Shadowrun 31: Technobabel

Technobabel may not make a lot of sense to readers that are new or completely unfamiliar to the Shadowrun novels or the RPG. It's a shame too, because this is an exciting novel full of the usual corporate double-crosses, "Who's really pulling the strings?" paranoia, with some inner struggles between free-will and fate/destiny thrown in for good measure. It's sort of like "The Usual Suspects" meets "The Lawnmower Man" and "The Matrix". To properly appreciate Technobabel, I suggest first reading some other Shadowrun novels about elite runners like: Fade To Black, Wolf and Raven, or Preying For Keeps. Reading the Dragon Heart Saga is probably a good idea also before picking up Technobabel. In addition to being one of the best of the SR novels, Technobabel is a good resource for experienced Shadowrunners in running one of the RPG's highest level of threat-rating adventures. This next section reviews that aspect of the book for gamemasters/players of Shadowrun RPG:Technobabel gives some insight about the otaku tribes culture, reveals the origins of the enigmatic and powerful NPC, Ronin, and gives some details about the motivations of the Matrix group Overwatch. All of this is accomplished while giving a detailed account the events during the Renraku Arcology Shutdown, and the subsequent aftermath. This book changes the Shadowrun RPG landscape on as many levels as did Dunkelzahn's Assassination, the collapse of Fuichi Corp., and the Year of the Comet sourcebook. It is required reading for any gamemaster planning on running the highly-lethal 3rd Edition adventure "Brainscan". You'll want to keep it off-limits to your players until after you run the adventure, as it spoils many of the arc's plot twists. FASA designed "Brainscan" so you pretty much need to also purchase the 2nd edition adventure "Renraku Arcology: Shutdown", and Technobabel to properly use it. Be aware that the Nanotechnology section of the "Man & Machine" sourcebook is set after the events in "Brainscan", so you might wish to suppress that chapter prior to running the adventure.

Another book that I picked up after reading through the Matrix 2.0 sourcebook (The other being Psychotrope). The story revolves around a young man newly inducted into the Otaku ranks. While significantly older than most Otaku, Babel's powers have not waned. Though not directly mentioned by name in this book, the AI Deus is present and is responsible for Babel's transformation.

Not only do you get insight into the Otaku, but backround on the reciently concluded Corporate War (ya, like it's over. . .), and apperances by a fair number of the "movers and shakers" of the SR universe.This book also repairs some of the flaws of Black Madonna. Oh, and that. . .personage. . .from B.M. should definately have known better than to mess with Lofwyr's corporate computer system (I guess ancient elves never learned to Never Deal with a Dragon).

Boston 2059, a new type of shaman awakens with no memory in a back alley, paralyzed and being 'collected' by freelance body part bootleggers. After barely escaping, 'Babel' is snatched again and again by 'friends' who want to use him and his newly awakened abilities. Because Babel is not an ordinary mage. He is one of the first Techno-shaman. His is not the power to call or control the spirits of the elements, but the 'spirits' within the Matrix. And with an almost magical control of anything within the Matrix, is the potential control, or destruction, of any or all of the Megacorps now in control of the world..Another cool Shadowrun entry.

Enter the world of the Otaku! Meet Bable, a fast rising member in the Otaku community who awakens one day with total amnesia! The book is the story of Bable finding his past, told in first person POV, that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time! Stephen Kenson has created another gem in the Shadowrun world! A must have for any fan of Decking or the Matrix.