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Shortyverse #1
Shorty
A Mech Warrior's Tale
Bravery isn’t built. It’s forged.
On a planet plagued by perpetual war, where a mech is a prerequisite for survival, there is one simple rule: Be bigger than the other guy or get your ass kicked.
At just seventeen measly tons, Shorty doesn’t measure up. His enemies can level cities and punch holes through mountains. They can reshape the world on a whim. They wouldn’t be caught dead in an overgrown trashcan like Shorty.
But Shorty isn’t interested in the rule of size.
He knows heart isn’t measured in pounds of steel. Bravery isn’t found in the finest machined parts. Glory isn’t just for giants.
Shorty has a new rule, and he’s about to teach it to everyone.
Ass-kicking doesn’t have a size requirement.
Bravery isn’t built. It’s forged.
On a planet plagued by perpetual war, where a mech is a prerequisite for survival, there is one simple rule: Be bigger than the other guy or get your ass kicked.
At just seventeen measly tons, Shorty doesn’t measure up. His enemies can level cities and punch holes through mountains. They can reshape the world on a whim. They wouldn’t be caught dead in an overgrown trashcan like Shorty.
But Shorty isn’t interested in the rule of size.
He knows heart isn’t measured in pounds of steel. Bravery isn’t found in the finest machined parts. Glory isn’t just for giants.
Shorty has a new rule, and he’s about to teach it to everyone.
Ass-kicking doesn’t have a size requirement.
- GenresScience Fiction
60 pages, Paperback
Published December 29, 2018
82 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Scott Moon
163 books227 followersScott Moon loves audio books, especially the works of George R.R. Martin, Patrick O'Brian, and Michael Connelly. He has been writing fantasy, science fiction, and urban fantasy thrillers most of his life and aims to read or listen to 100 books a year. Currently, he is a commissioned police officer serving in a street level counter drug and gang unit. Some of his most rewarding and heartbreaking work was as a detective in the Exploited Missing Child Unit. His favorite assignment is SWAT, primarily for the eighty pounds of tactical gear he gets to wear in the blazing summer heat. In 2005, he helped arrest a serial killer who had been at large for over thirty years.
Follow Scott Moon on Twitter @Scottmoonwriter or visit www.scottmoonwriter.com to view his author page.
Follow Scott Moon on Twitter @Scottmoonwriter or visit www.scottmoonwriter.com to view his author page.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 27, 2019
“Bravery isn’t built. It’s forged. Glory isn’t just for giants.”
This was a fun short read, I had a great time! So tough a mech pilot’s life is, especially if he’s Shorty. Action packed, fast read, epic battles between giant mechs, portent industry adversaries.. on to Kill me now!
This was a fun short read, I had a great time! So tough a mech pilot’s life is, especially if he’s Shorty. Action packed, fast read, epic battles between giant mechs, portent industry adversaries.. on to Kill me now!
January 11, 2019
"Big guns and sneaky tricks.."
Chandler Michael Dane III is an average sized guy, but on a world where everyone wears a mech, he's tiny. At a mere 17 tons, he's a lightweight where 40 - 100 tons is average; even his sister's Sheila and Stacy call him Shorty. But as he says 'Dying sucks" and what he lacks in size he makes up for in audacity.
Needing repairs and looking for that one big score, he decides to break into the Foxtrot Foundry.
Scott Moon has written one of those novellas which hits all the spots: great, well envisioned action, vividly drawn environment, exciting story and, best of all, Shorty himself, a well presented naughty character, full of self confidence and humour. This was a book which left me wanting more.
Recommended.
Chandler Michael Dane III is an average sized guy, but on a world where everyone wears a mech, he's tiny. At a mere 17 tons, he's a lightweight where 40 - 100 tons is average; even his sister's Sheila and Stacy call him Shorty. But as he says 'Dying sucks" and what he lacks in size he makes up for in audacity.
Needing repairs and looking for that one big score, he decides to break into the Foxtrot Foundry.
Scott Moon has written one of those novellas which hits all the spots: great, well envisioned action, vividly drawn environment, exciting story and, best of all, Shorty himself, a well presented naughty character, full of self confidence and humour. This was a book which left me wanting more.
Recommended.
March 6, 2019
Summary:
First, let me say that none of what I’ll say in this section couldn’t be found on the back copy of the novel. Heck, I cribbed this summary from the back, and then I added my own twist! And not even much of one, since most of the books I read have kick butt descriptions (aka blurbs). If the blurb doesn’t catch my eye, then I tend to skip the book unless a friend recommends it. Generally speaking, my goal is to provide a spoiler-free review, so here goes nothing!
This story was an iconic tale of the underdog warrior fighting the world, on his terms. We see Shorty as the embodiment of the old maxim that bravery isn’t built, it’s forged. The mech jockey fights on a planet plagued by perpetual war, where a mech is a prerequisite for survival. On that planet there is one simple rule: be bigger than the other guy or get your ass kicked.
But at just seventeen measly tons, Shorty doesn’t measure up. His enemies can level cities and punch holes through mountains. They can reshape the world on a whim. They wouldn’t be caught dead in an overgrown trashcan like Shorty. But Shorty isn’t interested in the rule of size. He knows heart isn’t measured in pounds of steel. Bravery isn’t found in the finest machined parts. Glory isn’t just for giants. In this expansive story, we learn Shorty’s new rule, one he’s about to teach it to everyone… ass-kicking doesn’t have a size requirement.
I know this seems like a short summary, but hey… it’s a short story!
Characters:
The main character, Chandler Michael Dane III, is a warrior who fights in an understrength and undersized mech. But nobody calls him that, everyone calls Chandler by his nickname and call sign, “Shorty.” He’s an average guy in a below average mech that he fought like it was bigger than the biggest Goliath. He’s the best kind of mech jockey, one who becomes so in tune with his machine that they become indistinguishable from each other. He’s obsessed with his eyes in the sky, Sexy Danielle, who he risks everything to rescue. We also meet his sisters, the twins Stacy and Sheila. And despite the length of this story, we really connect to all four of these people in a way that leaves us wanting more.
Plot:
The basic plot is about a mech jockey raiding the Foxtrot Foundry for parts that he could salvage. He’s hoping to make resupply run, stealing the parts he needs to keep him in the merc game. During his time there, he makes some surprising discoveries and changes the course of the battles that rage across Doomsday. The basic plot of this story was fun, it was fast paced, and it kept me engaged. I didn’t have any trouble following this epic romp through mech country, so here the author accomplished his goals as a storyteller!
Worldbuilding:
There was a lot of world building in this short story, setting up a universe where humanity is thriving post-Terra. There were a lot of acronyms for the various political polities, but Scott Moon made it so seamless that it blended into the larger backdrop of the world. This short story set the scene for a larger universe that left you wanting more. I could buy the premise of an underdog mech jockey bucking the conventional thinking on mechanized warfare so I would say that here the author accomplished his goals.
Description:
The author was lighter on descriptions than I would prefer, but it was never so sparse that I couldn’t picture the action. I feel like the amount of description was just about right for a short story. If or when Scott Moon makes this a novel, I’ll expect more so I can better visualize it all. Where the author truly shows was his description of Doomsday, the setting of this adventure. I was able to form a picture of the setting in my mind. This was not the case with the mech warriors, but those battle robots are so iconic everyone can imagine something. For a short story, it was enough.
Book Cover:
Since I’ve been mentioning the covers in every single review, I decided to make that a part of the format going forward. As usual, a disclaimer that I’m colorblind so your mileage may vary. The cover designer kept a very minimalist concept for this short story. It definitely worked, and the “wow factor” wasn’t lost in the process. There is a gorgeous mechanized warrior in the cover, hovering over a planet with some meteors flying into it. It was a photomanipulation image, but on this cover it worked for me. The first thing that jumped out at me was the typography used, it had a very science fiction vibe. The blocky text spoke to me, I seriously enjoyed it. Paying more attention to those little details, we see that the cover designer chose to use two separate colors for the typeface so that it popped against the background. They contrasted nicely, I’m truly a fan of how it came out. Overall, I loved this simplistic cover and can’t wait to see what they do for the rest of this series!
Overall:
I absolutely loved this short story! I don’t normally go for mech fiction, but this short story showed me the error of my ways! I found Scott’s prose to be easy to read, written in a way to keep the story entertaining and prevent it from lagging. I only found one typo, which I’d probably have missed if I wasn’t reading it with the intention of reviewing the story. As for the story itself, I found the basic premise to be highly entertaining. Scott Moon used several creative tactics for the main character to accomplish his goals, despite the odds. He did it in ways that were entirely believable within the context of the world he created. We see the smaller mech using hit and run tactics that emphasize speed and surprise, perfect for an understrength fighter. Scott used these creative measures to build tension and keep the story moving in a way that was highly entertaining.
In conclusion, I would recommend this story to everyone who loves fun science fiction and give it 5 out of 5 grenades. But don’t take my word for it… if this book sounds like it’s right up your alley, check it out!
First, let me say that none of what I’ll say in this section couldn’t be found on the back copy of the novel. Heck, I cribbed this summary from the back, and then I added my own twist! And not even much of one, since most of the books I read have kick butt descriptions (aka blurbs). If the blurb doesn’t catch my eye, then I tend to skip the book unless a friend recommends it. Generally speaking, my goal is to provide a spoiler-free review, so here goes nothing!
This story was an iconic tale of the underdog warrior fighting the world, on his terms. We see Shorty as the embodiment of the old maxim that bravery isn’t built, it’s forged. The mech jockey fights on a planet plagued by perpetual war, where a mech is a prerequisite for survival. On that planet there is one simple rule: be bigger than the other guy or get your ass kicked.
But at just seventeen measly tons, Shorty doesn’t measure up. His enemies can level cities and punch holes through mountains. They can reshape the world on a whim. They wouldn’t be caught dead in an overgrown trashcan like Shorty. But Shorty isn’t interested in the rule of size. He knows heart isn’t measured in pounds of steel. Bravery isn’t found in the finest machined parts. Glory isn’t just for giants. In this expansive story, we learn Shorty’s new rule, one he’s about to teach it to everyone… ass-kicking doesn’t have a size requirement.
I know this seems like a short summary, but hey… it’s a short story!
Characters:
The main character, Chandler Michael Dane III, is a warrior who fights in an understrength and undersized mech. But nobody calls him that, everyone calls Chandler by his nickname and call sign, “Shorty.” He’s an average guy in a below average mech that he fought like it was bigger than the biggest Goliath. He’s the best kind of mech jockey, one who becomes so in tune with his machine that they become indistinguishable from each other. He’s obsessed with his eyes in the sky, Sexy Danielle, who he risks everything to rescue. We also meet his sisters, the twins Stacy and Sheila. And despite the length of this story, we really connect to all four of these people in a way that leaves us wanting more.
Plot:
The basic plot is about a mech jockey raiding the Foxtrot Foundry for parts that he could salvage. He’s hoping to make resupply run, stealing the parts he needs to keep him in the merc game. During his time there, he makes some surprising discoveries and changes the course of the battles that rage across Doomsday. The basic plot of this story was fun, it was fast paced, and it kept me engaged. I didn’t have any trouble following this epic romp through mech country, so here the author accomplished his goals as a storyteller!
Worldbuilding:
There was a lot of world building in this short story, setting up a universe where humanity is thriving post-Terra. There were a lot of acronyms for the various political polities, but Scott Moon made it so seamless that it blended into the larger backdrop of the world. This short story set the scene for a larger universe that left you wanting more. I could buy the premise of an underdog mech jockey bucking the conventional thinking on mechanized warfare so I would say that here the author accomplished his goals.
Description:
The author was lighter on descriptions than I would prefer, but it was never so sparse that I couldn’t picture the action. I feel like the amount of description was just about right for a short story. If or when Scott Moon makes this a novel, I’ll expect more so I can better visualize it all. Where the author truly shows was his description of Doomsday, the setting of this adventure. I was able to form a picture of the setting in my mind. This was not the case with the mech warriors, but those battle robots are so iconic everyone can imagine something. For a short story, it was enough.
Book Cover:
Since I’ve been mentioning the covers in every single review, I decided to make that a part of the format going forward. As usual, a disclaimer that I’m colorblind so your mileage may vary. The cover designer kept a very minimalist concept for this short story. It definitely worked, and the “wow factor” wasn’t lost in the process. There is a gorgeous mechanized warrior in the cover, hovering over a planet with some meteors flying into it. It was a photomanipulation image, but on this cover it worked for me. The first thing that jumped out at me was the typography used, it had a very science fiction vibe. The blocky text spoke to me, I seriously enjoyed it. Paying more attention to those little details, we see that the cover designer chose to use two separate colors for the typeface so that it popped against the background. They contrasted nicely, I’m truly a fan of how it came out. Overall, I loved this simplistic cover and can’t wait to see what they do for the rest of this series!
Overall:
I absolutely loved this short story! I don’t normally go for mech fiction, but this short story showed me the error of my ways! I found Scott’s prose to be easy to read, written in a way to keep the story entertaining and prevent it from lagging. I only found one typo, which I’d probably have missed if I wasn’t reading it with the intention of reviewing the story. As for the story itself, I found the basic premise to be highly entertaining. Scott Moon used several creative tactics for the main character to accomplish his goals, despite the odds. He did it in ways that were entirely believable within the context of the world he created. We see the smaller mech using hit and run tactics that emphasize speed and surprise, perfect for an understrength fighter. Scott used these creative measures to build tension and keep the story moving in a way that was highly entertaining.
In conclusion, I would recommend this story to everyone who loves fun science fiction and give it 5 out of 5 grenades. But don’t take my word for it… if this book sounds like it’s right up your alley, check it out!
December 23, 2018
So Shorty is a little guy. Actually, the guy is about average, but he's cunning. The Mech, Shorty, is what is the little guy. It's the small guy on the battlefield. Chandler Michael Dane III, the pilot of Shorty, knows how to get the most out of his tiny mech to take on the big guys. To take on Goliath! Shorty, the short story, is a long distance love affair disguised as a Rock'em Sock'em Robots battle-mech thriller. And it works. If you're looking for a quick, fun read, check out Shorty by Scott Moon. It's the short story that carries a full length novel punch!
January 3, 2019
I like that saying "Being too stupid to die is icing on the cake." I like Shorty. I like his attitude. The way he has control of his bot. Almost flying through the air, flipping and stuff. I like it. Good story. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
October 31, 2024
The first-person narrator of Scott Moon’s Shorty: A Mech Warrior’s Tale got his handle because the battle mech he pilots weighs in at a diminutive seventeen tons. Shorty is part of a mercenary force of mechs fighting on a planet aptly called Doomsday. Why anyone thinks it is worth fighting for is left to the imagination. The book, the first of three short novellas, is Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots with pilots inside. It is all action without much story. There is no doubt an audience for this kind of story, but it does not include me.
June 19, 2019
Small, but powerful; that's Shorty!!
The first part of this story was boring; describing the various parts of mechanism was not for me.However, the rest of the story was amusing; especially the exchange of ideas between Shorty and his artificial intelligent brain.yet
The first part of this story was boring; describing the various parts of mechanism was not for me.However, the rest of the story was amusing; especially the exchange of ideas between Shorty and his artificial intelligent brain.yet
February 4, 2020
Nice short
Some good adventure and scene setting for a short story and a surprisingly good read, the usual problem with the short story just as you get into it the story finishes. So 4 stars only because of its length otherwise i would have said 5
Some good adventure and scene setting for a short story and a surprisingly good read, the usual problem with the short story just as you get into it the story finishes. So 4 stars only because of its length otherwise i would have said 5
September 1, 2020
Amazingly good
Outstanding read. There’s plenty of detail to paint a vivid picture without bogging down in minutiae. My only “issue” was Shorty was such a short story.
It’s a great entertaining read and I’m already getting the next one.
Outstanding read. There’s plenty of detail to paint a vivid picture without bogging down in minutiae. My only “issue” was Shorty was such a short story.
It’s a great entertaining read and I’m already getting the next one.
March 2, 2019
Fun!
A very fun but short story that looks to be a great series. Mechs, planes, and plenty of action. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
A very fun but short story that looks to be a great series. Mechs, planes, and plenty of action. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
July 21, 2019
In a world of mechs, Dane has the short straw. His mech is small compared to others, but it's not the size, it's what you do with it.
December 25, 2019
It's good but...
The author has a good imagination and his creation has an appealing chip on his shoulder, but the story needs a back story
The author has a good imagination and his creation has an appealing chip on his shoulder, but the story needs a back story
January 4, 2020
Shorty is a 17 ton battle mech and pilot.
Much smaller than the 40 odd ton and 500 ton mechs.
But he is fast and experienced.
Much smaller than the 40 odd ton and 500 ton mechs.
But he is fast and experienced.
February 16, 2020
Great start to a new series
I really liked this short story. I can't wait to read the next in the series. Give it a shot, I think you'll like it.
I really liked this short story. I can't wait to read the next in the series. Give it a shot, I think you'll like it.
March 27, 2020
Fun short story that hits the ground running and doesn't let up. Shorty is a little mech with a big mouth, but sure does deliver!
April 26, 2020
Great Short Story
I like the main character and enjoyed the storyline. Hope the AI role is expanded with the next short story.😀
I like the main character and enjoyed the storyline. Hope the AI role is expanded with the next short story.😀
June 15, 2020
Good story, military science fiction. Mechs. I loved the first-person narrative and the pilot-mech a.i. dialogue. Worked for me.
November 2, 2020
Teaser
Good character building and fun little story. Wish there was more. Feels like a big tease, just enough to tickle your interest but not enough to make you want to buy more.
Good character building and fun little story. Wish there was more. Feels like a big tease, just enough to tickle your interest but not enough to make you want to buy more.
May 2, 2021
Awesome
I don’t know how I missed this one. I found it fascinating in a dangerous way. I loved it now I get to read the others.
I don’t know how I missed this one. I found it fascinating in a dangerous way. I loved it now I get to read the others.
March 3, 2020
Super read
I really enjoyed the author's plotting and the characterizations. Believable story and the descriptions of the battles were excellent. I always enjoy reading about the little guy against the big guys.
I really enjoyed the author's plotting and the characterizations. Believable story and the descriptions of the battles were excellent. I always enjoy reading about the little guy against the big guys.
December 7, 2021
Detailed and well-thought-out mech-stomping fun
Giant fighting mechs are a sci-fi and anime staple, but all too often it seems as if they are just in the story for the cool image and the idea doesn’t make much sense in the world of the story. Moon has obviously put a lot of work into this aspect of his setting and I have to say that everything about it fits together and justifies everything else..
The Planet Doomsday has a high gravity and an unpleasant atmosphere. To get any work done you need a powered exoskeleton with some environmental support. When it turns out that this planet is one of the best sources of key raw materials used for constructing weapons and machinery, everyone wants a piece of it and it turns into a battleground. Even though all sides have planet-killing weaponry, that would not gain anything, so the running war for ownership takes place on the ground, with troops in beefed-up, armed, and armoured exoskeletons often many tons in weight. These are the “Mech Warriors” of the title.
One of these warriors is the mercenary known as shorty. He’s not a small man, but his “mech” is one of the smallest and lightest on the battlefield. Next to the mountain-punching behemoths at the larger end of the scale his little suit deserves the name. Small size has its advantages, though. He is nimble, can jump, and can easily go into places where the larger mechs would need to destroy things to create an opening.
The story begins on an ordinary day for Shorty. Bantering with a friend flying a sensor-laden plane in the high atmosphere, scavenging for parts and upgrades, keeping an eye on the troop movements of the bigger units. Things begin to get out of hand when he spots something unusual about the nearby mega-factory named “Foxtrot Foundry” and finds himself in the middle of a much bigger fight than he was prepared for.
I loved this book. It is a fun sci-fi romp which takes a lot of sci-fi and anime staples and fits them together in a story with a surprising amount of heart.
Giant fighting mechs are a sci-fi and anime staple, but all too often it seems as if they are just in the story for the cool image and the idea doesn’t make much sense in the world of the story. Moon has obviously put a lot of work into this aspect of his setting and I have to say that everything about it fits together and justifies everything else..
The Planet Doomsday has a high gravity and an unpleasant atmosphere. To get any work done you need a powered exoskeleton with some environmental support. When it turns out that this planet is one of the best sources of key raw materials used for constructing weapons and machinery, everyone wants a piece of it and it turns into a battleground. Even though all sides have planet-killing weaponry, that would not gain anything, so the running war for ownership takes place on the ground, with troops in beefed-up, armed, and armoured exoskeletons often many tons in weight. These are the “Mech Warriors” of the title.
One of these warriors is the mercenary known as shorty. He’s not a small man, but his “mech” is one of the smallest and lightest on the battlefield. Next to the mountain-punching behemoths at the larger end of the scale his little suit deserves the name. Small size has its advantages, though. He is nimble, can jump, and can easily go into places where the larger mechs would need to destroy things to create an opening.
The story begins on an ordinary day for Shorty. Bantering with a friend flying a sensor-laden plane in the high atmosphere, scavenging for parts and upgrades, keeping an eye on the troop movements of the bigger units. Things begin to get out of hand when he spots something unusual about the nearby mega-factory named “Foxtrot Foundry” and finds himself in the middle of a much bigger fight than he was prepared for.
I loved this book. It is a fun sci-fi romp which takes a lot of sci-fi and anime staples and fits them together in a story with a surprising amount of heart.
October 1, 2020
This is a very good combination of Characters and Plot!!A very Good and fun Read!!! Santa Mike
October 1, 2020
Very fun Story. Great Adventure. Good Read, Santa Mike.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews