I am a big Larry Correia fan. I own all of the Monster Hunter books and the Grimnoir Chronicles trilogy. I've been wanting to get my hands on a copy of Dead Six and was hoping to find it on Audible when when I first signed up, but they didn't have it. Then came February 4th. In one day Audible released Dead Six, it's sequel Swords of Exodus, and two other of Larry's books not previously available on Audible. I knew right where my next credit was going! Co-written with Mike Kupari, who has a ton of military experiences and was in Explosive Ordinance Disposal training for part of the writing the story is well thought out, exciting, and very tense. I can't say that I've read too many collaborations, but I do know that different authors do them different ways. Correia and Kupari did this by each writing a different character's view point. This made the two characters distinct from each other and allowed the authors to have fun with their characters. Dead Six takes place in an alternate or near future world where the political landscape is just a little different and the world is a lot more messed up then now. Hard to believe, I know, but they did it. Here is the link to Audible's page for the books. It was narrated by Bronson Pinchot and he does a marvelous job.
Plot: Michael Valentine is stuck in a rut. After the independent military contractor company, Vanguard, he worked for was declared illegal and disbanded he got a job working security. His life is straightforward and he hates it. Then one of his old friends from Vanguard calls him up out of the blue and tells him a bout a job offer. It pays $25,000 a month and that he will be serving his country and be able to use the skills he honed in the military and Vanguard. He's worried about the job. He doesn't even know what organization he's working for. But the money's good and he secretly enjoys that kind of work. He signs up and is off to the Zubarah in the Arabian Peninsula to declare war (unofficially) on the terrorists living there. In Zubarah at the same time is Lorenzo, international super thief, has just been told by the head of a very powerful crime family that he is to steal the impossible or all of his family will be killed in horrible ways. He and his crew have spent six months putting things in place in Zubarah that will save them and their families from Big Eddie's wrath. As the months go on, Valentine and Lorenzo find out about each other, mostly when Valentine ends up killing the person that Lorenzo needs to talk to. Neither one of them likes the position they are in, but are stuck where they are and have to make things work despite the damage they are each doing to each other.
Plot: Michael Valentine is stuck in a rut. After the independent military contractor company, Vanguard, he worked for was declared illegal and disbanded he got a job working security. His life is straightforward and he hates it. Then one of his old friends from Vanguard calls him up out of the blue and tells him a bout a job offer. It pays $25,000 a month and that he will be serving his country and be able to use the skills he honed in the military and Vanguard. He's worried about the job. He doesn't even know what organization he's working for. But the money's good and he secretly enjoys that kind of work. He signs up and is off to the Zubarah in the Arabian Peninsula to declare war (unofficially) on the terrorists living there. In Zubarah at the same time is Lorenzo, international super thief, has just been told by the head of a very powerful crime family that he is to steal the impossible or all of his family will be killed in horrible ways. He and his crew have spent six months putting things in place in Zubarah that will save them and their families from Big Eddie's wrath. As the months go on, Valentine and Lorenzo find out about each other, mostly when Valentine ends up killing the person that Lorenzo needs to talk to. Neither one of them likes the position they are in, but are stuck where they are and have to make things work despite the damage they are each doing to each other.
My personal favorites: The action in this book is intense! It was well written and with two gun experts and one author with years of military experience you can bet it was accurate. To ramp up the intensity is the fact that some of the action is between the two characters that we are cheering for. When you are hoping that they both win without killing each other. Also, the story was compelling and while I saw some things coming, I certainly didn't guess it all. Valentine and Lorenzo were very compelling characters, unsympathetic in their occupations (stealing stuff and killing people) but very likable in their own right. I also loved the narration. The way that Valentine's Calm was done made for a very unique style of seeing the action.
Considerations: I must give a STRONG language content on this. There is A LOT of profanity in this book. I find it hard to recommend. But unlike Redshirts the language was used right. There was weight to it. Certain characters would use it more than others, it didn't pull me out of the story. It felt natural. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of swearing and unpleasant terms. I would say the level of gore is less than Monster Hunter and not gratuitous. There is a very unpleasant scene involving a sadistic murderer, but again, the actual description, does not dwell on the details. There are also three scenes that a movie review might describe as "sex is implied." Nothing sexual takes place on the page, but there are some brief references.
All in all, Dead Six delivered and incredible action ride with some real thought and accuracy in the narrative. I love the characters and cheered and despaired with them. I was heartbroken with them when they lost somebody and I wanted to strangle their enemies as much as they did. I was sucked into a world that was both terrifying and exhilarating. I'm glad I've got Words of Radiance to tide me over until I can get my hands on Swords of Exodus. The total length was just under 21 and a half hours.
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