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Hit World #1
The Trashman
Everything you don’t believe…is real. Steed learned that the hard way.
When the 9-11 attacks wiped out America’s government, and the timid remnants refused to commit the US military, patriotic mercenaries went abroad to hunt down those responsible. They were the LifeEnders, who executed the responsible terrorists on live pay-TV.
Seeking to lessen the crime rate back home, the government allowed them to form LifeEnders, Inc., to perform contract killings for anyone who could afford to hire them. But only licensed Shooters could accept a contract, which ensured the government got their cut.
After fighting overseas to avenge his wounded country, Duncan Steed built a lucrative LifeEnders franchise and lived well. Until he fell in love with the wrong woman. After that, nothing ever made sense again.
When Steed breaks the one unbreakable rule of Shooters—for love, naturally—he quickly discovers that reality bears no resemblance to what he’s been taught. The first hint is when the orange rhino charges through a rip in the sky…
When the 9-11 attacks wiped out America’s government, and the timid remnants refused to commit the US military, patriotic mercenaries went abroad to hunt down those responsible. They were the LifeEnders, who executed the responsible terrorists on live pay-TV.
Seeking to lessen the crime rate back home, the government allowed them to form LifeEnders, Inc., to perform contract killings for anyone who could afford to hire them. But only licensed Shooters could accept a contract, which ensured the government got their cut.
After fighting overseas to avenge his wounded country, Duncan Steed built a lucrative LifeEnders franchise and lived well. Until he fell in love with the wrong woman. After that, nothing ever made sense again.
When Steed breaks the one unbreakable rule of Shooters—for love, naturally—he quickly discovers that reality bears no resemblance to what he’s been taught. The first hint is when the orange rhino charges through a rip in the sky…
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2021
78 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
William Alan Webb
197 books107 followersWinner of the 2024 Imadjinn Award!
Winner of the 2021 Imadjinn Award!
Finalist for a second 2021 Imadjinn Award!
Winner of the 2020 Darrell Award!
Finalist for a second 2020 Darrell Award!
Winner of the 2019 Imadjinn Award!
Winner of the 2018 Darrell Award!
A Southern boy through and through, Bill spent his entire life learning how to tell stories. It's all Bill ever wanted to do, to inspire and entertain people the way his favorite authors did for him.
Over the years he has developed a unique writing style, or 'Voice', of which he is very proud, with the objective of trying to always entertain his readers.
After graduating from the University of Memphis with dual concentrations in History and Creative Writing, Bill has been published in such diverse magazines as Tied in a Bow (for Wedding planning) and World War II. His books include both non-fiction and fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 26, 2021
Good first book in series
Decided to read this while waiting for next book in Brigade series. Took me a bit to get into it, but I did. I enjoyed it and will be looking for next book in series, as long as I find it after the next Last Brigade book. Hint
Seriously, it was different from what I expected but a very fun read. The whole concept was well done, well written and some very interesting characters.
Thanks Bill. Ill send some liniment for your hands.
Decided to read this while waiting for next book in Brigade series. Took me a bit to get into it, but I did. I enjoyed it and will be looking for next book in series, as long as I find it after the next Last Brigade book. Hint
Seriously, it was different from what I expected but a very fun read. The whole concept was well done, well written and some very interesting characters.
Thanks Bill. Ill send some liniment for your hands.
April 21, 2021
Great Read
This universe is outstanding! The characters are rich and fully developed and the story is day paced. I really recommend this book.
This universe is outstanding! The characters are rich and fully developed and the story is day paced. I really recommend this book.
January 15, 2021
You liked Jon Wick ?
You liked Men in Black?
You enjoy Noir?
Then, go buy the Trashman!
It is noir, with lots of action, interesting characters, many, many twists, and many of those unexpected!
The MC is a bit irritating at first but you get used to him and his idiosyncrasies and well, soon enough, you like him, as his many foibles make him human, deadly, yes, but also very human!.
Highly recommended.
You liked Men in Black?
You enjoy Noir?
Then, go buy the Trashman!
It is noir, with lots of action, interesting characters, many, many twists, and many of those unexpected!
The MC is a bit irritating at first but you get used to him and his idiosyncrasies and well, soon enough, you like him, as his many foibles make him human, deadly, yes, but also very human!.
Highly recommended.
October 25, 2021
This one's a fast-paced blend of mercenary action and urban fantasy with *just enough* weirdness to make it stand out from the rest of its crowd. It does take some time for it to sort its identity out; the true depth of the fantastical elements don't become obvious until literally halfway through the book, and until that's smoothed out, they often seem out of place and chaotic in a book that, until that point, otherwise reads like a straightforward hardassed merc novel.
Once the logic of the world is applied to that chaos, though - i.e. once the main character, Steed, learns all the details of what exactly he's getting into - it becomes a nonstop, smooth read right through to the end. And while the ending is rather abrupt, the novel ties itself up nicely while also leaving many interesting questions to be answered in later books. I mean, we're talking about a world in which giant orange rhinos burst through rips in time and space to wreck face in our universe simply because they think Earth things taste good. Among other things. There's plenty of weird to be explained in other books, and I'm all for it.
Still, a thing worth noting for some readers: Pretty much all of the women in this book are femme fatales, or at the very least described like them, A LOT. Granted, they're awesome badasses, too (and the main character's relationships with them are more complex than one would initially expect from his descriptions), but readers who have strong opinions about the male gaze will have to jump that hurdle to enjoy this book. Once I figured out that it was an intentional Bond Girl-style trope, it didn't bother me - after all, there's a significant 007 vibe to much of the novel - and Steed's relationships with them are portrayed in unexpected and interesting ways, but until it became clear that that was the case, I found it hard to become fully invested in his story.
Overall, though, it was a fun, wild blast of a popcorn read, excellent for readers who like insane combinations of disparate genres.
Once the logic of the world is applied to that chaos, though - i.e. once the main character, Steed, learns all the details of what exactly he's getting into - it becomes a nonstop, smooth read right through to the end. And while the ending is rather abrupt, the novel ties itself up nicely while also leaving many interesting questions to be answered in later books. I mean, we're talking about a world in which giant orange rhinos burst through rips in time and space to wreck face in our universe simply because they think Earth things taste good. Among other things. There's plenty of weird to be explained in other books, and I'm all for it.
Still, a thing worth noting for some readers: Pretty much all of the women in this book are femme fatales, or at the very least described like them, A LOT. Granted, they're awesome badasses, too (and the main character's relationships with them are more complex than one would initially expect from his descriptions), but readers who have strong opinions about the male gaze will have to jump that hurdle to enjoy this book. Once I figured out that it was an intentional Bond Girl-style trope, it didn't bother me - after all, there's a significant 007 vibe to much of the novel - and Steed's relationships with them are portrayed in unexpected and interesting ways, but until it became clear that that was the case, I found it hard to become fully invested in his story.
Overall, though, it was a fun, wild blast of a popcorn read, excellent for readers who like insane combinations of disparate genres.
December 30, 2021
What a strange journey
Wow! This book is a trip. It was everything, immortality, magic, talking orangutans, mafia, secret organizations, multiverses plural, action, explosions, sarcastic humor, and oh so much more. For my money it reminds me in part of Douglas Adams and Piers Anthony. Just a hint though, a very subtle tiny taste as it were. One of the strangest books I have ever read. But good. And maybe moreso than good, interesting. So many twists and turns and yet ultimately wrapped up into a conclusion. And maybe on thing that sticks in my admittedly weird mind is the oh so brief, completely not important in any way to the book as a whole, is the angry gravid water moccasin.
Wow! This book is a trip. It was everything, immortality, magic, talking orangutans, mafia, secret organizations, multiverses plural, action, explosions, sarcastic humor, and oh so much more. For my money it reminds me in part of Douglas Adams and Piers Anthony. Just a hint though, a very subtle tiny taste as it were. One of the strangest books I have ever read. But good. And maybe moreso than good, interesting. So many twists and turns and yet ultimately wrapped up into a conclusion. And maybe on thing that sticks in my admittedly weird mind is the oh so brief, completely not important in any way to the book as a whole, is the angry gravid water moccasin.
February 7, 2021
Interesting but outside my normal reading.
This was interesting but outside my taste range. Love this authors books so I will keep reading them. The ideas in this seemed interesting.
This was interesting but outside my taste range. Love this authors books so I will keep reading them. The ideas in this seemed interesting.
December 16, 2021
Hitmen and UF combined in one awesome story!
The world is so much bigger and stranger than Steed could ever have imagined. This book is a wild ride, so gear up and hold on tight, folks. It's gonna get bumpy.
The world is so much bigger and stranger than Steed could ever have imagined. This book is a wild ride, so gear up and hold on tight, folks. It's gonna get bumpy.
May 27, 2022
High octane and highly imaginative
Mr. Webb has created something weird and wonderfully entertaining. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the story turned out to be exciting and definitely full of unexpected surprises. I enjoyed it very much!
Mr. Webb has created something weird and wonderfully entertaining. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the story turned out to be exciting and definitely full of unexpected surprises. I enjoyed it very much!
March 13, 2022
SO original!
I loved this! It may be the most creative book I've read in years. It's like Sam Spade meets Hitchhiker's Guide.
I loved this! It may be the most creative book I've read in years. It's like Sam Spade meets Hitchhiker's Guide.
November 9, 2022
Loved it
I imagine Steed played by Bruce Campbell.i need more stories about him. Can't wait to start book 2. Thank you
I imagine Steed played by Bruce Campbell.i need more stories about him. Can't wait to start book 2. Thank you
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews