and I know I want to see more. This story is excellent. It's well written, entertaining, and surprising.
Other than his blog, this was the first of Wheaton's writings I'd read and I know I want to see more. This story is excellent. It's well written, entertaining, and surprising.
January 26, 2012
Like a bite of something strange but delicious, Hunter showed us a window into another universe but never let us put ourselves inside it. This could easily be worked into a much longer hero's journey of a sci-fi horror novel, but even so, the characters were well realized and the punishment was visceral.
January 31, 2012
I like to think of this story as an amuse-bouche. There's just enough there that, if your tastes so run, your mouth is watering for more. It's a little short in world context, for my taste, and the climax scene feels like it stretches a touch long, but it's definitely enough to make me interested in the 'verse.
December 22, 2012
That was rad. This is the kind of story that makes me wanna know more! It was only a blip into a world and into characters that could easily capture my attention for the span of a full novel.
(and, of course, this short story went well with today's theme... being the last day of the Mayan Calendar and another failed apocalypse prediction)
Well done, Sir.
(and, of course, this short story went well with today's theme... being the last day of the Mayan Calendar and another failed apocalypse prediction)
Well done, Sir.
April 18, 2013
Very well written at the beginning, but a bit vague later on.
But what's up with the gloominess? Not just here, but in fiction in general? I don't get it. I thought fiction was supposed to be an opposing force to all the bullshit going on in the real world. I really don't understand the point of creating more injustice and darkness, even fictitious.
But what's up with the gloominess? Not just here, but in fiction in general? I don't get it. I thought fiction was supposed to be an opposing force to all the bullshit going on in the real world. I really don't understand the point of creating more injustice and darkness, even fictitious.
March 9, 2011
I really liked it. I hope a longer story/novel released because this short story brought me into this world and I want to know more about it, the backstory of the characters and events unfolding. I recommend this story to fans of Science Fiction.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews