Gun Runner

By: Larry Correia, John Brown

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 18 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

Thrilling science-fiction adventure from best-selling authors Larry Correia and John Brown.

The heart of a warrior

Once, Jackson Rook was a war hero. Raised from boyhood to pilot an exosuit mech, he’d fought gallantly for the rebellion against the Collectivists. But that was a long time ago, on a world very far away. 

Now, Jackson Rook is a criminal, a smuggler on board the Multipurpose Supply Vehicle Tar Heel. His latest mission: steal a top-of-the-line mech called the Citadel and deliver it to the far-flung planet Swindle, a world so hostile even the air will kill you. The client: a man known only as the Warlord. 

Rook has been in the smuggling business long enough to know that it’s best to take the money and not ask questions. But Rook cannot stand by and watch as the Warlord runs roughshod over the citizens of Swindle, the way the Collectivists did on his homeworld. For all his mercenary ways, Rook is not a pirate. And deep within the smuggler, the heart of a warrior still beats.

©2021 Larry Correia and John Brown (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

Agree with Others

What a let down this book was. I have enjoyed nearly everything Larry Correia has written. This book, though, falls well short. Meandering, unfocused, unenthusiastic and dull. I am very disappointed in this book.

Correia didn't write this

The books is badly overwritten, with lots of unnecessary words, lots of repeating words, lots of completely superfluous descriptions, etc. In need of very heavy-handed editing.

It strives to be hardcore sci-fi mixed with hustle-story mixed with mechs, but falls flat and far off all marks.

The technology (sci-fi part) is boring and contrived. The descriptions of the battles are copy-pasted. The hustle scenes can't enliven this because they depend too heavily on, you guessed it, boring plot-specific technology.

I doubt Larry Correia, who is an actually good, versatile and talented writer, had a lot to do with it except give an advice or two on plot.

Oh, and here is the best part: the plot setting is rip-stolen from Harrison's "Deathworld".

Don't know if I'll return it.
Do know that I'll never listen to it again.

Wanted to like it

The story never was engaging enough for me to want to continue. I got about 7 hours in, and I’m giving up.

Performance—The voices he does for different characters are good, but almost every sentence has that classic, dramatic “in a world...” voice. It really started to get to me at some point. Not enough variation in the narration.

Solid SciFi adventure.

Well done. Great characters and story arc, with a twisting morality compass that lets the reader see all sides. Fun tech, excellent story telling and world building. hoping this is the beginning of a LONG and interesting series of books.

Authentically Larry and John

Both Larry and John are known for their fantasy and thriller writing and I have read both of their works and they bring the best of their experience to a thrilling science fiction adventure. I love the pace, action, and the world they built it is the true cyber punk future everyone would want to live in.

Enjoyable story and great characters.

It’s my first book from this authors and I really like the story. It has a fun story and has great characters that makes it believable. I’m definitely going to read the next book in this series.

Another great story from a multi-genre rock star!

I have yet to read a single thing written by Larry Correia that failed to entertain. The man’s ability to tell a story, regardless of format or genre, puts and keeps him in a very thin pack of authors. His characters are relatable, his plots engaging, and his delivery intense. Buy the damned book.

Amazing characters, interesting take on the future

I absolutely loved the protagonists fight with his inner demons, while trying to make things right. The various supporting characters all had amazing stories and a dynamic life of their own. Loved the action, loved the intrigue, loved the fact that the characters all had a code they try to live by. I'm looking forward to more from this sci-fi universe.

Uneven

With the release of Gun Runner I've taken a closer look at the co-authored stories in my library. I've realized two names on the cover has various meanings regarding what type of story is being offered. Sometimes an author's name is on the cover because it's their universe (characters, etc.), but the entire book is written by the co-author. (Monster Hunter Guardian.) Sometimes both authors are contributing to the story and it's a seamless melding of their writing styles. (Galaxy's Edge.) And sometimes both author's writing styles are very distinct from each other's, so despite the individual sections being smoothly transitioned together, at times you'll feel like you're reading a totally different book. (Gun Runner.)

The prologue starts out strong. Dynamic and engaging. Then for the next couple of hours (Chapters 1-6 or so) Gun Runner loses momentum. The presentation has changed. It now has a YA feel to it. The story's lost dimension and depth and there's a lack of sophistication to activities, as well as the character's interactions and dialog. Reminded me of a Hardy Boys mystery.

I quit listening at this point, assuming it was a bait and switch and wrote a scathing review. But! I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. It's _not_ a bait and switch. So don't make my mistake. Stick with it.

Soon after CH 6 the story resumes the prologue's vividness. Gun Runner becomes well rounded, three dimensional with believable characters and enjoyable dialog. The main character, Jackson Rook, morphs from an annoyingly naive boy scout into a smart talking, street savvy hot shot mech pilot that's survived a war and been seasoned by his experience. He's good with being an amoral thief running with a gang of smugglers that steal armament and sell it to the highest bidder. He lights up every scene he's in. Fifi too. Actually all the characters become very engaging. And funny. There are many amusing moments that had me grinning, delighted with the clever exchanges and descriptive turns of phrase. (There's also blips of awkward sentence structure and redundant wording that threatened to resume the early chapters story telling, but they were minimal in the grand scheme of things.) The adventure had taken off, effortlessly sweeping me along. Yeah! _That's_ what I was looking for when I bought Gun Runner.

At this point I regretted my initial review and deleted it.

Then about the ten hour mark it starts transitioning back to that stiff YA-ness again. Now don't get me wrong. I like YA stories, just not the ones where the contents are sanitized and the characters dumbed down. I found this change in Gun Runner incredibly frustrating. Things had been ramping up and now it was slooow going again. I continued listening, enduring the naivety of the characters, their juvenile dialog and the unbelievable presentation of the activities, thinking what a pity, this should be an edge of your seat moment and instead it's the Hardy Boys find themselves in a bit of a pickle.

I was regretting I deleted my review.

But! I learned from my early mistake and soldiered on, hoping against hope Gun Runner would change back again. (Please, please, please.) And it does! *happy dancing* Within a short time it transitions back to the dynamic, engaging story telling that's effortless to listen to. I was immersed in the action, emotionally attached to the characters and on the edge of my seat for the rest of the adventure.

So the end result is Gun Runner's an uneven story. Sometimes it's meh and other times it's awesome. If you're good with that, definitely give it a listen. When I finished I was gratified at its close and hoping there'll be another adventure in this universe. There's cool gear, huge mechs, exoskeletons, gun battles, space battles, stealth insertion, endearing bots, amusing situations, intense predators and massive kaiju to name just a few of the elements in the story that had me enjoying it.

Oliver Wyman does an excellent job narrating throughout.

Sci Fi Fun

If you like Larry's work, this wont disappoint. looking forward to more of this series.

cant wait for the next one

cant wait for the next one, another great series by larry corrria. hope he writes it fast

Banging Space Opera.

Just that. Top quality no-hold-barred full-throttle Space Opera. Just the job on a miserable January weekend.

Great book

The book is good, narrator is always excellent.
really enjoy his work.
Really hoping for a sequel or 10

Another excellent audiobook

Another excellent audiobook from Larry and John. I got through this in 2 sittings which was great listening and reading. The characters are properly introduced to the listener throughout this audiobook. The story was really good and had me glued within the first few pages, a rare thing for me. I’m thinking of listening to more of Larrys works.

Highly recommend if you enjoyed Larrys other works.

Enjoyable

Nothing really new but a good story that carries you along and hard to stop listening to.

More! More! loads of fun!

Loved it, fun characters, good premise, fun action, when is the next one coming out? Can't wait!