Gary Jonas

I'm giving this book five stars not because it's a "great novel", but because it's a perfectly executed space opera. There are underdog heroes, a cyber-psi, a sentient spaceship, a damsel in distress, tough guys with hearts of gold, vice-ridden plutocrats, and - of course - pirates. There are also two groups of fantastically incompetent underlings who bring to mind Maleficent's classic utterance of frustration: "Oh, they're hopeless. A disgrace to the forces of evil!" The plot is fast-paced, full of twists and turns, reveals, betrayals, reversals, and how-the-heck-are-they-going-to-get-out-of-*this*-mess moments.

On top of a cracking plot, the writing is very good: simple, clear, fast-paced. It doesn't call attention to itself by trying too hard, nor are there awkward or grammatically questionable passages.

If you're looking for a good time, read this book.… (mer)