PREYING FOR KEEPS

Shadowrun Legends

by Mel Odom

An unholy virus spreads across Seattle in the future, the result of a mobster's scheme to pit two biogenetic engineering companies against each other, sending the Shadowrunners into the midst of a biological time bomb. Original.

Genres: Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Dystopia, Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

aka Jordan Gray

Mel Odom is a bestselling writer for hire for Wizards of the Coast's Forgotten Realms, Gold Eagle's Mack Bolan, and Pocket's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel book lines. His debut SF novel Lethal Interface made the Locus recommended list . The Rover was an Alyx Award winner. He has also written a scientific adventure of the high seas set in the 19th century entitled Hunters of the Dark Sea. He lives in Oklahoma.

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lots of confusing and poorly described combat scenes. That was forgivable because the story and mystery was interesting. But the book just ends without a conclusion. Bah.

[TheWearyWanderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 out 5 stars

Really enjoy the ShadowRun world it can provide an excellent mix of magic and science given the right author and Mel Odom does a pretty good job.

It has a decent main character, Jack Skater, who leads his team on a mission that has been set up for failure. The story is very fast paced as Jack tries to “follow the bread crumbs” for the person responsible for the bad intel. The story gives some insight into Jack’s motivations, but glosses over most of his teams. Some perspective is given to Darun (an ork), Trey (a human wizard) and Archangel (an elven decker) but more could have been done for them as well as the rest of the crew.

The story flows smoothly with several complex moving parts that come together nicely. Really appreciated the complexity of the crime (perpetuated by MacKenzie) though I honestly didn’t quite understand the all the stock movements. Though most of the fight scenes were really well described and sensible I had a hard time envisioning the final battle on the monorail. Parts seemed incredulous. Really disappointed in how the story seemed to end so abruptly. Felt there was easily another chapter that could have provided some resolution. That being said it was still an enjoyable read and I hope Odom’s the next foray into the ShadowRun universe will continue with these characters.

[KillDeer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Shadowrun novel. I liked the characters and the plot was an interesting mystery for a while but the end it gets so messy with extra characters coming in on behalf of someone else and then they double cross someone who is double crossing himself and I stopped caring. It feels like the last 10% of the book is stretch to reach a page count which is sad. There is even a b plot involving a disease that the news reports on in the background of a couple scenes that all but gets abandoned at the end.

[E J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty impressive and complex plot. Big and long on high-octane action in an almost 80s, Commando over-the-top style. Could have done with an epilogue, since as others have said, the book ends abruptly. As such, it gives the book a rather disposable quality, and you know, being a media tie-in just further does it no favours. But I enjoyed it a lot mainly for the in-game references from both the RPG and the card game, (e.g. Jack Skater, Wheeler, various gear cards). I probably wouldn't recommend it to those not familiar with Shadowrun, though.

All in all, one of the best SR novels.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - was torn with this book... There were some good parts of the story and other bits that could have been removed. The story doesn't really end, but leaves you hanging for the next Jack Skater story Headhunters...

[KerGiz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like this writer's style, everything is named with its brand name and serial number in this book, this is very tiresome...

[Aaron Newlands · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read for what it is

[Georg Gänzle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein guter Shadowrun Roman mit einen sehr abrupten Ende, was mir persönlich zu viele Fragen unbeantwortet lässt.

Die Story ist gut durchdacht und beinhaltet alles, was man von Shadowrun erwartet, inklusive eines Drachen.

Nicht unbedingt eine Pflichtlektüre, aber für Shadowrun Fans empfehlenswert.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historic team and a tightly woven run

Time is against this team and so is everyone else. Major players in Seattle's shadows are front and center giving you insight into their organizations and interests be they conflicting or temporarily aligned. The action is taught and painted in the language of the shadows. Environmental elements like roving thrill-hangers are inserted into the action making you feel like the world around the story is always there. It's like your first drop of alcohol after drinking synth all your life. Thank you to the author.

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all of the FASA Shadowrun novels, and Preying for Keeps (And it's sequel, Headhunters) are some of my favorites. I think these books perfectly capture a Shadowrun team and a run gone from straight forward to major situation. The characters are solid, and the authors grasp of the source material is excellent.

[Karl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of two books Mel Odom wrote for the Shadowrun novel series, as well as the first one featuring the Main character Jack Skater & his team of shadowrunners

The story imply goes like this After a Shadowrun gone wrong, which one of his team members their life, Jack goes to find out who set up he Shadowrun& get revenge

[Richard Harbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I ever read front to back without ever putting it down.

[David Koerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending left me hanging (pun intended). Took a little to get wound up in the story but after that I was hooked into not putting it down.

[TONY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Shadowrun adventure! Thank you Mel Odom