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Jonathan Harkon Adventures #1
The Meat Market
For mature readers only. This pulp, cyberpunk, technothriller has profanity, violence, sexual situations, and an atheist protagonist. There are some disturbing scenes that may upset the more sensitive reader.
For Jonathan Harkon, living life in exile is never easy.
Forced into hiding his true identity and leaving the only home and family he's ever known, Jonathan finds himself halfway across the solar system, smuggling condoms for the religiously-oppressed citizens of an outer-system colony named Sanctity.
It isn't long before his cover as a bouncer for a local "bikini-bar" is questioned, and he is quickly embroiled in Sanctity's hardcore, underground, sex-slave trade.
With few friends by his side and only his ship, the HMS Mary Rose, to rely upon, Jonathan will need every ounce of the strength and skill that his heavily enhanced, genetically-engineered body can manage, if he means to survive and expose the terrible truth behind Sanctity's "Meat Market."
Set in the not too distant future, "The Meat Market" is the first short novel in author James Chalk's "Jonathan Harkon Adventure" series.
For Jonathan Harkon, living life in exile is never easy.
Forced into hiding his true identity and leaving the only home and family he's ever known, Jonathan finds himself halfway across the solar system, smuggling condoms for the religiously-oppressed citizens of an outer-system colony named Sanctity.
It isn't long before his cover as a bouncer for a local "bikini-bar" is questioned, and he is quickly embroiled in Sanctity's hardcore, underground, sex-slave trade.
With few friends by his side and only his ship, the HMS Mary Rose, to rely upon, Jonathan will need every ounce of the strength and skill that his heavily enhanced, genetically-engineered body can manage, if he means to survive and expose the terrible truth behind Sanctity's "Meat Market."
Set in the not too distant future, "The Meat Market" is the first short novel in author James Chalk's "Jonathan Harkon Adventure" series.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2013
18 people are currently reading
2014 people want to read
About the author
James Chalk
5 books127 followersJames Chalk spent thirty years working for the USA defense and intelligence communities as an engineer, software developer, and artificial intelligence research scientist. He is also a lifelong martial artist and a certified whitewater kayaking instructor. The universe gifted James with the perfect soulmate and two amazing grown daughters; his cup runneth over.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
March 24, 2014
How does this book have an average of almost 5 stars? Are there really so few people who expect that an author should actually know how to write? Don't writers have people proofread and edit their work anymore? Even a self-published book should be proofread.
What am I talking about? Here are some examples:
He doesn't know how to use a comma, "...this is the sickest, fucking thing I have ever heard." That's just one of MANY examples of where a comma didn't belong. There are many more like it, and many others where a comma was needed but wasn't used.
He doesn't understand adjectives: "most sexy pout"? It's sexiest, not most sexy; the "sexiest pout".
"Discretely" is not even a word. It should be discreetly. Discrete means something else entirely. Shouldn't a professional writer know the difference between discrete and discreet?
And then there's the spelling. Champaign is a city, not an alcoholic beverage. Champagne is the bubbly stuff people drink. And the word is "commonplace" not "common place". They mean something else entirely, too. Heal is what we do when we recover from being injured or sick. HEEL is a part of the foot. Heal is NOT part of the foot. This isn't just a typo, either, since it's misspelled that way three times. And does the author really mean "she smiled weekly"? or does he mean "she smiled weakly"?
Is the main character's name Jonny, or Johnny? Make up your mind. An unknown person is a John Doe, not a John Dough. Mr. Chalk, do you really not know this?
How about having the subject and the verb agree? "Neither of her feet were bleeding"? Neither signifies one foot, so then it should be "neither of her feet was bleeding."
And really, this is one of my favorites: The protagonist knows he's someone's prisoner, but he doesn't know WHOSE prisoner, why he's a prisoner, or where he's being held prisoner. But what the author writes is that the protagonist doesn't know the "who's, where's, or why's". Seriously? Even without considering that "where's" isn't in a any way a word, and "whys", even if were spelled right, is used in a completely ridiculous and incorrect manner; how does the author not know that "who's" is a contraction for '"who is" not "whose", which indicates possession. You wouldn't say "I didn't know who is prisoner I was", right? That makes zero sense. You'd say "I didn't know whose prisoner I was."
These are some of the most blatant examples.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't think a poorly written book by a person who doesn't know grammar or spelling deserves a 5-star rating. Anyone can come up with an interesting plot. What sets apart professional writers from the rest of us who may occasionally write for fun or for academic reasons is an actual talent for writing; and competent, skilled use of the language in which they're writing. When we do write for academic reasons, it seems our teachers expect more of us than the readers who rated this book expected of James Chalk.
Am I alone in this?
What am I talking about? Here are some examples:
He doesn't know how to use a comma, "...this is the sickest, fucking thing I have ever heard." That's just one of MANY examples of where a comma didn't belong. There are many more like it, and many others where a comma was needed but wasn't used.
He doesn't understand adjectives: "most sexy pout"? It's sexiest, not most sexy; the "sexiest pout".
"Discretely" is not even a word. It should be discreetly. Discrete means something else entirely. Shouldn't a professional writer know the difference between discrete and discreet?
And then there's the spelling. Champaign is a city, not an alcoholic beverage. Champagne is the bubbly stuff people drink. And the word is "commonplace" not "common place". They mean something else entirely, too. Heal is what we do when we recover from being injured or sick. HEEL is a part of the foot. Heal is NOT part of the foot. This isn't just a typo, either, since it's misspelled that way three times. And does the author really mean "she smiled weekly"? or does he mean "she smiled weakly"?
Is the main character's name Jonny, or Johnny? Make up your mind. An unknown person is a John Doe, not a John Dough. Mr. Chalk, do you really not know this?
How about having the subject and the verb agree? "Neither of her feet were bleeding"? Neither signifies one foot, so then it should be "neither of her feet was bleeding."
And really, this is one of my favorites: The protagonist knows he's someone's prisoner, but he doesn't know WHOSE prisoner, why he's a prisoner, or where he's being held prisoner. But what the author writes is that the protagonist doesn't know the "who's, where's, or why's". Seriously? Even without considering that "where's" isn't in a any way a word, and "whys", even if were spelled right, is used in a completely ridiculous and incorrect manner; how does the author not know that "who's" is a contraction for '"who is" not "whose", which indicates possession. You wouldn't say "I didn't know who is prisoner I was", right? That makes zero sense. You'd say "I didn't know whose prisoner I was."
These are some of the most blatant examples.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't think a poorly written book by a person who doesn't know grammar or spelling deserves a 5-star rating. Anyone can come up with an interesting plot. What sets apart professional writers from the rest of us who may occasionally write for fun or for academic reasons is an actual talent for writing; and competent, skilled use of the language in which they're writing. When we do write for academic reasons, it seems our teachers expect more of us than the readers who rated this book expected of James Chalk.
Am I alone in this?
June 13, 2017
This somehow ended up 38th on the goodreads best science fiction list. I'm sure it was gamed somehow because this is a comically bad book. I don't mind pulp in general, but this had no plot (two action sequences make up about 80% of the book), bizarre caricatures for characters (when the protagonist reaches the damsel to rescue her, her response is to... start making out with him instead of escaping?), and is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors.
Here's a choice quote:
"It was a good, defensible hiding place, but I didn't like that we were trapped inside. As a matter of fact, I didn't like it a lot!"
The last sentence sums up how I feel about this book pretty well, too.
Here's a choice quote:
"It was a good, defensible hiding place, but I didn't like that we were trapped inside. As a matter of fact, I didn't like it a lot!"
The last sentence sums up how I feel about this book pretty well, too.
February 26, 2014
Great, action packed sci-fi story that was quite an easy read in spite of the hard erotic scenes in it. James Chalk has masterfully managed to create really realistic picture of what future might be. His humor and skillful use of words spiced up the story just from the right places, moving the story smoothly forward.
The protagonist, Jonathan Harkon, was created perfectly and some scenes in the story reminded me of Dune in a good way (which is one of my all time favorites!), the fight scenes were awesome, and even with some disturbing sexual contents in the story, I found myself lost in it. The story is not for the prude ones though. But if you love sci-fi, erotic and action, this is just the right book for you!
The protagonist, Jonathan Harkon, was created perfectly and some scenes in the story reminded me of Dune in a good way (which is one of my all time favorites!), the fight scenes were awesome, and even with some disturbing sexual contents in the story, I found myself lost in it. The story is not for the prude ones though. But if you love sci-fi, erotic and action, this is just the right book for you!
March 2, 2014
Advances in technology, along with the depths of human depravity and prevalence of corruption makes it likely for human society to be moved into a similar scenario within the next couple of decades. Combined with an exceptionally well-written story and believable characters, those factors make The Meat Market feel just around the corner.
The point of view is intimate and brings the reader right into Jonathon's heart and mind, and makes the story more important to the reader. There's a good mix of action and down time that flows naturally, and the dialog and character interactions are well done. The imagery is rich and still trusts the reader's imagination to fill in the details.
Overall, this is an excellent read, and I'll definitely buy others in the series. Highly recommended!
The point of view is intimate and brings the reader right into Jonathon's heart and mind, and makes the story more important to the reader. There's a good mix of action and down time that flows naturally, and the dialog and character interactions are well done. The imagery is rich and still trusts the reader's imagination to fill in the details.
Overall, this is an excellent read, and I'll definitely buy others in the series. Highly recommended!
February 21, 2014
John Harkon is like an Ethan Hunt of the future. While introducing us to a brilliant character, James Chalk takes us into a well built sci fi setting which seems all too possible. The book also nudges us to think about the present, clearly something close to the author’s heart. You know there are books that you can read a bit at a time and there are books that you blast through. This definitely falls in the second category. Great read!
December 15, 2013
This book is set in the future. Earth has finally reached the end of it's resources and people now live on space stations, colonies' and other planets. James Chalk has imagined a rich and believable description of life on several of these settlements.
Jonathan Harkon is a product of all that is right with this future society (but not so good as to be unrealistic, in fact, he can be downright crude and vicious when necessary.) Jonathan is the exiled son of Harkon's Royal family and is living as a small time smuggler on a religion based colony.
Jonathan finds himself working at a strip-club where there is a mysterious backroom that is heavily guarded and where employees are forbidden to go.
What he discovers there is depravity for a new generation.
This novel is well written (although graphically violent at times) and will keep the reader interested until the end.
I look forward to reading more about the adventures of Jonathan Harkon. 4 Stars.
Jonathan Harkon is a product of all that is right with this future society (but not so good as to be unrealistic, in fact, he can be downright crude and vicious when necessary.) Jonathan is the exiled son of Harkon's Royal family and is living as a small time smuggler on a religion based colony.
Jonathan finds himself working at a strip-club where there is a mysterious backroom that is heavily guarded and where employees are forbidden to go.
What he discovers there is depravity for a new generation.
This novel is well written (although graphically violent at times) and will keep the reader interested until the end.
I look forward to reading more about the adventures of Jonathan Harkon. 4 Stars.
August 9, 2016
“The Meat Market (Jonathan Harkon Adventures)” by James Chalk is an inventive futuristic thriller taking place in a time of space colonisation. Our hero, Jonathan Harkon, works as security officer on Sanctity, a planet / colony that has a very restrictive and religiously shaped character. His work of employ is a Bikini club from where his adventures take him to uncover an outrageous secret about the planet and the club.
The setting is a clever and educated projection of contemporary issues on Earth, which distinguish this work from other works in the genre that are more pure fantasy than a thoroughly thought-out scenario. There are famous and highly appropriate quotes introducing each chapter, showing the mind of a deep and capable writer.
The thriller part of the novel is fast paced, full of well written action and suspense, excellently plotted and very enjoyable to follow. The novel pleasantly surprised me when I figured out what the mystery around the character Brenda was and I just loved the ending.
A brilliant, morally sound and thought provoking take on the future that makes a welcome change from more mindless fantasy and science fiction fare. Much appreciated.
The setting is a clever and educated projection of contemporary issues on Earth, which distinguish this work from other works in the genre that are more pure fantasy than a thoroughly thought-out scenario. There are famous and highly appropriate quotes introducing each chapter, showing the mind of a deep and capable writer.
The thriller part of the novel is fast paced, full of well written action and suspense, excellently plotted and very enjoyable to follow. The novel pleasantly surprised me when I figured out what the mystery around the character Brenda was and I just loved the ending.
A brilliant, morally sound and thought provoking take on the future that makes a welcome change from more mindless fantasy and science fiction fare. Much appreciated.
February 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Once I started reading, I had a lot of trouble putting it down. I loved the way the sci-fi was mixed with the erotic. There were certainly a few twists in there I didn't see coming. It has great scenes with great descriptions. I also got pretty attached to the main character. The ending has me very interested in what comes next for him and the girls.
December 29, 2013
I'm a science fiction ho and this fed right into my loves. Humans have spread out through the universe after destroying our planet ecologically. This was a new storyline for me, and frightening. I've read about cloning but to juxtapose this use for clones with a super religious colony was genius. It hit all the right notes with me and I want to read more adventures of Jonathan Harkon, his ship Mary Rose and of course his "cat". If you read sci fi, you'll enjoy this one!
February 23, 2014
Hard, gritty, erotic, funny with a twist of realism, which made it both entertaining and intriguing at the same time. To imagine a solar system with such diverse characters and with some similar traits to humans and, indeed any other planetary beings, was what caught my attention. Harkon is witty but also hard, cynical, and tells it as is. He is a great character, who will easily go on and on in a series of books...Not for the fainthearted or prude! A great, entertaining read.
August 3, 2014
The Meat Market by James Chalk is carefully crafted to draw the reader in, with the product description and the sample pages, I was totally absorbed into his world!
This Sci-Fi action-packed book about the world of underground sex-slave trade was absorbing and craftily written.
Very exciting and edgy Mr. Chalk and I can't say enough how much I enjoyed the characters of 'The Meat Market'
This Sci-Fi action-packed book about the world of underground sex-slave trade was absorbing and craftily written.
Very exciting and edgy Mr. Chalk and I can't say enough how much I enjoyed the characters of 'The Meat Market'
March 9, 2014
Promising...
I uploaded this book from the Amazon free list, and expected little having often been disappointed by the freebies, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the work.
I read this in four days and it fairly rattled along. Mr Chalk demonstrates a wonderful imagination. He has created a fantastical and almost believable future where humans live in massive space stations orbiting distant, dead planets. His impossibly likeable, Bond-like lead character, Prince Jonathan Harkon, uses nanotechnology enhancements and genetically strengthened skeleton to help him overcome impossible odds.
James Chalk’s The Meat Market is a sci-fi romp that introduces us not only to the James Bond of the future, but also a villain worthy of Ernst Blofeld, and a leading lady to die for. There’s even a genetically modified cat/tiger/pet creation that does much more than purr and look pretty. The imagery is largely excellent, the imagined technology beautifully realised, and the story shocking. This represents a fine start to a promised series of Prince Harkon novels.
So why didn’t I give five-stars?
There are flaws, not many and not massive, but enough to knock this from the very top of my ‘must-follow’ list. The ending, for example is a little rushed which is often the case with new novelists, and there’s a scene towards the end (no spoilers, promise), that is too like the ‘Bond-finally-meets-the-arch-villain-moment—almost a cliché.
That said, there were few, if any, typos and the book read well throughout.
One negative: Mr Chalk starts each chapter with three epigrams. I found these annoying and distracting and by about chapter five, I stopped reading them and continued with this fascinating, if slightly flawed read.
All-in-all, a promising start.
I uploaded this book from the Amazon free list, and expected little having often been disappointed by the freebies, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the work.
I read this in four days and it fairly rattled along. Mr Chalk demonstrates a wonderful imagination. He has created a fantastical and almost believable future where humans live in massive space stations orbiting distant, dead planets. His impossibly likeable, Bond-like lead character, Prince Jonathan Harkon, uses nanotechnology enhancements and genetically strengthened skeleton to help him overcome impossible odds.
James Chalk’s The Meat Market is a sci-fi romp that introduces us not only to the James Bond of the future, but also a villain worthy of Ernst Blofeld, and a leading lady to die for. There’s even a genetically modified cat/tiger/pet creation that does much more than purr and look pretty. The imagery is largely excellent, the imagined technology beautifully realised, and the story shocking. This represents a fine start to a promised series of Prince Harkon novels.
So why didn’t I give five-stars?
There are flaws, not many and not massive, but enough to knock this from the very top of my ‘must-follow’ list. The ending, for example is a little rushed which is often the case with new novelists, and there’s a scene towards the end (no spoilers, promise), that is too like the ‘Bond-finally-meets-the-arch-villain-moment—almost a cliché.
That said, there were few, if any, typos and the book read well throughout.
One negative: Mr Chalk starts each chapter with three epigrams. I found these annoying and distracting and by about chapter five, I stopped reading them and continued with this fascinating, if slightly flawed read.
All-in-all, a promising start.
March 8, 2014
Techno-Thriller for Mature Readers
It's the future. The Great Solar Diaspora solar system is colonized. The huge colonies contain hundreds of thousands to billions of people. The colonies vary greatly in politics, technology, and religion.
Jon Harkon lives in Sanctity. The colony is nearly as repressed as the Puritan colonies were in early America. The high clergy decides what's acceptable and what's not, with bans against everything contrary to their beliefs, including medical technology.
Jon makes his living catering to the underground segment of the population. With "bikini bars" and other examples of rebellion, Sanctity inhabitants aren't satisfied with the status quo. They find ways around the strangling rules. Jon helps them by providing black market condoms.
When Jon learns the truth behind the "Meat Market," he's horrified. Using his bio-tech, including military grade wetware, Jon is faced with fighting his way out of tight situations.
James Chalk has built a realistic and compelling universe in the Jonathan Harkon Adventures. The Meat Market is the first exciting installment in the series. Jon has a mysterious past, with surprising family secrets. He is a believable character, with his unique strengths and his weaknesses. Mr. Chalk offers a wonderfully-written thriller with exciting twists and turns, as well as underlying themes and symbolism.
It's the future. The Great Solar Diaspora solar system is colonized. The huge colonies contain hundreds of thousands to billions of people. The colonies vary greatly in politics, technology, and religion.
Jon Harkon lives in Sanctity. The colony is nearly as repressed as the Puritan colonies were in early America. The high clergy decides what's acceptable and what's not, with bans against everything contrary to their beliefs, including medical technology.
Jon makes his living catering to the underground segment of the population. With "bikini bars" and other examples of rebellion, Sanctity inhabitants aren't satisfied with the status quo. They find ways around the strangling rules. Jon helps them by providing black market condoms.
When Jon learns the truth behind the "Meat Market," he's horrified. Using his bio-tech, including military grade wetware, Jon is faced with fighting his way out of tight situations.
James Chalk has built a realistic and compelling universe in the Jonathan Harkon Adventures. The Meat Market is the first exciting installment in the series. Jon has a mysterious past, with surprising family secrets. He is a believable character, with his unique strengths and his weaknesses. Mr. Chalk offers a wonderfully-written thriller with exciting twists and turns, as well as underlying themes and symbolism.
February 16, 2014
THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT THE FUTURE DOES HAVE IN STORE FOR US. YUK! SINCE MAN SEEMS IN SUCH A HURRY TO JUMP OFF THIS "BIG BLUE MARBLE" (which he has just about ruined) THEN TRY TO START OVER. THAT SOUNDS GOOD, TOO BAD MAN IS TAKING HIMSELF, SO YA' KNOW HE WIIL JUST CREATE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH DEVASTATING TWISTS. I SELDOM READ SCI-FI BUT THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY ONE OF MY GOODREADS FRIENDS. I PREFER MY SCI-FI IN MOVIE VERSION, THE LAZY WAY. READING MAKES ME HAVE TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER SETTING UP THE VISUAL AND SPECIAL EFFECTS (via my flat screen in my head);> . THIS WASN'T HARD TO DO SINCE THIS WAS WRITTEN WELL AND DISCRIBED THINGS (I could visualize everything) SO! OK! THIS LEFT ME HANGIN' PLEASE TELL ME I WILL FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CARLA AND THAT EVIL, NO GOOD COL. LEAKEY, GEEZ! I WANT HIM KILLED SLOWLY, JUST DEAD IS TOO GOOD FOR HIM. I HAD TO MAKE A NEW BOOK SHELF FOR THE OCCASSIONAL SCI-FI I MIGHT BE READING. I LOVE JONNY'S PET BAIHU, I'D LIKE ONE OF THOSE, BRAINS & BEAUTIFUL TOO. I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED "THE TWELVE CHILDREN OF CHRISMAS"-A BAIHU SHORT STORY. ;>
April 14, 2014
I began reading this story unsure of what to expect. Based on the other reviews, I knew I was in for a rollercoaster ride, but never had I imagined how wild it would be. The author puts you in the front seat of this futuristic sci-fi thriller and doesn’t offer you a seat belt or a snack and barely advises you to hang on – so here you are, unsure of where this ride is heading, and then all of a sudden you realize… things may get a little crazy.
The way he describes the scenes, and the personality he gives to the characters are remarkable, you love them and hate them -- which made them feel relatable. The ugly truth of what the future could look like is haunting, maybe because somewhere inside we know that it’s possible – scary stuff.
After I eliminate the nightmares and bad dreams this book has instilled in my brain, I will most definitely be looking forward to the other books the author has to offer. When I read I like to feel emotion... whether it’s happy, sad, angry or scared -- and that’s exactly what this book did. Job well done.
The way he describes the scenes, and the personality he gives to the characters are remarkable, you love them and hate them -- which made them feel relatable. The ugly truth of what the future could look like is haunting, maybe because somewhere inside we know that it’s possible – scary stuff.
After I eliminate the nightmares and bad dreams this book has instilled in my brain, I will most definitely be looking forward to the other books the author has to offer. When I read I like to feel emotion... whether it’s happy, sad, angry or scared -- and that’s exactly what this book did. Job well done.
February 27, 2014
The Meat Market without a doubt got my attention. I couldn’t help but be entertained and engrossed throughout. The author has a unique writing style that I found intriguing and alluring, that certainly did not hold back as you will find out!
With ongoing disfunction and corruption this story grabs you and takes hold. I enjoyed the unusual personalities and interesting dialog that took me by surprise.
It’s fun to consider what the future would be like and this was a cool spin. Wildly creative and imaginative. This story is action packed while you stroll around in another time. It’s a really cool premise with tons of vision.
“All I had to do was slip off the ship and out of the spaceport without being seen. The trouble was, once beyond the docking berth, I would be detected by spy eyes and tracked by my face and biometrics. I needed a way to travel without being identified. Fortunately, I had just the right thing stored in the Mary Rose’s docking bay.”
With ongoing disfunction and corruption this story grabs you and takes hold. I enjoyed the unusual personalities and interesting dialog that took me by surprise.
It’s fun to consider what the future would be like and this was a cool spin. Wildly creative and imaginative. This story is action packed while you stroll around in another time. It’s a really cool premise with tons of vision.
“All I had to do was slip off the ship and out of the spaceport without being seen. The trouble was, once beyond the docking berth, I would be detected by spy eyes and tracked by my face and biometrics. I needed a way to travel without being identified. Fortunately, I had just the right thing stored in the Mary Rose’s docking bay.”
June 2, 2014
What a hoot! The Meat Market delivers in a big way! I thoroughly enjoyed this futuristic tale of a black market condom salesman/bouncer/prince set in a seedy off world ruled by sadistic "religiopricks". Written in the first person in noir style, the narrative is reminiscent, to me, of that in Ridley Scott's iconic movie "Blade Runner".
Fast-paced and full of cliff-hanging moments, you will find yourself staying up in the "wee smalls" as I did last night unable to put it down. Mr. Chalk's characters are complex and unpredictable and his vision of the future world is, to say the least, compelling. Also, as an animal lover, I particularly liked the characterization of Harkon's "cat", Baihu!
This is truly a fun tale and I, for one, can't wait for the next installment in the Jonathan Harkon series. I highly recommend it!
Fast-paced and full of cliff-hanging moments, you will find yourself staying up in the "wee smalls" as I did last night unable to put it down. Mr. Chalk's characters are complex and unpredictable and his vision of the future world is, to say the least, compelling. Also, as an animal lover, I particularly liked the characterization of Harkon's "cat", Baihu!
This is truly a fun tale and I, for one, can't wait for the next installment in the Jonathan Harkon series. I highly recommend it!
July 20, 2014
From the moment I started reading this book I was drawn in. I was taken into a totally different world. I was definitely getting a glimpse into the vision of the future and I was impressed! There were moments that I found I was holding my breath. Waiting to see what would happen next. Naturally, I couldn’t even guess. That makes for really good reading! What I do appreciate is that this author is very descriptive and clear. Explaining everything in detail so that even I, who is new to this genre, didn’t get ‘lost’. Jonathan Harkon has become a firm favourite! I will be following this author to see what is next. And know that I will enjoy it. So, if you are looking for something different to really sink your teeth into, I highly recommend this book! Money well spent!
April 5, 2014
Though I am not normally a fan of Sci-Fi, I am a huge fan of ‘dark’ story lines and this book has that.
The author did a great job on keeping it real and the book was funny.
It really had an eclectic feel about it because the author was able to mix Sci-Fi, action, Dark, and humor; that alone says a great deal. It isn’t easy to cross that many genres and be successful at it; this author was. If you’re considering this book and you’re a Sci-Fi fan then I would say a definite must read. If you are not a Sci-Fi fan this book could very well still be something that you would enjoy, it truly has it all.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
The author did a great job on keeping it real and the book was funny.
It really had an eclectic feel about it because the author was able to mix Sci-Fi, action, Dark, and humor; that alone says a great deal. It isn’t easy to cross that many genres and be successful at it; this author was. If you’re considering this book and you’re a Sci-Fi fan then I would say a definite must read. If you are not a Sci-Fi fan this book could very well still be something that you would enjoy, it truly has it all.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
February 24, 2014
Fast paced, this was an easy read while still keeping one’s attention. A tale of lust and greed, it is set in a time far removed from this one. The hero is not a super hero as such. He makes his fair share of mistakes while trying to right a very grave wrong. The particular society he finds himself in is one which is being exploited by those who should be improving the lot of its citizens. The language is gritty the action nonstop. It is a well thought out and well organized story.
July 31, 2014
The Meat Market is my introduction to cyber punk and I admit I didn't quite know what to expect when choosing to read this novel. The author promotes his novel as "pulp, cyberpunk, and a techno thriller...with an atheist protagonist, aka Jonathan Harkon. This novel is the first in the author's imaginary future known as the Great Solar Diaspora; a colonization of the solar system. A world where space colonization becomes a reality.
First of all, I am really impressed with Mr. Chalk's observations about the predictability and characterization of large scale space habitation.
Secondly, I was introduced to Jonathan Harkon in the author's short story, The Twelve Children of Christmas where Jonathan appeared to be a seemingly benign and lovable character with a "thousand watt smile" so I couldn't wait to read and find out how and why Jonathan was different from the endearing character in Mr. Chalk's Christmas story.
Although the substance of The Meat Market is significantly different from that of the author's short story, this book is very well written and Chalk's envisioned future and alternative world is realistically portrayed. Laws, rules, policies and practices governing accepted and unaccepted behaviors such as those described in vivid detail in this novel have permeated societies (and continue to do so in many) from the beginning of time in some form or another.
While this book is written for mature audiences (Mr. Chalk acknowledges this in his preface to the book), the issues and concepts presented will not be unfamiliar to the 'mature and sophisticated' reader. Repression and violence against women and children are common themes in many cultures today where many oppose and continue to fight against them.
I look forward to the evolution of Mr. Chalk's Diaspora in his next novel in the Jonathan Harkon series.
August 15, 2014
Not normally attracted to a story with a warning label, I read the "Look Inside" portion and could see the author knows how to write well, and I liked the main character's "voice". This held true for the remainder of the book. There is a "noir" feeling to Jonathan Harkin's attitude - a Sam Spade in outer space. The violent sexual scenes were obviously written not to titillate but to describe in detail the horrors of the sex slave trade of this outer world. That the sex slave and created "meat dolls" was a business run by what looked like monks was not lost on me. Rather than atheist I would describe the character's main beef was only with religions related to Jesus and that the anti-ness became preachy all by itself. That the bad guys were in a religious hierarchy that included priests, bishops, etc. was telling. I think it was to show the truly sick side of society that is often covered up by pretty things, like money, or religious dogma.
I liked that Jonathan Harkin had nano-bots in his blood. It was very cool that these little marvels could repair him from the inside out. I did not get the sense that he was invincible though. I did think he got knocked out too many times, though I liked the actions scenes and thought they were well done.
Verified Amazon purchase.
I liked that Jonathan Harkin had nano-bots in his blood. It was very cool that these little marvels could repair him from the inside out. I did not get the sense that he was invincible though. I did think he got knocked out too many times, though I liked the actions scenes and thought they were well done.
Verified Amazon purchase.
May 28, 2014
This extremely well-written book is set in an imagined future where the solar system has been colonized (the Great Solar Diaspora). Jonathan Harkon (scion of a royal family) lives incognito on one such station, Sanctity, a harsh, brutal environment rife with the sexual hypocrisy consequent upon fanatical religious prejudices. Life is portrayed in its unaccommodating, bare extremes, with some very sexy bar-ladies, abused women’s bodies, and a succession of brilliantly-described, vicious fights and splattering body-parts, all set against the background of a twisted, bigoted society. Jonathan is thrown into a cycle of combat and imprisonment in his attempts to reveal the secrets of this priest-ridden society and save the woman he loves. Nonetheless, despite the zip of this great non-stop action (what I would call, the novel’s superbly controlled breathlessness), and of course the delightful female flesh, the space habitat of Sanctity is also a satire on the present state of an ultra-capitalistic, religiously zealous and socially unequal US. Great stuff.
April 12, 2014
James has written a fantastic sci-fi novel with The Meat Market. Not only does it take you into a future that is both corrupt and depraved, but it also paints a picture of where the world could be in a matter of decades.
Jonathan Harkon is a fantastic character that will draw you deep into his world, forcing you to breathe and cringe with each step he takes. The author has created characters that will make you wonder if they are real or alive on the page.
This is a fantastic story that makes someone like me, who hasn’t picked up a sci-fi novel in many years, want to return to the genre that first taught me the love of reading and books in general. I’ll be adding all of James’ books to my library, as well as anything else that he writes in the Jonathan Harkon series.
A must read for anyone who loves the sci-fi genre and has the stomach to see where the world could be in the future.
Jonathan Harkon is a fantastic character that will draw you deep into his world, forcing you to breathe and cringe with each step he takes. The author has created characters that will make you wonder if they are real or alive on the page.
This is a fantastic story that makes someone like me, who hasn’t picked up a sci-fi novel in many years, want to return to the genre that first taught me the love of reading and books in general. I’ll be adding all of James’ books to my library, as well as anything else that he writes in the Jonathan Harkon series.
A must read for anyone who loves the sci-fi genre and has the stomach to see where the world could be in the future.
April 12, 2014
Review of The Meat Market (Jonathan Harkon Adventures) by James Chalk
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5 stars - HOLY WHAT THE HELL!!! James, you are insane, and I LOVE IT!!! Let’s see how many clichés I can use to describe this book…
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A page turner – yup!!! You better set aside some time, cause you’re not gonna want to put it down.
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A nail biter – uhuh!!! Remember to breathe; don’t want to pass out in the middle of the good stuff.
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Overly graphic – yes, there is a lot of details that support the world he has created. Does that mean it’s believable? Not to me, but I love sci-fi, hair on fire, adventures that are way beyond what ‘could’ happen – that’s what daydreaming is all about and it’s fantastic!!!
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So… you need to be 18+ to read this book, that’s a given. You also need to have some fortitude, cause it ain’t pretty. If you can take it, it is ONE HELL OF A RIDE and I can’t wait to read the next one!!!
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5 stars - HOLY WHAT THE HELL!!! James, you are insane, and I LOVE IT!!! Let’s see how many clichés I can use to describe this book…
.
A page turner – yup!!! You better set aside some time, cause you’re not gonna want to put it down.
.
A nail biter – uhuh!!! Remember to breathe; don’t want to pass out in the middle of the good stuff.
.
Overly graphic – yes, there is a lot of details that support the world he has created. Does that mean it’s believable? Not to me, but I love sci-fi, hair on fire, adventures that are way beyond what ‘could’ happen – that’s what daydreaming is all about and it’s fantastic!!!
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So… you need to be 18+ to read this book, that’s a given. You also need to have some fortitude, cause it ain’t pretty. If you can take it, it is ONE HELL OF A RIDE and I can’t wait to read the next one!!!
March 5, 2014
This is exactly the kind of books that I like! I was impressed by the product description. I immediately felt that I had to grab and read it, but I was still very surprised and I could not expect something so good.
The Meat Market is brilliant. There is a lot of sci-fi in it, some excellent humor and a lot of great erotic content. There is some Douglas Adams in it, some Isaac Asimov and very exciting erotica.
I loved the main character, Jonathan, which is enough original and different to drive me mad and wanting for more after each page.
Plot, settings and descriptions are great. The writing style is very stylish and different. James Chalk has a vivid imagination, that does not know any kind of boundaries.
The ebook well deserves five stars!
The Meat Market is brilliant. There is a lot of sci-fi in it, some excellent humor and a lot of great erotic content. There is some Douglas Adams in it, some Isaac Asimov and very exciting erotica.
I loved the main character, Jonathan, which is enough original and different to drive me mad and wanting for more after each page.
Plot, settings and descriptions are great. The writing style is very stylish and different. James Chalk has a vivid imagination, that does not know any kind of boundaries.
The ebook well deserves five stars!
September 8, 2014
With practically non-stop action and a number of scenes depicting cold-hearted cruelty and manipulation, this brilliantly written novel affords the reader a brutally realistic glimpse into a futuristic society which may feasibly become a reality some day. At the same time, elements of humor are welcome intrusions in the narrative, as Jonathan Harkon comments (in one sequence) on what he sees as the folly of dead humans being buried in cemetery plots. Or the way he fantasizes about Brenda's beautiful hair and luscious scent, only to remark," Thoughts like that would be wholly inappropriate. So, of course, I didn't have them!"
It goes without saying, then, that the Jonathan Harkon series is certain to deliver plenty of action, humor, and even prove to be intellectually stimulating!
It goes without saying, then, that the Jonathan Harkon series is certain to deliver plenty of action, humor, and even prove to be intellectually stimulating!
July 15, 2014
This novel by Chalk based on a futuristic colonization of the solar system, is a bit deceptive at first glance. The first chapter begins with a passage from the bible, which made me think this was a religious book, but the reason why the author chose to begin the book that way was made clear when it was revealed that mankind is ruled by religious fanatics—‘religiopricks’. The story is written in the first person with graphic, colorful language that had me LOL, with places such as, Sanctity Space Port and Bikini Bar. Chalk did a good job is the way he presents his alternate world in answer to mankind’s over abuse and misuse, as well as our over population of our planet earth. Chalk believes something has to give and this Great Solar Diaspora is his solution. Brilliantly done!
February 19, 2014
I found The Meat Market to be a breath of fresh air, when compared to most of the other books that I have read lately. Chalk definitely writes in his own unique tone, which creates vivid scenes and characters in this book. The main character Harkon is a complex and engaging dude, and while I was never quite sure if I entirely liked him, couldn't help but root for him in this seedy sci-fi world.
This book is an excellent change-up if you are looking for a book that will get you thinking and take you down a road that you will think about for a while (perhaps with trepidation). Highly Recommended.
This book is an excellent change-up if you are looking for a book that will get you thinking and take you down a road that you will think about for a while (perhaps with trepidation). Highly Recommended.
February 14, 2014
As a writer I know how hard it is to successfully blend genres. James Chalk has done it brilliantly in "The Meat Market." We've got sci-fi futuristic worlds, sex and erotica, and great action/thriller fight scenes. What Chalk has done is really one of a kind. This is a very original sci-fi thriller. Great job, and I hope to see more from this author.
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