Natural Selection (Dan Shepherd series) by Stephen Leather (Epub)

Description

An action-packed short story featuring Dan “Spider” Shepherd during his days on the SAS selection course. Shepherd is tested to his limits – and is given his nickname.

Natural Selection is about 14,000 words, about thirty pages, perfect if you have half an hour to spare.

Stephen Leather is one of the UK’s most successful thriller writers. He was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Before that, he was employed as a biochemist for ICI, shovelled limestone in a quarry, worked as a baker, a petrol pump attendant, a barman, and worked for the Inland Revenue. He began writing full time in 1992. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London’s Burning, The Knock and the BBC’s Murder in Mind series. Two of his books, The Stretch and The Bombmaker, were made into movies. You can find out more from his website, www.stephenleather.com.

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⭐ Not a bad half hour or so read, haven’t read any of the other Spider stories though, but didn’t think I needed to when reading. You learn why the character has the nickname spider through something he does in Natural Selection. Basically a bunch of new recruits are training in the jungle and four of them aren’t real impressed with the training so far. Then an old guy turns up, tells them he’s observed them, they aren’t going back to the bus with the rest, and to follow him. Overjoyed they learn more from him than from every other bit of training they’ve had since enlisting. But when popping into a village, they suddenly have to put training into practice. Although half the spiels he gives them you’d imagine should have been taught to them way before they even entered the jungle. Then ridiculously plausibility wise when they return to camp, they are sent back in on a mission to deal with the invading countries forces and send them a clear message. Little like Police Academy, lets put these students on the front line. But the story is a more serious one. There’s plenty of jungle survival action, plenty of criticism of the way the army does stuff, as well as politics.

⭐ Stephen Leather is one of the most versatile writers on Amazon, with his works running the gamut from old-fashioned mysteries to paranormal fantasies to erotic tales to horror to action thrillers. No matter in which genre Leather writes, his work displays a considerable attention to detail and authenticity of place and time. His best-known works are the action adventure tales of Dan “Spider” Shepherd, a former SAS (Britain’s version of the Navy SEALS) soldier who’s now a top-notch intelligence operative. In his novelette “Natural Selection,” Leather explores Shepherd’s distant (circa 1996) past and the result is a story that’s surprisingly low key but quite entertaining.”Natural Selection” is set in Belize, a country with which I’m somewhat familiar, having been there on a couple of vacations considerably more recently than 1996. At that time, Belize was engaged in a longstanding border dispute with neighboring Guatemala, a country involved in a civil war that often spilled over into Belize. A very young Dan Shepherd is stationed in Belize undergoing very rigorous SAS jungle warfare training. His instructor is an old-timer known as Pilgrim. Eventually, Shepherd’s squad is sent on a mission to put a stop to Guatemalan incursions into Belize that have resulted in the deaths of innocent natives.As “Natural Selection” unfolds, readers might think that they are going to witness a major shootout similar to the opening sequence of “Predator.” However, Leather is more interested in background and character development than pyrotechnics. Shepherd’s squad is given highly restrictive rules of engagement, due to the tense political situation, and they have to teach the Guatemalans a lesson that doesn’t attract undue attention to the fact that the unit crossed the border into Guatemala to engage the enemy. It’s the exact type of bizarre straitjacketing orders that troops have to deal with in modern day combat. Pilgrim has to make sure his squad gets in and out undetected and completes their mission, even though Shepherd and the others are still rather new to this type of warfare.Readers will get a feel for the character of Shepherd in this story; he’s not gung ho in the traditional John Wayne manner, but a more thoughtful man, wanting to be the best at what is obviously a very difficult job because he realizes that’s how the job gets done. To that end, Leather provides readers with a lot of detail about how the SAS troops do their job: how they avoid detection and spot others in the field, and even how they turn various invertebrates into meals (hint: Leather also explains how Spider got his nickname). I have no idea how accurate Leather’s information is, but it has the ring of authenticity (and his background on the Belize/Guatemala conflict squares with what I know). Further, most of this information emerges in the training talks Pilgrim gives Spider and the others in the field, so Leather delivers it, naturally, as an instructor actually would, rather than as an author trying to cram in every last bit of internet research into a story.Readers expecting non-stop combat and chases and hairbreadth escapes from disaster may be disappointed in “Natural Selection.” It’s simply not that type of story, but rather a look into how the world’s best-trained professional soldiers go about their jobs. In its own way however, seeing how these professionals prepare for trouble as opposed to madcap scrambling after someone messes up is quite interesting, especially when you have an author who is as descriptive as Leather. Readers will really develop a feel for the jungle that brought back memories of my own excursions in Belize (that were nowhere near as backcountry as the places Pilgrim and Shepherd go).I’ve read several of Leather’s Shepherd stories, and they each try to highlight a bit of the man’s background or personality when facing an actual problem. Spider Shepherd is definitely a thinking person’s action hero, and Leather is a thinking person’s author. “Natural Selection” is a great way to get acquainted with both the talented character and the highly talented author.

⭐ Natural Selection by Stephen Leather is a neat short story about when Spider Shepherd got his nickname and got badged into SAS. I sometimes forget how good a writer Leather is. I have enjoyed every single book by him that I ever have read.

⭐ Stephen Leather writes about four men learning how to become super efficient at handling unusual tactics in jungle surroundings. Becoming increasingly adept at hearing and using their natural abilities, these men become the best of the best. Great read!

⭐ Another good read from Stephen Leather with a lot of new information very good at describing operations and physical terrain in Belize. The Prophet is a well described character who adds a lot to the story. I find it difficult to believe that Leather can write on an equal Mcnab who has been in the special service. I think the difference is (in my opinion) Leather spends a lot of time setting the story and describing the terrain people etc etc while Mcnab quickly resorts to description of action hardware etc. However I enjoy noth authors equally.

⭐ I enjoyed this book primarily because it’s easy to believe and wasn’t full of phony Hollywood grandstanding. The training and tactical information relayed during the story was solid and entertaining. Anyone who’s humped a ruck through the boonies for weeks on end can relate, and everyone can feel awe and respect for these incredibly capable soldiers.

⭐ Nice short prequel story in the Spider Shepard series.

⭐ This short novel is well worth reading. Mr. Leather is a great story teller and keeps your attention throughout this story. I am a confirmed fan of his various main characters. My hat is off to him.

⭐ I really enjoy the “Spider Shepherd” series. A very gritty and tough character that is personified by British culture and killer instincts. I will enjoy reading the rest.

⭐ Good action, well defined scenery and thought out timelines. Well structured military jargon and makeup. Good discipline and structure in scene placement.

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