What do you think?
Rate this book
Danger Money
Jotun was born and bred to be a corporate assassin, back in the days of the Corporate Wars. Confined these days to life in a gilded cage, Jotun welcomes any opportunity to get out and lately he's been getting out a lot. But as a genetically designed and Laboratory bred animorph by a company that isn't quite sure if it trusts him anymore his choices are do the jobs that eventually will kill him, or refuse, which will also kill him.
Of course it isn't like he doesn't enjoy the work, but when everybody wants you dead you start to wonder if there isn't more to life.
When an unexpected betrayal kills the few friends he has and nearly him as well, Jotun realizes he has bigger problems than his lifestyle, namely finding out who betrayed him and paying them back, no matter what the cost.
Danger Money is a Science Fiction story that takes place in my Children of Steel universe, a future where genetically created animorphs serve as second class citizens and handle all of the dirty and dangerous jobs that are part of humanity's extension to the stars.
Of course it isn't like he doesn't enjoy the work, but when everybody wants you dead you start to wonder if there isn't more to life.
When an unexpected betrayal kills the few friends he has and nearly him as well, Jotun realizes he has bigger problems than his lifestyle, namely finding out who betrayed him and paying them back, no matter what the cost.
Danger Money is a Science Fiction story that takes place in my Children of Steel universe, a future where genetically created animorphs serve as second class citizens and handle all of the dirty and dangerous jobs that are part of humanity's extension to the stars.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2011
19 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
John Van Stry
49 books364 followersI've had a very varied life. I grew up in New York, on Long Island.
I went to school to become an Engineer, then joined the Air Force.
After that I worked first in Robotics, then in Aerospace as a Flight Test Engineer. I moved into the medical fields, then into more Technical markets working for a number of high tech companies where I became a Contractor.
I used to own and raise big cats. I love motorcycles and old cars. I'm a pilot and former martial arts instructor. I'm a fan of the Reno Air Races.
Then there's the stuff I'm not supposed to talk about, but that's another story.
I've seen a lot of interesting stuff go by, met a lot of interesting, wonderful, strange, or sometimes just psychotic people. I've had the opportunity to work on some truly game changing technologies. And while I've had some very bad things happen to me in my life, I've never let it stop me.
Keep smiling.
-John
I went to school to become an Engineer, then joined the Air Force.
After that I worked first in Robotics, then in Aerospace as a Flight Test Engineer. I moved into the medical fields, then into more Technical markets working for a number of high tech companies where I became a Contractor.
I used to own and raise big cats. I love motorcycles and old cars. I'm a pilot and former martial arts instructor. I'm a fan of the Reno Air Races.
Then there's the stuff I'm not supposed to talk about, but that's another story.
I've seen a lot of interesting stuff go by, met a lot of interesting, wonderful, strange, or sometimes just psychotic people. I've had the opportunity to work on some truly game changing technologies. And while I've had some very bad things happen to me in my life, I've never let it stop me.
Keep smiling.
-John
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 14, 2022
Prequel of Children of Steel
This is a mediocre book with an unlikable MC, I just couldn't bring myself to give John Van Stry two stars even when that's all this book earns.
Don't get me wrong, other than the MC there is nothing fundamentally terrible about this book. It's not poison, it's flat soda. The story is blasé, the supporting characters are forgettable, the world building in minimal. I'm not sure that Mr. Van Stry put much effort into this one but no big deal. My main problem is the MC who is a complete asshole.
Yes there is a redemption arc and we all get closure of some kind, but I did not enjoy spend time with that character and I would have quit in a New York minute if this weren't part of the Children of Steel world.
This is a mediocre book with an unlikable MC, I just couldn't bring myself to give John Van Stry two stars even when that's all this book earns.
Don't get me wrong, other than the MC there is nothing fundamentally terrible about this book. It's not poison, it's flat soda. The story is blasé, the supporting characters are forgettable, the world building in minimal. I'm not sure that Mr. Van Stry put much effort into this one but no big deal. My main problem is the MC who is a complete asshole.
Yes there is a redemption arc and we all get closure of some kind, but I did not enjoy spend time with that character and I would have quit in a New York minute if this weren't part of the Children of Steel world.
September 7, 2022
Wonderfull book, good action, interesting plot and awsome pacing. The charatcers introduced where interesting to follow, an the little surprise at the end of how 'Jotun' is part of the cast in 'Children of Steel' was just well great in fact.
January 17, 2012
In Danger Money by John Van Stry there is a whole new world to get familiar with. It is the future and mega corporations pretty much run everything. Genetic engineering has advanced to the point where anthropomorphic creatures are bred specifically to do the work for these giant corporations, earning a huge debt in being raised and trained and working to pay it off to become free. It is a major form of indentured servitude, but since most humans don't think of the animal creatures as people no one really cares.
Danger Money follows Jotun and his team. Jotun was made to be an assassin, and he is the most senior assassin for his corporation. That position comes with certain perks, but also guarantees him the really tough jobs.
When I read the sample for this book (and the others in this universe), I was fairly excited as the concept really worked for me. Now concept alone isn't enough to make a good book, and it would have been even more disappointing if it failed. Luckily for me John told a great story with some unique characters. Although Jotun is fairly human in mannerisms and thought processes, he is also a predator. The twist that his animal nature gives his thought process is one of the reasons he makes such a great assassin.
I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this book. The characters were well written, the plot kept up a pretty good pace, and I was surprised to see that some characters from this book are secondary characters (at least in the sample) of Children of Steel. I think the tie in will make both books a little better after getting them both read.
This is a great read for sci-fi fans who enjoy interplanetary travel, anthropomorphic characters, and great action sequences built around strong characters.
Copy provided for review.
Danger Money follows Jotun and his team. Jotun was made to be an assassin, and he is the most senior assassin for his corporation. That position comes with certain perks, but also guarantees him the really tough jobs.
When I read the sample for this book (and the others in this universe), I was fairly excited as the concept really worked for me. Now concept alone isn't enough to make a good book, and it would have been even more disappointing if it failed. Luckily for me John told a great story with some unique characters. Although Jotun is fairly human in mannerisms and thought processes, he is also a predator. The twist that his animal nature gives his thought process is one of the reasons he makes such a great assassin.
I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this book. The characters were well written, the plot kept up a pretty good pace, and I was surprised to see that some characters from this book are secondary characters (at least in the sample) of Children of Steel. I think the tie in will make both books a little better after getting them both read.
This is a great read for sci-fi fans who enjoy interplanetary travel, anthropomorphic characters, and great action sequences built around strong characters.
Copy provided for review.
April 19, 2012
I won this from GR First Reads. It was not my kind of book.....though it was written very well.
February 18, 2019
A nice novel in the children of steel series.
May 16, 2020
great book
November 15, 2024
Another great story
Van Stry has once again turned out a delightful story. His world building is detailed and consistent. His characters actually grow and have emotional depth. I enjoy his plots and twists, over all a good emotional journey with characters who you genuinely care about.
Van Stry has once again turned out a delightful story. His world building is detailed and consistent. His characters actually grow and have emotional depth. I enjoy his plots and twists, over all a good emotional journey with characters who you genuinely care about.
October 1, 2012
What I expected when I signed up for the Goodreads giveaway: A sci-fi-y espionage thriller.
What I got instead: 50 Shades of Grey… for furries.
I literally felt the need to take a shower after I read this book. I understand the need to have some attractive female protagonist in these kinds of books; I mean I cannot think of a single James Bond that didn’t have an attractive female protagonist. But when the male protagonist is naked/getting it on for more than a third of the book, you’re obviously doing something wrong.
Aside from that, there were striking errors that even the most incompetent publisher should have noticed. For one thing, there was absolutely no character development whatsoever; however, unlike other books with this error, John van Stry (JvS for convenience) makes the main character a complete jerk and then decides, "Meh, that that is good enough". Also the plot was nonexistent for the most part, and in the rare parts where it actually was there it seemed more like an afterthought.
I give it one star mostly because I don’t think that I can actually give it none. It is like the Troll 2 of books minus that fact that Troll 2 was so bad that it was hilarious. Congratulations to JvS for doing what only one author had done before: make a book so unappealing and just plain bad that I have simply lost faith in reading altogether - or at least for a month or so.
No offense to JvS, I am sure he is a great person, just not a great writer.
What I got instead: 50 Shades of Grey… for furries.
I literally felt the need to take a shower after I read this book. I understand the need to have some attractive female protagonist in these kinds of books; I mean I cannot think of a single James Bond that didn’t have an attractive female protagonist. But when the male protagonist is naked/getting it on for more than a third of the book, you’re obviously doing something wrong.
Aside from that, there were striking errors that even the most incompetent publisher should have noticed. For one thing, there was absolutely no character development whatsoever; however, unlike other books with this error, John van Stry (JvS for convenience) makes the main character a complete jerk and then decides, "Meh, that that is good enough". Also the plot was nonexistent for the most part, and in the rare parts where it actually was there it seemed more like an afterthought.
I give it one star mostly because I don’t think that I can actually give it none. It is like the Troll 2 of books minus that fact that Troll 2 was so bad that it was hilarious. Congratulations to JvS for doing what only one author had done before: make a book so unappealing and just plain bad that I have simply lost faith in reading altogether - or at least for a month or so.
No offense to JvS, I am sure he is a great person, just not a great writer.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews