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Shadow Warrior Trilogy #1
The Wind After Time
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Ten years had passed since mankind had won the Great War. The dreaded Al'ar, loathsome aliens who killed by mere sight or touch, had been vanquished. Now they were gone, forgotten, and humanity was free to expand throughout the galaxy.
But one man remembered. Joshua Wolfe had been a hero of the Great War. He had lived with the Al'ar first as a friend and then as a prisoner. He knew their ways, knew their disciplines, knew how to kill as they killed.
And Joshua Wolfe was the only man who knew that the conflict was not over.
Before the Great War, in a time of friendship, the Al'ar had given him a Shadow Warrior. Now he would fulfill its lethal promise...
Ten years had passed since mankind had won the Great War. The dreaded Al'ar, loathsome aliens who killed by mere sight or touch, had been vanquished. Now they were gone, forgotten, and humanity was free to expand throughout the galaxy.
But one man remembered. Joshua Wolfe had been a hero of the Great War. He had lived with the Al'ar first as a friend and then as a prisoner. He knew their ways, knew their disciplines, knew how to kill as they killed.
And Joshua Wolfe was the only man who knew that the conflict was not over.
Before the Great War, in a time of friendship, the Al'ar had given him a Shadow Warrior. Now he would fulfill its lethal promise...
263 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 31, 1996
7 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Chris Bunch
86 books130 followersChristopher R. "Chris" Bunch was an American science fiction, fantasy and television writer, who wrote and co-wrote about thirty novels.
Born in Fresno, California, he collaborated with Allan Cole on a series of books involving a hero named Sten in a galactic empire. (Cole married Bunch's sister, Kathryn.) He served in Vietnam as a patrol leader. He also wrote for Rolling Stone and was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes. He died in his hometown of Ilwaco, Washington, after a long battle with a lung ailment.
Born in Fresno, California, he collaborated with Allan Cole on a series of books involving a hero named Sten in a galactic empire. (Cole married Bunch's sister, Kathryn.) He served in Vietnam as a patrol leader. He also wrote for Rolling Stone and was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes. He died in his hometown of Ilwaco, Washington, after a long battle with a lung ailment.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 30, 2025
Džeimsas Bondas fantastiniame setinge.
May 2, 2020
A fast fun romp that reminded me of 'golden age' scifi, warts and all. Our MC was the child of an ambassador to an alien race for three years before the aliens attacked humanity. Humans have a vast empire in space and after a bloody battle, the aliens just disappeared. Our MC now works as a bounty hunter for FI (Federation Intelligence) and we are introduced to him as he is preparing to serve a warrant to someone on the fringe of human space.
Definitely not an epic piece of world building here, and the gender relations are straight out of 50s space opera (manly man and submissive women, etc.). If you can get past this, it is a decent piece of escapist literature I enjoyed in these pandemic times. 2.5 stars, but rounding to 3
Definitely not an epic piece of world building here, and the gender relations are straight out of 50s space opera (manly man and submissive women, etc.). If you can get past this, it is a decent piece of escapist literature I enjoyed in these pandemic times. 2.5 stars, but rounding to 3
April 12, 2022
Owned it for years, finally read it. Plenty of action.
October 24, 2017
This book was hard to put down action from one chapter to the other
A fun short read it was action 1 chapter to the next, I read to fall asleep and it did not work a lot. I had to see what happens next
A fun short read it was action 1 chapter to the next, I read to fall asleep and it did not work a lot. I had to see what happens next
February 5, 2014
this is why I love e-books
Stuck in an airport with a 5 hour delay? No problem to find something to read - just check the archive or download something new. Got most of this finished before the plane touched down.
In a time far in the future when man has explored much of the galaxy, this book takes place. There are some familiar items:
A war has just taken place between another species and humankind. The humans have won and the enemy have "disappeared."
Wolfe, our protagonist, might be a rogue James Bond in this universe, and the story is told much as Ian Fleming would have done so. Wolfe, was captured by the enemy, and escaped to help in their demise.
There is plenty of action, and its not too repetitive.
There are "outlaw worlds" and Federation heavies to contend with.
There is enough "Firefly" attitude in the storytelling to keep it interesting.
Each world we encounter is different and Bunch shows some careful thinking about what effects those differences might have on the plot.
There is a kind of magic energy associated with some alien artifacts that become incorporated into the story.
The story continues beyond this book. Will I follow? When is my next delay in transit?
The story continues beyond this book.
Stuck in an airport with a 5 hour delay? No problem to find something to read - just check the archive or download something new. Got most of this finished before the plane touched down.
In a time far in the future when man has explored much of the galaxy, this book takes place. There are some familiar items:
A war has just taken place between another species and humankind. The humans have won and the enemy have "disappeared."
Wolfe, our protagonist, might be a rogue James Bond in this universe, and the story is told much as Ian Fleming would have done so. Wolfe, was captured by the enemy, and escaped to help in their demise.
There is plenty of action, and its not too repetitive.
There are "outlaw worlds" and Federation heavies to contend with.
There is enough "Firefly" attitude in the storytelling to keep it interesting.
Each world we encounter is different and Bunch shows some careful thinking about what effects those differences might have on the plot.
There is a kind of magic energy associated with some alien artifacts that become incorporated into the story.
The story continues beyond this book. Will I follow? When is my next delay in transit?
The story continues beyond this book.
September 22, 2012
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book - sometimes it seems rare to get a very competent and strong protagonist, but I got one from Winds After Time. While he was basically a better fighter and survivor than most everyone around him, he still had challenges to overcome (just of a different type).
Another thing I liked is that the point of view did not jump around, despite the 3rd person writing. I was always following the main character, not bouncing around seeing what his friends were doing. I like observing the world just from one guy - it makes me connect and view the world the way he does. You don't get the frustrating "I saw this happen but the main character doesn't know about it" thing.
The writing was also pretty good - better than a lot of fantasy novels I've read recently.
(Note: there are a fair amount of fights, if you don't like that.)
I really enjoyed this book - sometimes it seems rare to get a very competent and strong protagonist, but I got one from Winds After Time. While he was basically a better fighter and survivor than most everyone around him, he still had challenges to overcome (just of a different type).
Another thing I liked is that the point of view did not jump around, despite the 3rd person writing. I was always following the main character, not bouncing around seeing what his friends were doing. I like observing the world just from one guy - it makes me connect and view the world the way he does. You don't get the frustrating "I saw this happen but the main character doesn't know about it" thing.
The writing was also pretty good - better than a lot of fantasy novels I've read recently.
(Note: there are a fair amount of fights, if you don't like that.)
January 25, 2011
I really liked this book, it reminded me of the TV show Firefly.
It tells the story of Joshua Wolfe and his life 10 years after the great war between mankind and an alien snake like race called the Al'ar.Who suddenly disappered just as humans were about to win the war.
Humanity has now spread beyond the reaches of earth and inhabits a multitude of worlds.
Wolfe is now working as a freelance bounty hunter, using skills he gained whilst living among the Al'ar when he was a child before the war started.
This is a good sci Fi book, my only 2 problems with it is...
1. It seemed a little too short for my tastes
2. It dose not really go in depth into many things, like secondary character, the technology and the lore and descriptions of the Al'ar.
It tells the story of Joshua Wolfe and his life 10 years after the great war between mankind and an alien snake like race called the Al'ar.Who suddenly disappered just as humans were about to win the war.
Humanity has now spread beyond the reaches of earth and inhabits a multitude of worlds.
Wolfe is now working as a freelance bounty hunter, using skills he gained whilst living among the Al'ar when he was a child before the war started.
This is a good sci Fi book, my only 2 problems with it is...
1. It seemed a little too short for my tastes
2. It dose not really go in depth into many things, like secondary character, the technology and the lore and descriptions of the Al'ar.
January 9, 2017
Story about a man who survived an alien war between the A'lar and humanity. He learned their ways of fighting when he was their prisoner. Now working for the defense he is searching for a stone that many have killed for. The lumina stone, and the rumor of an all powerful stone. If was allright, reminded me more of a James Bond kind of story. Mr. Bunch is great creating characters, but I had a real hard time visualizing any of the locations or the description of the aliens. After a while it just seemed jumbled and out of order. But I liked the characters who helped a long the way, and the story is interesting enough to keep reading.
February 16, 2016
So, chapter 1, Hero (I guess) meets the married woman who is his guide. She gets naked to 'mess with him'. Chapter 2, the proceed to have sex. This is exactly what I hate about heroic Science Fiction.
Oh look, my hero is so dashing, that every woman wants him. *blech*
Oh look, this woman who has always been loving to her husbands (not a typo) decides that just this once... *blech*
This falls upon the old useless tropes of making the hero 'sexy' when really, the James Bond personality is not sexy. It is disease ridden, scum eating, drivel producing, garbage.
Oh look, my hero is so dashing, that every woman wants him. *blech*
Oh look, this woman who has always been loving to her husbands (not a typo) decides that just this once... *blech*
This falls upon the old useless tropes of making the hero 'sexy' when really, the James Bond personality is not sexy. It is disease ridden, scum eating, drivel producing, garbage.
December 27, 2010
Grade: B ... apparently sci-fi has started to appeal to me again, at least the more pulpy aspects of it (you know, smugglers and gun runners, a loner with a sad past but a heart of gold, femme fatales that can work over a fella either in a bar room brawl or bedroom ball, typical space opera fare that shies away from too much of the hard science.) And that's what's in store for the reader with Bunch's first book of this trilogy. Nothing spectacular but fun none-the-less.
February 20, 2014
I actually liked this book for many reasons: interesting while believable world setup, fun characters and, of course, the plot. Sadly, the book ended with a lot of mysteries remaining - but then again, I now really want to read the next part. Overall, an excellent sci fi novel that does grab you and doesn't let go.
November 16, 2007
Interesting loner hero, kind of a samurai warrior treds the stars.
July 13, 2010
This series was rather disappointing. The fighting system was never really explored. It was kind of a weird mystery with aliens.
September 10, 2012
Set in the future of Earth, when space travel is possible and a man learns secrets from aliens. The rise and fall of their attack...and the secrets they left behind.
November 15, 2016
Slow startin with lots of sction
Protagonist is superhero with mixed ties so the story is complex. Suggest reading by a fire with toddy & cookies.
Protagonist is superhero with mixed ties so the story is complex. Suggest reading by a fire with toddy & cookies.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews