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Personnel: Dossier Class Feldgrau
Was the World Trade Center attack an "inside job?"
Did the Indian Ocean Tsunami occur naturally?
What really killed Princess Diana?
Welcome to the world of The Faction, where these cryptic theories finally have answers . . . though they might not be the answers you expect.
Personnel introduces five unique individuals and their tales of terror and adventure, each in their own place and time. Whether they're fighting urban legends in South America, uncovering assassination plots in Europe, or hunting for terrorists in the Middle East, each person's journey brings them all one step closer to understanding the world of nightmares and conspiracies they've been thrust into.
Please find a quiet, enclosed space for transport, open your first dossier, and learn what you can before the next mission. And be careful; if you’ve chosen to read this far . . .
They’ve already begun watching you.
Tyler Hanson's debut series, The Faction, is a series of novels set in a timeline not too unlike our own, where conspiracies are connected by sinister means. Follow five individuals who use ill-gotten “abilities” to battle against a global terror. From Ground Zero to the Indian Ocean Tsunami, from Hotel Cecil to Water Fluoridation, the outcasts travel through an altered history as they learn their limits. What are they willing to sacrifice to undo these urban legends?
If you enjoy the creeping conspiracy of The Matrix and the bestiaries of HP Lovecraft, then The Faction series is a must read.
Did the Indian Ocean Tsunami occur naturally?
What really killed Princess Diana?
Welcome to the world of The Faction, where these cryptic theories finally have answers . . . though they might not be the answers you expect.
Personnel introduces five unique individuals and their tales of terror and adventure, each in their own place and time. Whether they're fighting urban legends in South America, uncovering assassination plots in Europe, or hunting for terrorists in the Middle East, each person's journey brings them all one step closer to understanding the world of nightmares and conspiracies they've been thrust into.
Please find a quiet, enclosed space for transport, open your first dossier, and learn what you can before the next mission. And be careful; if you’ve chosen to read this far . . .
They’ve already begun watching you.
Tyler Hanson's debut series, The Faction, is a series of novels set in a timeline not too unlike our own, where conspiracies are connected by sinister means. Follow five individuals who use ill-gotten “abilities” to battle against a global terror. From Ground Zero to the Indian Ocean Tsunami, from Hotel Cecil to Water Fluoridation, the outcasts travel through an altered history as they learn their limits. What are they willing to sacrifice to undo these urban legends?
If you enjoy the creeping conspiracy of The Matrix and the bestiaries of HP Lovecraft, then The Faction series is a must read.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2019
16 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 27, 2019
Personnel: Dossier Class Feldgrau (The Faction)
Throughout history certain world events have rocked the very core of our conscience. Tsunamis. Shootings. Unsolved murders. Tying these things together seems almost ludicrous; a fever-dream of a proud and ignorant conspiracy theorist trapped miles down a 4chan hole. And yet, is it so radical to think that something bigger, more mysterious is at play?
Enter the first book of Hanson’s Personnel: Dossier Class Feldgrau: The Faction Book 1. A lengthy title for my take, but it fits with the stellar writing and solid plot development surrounding our main characters. The book reads as a set of scattered short stories, a literal corkboard filled with papers, events, and, you guessed it, string (and no, I didn’t write this after seeing the cover of the novel). Hanson does a good job keeping our attention in a massive world filled with twists, turns, and the occasional stray bullet. I want to highlight this as a strength of the novel because for me it can be very easy to fall off, get distracted, or even feel disinterested jumping through multiple story arcs before they all coalesce.
Something that I think future work in the series can do to improve is to tighten up parts of the writing in a few places throughout. In particular, the early part of Shadow’s report fell a bit flat in the bar scene and I felt a bit disenchanted with the scene as a whole. This isn’t to discredit or put down a well-written work of fiction; just a nice suggestion.
Overall, The Faction Book 1 impressed me a lot. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and I applaud Hanson’s work here.
4/5 Stars
I received an ARC for an honest review of this title
Throughout history certain world events have rocked the very core of our conscience. Tsunamis. Shootings. Unsolved murders. Tying these things together seems almost ludicrous; a fever-dream of a proud and ignorant conspiracy theorist trapped miles down a 4chan hole. And yet, is it so radical to think that something bigger, more mysterious is at play?
Enter the first book of Hanson’s Personnel: Dossier Class Feldgrau: The Faction Book 1. A lengthy title for my take, but it fits with the stellar writing and solid plot development surrounding our main characters. The book reads as a set of scattered short stories, a literal corkboard filled with papers, events, and, you guessed it, string (and no, I didn’t write this after seeing the cover of the novel). Hanson does a good job keeping our attention in a massive world filled with twists, turns, and the occasional stray bullet. I want to highlight this as a strength of the novel because for me it can be very easy to fall off, get distracted, or even feel disinterested jumping through multiple story arcs before they all coalesce.
Something that I think future work in the series can do to improve is to tighten up parts of the writing in a few places throughout. In particular, the early part of Shadow’s report fell a bit flat in the bar scene and I felt a bit disenchanted with the scene as a whole. This isn’t to discredit or put down a well-written work of fiction; just a nice suggestion.
Overall, The Faction Book 1 impressed me a lot. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and I applaud Hanson’s work here.
4/5 Stars
I received an ARC for an honest review of this title
October 6, 2020
This feels and sounds like a well-written book. However, the organization of the book severely detracts from the story. I just finished this book and I wish I had not read it.
How can the organization of a book detract from the story? Please let me tell you. 1) This is not one story. It is several short stories that only tie together in the end....the very end. 2) As an audiobook listener, you have no way of knowing when one storyline stops and another picks up. 3) Why don't we throw in some bouncing around through time? If you weren't confused already, you surely will be now. I wonder if re-titling the chapters to tell you whose story you are listening to would help. I mean the title of the book is Personnel!
At the end of the book, you are given a website address to learn more about the factions. https://jointhefaction.wordpress.com/ I typed in the link and had an "ah-ha" moment. The pictures of the characters are inspired by comic books and superheroes. If I imagine this book as a comic book with pictures of who is doing what, then it makes more sense.
I don't know that I would choose to read anything by this author in the future. I don’t trust the author to deliver a storyline that I want to follow.
The author does show promise, but this book needed to spend more time in developmental editing. The action scenes are fast-paced and well written. I did find myself enjoying Q's storyline at the end because the action was great.
The narrator did a commendable job. I don't know how she kept the storyline straight. I did not notice any technical or production flaws in the audiobook.
How can the organization of a book detract from the story? Please let me tell you. 1) This is not one story. It is several short stories that only tie together in the end....the very end. 2) As an audiobook listener, you have no way of knowing when one storyline stops and another picks up. 3) Why don't we throw in some bouncing around through time? If you weren't confused already, you surely will be now. I wonder if re-titling the chapters to tell you whose story you are listening to would help. I mean the title of the book is Personnel!
At the end of the book, you are given a website address to learn more about the factions. https://jointhefaction.wordpress.com/ I typed in the link and had an "ah-ha" moment. The pictures of the characters are inspired by comic books and superheroes. If I imagine this book as a comic book with pictures of who is doing what, then it makes more sense.
I don't know that I would choose to read anything by this author in the future. I don’t trust the author to deliver a storyline that I want to follow.
The author does show promise, but this book needed to spend more time in developmental editing. The action scenes are fast-paced and well written. I did find myself enjoying Q's storyline at the end because the action was great.
The narrator did a commendable job. I don't know how she kept the storyline straight. I did not notice any technical or production flaws in the audiobook.
November 10, 2020
Not your usual story book that follows a direct line A to Z but I felt like I was jumping all over the place. At first I saw the chapters as short stories with little or no links to each other until the very end. Still a bit confused by the mechanism that connects it altogether but was securely intrigued to see how this was going to unfold. The reality is that author, Tyler Hanson has simply used a very different methodology to tell a story. Its a little like some of the more obscure European TV series where one really needs to see the small hints along a broken timeline, really making the reader be patient and see how it will pan out. Loved how modern day conspiracies, eg Princess Diana's sad demise were incorporated into this novel. Not sure about the others, but it does make you wonder at how conspiracies could be used to tell a tale. As to whether I follow up with the next book I'm not sure at this time.
As a free book available to everyone my suggestion is try it for yourself and see what you think.
