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Mako
“In Mako, Malone brings to life a group of protagonists who are carefully crafted in great detail, right down to their realistic struggles, hopes, and doubts. Malone's writing style makes this an enjoyable read. He serves up plenty of action, but his attention to the characters' emotional state and his ability to pull that to the surface are what keep the story going.” Stefanie B., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing
Lee Summerston can’t cut a break.
A down-and-out history professor on the heels of a divorce, the country boy from Florida leads a team of old friends to virtual glory as the first-ever group to beat Mako Assault, a revolutionary new game that has emerged from nowhere to take the Internet by storm. As a reward for their achievement, and under the guise of publicity, the group is flown to meet the game’s mysterious designer. It’s then that Lee encounters a startling
Mako’s intent was never to entertain its players. It was to train them.
An epic science fiction thrill-ride of action, suspense, laughter, and romance; MAKO is the story of five ordinary people, rising to the challenge of extraordinary events, driven only by their faith in each other.
Lee Summerston can’t cut a break.
A down-and-out history professor on the heels of a divorce, the country boy from Florida leads a team of old friends to virtual glory as the first-ever group to beat Mako Assault, a revolutionary new game that has emerged from nowhere to take the Internet by storm. As a reward for their achievement, and under the guise of publicity, the group is flown to meet the game’s mysterious designer. It’s then that Lee encounters a startling
Mako’s intent was never to entertain its players. It was to train them.
An epic science fiction thrill-ride of action, suspense, laughter, and romance; MAKO is the story of five ordinary people, rising to the challenge of extraordinary events, driven only by their faith in each other.
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2013
114 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Ian J. Malone
17 books106 followersAs a graduate of Florida State University, sci-fi author Ian J. Malone has written in a variety of arenas ranging from public health to news and sports. When it comes to his fictional work, however, he’s a firm believer that nothing shapes a person’s writing like experience. That’s why he credits his tenures in radio, law enforcement, and military contracting for much of his inspiration, plus the legion of family and friends who’ve stood with him along the way.
Beyond writing, Malone is an avid fan of audiobooks (he’s legally blind) and the outdoors. It’s also not uncommon to find him at a ballgame, a concert, or somewhere out by a grill.
Malone is an active member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America and a resident of Durham, North Carolina — but he’ll always be a “Florida boy” at heart
Beyond writing, Malone is an avid fan of audiobooks (he’s legally blind) and the outdoors. It’s also not uncommon to find him at a ballgame, a concert, or somewhere out by a grill.
Malone is an active member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America and a resident of Durham, North Carolina — but he’ll always be a “Florida boy” at heart
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 18, 2013
This is an interesting and enjoyable book. The basic idea of the story, that is a video game actually being a recruitment facility made by aliens and the recruits will embark on an interstellar adventure, is not exactly new. It smells a lot of The Last Starfighter (which I quite liked when I watched it a long time ago) for example. That is not to say that it is a rip-off. The game in this story is actually a virtual reality training facility, which for reasons that where really not very clear to me, was tested on Earth. In any case, I did like the story.
I did indeed like the book. It is the kind of story that I generally like, the book was reasonably well written and the characters were quite likable. That is not to say that it was without faults. There are a few of them that drags down the overall impression. A few people that have reviewed the book complains about the lack of understanding of physics in space that the author exhibits. It is true that there are some idiotic statements like wings folding in and out on the fighters…in space? The author even uses words like “capsizing” in relation to space ships. That is just dumb of course. However, in my opinion, it is not as bad as some reviewers makes it look. I can live with that.
There are a few other unbelievable parts of the story, like these people who have just learned to master FTL flight by reverse engineering another race’s technology and then later claims to have been jumping between galaxies for 40 years looking for planets to colonize (yet they did not find Earth in their own galaxy during those 40 years). The concept that humans should have evolved in separate places in the Universe with identical DNA and pretty much at the same time is also a bit far fetched. The author should have had someone with a bit more skills in biology and physics read through the book before releasing it.
Personally I would consider the above as minor issues though. It is a fiction book after all. My main issue with the book is that it is somewhat uneven in pace. Every now and then it digs itself down in lengthy conversations between the members of professor Lee’s team. Often it weaves in some back flash to their previous lives and it is just too much talk, talk, talk. Those parts quickly gets downright boring.
However, overall I have to say that it is an enjoyable book. The story is nice and so are the characters. You really feel that you want to follow them through the story. The book ends, not in a cliffhanger, but definitely with some unfinished business. If another one comes out I will surely pick it up to see where things go. Now that the main plot element of this book, the surprise of being whisked away to the stars, is used up I wonder which direction the author intends to go? I personally would not mind seeing them going back to Earth and spring the “we are not alone” surprise on a few people.
I did indeed like the book. It is the kind of story that I generally like, the book was reasonably well written and the characters were quite likable. That is not to say that it was without faults. There are a few of them that drags down the overall impression. A few people that have reviewed the book complains about the lack of understanding of physics in space that the author exhibits. It is true that there are some idiotic statements like wings folding in and out on the fighters…in space? The author even uses words like “capsizing” in relation to space ships. That is just dumb of course. However, in my opinion, it is not as bad as some reviewers makes it look. I can live with that.
There are a few other unbelievable parts of the story, like these people who have just learned to master FTL flight by reverse engineering another race’s technology and then later claims to have been jumping between galaxies for 40 years looking for planets to colonize (yet they did not find Earth in their own galaxy during those 40 years). The concept that humans should have evolved in separate places in the Universe with identical DNA and pretty much at the same time is also a bit far fetched. The author should have had someone with a bit more skills in biology and physics read through the book before releasing it.
Personally I would consider the above as minor issues though. It is a fiction book after all. My main issue with the book is that it is somewhat uneven in pace. Every now and then it digs itself down in lengthy conversations between the members of professor Lee’s team. Often it weaves in some back flash to their previous lives and it is just too much talk, talk, talk. Those parts quickly gets downright boring.
However, overall I have to say that it is an enjoyable book. The story is nice and so are the characters. You really feel that you want to follow them through the story. The book ends, not in a cliffhanger, but definitely with some unfinished business. If another one comes out I will surely pick it up to see where things go. Now that the main plot element of this book, the surprise of being whisked away to the stars, is used up I wonder which direction the author intends to go? I personally would not mind seeing them going back to Earth and spring the “we are not alone” surprise on a few people.
March 10, 2013
Review written when not quite finished with the book.
The main idea is interesting. I care about the characters. Unfortunately in the later parts of the book I repeatedly smack my nose up against incongruities. Ok, I can swallow there being another race of human beings out there, because one of the planets could have been colonized thousands of years ago by the other one or some passing starship, etc. Most of those aliens having first names that are common in the USA is more of a stretch. Those aliens having newspapers, eggs for breakfast, juke boxes, the military having an officer's club.... after a while the incongruities just come so fast that it's hard for me to pay attention to the plot.
I guess I'm spoiled by books such as the Liaden Universe series, where the author took the time to actually invent a believable culture that is not just a clone of something found on Earth.
The main idea is interesting. I care about the characters. Unfortunately in the later parts of the book I repeatedly smack my nose up against incongruities. Ok, I can swallow there being another race of human beings out there, because one of the planets could have been colonized thousands of years ago by the other one or some passing starship, etc. Most of those aliens having first names that are common in the USA is more of a stretch. Those aliens having newspapers, eggs for breakfast, juke boxes, the military having an officer's club.... after a while the incongruities just come so fast that it's hard for me to pay attention to the plot.
I guess I'm spoiled by books such as the Liaden Universe series, where the author took the time to actually invent a believable culture that is not just a clone of something found on Earth.
December 24, 2016
More than meets the eye
This book is more than just an adventure, it's a rollercoaster. What 5 friends thought was just a video game turned out to be a lot more than they bargained for. While this book had well developed characters and a storyline, I did feel it dragged just a tad about 3/4 of the way through but then picked up and took off for the finish line...........or what I thought would be the finish line
This book is more than just an adventure, it's a rollercoaster. What 5 friends thought was just a video game turned out to be a lot more than they bargained for. While this book had well developed characters and a storyline, I did feel it dragged just a tad about 3/4 of the way through but then picked up and took off for the finish line...........or what I thought would be the finish line
July 10, 2014
The premise had potential (even though it was 'The Last Starfighter' reboot), but the story ended up just replaying set pieces of a dozen other books. Don't expect any depth to the story. Ridiculous things take place and the best rationale the author could come up with was "science & stuff happened". The characters were satisfied with the ridiculousness of it all, but I was not.
About halfway through the book I found myself checking (hoping) if it was close to being done. If you like mildly entertaining stories, with little explanation of events or circumstances, and no attempt to make things even slightly plausible, you might enjoy it. For me the incongruities built up to the point where I could barely finish the book.
The beginning was ok, but as soon as the author started attempting to paint a view of the future, the silly explanations made the story fall apart for me. For example, included an alien race that evolved to be nearly 100% genetically identical to humans .... Um, ok ... who also all have western names and the same things from every day life (newspapers, bacon, beer, etc.) but! ... they were fascinated by our music. (Sigh) The author made no attempt to create another culture, etc. Humans just got stamped all over the universe conveniently. I guess it would save on costume costs for the tv movie version.
Speaking of TV movie... This could be a series created for the early sci-fi channel. It would of been cancelled after 4 episodes however. Could also work as a cartoon mini-series.
About halfway through the book I found myself checking (hoping) if it was close to being done. If you like mildly entertaining stories, with little explanation of events or circumstances, and no attempt to make things even slightly plausible, you might enjoy it. For me the incongruities built up to the point where I could barely finish the book.
The beginning was ok, but as soon as the author started attempting to paint a view of the future, the silly explanations made the story fall apart for me. For example, included an alien race that evolved to be nearly 100% genetically identical to humans .... Um, ok ... who also all have western names and the same things from every day life (newspapers, bacon, beer, etc.) but! ... they were fascinated by our music. (Sigh) The author made no attempt to create another culture, etc. Humans just got stamped all over the universe conveniently. I guess it would save on costume costs for the tv movie version.
Speaking of TV movie... This could be a series created for the early sci-fi channel. It would of been cancelled after 4 episodes however. Could also work as a cartoon mini-series.
November 12, 2015
This could have done with an editor that was free with the red pen - too wordy by half for a plot that is telegraphed to the reader by the end of the first chapter. Probably a good choice for a plane ride though.
I received an EARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an EARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2020
Entertaining first book. Ian relies a bit on handwavium to explain why beings that evolved on another planet look like humans. It’s a nice change from the time travel or “alternate Earth” trope of similar stories that take contemporary characters into an advanced technology civilization. There’s a good bit of character development and they each unique, with good backstories. The second book is on my “to read” list!
September 4, 2020
Intense
The storyline follows an old favorite “The Last Starfighter” a classic sci-fi movie from 1984. Updated with newer technology, this version starts with a contemporary online RPG and a team who beat all the odds. Good character development and some great supporting cast, plus a denouement which successfully pulls everything together. Ends on a positive note, but obviously not the last word. The epilogue leads into the next book.
The storyline follows an old favorite “The Last Starfighter” a classic sci-fi movie from 1984. Updated with newer technology, this version starts with a contemporary online RPG and a team who beat all the odds. Good character development and some great supporting cast, plus a denouement which successfully pulls everything together. Ends on a positive note, but obviously not the last word. The epilogue leads into the next book.
July 17, 2017
One of the best ever
I do a lot of reading. As long as I can recall, I have always had a book in my hands, ubtil a couple years ago when I got my Kindle. Now the same goes for it.
This book is without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read. The plot was fast, interesting, and always enjoyable. A real treat.
I do a lot of reading. As long as I can recall, I have always had a book in my hands, ubtil a couple years ago when I got my Kindle. Now the same goes for it.
This book is without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read. The plot was fast, interesting, and always enjoyable. A real treat.
July 1, 2020
Totally Awesome!!!
I loved this story. Take the best of the old wing commander video games, add in the bromance of the Hawaii 5-O remake with Danno And McGarrett becoming Danny and Lee, and bam! I could see this being the start of at least a trilogy if not a longer series, or spin offs in the same universe.
I loved this story. Take the best of the old wing commander video games, add in the bromance of the Hawaii 5-O remake with Danno And McGarrett becoming Danny and Lee, and bam! I could see this being the start of at least a trilogy if not a longer series, or spin offs in the same universe.
October 1, 2020
I'm not really sure what I was expecting when I started this one.
It was surprisingly good.
It was surprisingly good.
December 29, 2022
Fairly interesting story. It's one that's been done before, but it's handled well, and the story is certainly worth the read.
February 14, 2017
Interesting read
Hailing from North Florida, I appreciated all the references to the area especially the parts about Florida State. Overall, a great and easy read.
Hailing from North Florida, I appreciated all the references to the area especially the parts about Florida State. Overall, a great and easy read.
August 7, 2015
This book was an ok read. It had its enjoyable action sequences and the plot was intriguing. It is riddled with problems which stem from its dialogue. The author is way too obsessed with being polite. As soon as you realize how often the characters start of a dialogue saying, "with all due respect" or annoyingly pause in the middle of their dialogue to say something like "if its alright by you", it becomes a grating experience to read. Another problem I found with the book is the explanation of why there is another human planet. The explanation is that it is pure coincidence. A simple "we dont know" answer wouldve sufficed, but they made it sound like "coincidence" is the final answer.
Still with these flaws, I enjoyed it enough to get the second book. It was a fun read when I tried to ignore the extreme politeness of the dialogue.
Still with these flaws, I enjoyed it enough to get the second book. It was a fun read when I tried to ignore the extreme politeness of the dialogue.
April 22, 2016
I received this as an arc from net galley in exchange for an honest review. A down - and - out history professor leads a team of old friends to virtual glory as the first ever group to beat mako. Very good read. I liked the story and the characters. I liked Lee and Mac. They were my favourite characters. Very long so took me a while to read it. It was also better for me to read it slow so I could understand what was happening. Good to know he had a good team behind him. I liked the ending too. 4*.
October 4, 2013
Overall was a great book. Started great and ended great. I loved the characters, there development and how much detail I knew about them. Without saying to much , it made me want what they had. The first half of the book was so familiar to me. I loved the possibilities
May 9, 2016
Exciting!
The book has something for everyone! The characters are very well developed and the action is nonstop. It is a very good stand alone novel. I hope the other books in the series are just as good.
The book has something for everyone! The characters are very well developed and the action is nonstop. It is a very good stand alone novel. I hope the other books in the series are just as good.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews