Not that Kind of Good Guy

· Shadow's Path Book 1 · Baen Books
20 reviews
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400
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About this ebook

Conspiracy Theories Meet Superhero Reality

ALL IT TAKES

It’s there for anyone to see: There are dark forces at work on the world, working to destroy civilization. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing. We need a good guy.

NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES—BUT SOME DO

For a generation, individuals have arisen with super powers, able to change the course of history, or at least save a few lives. But these people have free will—and not all choose to work for the forces of good. We need someone with an unblotted escutcheon, a Galahad for the 21st Century, someone pure of ethics and morality.

NOT THAT KIND OF GOOD GUY

What we get is Michael: the product of a broken childhood, raised in the foster system of one of America’s most dangerous inner cities, his wisdom comes from drug addicts and whores. Maybe he’s not the hero we asked for, but he’s the hero we need. And he’s about to hit puberty.

At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Conspiracy Theories Meet Superhero Reality ALL IT TAKES It’s there for anyone to see: There are dark forces at work on the world, working to destroy civilization. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing. We need a good guy. NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES—BUT SOME DO...

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Ratings and reviews

20 reviews
Shar Tegral (Q)
July 16, 2026
The usual phenomenal tale from John Ringo. I am like "Michael" in many ways. A Caucasian male raised in the ghettos of North Philadelphia by a wonderful African American Vietnam Era Marine. The descriptions were strong but also very accurate about ghetto life. For one of the "oppressors" (if you will). I find myself often having to say, "My skin folk are NOT my kin folk!" Also, I am a member of the VFW. 'nuff said.
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JulieY
May 12, 2026
Wow…intense! Michael is not a Justice League type of hero. His childhood in foster care wrote the book on violence and dysfunction Then he “ascended” and became a super. He is a genius. He is a force to be reckoned with. He has the skills and powers to take on the evil that is coming to destroy the world, and he is only thirteen. How do you even kill with chopsticks? This is non-stop action, violent, and quite the critique on society. It’s dark, psychological, and amazing.
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Ben Green
August 19, 2025
superb storytelling but he's got his villains wrong
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About the author

John Ringo is the New York Times best-selling author of the Black Tide Rising series, the Posleen War series, the Through the Looking Glass series, and more, including the Troy Rising series, of which Live Free or Die is the first installment. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings firsthand knowledge of military operations to his fiction.

John Ringo is the New York Times best-selling author of the Black Tide Rising series, the Posleen War series, the Through the Looking Glass series, and more, including the Troy Rising series, of which Live Free or Die is the first installment. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings firsthan...

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