Customer Reviews

Shadowrun 23: The Lucifer Deck

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Of all her SR novels, The Lucifer Deck comes closest to capturing the atmosphere of the Shadowrun universe - and the one where she keeps her more annoying inclinations/idosyncracies best in check (caviat - I haven't read Blood Sport yet, so I cannot be difinative, but I have read her other SR novels).

Set in Seattle and involving more "down to earth" issues than are often dealt with in recient SR novels (which I found to be a plus - lately it seems the novel writers enchew commonality and go only for storylines involving the grandest themes, personages, and more high profile threats of the SR universe). This approach brought the streets of Seattle, the level at which most Runners make their livelyhood, to life.

One of the more realistic shadowrun books I've read, and written in a distinctive style that I enjoyed a lot. What I really appreciated about this book is how it tied in with the SR Companion. It definitely made me look at media types in a new light. While by no means Tolkien or Gibson-esque material, I think it is deserving of every SR player's reading time.

The Lucifer Deck is a very good book! A great story line and solid characters make this one a winner. This would be a good book for the first time shadowruner. Two thumbs up!

It might be a little slow to begin with, and some parts of the story might be better...BUT, I did appreciate how the book touched on racism within Lone Star, the feelings of someone who goblinized, possible expansions in Shadowrun Magic and the underground/pirate broadcasters.

If you're just starting out and are looking for some of the feeling of the Shadowrun universe, you might want to pick this book up.

I gave it a 7 because it's a decent book and brings in a number of elements that could help you run your games without the need to buy the many sourcebooks for a small amount of things.

I liked the way the author showed racism in the world of Shadowrun. That was the only strongpoint of the book though. The story was just plain stupid: how many people are going to save the world 'as we know it' in RPG novels? The author should have used a different plot to highlight the racial undertones of the novel.

How FASA ever let Smedman write for Shadowrun is beyond my comprehension! This book was awful. Shadowrun is supposed to be about Shadowrunners not orc runaways who whine and cry and pretend to run the shadows. And what is this reporter stuff? Reporters are not supposed to be heros in SR! While they might help a Shadowrunner every once and awhile they are not Shadowrunners themselves. And could we please not suffer through another down on their luck nobody saves the world load of ..... well you get the picture. I didn't like it!