Shadowrun: DocWagon 19: A Shadowrun Novella

by Jennifer Brozek

The Life of a Lifesaver

DocWagon—saviors of the needy, rescuers of the desperate. Willing to go anywhere, rescue anyone, as long as that “anyone” has forked out enough advance cash to justify the effort.

Reporter Simone Hart has embedded herself with a DocWagon team to see what their life is really like, and she’s in for a wild ride. From an OD’ing celebrity to an aggressive team of hackers, from pesky gangs to an extremely rich and powerful client teetering at death’s door, this night will give the team all they can handle. But will they survive long enough to remember that in the Sixth World, nothing is truly random?

Full of memorable characters and rich Sixth World flavor, DocWagon 19 is a thrilling ride with the people struggling to save lives in a sprawl with a million ways to make people dead. Strap in, hold on, crank up the siren, and get ready for a crazy ride-along through the full chaos of the Shadowrun setting.

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

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2015

About the author

Jennifer Brozek is a multi-talented, award-winning author, editor, and media tie-in writer. She is the author of the Never Let Me Sleep, and The Last Days of Salton Academy, both of which were nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. Her BattleTech tie-in novel, The Nellus Academy Incident, won a Scribe Award. Her editing work has netted her Bram Stoker Award, British Fantasy Award, and Hugo Award nominations. She won the Australian Shadows Award for the Grants Pass anthology. Jennifer’s short form work has appeared in Apex Publications, Uncanny Magazine, and in anthologies set in the worlds of Valdemar, Shadowrun, V-Wars, Masters of Orion, and Predator. Jennifer is also the Creative Director of Apocalypse Ink Productions.

Jennifer has been a freelance author and editor for over ten years after leaving her high paying tech job, and she’s never been happier. She keeps a tight schedule on her writing and editing projects and somehow manages to find time to volunteer for several professional writing organizations such as SFWA, HWA, and IAMTW. She shares her husband, Jeff, with several cats and often uses him as a sounding board for her story ideas. Visit Jennifer’s worlds at jenniferbrozek.com.

Reviews

[Micah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. I love a novella and this was on the short-story length side of it at just 67 pages. Feels a lil fan-fiction-y but that's not really a bad thing for these books based on game IP's. I would say you probably want some knowledge or the lore/setting specific terms and slang before going in but it seems to be a stand alone where you needn't read a bunch of books to understand what's going on. Fans of Shadowrun should get a kick out of it, others maybe not so much. I enjoyed it well enough.

[Max Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective, short and to the point. I don't think there's many books that show the corporate side of the Shadowrun world, plus wrapping it in the reality show episode was an excellent idea. And small touches like corporate propaganda and incessant advertising add the icing on the cake.

[Krzysztof · Rating 3 out of 5]

To stosunkowo krótka nowela (50 stron). Sama opowieść nie jest jakoś mocno wciągająca, ale w dość ciekawej formie, co nadaje całości nieco lepszego klimatu świata 5 edycji Shadowruna. Sama nowela skupia się na pokazaniu życia członków jednej z ekip Doc Wagon (ci co znają Shadowruna wiedzą co to jest). Całość przybiera natomiast formę programu telewizyjnego przerywanego reklamami. Fan Shadowruna powinien się z tą pozycją zapoznać. Ci, którzy nie znają świata Shadowruna mogą się tu pogubić i raczej nie powinni sięgać po tą pozycję

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sólo para personas que conozcan Shadowrun

[Acorn Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad - though a bit flat, a bit too simple in the end, but an entertaining read after all.

[Craig Carignan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice short story about the Shadowrun universe. It was action packed which I like and a quick read. Overall I really enjoyed it.

[Robert Woford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it so much that I have started seeking her other books.

[Michael C Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Brozek gives a keen insight into the Seattle of 2072, as a "ride along" with an ambulance service.

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed Elfin Black and decided I needed more Shadowrun as it was an enjoyable blast from the past for me. Fun cyberpunk setting

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness, the commercials added flavor. I have a truly hard time believing that any mage worth her salt would not keep a second spirit on tap to assure her well being. Especially when there is always a fire fight just around the corner. I also take special issue with the mage being a former Shadowrunner getting geeked due to lack of secondary spirit assist. She knew she was going into a Kill zone, so W.T.F.? Other than that the commercials were brilliant. The icon for the Decker was the bomb. I loved the Phys ad, very cool, now I need to look into magi shield for my character.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of Shadowrun fiction. It highlighted an optional campaign style I have yet to use in my own campaigns, but one I've always been curious about trying.

I enjoyed the character development (or at least the appropriately paced release of background). and really, really liked the style in which this was presented. It was definitely a refreshing and fun read!

It's not often I rate a book this high, but this is definitely one I feel is worth a read or two...heck maybe a third. Great job!

[Tim Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazingly fun read. I loved the story from the angle of an investigative reporting doing a ride along with a Docwagon team. The commercials added to the depth as well, and to see the over all plot come through at the end with an unexpected twist made it the perfect Shadowrun. I think any one who knows the Shadowrun universe would love this book, and I believe even those new to the setting could pick this up and follow along.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written in the style of a documentary, while novel also distances from the already fairly undeveloped characters. In-universe advertisements were a cute idea first, by the 8th time however it got old. If you cause people to skip pages in a 60 page long novella, you're doing something horribly wrong. Fairly basic plot that doesn't really get anywhere interesting in the shortness of the novella. Very 'meh' all around.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent story that show how DocWagon works in the Shadowrun world.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, showing an inside view of the Shadowrun world. I would have liked more description of the city other than just the places things happened.

[Holistr · Rating 3 out of 5]

One night with the DOC wagon HTR team.
good hit except the commercials :-D

[Matthew Gilliland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun novella.

It follows a reporter as she is embedded in a Doc Wagon team as they go around the city responding to calls.

It is done as a TV spot so it has Commercials and I cracked up during each and everyone of them.