Born Bad - Andrew Vachss

A collection in the main of quite short stories, excerpt for those concerning the mercenary Cross. Mostly crime, but a few science fiction stories, a couple of sport, and certainly you could call many of them horror if you prefer. Hence the Stoker award nomination.

At 3.62, very high quality.

Born Bad : A flash of white - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Alibi - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Anytime I want - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Born bad - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Cain - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Cough - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Crime partner - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Bandit - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Cripple - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Mad dog - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Statute of limitations - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Crossfire - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Value received - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Head case - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Kidnap - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Date rape - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Dead game - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Dialogue - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Drive-by - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Dumping ground - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Exit - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Family resemblance - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Hostage - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : It's a hard world - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Joyride - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Lynch law - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Man to man - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Plan B - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Placebo - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Rules of the road - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Step on a crack - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Stone magic - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : The promise - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : The unwritten law - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Treatment - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Bum's rush - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Tunnel of love - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Bad babies - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Into the light - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Warrior - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : White alligator - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Witch hunt - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Working roots - Andrew Vachss

Stalker toothed.

3.5 out of 5


Buying in the revenge game.

3.5 out of 5


Plastic coated abuse finishing.

3.5 out of 5


I'm just evil, ask my brother.

3.5 out of 5


Bloody dogbeaters, very.

4 out of 5


Silent stall shooter.

3 out of 5


Easy Eddie crazy.

3.5 out of 5


Getting a dog, hard way.

3.5 out of 5


'A mind isn't always a terrible thing to waste.'

4 out of 5


Well trained feeders.

3.5 out of 5


Cross hired to remove a rapist father.

4 out of 5


One stalker removal setup for Cross.

4 out of 5


Terminal divorce first cab.

3.5 out of 5


Stalker party game split for Cross.

4.5 out of 5


Princess is snatched to get Cross to do a job and get a chip. Table turning time, with kestrel.

4.5 out of 5


Sister, dad, bullet.

3.5 out of 5


Last dogfight.

3.5 out of 5


I don't kill call girls, just whores. Ok, maybe one waitress by mistake.

3.5 out of 5


Diss shottied.

3 out of 5


Dog food pack.

4 out of 5


Pool payoff putout pain.

3.5 out of 5


Was just going to kill one, but now seeing you all are, lot sounds good.

3.5 out of 5


Make a sniper a hostage negotiator, gonna shoot someone eventually.

4 out of 5


I think I'll let you have my spot in it.

3.5 out of 5


But bad stack's a drag.

3.5 out of 5


Sucked and hooked.

3.5 out of 5


Queer service joint limited.

3 out of 5


Not lucky for Penny, but punt's over.

3.5 out of 5


I know how to fix things, including doberman puppies and monsters machines.

3.5 out of 5


Inside car sheep shooting.

3.5 out of 5


Basher showdown.

3.5 out of 5


Cross deals out a dose of some old medicine.

4 out of 5


Don't like them laughing.

3 out of 5


Million dollar cheating time setup.

4 out of 5


Final variety, well paid.

4 out of 5


Us targets in the game now.

3.5 out of 5


Charter Rulers.

3.5 out of 5


Part credit rules, new Family.

4 out of 5


Things change Outside, no more buying kid bits.

3.5 out of 5


Golden boy fighter.

3.5 out of 5


Big white bears, too.

4 out of 5


Mum's a monster, now me, too.

3.5 out of 5


Walking for that junk.

3 out of 5




4.5 out of 5

Star Dragon - Mike Brotherton

Probably a bit closer to 3.25 than 3.5, this novel, but ended up better than I thought it was going to be, after having looked at the start before.

A trip to study a strange stellar life form in an odd double dwarf system is troubled thanks to tensions between the crew and the science involved.

Beasts that can hang out in stars can also be classed as dangerous and unpredictable, given not much chance normal or even post-humans will understand them straight away.

Those onboard, despite having advanced travel technology still have to deal with the fact that back home a huge length of time will have passed compared to what they have experienced.

Then there's the ship AI with personality, 'Papa'. A rather odd addition.


3.5 out of 5

http://www.mikebrotherton.com/novels/stardragon.html