Nothing Personal is a relatively entertaining read. Looking at a run from the perspective of Mr. Johnson definitely isn't the usual take you get. The bevy of double crosses and intrigues amuse as always. This is pretty light on the metaplot elements, something I am always grateful for. The only point I noticed was the changes in hacking in the new era in Shadowrun, and that isn't really integral to the plot.
I do have three criticisms, though I'll acknowledge the first two are matters of taste. Nothing Personal uses more conventional profanity and slang rather than the more traditional Shadowrun terms. I know that has fallen out of favor in recent years but I still prefer my "slots" and "frags." The second criticism I have is that there is a somewhat explicit sex scene near the beginning of the story. While I understand that the protagonist is supposed to come off as a slime ball, I think it's a case where alluding to it would be better than showing us his misogynistic nature. Again, I'll say those two things are a matter of taste. My final criticism is that some of the action sequences at the end felt both rushed and muddled. The climax should be savored and clear. It's an exciting part of the story and develops the character of the protagonist, so it would have been nice to have been polished and expanded.
On the whole, I enjoyed Nothing Personal, and recommend the piece. I hope to see more of the character Martin in the future, and hope to read more from Olivier Gagnon.
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