The Janus Syndrome

by Steven E. McDonald

Brash and headstrong, Kevven Tomari is a freewheeling intergalactic agent trained by an ancient and mysterious race called the Builders to troubleshoot the hot spots of space. This time a routine rescue mission explodes into a series of wild escapades that finds him fending off the advances of a bevy of extraterrestrial beauties, fighting shoulder to tentacle with a madcap colection of alien companions and leading an all-out war against the deadliest beings in the universe--a race known only as The Enemy. But there's a wild card in this stacked deck, a revelation so awesome it will alter the cosmic balance of power for all eternity.

Genres: Science Fiction

264 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1981

About the author

Born on the edge of Sherwood Forest, ducking arrows ever since.

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover drew me to the book: A man in cutaway tighty-whities and fishbowl helmet in a dramatic "action" pose, two women who'd have to put on more clothing in order to participate in a Victoria's Secret photoshoot, and some technology in the background. And in hindsight the guy looks like Robert Downey Junior in Tropic Thunder, which is incredibly distracting once you notice it.

I would have been better off removing the cover, framing it, and throwing the rest away.

It's told in the first person by this jokesy, smart-alecky narrator who has to crack wise with everyone he encounters, and this grates on the nerves very quickly. The story launches into an action set piece without really explaining what's going on or why the reader should care, and then jumps into some 'mission preparation' filler material and then off someplace else.

The narrator's tone is so obnoxious that I failed to connect with him and by extension his story, and while he later gets a major attitude adjustment, it comes too late and still feels like preparatory material. I gave up after that. Maybe things improve, but by then I simply didn't care.

[Sebastian]

I don't think it is possible to improve upon the cover of this book. Well, maybe Sgt. Lincoln Osiris could pull his costume up a bit - it looks like he's got baggage.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could do with a good editing and probably a re-write, but I still found that I had to finish it and quite liked it when I did.

[Cap'n ACAB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish you could see he cover of this book. That alone is worth its purchase. Basically, this book describes Shaft as a jedi.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The character interactions are boring, the relationships are unfounded, the action sequences are tedious, the philosophizing is halfbaked, and the ending is abrupt and pointless.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read thanks to CC license