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Star Shepherd: A Space Western
Star Shepherd knows a raw deal when he sees one. And he’s got the worst one in the to deliver a mysterious package to a rebellion to change the scales of power in favor of the common man. As he meets with an old friend to seek much-needed help, he draws the attention of a genocidal admiral willing to destroy entire worlds if it means catching Star Shepherd.
Will Star survive the chase and bring hope to the rebellion, or deliver a gift into the hands of a worse power, tipping the galaxy into further chaos?
From two-time Dragon Award-finalist and Nebula-finalist, Star Shepherd is the first book in the Shepherd of Light series.
"His stuff is badass!" New York Times bestselling author, Larry Correia.
Will Star survive the chase and bring hope to the rebellion, or deliver a gift into the hands of a worse power, tipping the galaxy into further chaos?
From two-time Dragon Award-finalist and Nebula-finalist, Star Shepherd is the first book in the Shepherd of Light series.
"His stuff is badass!" New York Times bestselling author, Larry Correia.
- GenresScience Fiction
520 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2019
About the author
R.R. Virdi
28 books774 followersR.R. Virdi is a USA Today Bestselling author, two-time Dragon Award finalist, and a Nebula Award finalist. He is the author of two urban fantasy series, The Grave Report, and The Books of Winter. The author of the LitRPG/portal fantasy series, Monster Slayer Online. And the author of a space western/sci fi series, Shepherd of Light. He has worked in the automotive industry as a mechanic, retail, and in the custom gaming computer world. He's an avid car nut with a special love for American classics.
The hardest challenge for him up to this point has been fooling most of society into believing he's a completely sane member of the general public.
The hardest challenge for him up to this point has been fooling most of society into believing he's a completely sane member of the general public.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2019
Recommended
This was definitely an enjoyable read. I’ll for sure be waiting for the next book in the series and wherever it might take Shepherd and Co.
This was definitely an enjoyable read. I’ll for sure be waiting for the next book in the series and wherever it might take Shepherd and Co.
August 18, 2019
Fans of Firefly and Cowboy Bebop would do well to read Star Shepherd.
At its heart, Star Shepherd is very much like those two. Ragtag ship, lonesome good guy captain who's maybe not as good as good guys go. Big-time, overbearing government and factions of resistance. That familiarity, which could be a liability for others, is a warm blanket in R.R. Virdi's capable hands, aided by memorable side characters and a willingness to (occasionally) buck expectations.
Well-written, tension-filled, and just fast-paced enough to be exciting without leaving the reader wondering what's going on, Star Shepherd shows Virdi to be a more versatile writer than some might think, and his love for the genre is clear throughout.
That love is also infectious. The ending was a bit open-ended for my tastes (perhaps a sequel is eventually in the offing?), but everything good about this subgenre of sci-fi is on display in Star Shepherd, and the result is a fantastic, engrossing read.
At its heart, Star Shepherd is very much like those two. Ragtag ship, lonesome good guy captain who's maybe not as good as good guys go. Big-time, overbearing government and factions of resistance. That familiarity, which could be a liability for others, is a warm blanket in R.R. Virdi's capable hands, aided by memorable side characters and a willingness to (occasionally) buck expectations.
Well-written, tension-filled, and just fast-paced enough to be exciting without leaving the reader wondering what's going on, Star Shepherd shows Virdi to be a more versatile writer than some might think, and his love for the genre is clear throughout.
That love is also infectious. The ending was a bit open-ended for my tastes (perhaps a sequel is eventually in the offing?), but everything good about this subgenre of sci-fi is on display in Star Shepherd, and the result is a fantastic, engrossing read.
March 30, 2019
Absolutely enjoyed this novel which reads much like an amalgamation of the old Han Solo trilogy books, the Solo movie, and Firefly. A galactic human empire, a ragtag group of rogues fighting against it, the Firefly style language and worldbuilding of a believable space western with impoverished and lesser-educated people out at the frontier as opposed to the center of the empire which is better off. People are left with little choice but to join the empire to seek better chances in life. Those who don't are still held at their mercy via an oligarcy that rules it all through their stranglehold on resources and minerals.
Star Shepherd means to change that by ferrying a cargo known as The Light, something that can destroy the powerhold the oligarchy and empire has.
This was a really fun book.
Star Shepherd means to change that by ferrying a cargo known as The Light, something that can destroy the powerhold the oligarchy and empire has.
This was a really fun book.
March 28, 2019
Wow. What can I say about this book but WOW!! What a ride this one was. Star is a shepherd of the skies and space, ferrying people and products around wherever they need to go. He loves this life but always seems to be in trouble of some kind or another. This time his mission is to take The Light to another planet and get paid. That's it. Is that too hard? You betcha it is. Along the way, he picks up a motley crew and are they in for a helluva fight to deliver The Light where it has to go. The military is after them and rogues as well. I am in awe of the imagination of this author.
January 18, 2023
lots of action!
This was a good book-but it took me a while to understand what a Star Shepherd was about. The first 50% of the book was the 2 main characters in snappy dialogue and put-downs, as they escaped various traps and attacks. I was worried about it being a kind of fiction I wouldn’t like, but 2 women and a robot with an attitude joined the crew. It got better (as a story line) with each chapter. The main character sure got beat up a lot!
This was a good book-but it took me a while to understand what a Star Shepherd was about. The first 50% of the book was the 2 main characters in snappy dialogue and put-downs, as they escaped various traps and attacks. I was worried about it being a kind of fiction I wouldn’t like, but 2 women and a robot with an attitude joined the crew. It got better (as a story line) with each chapter. The main character sure got beat up a lot!
September 22, 2022
The characters were under-developed and too naive. The story was slow in releasing important details to build upon. And strangely, I found the conversations hard to follow. I read a lot and this is not something that I run across very often. I will not be continuing this series, the story is not real unique and the author's style just is not for me.
June 1, 2019
A western in space!
Ronnie Virdi has penned a beautiful homage to the stories he grew up loving.
Even though this is a nod to a variety of shows, including Cowboy Bebop, Firefly, etc., the story stands on its own.
I sincerely hope that Star shows up in a sequel!
Ronnie Virdi has penned a beautiful homage to the stories he grew up loving.
Even though this is a nod to a variety of shows, including Cowboy Bebop, Firefly, etc., the story stands on its own.
I sincerely hope that Star shows up in a sequel!
September 19, 2019
A brilliant romp of a space western that's a clear draw and love to/from Firefly, Cowboy Bebop, and a hint of Star Wars' more western aspects and roguish elements. A five star read of nostalgia and creativity.
June 4, 2019
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Overall this was a decent book! It took me a while to get into the author's style - they loooove describing things in great detail and not answering questions right away or ever. It's cool. I don't mind living in mystery. Just maybe not all the time?
Anyway, I started liking it about a third of the way through once I got used to the rhythm of the story. My biggest complaint was that the dialogue was almost too witty? Is that a thing? I just feel like if you're being shot at, you're maybe not gonna be concerned with getting in a good zinger. Maybe that's just me.
BUT, honestly, it was a fun romp through space and emotions. A couple surprises at the end made for a good story, that unfolded nicely.
Anyway, I started liking it about a third of the way through once I got used to the rhythm of the story. My biggest complaint was that the dialogue was almost too witty? Is that a thing? I just feel like if you're being shot at, you're maybe not gonna be concerned with getting in a good zinger. Maybe that's just me.
BUT, honestly, it was a fun romp through space and emotions. A couple surprises at the end made for a good story, that unfolded nicely.
January 8, 2021
Solid fun sci-fi book. The pacing was a little sporadic, and the characters are a little more tell than show, but I did absolutely enjoy this one.
If you need a space cowboy read, this is worth a look for sure.
If you need a space cowboy read, this is worth a look for sure.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews