Title: Jack Spartan: Varaci Runner
Author: K. Edward Mallory
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1984568069
Pages: 650
Genre: Science-Fiction
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it.” In author K. Edward Mallory’s book Jack Spartan: Varaci Runner, readers are taken on a whirlwind sci-fi adventure that tests the luck of one man as he struggles to survive in a hostile world and escape his fate.
This book tells the story of Jack Spartan, one of the youngest pilots in NASA history and a man determined to reach the stars. Yet when his mission goes awry and he is separated from his crew, the survival techniques and training he underwent on Earth are all that stands between him and utter destruction, as he is met with hostility and discovers an entire universe filled with alien life. Learning he must hide in plain sight or risk being discovered, Jack must find a way to survive and escape the dangers surrounding him.
Although a fairly lengthy read, this book is very well written and does a masterful job of delving into the science and practicality of the book’s plot in ways very few casual sci-fi readers are used to. The author goes into great detail when it comes to the technical science and engineering dialogue between characters and the actions taken by various crew members both human and alien in origin. Readers can see this in passages such as this: “Jo-oot entered the prefueling purge command. The secondary inlet purge doors began to open, and the flow accelerators instantly spooled to their high-pressure, highvelocity mode. When they were fully open, the fueling bay purge valves opened.”
This is a book for any fan of science fiction, especially those who enjoy detailed and technical aspects of science fiction storytelling. As a sci-fi fan myself, it was interesting to see the protagonist come into contact and adapt to an already established galactic system. So often in these stories readers will either see humanity already established as part of the galactic mythology or the more advanced society discovering lesser beings. Yet here we see humanity as the uninformed, blindly innocent species who must learn quickly the ins and outs of an advanced society or risk total annihilation.
This is a fantastic world filled with action, science and wondrous discovery that any sci-fi fan will love to read. Readers should expect a very long read at 650 pages, but the story flows naturally and does a great job of weaving in a brand new mythology and a protagonist that readers can get behind and root for. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of Jack Spartan: Varaci Runner by author K. Edward Mallory today!
