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Shadowrun Novels #39
Tails you Lose
TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN
When a shadowrunner managed to extract PCI's most vital employee, it was Alma's job as security expert to get him back - no matter the cost. But all the evidence pointed to the one person who couldn't have done it... herself. Branded a traitor, Alma has one shot at redemption: find the real culprit. But she's never faced an enemy like this one. This 'runner not only looks like Alma - she's also equipped with Alma's top-of-the-line cybernetic implants, and she's backed by the powerful magic of the Chinese underworld. Now, the expert in defense must attack - and risk it all to bring down a rival so much like herself that there can be only one shocking explanation...
When a shadowrunner managed to extract PCI's most vital employee, it was Alma's job as security expert to get him back - no matter the cost. But all the evidence pointed to the one person who couldn't have done it... herself. Branded a traitor, Alma has one shot at redemption: find the real culprit. But she's never faced an enemy like this one. This 'runner not only looks like Alma - she's also equipped with Alma's top-of-the-line cybernetic implants, and she's backed by the powerful magic of the Chinese underworld. Now, the expert in defense must attack - and risk it all to bring down a rival so much like herself that there can be only one shocking explanation...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2001
8 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Smedman
79 books114 followersLisa was very much the tomboy growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia--playing in the woods behind her house, building tree forts, damming the creek, playing army with GI Joe dolls, swinging on ropes, playing flashlight tag, building models and go-carts (which she later rode down the street). She also liked reading science fiction novels from the 1940s, the Doc Savage series, and the Harriet the Spy books.
In 1984, she began her professional writing career, first as a journalist then as a fiction writer. She counts science fiction authors Connie Willis, Robert J. Sawyer, and H.G. Wells, and classic books such as Treasure Island, as influences.
Several of Lisa's short science fiction and fantasy stories have been published in various magazines and anthologies, and in 1993 she was named a finalist in the Writers of the Future contest for science fiction and fantasy writers. She has also had three of her one-act plays produced by a Vancouver theater group.
Lisa is the author of Extinction, one of several novels set in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game’s Forgotten Realms universe. Released in 2004, Extinction made the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction.
After authoring several science fiction and fantasy novels, Lisa recently turned her hand to children's books. From Boneshakers to Choppers (2007) explores the social history of motorcycles. Her interest in motorcycles goes way back--as a teenager, Lisa enjoyed trips up the British Columbia coast, riding pillion on friends' motorcycles. She later purchased her own bike, a 50cc machine, to get around town.
Lisa is one of the founders of Adventures Unlimited, a magazine providing scenarios and tips for role-playing games. She has written short fiction for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game's Ravenloft and Dark Sun lines. She has also designed a number of adventures and gaming products for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Cyberpunk, Immortal, Shatterzone, Millennium's End, and Deadlands. Her original games include Valhalla's Gate, a tabletop skirmish miniatures game drawn from Norse mythology and runic lore. An avid gamer, Lisa belongs to the Trumpeter Wargaming Club.
After working for more than 20 years as a journalist, Lisa now divides her time between writing fiction and contributing to the Vancouver Courier (she edits and writes the History's Lens column). Besides a diploma in journalism, she also has a degree in anthropology. She is fascinated by history and archaeology, particularly the Bronze Age. Her future plans include writing more historical fiction, alternative historical fantasy, and game tie-in novels. Lisa is also interested in building models and dioramas, and tabletop miniatures gaming.
She lives in Richmond, British Columbia, with her wife, their son, four cats, and two pugs.
In 1984, she began her professional writing career, first as a journalist then as a fiction writer. She counts science fiction authors Connie Willis, Robert J. Sawyer, and H.G. Wells, and classic books such as Treasure Island, as influences.
Several of Lisa's short science fiction and fantasy stories have been published in various magazines and anthologies, and in 1993 she was named a finalist in the Writers of the Future contest for science fiction and fantasy writers. She has also had three of her one-act plays produced by a Vancouver theater group.
Lisa is the author of Extinction, one of several novels set in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game’s Forgotten Realms universe. Released in 2004, Extinction made the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction.
After authoring several science fiction and fantasy novels, Lisa recently turned her hand to children's books. From Boneshakers to Choppers (2007) explores the social history of motorcycles. Her interest in motorcycles goes way back--as a teenager, Lisa enjoyed trips up the British Columbia coast, riding pillion on friends' motorcycles. She later purchased her own bike, a 50cc machine, to get around town.
Lisa is one of the founders of Adventures Unlimited, a magazine providing scenarios and tips for role-playing games. She has written short fiction for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game's Ravenloft and Dark Sun lines. She has also designed a number of adventures and gaming products for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Cyberpunk, Immortal, Shatterzone, Millennium's End, and Deadlands. Her original games include Valhalla's Gate, a tabletop skirmish miniatures game drawn from Norse mythology and runic lore. An avid gamer, Lisa belongs to the Trumpeter Wargaming Club.
After working for more than 20 years as a journalist, Lisa now divides her time between writing fiction and contributing to the Vancouver Courier (she edits and writes the History's Lens column). Besides a diploma in journalism, she also has a degree in anthropology. She is fascinated by history and archaeology, particularly the Bronze Age. Her future plans include writing more historical fiction, alternative historical fantasy, and game tie-in novels. Lisa is also interested in building models and dioramas, and tabletop miniatures gaming.
She lives in Richmond, British Columbia, with her wife, their son, four cats, and two pugs.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 3, 2023
I sure do like reading Shadowrun stories.
August 6, 2016
A twisting plot worthy of a Shadowrun novel? I guess so, not that I've read much of Shadowrun aside from knowing just the basics of it. The book does provide some sort of background to the world of Shadowrun, so new readers aren't too lost. The slang and the lingo adds a lot of flavour to the story.
The story follows a counter-extraction security specialist, i.e. counter-kidnapper, as she gets accused for the kidnapping and murder of one of her own corporation's researcher. What's worse is that Alma, the protagonist, depended upon the researcher for potentially her very life because of an experimental cyberware installed into her head.
As we follow her forced investigation into the world of shadowrunners, we get rewarded with ever deepening mysteries and twists. The story is quite good and easy to follow, despite the twists. I didn't expect the final twist but I didn't enjoy it either. I found it a somewhat poor twist as I believe it presents a lot of loopholes (but the author neatly circumvents them rather skillfully). So overall, it's quite an entertaining read into the world of Shadowrun as long as you don't try to over think it.
The story follows a counter-extraction security specialist, i.e. counter-kidnapper, as she gets accused for the kidnapping and murder of one of her own corporation's researcher. What's worse is that Alma, the protagonist, depended upon the researcher for potentially her very life because of an experimental cyberware installed into her head.
As we follow her forced investigation into the world of shadowrunners, we get rewarded with ever deepening mysteries and twists. The story is quite good and easy to follow, despite the twists. I didn't expect the final twist but I didn't enjoy it either. I found it a somewhat poor twist as I believe it presents a lot of loopholes (but the author neatly circumvents them rather skillfully). So overall, it's quite an entertaining read into the world of Shadowrun as long as you don't try to over think it.
June 26, 2022
In my Life the shadowrun series was one of early series i had read. This was one of the few books in the series i hadnt read yet. Im glad i finally had the chance to read it.
For those of you that havent read the series, it is a must read. Fans of cyberpunk or the movie Bright then READ shadowrun books. Start with the older series, there is a new eigth age out it will confuse you if you dont read the older series first.
Thank you Lisa Smedman for the adventure!
For those of you that havent read the series, it is a must read. Fans of cyberpunk or the movie Bright then READ shadowrun books. Start with the older series, there is a new eigth age out it will confuse you if you dont read the older series first.
Thank you Lisa Smedman for the adventure!
August 16, 2023
Some reviewers here are complaining about the twist in the story, saying they saw it a mile away. They fail to realise that it wasn't the point of the story. The book has an undercurrent of Asian philosophy and superstition throughout Alma's journey, and the first thing one ought to think about regarding Asian philosophy and superstition is the Yin and the Yang. It's even mentioned a few times in the novel. For crying out, the blurb at the back of the book should be clue enough for what the twist is.
So, really... the excitement in the book is learning when and how Alma discovers the real secret and what she does about it. Then, maybe you low resolution thinking idiots might realise the moral of the story; reconciliation and acceptance begets "fu" - happiness.
Duh.
In any case, I enjoyed the story, although it gets heavy on exposition here and there. Satisfying, engaging. 4.25 stars.
So, really... the excitement in the book is learning when and how Alma discovers the real secret and what she does about it. Then, maybe you low resolution thinking idiots might realise the moral of the story; reconciliation and acceptance begets "fu" - happiness.
Duh.
In any case, I enjoyed the story, although it gets heavy on exposition here and there. Satisfying, engaging. 4.25 stars.
January 25, 2015
Not bad; saw the "twist" coming part way, but at least Smedman tried something different, even for the Shadowrun universe.
May 14, 2015
Easy to read, the only negative was that you can see the twist coming pretty early in the book. But the story was good and the ending was satisfactory. Lisa Smedman delivers another winner.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews