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Deadland Drifter #1
Deadland Drifter
When a dental appointment goes sideways, former Union Operative Jack Burner wakes to find himself drugged, and imprisoned.
And he's given a choice: assassinate an Admiral... or allow himself to be killed.
With no other option, Jack reluctantly accepts the mission, only to find himself being trailed by a mysterious blonde woman... and she may or may not want him dead.
As if dealing with a terrorist group wasn't enough.
With the fate of the Admiral and thousands of lives on hanging in the balance, Jack stands in the middle of an event that could ignite a war on the edge of the Deadlands and Union Space.
Despite his exceptional abilities, training, and tenancy, even Jack has little to no chance of preventing this particular powder keg from exploding.
He's going to need a miracle.
And he's given a choice: assassinate an Admiral... or allow himself to be killed.
With no other option, Jack reluctantly accepts the mission, only to find himself being trailed by a mysterious blonde woman... and she may or may not want him dead.
As if dealing with a terrorist group wasn't enough.
With the fate of the Admiral and thousands of lives on hanging in the balance, Jack stands in the middle of an event that could ignite a war on the edge of the Deadlands and Union Space.
Despite his exceptional abilities, training, and tenancy, even Jack has little to no chance of preventing this particular powder keg from exploding.
He's going to need a miracle.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2020
354 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 18, 2021
*** 3.5 ***
December 25, 2021
DEADLAND DRIFTER is a science fiction thriller with some cyberpunk elements. Burner is a former internal affairs officer for the military. After a bad dentist appointment results in him being kidnapped by terrorists and blackmailed into being an assassin, he joins with another secret agent to try to prevent the destruction of a space station. It is a fairly straight forward adventure but a lot of fun. The terrorists are not very smart and despite having eyes on Burner the entire time, pretty much let him roughshod over their plans. On the other hand, Burner is a likable enough guy and it's fun watching him tear their plan apart.
July 20, 2020
Poorly Done Plot, Shallow Characters
I’ve read two of the author’s series — the Earth Renegade one and the Gladius. Both started well, good books for the first three or four in the series. Then they both went downhill, IMO , as the author‘lost’ some of his best characters. He just didn’t keep them in play any longer , mentioning them a little here n there. Same w plot as both series got more outlandish, rabbits pulled out of thin air by author to save the day.
Here, he starts with a former intelligence operative who is coerced by ‘bad guys’ in assassinating an Admiral. The first contacts w the MC, and he’s following their instructions.... but I, as the reader, didn’t understand why he followed their instructions since he wasn’t threatened with any specific actions.
This was the basis of the plot, we eventually get specific threats but threats are based on MC’s character as a ‘good’, moral man. It’s a very big stretch, especially considering he was a good Intel operator and had a lot of options. Author kept plugging away w this plot and it never seemed right, believe-able.
The bad’ guys and their plot... I could guess what they were intending with the societal disruption they were planning. But the Author didn’t spend much time selling evil’ plot, nor why it was a reasonable plot to address... whatever the issues were. The plan was PRE YA — terror act, TV, uprising. Ah... Why? The character development of evil group was awful, even a tad pathetic.
Considering past, I expected at least one or two good books. This was badly done and there’s a reason why I haven’t read other books, series by him. Bad starts, if you read one series you then know who, how MC of any his other stories thinks, values and acts.
Which leads into my final comment. What the heck is a Renegade, why would anyone be one and it appears to be a job that everybody would love — no training, prerequisites required. Usually there’s crossover from our ‘real’ world and the SciFi, Fantasy stories... giving us a starting point of credibility prior to entering or understanding a new ‘universe’. So a Renegade is... a gangster of one? An arms smuggler who sells to the bad side, but he’s a nice guy? And let’s not forget every renegade has a KA woman. They’re dime a dozen, just like Crips, Bloods, College football stars.
I’ve read two of the author’s series — the Earth Renegade one and the Gladius. Both started well, good books for the first three or four in the series. Then they both went downhill, IMO , as the author‘lost’ some of his best characters. He just didn’t keep them in play any longer , mentioning them a little here n there. Same w plot as both series got more outlandish, rabbits pulled out of thin air by author to save the day.
Here, he starts with a former intelligence operative who is coerced by ‘bad guys’ in assassinating an Admiral. The first contacts w the MC, and he’s following their instructions.... but I, as the reader, didn’t understand why he followed their instructions since he wasn’t threatened with any specific actions.
This was the basis of the plot, we eventually get specific threats but threats are based on MC’s character as a ‘good’, moral man. It’s a very big stretch, especially considering he was a good Intel operator and had a lot of options. Author kept plugging away w this plot and it never seemed right, believe-able.
The bad’ guys and their plot... I could guess what they were intending with the societal disruption they were planning. But the Author didn’t spend much time selling evil’ plot, nor why it was a reasonable plot to address... whatever the issues were. The plan was PRE YA — terror act, TV, uprising. Ah... Why? The character development of evil group was awful, even a tad pathetic.
Considering past, I expected at least one or two good books. This was badly done and there’s a reason why I haven’t read other books, series by him. Bad starts, if you read one series you then know who, how MC of any his other stories thinks, values and acts.
Which leads into my final comment. What the heck is a Renegade, why would anyone be one and it appears to be a job that everybody would love — no training, prerequisites required. Usually there’s crossover from our ‘real’ world and the SciFi, Fantasy stories... giving us a starting point of credibility prior to entering or understanding a new ‘universe’. So a Renegade is... a gangster of one? An arms smuggler who sells to the bad side, but he’s a nice guy? And let’s not forget every renegade has a KA woman. They’re dime a dozen, just like Crips, Bloods, College football stars.
June 5, 2021
The first book in this series is... fine... but the second is trash.
I miss the days when J. N. Chaney books are generally serviceable time-wasters, at THE VERY LEAST. It seems like the general degradation started with The Messenger series. I've really loved the universe, for the most part, but it's REALLY gone downhill over the last couple years.
They used to be must-reads, but they've swerved from that recently. Until this point I haven't felt like I wasted my time by reading a Chaney book, even if I've felt disappointed.
That changed with the second half of this publisher's p[ack (AKA - the second book.)
Combat descriptions were DRASTICALLY bad, and this was basically a cop/spy novel that ignored everything about the collective universe other than the bare-bones.
I can't imagine this schlock published anywhere outside of a sheltered garden provided by a well-known indy author, and I'm not happy.
A character digs into a dead opponents pockets and finds... A COMBAT KNIFE!?! Wouldn't a combat knife not fit in a pocket, or at least be on a belt-sheath?
A character hears bullets arcing above him?
I could go on and on, but I won't.
The subject matter is worthy of deep consideration, but that's not what's present here.
Honestly, and I mean no disrespect to any women anywhere that have been abused nor treated badly by the places they go for help, (places like that for the psychologically hard-pressed and/or those feeling victimized are often not very nice places,) but the second book seemed, almost from back-to-front, like revenge fulfillment with little-to-no research nor literal value in the world it was crafted to exist in.
I realize that I should sh*t all over the second book rather than placing this review here, but I'd rather head off those thinking that they are in for another "decent" series in the Chaney Universe and letting them know the truth up-front, and I'd rather not repeat myself.
I miss the days when J. N. Chaney books are generally serviceable time-wasters, at THE VERY LEAST. It seems like the general degradation started with The Messenger series. I've really loved the universe, for the most part, but it's REALLY gone downhill over the last couple years.
They used to be must-reads, but they've swerved from that recently. Until this point I haven't felt like I wasted my time by reading a Chaney book, even if I've felt disappointed.
That changed with the second half of this publisher's p[ack (AKA - the second book.)
Combat descriptions were DRASTICALLY bad, and this was basically a cop/spy novel that ignored everything about the collective universe other than the bare-bones.
I can't imagine this schlock published anywhere outside of a sheltered garden provided by a well-known indy author, and I'm not happy.
A character digs into a dead opponents pockets and finds... A COMBAT KNIFE!?! Wouldn't a combat knife not fit in a pocket, or at least be on a belt-sheath?
A character hears bullets arcing above him?
I could go on and on, but I won't.
The subject matter is worthy of deep consideration, but that's not what's present here.
Honestly, and I mean no disrespect to any women anywhere that have been abused nor treated badly by the places they go for help, (places like that for the psychologically hard-pressed and/or those feeling victimized are often not very nice places,) but the second book seemed, almost from back-to-front, like revenge fulfillment with little-to-no research nor literal value in the world it was crafted to exist in.
I realize that I should sh*t all over the second book rather than placing this review here, but I'd rather head off those thinking that they are in for another "decent" series in the Chaney Universe and letting them know the truth up-front, and I'd rather not repeat myself.
May 2, 2023
_Deadland Drifter_ by J.N. Chaney receives four stars from me. I found the text to be a lot of fun and very engaging.
This was an audiobook so first the reader. Scott Aiello read this text, and he was superb. He has a deep resonant voice that matches the character well. Additionally, he used a great selection of voices for his characters. I found them all distinctive and believable. seriously, while I liked the book, I question was it the text or how the text was read that really pulled me in. For this boo, I'm going to side with the reader.
The book. So the book is fun. It is a good space opera, visiting a couple of planets, a space chase, some fighting (no battles in space though). Still, a solid space opera.
What I liked: loved the main character Jack Burner. He's careful, thoughtful, and open minded to partnering with a female. He doesn't treat her like a second class citizen while he does a man's work. They work well together, and I enjoyed that aspect of the novel a lot. I also like when he felt protective of her that he questioned this. This was realistic to me.
I liked the bad guy as well, Cyphar. (I'm not sure if that is how it is spelled, since I never saw the name.) Even though I liked the character, I would have liked to have seem more development with him. I would have liked to see more examples of his vanity, his pride. I think the author could have spent some time on that.
The other characters were fine and mostly there to do a purpose, which seems in keeping with the genre.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, yes I do--especially the audio version of it.
This was an audiobook so first the reader. Scott Aiello read this text, and he was superb. He has a deep resonant voice that matches the character well. Additionally, he used a great selection of voices for his characters. I found them all distinctive and believable. seriously, while I liked the book, I question was it the text or how the text was read that really pulled me in. For this boo, I'm going to side with the reader.
The book. So the book is fun. It is a good space opera, visiting a couple of planets, a space chase, some fighting (no battles in space though). Still, a solid space opera.
What I liked: loved the main character Jack Burner. He's careful, thoughtful, and open minded to partnering with a female. He doesn't treat her like a second class citizen while he does a man's work. They work well together, and I enjoyed that aspect of the novel a lot. I also like when he felt protective of her that he questioned this. This was realistic to me.
I liked the bad guy as well, Cyphar. (I'm not sure if that is how it is spelled, since I never saw the name.) Even though I liked the character, I would have liked to have seem more development with him. I would have liked to see more examples of his vanity, his pride. I think the author could have spent some time on that.
The other characters were fine and mostly there to do a purpose, which seems in keeping with the genre.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, yes I do--especially the audio version of it.
August 31, 2020
I was really excited to read this book. I'm a huge fan of Altered Carbon, and stories that combine both the mystery/thriller/crime genre and a sci-fi setting are definitely in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately, this book felt a bit like it was just trying to hit familiar, well-worn tropes and didn't really endeavor to do anything new or interesting. It read like the authors were trying to write to market and hit the highlights of both genres, but without actually being terribly invested in the actual story or characters beyond hitting the most familiar tropes.
The actual reading experience was pretty good. I've enjoyed a number of JN Chaney's books and will more than likely read several more. When he's dialed in, he writes really entertaining books. This one, however, just didn't click for me. I'm not sure I'll continue on with this series, though, because it felt a little overly long and didn't have that spark of originality that I look for in the sci-fi I read.
The actual reading experience was pretty good. I've enjoyed a number of JN Chaney's books and will more than likely read several more. When he's dialed in, he writes really entertaining books. This one, however, just didn't click for me. I'm not sure I'll continue on with this series, though, because it felt a little overly long and didn't have that spark of originality that I look for in the sci-fi I read.
May 20, 2020
Good book but like most of his books takes place in the same universe.
I enjoyed the series greatly. I find the protagonist very interesting. He isn’t anywhere close and physical prowess to another famous X military policeman, Jack would not have been caught or beaten so badly. As far as stitches are concerned to fix wounds that’s a little incongruous in an advanced science fiction book. After all you have hovering cars, slip gates, artificial intelligence why not medical advanced equipment. My other problem with this book and all his series are that they take place in the same universe, how about a different universe with better and snazzier science-fiction aspects. This book was a thriller, a lot less action than some of Mr. Cheney’s other series but well worth the read.
I enjoyed the series greatly. I find the protagonist very interesting. He isn’t anywhere close and physical prowess to another famous X military policeman, Jack would not have been caught or beaten so badly. As far as stitches are concerned to fix wounds that’s a little incongruous in an advanced science fiction book. After all you have hovering cars, slip gates, artificial intelligence why not medical advanced equipment. My other problem with this book and all his series are that they take place in the same universe, how about a different universe with better and snazzier science-fiction aspects. This book was a thriller, a lot less action than some of Mr. Cheney’s other series but well worth the read.
March 25, 2023
Not bad
Interesting introduction to the different spy organizations in the Renegade universe. I like how the authors had their take on Spy vs Spy, their philosophy, their training, and generally the type of personality required to be a space spook.
But i'm a bit confused. This story takes place +2000 years into the future of the Orion books, and yet the folks in the books run around with projectile guns instead of the particle plasters from their forefathers. We still have space ships going into Slipspace, hover crafts, and advanced media technologies, but for some unknown reason, weaponry went backyards.
Also, is it me or does the Union government sound a lot like the Alliance? i was waiting for Mel to sweep in on Serenity to save the day at any moment during the book.
Curious to see where all these backstory books lead lead to.
Interesting introduction to the different spy organizations in the Renegade universe. I like how the authors had their take on Spy vs Spy, their philosophy, their training, and generally the type of personality required to be a space spook.
But i'm a bit confused. This story takes place +2000 years into the future of the Orion books, and yet the folks in the books run around with projectile guns instead of the particle plasters from their forefathers. We still have space ships going into Slipspace, hover crafts, and advanced media technologies, but for some unknown reason, weaponry went backyards.
Also, is it me or does the Union government sound a lot like the Alliance? i was waiting for Mel to sweep in on Serenity to save the day at any moment during the book.
Curious to see where all these backstory books lead lead to.
November 28, 2025
Calling this a sci fi space opera doesn't do much to describe the great adventures that take place in the book. It is sort of like a Jack Reacher espionage action story and while there are hovering shuttles and laser guns, the sci fi part is a backdrop to the main storyline, which works well in this case.
Our hero was a military investigator who was told to leave the military because he was too goo0 at this job. He becomes a drifter and drifts into some situations where he takes action to help people out and bring justice to awful acts committed by bad actors.
The story is engaging and easy to follow. The adventures are fairly mild, but very entertaining. This is a great series for casual reading.
Our hero was a military investigator who was told to leave the military because he was too goo0 at this job. He becomes a drifter and drifts into some situations where he takes action to help people out and bring justice to awful acts committed by bad actors.
The story is engaging and easy to follow. The adventures are fairly mild, but very entertaining. This is a great series for casual reading.
February 22, 2021
A Special Ops Mission set in a distant Galaxy and Time
A fast paced story set in a distant Galaxy; retired Union Special Operative Jack Burner has a dental emergency whilst out in the far reaches of space, he finds a dentist on an out of the way planet who can operate at short notice only to wake up as the prisoner of a terrorist group who blackmail him into carrying out an assassination on a Senior Union Admiral, can Jack defeat the terrorists and save the Admirals life? Well worth a read.
A fast paced story set in a distant Galaxy; retired Union Special Operative Jack Burner has a dental emergency whilst out in the far reaches of space, he finds a dentist on an out of the way planet who can operate at short notice only to wake up as the prisoner of a terrorist group who blackmail him into carrying out an assassination on a Senior Union Admiral, can Jack defeat the terrorists and save the Admirals life? Well worth a read.
June 5, 2020
A strong story that moves along at pace, the major characters are well fleshed out and there are more than enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. This is longer than most books I’ve read by either author but doesn’t feel like short book that’s been extended, plot lines at the start follow through to the end. I certainly did feel the need to “scan”.
If you’re unfamiliar with either author this is a good introduction to their work.
All in all a very enjoyable and satisfying book.
If you’re unfamiliar with either author this is a good introduction to their work.
All in all a very enjoyable and satisfying book.
May 17, 2020
A top five book of the year for me!
I loved this book. As a huge fan of espionage thrillers and space opera, this was perfect. It follows Jack Burner, a former intelligence officer who now drifts from system to system, doing whatever he pleases. Unfortunately, he’s pulled into an assassination plot, but that’s only the beginning of his troubles.
I loved this book. As a huge fan of espionage thrillers and space opera, this was perfect. It follows Jack Burner, a former intelligence officer who now drifts from system to system, doing whatever he pleases. Unfortunately, he’s pulled into an assassination plot, but that’s only the beginning of his troubles.
June 1, 2020
Intriguing
Quite an interesting book. You can tell a lot of forethought, planning, and research went into this book. It makes the book not only enjoyable to read, but more believable characters that rely on intellect, experience, probability and luck to work out what appear to be insurmountable challenges.
Quite an interesting book. You can tell a lot of forethought, planning, and research went into this book. It makes the book not only enjoyable to read, but more believable characters that rely on intellect, experience, probability and luck to work out what appear to be insurmountable challenges.
August 6, 2020
A good solid spy story... In the future.
For fans of the spy genre, James Bond, Burne, Richer, this is an excellent choice.
While not fast paced, it takes care of all the little details that make a great story.
It would be a fantastic one of it didn't end on a cliff hanger, but it is a series.
All in all, a very good enjoyable book.
For fans of the spy genre, James Bond, Burne, Richer, this is an excellent choice.
While not fast paced, it takes care of all the little details that make a great story.
It would be a fantastic one of it didn't end on a cliff hanger, but it is a series.
All in all, a very good enjoyable book.
April 2, 2023
Pretty interesting sci-fi detective story
The MC is an interesting character, being a retired intelligence operative working for a large and correspondingly corrupt polity. Yet he has managed to retain his desire to protect the populace. Teaming up with another agent, called a constable, they work to identify and thwart a terrorist plot.
The MC is an interesting character, being a retired intelligence operative working for a large and correspondingly corrupt polity. Yet he has managed to retain his desire to protect the populace. Teaming up with another agent, called a constable, they work to identify and thwart a terrorist plot.
May 25, 2020
Deadland Drifter interesting and engaging story that will keep you in your seat!
You’ll be on the Edge of your seat throughout. Anxious for book two! Chaney and Clarke have put out an awesome book!
You’ll be on the Edge of your seat throughout. Anxious for book two! Chaney and Clarke have put out an awesome book!
May 29, 2020
Nice teamwork
Y'all have scored a touchdown with this one!! Have read both of your works before and together you really seem to write as one! Can't wait till june for follow up book!!!!
Y'all have scored a touchdown with this one!! Have read both of your works before and together you really seem to write as one! Can't wait till june for follow up book!!!!
June 4, 2020
Fantastic
Well what a great storyline reminds me of Jack Reacher drifter with a heart of gold and knuckles of steel lol. I hope that was not t the last we will see of Constable Nolan lol.. I am really looking forward to book 2
Well what a great storyline reminds me of Jack Reacher drifter with a heart of gold and knuckles of steel lol. I hope that was not t the last we will see of Constable Nolan lol.. I am really looking forward to book 2
September 12, 2020
Good
Once again thank God for Kindle unlimited. Not what I expected. Not necessarily a bad book or story, but not something that I would have spent money on and then felt good about.
Once again thank God for Kindle unlimited. Not what I expected. Not necessarily a bad book or story, but not something that I would have spent money on and then felt good about.
July 23, 2021
Author has the annoying habit of retelling the same story from a different character's pov. It adds nothing to the story.
Lots of tell rather than show.
Also, they scanned for bugs several times and didn't find one that would have definitely showed up. Inconsistent.
Lots of tell rather than show.
Also, they scanned for bugs several times and didn't find one that would have definitely showed up. Inconsistent.
July 29, 2021
I liked the characters, the evil guy was really evil, the good guys saints. A plot is a plot, good bad or indifferent, this was OK. I had it on my phone with the Kindle app, a great easy read page turner when I was waiting for this or that.
November 11, 2023
Very slow start
2.5 The ending of this story was good and very satisfying, but the first half to three quarters was slow and hard to get through. It needed more action and a faster pace.
2.5 The ending of this story was good and very satisfying, but the first half to three quarters was slow and hard to get through. It needed more action and a faster pace.
June 8, 2020
Plenty of action.
Plenty of action. Good cast of characters with plenty of intrigue and twists to keep you interested. Always enjoyable to find a new world to explore.
Plenty of action. Good cast of characters with plenty of intrigue and twists to keep you interested. Always enjoyable to find a new world to explore.
June 10, 2020
Spook stuff
Someone unfit into a common perception box is always interesting and needed. Someone like Jack Burner, who straddle the line between anarchic chaos and stiffling order.
Someone unfit into a common perception box is always interesting and needed. Someone like Jack Burner, who straddle the line between anarchic chaos and stiffling order.
June 22, 2020
Great
A good sci fi thriller with a couple of good major charachters that sre interesting but not too over the top
A good sci fi thriller with a couple of good major charachters that sre interesting but not too over the top
dnf-not-for-me
June 26, 20201/10: Couldn't get past the first few chapters; not for me.
July 1, 2020
The Goals of a Psychopath
This blog is a cliff-hanger throughout. Tenacious, rugged, and sometimes soft hearted, Burner is a well scripted hero.
But the book, you will enjoy it.😁
This blog is a cliff-hanger throughout. Tenacious, rugged, and sometimes soft hearted, Burner is a well scripted hero.
But the book, you will enjoy it.😁
July 19, 2020
Exciting!
A fast paced, action packed, very good book that will hold your attention until the last page. Definitely worth investing your time in this series.
A fast paced, action packed, very good book that will hold your attention until the last page. Definitely worth investing your time in this series.
August 16, 2020
Mack Bolan in Space
Unimaginative, derivative, and simple - give a monkey a spy novel, have him write it in space. Badda bing badda boom: Deadland Drifter.
Unimaginative, derivative, and simple - give a monkey a spy novel, have him write it in space. Badda bing badda boom: Deadland Drifter.
August 20, 2020
Just ok
The characters were predictable, and their motivations to jump from a comfortable life into danger were very weak. Otherwise it was fast paced and not a bad read.
The characters were predictable, and their motivations to jump from a comfortable life into danger were very weak. Otherwise it was fast paced and not a bad read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews