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Tatsu Yamada #1
Sign of the Dragon
The world is run by powerful artificial intelligences. After the plagues and wars, the only nation remaining under human control is an increasingly urbanised Japan, now reluctantly harbouring refugees from many other countries.
In the Chiba Refugee Zone, the best Sergeant Tatsu Yamada of the Tokyo–Yokohama Metropolitan Police Department can hope for is that things don’t get measurably worse.
In the Chiba Refugee Zone, the best Sergeant Tatsu Yamada of the Tokyo–Yokohama Metropolitan Police Department can hope for is that things don’t get measurably worse.
- GenresScience FictionLGBT
ebook
First published March 23, 2021
40 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books293 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 10, 2021
Tatsu’s job is to police one of the more disreputable suburbs of a dystopian Tokyo, when a series of murders threatens to cause open warfare. Her investigation is very hit and miss and I wasn’t impressed with her detective skills. She had quite a bit of information to work with, but didn’t put any of it together or speculate about possible candidates. It became so obvious who was the culprit that I was sure this was a ‘red herring’ and the author would have a clever twist at the end. He didn’t!
The book is a bit of a mixture of Aneka Jansen and Fox Meridian, which was fine as I enjoyed these two characters, but although Tatsu is quite interesting, and lethal in combat, she didn’t ‘grab me’ the same as Aneka. Maybe she will grow on me and if she develops better investigatory skills in the next book, I may revise my opinion.
The book is a bit of a mixture of Aneka Jansen and Fox Meridian, which was fine as I enjoyed these two characters, but although Tatsu is quite interesting, and lethal in combat, she didn’t ‘grab me’ the same as Aneka. Maybe she will grow on me and if she develops better investigatory skills in the next book, I may revise my opinion.
March 26, 2021
If I hadn't already met Fox, Aneka and some of Mr. Teasdale's other characters, I would probably be giving this book 4*. But I have, so a star is deducted for the recycled main character.
May 16, 2021
Pulpish fiction
I find Mr Teasdale’s writing interesting because he develops worlds that are complex and fascinating.
This is a police drama with an SF overlay. Lethal Weapon or Bad Boys type, with criminal gangs and drug lords. A bit of Robocop and some futuristic tech complicate things sufficiently to make it interesting. Odd that the two major crimes are not related other than by the detective, but it keeps the narrative character-centric.
The graphic lesbian sex fetish is a distraction from the plot, though it does add an earthy, raw note to the character.
Clean prose, with no glaring typos. One odd out of character utterance that felt more European/Catholic/High Church than I expected from a Japanese police sergeant.
This looks like a decent new series. I hope the technical aspect is developed more in the next book, but I look forward to it either way.
I find Mr Teasdale’s writing interesting because he develops worlds that are complex and fascinating.
This is a police drama with an SF overlay. Lethal Weapon or Bad Boys type, with criminal gangs and drug lords. A bit of Robocop and some futuristic tech complicate things sufficiently to make it interesting. Odd that the two major crimes are not related other than by the detective, but it keeps the narrative character-centric.
The graphic lesbian sex fetish is a distraction from the plot, though it does add an earthy, raw note to the character.
Clean prose, with no glaring typos. One odd out of character utterance that felt more European/Catholic/High Church than I expected from a Japanese police sergeant.
This looks like a decent new series. I hope the technical aspect is developed more in the next book, but I look forward to it either way.
April 10, 2021
I liked it like I like all Niall Teasdale books.
But.
The overall story here is a murder case and I did not feel like thee was much investigation at all. The murderer is noticed by the MC several times and is also the only character introduced that has the correct skills, but is otherwise comletely ignored until the end.
That's propably the one issue I've had with Niall's detective books, the bad guy is usually only caught when he has run his course, not because the MC figured out something smart.
But.
The overall story here is a murder case and I did not feel like thee was much investigation at all. The murderer is noticed by the MC several times and is also the only character introduced that has the correct skills, but is otherwise comletely ignored until the end.
That's propably the one issue I've had with Niall's detective books, the bad guy is usually only caught when he has run his course, not because the MC figured out something smart.
August 17, 2021
The world setting for this book is not a particularly nice one. The blurb description also doesn't do it justice. In the end it is a really good story up to authors standards with a protagonist worthy of the tradition set by Aneka Jenson and Fox Meridian. If you like either of those series you'll enjoy.
March 25, 2021
Another amazing book!
I love Niall's stories and this one did not disappoint. I can't wait for the next in the series to come out.
I love Niall's stories and this one did not disappoint. I can't wait for the next in the series to come out.
March 25, 2021
Another good read
I’ve read all of Naill Teasdale’s books this is another entertaining book. I look forward to the next instalment in this new series.
I’ve read all of Naill Teasdale’s books this is another entertaining book. I look forward to the next instalment in this new series.
March 31, 2021
Murder in techno-punk Japan
This book entertains and does it well. I have to admit that I figured out the mystery before the big reveal, but I still liked the story.
This book entertains and does it well. I have to admit that I figured out the mystery before the big reveal, but I still liked the story.
June 18, 2021
As always niall is great
As the start of a new series this one promises to be an amazing one. As always the next one can't get here soon enough. I'll just have to suffer for now
As the start of a new series this one promises to be an amazing one. As always the next one can't get here soon enough. I'll just have to suffer for now
July 25, 2021
Ghost in a shell like
Good read story is very compelling and works well ,but gets a bit far out in parts .but a very good read
Good read story is very compelling and works well ,but gets a bit far out in parts .but a very good read
May 15, 2021
A dystopian cyberpunk police story 3.5 stars.
The world is mostly a dystopian wasteland with only a few pockets of function society left. Tatsu is a cyborg police officer in the Chiba Refugee Zone one, one of Japans poorer neighborhoods. With death and vice a common occurrence Tatsu works hard to maintain order. A thing made significantly more difficult now that some important and infamous people start dying along with the usual numbers.
In all this novel can be summarized as: familiar elements in a new setting, by Niall Teasdale. Written as a replacement for Teadale's earlier Fox Meridian series, this book looks like a good opening for a good replacement. There are some familiar vibes, mixed in with the new setting and a rather more grittier main character.
I'm interested to see where this series goes next.
The world is mostly a dystopian wasteland with only a few pockets of function society left. Tatsu is a cyborg police officer in the Chiba Refugee Zone one, one of Japans poorer neighborhoods. With death and vice a common occurrence Tatsu works hard to maintain order. A thing made significantly more difficult now that some important and infamous people start dying along with the usual numbers.
In all this novel can be summarized as: familiar elements in a new setting, by Niall Teasdale. Written as a replacement for Teadale's earlier Fox Meridian series, this book looks like a good opening for a good replacement. There are some familiar vibes, mixed in with the new setting and a rather more grittier main character.
I'm interested to see where this series goes next.
December 7, 2025
good book
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. I can’t wait to pick up the next one in a few minutes.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. I can’t wait to pick up the next one in a few minutes.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews