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Crimson Son
Empty Quiver: Tales from the Crimson Son Universe
Empty Quiver (n) – A U.S. Military term to identify and report the seizure, theft, or loss of a nuclear weapon.
They were never designed to be heroes.
Hurricane. Ember. Aurora. Danger. State-sponsored superhumans known as Augments. Weapons created to end a war.
With the war over, their creators couldn't surrender the power and sought to hide it in the shadows. They forged ahead with covert operations and proxy wars despite growing condemnation. But one by one, Augments begin to ignore their handlers or disappear altogether. The quiver emptied.
Empty Quiver takes a dark dive into the Crimson Son universe. Not your typical superhero tales, this short collection pulls no punches as it examines the clandestine program that changed Spencer’s world.
They were never designed to be heroes.
Hurricane. Ember. Aurora. Danger. State-sponsored superhumans known as Augments. Weapons created to end a war.
With the war over, their creators couldn't surrender the power and sought to hide it in the shadows. They forged ahead with covert operations and proxy wars despite growing condemnation. But one by one, Augments begin to ignore their handlers or disappear altogether. The quiver emptied.
Empty Quiver takes a dark dive into the Crimson Son universe. Not your typical superhero tales, this short collection pulls no punches as it examines the clandestine program that changed Spencer’s world.
- GenresScience Fiction
98 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2015
31 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Russ Linton
31 books91 followersDanger, depth, and discovery. I'm an independent fiction author and vagabond travelling the US looking for adventure. As an author, I've dabbled in horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Even landed a small role with a Hollywood studio along the way.
But as a former government agent, I kept running across books about former government agents wandering the country in pursuit of justice.
I decided not to be a cliché.
Then, someone stole my Jeep. And I just *had* to get it back....
New Vigilante Justice series incoming 2023. Stay tuned!
Sign up for his mailing list here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
You can also find Russ online at:
http://www.russlinton.com
http://www.facebook.com/RussLinton
But as a former government agent, I kept running across books about former government agents wandering the country in pursuit of justice.
I decided not to be a cliché.
Then, someone stole my Jeep. And I just *had* to get it back....
New Vigilante Justice series incoming 2023. Stay tuned!
Sign up for his mailing list here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
You can also find Russ online at:
http://www.russlinton.com
http://www.facebook.com/RussLinton
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 1, 2020
This anthology, a series of connected stories that prequels Russ Linton's novel, Crimson Son, immediately grabs hold, taking you hostage. The writing is intense, riveting, and the stuff of a military action-adventure thriller–a good war thriller.
For instance, enter 20th century “REAL”–Vietnam: a terrified young soldier standing on a landmine, moments from death, his platoon’s lieutenant, a tough old-timer called “Hound”, staying right with him, cursing him, coercing him into staying still and calm, the veteran bound and determined that, somehow, he wasn’t going to lose this scared-white kid. Plunged into tense, hypercritical situations like this, delivered in terse, no-nonsense writing, Linton doesn’t hedge any bets…so if you’re squeamish about good guys dying or touchy about the language of real soldiers in the field, you might find your brain cringing and your ears wincing.
This is not a happy read. Author Russ Linton pulls no punches. If you’re hoping for glorious, happy endings and the good guys finish first, last, and always, you’re in for a reality check…because what Russ Linton delivers--The Real--comes at you in all its devastatingly unpleasant reality. Expect to experience, with all their implications, the machinations that drive the action in the stories, all reeking of the same underhanded, subversive expediencies that drive the American military, our security departments, and our politics. No nice patriotic gesture covers uncomfortable and very pointed references about our nation’s and the world’s military and political agendas and methodologies.
For instance, enter 20th century “REAL”–Vietnam: a terrified young soldier standing on a landmine, moments from death, his platoon’s lieutenant, a tough old-timer called “Hound”, staying right with him, cursing him, coercing him into staying still and calm, the veteran bound and determined that, somehow, he wasn’t going to lose this scared-white kid. Plunged into tense, hypercritical situations like this, delivered in terse, no-nonsense writing, Linton doesn’t hedge any bets…so if you’re squeamish about good guys dying or touchy about the language of real soldiers in the field, you might find your brain cringing and your ears wincing.
This is not a happy read. Author Russ Linton pulls no punches. If you’re hoping for glorious, happy endings and the good guys finish first, last, and always, you’re in for a reality check…because what Russ Linton delivers--The Real--comes at you in all its devastatingly unpleasant reality. Expect to experience, with all their implications, the machinations that drive the action in the stories, all reeking of the same underhanded, subversive expediencies that drive the American military, our security departments, and our politics. No nice patriotic gesture covers uncomfortable and very pointed references about our nation’s and the world’s military and political agendas and methodologies.
April 13, 2019
This is a great collection of short stories set in the Augment universe. Having just read Crimson Son, some of the characters were already known to me and it was great to see their origins and backstory come to life.
One thing is obvious right from the start upon the first read - this is a completely different tone. There are no teenage underdog heroes with quickfire sarcasm to break up the storyline - when things turn darker, they stay darker. The detailing of the secret government experiments in creating 'supersoldiers' is explained in one shape or form in each story, detailing the contrasts between empathy, duty and corruption. The viewpoints from the main characters are superb and you can again appreciate the emotions around the individuals and their kin.
A must have accompaniment for the Crimson Universe stories just for the completion factor alone, although these are well written enough to read this as an individual compilation too. Again, one for fans of sci-fi and superheroes / secret government agencies etc.
One thing is obvious right from the start upon the first read - this is a completely different tone. There are no teenage underdog heroes with quickfire sarcasm to break up the storyline - when things turn darker, they stay darker. The detailing of the secret government experiments in creating 'supersoldiers' is explained in one shape or form in each story, detailing the contrasts between empathy, duty and corruption. The viewpoints from the main characters are superb and you can again appreciate the emotions around the individuals and their kin.
A must have accompaniment for the Crimson Universe stories just for the completion factor alone, although these are well written enough to read this as an individual compilation too. Again, one for fans of sci-fi and superheroes / secret government agencies etc.
August 28, 2017
Really good short story collection which intertwines multiple points of view and personal tales to create an exceptional book. This is an alternate history that has many of the same outcomes as our history, but in such an unusual way that I was totally surprised. Many of the characters are developed but I was also able to use my imagination to fill in certain unanswered questions. I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone wanting to delve into an alternate history with horrible repercussions from man's actions.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2017
A Glimpse Into Another Existance.
I enjoyed this book, although it made uncomfortable reading. There was this niggle saying " What if it really happens?" The stories were fascinating and exciting with just enough of a twist in them. I'm going to read the series, just to see what will happen next. Russ had me casting a glance over my shoulder, just in case....
I enjoyed this book, although it made uncomfortable reading. There was this niggle saying " What if it really happens?" The stories were fascinating and exciting with just enough of a twist in them. I'm going to read the series, just to see what will happen next. Russ had me casting a glance over my shoulder, just in case....
December 16, 2019
Interesting take on soldiers and citizens of the future. It is a part of several short stories by this author. I felt the characters lacked the depth I like, but that apparently happens in the next segment. A good sci fi read.
July 17, 2022
OK listening 🎶🔰
Another will written military action adventure thriller short story by Russ Linton. A number of short stories that are OK but not my reading style. Give it a try it may work for you. Enjoy the adventure of reading all kinds of different types of novels 👍🔰. 2022 😤
Another will written military action adventure thriller short story by Russ Linton. A number of short stories that are OK but not my reading style. Give it a try it may work for you. Enjoy the adventure of reading all kinds of different types of novels 👍🔰. 2022 😤
June 3, 2023
Super Tales of Supers
A really well written series of stories, with a different take and perspective on Augments. Highly recommended to read and the author is a master storyteller!
A really well written series of stories, with a different take and perspective on Augments. Highly recommended to read and the author is a master storyteller!
January 11, 2019
Interesting Series
This is an interesting series of short stories about super soldiers created during the second world war.
Somewhat similar to Captain America.
This is an interesting series of short stories about super soldiers created during the second world war.
Somewhat similar to Captain America.
May 14, 2020
Really liked it.
I just binge-read "The Crimson Son" 1 and 2 and this book was a nice fill-in for some back-ground history of the characters introduced in those 2 books.
I just binge-read "The Crimson Son" 1 and 2 and this book was a nice fill-in for some back-ground history of the characters introduced in those 2 books.
August 18, 2017
What would the world look like if WWII had ended differently? Not if the Axis won. You'll have to look elsewhere for that. What if instead of the nuclear bomb, America discovered how to create super heroes? What if we tasked those "heroes" with ending the war? What would the world look like today? Russ Linton's Crimson Son Universe explores this question and—I hope this doesn't come as a complete surprise—finds that men with the ability to level cities is every bit as terrifying as radiation.
The setting and history is dark, more noticeably so than the first book, Crimson Son. Without Spencer's self-depreciating wit to lighten the tone, the starkness of how powerful and powerless each character is comes through clearly. These stories are not going to give you warm-fuzzies. Instead, they are powerful pictures of the human condition that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Especially the first set, which revolve around a certain altruistic speedster. None of the set should be skipped though. Read them all and after each set down the book to consider the human condition.
If you haven't read Crimson Son, you'll want to do that first. This book has a significantly different purpose though. Where the first put us in Spencer's head as he fought to survive and find his mother, this one narrates a series of tragic tales and broadens the world to give a sense of just how terrifying the existence of enhanced soldiers (and governments that control them) actually is. The last scene is something of an exception. It resets the focus just in time to lead into Crimson Son 2: Motherland, with all of Spencer's sarcasm and brashness again on display.
The setting and history is dark, more noticeably so than the first book, Crimson Son. Without Spencer's self-depreciating wit to lighten the tone, the starkness of how powerful and powerless each character is comes through clearly. These stories are not going to give you warm-fuzzies. Instead, they are powerful pictures of the human condition that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Especially the first set, which revolve around a certain altruistic speedster. None of the set should be skipped though. Read them all and after each set down the book to consider the human condition.
If you haven't read Crimson Son, you'll want to do that first. This book has a significantly different purpose though. Where the first put us in Spencer's head as he fought to survive and find his mother, this one narrates a series of tragic tales and broadens the world to give a sense of just how terrifying the existence of enhanced soldiers (and governments that control them) actually is. The last scene is something of an exception. It resets the focus just in time to lead into Crimson Son 2: Motherland, with all of Spencer's sarcasm and brashness again on display.
February 8, 2017
I read Crimson Son first and really enjoyed the the idea that Superheroes have fears and flaws like the rest of us. Empty Quiver goes into the backstory and relationship between two of my favorite Crimson Son Augments and introduces more "Super" characters. It is a great compliment to the highly rated Crimson Son!
You can get Empty Quiver for free on Amazon and sign up for the Author's mailing list for other free eBooks and extras at https://russlinton.com
You can get Empty Quiver for free on Amazon and sign up for the Author's mailing list for other free eBooks and extras at https://russlinton.com
May 7, 2015
I am biased :)
August 24, 2016
This book was part of the free promo at the Selfpublisher Roundtable. It was one of the books that interested me, but wasn't free globally!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews