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The Jupiter Pirates #1
Hunt for the Hydra
Treasure Island meets Battlestar Galactica in book one of the swashbuckling sci-fi adventure series SLJ called space opera in the classic style in a starred review, from New York Times bestselling author Jason Fry.
The relationship between Tycho Hashoone, his twin sister, Yana, and their older brother, Carlo, isn't your average sibling rivalry. They might be crew members together aboard the Shadow Comet, but only one of them can be the next ship captain. So when the Hashoones find themselves in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy--one that will pit them against space pirates, Earth diplomats, and even treachery from within the family--each sibling is desperate to prove his or her worth. The only trouble is, if they don't work together, none of them may make it out alive.
Perfect for fans of fantasy adventures like Ranger's Apprentice and such space-age epics as Star Wars, The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra is a wholly original saga about a galaxy on the brink of war and one unforgettable family caught in the cross fire.
Don't miss the action-packed sequel, Curse of the Iris.
The relationship between Tycho Hashoone, his twin sister, Yana, and their older brother, Carlo, isn't your average sibling rivalry. They might be crew members together aboard the Shadow Comet, but only one of them can be the next ship captain. So when the Hashoones find themselves in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy--one that will pit them against space pirates, Earth diplomats, and even treachery from within the family--each sibling is desperate to prove his or her worth. The only trouble is, if they don't work together, none of them may make it out alive.
Perfect for fans of fantasy adventures like Ranger's Apprentice and such space-age epics as Star Wars, The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra is a wholly original saga about a galaxy on the brink of war and one unforgettable family caught in the cross fire.
Don't miss the action-packed sequel, Curse of the Iris.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published December 23, 2013
21 people are currently reading
693 people want to read
About the author
Jason Fry
122 books295 followersI am the author of The Jupiter Pirates series published by HarperCollins -- visit the official site at http://jupiterpirates.com.
In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.
I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.
In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.
I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 5, 2018
Prvo bacite pogled na korice.Dosta očito za koju ciljnu grupu je pisana ova knjiga :) E sad lepota ove knjige je da i odrasli mogu da uživaju u njoj dokle god su spremni da prihvate nešto što nije suviše mračno, morbidno teško. Daleko od toga da knjiga nema svojih težih delova ali veći deo je fun adventure for the family.
Glavni lik je zabavan i fino razrađen dok je ostatak relativno jednostavan i bez neke veće dubine. Priča je brza, bez dosadnih delova i zabavna. U suštini imamo zaokruženu celinu i može skoro da prođe kao stand alone ali naravno jasno je da se priča nastavlja.
Sem toga nemam šta puno reći, za klince i one mlade u srcu zabavno sci-fi štivo. 3.5/5 zvezda mada da imam 12 ili 13 godina moguće da bi bilo 5/5 :)
Glavni lik je zabavan i fino razrađen dok je ostatak relativno jednostavan i bez neke veće dubine. Priča je brza, bez dosadnih delova i zabavna. U suštini imamo zaokruženu celinu i može skoro da prođe kao stand alone ali naravno jasno je da se priča nastavlja.
Sem toga nemam šta puno reći, za klince i one mlade u srcu zabavno sci-fi štivo. 3.5/5 zvezda mada da imam 12 ili 13 godina moguće da bi bilo 5/5 :)
January 21, 2014
There was a time when science fiction juveniles could be read and enjoyed by adults but more than anything they did the heavy lifting of preparing a young reader for a lifetime of loving the genre. With Hunt for the Hydra, Jason Fry has recalled those days to mind. A few minor issues here and there, but overall a good read, and a good start to what I assume is a planned series (the back of my ARC has a tagline that ends with "...in this swashbuckling new sci-fi adventure series", but aside from that, to me it's clear that this is a foundation book for more to come).
Number one, I'd suggest that in a kids' and YA book world overflowing with books involving the retelling or resetting of culture myths, "hunt for the hydra" wasn't a great choice for the title of this. Obviously cover matter can and does change, but there is the possibility that some young readers will pick this up thinking that it's a steampunk scifi book in which the spaceship is searching for a many-headed serpent. Yes, Hydra has other uses and meanings (a moon and a constellation being two most apropos to this setting), but with all of the other books on the market, that serpent will be more familiar to the younger portion of this book's audience. The Shadow Comet, the Vesta Runner, the Ironhawk, other ships had unambiguous names. Another short "H" word could have been used.
Second complaint is that I think some of the end will be confusing to the youngest of readers. My ARC lists this as being for ages 8-12. The upper end of that will likely understand no problem the way the resolution deals with Suud. The younger ones, however, will need to have some of the worse aspects of justice and society explained to them .
Little things set aside, Fry does a good job of creating a world in which the reader's hand does not have to be held. He's put a glossary in the back for quite a few terms, both nautical and specific to his world, but for all but the youngest readers it won't be necessary to flip to it at all. Meaning is made clear from context. I know that some have said the book will appeal more to young male readers than to females, but I think that's incorrect. We have a ship captained by a female, who took over the captaincy when her older sister gave up the life, and one of the legitimate possible choices to succeed her is her daughter. This daughter is impulsive and can be a brat (she's young and whines more than her siblings, even her twin, unfortunately), but she's good at the jobs assigned to her and could easily accede to a captaincy of a ship, even if not this ship. That this is an action novel and that it's written in third-person-limited giving us far more insight into one of the male protagonists does not make this a "boys' book". I was a female scifi reader at the age this is marketed to, and I would have enjoyed it. I firmly believe it will appeal equally to all genders, so long as they enjoy a good adventure story.
I would say that this is a novel that just crosses the halfway point from soft to hard science fiction. Character is very important, which is necessary to juveniles, and we don't get a lot of technical information that would be lost on most readers (especially that younger side of the 8-12 market). However, Fry has worked hard to create a realistic world, with ship classifications, bureaucracy, locations, etc., that work. Not just by using the maritime world in space, either.
The book moves quickly and well, acknowledging the slow aspects of the characters' lives but not forcing the reader to experience them (we skip right past extensive travels, but the characters do not, and complain a bit about their boredom). You get to know Tycho pretty well, as we're mostly in his head, and from their actions and words we can see his parents relatively clearly. Tycho's siblings are more one-dimensional, as we get only Tycho's jealous and ambitious take on them, which is sensible for a juvenile. How many kids reading this would be able to take a nuanced and generous look at their own siblings, with whom they are engaged in a constant battle for supremacy which will affect all of their lives forever? Not many. So that Tycho does not, and remains likeable, is sensible. It does make me wonder whether Fry's intention is to stay with Tycho in future books, as we know him and trust his perspective, or whether he plans to tell future books from the thoughts of the Carlo or Yana. Not even sure which would be better, frankly.
Worth reading and worth recommending. The group this is marketed toward will, many of them, simply enjoy the action and sympathize with Tycho's experiences and worries. At the same time they will be picking up a few good lessons without noticing it (this is not a "here's the moral" book), and at some 256 pages they'll be getting some good reading experience. Importantly to me, any well-written scifi juvenile simply brings more readers to the genre for the future, and that's worth the recommendation on its own.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided free of charge from publisher, no obligation to review.
Number one, I'd suggest that in a kids' and YA book world overflowing with books involving the retelling or resetting of culture myths, "hunt for the hydra" wasn't a great choice for the title of this. Obviously cover matter can and does change, but there is the possibility that some young readers will pick this up thinking that it's a steampunk scifi book in which the spaceship is searching for a many-headed serpent. Yes, Hydra has other uses and meanings (a moon and a constellation being two most apropos to this setting), but with all of the other books on the market, that serpent will be more familiar to the younger portion of this book's audience. The Shadow Comet, the Vesta Runner, the Ironhawk, other ships had unambiguous names. Another short "H" word could have been used.
Second complaint is that I think some of the end will be confusing to the youngest of readers. My ARC lists this as being for ages 8-12. The upper end of that will likely understand no problem the way the resolution deals with Suud. The younger ones, however, will need to have some of the worse aspects of justice and society explained to them .
Little things set aside, Fry does a good job of creating a world in which the reader's hand does not have to be held. He's put a glossary in the back for quite a few terms, both nautical and specific to his world, but for all but the youngest readers it won't be necessary to flip to it at all. Meaning is made clear from context. I know that some have said the book will appeal more to young male readers than to females, but I think that's incorrect. We have a ship captained by a female, who took over the captaincy when her older sister gave up the life, and one of the legitimate possible choices to succeed her is her daughter. This daughter is impulsive and can be a brat (she's young and whines more than her siblings, even her twin, unfortunately), but she's good at the jobs assigned to her and could easily accede to a captaincy of a ship, even if not this ship. That this is an action novel and that it's written in third-person-limited giving us far more insight into one of the male protagonists does not make this a "boys' book". I was a female scifi reader at the age this is marketed to, and I would have enjoyed it. I firmly believe it will appeal equally to all genders, so long as they enjoy a good adventure story.
I would say that this is a novel that just crosses the halfway point from soft to hard science fiction. Character is very important, which is necessary to juveniles, and we don't get a lot of technical information that would be lost on most readers (especially that younger side of the 8-12 market). However, Fry has worked hard to create a realistic world, with ship classifications, bureaucracy, locations, etc., that work. Not just by using the maritime world in space, either.
The book moves quickly and well, acknowledging the slow aspects of the characters' lives but not forcing the reader to experience them (we skip right past extensive travels, but the characters do not, and complain a bit about their boredom). You get to know Tycho pretty well, as we're mostly in his head, and from their actions and words we can see his parents relatively clearly. Tycho's siblings are more one-dimensional, as we get only Tycho's jealous and ambitious take on them, which is sensible for a juvenile. How many kids reading this would be able to take a nuanced and generous look at their own siblings, with whom they are engaged in a constant battle for supremacy which will affect all of their lives forever? Not many. So that Tycho does not, and remains likeable, is sensible. It does make me wonder whether Fry's intention is to stay with Tycho in future books, as we know him and trust his perspective, or whether he plans to tell future books from the thoughts of the Carlo or Yana. Not even sure which would be better, frankly.
Worth reading and worth recommending. The group this is marketed toward will, many of them, simply enjoy the action and sympathize with Tycho's experiences and worries. At the same time they will be picking up a few good lessons without noticing it (this is not a "here's the moral" book), and at some 256 pages they'll be getting some good reading experience. Importantly to me, any well-written scifi juvenile simply brings more readers to the genre for the future, and that's worth the recommendation on its own.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided free of charge from publisher, no obligation to review.
December 8, 2013
A fast paced adventure about a family of space pirates in a futuristic world in which piracy is legal when it is done by a certain standard of rules. This book is perfectly suited for 4th through 7th grade readers. The author includes visuals of the spaceship and a glossary of words that define terms beyond the grasp of some of his young readers. I do think the book is more tailored to boys than girls as it is more geared to adventure with a total lack of romance - but perhaps I am being sexist about this. Kids will like it!
November 20, 2014
I WANT a sequel! If you love pirates, this book is for you! If you love outer space adventure, this book is for you! If you love mystery, this book is for you! Definitely a best of for 2014. Love how the hero grows (his siblings evolve a bit too); the settings are . . . I would say, out-of-this world, but that would be horrible of me ;) and the jargon is just this side of not being overwhelmingly piratey. All around great read.
March 7, 2014
Arrrrr! Combine high seas style piracy with interplanetary science fiction and you get this lively space adventure of intrigue, daring and danger.
Summary: Space privateering is a family affair for the Hashoone’s . All three Hashoone siblings; Tycho, his twin sister Yana and older brother Carlos are part of the crew of the Shadow Comet–learning the ropes of running a spaceship and capturing enemy shippers for profit. With a demanding mother as captain and a question of which child will ultimately be chosen as her successor, all three Hashoone children are anxious to perform well and impress their parents. While Earth tries new tricks to keep captured freighters from becoming Jovian Union property, Jovian merchant ships are going missing along the out perimeter . . . and no one knows what’s happened to them. The Hashoone family has been assigned to investigate these mysterious disappearances in the asteroid belt, and to report back to the Union what they find. Of course practically anything could be lurking out there, and the Shadow Comet crew must be prepared or they might just vanish too! Tycho, Yana and Carlos will need to put aside their rivalry to see this mission through!
Thoughts:
Author Jason Fry knows his way around outer space science fiction. And when you’re writing an adventure story set in space, this is absolutely critical. Outer space science fiction can be military, high adventure, western or –in this case–piratical, but what always sells it is the science fictional details and how the author uses them. Fry drops readers right in the middle of events and doesn’t bother to explain or give you a tour guide approach to the setting. Sailing terms combined with technical jargon allow the reader to get the flavor of the story (space pirates) while Tycho working on his math homework will instantly help readers to identify with our main character. Rather than overdoing science fictional tech and filling the story with all sorts of gadgets and special abilities, the author works to create a believable future of space colonies and the people that inhabit them. Rather than simply having the ship as a piece of scenery, the Shadow Comet becomes an essential element, almost a character in the story. It’s easy to believe that the author has a clear idea exactly how he would build and maneuver such a ship, despite the futuristic nature. A great high seas adventure will give you sailing details and make the reader feel the sea spray and see the rigging. A great space adventure does the same thing, but with a space ship.
The characters are a great fun to read. And I do mean fun (science fiction should be fun now and then.) Tycho and his 2 sibs behave as any siblings might, but it’s nice to see that rather than one of them being extraordinarily gifted (and obviously captain material) each one has their strengths and weaknesses on board the starship. Despite a greater focus on Tycho, this mission is always a family adventure, and all the Hashoones are involved. Their mom, Diocletia makes for a formidable captain and mother and it’s easy to imagine the younger Hashoone’s anxiety and interest in pleasing her. The Hashoone Grandfather, Huff is probably the most vivid character on board–his colorful piratical language, his absolutely unapologetic attitudes towards piracy, his past history during the wars. Huff is cantankerous and unpredictable, but also clearly loves his family and displays a strong connection with his grandson, Tycho . Rather than focus on a singular hero, the whole family takes part in the adventure and helps to win the day. This ensemble cast –particularly a family ensemble cast– is pretty rare in space adventure.
The ships, planetary colonies and asteroids are all vivid and fleshed out to feel like real places rather than static scenery. While I can’t fully vouch for the science of it all, the author appears to be making some effort to keep this futuristic well within the bounds of possible. The numerous references to sailing lingo, along with more futuristic slang might intimidate a more reluctant reader, but the author never descends into painful technobabble. And a glossary of terms is included at the back of the book for those who are curious. Sailing, piracy, and privateering of course are hardly new ideas–but the great thing about encountering them here is that there’s a huge opportunity to link this work with actual nonfiction and historical references on these subjects.
Review first posted at: Views from the Tesseract
http://shanshad1.wordpress.com/2014/0...
If I have a particular complaint, it would have to be that the plot wasn’t as strong as it could have been. The story got off to a nice start, but the pause in the story for the family to attend a fancy party prior to their mission felt a little out of place, and I was eager to get back to the action aboard ship. I also didn’t quite buy the fact that Tycho was the only one to “figure out” that slavers were involved in the disappearing merchant vessels. Readers are given some pretty obvious clues that the issue of slavers is going to come up, so it was a fairly obvious point for those reading along.
I want to reiterate that this was a great deal of fun to read. I can’t wait to put it in the hands of some of my patrons. This is the kind of stuff that will capture imaginations and provide readers with possibilities for our future that aren’t uniformly dark or oppressive. It’s a delightfully accessible and vivid read and evidently just the beginning of our crew’s ongoing adventures! I heartily welcome this marvelous space adventure to the shelves and can’t wait to read more!
Note: An advanced reader copy was provided by the publisher.
Summary: Space privateering is a family affair for the Hashoone’s . All three Hashoone siblings; Tycho, his twin sister Yana and older brother Carlos are part of the crew of the Shadow Comet–learning the ropes of running a spaceship and capturing enemy shippers for profit. With a demanding mother as captain and a question of which child will ultimately be chosen as her successor, all three Hashoone children are anxious to perform well and impress their parents. While Earth tries new tricks to keep captured freighters from becoming Jovian Union property, Jovian merchant ships are going missing along the out perimeter . . . and no one knows what’s happened to them. The Hashoone family has been assigned to investigate these mysterious disappearances in the asteroid belt, and to report back to the Union what they find. Of course practically anything could be lurking out there, and the Shadow Comet crew must be prepared or they might just vanish too! Tycho, Yana and Carlos will need to put aside their rivalry to see this mission through!
Thoughts:
Author Jason Fry knows his way around outer space science fiction. And when you’re writing an adventure story set in space, this is absolutely critical. Outer space science fiction can be military, high adventure, western or –in this case–piratical, but what always sells it is the science fictional details and how the author uses them. Fry drops readers right in the middle of events and doesn’t bother to explain or give you a tour guide approach to the setting. Sailing terms combined with technical jargon allow the reader to get the flavor of the story (space pirates) while Tycho working on his math homework will instantly help readers to identify with our main character. Rather than overdoing science fictional tech and filling the story with all sorts of gadgets and special abilities, the author works to create a believable future of space colonies and the people that inhabit them. Rather than simply having the ship as a piece of scenery, the Shadow Comet becomes an essential element, almost a character in the story. It’s easy to believe that the author has a clear idea exactly how he would build and maneuver such a ship, despite the futuristic nature. A great high seas adventure will give you sailing details and make the reader feel the sea spray and see the rigging. A great space adventure does the same thing, but with a space ship.
The characters are a great fun to read. And I do mean fun (science fiction should be fun now and then.) Tycho and his 2 sibs behave as any siblings might, but it’s nice to see that rather than one of them being extraordinarily gifted (and obviously captain material) each one has their strengths and weaknesses on board the starship. Despite a greater focus on Tycho, this mission is always a family adventure, and all the Hashoones are involved. Their mom, Diocletia makes for a formidable captain and mother and it’s easy to imagine the younger Hashoone’s anxiety and interest in pleasing her. The Hashoone Grandfather, Huff is probably the most vivid character on board–his colorful piratical language, his absolutely unapologetic attitudes towards piracy, his past history during the wars. Huff is cantankerous and unpredictable, but also clearly loves his family and displays a strong connection with his grandson, Tycho . Rather than focus on a singular hero, the whole family takes part in the adventure and helps to win the day. This ensemble cast –particularly a family ensemble cast– is pretty rare in space adventure.
The ships, planetary colonies and asteroids are all vivid and fleshed out to feel like real places rather than static scenery. While I can’t fully vouch for the science of it all, the author appears to be making some effort to keep this futuristic well within the bounds of possible. The numerous references to sailing lingo, along with more futuristic slang might intimidate a more reluctant reader, but the author never descends into painful technobabble. And a glossary of terms is included at the back of the book for those who are curious. Sailing, piracy, and privateering of course are hardly new ideas–but the great thing about encountering them here is that there’s a huge opportunity to link this work with actual nonfiction and historical references on these subjects.
Review first posted at: Views from the Tesseract
http://shanshad1.wordpress.com/2014/0...
If I have a particular complaint, it would have to be that the plot wasn’t as strong as it could have been. The story got off to a nice start, but the pause in the story for the family to attend a fancy party prior to their mission felt a little out of place, and I was eager to get back to the action aboard ship. I also didn’t quite buy the fact that Tycho was the only one to “figure out” that slavers were involved in the disappearing merchant vessels. Readers are given some pretty obvious clues that the issue of slavers is going to come up, so it was a fairly obvious point for those reading along.
I want to reiterate that this was a great deal of fun to read. I can’t wait to put it in the hands of some of my patrons. This is the kind of stuff that will capture imaginations and provide readers with possibilities for our future that aren’t uniformly dark or oppressive. It’s a delightfully accessible and vivid read and evidently just the beginning of our crew’s ongoing adventures! I heartily welcome this marvelous space adventure to the shelves and can’t wait to read more!
Note: An advanced reader copy was provided by the publisher.
February 6, 2015
Bookworm Speaks!
The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra
by Jason Fry
***
The Story: In the future, the Solar System is divided amongst the corporate ruled Earth and the moons of Jupiter called the Jovian Union. Between them is the Hashoone Family of the ship Shadow Comet, a former group of pirates, that are now privateers for the Jovian Union. On board the Shadow Comet are twin siblings Tycho and Yana and their older brother Carlos are rivals to who will be the next captain. Mysterious threats from all corners of the Solar System are brewing that will force the Hashoone Siblings to put aside their rivalry in order to survive. Star Wars meets Pirates of the Caribbean in the swashbuckling science fiction adventure .
The Good: The very fact that its Battlestar Galactica meets Treasure Island, is proof enough that this book is cool. Most pirate media is grossly inaccurate but we don’t care. Hollywood made them cool and thus they are cool.
The concept of a pirate family is also well done and not seen very often in Bookworm’s experience. Its obvious
The younger characters are competent and intelligent but at times still immature and lack confidence. Writing believable characters is hard enough, young people are especially challenging. Yana is hot headed and impatient. Carlos is skilled but arrogant and lacks people skills and Tycho lacks confidence and frankly, may care too much to be cut out for a pirate. The characters are realistic and multifaceted and tell a compelling story.
The book also deserves credit for making the mother, Diocletia, the Captain, instead of the father which is more common.
He may be a walking stereotype but the character of Huff Hashoone is very lovable. The author takes the time honored tradition of the hook hand and peg leg and gives it a sci-fi twist by making him a cyborg. How he speaks like a pirate, along with many other of mannerisms, including his tattoos would make him right at home at Shipwreck Cove. The characteristic, old-timey, everything was better in my day, is quite enjoyable as well. That is always funny.
The villain finally is not as multifaceted as the main characters but it is made up for by being just a good villain. Diabolical and ruthless, he is just a bad guy pure and simple. A dragon for the heroes to slay.
The author tells superb action scenes that carry on the adventure tradition but it sure to take time to provide scenes that involve talking. Politic’s is a real force in any conflict. It is as much about words than just about shooting people. The way the Hashoone’s have to deal with politicians and officials and the status of their titles and records, may not be realistic per se but it does mirror what people in actual positions have to deal with. Paperwork is a fact of life.
As for the action itself…it is very well done. Creating a real sense of tension. The reader can feel the anticipation in the characters and the thrill of the hunt. That combined with the nautical lexicon used on board the Shadow Comet really evokes the sense action upon the high seas.
The Flaws: There is already a flaw with the book straight away. The cover illustration is great, but no scene in the book that Bookworm could see, matches it. Bookworm, knows the intent of such an awesome color, but its one of those things that can irk a reader.
At times, there are some details that don’t really add up. It can appear at times that the author wasn’t exactly sure what exactly the setting was intended to be other than outer space. The culture and mannerisms of various characters seems to invoke the age of ocean piracy with terms such as lord and baron and the style of dress. Is the author attempting to do the Victorian Era in space such as in the film Treasure Planet, or is it something else? The implication is that it is the case, but it’s hard to tell.
The science fiction setting is inconsistent as well. Most of the time the book portrays a soft sci-fi vibe, with artificial gravity and laser guns but at other times it comes off as a hard sci-fi book, with non-aerodynamic ships, external fuel tanks and other details. Waffling is never ideal when writing a book, especially sci-fi. Be sure on the kind of story you are telling.
There also some inconsistencies in regards to the technology. The character of Huff is stated as no longer eating, being sustained by his cybernetics, but we see multiple instances of his consuming alcohol and taking medication orally. Again, not that big of a deal but those little details can add up and the author needs to be careful.
Finally…at the start of the book we are given an diagram of the Shadow Comet, which is all well and good but it’s a diagram, a blueprint. What would really be nice is a full blown illustration of the Shadow Comet, flying through space. It would go a long way with helping the reader visualize the action.
Final Verdict: While some elements don’t gel together as well as they could have, the Jupiter Pirates is a fun, swashbuckling adventure that captures the essence of the pirate tales of yore with a science fiction twist.
On a final note…Bookworm thinks Tycho will be Captain. But maybe that’s too obvious. We’ll see.
Four out Five Stars
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra
by Jason Fry
***
The Story: In the future, the Solar System is divided amongst the corporate ruled Earth and the moons of Jupiter called the Jovian Union. Between them is the Hashoone Family of the ship Shadow Comet, a former group of pirates, that are now privateers for the Jovian Union. On board the Shadow Comet are twin siblings Tycho and Yana and their older brother Carlos are rivals to who will be the next captain. Mysterious threats from all corners of the Solar System are brewing that will force the Hashoone Siblings to put aside their rivalry in order to survive. Star Wars meets Pirates of the Caribbean in the swashbuckling science fiction adventure .
The Good: The very fact that its Battlestar Galactica meets Treasure Island, is proof enough that this book is cool. Most pirate media is grossly inaccurate but we don’t care. Hollywood made them cool and thus they are cool.
The concept of a pirate family is also well done and not seen very often in Bookworm’s experience. Its obvious
The younger characters are competent and intelligent but at times still immature and lack confidence. Writing believable characters is hard enough, young people are especially challenging. Yana is hot headed and impatient. Carlos is skilled but arrogant and lacks people skills and Tycho lacks confidence and frankly, may care too much to be cut out for a pirate. The characters are realistic and multifaceted and tell a compelling story.
The book also deserves credit for making the mother, Diocletia, the Captain, instead of the father which is more common.
He may be a walking stereotype but the character of Huff Hashoone is very lovable. The author takes the time honored tradition of the hook hand and peg leg and gives it a sci-fi twist by making him a cyborg. How he speaks like a pirate, along with many other of mannerisms, including his tattoos would make him right at home at Shipwreck Cove. The characteristic, old-timey, everything was better in my day, is quite enjoyable as well. That is always funny.
The villain finally is not as multifaceted as the main characters but it is made up for by being just a good villain. Diabolical and ruthless, he is just a bad guy pure and simple. A dragon for the heroes to slay.
The author tells superb action scenes that carry on the adventure tradition but it sure to take time to provide scenes that involve talking. Politic’s is a real force in any conflict. It is as much about words than just about shooting people. The way the Hashoone’s have to deal with politicians and officials and the status of their titles and records, may not be realistic per se but it does mirror what people in actual positions have to deal with. Paperwork is a fact of life.
As for the action itself…it is very well done. Creating a real sense of tension. The reader can feel the anticipation in the characters and the thrill of the hunt. That combined with the nautical lexicon used on board the Shadow Comet really evokes the sense action upon the high seas.
The Flaws: There is already a flaw with the book straight away. The cover illustration is great, but no scene in the book that Bookworm could see, matches it. Bookworm, knows the intent of such an awesome color, but its one of those things that can irk a reader.
At times, there are some details that don’t really add up. It can appear at times that the author wasn’t exactly sure what exactly the setting was intended to be other than outer space. The culture and mannerisms of various characters seems to invoke the age of ocean piracy with terms such as lord and baron and the style of dress. Is the author attempting to do the Victorian Era in space such as in the film Treasure Planet, or is it something else? The implication is that it is the case, but it’s hard to tell.
The science fiction setting is inconsistent as well. Most of the time the book portrays a soft sci-fi vibe, with artificial gravity and laser guns but at other times it comes off as a hard sci-fi book, with non-aerodynamic ships, external fuel tanks and other details. Waffling is never ideal when writing a book, especially sci-fi. Be sure on the kind of story you are telling.
There also some inconsistencies in regards to the technology. The character of Huff is stated as no longer eating, being sustained by his cybernetics, but we see multiple instances of his consuming alcohol and taking medication orally. Again, not that big of a deal but those little details can add up and the author needs to be careful.
Finally…at the start of the book we are given an diagram of the Shadow Comet, which is all well and good but it’s a diagram, a blueprint. What would really be nice is a full blown illustration of the Shadow Comet, flying through space. It would go a long way with helping the reader visualize the action.
Final Verdict: While some elements don’t gel together as well as they could have, the Jupiter Pirates is a fun, swashbuckling adventure that captures the essence of the pirate tales of yore with a science fiction twist.
On a final note…Bookworm thinks Tycho will be Captain. But maybe that’s too obvious. We’ll see.
Four out Five Stars
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
November 29, 2025
This is a good sci-fi series for tweens and teens about how humanity has spread across the solar system, but not everyone is as fortunate as those living on earth.
See my full review at "https://cooperhite.com/book-reviews/"
See my full review at "https://cooperhite.com/book-reviews/"
November 12, 2014
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
4.5 Stars
The cover for The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry pretty much sells itself. Hold this up to a bunch of upper elementary kids and watch their eyes light up with anticipation. To seal the deal all you need to say are three magic words: Pirates. In. Space. Now try not to get knocked over. This book is all kinds of fun, but also has some more serious elements tossed in that make it so much more than it first appears.
The Hashoone family are privateers licensed by their home government on Jupiter to take Earth merchant ships as prizes. They mostly live aboard their ship, the Shadow Comet. Twelve year old Tycho Hashoone is a member of the bridge crew along with his twin sister, Yana, and his older brother, Carlo. Their mother is the Captain and their father is the First Mate. Their grandfather, the former Captain, does a lot of curmudgeonly grumbling about how things aren't like the good old days of pirating while his daughter tells him to be quiet. When the Shadow Comet captures a ship that has a mysterious and suspect diplomat from Earth on it, they take the ship home and allow the court to decide if its fair game or not. Soon they realize that one ship is only one layer of a conspiracy by Earth that involves an old enemy and a dangerous mission to find out what is happening to Jupiter ships and their crews that are disappearing.
There is a lot of adventure and mystery in Hunt for the Hydra. The book has all the elements one could possibly want in a book about pirates in space. There are space battles, close calls, intrigue, shadowy figures doing shady things, and ships to capture. In all of this there are underlying themes of diplomacy, the politics of war, slavery, and humanity. There is also the interesting question of how different is a pirate and a privateer? Where does one draw the line? The Hashoone's grandfather is not quite as ethical and honorable as his daughter. Where does that leave him? On the side of the good guys? Are there any good guys? It is a lot of thought to pack into a 200 page book of adventure, but Fry does it well. We are left wondering a lot about this futuristic world in which there were space colonies of earth all over the galaxy, some kind of rebellion that gave them the right to rule themselves, and now a war between some of the former colonies and Earth.
What is the most interesting part of the book for me is the dynamic between the three siblings. Tycho is definitely set up as the hero of the book. The book follows his perspective and thoughts. He is not the best at anything. His brother is the better pilot, and he is quite full of himself as a result. His sister has her own special talents, and has an attitude to go with it that includes challenging her mother, the Captain, far too often. The interesting thing about them is only one of them will be able to take her place. They are in active competition for the role of Captain of their family's ship, and they know it. This does an interesting thing to the sibling dynamic, which is always fraught and full of competitiveness to begin with. These kids aren't just competing in their own minds, their parents have set up a computer log to track and rank everything they do on the ship from simulations to actual battles. Talk about pressure. They have no ideas what the logs say, and their parents don't tell them. This family has some serious issues as a result of this, but they also clearly love and care for one another. They have each other's backs and work together (the kids have a hard time with that from time to time thanks to the competition, but make improvements as the book continues). It's a really fascinating character study.
And again, I'm impressed with Fry's ability to do all of this and the heart pounding action in 200 pages. Bit pretty much snatched this out of my hand the second I was finished with it. I wasn't kidding about the appeal to kid factor at play here. If you have a young lover of adventure stories in your life, this is a book to add to your home, school, classroom, etc.
4.5 Stars
The cover for The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry pretty much sells itself. Hold this up to a bunch of upper elementary kids and watch their eyes light up with anticipation. To seal the deal all you need to say are three magic words: Pirates. In. Space. Now try not to get knocked over. This book is all kinds of fun, but also has some more serious elements tossed in that make it so much more than it first appears.
The Hashoone family are privateers licensed by their home government on Jupiter to take Earth merchant ships as prizes. They mostly live aboard their ship, the Shadow Comet. Twelve year old Tycho Hashoone is a member of the bridge crew along with his twin sister, Yana, and his older brother, Carlo. Their mother is the Captain and their father is the First Mate. Their grandfather, the former Captain, does a lot of curmudgeonly grumbling about how things aren't like the good old days of pirating while his daughter tells him to be quiet. When the Shadow Comet captures a ship that has a mysterious and suspect diplomat from Earth on it, they take the ship home and allow the court to decide if its fair game or not. Soon they realize that one ship is only one layer of a conspiracy by Earth that involves an old enemy and a dangerous mission to find out what is happening to Jupiter ships and their crews that are disappearing.
There is a lot of adventure and mystery in Hunt for the Hydra. The book has all the elements one could possibly want in a book about pirates in space. There are space battles, close calls, intrigue, shadowy figures doing shady things, and ships to capture. In all of this there are underlying themes of diplomacy, the politics of war, slavery, and humanity. There is also the interesting question of how different is a pirate and a privateer? Where does one draw the line? The Hashoone's grandfather is not quite as ethical and honorable as his daughter. Where does that leave him? On the side of the good guys? Are there any good guys? It is a lot of thought to pack into a 200 page book of adventure, but Fry does it well. We are left wondering a lot about this futuristic world in which there were space colonies of earth all over the galaxy, some kind of rebellion that gave them the right to rule themselves, and now a war between some of the former colonies and Earth.
What is the most interesting part of the book for me is the dynamic between the three siblings. Tycho is definitely set up as the hero of the book. The book follows his perspective and thoughts. He is not the best at anything. His brother is the better pilot, and he is quite full of himself as a result. His sister has her own special talents, and has an attitude to go with it that includes challenging her mother, the Captain, far too often. The interesting thing about them is only one of them will be able to take her place. They are in active competition for the role of Captain of their family's ship, and they know it. This does an interesting thing to the sibling dynamic, which is always fraught and full of competitiveness to begin with. These kids aren't just competing in their own minds, their parents have set up a computer log to track and rank everything they do on the ship from simulations to actual battles. Talk about pressure. They have no ideas what the logs say, and their parents don't tell them. This family has some serious issues as a result of this, but they also clearly love and care for one another. They have each other's backs and work together (the kids have a hard time with that from time to time thanks to the competition, but make improvements as the book continues). It's a really fascinating character study.
And again, I'm impressed with Fry's ability to do all of this and the heart pounding action in 200 pages. Bit pretty much snatched this out of my hand the second I was finished with it. I wasn't kidding about the appeal to kid factor at play here. If you have a young lover of adventure stories in your life, this is a book to add to your home, school, classroom, etc.
July 6, 2015
In recent years, there has been a serious lack of space opera or science fiction novels that are written for children. There seems to be a heavy emphasis on magical wizards, fairy tale retellings, and of course dystopian tales. Those books that do make an attempt at a children's sci-fi novel, do so in a way that is almost watered down or gloss over the true aspect of the genre. That is why Jason Fry's novel is such a relief.
Jason Fry paves the way for the future by introducing the middle grade audience to the genre by producing an adventurous and engaging tale. Of course, it isn't just a story that appeals to younger children, but one that many adults will find themselves enjoying too.
Hunt for Hydra is the first book in a proposed series known as The Jupiter Pirates. It follows a family of privateers (the politically correct term for space pirates) as they venture throughout space in an effort to uphold peace amongst the planets, as well as fight off evil space pirates.
In this first novel, the Hashoones are hard at work intercepting and taking over other ships. That is until they intercept a ship with an individual on board who is claiming to have diplomatic immunity. Something doesn't seem right with the claim, which leads the Hashoones to take the ship, and the diplomat, back to Ceres to await an official ruling from the government. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg and unveils a huge conspiracy that could put The Jovian Union (made up of the three moons) and Earth's careful alliance in jeopardy.
What is truly amazing about Hunt for the Hydra is the relationships between all the characters. First, there are adults who are actively involved with their children's lives. The parents know what is going on, are sought for help with problems, and truly care about the well-being of their children. There is even a 'kooky' grandpa who is part robot, who seems a little out there, but can be counted on at times to tell it like it is and listen to the main character when he needs to talk about issues.
Parental figures tend to be downplayed in middle grade fiction in an effort to appeal to the target audience. It was nice to see active, involved parents who aren't hoovering over the main characters, but are there to support, guide, and nurture them.
Another amazing character aspect is the relationship between the siblings. All three of the siblings are competing in an effort to be named the next captain of the Shadow Comet. The problem is no one sibling is the clear choice for captain. Each of them is lacking in a certain skill area. Together they make a great team, but alone they have major weaknesses that could prove dangerous.
Instead of having all the siblings involved in a 'cut throat' competition, Fry shows how each of the characters learns from each other. And in times of trouble, they are able to put their differences aside and truly come up with a solution to help. It was refreshing to see such a close bond with the characters, yet at times the siblings did fight and squabble. It seemed very really.
An aspect of Hunt for Hydra that I really enjoyed was the mix of adventure and mystery. The novel had a very fast pace to it, but it didn't feel rushed. This may have been because of the mysterious element to it. I kept trying to figure out where the conspiracy was, what would happen, and how the characters would work through it.
I'll admit if you are a die-hard science fiction fan, there are probably things that could be picked apart about Hunt for Hydra. The ship structure and world building isn't overly detailed or overly complex, but it works for its target audience. Many times sci-fi books overwork the science aspect or the technical aspect, which intimidates some readers. I didn't see that happening here. Everything seemed age appropriate and not dumbed down at all.
If you are looking for a quick book that is filled with adventure, mystery, and a close-knit family filled with detailed characters, Hunt for Hydra is for you. It really is a great introduction to the genre and I hope this is just the start of many wonderful sci-fi books for the middle grade sector.
Jason Fry paves the way for the future by introducing the middle grade audience to the genre by producing an adventurous and engaging tale. Of course, it isn't just a story that appeals to younger children, but one that many adults will find themselves enjoying too.
Hunt for Hydra is the first book in a proposed series known as The Jupiter Pirates. It follows a family of privateers (the politically correct term for space pirates) as they venture throughout space in an effort to uphold peace amongst the planets, as well as fight off evil space pirates.
In this first novel, the Hashoones are hard at work intercepting and taking over other ships. That is until they intercept a ship with an individual on board who is claiming to have diplomatic immunity. Something doesn't seem right with the claim, which leads the Hashoones to take the ship, and the diplomat, back to Ceres to await an official ruling from the government. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg and unveils a huge conspiracy that could put The Jovian Union (made up of the three moons) and Earth's careful alliance in jeopardy.
What is truly amazing about Hunt for the Hydra is the relationships between all the characters. First, there are adults who are actively involved with their children's lives. The parents know what is going on, are sought for help with problems, and truly care about the well-being of their children. There is even a 'kooky' grandpa who is part robot, who seems a little out there, but can be counted on at times to tell it like it is and listen to the main character when he needs to talk about issues.
Parental figures tend to be downplayed in middle grade fiction in an effort to appeal to the target audience. It was nice to see active, involved parents who aren't hoovering over the main characters, but are there to support, guide, and nurture them.
Another amazing character aspect is the relationship between the siblings. All three of the siblings are competing in an effort to be named the next captain of the Shadow Comet. The problem is no one sibling is the clear choice for captain. Each of them is lacking in a certain skill area. Together they make a great team, but alone they have major weaknesses that could prove dangerous.
Instead of having all the siblings involved in a 'cut throat' competition, Fry shows how each of the characters learns from each other. And in times of trouble, they are able to put their differences aside and truly come up with a solution to help. It was refreshing to see such a close bond with the characters, yet at times the siblings did fight and squabble. It seemed very really.
An aspect of Hunt for Hydra that I really enjoyed was the mix of adventure and mystery. The novel had a very fast pace to it, but it didn't feel rushed. This may have been because of the mysterious element to it. I kept trying to figure out where the conspiracy was, what would happen, and how the characters would work through it.
I'll admit if you are a die-hard science fiction fan, there are probably things that could be picked apart about Hunt for Hydra. The ship structure and world building isn't overly detailed or overly complex, but it works for its target audience. Many times sci-fi books overwork the science aspect or the technical aspect, which intimidates some readers. I didn't see that happening here. Everything seemed age appropriate and not dumbed down at all.
If you are looking for a quick book that is filled with adventure, mystery, and a close-knit family filled with detailed characters, Hunt for Hydra is for you. It really is a great introduction to the genre and I hope this is just the start of many wonderful sci-fi books for the middle grade sector.
August 3, 2015
Lately after quite a long time, we've started seeing some science fiction appearing for kids. For example, Space Case by Gibbs, which is fairly recent, along with other books by Gibbs, is solidly science fiction, not fantasy. With the current push on STEAM as well as the necessity to combat the horrendous amount of science distrust among adults, we desperately need some more classical style science fiction. Hunt for the Hydra doesn't qualify quite for the term "solid science fiction", but it comes close. Everything in there is an obvious extension of what is potentially possible. There is no real explanation of how some of their machines work, but that could still come in future episodes, and this is clearly the start of a series. Nothing in this is based on fantasy. There isn't a wand to be seen...but plenty of weapons. There is no explanation of how Grandfather exists as a cyborg, where he is clearly as much machine as human. However, there is a bit of a description of how they extend the cyborg aspect. The three kids (12 year old main character twins and a 16 year old brother) are studying math and history as well as learning jobs on board their ship. If they include some justification for how various machines can be made, it would help. The story certainly isn't all that new: the family of privateers, not pirates mind you (under debate by Grandfather throughout the book)are asked slashed forced to go hunting for the baddies by the Jovian Union. There is also another subplot going of whether they can legally lay claim to a capture they made. This is a fair amount of fun, with pretty well developed characters. There are some obvious hints planted along the way, that scream, look, I'm a clue!, which is part of the reason for the reduced stars. Just because a book is written for kids, doesn't mean that it has to be incredibly obvious that a clue is a clue. The whole party scene felt forced into the story. I also am not necessarily a fan of the way Mom and the daughter clash over clothing. Seeing that the kids have constantly displayed competition for the eventual captaincy, the huge fight over clothing didn't make a lot of sense since Mom, the Caption, will eventually be choosing one of the siblings to be captain. This was loads of fun, but not great by any means. Hopefully it will develop better writing and plots as the series goes on. This is a welcome addition to new science fiction for kids.
January 28, 2014
While sci-fi and fantasy tend to be lumped together, for middle grade, sci-fi is not nearly as prevalent as fantasy. Which is why The Jupiter Pirates got my attention in the first place--it is truly science fiction with space colonies, space travel, and much more. But it doesn't lose itself in the science fiction world, it's still a story of a boy and his family and how he wants to understand his place and make a difference.
Tycho is part of a long line of space pirates, but his family has taken up "privateering" which is not quite piracy as it's legally recognized by the Jovian Union, their home. While doing what should have been a routine intercept uncovered something much more that thrusts Tycho and his family into a conspiracy involving diplomats, the conflict with Earth, and space pirates.
I liked that Fry didn't spend much time telling us about the world but rather let us experience it. Yes, there was some stuff I wish we had information on, but context helped understand much of what was happening. I also liked the rules that had to be followed, like the statements that had to be made when claiming a ship all the way to Admiralty Court. Fry has built an interesting world for his characters and I look forward to reading more of it.
Unfortunately, it felt cold at the start and it wasn't until maybe halfway through that I started to feel something for the characters. The dad, Mavry, was my favorite character but the grandfather was so entertaining!
Overall, it's a solid MG fiction and good sci-fi story. Recommended grades 4 and up.
Tycho is part of a long line of space pirates, but his family has taken up "privateering" which is not quite piracy as it's legally recognized by the Jovian Union, their home. While doing what should have been a routine intercept uncovered something much more that thrusts Tycho and his family into a conspiracy involving diplomats, the conflict with Earth, and space pirates.
I liked that Fry didn't spend much time telling us about the world but rather let us experience it. Yes, there was some stuff I wish we had information on, but context helped understand much of what was happening. I also liked the rules that had to be followed, like the statements that had to be made when claiming a ship all the way to Admiralty Court. Fry has built an interesting world for his characters and I look forward to reading more of it.
Unfortunately, it felt cold at the start and it wasn't until maybe halfway through that I started to feel something for the characters. The dad, Mavry, was my favorite character but the grandfather was so entertaining!
Overall, it's a solid MG fiction and good sci-fi story. Recommended grades 4 and up.
January 13, 2014
While there were a few things which annoyed me, like the constant use of the term "starship" for things which clearly weren't, overall this was a fun adventure.
Mankind has colonized much of the solar system, but the outermost colonies have broken loose. This led to an ongoing fight in space, with the colonies authorizing privateers to prey on ships from Earth, which are mostly owned by puppets of one huge corporation.
The privateers were recruited from an older bunch of outright pirates.
Oddly, that was my only quibble with the book. I couldn't figure out how so many pirates had operated successfully under the old rules, as described in the book. Since that's not part of this story, the author may not have bothered to figure it out or explain it.
Anyway, the Shadow Comet is a family-owned ship, with hired crew. It's heavily-armed enough to prey on Earth freighters, which are taken to neutral ports for adjudication and payment. Then, the folks on Earth try to change the rules of engagement in some dangerous directions, and the story becomes a mixture of business law and pirate intrigue.
I didn't care for one part of the resolution, involving the grandfather. He's a cranky and dangerous old coot throughout the story, but after the ending, I think he's dangerously crazy.
Mankind has colonized much of the solar system, but the outermost colonies have broken loose. This led to an ongoing fight in space, with the colonies authorizing privateers to prey on ships from Earth, which are mostly owned by puppets of one huge corporation.
The privateers were recruited from an older bunch of outright pirates.
Oddly, that was my only quibble with the book. I couldn't figure out how so many pirates had operated successfully under the old rules, as described in the book. Since that's not part of this story, the author may not have bothered to figure it out or explain it.
Anyway, the Shadow Comet is a family-owned ship, with hired crew. It's heavily-armed enough to prey on Earth freighters, which are taken to neutral ports for adjudication and payment. Then, the folks on Earth try to change the rules of engagement in some dangerous directions, and the story becomes a mixture of business law and pirate intrigue.
I didn't care for one part of the resolution, involving the grandfather. He's a cranky and dangerous old coot throughout the story, but after the ending, I think he's dangerously crazy.
March 8, 2015
The Jupiter Pirates is a swashbuckling tale of a group of space age pirates (or privateers as they are officially known) located on the moons of Jupiter. The Hashoone family fights for the Jovian Union. The Jovian Union is a breakaway colony of Earth. The two sides are in a state of constant war. After the Hashoone privateers seize a merchant vessel, the family and the Jovan Union an Earth plot to make all vessels diplomatic spaceships. Under the articles of war, the Hashoone's were not allowed to seize this ship. The story is full of adventures that the pirates take and even a court fight that finally uncovers Earth's plot.
This book is filled with nonstop action. It is a fun read and a well written piece of science fiction. The story has many themes that can be used in a classroom. The text is filled with concepts of teamwork, family, history, space travel, and our solar system. There are many middle school lessons that can taken from this book.
This book is filled with nonstop action. It is a fun read and a well written piece of science fiction. The story has many themes that can be used in a classroom. The text is filled with concepts of teamwork, family, history, space travel, and our solar system. There are many middle school lessons that can taken from this book.
September 29, 2015
Nifty blend of space adventure and 18th century Napoleonic high seas adventure (a la Horatio Hornblower, Master and Commander, et al).
I really enjoyed the family dynamics and applaud the family structure. The sibling rivalry added friction but didn't devolve into something super mean or fractious. Dio is the captain and her husband is the first mate. She's in charge and and authoritative at all times, he defers to her in all things and no one says tickety-boo about this. The kids have their mom's last name and their dad kept his own. Very cool.
An enjoyable adventure overall. I found the intrigue easy to solve, and until the finale I never felt like the ship/crew were ever in any serious danger. I liked that Tycho and Yana share their info with their parents (i.e their Captain) who in turn share with the authorities, rather than running off to solve it solo (and asking forgiveness from all and sundry later).
I really enjoyed the family dynamics and applaud the family structure. The sibling rivalry added friction but didn't devolve into something super mean or fractious. Dio is the captain and her husband is the first mate. She's in charge and and authoritative at all times, he defers to her in all things and no one says tickety-boo about this. The kids have their mom's last name and their dad kept his own. Very cool.
An enjoyable adventure overall. I found the intrigue easy to solve, and until the finale I never felt like the ship/crew were ever in any serious danger. I liked that Tycho and Yana share their info with their parents (i.e their Captain) who in turn share with the authorities, rather than running off to solve it solo (and asking forgiveness from all and sundry later).
October 1, 2015
Tycho Hashoone and his family are pirates privateers in the future, patrolling the space lanes for enemy prizes. When an interception is marred by technicalities, they get more action than they bargained for. While most space tales can't be said to have a lot of atmosphere, this one is full of it. These may be spacers rather than sailors, but there's still plenty of Royal Navy tradition in place. I love the bewigged Prize Court judge. The characters have depth, too--from the crazy pirate grandpa to cool captain mom, there's more personality than first meets the eye. Tycho's concerns are real, and he's a great main character. I just really enjoyed this book!
April 13, 2014
This was a fantastic book. Written for middle grade readers, yet it is a still a fun read for adults. We are given an interesting set of protagonists -- family of space privateers, a compelling mystery, twists and turns, and action galore. And bonus, it comes complete with a map of their ship and a glossary of pirate terms. This is the best sci-if book I've read this year.
February 23, 2014
Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC at ALA Midwinter.
This was a fun, fast-paced adventure with solid character development as well. Elements of pirates and space combine for a well-told science fiction adventure that is very accessible. Really enjoyed the family dynamics as well; very relatable. Would highly recommend it to kids looking for an action-packed, suspenseful, entertaining read.
This was a fun, fast-paced adventure with solid character development as well. Elements of pirates and space combine for a well-told science fiction adventure that is very accessible. Really enjoyed the family dynamics as well; very relatable. Would highly recommend it to kids looking for an action-packed, suspenseful, entertaining read.
March 14, 2014
Its a solid book, and would recommend this to someone looking for excitement, syfy, and anything to do with the future.
January 31, 2014
Fun, exciting space adventure that is really solid sci fi, with engaging young characters concerned with more than the adventure at hand. I liked it lots and recommend it with conviction.
March 10, 2014
This was a great introduction to what I am hoping will be a nice series. For one thing, I'd like to see the question of "who's going to be captain" settled (it isn't settled by the end of the book)!
April 22, 2014
This book was well written, and I certainly couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I loved the characters, and the space travel, and the privateer's!
September 15, 2018
Absolutely amazing concepts. Conception wise, this book was fabulous. I loved the old world feel, the political situation, the blend of technologies. Making the kids officers on the ship, ala Horatio Hornblower was a great move....good descriptions. A true sense of setting and a fabulous story line. I also personally loved the fact that the kids were kind of 'home schooled' by the ships computer. The battles and action sequences are plenty exciting and there's enough tech talk to steep in the setting, without getting bogged down in jargon.
This could have been an unbelievable good book.
What kept is from being an unbelievably good book:
The characterization is pretty one dimensional, the kids especially are supposed to be smart and talented, but just come off as bratty. I didn't like all the bickering and competition, it was disappointing to see what could have been a book about the strength of family written as if this was normal family dynamic.
There was a lot of feminist propaganda. The mother is the captain and her husband and children practically bow down to her....The sister is really obnoxious but is almost always portrayed as right, while her males counterparts are portrayed as stupid. She is written like she is supposed to be an admirable character, just because she is rebellious....as if this was a good trait to see in a woman/girl. She and her mother are constantly arguing and the kids overall have a very bad relationship with their parents and one another.
There's a lot of dubious moral decision about lying, cheating and so on. The kids disobey orders constantly but are always portrayed as being justified in their actions, even when they take absurd risks.
A few violent parts.
I bought a copy of this book, just because the ideas were so awesome....but I wish it had been better executed.
This could have been an unbelievable good book.
What kept is from being an unbelievably good book:
The characterization is pretty one dimensional, the kids especially are supposed to be smart and talented, but just come off as bratty. I didn't like all the bickering and competition, it was disappointing to see what could have been a book about the strength of family written as if this was normal family dynamic.
There was a lot of feminist propaganda. The mother is the captain and her husband and children practically bow down to her....The sister is really obnoxious but is almost always portrayed as right, while her males counterparts are portrayed as stupid. She is written like she is supposed to be an admirable character, just because she is rebellious....as if this was a good trait to see in a woman/girl. She and her mother are constantly arguing and the kids overall have a very bad relationship with their parents and one another.
There's a lot of dubious moral decision about lying, cheating and so on. The kids disobey orders constantly but are always portrayed as being justified in their actions, even when they take absurd risks.
A few violent parts.
I bought a copy of this book, just because the ideas were so awesome....but I wish it had been better executed.
April 28, 2023
Welcome to the intergalactic world of the Jupiter Pirates. Where various space cultures are having disputes that might lead to a galactic war.
Meet the Hashoones, for generations, their spacecraft, Shadow Comet, has been known as an entrepreneur business among many. Whether they are considered space pirates or space privateers, their goal is to be guardians of the cargo for the sake of their homeland. Enemies of their Grandfather want them destroyed. Enemies of their Father and Mother wanted them to abide by the galactical rulings (codes). The newest generation, well this saga is all about their training, learning, and deciphering what their mission might be.
Tyco has been in training as the Comet's newest navigator. With a few of those intercepts, he has learned that it's not just the cargo... before boarding, it's all about answering the ultimate question, "What is the ship's allegiance?"
Carlo is the older brother, at sixteen he is the ship's piloting controller. His training is exceptional, trustworthy, and crucial when preparing to board other spacecraft.
Yana is Tyco's twin sister. her training has been in monitoring the ship's sensors and engineering systems.
Their allegiance is with the Jovian Union and its struggle with Earth. Yet, sometimes when the threat of war begins, allegiances might need renegotiation.
Enjoy this quick-pacing galactical series where the "moons of the outer solar system have formed the Jovian Union against Earth's government...
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
Meet the Hashoones, for generations, their spacecraft, Shadow Comet, has been known as an entrepreneur business among many. Whether they are considered space pirates or space privateers, their goal is to be guardians of the cargo for the sake of their homeland. Enemies of their Grandfather want them destroyed. Enemies of their Father and Mother wanted them to abide by the galactical rulings (codes). The newest generation, well this saga is all about their training, learning, and deciphering what their mission might be.
Tyco has been in training as the Comet's newest navigator. With a few of those intercepts, he has learned that it's not just the cargo... before boarding, it's all about answering the ultimate question, "What is the ship's allegiance?"
Carlo is the older brother, at sixteen he is the ship's piloting controller. His training is exceptional, trustworthy, and crucial when preparing to board other spacecraft.
Yana is Tyco's twin sister. her training has been in monitoring the ship's sensors and engineering systems.
Their allegiance is with the Jovian Union and its struggle with Earth. Yet, sometimes when the threat of war begins, allegiances might need renegotiation.
Enjoy this quick-pacing galactical series where the "moons of the outer solar system have formed the Jovian Union against Earth's government...
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
January 3, 2018
Tycho Hashoone lives with his family and crew on the Shadow Comet, a privateer space craft under the Jovian Union. The Hashoones are a long line of pirates from the outer planets. The moved from pirate to privateer when Earth and the Jovian Union (the outer planets) went to war and started handing out letters of marquee for privateers. Tycho's mother Diocletia is the captain of their ship and Tycho and his brother Carlo and sister Yana are competing to see who will take her place. A routine mission goes awry when they discover that Earth is planting so-called diplomats on all their ships so they can't be taken by privateers. Tycho and his family investigate and discover a much deeper plot.
This was a fun space pirate adventure. There were planting of action scenes from space battles to boarding parties to spying missions. I do wish there was a bit more backstory about why Earth and the Jovian Union are at war. We don't really get any motivation on either side so the reader isn't sure who is right and who is wrong if either is. I don't usually mention covers, but I really didn't think the cover fit this book. It looks very steampunk to me instead of space. It appears that Tycho is just hanging out on the side of the ship during a battle and if this is taking place in space that is pretty much impossible.
This was a fun space pirate adventure. There were planting of action scenes from space battles to boarding parties to spying missions. I do wish there was a bit more backstory about why Earth and the Jovian Union are at war. We don't really get any motivation on either side so the reader isn't sure who is right and who is wrong if either is. I don't usually mention covers, but I really didn't think the cover fit this book. It looks very steampunk to me instead of space. It appears that Tycho is just hanging out on the side of the ship during a battle and if this is taking place in space that is pretty much impossible.
April 23, 2019
Tycho, twin sister Yana and older brother Carlo are constantly competing to be the next in line for their privateer ship, but they'll have to put their differences aside if they hope to catch a dangerous pirate looking to begin some major conflicts between their people and the people of Earth! Fry will keep younger readers entertained with this quick and cliched story, despite its bland secondary cast. How can Tycho compete when his siblings seem to be getting so good at everything needed to be a captain?!
September 8, 2019
This book is just one giant pile of cliches, and not sci-fi cliches, either. This isn't a sci-fi story, it's a pirate story... in SPACE! Think more Treasure Planet than Star Trek. The plot is very paint-by-the-numbers, too, without any real sense of depth, loss, or risk. Still, I gave this three stars because I kind of like classic pirate stories.
February 15, 2022
This book was fun. I am going to read the others in the series, but I'm not necessarily over excited. This book had great mystery aspects and a very exciting ending, but it took a lot of time to get to the excitement. I'm hoping now that all the characters are introduced and the baseline has been built that the next 2 books will be more action packed.
October 8, 2025
Difficult read
I started reading this with one of my 8th grade students. The amount of high level vocabulary is overwhelming and distracting to the point it takes away from the story. I found it hard to follow at times and this is supposed to be a young adult book.
I started reading this with one of my 8th grade students. The amount of high level vocabulary is overwhelming and distracting to the point it takes away from the story. I found it hard to follow at times and this is supposed to be a young adult book.
September 8, 2017
Asher (11yo) read. "Earth had a really good plan to stop privateering, but the privateers had a better plan to continue."
Read
July 5, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Alcohol consumption
Smoking mentioned
Physical injury
Amputation & loss of a hand
Gun violence
Threats of hanging
Battle scenes
Alcohol consumption
Smoking mentioned
Physical injury
Amputation & loss of a hand
Gun violence
Threats of hanging
Battle scenes
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews