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| .: Jack In :. |
wrx://shadowrun/reviews/masons reviews |
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| "It's . Do you know where your meat body is?" |
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| · DV8 [21-01-2008 / 11:49:45] |
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One of the best book review sites, Mason's Annotated Shadowrun has gone off line and Mason seems to have been dumped off the net. I chose to host his book reviews, because they're very good and helpful, and I could scavenge them all from a cache server. If anyone knows Mason's email address, or knows him personally, I would greatly appreciate for them to get in touch with me so I can ask him if I have his permission to host his work.
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| · Mason |
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I was in the middle of explaining who killed Dunkelzahn for the thirteenth time when I first considered annotating the Shadowrun novels. The game enjoys a richly detailed universe, to which the novels add a wealth of characters, concepts, and campaign events that are often overlooked by otherwise thorough gamemasters and players who lack the time or ability to read them. Face it: thirty-seven novels (some of them out of print) represent an imposing challenge for people new to the game.
I started reading the series again beginning with Never Deal with a Dragon and took notes as I went. The finished annotations contain the following:
First, my general opinion of the book and a very vague description of its theme. I also evaluate the overall quality of the book in relation to the rest of the series, on a rating scale from one (excruciatingly bad) to five (the very best shadowrun has to offer).
Second, a summary of the plot. No spoiler warnings, so skip this section if you plan to read the book sooner or later and would like to preserve the suspense. I absolutely, positively guarantee to ruin the ending for you!
Third, descriptions of the major characters and a complete list of all the major and minor characters who appear in the book. Need a quick Contact or NPC? Hundreds of them right here, made to order. Be careful they didn't die, though.
Fourth, a list of the novel's settings, just to provide a quick sense of where the action is. I don't generally bother with descriptions, here. If you're interested in developing any of these locations, check out the book.
Fifth and last, the good stuff -- my own commentary on various points of interest as they appear in the book, including sourcebook references, important campaign information, potentially useful source material, and occasionally unforgiving critique of authors' choices. (In the spirit of fair play, should any authors happen to read my humble annotations and take exception to my remarks, I will gladly include any rebuttal you care to add).
Honestly, I began this project without thinking it completely through. It's taken a lot more time and effort than I figured. Still, I believe it's worth the trouble. Please don't hesitate to e-mail me and offer encouragement (it helps!), or additional commentary.
After seven years in the Navy, I finally decided to return to college and my long-unfinished Bachelors degree. Being a full-time student at Rice University this year is consuming the vast majority of my time, so new reviews will be few and far between. I haven't abandoned the project, but it has dropped several notches on my list of priorities. Rest assured, I'll pick it up again when opportunity permits.
Who really killed Dunkelzahn? Hey, relax already. I'll get there.
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| 1. |
Never Deal With a Dragon
Robert N. Charette, 1990
*** |
21. |
Preying for Keeps
Mel Odom, 1996
***** |
| 2. |
Choose Your Enemies Carefully
Robert N. Charette, 1991
*** |
22. |
Dead Air
Jak Koke, 1996 |
| 3. |
Find Your Own Truth
Robert N. Charette, 1990
** |
23. |
The Lucifer Deck
Lisa Smedman, 1997 |
| 4. |
2XS
Nigel Findley, 1991
***** |
24. |
Steel Rain
Nyx Smith, 1997 |
| 5. |
Changeling
Chris Kubasik, 1992
**** |
25. |
Shadowboxer
Nicholas Pollotta, 1997
* |
| 6. |
Never Trust an Elf
Robert N. Charette, 1992
* |
26. |
Stranger Souls
Jak Koke, 1997 |
| 7. |
Into the Shadows
Jordan K. Weisman, 1992
*** |
27. |
Headhunters
Mel Odom, 1997 |
| 8. |
Streets of Blood
Carl Sargent & Marc Gascoigne, 1992
**** |
28. |
The Clockwork Asylum
Jak Koke, 1997 |
| 9. |
Shadowplay
Nigel Findley, 1993
**** |
29. |
Bloodsport
Lisa Smedman, 1998 |
| 10. |
Night's Pawn
Tom Dowd, 1993
**** |
30. |
Beyond the Pale
Jak Koke, 1998 |
| 11. |
Striper Assassin
Nyx Smith, 1993
** |
31. |
Technobabel
Stephen Kenson, 1998 |
| 12. |
Lone Wolf
Nigel Findley, 1994
**** |
32. |
Wolf and Raven
Michael Stackpole, 1998
***** |
| 13. |
Fade to Black
Nyx Smith, 1994
** |
33. |
Psychotrope
Lisa Smedman, 1998 |
| 14. |
Nosferatu
Carl Sargent & Marc Gascoigne, 1994
*** |
34. |
The Terminus Experiment
Jonathan E. Bond & Jak Koke, 1999 |
| 15. |
Burning Bright
Tom Dowd, 1994
***** |
35. |
Run Hard, Die Fast
Mel Odom, 1999 |
| 16. |
Who Hunts the Hunter
Nyx Smith, 1995
*** |
36. |
Crossroads
Stephen Kenson, 1999 |
| 17. |
House of the Sun
Nigel Findley, 1995
**** |
37. |
The Forever Drug
Lisa Smedman, 1999
* |
| 18. |
Worlds Without End
Caroline Spector, 1995
* |
38. |
Ragnarock
Stephen Kenson, 2000
**** |
| 19. |
Just Compensation
Robert N. Charette, 1996
** |
39. |
Tails You Lose
Lisa Smedman, 2001
** |
| 20. |
Black Madonna
Carl Sargent & Marc Gascoigne, 1996 |
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wrx://shadowrun/reviews/masons reviews |
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