Customer Reviews

Hard Jack

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have not reviewed books in the past but this one was so bad that I wanted to warn people.
First, I'm not a prude, by any means, but I felt the sexuality in this book should have given it an explicit warning if not an X rating.
Don't get me wrong ... a little sex can help move a storyline along, but when it crosses over into hardcore territory, it begins to detract from the overall Sci-Fi reading experience for me.
Secondly, the ending was so abrupt and lame, giving the book an unfinished feel, that it actually made me somewhat mad.
On a very slight up-note (and why I gave it 2 stars instead of one), the level of technology described in the book was fair to good.
I would not recommend this book to others.

As a sci fi fan, I admit I am a bit fussy about my fiction. I want to be entertained but not with cheap gimmicks, I want out of this world, brain stretching concepts and yet to be able to see logic and depth - not just little green men running around shooting helpless blondes.. This book rose above all of that and proved to be one of the best books I have read in ages.

The opening section of the book introduces you to some of the main characters in a very unusual and thought provoking way. John Hanna uses some clever tactics to create a wide landscape that creates the scene and placement for the unfolding story to come. Jack, the central character starts with his own death and the slow realisation that he has a chance to do something much bigger than live once and die. As he learns about his "death" he is made aware of a higher purpose - that of gathering a small, like minded team to save humanity before the seemingly inevitable nuclear disaster looming ahead. To do this, he needs to return to Earth, locate his team and find a way to contact an AI "out there" somewhere.

The reader is swept along with Jack as he returns and starts realising he has a few extra abilities to help him in his quest, quickly assembles his team and starts working to set up a business capable of providing both the investment and the equipment to send a message that an AI might pick up in space. As his team is gathered together and they form working and personal relationships with other "outsiders" the plot develops on their joint quest to contact the AI and deal with the inevitable "what happens next".

If you enjoy intelligent and believable sci fi with good plot and decent characters, then this is a great choice. If you are not really a sci fi fan but enjoy a good book full of interesting and multi faceted characters, then also consider this book! I will not talk about the ending other than to say WOW. Made me sit up and came as a complete shock. As much as I wish the ending may have taken a different route, it left me reeling in suprise. Not many books do that these days.. read it for yourself and see what I am talking about!

Really hope that there is a sequel planned.... please.... ;)