Off Rock

by Kieran Shea

Overview

“Five awesome and entertaining words to describe this one: 'Bank heist set in space.' Yes, please” - io9

In the year 2778, Jimmy Vik is feeling dissatisfied.

After busting his ass for assorted interstellar mining outfits for close to two decades, downsizing is in the wind, his ex-girlfriend/supervisor is climbing up his back, and daily Jimmy wonders if he’s played his last good hand.

So when Jimmy stumbles upon a significant gold pocket during a routine procedure on Kardashev 7-A, he believes his luck may have changed—larcenously so. But smuggling the gold “off rock” won’t be easy.

To do it, Jimmy will have to contend with a wily criminal partner, a gorgeous covert assassin, the suspicions of his ex, and the less than honorable intentions of an encroaching, rival mining company. As the clock ticks down, treachery and betrayal loom, the body count rises, and soon Jimmy has no idea who to trust.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785653384
Publisher:	Titan
Publication date:	04/18/2017
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kieran Shea’s fiction has appeared in many publications including Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Thuglit, Dogmatika, and Crimefactory. He has been nominated for the Story South’s Million Writers Award twice. He divides his time between Annapolis, Maryland and Ocean City, New Jersey.

Editorial Reviews

Five awesome and entertaining words to describe this one: 'Bank heist set in space.' Yes, please” -  io9

"fast-paced, high-energy story, which has all of the elements one would expect in a futuristic heist caper...."A great tale that is part space thriller and part classic gold heist." - Booklist 

“Off Rock is a space heist story you'll dig.” - Do Some Damage 

"While Off Rock lives up to its billing as a page-turning, escapist heist tale set in outer space (who wouldn’t pick up that book?), this novel becomes much more than a fun romp due to the depth of humanity Shea instills in his characters...Shea digs deeper than most authors of “escapist” literature are willing to go...to comment on the very human need to break free from an unsatisfactory life." - Tethered by Letters

“the final third races along to an explosive conclusion. I burned through it in an afternoon, and the twists at end were brilliant.” - Beauty in Ruins

“If you’re after a plot-oriented, quick-moving caper, Off-Rock is as good as gold.”  B&N SFF blog

“fast-paced and funny” - Black Gate

'Off Rock' is a fast read. Like one day at the beach fast, or one flight with no layovers. The story zips along with little in the way of complication." NPR

 “balls-to-the-wall action and hilarity.”  Nerdspan

“some great sci-fi escapism” Heradas

“one hell of a good, pulpy and deliciously quirky science fiction novel for adults, because it's pure escapism from start to finish.”  RisingShadow.net

“guaranteed entertainment” Book Devil

From the Publisher

04/15/2017
Life on the mining facility Kardashev 7-A is made up of boring routine punctuated only by rumors that the site is going to be shut down. Jimmy Vik is supposed to be doing maintenance in a mine shaft when he comes across an unexpected vein of gold. With the help of local black marketeer Jock, he schemes to steal the gold and smuggle it back to Earth. What he doesn't anticipate is the attention his actions attract from his shift supervisor (and former girlfriend) Leela, and the crime syndicate operative who is after his partner in crime. While Shea's debut, Koko Takes a Holiday, and its sequel, Koko the Mighty, were fun, profane sf adventures, this caper fails to jell. The relationship between Jimmy and Leela makes no sense, with no particular reason given for their initial breakup and Leela's disappointing willingness to forgive Jimmy. VERDICT This heist plot never quite generates the tension needed to hold readers or make them care about the outcome.—MM

Library Journal