The Troubleshooter by Bard Constantine

The Troubleshooter Reviews

• 
  Lyn

  Punk.
  
  Someone smarter than me could do a research paper on this term and see how it, as a suffix, has come to be a designator for speculative fiction sub-genres.
  Neuromancer took the term cyberpunk and from there we have seen various other kinds of –punk, such as steampunk, biopunk, and I may have come up with one when I referred to
  Ready Player One as Gamerpunk.
  
  The Wiktionary defines “punk” as a suffix as: Denotes a fictional and aesthetic genre based on the noun to which it is suffixed, usually involving ahistorical or anachronistic technology and its effects on society.
  
  A good working definition.
  
  This brings me to dieselpunk. Google defines this term as: a genre that combines the aesthetics of the diesel-based technology of the interwar period through to the 1950s with retro-futuristic technology and postmodern sensibilities.
  
  And so we come to Bard Constantine’s excellent fiction The Troubleshooter. The Goodreads tag describes this as: takes the grit, slang, vibe and look of the 30s pulp and hardboiled detective stories and drops it in a dystopian setting.
  
  Constantine’s protagonist, Mick Trubble (making the list for best fictional names behind
  Snow Crash’s Hiro Protagonist) is an old school tough guy amidst a stylishly dystopian Frank Milleresque future setting. The Troubleshooter introduces readers to this world building and its charismatic front man. Constantine fills his narrative with language reminiscent of Mickey Spillane and tells a good story to boot.
  
  I’ll be reading more diesel punk.
  
  
• 
  J.V. Stanley

  I've owned this short for a while now, and I dare say, I was a FOOL not to pick up and read this sooner. I remained completely transfixed throughout the entire read and delved head first into his subsequent books. I am the old school "flogger" and "Bogart" wearing kind of girl, so this book was right up my alley. As an intro to the series, it was the hook that got me addicted (not to mention Bard's reputation for impressive style, structure, and storytelling). If you've skipped over this and jumped straight into the world of Mick Trubble and New Haven, I'd advise you to pick up this book as well. Mick Trubble is the type of character whose life, style, and personality leaves a very distinctive and enthralling impression. Any story written with this character is guaranteed to be entertaining.
  
  The atmosphere is riveting as Bard's eloquent prose transports you into an alternate dystopian society. Genre crossings have never been smoother as he incorporates futuristic technological zeal into a world with the provocative air of 30-40's style noir. I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of his books.
  
  Bard is described as a New York Times Bestseller in the making. I find that statement to be the understatement of the century. The man is brilliant.
  
  
• 
  Bittersweet BookReviews

  The Troubleshooter is a great read. With a 1930′s feel to it, I was completely captivated throughout the entire read. Bard has an amazing writing style that keeps the reader’s attention from beginning to end. The only downfall for me was that it was a quick read. I look forward to reading more of Bard’s work.
• 
  Netanella

  Excellent short story introduction to the world of Mick Trubble, hardboiled detective and "Troubleshooter", in the dystopian and futuristic city of New Haven. This is a series and an author that deserves attention.