Star Realms: Rescue Run

by Jon Del Arroz

Since being court-martialed by the Star Empire, smuggler and thief Joan Shengtu has done what she needed to do in order to survive—gaining a reputation along the way. When a new client’s mission goes sideways, Joan finds herself caught in the middle of dueling gambits between the Star Empire and the Trade Federation. Recruited to perform the heist of a lifetime, the fate of the Star Empire rests in her hands.

On the opposite side of the galaxy, Regency BioTech manager Dario Anazao sees an unsustainable situation brewing that promises a full-scale revolution. The megacorporations of the Trade Federation have kept the population in horrible working conditions, violating their human rights. With no one else to help, Dario must take it upon himself to rescue the workers of Mars.

Can two heroes from warring factions come together to make a difference in the galaxy?

Star Realms: Rescue Run is the first novelization of the critically acclaimed Star Realms spaceship combat deckbuilding game. You can check out the game here: http://www.starrealms.com.

“I’ve long been a big fan of epic science fiction and space opera. I think Jon’s entry into this realm is an excellent and compelling read. Fans of the Star Realms deckbuilding game will appreciate this look into the Star Realms universe, with its fast-paced story and intriguing characters. From his strong female lead to her amusing AI, I think Star Realms fans and sci-fi fans in general will be eager for Jon to write a sequel.” —Darwin Kastle, Star Realms creator

“Jon Del Arroz is a promising new writer with a knack for story and an interesting voice.” —Jody Lynn Nye, author of the Wolfe Pack series

“This game-related novel is a lively, action-filled tale that should appeal to those who want a space adventure romp with intrigue and a touch of romance. A disgraced ex-military thief, the thief’s snide former shipmate, a special operative who isn’t that good with guns, and the resentful son of an arrogant corporate executive attempt an impossible mission... and there’s a humorously glitched portable AI in the mix, too, breaking into song at odd moments.” —Elizabeth Moon, author of the Paksenarrion novels

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Space Opera, Games

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2016

About the author

Jon Del Arroz is a powerhouse in speculative fiction and comics, celebrated as "the leading Hispanic voice in science fiction" by PJ Media, and a #1 Amazon bestselling author whose works resonate with fans craving bold, unapologetic storytelling. His novels, like the swashbuckling steampunk adventure For Steam And Country and the space opera The Stars Entwined, have earned accolades for their fast-paced plots and richly drawn characters. He is a Dragon Award finalist and 2018 CLFA Book of the Year Award winner, as well as N3F Speculative Fiction winner for best graphic novel.

Beyond the page, Jon Del Arroz is a prolific journalist and cultural commentator, with incisive pieces in outlets like The Federalist and Fandom Pulse that tackle the intersections of pop culture, gaming, and politics with fearless clarity. His investigative work and YouTube livestreams have built a loyal following, offering a sharp alternative to mainstream narratives.

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I can :D

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

RESCUE RUN is a tie-in novel to the STAR REALMS card game, which I am unfamiliar with but my Lucifer's Star novel co-author (and game store operator), Michael Suttkus, swears by. It is apparently a card game set in a universe of various star empires competing for domination. Aside from this, I know nothing about it and will be reviewing purely on the text itself.

The premise is A.I.-equipped master thief Joan (who is pals with G.O.D in a bit of wordplay on her part) gets captured when the Navy sets a trap for her so they can employ her. They need her to extract a kidnapped a genius commodore from corporate-run space so they can keep their enemies at bay.

Meanwhile, mid-level manager Dario Anazao gets a promotion to running a planet due to the fact his father is a corporate bigwig despite the fact he's a video-game addicted idealist. Dario decides to make his mark by helping the destitute in the planet's underlevels, only to discover the biggest problem they face is actually his corporation.

Overall, I found the book to be charming and once it managed to get going, Both Joan and Dario are likable characters caught in bad situations. Indeed, my only real complaint is they seem to be a bit too idealistic and good for the setting. I would have preferred a bit more corporate shark from Dario given the environment he was raised rather than crusading philanthropist.

Despite this, I actually enjoyed the Dario sections the most as he continually tried to find reasonable and cost-effective solutions for the worker's rights situation despite the fact the workers were to the point of wanting to burn down the company while the board planned something more akin to Metropolis' "kill the poor" than fair negotiation. Watching him get caught between those two extremes was always entertaining.

I was also a fan of Dario's assistants as they seemed like an accurate reflection of how young executives often have spies unknowingly nestled among them. Jake was there to support Dario through thick and thin but his replacement proves to be an intractable company man who wants to make Dario nothing more than his puppet. I was always expecting Jake's father to turn on him, especially as Dario's criticism grew harsher and harsher but watching him torn between his company and his son was fascinating.

I didn't think this book needed a romance between Joan and Dario, especially as neither individual was looking for a love-interest at the time but their interactions sold me on it. They were two idealistic people in an extremely cynical setting. The fact they manage to pull of a surprisingly happy ending despite all the problems involved (and in a believable fashion) is also an accomplishment by the author.

I was divided between giving this a four or a five since it's a 4.5 in my view so I'm going to round up. It took a while to set up events but it's an enjoyable sci-fi adventure with a bird's eye view of your typical evil corporate super-state but a nice guy filling in the role. I would have preferred a bit more edge to the leads but gradually came to like both.

8.5/10

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. I did not have high expectations for a novel based on a card game, even for a game as great as Star Realms. I think the writing could have been a bit tighter and some of the sentences were awkwardly constructed, but it is a fine first novel. I'm definitely interested in reading more of the series if it continues.

[Wampuscat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jon Del Arroz brings life and depth to two of the main factions of the world of the Star Realms deck building card game. He creates a backstory for the corporation centered Trade Federation and the militaristic Star Empire that draws you immediately into the lives of the main characters. It is not your typical shoot-em-up or space battle Military Sci-Fi, but is instead focused on intrigue and espionage. The world building is excellent, and the characters depth grows considerably as the story progresses.

The 'sciencey' stuff is cool too! Ocular implants, advance Artificial Intelligence, body mods, multi-level mega-structures extending from planet to orbit. Cool stuffs!

There is a very distinct romance arc to the story as well. Unfortunately, this is the main reasons I can't give the fourth star here on Goodreads. I don't mind romance being a secondary arc, but this one puts it too much in the forefront for me. I also can't abide 'love at first sight', 'teen angst', and 'it makes me stupid' romance either. That's not my genre, so having to deal with it here was a bit sigh-inducing. The characters aren't teens either, which made it worse. YMMV though, so if you like that sort of thing, you can definitely get it here.

All in all, I give this one three and a half stars and call it just a plain old Fun Read!

[Celesta Thiessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best! This book had a really interesting plot and great characters. It took about 4 chapters to get into because there was quite a few characters and several different settings. But then once I was into it, I just loved the characters. The author really made me care about them and what was going on with them. This book was refreshing in that there wasn't a love triangle and the characters don't keep on-going secrets from each other. Here two characters who start out separated by class and vast distance are brought together by fate and kept together through loyalty, honesty and good decision-making. I loved it!

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and enthusiastic space opera, and didn't require any knowledge of the game it's based on. Could be the foundation for an interesting series. I did find the Evil Corporation's plot that drives the last third to be a bit far-fetched and not entirely believable, but by then things are happening fast enough to go along for the ride.

[Bonnie Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Much Fun—And Some Unexpected Poignancy Too
Star Realms Rescue Run is 8/10s adventure, 1.5/10s romance (yeah, I know that’s a whacky measurement. Just run with me here), and the rest is a smattering of poignancy I didn’t expect within this genre.
Joan is a heroine I can get behind; resourceful, quick, just brave enough to not be arrogant, and just vulnerable enough to not be a sop. I like her—and adore her unorthodox relationship with her Artificial Intelligence (AI) who bears the tongue-in-cheek name G.O.D.
G.O.D. delivers some of the best lines in this novel. Consider his deadpan (yet chirpy) analysis of the attraction between Joan and the thoughtful, conscientious Dario: “His vitals show a strong desire to mate with you. According to data regarding humankind’s predispositions, that instinct will supersede rational judgment in the majority of cases.” Too right, G.O.D.
And, beyond the hilarity of the double entendre Del Arroz clearly enjoys exacting when invoking G.O.D. (Ha! See how much it’s rubbed off on me?) Joan’s laments to G.O.D. also deliver some of this piece’s most moving passages as she examines her vulnerability, weakness, and smallness in the face of her problems….particularly when G.O.D. becomes unavailable to her.
Loved that.
This is an exciting, well-paced tale where war generates big business….and where Big Business often generates war. (Art imitates life…). There are good guys and bad guys, and good guys who have to be bad for business (hey—is that not life as well?) and bad guys who would be wicked even if there was no business to profit from (and that, sadly, is life too). The characters are sharp, developed, and often offer a nuanced sort of depth within their personalities: (yes you can be principled…and ruthless. And yes you can love someone…and hate every philosophy they stand for).
I am not normally a science fiction reader, but Del Arroz now has me hooked on Joan, Dario, their quest and (dare I say?) G.O.D, and I am all in for the next installment of this clever, thoughtful, fun, and often funny, series.
5 Impressed Stars

[Justin Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read.

Full Disclosure, I know the author.
This was a great little science fiction story with a hint of romance. I hope for more adventures from the main characters.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought Rescue Run largely because I like the Star Realms game and wanted to support it. The book is set in the game's universe, though the linkage pretty much ends there. The game's fleet-building mechanics aren't really reflected in the book, though players will recognize plenty of names.

Leaving aside the Star Realms tie-ins, Rescue Run is a decent if not particularly imaginative story. Renegade thief is collared by the powers-that-be and forced to join a dangerous mission against an evil oppressive empire - seen it before. The empire in this case is a corporate entity, and the renegade is a somewhat insecure woman rather than the usual cocky ladies man, so it's not entirely a generic formula. There's a love story embedded, of course, with a sheltered-but-empathetic scion of the evil empire falling for the renegade. The characters go through plenty of hard-to-believe close calls and lucky escapes, which is to be expected in this kind of against-all-odds storyline.

As far as game tie-in novels go, Rescue Run is pretty good. The overall story arc and themes were a bit too generic for my taste, but the writing is well executed. Certainly if you're interested in delving into the Star Realms universe, it's worth the read.

[Carl Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Star Realms: Rescue Run is a tie-in to the (very enjoyable) deckbuilding game of the same name. Its pulp-style plot is raised above the average by its memorable main characters: Joan Shengtu, thief forced to be secret agent, and Dario Anazao, privileged son expected to fill his father's footsteps in the ruthless corporation who is discovering that the company line is a bitter one to swallow. The best part of the book the witty repartee between Joan and her artificial intelligence G.O.D. The writing was odd; sentences were occasionally unnecessarily complex or written in stilted language (ex: "Not only would she never work for a bunch of goons who shook down and murdered innocent people, but how would they know about her?") that kept the prose from flowing. Nevertheless, fans of the game will enjoy the shout-outs to the cards we know so well, and sci-fi fans will be entertained. The ending leaves open numerous paths for the characters, and I would happily read more about them.

[Adam Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let us start this off with a disclaimer: I don't know anything about Star Realms, the game system world this story is apparently set in. The book was recommended on social media as a fun science fiction story, and I picked it for that reason.

This book was tremendously fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously, the author concerning himself more with just telling a good story. The two main characters are well developed and likable, with some real growth as the tale progresses. The plot was not overly complicated or contrived, but it did move along quickly and worked quite well. I was not hindered by my complete lack of knowledge about the setting and did not feel left out at any point.

At its heart, this is the story of two people way out of their depth. Two alternating narratives eventually intertwine and then flow together seamlessly. I enjoyed every minute of the reading, and would gladly read this author's next novel. I enjoyed both different narrative voices.

I keep coming back to that description: fun. This book was fun to read.

[Patrick Waldoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun and well thought plot

Never heard of Star Realms until this book was given as a suggested read, so I had no background to draw upon. Stands alone easily! Well thought out plot and very engaging characters. My 2 biggies for a book. Having played Shadowrun a d Star Wars RPGs, I had the feeling of being right with the characters in their situations. The character decisions based upon the situation they faced at the time they made it felt real and the best of bad options. I really liked Joan's development as a person from trusting no one except her AI to learning how to ooen up to people and trust and work with people that rate as enemies personally to her. I'd love to read a follow-up story!

[R R Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read if a little long

I really enjoyed this book. The realization of the source. An excellent card game. Was amazing, my only slight problem was that it felt a little drawn out and could have been tighter.

But over all well worth the read if your looking for some easy reading SciFi that focuses on character interaction.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Del Arroz has put the Opera back into Space Opera! Action, aliens, adorable AI, intrigue, and a bit of romance all combine for a delightful page turner that will leave you wanting more!

But let me go back a minute. This book is based off the game Star Realms, a game I have never, ever played in my life. No familiarity with it at all. Good news-- you don't need to know a thing about the game to enjoy this story. It's possible that such familiarity might give the reader added insight, or perhaps there's in-jokes that totally flew over my head, but it didn't read like that. So if you don't know the game, don't worry, you will still enjoy this story.

I read this book because I'd just read Del Arroz's more recent release For Steam and Country, and I enjoyed that so much that I read this, his first published novel, after. The same strengths that charmed me in his latter work were already there in his former: Characters I actually like as people, action, humor, the refreshing lack of cynicism about humans and their civilizations, even while some humans clearly are Villains. Love it.

One note: reading both his novels in such close (and reverse) succession, it seemed to me that the characters in Rescue Run are a little less filled-out than in Steam and Country. It's such a slight difference that I mostly think it's just the normal progression of an author as he gains experience. It certainly wasn't enough of a difference to knock any stars off my rating, but if you read them both close together in reverse publishing order, you might note the same.

That said, there's plenty of room left at the end for a much desired sequel or two. Either possibility (there are two immediate story lines I spotted he will likely develop in follow-ups) should present plenty of opportunity for Del Arroz to plumb the depths of these characters as they themselves grow in response to the new and imposing challenges that they will face.

I for one cannot wait for sequels by Del Arroz-- GOD is counting on it! XD

[Kynan · Rating 3 out of 5]

TL;DR: A passable space opera set in the Star Realms universe. It's the author's first novel, and it kinda shows.

TL: I read this because I like the Star Realms game and, with the recent release of the Legacy "Rise of Empire" set, I was somewhat interested in digging into some lore because there is definitely potential for interesting storytelling! The game is a deck-builder, based on 4 factions. The two human factions are the Trade Federation, the "known-universe"-spanning conglomeration of mega-corporations (blue) and the upstart Star Empire, a militaristic group rebelling against the Trade Federation's stranglehold on commerce and the systems in which they trade (yellow). The other two factions are the cyborg Machine Cult (red) and the alien "Blob", a space-faring race (?) who make use of organic ships and appear to have taken the Xenomorph-class in making friends and meetingeating-people (green).

Rescue Run starts with Joan Tengshu, nominally a member of the Star Empire, performing a little space-based break-and-enter...

I stopped writing there for some reason, thus earning myself a

forgot-to-review

shelving.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little adventure based on the card game, Star Realms. I really don't like science fiction, but wanted to give it a shot as a fan of the game. However, the super heavy sci-fi tropes turned me off to this one. It's a really well-written book with a strong female lead and a fast-paced adventure...it's just not a genre that I'm into however. But seriously, the writing is great, and it was easy to fall into the story. I was pretty invested in the characters for the run, genuinely caring about what they did and it was neat to see familiar locations and ships made popular by the game. So I'd say anyone liking space adventures would enjoy this one, even if they're not familiar with the source material.

[Nemo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting a quick fast paced SF novel set in the Star Realms universe. This falls flat on almost all counts - the characters were flat, the romance was not well written, and the authors Christian Evangelism shows up very heavily because a major plot theme is an AI called G.O.D (It’s not clarified how characters are pronouncing this without cringing every time).

The plot also somehow manages to make the Star Realms canon weird by making the Trade Federation as imperial capitalists stopping just short of slavery. In my head canon, the TF was always something akin to Spacers Guild in Dune, a neutral party of sorts.

I wouldn’t recommend reading this, irrespective of how much you love the game.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of the game "Star Realms", I was interested to see how the game would come across as a novel. After all the premise of the game is the battling of ships and that really isn't conducive to writing a compelling novel. Fortunately, Jon Del Arroz focused on a group of characters within the "World of Star Realms" and used the game's factions as a backdrop to the story. Fans of science fiction will enjoy the book, even if they are not familiar with the game. I would be interested in seeing more books in this series, in particular one from the perspective of the Blobs, as this could go a long ways towards creating a more interesting backstory for the actual game.

[Joey Calvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space Opera and tie in! How can you not like this! I just added this to my reading list on the recommendation of a couple of friends that liked Del Arroz's space opera work, and I was not disappointed. I would think it would be difficult to write a tie in novel in someone else's established universe, but this author did a great job. And as a plus, it is a Kindle Unlimited title! I liked this book and I do think it was worth the download.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-stop good story

Flawed characters and unexpected loyalties show up as the glue holding the story together. None of the characters are just too perfect to believe like many of the new fictional series that I have read lately. Joan and companies fault become like the tabs of jigsaw puzzle pieces that hold them and make them the total picture.

[Iweko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable science fiction book. Gave me that feeling the old Star Wars movies did, when there were deeper characters and more romance.

[Antonio Islas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan of the card game and I was excited to see a novel based on the game. Great Sci-fi Story with cool references to the card game. The romance between the main characters seemed a little pressed.

[Roy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just dreadful. The story and characters are extremely basic, and the writing is clumsy. Inclusion of a few Proper Nouns from the card game does nothing to improve matters.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining but generic sci-fi story. If you like the game it's worth a read for the novelty of recognising references to the cards.

[Steven Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a short story by this author in an anthology. I decided to check out some more of his works. I was not aware that this book is based on a game. Books based on games can be ify - this one is no different. Perhaps if I was aware of the game before I read the book, it would have helped me enjoy this book better. Ok book but not one that encourages me to read more.

[Doug Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made a point of reading Star Realms: Rescue Run without knowing a smidge about the Star Realms deck-building game. I’m an ex-computer-game developer and a hardcore gamer (MTG was my game/drug of choice for many years,) so after I write this review I’m going to dive into learning the game behind the book.

I read SR:RR as a standalone sci-fi space opera and I loved it. The protagonists Joan and Dario are living beings with interesting, complex agendas, distinctive speech, and personalities that aren’t just animated stereotypes. The background characters are full of surprises: sometimes unexpected allies, sometimes “friends” or family who are all too eager to slip a knife into your back.

The story rips right along from the start: a perilous and unlikely rescue (see the title :) ), blaster battles inside spaceships, snap decisions (sometimes mistaken) about whether someone is friend or foe, riots by the oppressed pawns of the underclass, and giant spaceships arrayed for battle. Even SR:RR’s corporate politics isn’t a dull affair. It generates some of the most interesting alliances and betrayals and cover-your-ass plot points.

I’m a sucker for old-fashioned space opera. By old-fashioned I mean that SR:RR has no nanotech magic, AI’s don’t dominate humans (one AI is an unreliable assistant), you can open a locked door if you know which wire to cut, and faster-than-light is the way to travel. It’s an adventure!

Joan and Dario are the heroes of the story so it’s no spoiler that an unlikely romance blossoms. I look forward to future Star Realms novels to see what those two get up to.

Jon is a friend, but I don’t give 5-star reviews to friends just to stay friends. Star Realms: Rescue Run earned every star.