This book came out during a time when Deathlands was stepping out of the mould and pushing the storytelling into more interesting and entertaining directions. Shadow World is in my opinion one of the very best books in the series up to this point. The author really cut loose with this installment of the series, making it one heck of a wild thriller, nothing like any DL novel before it, and is a great example of the potential of outstanding writing that can be found even in a pulp series fiction such as this.
Imagine a parallel universe to this earth, with one difference. The nukecaust never happened on the alternate earth, and thus things went in a totally different direction afterwards. This book takes a dark side look at what could happen instead of a bright side regarding this earth if the nukes had not happened. And these people discovered a way to transport through a passageway to the other earth. Ryan and his group become wrapped up in this event, propelling Ryan into this other Earth, and he is introduced to the horrors that are in many ways even worse than his own post nuke life.
What follows is a non-stop thrill ride through this other world, with hi tech weaponry, political intrigue, and nonstop danger and chaos at every turn, meanwhile Ryan’s companions must contend with the intruders from this world back in Deathlands.
I loved this book, I’m not sure how any reader can rate it less than top billing, but I’m one to say if you are looking for a terrific book in this series, and you have not read it yet, this is one you need to track down, it is one of the best. Great Job AP!