As a free book available to everyone my suggestion is try it for yourself and see what you think.
April 27, 2020
This is a fascinating read. It's really less of a novel and more of a loosely-tied-together group of stories. From the way the book is structured, it's clear these stories will eventually come together, but it takes a long time to get there. Granted, there's more than enough action to keep one entertained, but I did get a bit frustrated. I'm glad I'd previously read the short story "Alligator Season" before reading this, so I knew one character already. With all the action and brisk pacing, there's little room for much character development. I was quite happy to see Catalina again.
If you're a fan of action-adventure at all, I recommend this book. It has everything from horror to military action, to superheroics, to badass monster-hunting (Catalina, you're still my favorite!), to shadow ops and astounding technology ... and despite the shortcomings I've mentioned, this book left me excited for more? I hope it does the same for you.
If you're a fan of action-adventure at all, I recommend this book. It has everything from horror to military action, to superheroics, to badass monster-hunting (Catalina, you're still my favorite!), to shadow ops and astounding technology ... and despite the shortcomings I've mentioned, this book left me excited for more? I hope it does the same for you.
December 18, 2020
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only in return for an honest review. When I started reading the book I initially thought I would enjoy it. It got a little weirder towards the end of the bit about the first character and I wasn’t quite comfortable with the twin towers conspiracy, but I carried on. The second character was very technical and I ended up giving up on the book and started reading something else. However in a bout of insomnia I picked this book up again as reading on my phone doesn’t disturb the husband. I found once I got past the technical stuff I enjoyed it a lot more. It does jump around, telling each character’s story and going back and forth in time so it’s not the easiest book to read but it hopefully sets the scene for future books by providing the back stories of the characters. This book will appeal to a select audience and I’m not sure that I’m one of them.
June 20, 2019
Personnel provides a fictional conspiracy take with a sci-fi slant on some of our more recent tragedies: the attack on the World Trade Center, the Tsunami, the death of Princess Diana and more. I'm not a big fan of conspiracy, espionage, or sci-fi so when I review this book I take that into consideration and rate it more as if I was. Like any conspiracy, these chapters are not simple and I wouldn't call this an easy read. It does read like science fiction and I was glad that there is no real conspiracy theory pushing here on these real events. With Personnel you get a thriller, sci-fi, monster, superhero, disaster, chases, good guys, bad guys corporate evil. Maybe even a tip of the hat to our old friend the Mothman (if I'm correct).
#Personnel #TylerHansen #Netgalley
#Personnel #TylerHansen #Netgalley
July 4, 2019
This book sets up a really exciting world of new characters that could be just at home on the pages of a comic series or adapted to the screen.
It can be a difficult read at first and the narrative style takes some getting used to. It reads like a complicated HBO show. Individual reports on different characters and situations in each episode that don't relate until they do. (I'd recommend really paying attention to the file names and dates).
It's chock full of great action and interesting technology and tinfoil-hat conspiracy. It sets up a LOT, like a lot-lot, the world and conspiracy are enormous, it's going to be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
I am looking forward to the next installment.
It can be a difficult read at first and the narrative style takes some getting used to. It reads like a complicated HBO show. Individual reports on different characters and situations in each episode that don't relate until they do. (I'd recommend really paying attention to the file names and dates).
It's chock full of great action and interesting technology and tinfoil-hat conspiracy. It sets up a LOT, like a lot-lot, the world and conspiracy are enormous, it's going to be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
I am looking forward to the next installment.
May 27, 2019
This one didn't work for me. It read more like a movie (think 80's b-movie or SyFy original). There is a lot going on, but it moves at such a pace I never felt any tension build. It seems to go from overexplained science dialogue into action/chase scenes in an instant. This book is a big, big world and as a reader if a book decides to bite off more than it can chew, I have to review it honestly. That being said, Hanson obviously has some talent and is passionate as an author and I would love to read some short stories or more straightforward works.
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I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
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I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
October 29, 2020
I liked this book because it contained stories about superheroes based on both recent historical events and creepypastas.
It was made up of individual stories that combined into a team up story, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Each story was split up into short chapters that made it really easy to read.
There was lots of action that was explained in great detail giving me a clear image of what was happening. This was especially clear when it came to describing the way some characters died.
I would recommend this book for people who don't mind a bit of blood and are looking to get a different perspective on events that have happened.
It was made up of individual stories that combined into a team up story, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Each story was split up into short chapters that made it really easy to read.
There was lots of action that was explained in great detail giving me a clear image of what was happening. This was especially clear when it came to describing the way some characters died.
I would recommend this book for people who don't mind a bit of blood and are looking to get a different perspective on events that have happened.
April 4, 2020
Personnel: Dossier Class Feldgrau (The Faction Book 1), my second read from author Tyler Hanson, an intriguing collection of five unique individuals and their individual tales. Well-written, the characters as well-developed as can be in these short works. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who and what they are. Why they do the things they do. The things that make a reader get invested into the characters and thereby the book. I was given a Kindle copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
November 23, 2020
A number of familiar world events are presented as more than meets the eye, with an underlying sinister link. We are then introduced to 'The Faction', an anonymous group of people spread throughout the world who are aware of this 'conspiracy' and want to bring down the agency (or agencies) behind it, believing that these events will only lead to an all the more dangerous world for everyone. It was quite an engaging read and I'm interested in reading more in the series to find out how The Faction fare against this shadowy threat.
February 26, 2022
Think of this as an alternate universe, where conspiracy theories are reality, and not just wild claims by small groups of people. I love how Hanson turned conspiracies into a compelling set of tales. This book kind of reminded me of the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia meme, with Charlie standing in front of a board with images and documents connected by string. The stories jump around a fairly large timeline, only to be connected in the end. It can be a little confusing at times until you reach the part where it's all wrapped up. A fun read that might not be for everyone.
April 5, 2020
This is one of the most confusing books I've ever listened to. I understood this is all about conspiracy, but the flipping back and forth in time and people makes it absolutely impossible to keep track of anything. Pseudo-names replace peoples' names but you're not told who is who and frankly, it just gives me a headache. I did not enjoy it and actually made it to 87 % before I just said enough and turned off the audio-book. I cannot, in all honesty, recommend this to anyone.
March 13, 2021
An interesting collection of five cases dealing with conspiracies, adventures, and monsters. Follow along as five extraordinary individuals attempt to find the answers.
Tyler Hanson certainly kept the energy level high as he set the stage for what is sure to be a gripping series.
The narration was right where it needed to be. A great job by Jess Trepanier.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
Tyler Hanson certainly kept the energy level high as he set the stage for what is sure to be a gripping series.
The narration was right where it needed to be. A great job by Jess Trepanier.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
October 30, 2020
This book was not what I was expecting at all. I knew it was “conspiracy theories” but was expecting more realistic ones. Perhaps the description I was given was not accurate. That aside, this felt more like a bunch of short stories than a novel and the ending was unsatisfactory to me. I don’t intend to read the follow-up.
January 8, 2021
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review. I was a bit disappointed if I’m honest. The book seemed to be all over the place. At times I was asking, what’s going on? A book should tell you a story and take you along with it but this feels like an out of control rollercoaster
Read
November 12, 2020I received a copy of this story from Voracious Readers for an honest review. This story is very hard to follow and the characters have a technical feel to them
January 15, 2021
Written almost as if it is several short stories but they all connect. Interesting enough to keep me reading but for me not enough to make me want to read more.
July 11, 2019
So yes, I’m the editor of Personnel: Dossier Feldgrau, Tyler Hanson’s debut and the second novel released by Two Doctors Media Collaborative. Some might say I’m biased.
But I wanted to take a moment to tell everyone why I’ve chosen to invest countless hours in Tyler’s writing, working with him to craft a story ready for the world to read. Two Doctors Media Collaborative is working with Tyler because we believe in his story, and we believe in his voice.
And it’s grand.
Have you ever read the graphic novel Watchmen? Did you grow up on movies like The Matrix or X-Men, or did you watch crazy conspiracy shows on the History Channel?
When I first started reading early drafts of Personnel last Fall, I knew I’d stumbled on something special. Tyler had somehow managed to encapsulate the power of a graphic novel or a classic action film within ordinary prose. That’s hard to do. Graphic novels are often action heavy, with the vivid scenes telling most of the story. And action films like The Matrix rely on incredible CGI and choreography to tell tales like no other.
Yet, in Tyler’s words, I saw the potential for a world spanning countless books, building a narrative very unlike ordinary books you pick up off the shelf of your local book store.
So what’s Personnel: Dossier Feldgrau, and the Faction series, about?
On its surface, its about conspiracies, genetic engineering, super heroes, and awesome tech and action scenes. But at its core, the Faction is about people. It’s about real people, from a variety of intriguing backgrounds, thrust into absurd situations. It’s about how they handle their new circumstances, their new abilities, and find a way to cope with an ever-shifting and incomprehensible world.
And finally, Personnel and the Faction are about the relationships between its characters. And they are deeper and more nuanced than you can imagine.
Battery.
Aquifer.
Shadow.
Bomber.
Proxy.
Each character has a story that I love. And each character has relationships that will destroy you, make you cry, make you feel warm inside when you see their resolution. Those realities are at the heart of a compelling and terrifying global-spanning plot.
What Tyler’s attempting to do is bold. It’s ambitious. The story jumps from 2001 to 2010 to 1997 to 2005 in a blink of an eye. But it works. Astute readers will see foreshadowing, worldbuilding, and subtle clues to the greater world unveiled by the Faction. I doubt even I’ve caught the entire groundwork yet established on each page, and I’m the editor!
But I’m glad I’m by Tyler’s side. And so is Two Doctors Media Collaborative. We’re proud of the story Tyler’s told. A quick shout out is deserved to Kim Tavenor, the cover designer of Personnel and the upcoming Conscription. I can’t imagine a better cover to fit this compelling, twisting tale.
And just remember, if you’re reading this . . . they’re already watching you.
But I wanted to take a moment to tell everyone why I’ve chosen to invest countless hours in Tyler’s writing, working with him to craft a story ready for the world to read. Two Doctors Media Collaborative is working with Tyler because we believe in his story, and we believe in his voice.
And it’s grand.
Have you ever read the graphic novel Watchmen? Did you grow up on movies like The Matrix or X-Men, or did you watch crazy conspiracy shows on the History Channel?
When I first started reading early drafts of Personnel last Fall, I knew I’d stumbled on something special. Tyler had somehow managed to encapsulate the power of a graphic novel or a classic action film within ordinary prose. That’s hard to do. Graphic novels are often action heavy, with the vivid scenes telling most of the story. And action films like The Matrix rely on incredible CGI and choreography to tell tales like no other.
Yet, in Tyler’s words, I saw the potential for a world spanning countless books, building a narrative very unlike ordinary books you pick up off the shelf of your local book store.
So what’s Personnel: Dossier Feldgrau, and the Faction series, about?
On its surface, its about conspiracies, genetic engineering, super heroes, and awesome tech and action scenes. But at its core, the Faction is about people. It’s about real people, from a variety of intriguing backgrounds, thrust into absurd situations. It’s about how they handle their new circumstances, their new abilities, and find a way to cope with an ever-shifting and incomprehensible world.
And finally, Personnel and the Faction are about the relationships between its characters. And they are deeper and more nuanced than you can imagine.
Battery.
Aquifer.
Shadow.
Bomber.
Proxy.
Each character has a story that I love. And each character has relationships that will destroy you, make you cry, make you feel warm inside when you see their resolution. Those realities are at the heart of a compelling and terrifying global-spanning plot.
What Tyler’s attempting to do is bold. It’s ambitious. The story jumps from 2001 to 2010 to 1997 to 2005 in a blink of an eye. But it works. Astute readers will see foreshadowing, worldbuilding, and subtle clues to the greater world unveiled by the Faction. I doubt even I’ve caught the entire groundwork yet established on each page, and I’m the editor!
But I’m glad I’m by Tyler’s side. And so is Two Doctors Media Collaborative. We’re proud of the story Tyler’s told. A quick shout out is deserved to Kim Tavenor, the cover designer of Personnel and the upcoming Conscription. I can’t imagine a better cover to fit this compelling, twisting tale.
And just remember, if you’re reading this . . . they’re already watching you.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews