Shadowrun: Off Beat: (A Top Drek Story, #1)

by Marie Bilodeau

ALWAYS READY TO ROCK…AND RUN!

It was supposed to be a Top Drek gig like any Play some tunes, have a fight, get wasted. How was I supposed to know the guy I cracked in two over a table was some corp bigwig? Like, not our usual crowd, y’know? (And look, I may be a bass player named Twinkle Toes, but I’m also a tall, red-skinned ork with a love for shouting, so there’s no way he didn’t see me coming.)

So the corp gave us a Do a job for them, or die. How the frag can I say no? I got my bandmates to look out for, including my adopted daughter (and amazing singer), Ametheest, her maybe-lover Silver, my best mate, Bleeding Blossom, and our loser keyboardist, Lance.

But our spotlight is growing, dispelling the shadows we desperately need to hide in. Rock and roll might not jive with the corps…and Ottawa’s gonna get caught in the crossfire.

In the end, only one question remains for all of us, You gonna be SINless…or soulless?

93 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2024

About the author

Marie Bilodeau is an award-winning science-fiction, fantasy and horror writer. She has been nominated four times for Canada's most prestigious science-fiction literary award, the Aurora Award, for both her novels and her short stories.

Marie is also a performing storyteller. She's told stories to a wide variety of audiences in theatre houses, tea shops, schools, bars and under disco balls. Find out more at www.mariebilodeau.com.

Reviews

[Ron]

Somehow this is difficult to review. When you get past the first ~25 % and leave the pseudo-elitist/gatekeeping "real rock'n'roll" talk behind you, the figures show more character, heart and warmth. Then the story ends *SPOILER* with a lot of Deus ex Machina plot armour and stupid decisions that are supposed to feel authentic for the characters.
I don't know. Don't regret reading the story, but didn't love it.