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SIMON VECTOR
SIMON VECTOR
Alpha Draconis. Its name alone makes even the most law-abiding citizens of the Empire uneasy. Located in the farthest reaches of known space, it is the most remote and feared prison in the Imperial penal system. To be consigned to this tunneled-out, vacuum-sealed planetoid is both a life sentence and a death sentence, for no prisoner entombed within its frozen walls ever leaves the facility alive.
When Zodiac Battle Systems sends an investigator to Alpha Draconis, Ana Bolo is no less a prisoner than the cannibals, serial rapists, and mass murderers this frozen hell confines. Tasked to learn the fate of a secret project once concealed within the bowels of the prison, her corporate masters will kill her if she fails. But as she hunts for clues left behind by the suicidal genius, Doctor Thaddeus Kong, she realizes that Kong's increasingly erratic logs point to a more sinister truth. Alpha Draconis lies vulnerable to a horror unlike any mankind has yet faced, a horror drawn to the planetoid by the very experiment Kong tried to hide.
Cover Art: Johnny Atomic
When Zodiac Battle Systems sends an investigator to Alpha Draconis, Ana Bolo is no less a prisoner than the cannibals, serial rapists, and mass murderers this frozen hell confines. Tasked to learn the fate of a secret project once concealed within the bowels of the prison, her corporate masters will kill her if she fails. But as she hunts for clues left behind by the suicidal genius, Doctor Thaddeus Kong, she realizes that Kong's increasingly erratic logs point to a more sinister truth. Alpha Draconis lies vulnerable to a horror unlike any mankind has yet faced, a horror drawn to the planetoid by the very experiment Kong tried to hide.
Cover Art: Johnny Atomic
- GenresScience Fiction
248 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2012
4 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jak Holding
8 books17 followersJAK HOLDING is the pen-name for long time friends and collaborators, John Jackson and Ken Chapman (John And Ken).
They are the authors of the sci-fi book series, SIMON VECTOR. Current titles in the series include the novel SIMON VECTOR and the prequel novellas CORRECTION: A GERALD RUHMING TALE OF TERROR, CORRUPTION: A MARSHAL BOOTHE TALE OF JUSTICE, MISCALCULATION: A NOIR TALE OF SKULL MORGAN and DECEPTION: THE LAST BATTLE OF REX MASON. The novellas can be read in any order and provide an uncensored look at some of the exciting characters that inhabit the dark world of SIMON VECTOR.
In 2010, John and Ken teamed up with publisher Harper Voyager and author Adam-Troy Castro to create Z Is for Zombie: An Illustrated Guide to the End of the World and V Is for Vampire: An Illustrated Alphabet of the Undead.
Under the pen-name, Dante Savelli, John and Ken created CHOOSE YOUR DOOM: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, which they co-wrote with author DeAnna Knippling.
In addition to their writing, John and Ken are the founders of the publishing house, League Entertainment, which publishes many of their titles.
John devotes his off time mentoring at-risk youth in central Florida's juvenile detention facilities. When Ken is not trying to take over the world with John, he's busy safe-guarding it as a Commissioned Officer and UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot in the Army National Guard.
View John's Goodreads Profile.
View Ken's Goodreads Profile.
They are the authors of the sci-fi book series, SIMON VECTOR. Current titles in the series include the novel SIMON VECTOR and the prequel novellas CORRECTION: A GERALD RUHMING TALE OF TERROR, CORRUPTION: A MARSHAL BOOTHE TALE OF JUSTICE, MISCALCULATION: A NOIR TALE OF SKULL MORGAN and DECEPTION: THE LAST BATTLE OF REX MASON. The novellas can be read in any order and provide an uncensored look at some of the exciting characters that inhabit the dark world of SIMON VECTOR.
In 2010, John and Ken teamed up with publisher Harper Voyager and author Adam-Troy Castro to create Z Is for Zombie: An Illustrated Guide to the End of the World and V Is for Vampire: An Illustrated Alphabet of the Undead.
Under the pen-name, Dante Savelli, John and Ken created CHOOSE YOUR DOOM: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, which they co-wrote with author DeAnna Knippling.
In addition to their writing, John and Ken are the founders of the publishing house, League Entertainment, which publishes many of their titles.
John devotes his off time mentoring at-risk youth in central Florida's juvenile detention facilities. When Ken is not trying to take over the world with John, he's busy safe-guarding it as a Commissioned Officer and UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot in the Army National Guard.
View John's Goodreads Profile.
View Ken's Goodreads Profile.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 13, 2012
I downloaded it to my Kindle and WOW! I must tell you that this book is as good as it gets! I did not put it down until I finished the entire book! I felt like I was in the book with Simon Vector! Good guys, bad guys, action (lots of action), space - I hope that there are more books coming! I am 13 years old and I recommend that you read Simon Vector! BEST BOOK since the Maximum Ride series!
July 4, 2012
An Anti-Hero for our Times.
A lurid tour de force that compels the reader down dark paths of imagination and discovery.
Simon Vector is a novel that harkens back to the best traditions of pulp science fiction of the past while exulting in the writing techniques of the current best sellers and promising to take the reader to new realms of excellence. This is a book for those who crave a simpler time when men were men, women were women, and mysterious alien monsters bent on the destruction of all you love were truly something to fear.
An honest to goodness page-turner, I found myself unable to stop reading. From when I downloaded the book at 8pm last night to when I finished,emotionally spent at 2:30am this morning the story held me in it's grip and shook me like a rag-doll.
If you're like me, you'll find yourself eager for more of this universe asking questions like, "Who or what are the Vendak?" "What happened to Dr. Kong?" "Is Alpha Draconis a death-trap?" and "Is Simon Vector the savior of the Human race or its executioner?"
This is a story where the line between hero and anti-hero is blurred by blood. Survival is the order of the day and the price the human race must pay to fulfill that order is indeed dear.
A lurid tour de force that compels the reader down dark paths of imagination and discovery.
Simon Vector is a novel that harkens back to the best traditions of pulp science fiction of the past while exulting in the writing techniques of the current best sellers and promising to take the reader to new realms of excellence. This is a book for those who crave a simpler time when men were men, women were women, and mysterious alien monsters bent on the destruction of all you love were truly something to fear.
An honest to goodness page-turner, I found myself unable to stop reading. From when I downloaded the book at 8pm last night to when I finished,emotionally spent at 2:30am this morning the story held me in it's grip and shook me like a rag-doll.
If you're like me, you'll find yourself eager for more of this universe asking questions like, "Who or what are the Vendak?" "What happened to Dr. Kong?" "Is Alpha Draconis a death-trap?" and "Is Simon Vector the savior of the Human race or its executioner?"
This is a story where the line between hero and anti-hero is blurred by blood. Survival is the order of the day and the price the human race must pay to fulfill that order is indeed dear.
June 3, 2012
Hellish prisons in deep space holding the worst criminals around, augmented guards that ooze terror-inducing pheromones. A timid doctor and a woman who's too good at her job. You meet all of these before you truly meet the title character, but it makes what is coming all the more dramatic. Only one person can save mankind from the impending invasion, and he's almost one of the invaders.
May 11, 2012
Action packed, dark and very-nearly brilliant, Simon Vector is a strong, fierce anti-hero story set against the cold backdrop of space. It's the gritty story of a man quite literally reborn and in search of answers; and he's asking questions with his fists...and his Gravity Hammer.
December 1, 2013
I discovered this universe through what Jak Holding calls Entrypoint novellas, which did just what they were meant to - provide an intriguing on-ramp to the main story. ('Entrypoint' is trademarked, and the 'about the author' note sounds less like two guys who got together to write a book than two guys who are executing a business plan that includes a novel. But that's beside the point.)
I've read two of these novellas, CORRECTION and CORRUPTION, which were very well done, and I expect I'll get others. The two so far tell the stories of two characters who end up in a high-security prison. Simon Vector tells some of the story of what happens in the prison itself.
The two novellas were very good dark SF-horror. The main novel is dark SF-horror, but it's not as good. There are several flaws.
1. Structure - the story starts in media res, and relies on flashbacks and exposition to explain what's happening. The explanation often arrives late, meaning that we've muddled through our own explanation, or just skipped over some of the confusing bits. It works, but is awkward.
2. Cyborgs
3. Language - Mostly the writing is very good, but there are a few careless errors that I found jarring enough to correct. There weren't many of these errors, but here's where you want an outside editor looking at things.
More to the point, I just wasn't very interested in a key plot point . Which means that I've liked the entrypoints, but not so much what they were an entry to. Even this book, for that matter, reads more as a long prologue than as a complete story. It's entirely unsurprising that at the end we've only begun what promises to be a long, multi-part series.
The authors have done very well with characterization and with setting. Story, in this mainline novel, is not as strong. In fact, the main storyline is a bit tired. Fred Saberhagen and so many others have already done told this story, and there's not much new offered here, though there are hints that that could change.
I expect to pick up the other ENTRYPOINT (TM) novellas. I think these guys are good writers. But whether I'll continue with the main Simon Vector storyline is another question. I might give it one more try. If the plot doesn't improve, I'm not sure I'll go further.
*Apologies for the awkward number and placement of spoilers. I intended to leave it all in the open, but later decided on caution.
I've read two of these novellas, CORRECTION and CORRUPTION, which were very well done, and I expect I'll get others. The two so far tell the stories of two characters who end up in a high-security prison. Simon Vector tells some of the story of what happens in the prison itself.
The two novellas were very good dark SF-horror. The main novel is dark SF-horror, but it's not as good. There are several flaws.
1. Structure - the story starts in media res, and relies on flashbacks and exposition to explain what's happening. The explanation often arrives late, meaning that we've muddled through our own explanation, or just skipped over some of the confusing bits. It works, but is awkward.
2. Cyborgs
3. Language - Mostly the writing is very good, but there are a few careless errors that I found jarring enough to correct. There weren't many of these errors, but here's where you want an outside editor looking at things.
More to the point, I just wasn't very interested in a key plot point . Which means that I've liked the entrypoints, but not so much what they were an entry to. Even this book, for that matter, reads more as a long prologue than as a complete story. It's entirely unsurprising that at the end we've only begun what promises to be a long, multi-part series.
The authors have done very well with characterization and with setting. Story, in this mainline novel, is not as strong. In fact, the main storyline is a bit tired. Fred Saberhagen and so many others have already done told this story, and there's not much new offered here, though there are hints that that could change.
I expect to pick up the other ENTRYPOINT (TM) novellas. I think these guys are good writers. But whether I'll continue with the main Simon Vector storyline is another question. I might give it one more try. If the plot doesn't improve, I'm not sure I'll go further.
*Apologies for the awkward number and placement of spoilers. I intended to leave it all in the open, but later decided on caution.
May 24, 2012
For those that have been fans of this genre for any serious length of time, you find that there are really two types of science fiction. The first is sci-fi or space fantasy, which can be best be exemplified by Star Wars. The other is science fiction or talk and tech, which one sees when watching Star Trek. Simon Vector tries to straddle the line between the two and is mostly successful in doing so. The novel is economical in size and scope while hinting at a larger backdrop and history, using thirteen chapters and an epilogue to create a frozen, terrifying atmosphere. There is very little filler in this novel. Everything is focused on moving the relevant story forward. As I read Simon Vector, my mind kept going back to another recent science fiction series, Mass Effect. Like the video game series, Simon Vector involves horrific entities from beyond known space seeking to convert humans into a simulacrum of life. The sections dealing with the necroids are quite vivid but do become a bit repetitive towards the end. It reminded me greatly of a trip through a Cronenberg body-horror story. My only complaint about the setting is that not enough time was spent explaining some of the science behind the technology. I’m not a big fan of techno-babble but I felt that the authors rushed through the explanations a little too quickly. This is a personal gripe though rather than a condemnation of the story as a whole.
As much as the structure and the background details instill a sense of reality, the characters are what people talk about and care about. Simon Vector as a character is referred to constantly before becoming a central piece of the story. He is a god-like figure in the setting, much like the adversaries that created him. The character of Ana Bolo is the closest thing to a protagonist in the story and she fills the role of a Ripley-like character. Lucius Feen also serves as a primary point-of-view character and one can almost feel craven oozing off the character, which makes his actions later in the story feel slightly out of place, in my opinion. There are stock characters involved in the story though, specifically Warden Rutledge and Malcolm Liddle. Rutledge works as the gruff, authoritarian character quite well, so much so that I would like to have seen a few more facets to him. Liddle, on the other hand, is the stereotypical corporate executive sleaze and I felt his presence was a necessary evil to get what was needed from the story. One character intrigued me even more than the title character and that was Rex Mason. To be honest, I would read an entire story devoted to this character, either as a prequel to see how he reached the Alpha Draconis prison that serves as the primary setting or as a continuation from this novel.
Overall, Simon Vector serves as an excellent adventure story that could have used some greater attention to the background details. I would not have complained if the story were longer in order to fill in those details. Definitely recommend this for people who enjoy good science fiction/horror or the Mass Effect universe.
As much as the structure and the background details instill a sense of reality, the characters are what people talk about and care about. Simon Vector as a character is referred to constantly before becoming a central piece of the story. He is a god-like figure in the setting, much like the adversaries that created him. The character of Ana Bolo is the closest thing to a protagonist in the story and she fills the role of a Ripley-like character. Lucius Feen also serves as a primary point-of-view character and one can almost feel craven oozing off the character, which makes his actions later in the story feel slightly out of place, in my opinion. There are stock characters involved in the story though, specifically Warden Rutledge and Malcolm Liddle. Rutledge works as the gruff, authoritarian character quite well, so much so that I would like to have seen a few more facets to him. Liddle, on the other hand, is the stereotypical corporate executive sleaze and I felt his presence was a necessary evil to get what was needed from the story. One character intrigued me even more than the title character and that was Rex Mason. To be honest, I would read an entire story devoted to this character, either as a prequel to see how he reached the Alpha Draconis prison that serves as the primary setting or as a continuation from this novel.
Overall, Simon Vector serves as an excellent adventure story that could have used some greater attention to the background details. I would not have complained if the story were longer in order to fill in those details. Definitely recommend this for people who enjoy good science fiction/horror or the Mass Effect universe.
April 11, 2016
In a dark future universe, new author, Jak Holding, introduces us to the mysterious Science Fiction character, Simon Vector.
The scene of the action is an isolated maximum security prison. Slight spoiler, these worst-of-the-worst criminals are kept in check by infusing the prison guards with pheromones. These pheromones subconsciously cause the prisoners to be irrationally afraid of the guards. The fear increases as the prisoners get closer to the prison guards.
While the imagination required to create this environment is impressive, for me it just consumes too much of the book. In fact, for at least the first ten percent of book, much of the plot is dominated by the effects of the pheromones on the prisoners and visitors.
Another criticism I had with the book was character confusion. I feel like there were too many characters introduced too quickly. Additional new characters were then introduced without doing much character development of the existing ones. In the first part of the book, I frequently found myself paging back to re-read sections to reestablish who was who.
For a period of time, I considered not finishing the book because it just started to feel like too much work. Then, about half way through the book, the parallel stories finally weaved together, and the book got really exciting. If you're an action junkie, you'll love the second half of the story. In fact I'd say it progressed from about a 3-star book to a 5-star book, hence my overall rating of 4 stars.
In addition to falling into the category of Science Fiction, I'd likewise classify this story as Horror. I also happen to enjoy horror stories, but if horror stories give you nightmares, then this book probably isn't for you. This story would also be a good choice if you enjoy military Science Fiction.
Another interesting side note about the author is that "Jak Holding" is really a pen name for the collaborative work of two authors: John Jackson and Ken Chapman. "JAK" is short for John And Ken.
I was excited to learn that there will be future Simon Vector sequels. These are scheduled to be released as Novellas. I suspect that as this talented author combo writes more, the quality of writing will only improve. I'd like to see more time devoted to character development in future stories. This will not only allow readers to form deeper connections with the characters, but it will also prevent episodes of character confusion.
Simon Vector is definitely worth a read if you enjoy Science Fiction and the team of “Jak Holding” is a pair that merits following.
The scene of the action is an isolated maximum security prison. Slight spoiler, these worst-of-the-worst criminals are kept in check by infusing the prison guards with pheromones. These pheromones subconsciously cause the prisoners to be irrationally afraid of the guards. The fear increases as the prisoners get closer to the prison guards.
While the imagination required to create this environment is impressive, for me it just consumes too much of the book. In fact, for at least the first ten percent of book, much of the plot is dominated by the effects of the pheromones on the prisoners and visitors.
Another criticism I had with the book was character confusion. I feel like there were too many characters introduced too quickly. Additional new characters were then introduced without doing much character development of the existing ones. In the first part of the book, I frequently found myself paging back to re-read sections to reestablish who was who.
For a period of time, I considered not finishing the book because it just started to feel like too much work. Then, about half way through the book, the parallel stories finally weaved together, and the book got really exciting. If you're an action junkie, you'll love the second half of the story. In fact I'd say it progressed from about a 3-star book to a 5-star book, hence my overall rating of 4 stars.
In addition to falling into the category of Science Fiction, I'd likewise classify this story as Horror. I also happen to enjoy horror stories, but if horror stories give you nightmares, then this book probably isn't for you. This story would also be a good choice if you enjoy military Science Fiction.
Another interesting side note about the author is that "Jak Holding" is really a pen name for the collaborative work of two authors: John Jackson and Ken Chapman. "JAK" is short for John And Ken.
I was excited to learn that there will be future Simon Vector sequels. These are scheduled to be released as Novellas. I suspect that as this talented author combo writes more, the quality of writing will only improve. I'd like to see more time devoted to character development in future stories. This will not only allow readers to form deeper connections with the characters, but it will also prevent episodes of character confusion.
Simon Vector is definitely worth a read if you enjoy Science Fiction and the team of “Jak Holding” is a pair that merits following.
May 10, 2012
Mike Resnick, the five-time Hugo award winner, hinted at Simon Vector's pulp roots when he wrote, "Prison planets, evil geniuses, nameless horrors, and a plucky female protagonist -- what more could any grown-up boy ask for?" Ian Douglas, the popular military scifi writer, offered more insight; he called the book "darker and more violent than Aliens, as gritty and as noire as Bladerunner, and spiced with the blood and graphic gore of the zombie apocalypse." Jonathan Mayberry said it was "highly recommended," calling the eponymous character "a dark hero for even darker times."
All of these descriptions are apt. Envisioned as a dark Flash Gordon, with horror overtones and the subtext of a procedural actioner, Simon Vector is many novels at once -- thriller, survival horror, and adventure tale. While it's difficult to be many things to many people, this book manages it, provided you're not averse to violence or easily disgusted by monsters. The monsters of Simon Vector, confined and then run amok in the prison Alpha Draconis, run the gamut from human to alien... and something queasy in between.
In some ways it reads like one of Steve Perry's "Aliens" or S.D. Perry's "Resident Evil" novelizations; the plot could easily be that of a survival-horror video game. In other ways, Simon Vector reads like pulp, clearly influenced by any of several action and military scifi authors. This is not, however, a superficial book. There is real depth here, and the "Entrypoint" novellas announced by League Entertainment promise to offer even more insight into the lives of some of the lesser characters. Simon Vector is a novel that BEGS to be the first of a series. It is ruthless, it is fast-paced, and it is frank in its depictions of an ugly world.
If there is a lingering question in the readers' mind at the end of this novel, it is a question the author(s) MEAN for you to ask: What IS Simon Vector? The book hints at darker deeds to come, leaves the reader wanting more, and is one hell of a menacing, battery-operated tram ride from breakneck start to self-destruct-countdown finish.
All of these descriptions are apt. Envisioned as a dark Flash Gordon, with horror overtones and the subtext of a procedural actioner, Simon Vector is many novels at once -- thriller, survival horror, and adventure tale. While it's difficult to be many things to many people, this book manages it, provided you're not averse to violence or easily disgusted by monsters. The monsters of Simon Vector, confined and then run amok in the prison Alpha Draconis, run the gamut from human to alien... and something queasy in between.
In some ways it reads like one of Steve Perry's "Aliens" or S.D. Perry's "Resident Evil" novelizations; the plot could easily be that of a survival-horror video game. In other ways, Simon Vector reads like pulp, clearly influenced by any of several action and military scifi authors. This is not, however, a superficial book. There is real depth here, and the "Entrypoint" novellas announced by League Entertainment promise to offer even more insight into the lives of some of the lesser characters. Simon Vector is a novel that BEGS to be the first of a series. It is ruthless, it is fast-paced, and it is frank in its depictions of an ugly world.
If there is a lingering question in the readers' mind at the end of this novel, it is a question the author(s) MEAN for you to ask: What IS Simon Vector? The book hints at darker deeds to come, leaves the reader wanting more, and is one hell of a menacing, battery-operated tram ride from breakneck start to self-destruct-countdown finish.
September 6, 2012
Ah, sci fi! I do love this genre in between my usual draw or reading. The first several chapters are descritive. You kind of need that as the world is so alien and needs good descriptors so as not to get lost. The writers did a good job with this. I find this book more of a guys type of read, lots of action, and the creatures were really, really demonic. I like the character of Simon Vector, a cyborg with determination, but he is also in part cause of the problem. An interesting read for sci fi readers.
May 11, 2018
I bought this book long ago but did not read it for a couple of years and wow...did I miss out ! This story is great and could even make a good movie or TV series. Once I got started reading I could not put the Kindle down.
Simon is a cool character, kind of like an anti-hero. The story is dark and there does not appear to be any way out for humankind because the alien force knows where humans are and they have only one mission and that is to "harvest" everything. The story starts slow but it is setting the scene and building the atmosphere/world so that what comes next is more exciting and keeps you on the edge of your seat with the twists and turns.
Simon is a cool character, kind of like an anti-hero. The story is dark and there does not appear to be any way out for humankind because the alien force knows where humans are and they have only one mission and that is to "harvest" everything. The story starts slow but it is setting the scene and building the atmosphere/world so that what comes next is more exciting and keeps you on the edge of your seat with the twists and turns.
November 30, 2018
Great read. Excellent, exemplary writing. Engrossing and mysterious but ultimately left me wanting more than I got. The book lacks a proper resolution as if it was meant to be part one of a series. I really enjoyed it but the end was not satisfying.
Pick up the three entry point novellas. They are just as good and self-contained.
Pick up the three entry point novellas. They are just as good and self-contained.
October 21, 2020
Lurid, gruesome, descriptions of gore and mayhem.
August 23, 2014
Wow! This is not a book that I would typically read but I wanted to try something a little different. This novel is set in the future at a prison for the worst criminals. I loved the setting and how it came alive. The details about the cold and the prison were very unique. I also loved the characters. Dr. Feen intrigued me. I loved how strong Anna is. Simon Vector is a must read for anyone who loves lots of action and science fiction!
August 24, 2015
Guilty pleasure book.
80s Arnold Swazanegger movie meets Star Trek Borg with "Alien" and "Escape from New York". Just stero-typed characters in an action-packed story. Lots of fun!
80s Arnold Swazanegger movie meets Star Trek Borg with "Alien" and "Escape from New York". Just stero-typed characters in an action-packed story. Lots of fun!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews