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The Meanest Streets
James Kincaid is the type of guy who might be described as down on his luck, if only he’d had some luck to begin with. Like so many people in the shadows of Seattle, he’s trying to get by with what he has. In his case, that includes a lively spirit, a sadly diminished magical talent, quick wits, and good knowledge of the twists and turns of Seattle’s dingy streets and back alleys. He puts all that to the service of whatever clients he can dig up, solving whatever cases they’re willing to pay him to take on. With any luck, he’ll scrape up enough nuyen to buy a few rounds of his favorite drink—whiskey, neat.
His latest case seems simple enough—find a girl who’s gone missing. But throw in a couple of feuding megacorporations, a few organized crime families, and a full selection of the odd denizens of Seattle’s streets, and you’ve got a case that’s anything but easy. It’s up to Kincaid to see how many people he can keep alive—including (and especially) himself.
Neat is a brand-new Shadowrun novella plunging readers into the cold, sharp environs of the Sixth World. Elves, trolls, orks, and dwarves mix with humans in the shadowy streets of a near-future world altered by magic, trying to survive on the crumbs dropped by the megacorporations that dominate the world. Whether you’re new to Shadowrun fiction or a longtime fan, Neat is your ticket back to the Sixth World in all its dark, desperate glory.
James Kincaid is the type of guy who might be described as down on his luck, if only he’d had some luck to begin with. Like so many people in the shadows of Seattle, he’s trying to get by with what he has. In his case, that includes a lively spirit, a sadly diminished magical talent, quick wits, and good knowledge of the twists and turns of Seattle’s dingy streets and back alleys. He puts all that to the service of whatever clients he can dig up, solving whatever cases they’re willing to pay him to take on. With any luck, he’ll scrape up enough nuyen to buy a few rounds of his favorite drink—whiskey, neat.
His latest case seems simple enough—find a girl who’s gone missing. But throw in a couple of feuding megacorporations, a few organized crime families, and a full selection of the odd denizens of Seattle’s streets, and you’ve got a case that’s anything but easy. It’s up to Kincaid to see how many people he can keep alive—including (and especially) himself.
Neat is a brand-new Shadowrun novella plunging readers into the cold, sharp environs of the Sixth World. Elves, trolls, orks, and dwarves mix with humans in the shadowy streets of a near-future world altered by magic, trying to survive on the crumbs dropped by the megacorporations that dominate the world. Whether you’re new to Shadowrun fiction or a longtime fan, Neat is your ticket back to the Sixth World in all its dark, desperate glory.
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2012
32 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Russell Zimmerman
43 books46 followersRussell ("Rusty" when he's not working) got started in writing as a freelancer for wargames like Warmachine, and since then has contributed to dozens of projects including fan-favorite fiction in Shadowrun and writing the international award-winning PC game Satellite Reign.
His most noteworthy work has been for the Shadowrun role-playing game and associated properties, and in more recent years he's become a regular contributor to the universes of BattleTech and Warhammer 40,000, as well.
During his career he's spilled some ink for a wide variety of genres and games, including Vampire 20th Anniversary, Earthdawn, Mutants & Masterminds, Gangs of the Undercity, multiple video games, and more! By working for Shadowrun, BattleTech, and Earthdawn, he's finished the old-school FASA trifecta, and is as such officially unstoppable.
His most noteworthy work has been for the Shadowrun role-playing game and associated properties, and in more recent years he's become a regular contributor to the universes of BattleTech and Warhammer 40,000, as well.
During his career he's spilled some ink for a wide variety of genres and games, including Vampire 20th Anniversary, Earthdawn, Mutants & Masterminds, Gangs of the Undercity, multiple video games, and more! By working for Shadowrun, BattleTech, and Earthdawn, he's finished the old-school FASA trifecta, and is as such officially unstoppable.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 30, 2015
I decided to read this story after discovering Shadowrun Returns (a PC game developed by Harebrained Schemes which I loved). Of all the currently available stories set in the Shadowrun universe, this had the most attention as well as being the highest rated. For good reason too.
Neat isn’t a perfect novella, but it is very entertaining. It’s the perfect way for anybody new to Shadowrun to get introduced to the cyberpunk world which started as a tabletop role-playing game in the 80’s.
It features James Kincaid, a fading PI who once was a powerful mage but lost much his power sometime in his past. While I wish more of Kincaid’s background was fleshed out here, like exactly why his power started to waned beyond just references that perhaps only Shadowrun vets would understand, he’s a solid protagonist.
The story starts when he is approached by a corporate client to locate a girl who went missing. It’s a fairly routine PI story, and some of the secondary characters fell short for me and needed more development, but it’s the world Russell Zimmerman paints which is really the star of the show. Neat is written beautifully, and the ambiance of a gritty, crime-filled Seattle is captured perfectly. In every scene I felt like I was walking the ash-strewn streets of Pullyup with Kincaid, and only wish that I got to be there earlier.
That’s where Neat falls short for me. The ending seemed to be rushed, with Kincaid having an epiphany without the reader having to go through the work to come to it as well. There a fairly long monologue revealing everything that happened with a character introduced way too late, and I think a few more chapters of investigation could’ve saved this. It all just seemed much too cleanly wrapped up with a bow for me.
All in all, I’d definitely recommend this novella. It’s short enough to get through in a day or two, and is the perfect introduction to one of my favorite cyperpunk worlds. 3.5/5 stars.
Neat isn’t a perfect novella, but it is very entertaining. It’s the perfect way for anybody new to Shadowrun to get introduced to the cyberpunk world which started as a tabletop role-playing game in the 80’s.
It features James Kincaid, a fading PI who once was a powerful mage but lost much his power sometime in his past. While I wish more of Kincaid’s background was fleshed out here, like exactly why his power started to waned beyond just references that perhaps only Shadowrun vets would understand, he’s a solid protagonist.
The story starts when he is approached by a corporate client to locate a girl who went missing. It’s a fairly routine PI story, and some of the secondary characters fell short for me and needed more development, but it’s the world Russell Zimmerman paints which is really the star of the show. Neat is written beautifully, and the ambiance of a gritty, crime-filled Seattle is captured perfectly. In every scene I felt like I was walking the ash-strewn streets of Pullyup with Kincaid, and only wish that I got to be there earlier.
That’s where Neat falls short for me. The ending seemed to be rushed, with Kincaid having an epiphany without the reader having to go through the work to come to it as well. There a fairly long monologue revealing everything that happened with a character introduced way too late, and I think a few more chapters of investigation could’ve saved this. It all just seemed much too cleanly wrapped up with a bow for me.
All in all, I’d definitely recommend this novella. It’s short enough to get through in a day or two, and is the perfect introduction to one of my favorite cyperpunk worlds. 3.5/5 stars.
November 19, 2012
A good return to Shadowrun (short) fiction. Whilst it's not genre defining, it's solid fiction right at home in the Shadowrun setting, and hopefully means more in the future
I particularly liked the final paragraph, which reveals that the character, who was a bit of a walking cliche, is clinging to the scraps of a fake persona because it lets him get through life with a sense of purpose and honour. It nicely blurred the lines around self identity, reminiscent of a similar theme in the original "Total Recall" movie.
I particularly liked the final paragraph, which reveals that the character, who was a bit of a walking cliche, is clinging to the scraps of a fake persona because it lets him get through life with a sense of purpose and honour. It nicely blurred the lines around self identity, reminiscent of a similar theme in the original "Total Recall" movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2022
I am a big fan of Shadowrun so I really enjoyed this book.
July 20, 2013
It's been forever (ok, it was 1994 but almost 20 years feels like forever) since I last dabbled in the world of Shadowrun. This was an enjoyable way to stick my toe back into that particular stream.
I've never been a big fan of noir out side of the holodeck, Dirk Gently and Eddy Valiant but I enjoyed the characters and story telling.
It did feel like a showcase piece at times (orks? check! cyberdecks? check! Japanese crime syndicate? check! gritty environment? check!). This helped to establish what "Shadowrun" is and solidly set the story in that world. There were a few bits of jargon and acronyms that I had to tease out which would probably go over the head of new comers.
All in all, a fun little romp.
I've never been a big fan of noir out side of the holodeck, Dirk Gently and Eddy Valiant but I enjoyed the characters and story telling.
It did feel like a showcase piece at times (orks? check! cyberdecks? check! Japanese crime syndicate? check! gritty environment? check!). This helped to establish what "Shadowrun" is and solidly set the story in that world. There were a few bits of jargon and acronyms that I had to tease out which would probably go over the head of new comers.
All in all, a fun little romp.
January 20, 2018
The Best Shadowrun Novel I have ever read.
I used to think that Mel Odom was the king of Shadowrun, but I was wrong.
I used to think that Mel Odom was the king of Shadowrun, but I was wrong.
April 23, 2018
Whiskey neat, Pulyallup ash, and a dame to kill for
It’s always good to see Jimmy K in action. You can feel his character in every word of this and the other Jimmy K novel, Shaken. There is honesty of emotion and decisions that are personal. The tapestry of the landscape is rich and detailed. You get a locals view of one of the most dangerous districts in the Seattle area. You spend time with minor Shadowrun players and rub elbows with famous players. I hope to see Jimmy K again soon. Thank you to the author.
It’s always good to see Jimmy K in action. You can feel his character in every word of this and the other Jimmy K novel, Shaken. There is honesty of emotion and decisions that are personal. The tapestry of the landscape is rich and detailed. You get a locals view of one of the most dangerous districts in the Seattle area. You spend time with minor Shadowrun players and rub elbows with famous players. I hope to see Jimmy K again soon. Thank you to the author.
August 22, 2017
Shadowrun Noir. A treat for cyberpunk lovers and detective story fans.
Noir in the 6th World. Thing is you don't need to know that much about the 6th world to enjoy this story. It's a terrific introduction to the world of Shadowrun. A wonderful cyberpunk private eye story with a little magic. Jimmy Kincaid, PI, harkens back to the feel of old school detective stories. Mr Zimmerman paints the world of Shadowrun perfectly sharp and gritty. You're in for a real treat!
Noir in the 6th World. Thing is you don't need to know that much about the 6th world to enjoy this story. It's a terrific introduction to the world of Shadowrun. A wonderful cyberpunk private eye story with a little magic. Jimmy Kincaid, PI, harkens back to the feel of old school detective stories. Mr Zimmerman paints the world of Shadowrun perfectly sharp and gritty. You're in for a real treat!
June 10, 2018
A nice short story set in the shadowrun universe (which also makes it harder to get into if you are not familiar with shadowrun). It concerns a detective trying go find a lost girl, in a gritty, fantasy cyber punk world. It could use some more dept, but it is exciting enough to make the read worthwile.
March 24, 2019
Short but awesome
Great central character and supporting cast. Excellently written and fast paced. Great world building. A satisfying read for sure. If you like Cyberpunk noir get this.
Great central character and supporting cast. Excellently written and fast paced. Great world building. A satisfying read for sure. If you like Cyberpunk noir get this.
September 4, 2020
Just a good ole Noir tale with a Shadowrun twist on it.
Kincaid is the spiritual brother of Sam Spade and Philip Marlow. Just some great Noir under the Neon lights of Shadowrun Seattle sprawl
Kincaid is the spiritual brother of Sam Spade and Philip Marlow. Just some great Noir under the Neon lights of Shadowrun Seattle sprawl
December 20, 2018
Couldn't put it down
A friend told me about the book and I had to check it out. Took me three days to finish, thanks to breaks.
A friend told me about the book and I had to check it out. Took me three days to finish, thanks to breaks.
July 9, 2020
If you enjoy Hardboiled detective/ Noir mixed with urban cyberpunk fiction, have I got a story for you. It sounds like a lot of genres mashed together, but it is done with an expert hand.
August 19, 2020
Hervorragende, kurzweilige Detektivstory mit einem interessanten Protagonisten.
December 7, 2022
I read Shadowrun back in the 90’s and loved it, but now maybe my tastes has changed and for some reason this one didn’t do it for me.
September 3, 2023
Nice shadow run fix to my system long time shadow run fan getting back to a great world. Thank you for this re-introduction to shadow run.
February 5, 2013
So.
Suffice to say that it's been a while, when it comes to Shadowrun published books. Or bookettes, in this case. And it's been even longer when it comes to *good* Shadowrun published books/novellas.
So a brief recap is in order.
Shadowrun's a mix of cyberpunk and urban fantasy, a PnP RPG setting that is very, very good at what it does, conveying an even mix of Gibson's Neuromancer (low life, high tech, and a dystopian near-future society where technology doesn't solve social problems - the problems use it for their own ends) and magical and fantastic themes in a modern human society.
To cut a long story short... I like it. I like it very, very much. It may be something of a mix of common tropes, but it's more accurate to say that it's a mix of influences, much in the same way Shadowrun itself is. And the end result is the kind of detective story that can only really take place in a world where technology didn't bring salvation to mankind, where magic and metahuman magical mutations became an added complication, and where everyone has an edge, *has* to have an edge, to survive on the seedier side of life.
It's the kind of PI story that's only possible in Shadowrun, and may it be a sign of many more stories to come, be it from Russell Zimmerman in particular, or Shadowrun in general.
Once upon a time, Shadowrun novels were very, very common - hopefully, this novella is a sign of things to come!
Suffice to say that it's been a while, when it comes to Shadowrun published books. Or bookettes, in this case. And it's been even longer when it comes to *good* Shadowrun published books/novellas.
So a brief recap is in order.
Shadowrun's a mix of cyberpunk and urban fantasy, a PnP RPG setting that is very, very good at what it does, conveying an even mix of Gibson's Neuromancer (low life, high tech, and a dystopian near-future society where technology doesn't solve social problems - the problems use it for their own ends) and magical and fantastic themes in a modern human society.
To cut a long story short... I like it. I like it very, very much. It may be something of a mix of common tropes, but it's more accurate to say that it's a mix of influences, much in the same way Shadowrun itself is. And the end result is the kind of detective story that can only really take place in a world where technology didn't bring salvation to mankind, where magic and metahuman magical mutations became an added complication, and where everyone has an edge, *has* to have an edge, to survive on the seedier side of life.
It's the kind of PI story that's only possible in Shadowrun, and may it be a sign of many more stories to come, be it from Russell Zimmerman in particular, or Shadowrun in general.
Once upon a time, Shadowrun novels were very, very common - hopefully, this novella is a sign of things to come!
February 17, 2016
Nachdem ich mit dem Spiel Shadowrun Returns für PCs angefangen habe, habe ich ein wenig Recherchen zum Spieluniversum betrieben und bin dabei auf die Tatsache gestoßen, dass zu Shadowrun auch Bücher erschienen sind. Da die deutschsprachigen Veröffentlichungen nahezu auf Papier stattfanden, mir aber eBooks deutlich lieber sind, habe ich mich im englischsprachigen Raum umgesehen und bin dabei auf Neat gestoßen.
Insgesamt hat mir das Werk als Einstieg gut gefallen. die Mischung aus paranormaler Detektivarbeit und Thriller im Cyberpunk-Stil ergibt einen interessanten Noir, wo auch Magie und Technik ihren Platz haben. Keiner von den Charakteren ist wirklich in Gut oder Böse einzuordnen. Alle handeln sie aus ihrem eigenen Ermessen heraus. Gerade die Person des Protagonisten James Kincaid ist amüsant, vielschichtig und insoweit interessant, dass ich gerne mehr von ihm erfahren würde. Der Autor geht immer mal wieder die Vergangenheit von James ein, ohne dabei in Info-Dumping zu versinken. Der Schreibstil ist einfach verständlich und die Umgangssprache lässt in die Welt eintauchen. Einzig das Ende empfand ich als verwirrend, aber wahrscheinlich fehlen mir die Ausmaße an Möglichkeiten im Spieluniversum, um es vollständig zu begreifen. Nichtsdestotrotz hat mich Neat gut unterhalten können.
Insgesamt hat mir das Werk als Einstieg gut gefallen. die Mischung aus paranormaler Detektivarbeit und Thriller im Cyberpunk-Stil ergibt einen interessanten Noir, wo auch Magie und Technik ihren Platz haben. Keiner von den Charakteren ist wirklich in Gut oder Böse einzuordnen. Alle handeln sie aus ihrem eigenen Ermessen heraus. Gerade die Person des Protagonisten James Kincaid ist amüsant, vielschichtig und insoweit interessant, dass ich gerne mehr von ihm erfahren würde. Der Autor geht immer mal wieder die Vergangenheit von James ein, ohne dabei in Info-Dumping zu versinken. Der Schreibstil ist einfach verständlich und die Umgangssprache lässt in die Welt eintauchen. Einzig das Ende empfand ich als verwirrend, aber wahrscheinlich fehlen mir die Ausmaße an Möglichkeiten im Spieluniversum, um es vollständig zu begreifen. Nichtsdestotrotz hat mich Neat gut unterhalten können.
May 29, 2016
Kinkaid is a hard-boiled P.I. with a past who is a burned out mage with a few tricks up his sleeve, trying to buck the shadowrunner title and running a "legit" business in Puyallup. I was intrigued and hooked from the beginning.
As a long-time Shadowrun fan, this both hit a sweet spot and raised the bar for further SR fiction.
The writing is smooth and noirish, the action is intense, the intrigue complex, and the reading was fast paced and a hell of a lot of fun.
I am also very happy that I found out Zimmerman wrote a full length novel (Shaken: No Job Too Small) with these characters. They are well fleshed out and fascinating.
It would have been criminal not to keep giving them pages to live in.
I hope he keeps doing so!
As a long-time Shadowrun fan, this both hit a sweet spot and raised the bar for further SR fiction.
The writing is smooth and noirish, the action is intense, the intrigue complex, and the reading was fast paced and a hell of a lot of fun.
I am also very happy that I found out Zimmerman wrote a full length novel (Shaken: No Job Too Small) with these characters. They are well fleshed out and fascinating.
It would have been criminal not to keep giving them pages to live in.
I hope he keeps doing so!
June 6, 2013
Better than I expected from a gaming novel. I enjoyed it a lot.
Kincaid is a typical hard drinking noir hero with a hard past trying to make a buck and clean up his town while he's at it. The author does do the future noir thing pretty well, but I suspect that if I didn't something about Shadowrun I'd have been a little (although not very) lost.
This is a very short book that works well at a story level, but the prose doesn't exactly sing to me. In an ideal world the book book would have been a little longer so that the story could have been tied up in a slightly prettier bow, and Kincaid and his allies could perhaps have had a little more challenge thrown at them.
Kincaid is a typical hard drinking noir hero with a hard past trying to make a buck and clean up his town while he's at it. The author does do the future noir thing pretty well, but I suspect that if I didn't something about Shadowrun I'd have been a little (although not very) lost.
This is a very short book that works well at a story level, but the prose doesn't exactly sing to me. In an ideal world the book book would have been a little longer so that the story could have been tied up in a slightly prettier bow, and Kincaid and his allies could perhaps have had a little more challenge thrown at them.
July 13, 2015
Nice Shadorun Noire
Burnt out Mage, now detective, James Kincaid is given a missing person case. In Shadowrun nothing is ever exactly as it seems, and this 'simple' job is no exception. By the end of the tale, once he has put together all the puzzle pieces of the job, Kincaid is able to chalk up a win, but not an easy one - nor one which won't complicate his life later on. The factions he deals with, and the deals he makes to close the case guarantee it - but it wouldn't be a Shadowrun story if it ended in all rainbows and happiness.
Burnt out Mage, now detective, James Kincaid is given a missing person case. In Shadowrun nothing is ever exactly as it seems, and this 'simple' job is no exception. By the end of the tale, once he has put together all the puzzle pieces of the job, Kincaid is able to chalk up a win, but not an easy one - nor one which won't complicate his life later on. The factions he deals with, and the deals he makes to close the case guarantee it - but it wouldn't be a Shadowrun story if it ended in all rainbows and happiness.
January 10, 2016
Pulp Shadowrun at its finest
Being a longtime Shadowrun fan and an enjoyer of the fiction set in that universe from as far back as the FASA days, I was very hopeful when I heard that Catalyst was starting that up again. Neat is the first of the new stories I've read, and I have to say, it was, for my money, a resounding success. It was a delightful little blend of classic pulp detective fiction and Sixth World flavor. I look forward to reading further stories, as well as further adventures of Jimmy Kincaid and getting to know the character a bit better.
Being a longtime Shadowrun fan and an enjoyer of the fiction set in that universe from as far back as the FASA days, I was very hopeful when I heard that Catalyst was starting that up again. Neat is the first of the new stories I've read, and I have to say, it was, for my money, a resounding success. It was a delightful little blend of classic pulp detective fiction and Sixth World flavor. I look forward to reading further stories, as well as further adventures of Jimmy Kincaid and getting to know the character a bit better.
January 13, 2014
Not really my cup of tea, but probably great for fantasy lovers who also love classic noir and crime novels. The pace is rapid-fire, with little time spent on explaining the world. I appreciate a bit more descriptive language in my speculative fiction. The story is not entirely unique, but may appeal to those who love genre fiction. Pretty much your typical tough-guy PI goes hunting for kidnapped girl...only he has magical powers.
September 1, 2016
It was an all right book. The ending felt a bit rushed and the writing got fairly cliche and clunky at times. The action was fairly gripping and fast paced. It fits very well into the Shadowrun universe and would give you a good idea of what to expect if you've never played the game before.
It's short, and a pretty decent read. If you like Shadowrun, chances are you'll definitely enjoy this book.
It's short, and a pretty decent read. If you like Shadowrun, chances are you'll definitely enjoy this book.
March 25, 2013
A really good detective noir that happens to be set in the current edition of Shadowrun (which I'm not overly fond of, it's too far removed from the version I fell in love with years ago). Would gladly read more stories by this author, especially if they featured Kincaid
October 14, 2013
A noir detective thriller in a cyberpunk setting. It's a short story, only 70 some pages. The book has a nice surprise twist at the end. I found myself wishing he had more pages to explore that twist or to provide more clues and lead-up to its reveal.
October 1, 2015
Trama piuttosto classica da noir/poliziesco, stile senza spunti degni di nota, protagonista abbastanza anonimo. Spicca solo l'ambientazione, quel mix di cyberpunk e fantasy caratteristica dell'universo di Shadowrunner.
March 13, 2016
Intro to Shaken...
Great into to read before Shaken though a bit too short. More like a novella for $3.00. Could've been more background into his life to connect Neat with Shaken though.
Great into to read before Shaken though a bit too short. More like a novella for $3.00. Could've been more background into his life to connect Neat with Shaken though.
February 9, 2013
Yeah yeah, RPG tie-in, but holds it own with other books of the genre. A nice piece of nostalgia.
April 6, 2013
it was a nice quick read that blended shadowrun and detective noir really well
April 1, 2013
It was a nice little shadow run noir style story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews