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SLADE HELLER

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Full Name: Slade Heller
Nationality: British
Organization: The Elysium Group
Occupation Agent

Creator: Kronos Ananthsimha
Time Span: 2021 - 2022

ABOUT THE SERIES

Slade Heller is an agent for the Elysium Group.

First, about that organization, it is important to point out that it is a private intelligence organization; a for-profit corporation that "was registered as a Private Military Company but functioned more like a private intelligence and tactical operations firm. The company worked for the highest bidder, but did its best to be on the fairly good side of events, despite hiring the worst form of scum for their workforce." It is headed by Troy Smith, a dark-skinned bald old man who is also the man to have seen something useful in Heller and brought him into the firm.

Second, about Heller, it is equally desirable to be honest that Slade Heller is not this man's real name; it is the name he chose to adopt when he chose to leave behind his old existence and start working for Elysium. "Still in his early twenties, he guarded anything connected to his past and his birth name with ruthless ferocity." Even more telling about the man is that he knew "he'd do anything to protect this identity".

When he says "anything" it is wise to take the man at his word because Heller does not spy for Elysium, he kills for them. Heller is a trained, and by the time we meet him, already fairly experienced assassin. He kills people. He does it quickly and efficiently and he does it coldly. He also is very determined to not be bored so when he is once told about a particularly dangerous mission that he was free to refuse, he accepts the job saying, "I'm game for anything that beats attending a training module and doesn't send me to prison. No questions asked".

As the chronicler of these adventures puts it: "Slade Heller is a devilish, anti-heroic assassin who's not evil but he's definitely not a hero either. His dark and demented soul tries to do good and kill evil people for the right price but he has no delusions of morality. He brings out a lot of dark humor, but also has a twisted shred of a moral compass in him. He is different from the usual action heroes of the genre who have a background in the military or the intelligence community as he has none of it. He's an enigma and will remain that way. Slade's also younger and shorter than most of the action heroes we usually read, and that was a fun experience for me to write."

NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

Number of Stories:8
First Appearance:2021
Last Appearance:2022

According to Amazon's numbering of this series, there are (so far) 5 novellas/novelettes concerning Slade Heller, as well as three 'bonus' short stories. I have listed them as such.


1 A Shot To Kill A Shot To Kill
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2021

"Slade Heller is sent to Florida to eliminate a drug cartel’s violent enforcer with just one shot. The operation’s burnt from the beginning. A traitor at Elysium has sold Slade out to the target. The hunter is now the hunted."
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2 A Time to Kill A Time to Kill
novelette
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2021

"Slade Heller is sent undercover into the mob to kill two targets at the right time. Infiltrating deep into London’s underground world of bloodsport, Slade has to fit in among criminals, befriend them, and get close to his elusive targets. But can he survive the deceptive operation long enough to reach his targets before he has put a target on himself?"
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3 A Day to Kill A Day to Kill
novelette
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2021

"Slade Heller is hunted as the target of a bounty hunt. He’s earned the wrath of the Russian mob, and a Bratva kingpin needs Slade dead. But there’s a bigger conspiracy at play and Elysium Group is targeted by the MI6 for Slade’s former actions on British soil. "
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3.1 Killin Santa Killin Santa
short story
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2021

"Slade Heller has no target to kill on Christmas Eve. He’s on a date with his handler, but is still itching for a kill. With the unbearable Christmas cheer around him, he might have just walked into a group of deadly terrorists planning an attack, but all is not what it seems."
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4 A Way to Kill A Way to Kill
novelette
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2021

"Slade Heller is sent undercover into the mob to kill two targets at the right time. Infiltrating deep into London’s underground world of bloodsport, Slade has to fit in among criminals, befriend them, and get close to his elusive targets. But can he survive the deceptive operation long enough to reach his targets before he has put a target on himself?
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5 A Cold to Kill A Cold to Kill
novelette
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2021

"Slade Heller is on a vacation in Paris when he’s abducted. Locked in a moving cold storage truck with other captives, Slade has to figure out the situation if he has to survive it. He’s accidentally picked up by a crew of black market organ traffickers, and he’s angry enough to kill."
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5.1 Wild Ride Wild Ride
short story
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2022

"Freelance assassin Slade Heller is on a holiday, riding a bike through the countryside to escape death. When an innocent family is targeted by vicious killers, he knows he has to interfere. He’s not getting paid to play the hero, and that’s not his intention."
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5.2 Return Shots Return Shots
short story
Written by Kronos Ananthsimha
Copyright: 2022

"Slade Heller is ready for a fun night out. With his plans ruined because of a sudden job, he’s after a vicious gang of Neo Nazis who are sabotaging a politician. Slade doesn’t like it, but he cannot let a hostage die.
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MY COMMENTS

I so approve of the author's decision to give us a series of novellas and short stories. When done right - and that mean these - it is a terrific way to present a story. Far too many adventures have to be padded to make them book length without adding anything to the plot. It is usually a 'rinse and repeat' or a 'let's go over this yet again". Not so with these enjoyable tales. I hope the author gives us more and keeps with this concept.

Speaking of concepts, I really like Slade Heller though in person I know I would be scared of him. He is a very, very dangerous fellow which is not so good for a drinking buddy but terrific on pages of a story.

GRADE

My Grade: B+

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