Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 1

Dan Shepherd #ss omnibus 1

by Stephen Leather

Six Spider Shepherd short stories in one volume by bestselling author Stephen Leather. The short stories are Hard Targets, Natural Selection, Narrow Escape, Warning Order, Hostile Territory and Rough Diamonds and feature Dan "Spider" Shepherd whose adventures have been Sunday Times bestsellers. Stephen Leather is one of the UK's most successful thriller writers. He was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. He has sold more than a million eBooks and was named by Bookseller magazine as one of the most influential figures in British publishing. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. Two of his books, The Stretch and The Bombmaker, were made into movies.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2014

About the author

Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 6 short stories featuring Dan 'Spider' Shepherd. While I am not a fan of short stories, this collection proved to be a pleasant surprise. They were just as well written as the full length books, although some could have benefited from a little better editing. They were quite logical, and provided some useful insights about Spider's life before he got his own series. We follow his footsteps from when he was in the Parachute Regiment, going through the selection process for the SAS, and even a few missions while serving with the Regiment.
So for anyone who is familiar with the series as a whole, but want to know a wee bit more then this omnibus edition is well worth seeking out.

[Sue Morcumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Leather has a gift and I have never known any other author that writes such enthralling stories that take you on a journey to where ever and whenever you read his books. I have read lots of the Spider Shepherd books, but never found out how and why he was called Spider? So I decided to go back to the beginning and found the SAS books and the beginning of all the future books I have read. I love his books, his books are a joy to read and I cannot get enough of his books, there is never any violence as such, only what is necessary and Spider has a conscience and cares about what he is doing? He may be given a task which he does not like, and he will make it easier than it is and will overcome the problems that are presented. You will find that the books are a great read from the very beginning to the last page, and knowing so much now about his beginning it has filled in all the gaps that I had before. I must have read most of his books, and there is always a thread running through them from his past and his mates who he works with. I cannot tell you anything about the book I have read, but if you want to find out how Spider Shepherd evolved then start with this one!! Although you may be further in his books which I am, it is good to see how his beginning was formed. Like everything, there is a beginning and that is why I have read this book and any subsequent books that give me the history of Spider. Great read, suitable for a young teenager to an octogenarian, ladies or men, boys or girls. There is nothing in these books that would preclude them

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one is considering reading the Spider Shephard series, it would be best to start with this and the second volume of short stories. Many, maybe most, of the elements and characters in these short stories pop up in later novels, all the way to the latest in the series.
These stories about Shephard's training and early days in the SAS set the tone for the rest of the series. Of course they are focused on military solutions to whatever develops, and often denigrate diplomatic solutions. Situations are constructed so that the SAS seems to be the "only" open option. MI5 and MI6 are routinely portrayed as filled with idiots, even in later novels after Shephard leaves the SAS and joins the covert community.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 5 out of 5]

another collection of spider short stories what work like a prequel to the spider shepherd novels
it really gives you an insight into his history , you meet up with characters that pop up in the books later down the line

the stories are well written and work as stand alone stories really well , they are fast paced and well researched

[lee wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great selection of short stories of Shepherd's life in the SAS

I've just become a fan of Stephen Leather's work and the life of Dan Shepherd and his world so am more than happy to lap up any stories about him. Am planning on reading all of them in order as well, starting with Shepherd's time in the SAS.

[B McErlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read would recommend it to anyone who likes says adventures.

Excellent read would recommend it to anyone who likes says adventures couldn't put it down,will look forward to further adventures.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exciting and challenging read. Especially reading about the horrors of Sierra Leone.

You can't imagine putting your life on the line for corrupt Governments and even your own Country wont acknowledge your work or even sacrifice of your life.

[John Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catch Up

A catch up of early Spider Shepherd short stories, well worth reading again to remind me of Dan Shepherds progress

[paul hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Paddy Flavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Stories

Good information on Dan “Spider” Shepherd back story.
Good stuff for all the fans out there. Easy reading for trips etc.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont really go for short story collections much, but this was great!

[Conrad Toft · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a romp. Characters are a little two-dimensional and it gets quite repetitive as a collection of short stories (re-introducing characters) but it does what it says on the tin.