Natural Selection

Dan Shepherd #ss

by Stephen Leather

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.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, War, Action

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2013

About the author

Stephen Leather 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. 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. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 4 🌟.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short story (only about 30 pages) this was very well written. Some people might be familiar with the Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series, for others this gives you a good indication about what to expect in the series. The writing is quite fast paced, and for a quick read it is full of action and interest. It deals with the time that Dan Shepherd went up for selection into the SAS, and it also reveals how he came by his nickname of Spider.
It has certainly given me enough interest to try and find the other books in the series.

[Wayne Marinovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

First one I have read of the Stephen Leather catalogue and I have to say I was really pleased with it. Then writing was fluid, the descriptions were vivid without compromising on the speed of the action. A good balance. Recommend it to others.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose

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!

[Robert Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

I started this book and then couldn't put it down, its the first time reading a book from this author and will be reading more

[Andrew marr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intense

Good read be it a short one. Stephen leather is an Author who makes you think your there in the thick of it

[16greenwayg · Rating 3 out of 5]

good start to the series, very realistic, lots of dialogue

[Jonathan Le Tocq]

Gripping Yarn

A good all round Spider Shepherd tale which introduces us to some of his background at the same time as being a gripping little tale.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok very short so difficult to pack enough into it to make it 4 stars, interesting pre book series on how Shepard got his nick name. Got it free to read, would not want to pay 99p for it.

[Stephen Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good quick read - entertaining even for those not too familiar with the other novels.

[eddie fretwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can i say, its Stephen Leather.

He is one of, if not the best at SAS. Carry on the good work and I'll carry on reading them

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Will read other of his books.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge Stephen Leather fan and particularly love his character Dan “Spider” Shepherd. This short story introduces “Spider” and, for those of us who are already familiar with him, provides a little insight into his early years during selection for the SAS and the origins of his nickname. For those who aren’t, this short read provides an introduction to a great character and series of books that you will quickly become addicted to.

Even though this is a short story, it provides a good indication of the excellent writing style and skills of Stephen as an author and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good action story with great characters.

I downloaded this story from Amazon for free and as of today, 31st January 2016, it remains free so give it a go, you have nothing to lose.

My blog: Reading Stuff 'n' Things

[Hemant Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Leather has an eye for detail. His writing is filled with details of the trade and craft related to the subject of the plot.

Natural Selection is a kind of introductory story to the character of "Spider Shepherd" - Stephen has written shorts as well as novels with him as central character.

It was a nice short story as well as a very good introduction to Shepherd as well as Stephen's writing style ... the details of the genre and subject he is writing and the depth of his understanding at ground level - is pretty impressive.

I look forward to reading more of Stephen Leather and yeah, more of Spider Shepherd too.

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.


Excellent! This is what a prologue short story should be - lots of action, intrigue and descriptions of skills and weapons that really add some depth to what is already excellent story-telling. The writing is tense and exciting and was really a page-turner.

The story of how Dan got his nickname is kinda cool.

Recommended for both new and old Stephen Leather fans.


Paul
ARH

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

SAS selection. Their last task is jungle training in the jungles of Belize. Thanks for the delightful description of their repast where Shepherd gets his Regiment nickname.
Good intro to the Spider Shepherd series. The tarantula eating was much scarier than the firefights they were engaged in, in my opinion.
A nice reminder also of how intense the selection course for admission to the SAS actually is too.
I've read several of the Shepherd series and it was great to read about the team's origin.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story introducing the character Dan Shepherd prior to the excellent series of books by Stephen Leather.
I saw this book advertised on Amazon totally free and been as I was already reading the Dan Shepherd series decided to take up the offer. An interesting story that works especially well if you are already familiar with the character, it explains the origin of his nickname 'Spider' and one of his early exploits while on SAS training.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story from the early years of Dan 'Spider' Shepherd as he goes through selection to become an SAS squaddie.
It's a brilliant little story and it gives us the origins of how Dan becomes 'Spider'.
The writing is tight and there's so much packed into this short story.
A must for Spider fans out there and a great place for new readers to pick up from.
(Free on amazon on 1/8/16)

[Mari-Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story in the inimitable style Stephen Leather has mastered.
It's a great intro read into the character of Dan 'Spider' Shepherd & how he got his nickname as well as to experience Leathers' fluid, fast moving & descriptive writing style.
Whether you are familiar or not with the Spider series this is a wonderful taster of the fine standard of his books.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the "Spider" Shepherd character.

[Richard Mulholland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good must read back (short) story for Spider fans. Really looking forward to this series of shorts.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The origin of his nickname at the start of his final training mission in the jungles of Guatemala. Good action and a tight narrative.

[Asterope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Belize, 1996.
Jungle training & mission.
Learn some politics of SAS and jungle tradecraft.
Spider gets his nickname.

[Neil Mcrobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable


Good easy paced read

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

very short

[Joycelyn Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very good.

Easy read but interesting. Well researched and authentic. Great story, great characters and believable. As good as Ryan and Mcnab

[Philip Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Enjoyed the intro to Spider and the story was kind of different and not what I expected bit very pleadant

[mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Good read on an aeroplane, interesting characters and a real likeness to jungle warfare and tactical soldering. Stephen makes the characters lives as real as possible.