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Shadowrun Novels #76
Shadowrun: Blackbird Two: Combined Exercises
NEVER STOP TRAINING...
Dashiell Red Clay's days on the field and at basic combat training might be behind him, but his life as a Salish Ranger has just begun...and there’s a lethal learning curve! Only life in The Sixth World can teach Dash what it means to be a member of the Salish Boat Service, what it means to serve your country, and what the word “country” even stands for in the fractured continents of Shadowrun's dark future.
Red Clay and his Rangers will clash with street gangs and elite soldiers alike, from the enigmatic, elven Ghosts to the legendary Wildcats of the NAN plains. Life will throw notorious mercenaries at him, cutthroat thrill-gangers, pride and shame, danger and love, and maybe even a street legend or two. From the barren mountains of Afghanistan to the filthy streets of Seattle, from the 2040s to the 2060s, from matters of the heart to tests of loyalty, Dash will face dangers Yakima never trained him for and threats “the book” never saw coming!
The Blackbird series is a short novel trilogy with strong military, Shadowrun-historical, and Native American Nation themes. Fans of the Kincaid series will enjoy a first-person narrative exploring the history of the Sixth World through Dash’s eyes as he experiences the world of shadowrunners from a perspective a half-step removed from the shadows...on the battlefield, not the streets, as paramilitary action spills from one famous conflict to the next, spanning decades and three action-packed stories.
Dashiell Red Clay's days on the field and at basic combat training might be behind him, but his life as a Salish Ranger has just begun...and there’s a lethal learning curve! Only life in The Sixth World can teach Dash what it means to be a member of the Salish Boat Service, what it means to serve your country, and what the word “country” even stands for in the fractured continents of Shadowrun's dark future.
Red Clay and his Rangers will clash with street gangs and elite soldiers alike, from the enigmatic, elven Ghosts to the legendary Wildcats of the NAN plains. Life will throw notorious mercenaries at him, cutthroat thrill-gangers, pride and shame, danger and love, and maybe even a street legend or two. From the barren mountains of Afghanistan to the filthy streets of Seattle, from the 2040s to the 2060s, from matters of the heart to tests of loyalty, Dash will face dangers Yakima never trained him for and threats “the book” never saw coming!
The Blackbird series is a short novel trilogy with strong military, Shadowrun-historical, and Native American Nation themes. Fans of the Kincaid series will enjoy a first-person narrative exploring the history of the Sixth World through Dash’s eyes as he experiences the world of shadowrunners from a perspective a half-step removed from the shadows...on the battlefield, not the streets, as paramilitary action spills from one famous conflict to the next, spanning decades and three action-packed stories.
- GenresCyberpunk
159 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2022
5 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Russell Zimmerman
45 books46 followersRussell ("Rusty" when he's not working) got started in writing as a freelancer for wargames like Warmachine, and since then has contributed to dozens of projects including fan-favorite fiction in Shadowrun and writing the international award-winning PC game Satellite Reign.
His most noteworthy work has been for the Shadowrun role-playing game and associated properties, and in more recent years he's become a regular contributor to the universes of BattleTech and Warhammer 40,000, as well.
During his career he's spilled some ink for a wide variety of genres and games, including Vampire 20th Anniversary, Earthdawn, Mutants & Masterminds, Gangs of the Undercity, multiple video games, and more! By working for Shadowrun, BattleTech, and Earthdawn, he's finished the old-school FASA trifecta, and is as such officially unstoppable.
His most noteworthy work has been for the Shadowrun role-playing game and associated properties, and in more recent years he's become a regular contributor to the universes of BattleTech and Warhammer 40,000, as well.
During his career he's spilled some ink for a wide variety of genres and games, including Vampire 20th Anniversary, Earthdawn, Mutants & Masterminds, Gangs of the Undercity, multiple video games, and more! By working for Shadowrun, BattleTech, and Earthdawn, he's finished the old-school FASA trifecta, and is as such officially unstoppable.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 27, 2023
I absolutely love the Blackbird series of novellas.
I'm biased, I am a long term fan of Shadowrun and Zimmerman.
So if you liked book 1, book 2 will be enjoyable, but it is different in flow.
The first book was more detailed and spent more pages in places and times.
Book 2 has around 20 years to cover and jumps forward a few years every chapter and changes places.
That said, it does a good job of having a through line, recurring characters and cameos of very young Shadowrunners.
The book is very sex and queer positive and our protagonist likes to get in the sheets without being graphic about it.
The Combat scenes are exciting and well done.
I only have 2 complaints and both are minor.
Clerical Errors: less than many of the new Shadowrun books, but still a few more than most publishers.
He does a drop into the Cascades that he says he was hand picked for and is super excited and then... it skips it. However, they go back to this in the first chapter of Book 3 and it is very satisfying.
I just wish it was 3 books and not 3 novellas...
I'm biased, I am a long term fan of Shadowrun and Zimmerman.
So if you liked book 1, book 2 will be enjoyable, but it is different in flow.
The first book was more detailed and spent more pages in places and times.
Book 2 has around 20 years to cover and jumps forward a few years every chapter and changes places.
That said, it does a good job of having a through line, recurring characters and cameos of very young Shadowrunners.
The book is very sex and queer positive and our protagonist likes to get in the sheets without being graphic about it.
The Combat scenes are exciting and well done.
I only have 2 complaints and both are minor.
Clerical Errors: less than many of the new Shadowrun books, but still a few more than most publishers.
He does a drop into the Cascades that he says he was hand picked for and is super excited and then... it skips it. However, they go back to this in the first chapter of Book 3 and it is very satisfying.
I just wish it was 3 books and not 3 novellas...
September 21, 2022
Read this book in a day!
Thank God, Gaia, and Gitch Manitou that I had the flu and thus felt like lazing about today; I got to hang out with Chief Dash Red Clay and enjoy the second installment of his adventure!
Definitely worth a read. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank God, Gaia, and Gitch Manitou that I had the flu and thus felt like lazing about today; I got to hang out with Chief Dash Red Clay and enjoy the second installment of his adventure!
Definitely worth a read. I can’t wait for the next book!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews