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Jak Phoenix and his partner, Baxter, are a couple of low-budget space pirates traversing the galaxy in a rundown ship in dire need of repair - when they undertake what appears to be a routine salvage mission that ultimately proves to be anything but...unbeknownst to the interstellar hijackers, an evil mastermind - who just happens to be an old enemy of theirs - has been surreptitiously amassing a secret army in a far corner of the galaxy, and a set of serendipitous circumstances soon shoulders Jak and Baxter with the task of saving not only an endangered race of aliens, but also the entire galaxy...quite a tall order for someone who'd normally rather kick back with a cold one than stick his neck out for anyone...
With unique, vivid characters and a compelling central plotline, Jak Phoenix is quite the entertaining read. In skillful fashion, author Matt Williams has crafted an enjoyable tale of interstellar adventure sure to please fans of well-told Sci-Fi/Fantasy yarns. While the essence of his narrative is hardly original, Williams does a commendable job of breathing fresh, creative new life into a rather familiar morality tale - particularly by featuring a protagonist who's nothing if not the quintessential anti-hero. As such, readers are sure to find Jak Phoenix anything but dull, thanks in large part to Williams' quite fertile imagination. A satisfying read.
Chelsea Perry
Apex Reviews
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.GizmoDL
Posted May 4, 2010
Couldn't put it down once I started. Written in a style reminiscent to the original Star Wars, this book never drags. The plot moves quickly and held my interest the entire time. Character development is exceptional, done with humor and depth. Can't wait for the next installment!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 4, 2012
Well written with good characters.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 9, 2010
This is a great fast paced space adventure reminiscent of Firefly. Poor Jak just wants to get by in the world, but ends up being forced to save the universe. Jak's adventures are full of twists and turns, near death experiences, and one hot mechanic. Written for adults, but clean enough for kids too!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.If you thought that Han Solo was the real hero of Star Wars, then Jak Phoenix, a novel by Matt Williams, is for you. Jak and his partner, Baxter, are space pirates traveling the Azore's Crown Galaxy in an outdated ship called The Tempest. The ship constantly needs repairs on the fly, partly because it is old and pieced together from several different ships, and partly because of the scrapes that are common to the life of a space pirate. Williams' characters are familiar archetypes of science fiction. Jak is irreverent and prefers to work no harder than is necessary to feed himself and to stock the bar on The Tempest. His treatment of women is obnoxious. Then along comes a woman strong enough to turn Jack around. Jak's friends are mechanics and engineers who get by on their intelligence and the ability to collect and make use of what others see as junk. There is, as well, the typical assortment of villains-- from weak and servile to evil-cyborg-scientist to megalomaniac. Williams breathes new life into these archetypes, thoroughly developing each character, not with lengthy descriptions, but through the characters' actions and conversations. Readers will have no trouble keeping the characters straight; Williams creates lasting images of their physical appearances while at the same time revealing their motivations. As readers get to know the characters, they will find themselves liking and identifying with Jak and his friends. Above all, what makes Jak Phoenix a good book is the pacing. Williams brilliantly balances action with plot and character development throughout the book. There is never a dull moment, whether Jak and his friends are outmaneuvering attackers in space, boarding an enemy ship, fighting robotic soldiers, or outwitting captors. Though the action never lets up, the plot of Jak Phoenix always continues to move forward at an engaging pace. The details that Williams includes in the middle of all this action will create vivid pictures in his readers' minds. Readers will get hooked early and want to stay with the book to find out what happens. The plot is fairly simple; Jak must rescue a race of aliens-- perhaps the whole galaxy-- from an evil mastermind who has quietly been building armies in a corner of the galaxy. It is a tried-and-true plot line, and it's simplicity works in Williams' favor. Readers of science fiction want an alternate universe, which is believable, characters with whom they can identify (even if they happen to be aliens), and a story that will keep them turning the pages. Williams easily achieves all three within the context of a plot which, like his characters, is original enough to be memorable but sticks to a basic formula that works. Williams' grammar is not always perfect, and his sentences are occasionally awkward. This does not interfere with the story, however. If Williams' style is a little rough around the edges, it complements Jak, himself, who chooses practicality over appearances. The narrator's voice reads the way an average science fiction fan might talk, which many will find appealing. Readers will find this well-crafted novel diverting, will want to recommend it to a friend, and will look forward to Jak Phoenix's next adventure. Quill says: Perfectly paced to keep science fiction fans absorbed and engaged.
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Overview
Jak is a space pilot who would rather kick back with a cold drink than stick his neck out to save the galaxy. But, as we all know, life often gets in the way of these ‘big dreams.’ In the spirit of space operas of old, comes an action packed novel following the exploits of the best low quality pirate in the galaxy, Jak Phoenix.