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The Aggressive
The Solar System is on the brink of war and three misfits are thrown together on the warship Aggressive.
A pilot, a terrorist and a special agent. As they journey from Earth out towards Saturn, each must face the brutal reality of survival in the cold depths of space.
Anton Biarritz, a ruthless career terrorist, masterminds a devastating attack on Earth and makes his escape aboard the warship Aggressive. Posing as a misanthropic diplomat, he must preserve his identity and reach the edge of the Solar System to fulfil his dark task.
September Long is a brilliant, but disgraced, intelligence officer determined to bring Anton to justice, whatever the cost. As the stakes rise, she finds herself isolated and caught in a deadly battle of wits in the cold, emptiness of the outer planets.
Thrown into the middle is Leon Wood, a young pilot officer on board the Aggressive, seeking to escape his past growing up under an oppressive regime on Titan. As Titan breaks ties with the ruling powers on Earth, Leon finds himself trapped between forces far greater than he ever imagined possible.
THE AGGRESSIVE plays out across a Solar System dominated by power struggles and commercial interests. Moving outward from Earth, the trio must navigate gangsters, pirates and the worst of humanity as they approach their journeys end around Saturn.
The Aggressive is a no holds barred adult sci-fi thriller - expect cursing & violence throughout.
A pilot, a terrorist and a special agent. As they journey from Earth out towards Saturn, each must face the brutal reality of survival in the cold depths of space.
Anton Biarritz, a ruthless career terrorist, masterminds a devastating attack on Earth and makes his escape aboard the warship Aggressive. Posing as a misanthropic diplomat, he must preserve his identity and reach the edge of the Solar System to fulfil his dark task.
September Long is a brilliant, but disgraced, intelligence officer determined to bring Anton to justice, whatever the cost. As the stakes rise, she finds herself isolated and caught in a deadly battle of wits in the cold, emptiness of the outer planets.
Thrown into the middle is Leon Wood, a young pilot officer on board the Aggressive, seeking to escape his past growing up under an oppressive regime on Titan. As Titan breaks ties with the ruling powers on Earth, Leon finds himself trapped between forces far greater than he ever imagined possible.
THE AGGRESSIVE plays out across a Solar System dominated by power struggles and commercial interests. Moving outward from Earth, the trio must navigate gangsters, pirates and the worst of humanity as they approach their journeys end around Saturn.
The Aggressive is a no holds barred adult sci-fi thriller - expect cursing & violence throughout.
- GenresScience Fiction
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2020
18 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 2, 2020
"The Solar System is on the brink of war and three misfits are thrown together on the warship Aggressive."
WOW....really. I am completely in awe by how much I loved this book. Personally I do not often read science fiction but I am a thriller lover to my core, so when Mr. Jackson approached me about reading and reviewing his sci-fi thriller I was skeptical but agreed anyway. I am so thankful that he reached out and that I gave this book a chance. This book was so unlike any science fiction I have previously read. In truth the elements of thriller were so well incorporated that at times I forgot I was reading a "sci-fi" book.
The Aggressive has no shortage of foul language and violence. If you are a pearl clutcher leave now this is NOT the book for you. If you are more like me and "colorful" language and gore dont bother you then grab a copy of this book and find out how to play red bag.
Thank you again Gem for taking a chance on me and letting me take a ride on The Aggressive. I cant wait to see what you have in store for us next.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
WOW....really. I am completely in awe by how much I loved this book. Personally I do not often read science fiction but I am a thriller lover to my core, so when Mr. Jackson approached me about reading and reviewing his sci-fi thriller I was skeptical but agreed anyway. I am so thankful that he reached out and that I gave this book a chance. This book was so unlike any science fiction I have previously read. In truth the elements of thriller were so well incorporated that at times I forgot I was reading a "sci-fi" book.
The Aggressive has no shortage of foul language and violence. If you are a pearl clutcher leave now this is NOT the book for you. If you are more like me and "colorful" language and gore dont bother you then grab a copy of this book and find out how to play red bag.
Thank you again Gem for taking a chance on me and letting me take a ride on The Aggressive. I cant wait to see what you have in store for us next.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2020
The Aggressive - review
(I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
“A pilot. A terrorist. A special agent. Three lives, one ship and a Solar System on the edge.
In a dark vision of the near future, humankind has settled the Solar System as far as the moons of Saturn. What began as scientific exploration quickly turned to commercialization, crime and violence. As Earth and Titan stand on the brink of conflict, three lives collide on the warship Aggressive in a way that risks igniting a conflict across the stars.”
I started reading this book with some apprehension. My experience with self-published SF has taught me that, for the most part, there’s a reason a publishing house hasn’t brought it out.
But then a Sci-Fi thriller like The Aggressive comes along. I started it and was immediately sucked into the action, the characters and the story. After a few chapters I stopped to search the internet for information on Gem Jackson, because no first-time author could have this kind of mastery of plot, of characters, of dialogue. I even tracked him down on social media. No previously published fiction writing. He’s just one of those rare writers who’s a natural, first out of the gate.
Buy this book! This is great SF that really put me in mind of The Expanse series - yeah, it’s that good. Think of authors who started as self-published, like Marko Kloos & Hugh Howey; writers of great SF thrillers like Eric Flint, Chuck Gannon, David Drake - soon you’ll be adding Gem Jackson to that list.
This book engaged me and entertained me and made me want more. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I’m now a Gem Jackson fan, and I’ll bet after reading The Aggressive you will be too.
(I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
“A pilot. A terrorist. A special agent. Three lives, one ship and a Solar System on the edge.
In a dark vision of the near future, humankind has settled the Solar System as far as the moons of Saturn. What began as scientific exploration quickly turned to commercialization, crime and violence. As Earth and Titan stand on the brink of conflict, three lives collide on the warship Aggressive in a way that risks igniting a conflict across the stars.”
I started reading this book with some apprehension. My experience with self-published SF has taught me that, for the most part, there’s a reason a publishing house hasn’t brought it out.
But then a Sci-Fi thriller like The Aggressive comes along. I started it and was immediately sucked into the action, the characters and the story. After a few chapters I stopped to search the internet for information on Gem Jackson, because no first-time author could have this kind of mastery of plot, of characters, of dialogue. I even tracked him down on social media. No previously published fiction writing. He’s just one of those rare writers who’s a natural, first out of the gate.
Buy this book! This is great SF that really put me in mind of The Expanse series - yeah, it’s that good. Think of authors who started as self-published, like Marko Kloos & Hugh Howey; writers of great SF thrillers like Eric Flint, Chuck Gannon, David Drake - soon you’ll be adding Gem Jackson to that list.
This book engaged me and entertained me and made me want more. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I’m now a Gem Jackson fan, and I’ll bet after reading The Aggressive you will be too.
August 29, 2020
I love it!
I experienced a heavy vibe from The Expanse, spiced up with superb characters and a dash of influence from Peter F. Hamilton. If that's too vague for you...well, you should read it for yourself and find out.
Different things make different books stand out, but to me the "unputdownability" of a book is in some ways a universal measure, and The Aggressive has that in spades.
I experienced a heavy vibe from The Expanse, spiced up with superb characters and a dash of influence from Peter F. Hamilton. If that's too vague for you...well, you should read it for yourself and find out.
Different things make different books stand out, but to me the "unputdownability" of a book is in some ways a universal measure, and The Aggressive has that in spades.
August 11, 2020
Rating: 8/10
The very first page had me hooked. You are thrown in the deep end without any arms bands or prior knowledge of what lurks beneath. This is a promising start to a debut saga from a new name in SciFi.
In The Aggressive, Gem Jackson does not hold back on detail... at all. There are some quite violent scenes throughout and one of the most bizarre sexual encounters I have ever read in a book that will most likely hold that title for a long time to come. There is a nice sprinkling of humour throughout which helps break up the action nicely so as not to feel like an over-engineered action movie from the 1980s.
There is a whole host of interesting characters that we discover on our journey. The biggest impact being September Long. In the very first chapter, we are introduced to September Long an APSI agent whose duty is to maintain order and peace within the solar system which is perched upon a cliff edge. September or Tem as she is referred to throughout the book is a kick-ass albeit slightly unstable character who takes no crap from anyone. Tem is headstrong and often shoots first and asks questions later. Gem Jackson has crafted Tem well and throws her headlong into the centre of this SciFi thriller. I found it extremely refreshing that we had an intriguing and strong female lead instead of the much used rugged and brooding action man, chiselled jawline included, that is all too often used to save the day.
Gem Jackson has created an incredibly interesting setting with the first instalment of the Titanwar saga and I look forward to learning more about the interplanetary relationships and politics and for me this is was a small downside to The Aggressive. I wanted more info on the fore mention relationships/politics. I wanted to have a much broader understanding of how we got to where The Aggressive starts. I can only hope that the next instalment shines more light on the matter. Now, this isn't a deal breaker and for most people, you will be more than happy with what information we are given and will thoroughly enjoy this book.
The Aggressive is a bold and strong start to the Titanwar saga and I cannot wait to read the next instalment. This is a must read for any fan of thrillers and SciFi and what I really liked about The Aggressive is that it is not what I would call hard science fiction. You don't need to be clued up on the internal workings of interstellar space travel, you don't need to understand the impact of high G manoeuvres on the human body. Gem Jackson takes it easy on these finer details of human activity in space so this is a great place for any strong stomached newcomer to science fiction to start.
Keep an eye on Gem Jackson as his name will become big in the SciFi world if his debut is anything to judge by.
The very first page had me hooked. You are thrown in the deep end without any arms bands or prior knowledge of what lurks beneath. This is a promising start to a debut saga from a new name in SciFi.
In The Aggressive, Gem Jackson does not hold back on detail... at all. There are some quite violent scenes throughout and one of the most bizarre sexual encounters I have ever read in a book that will most likely hold that title for a long time to come. There is a nice sprinkling of humour throughout which helps break up the action nicely so as not to feel like an over-engineered action movie from the 1980s.
There is a whole host of interesting characters that we discover on our journey. The biggest impact being September Long. In the very first chapter, we are introduced to September Long an APSI agent whose duty is to maintain order and peace within the solar system which is perched upon a cliff edge. September or Tem as she is referred to throughout the book is a kick-ass albeit slightly unstable character who takes no crap from anyone. Tem is headstrong and often shoots first and asks questions later. Gem Jackson has crafted Tem well and throws her headlong into the centre of this SciFi thriller. I found it extremely refreshing that we had an intriguing and strong female lead instead of the much used rugged and brooding action man, chiselled jawline included, that is all too often used to save the day.
Gem Jackson has created an incredibly interesting setting with the first instalment of the Titanwar saga and I look forward to learning more about the interplanetary relationships and politics and for me this is was a small downside to The Aggressive. I wanted more info on the fore mention relationships/politics. I wanted to have a much broader understanding of how we got to where The Aggressive starts. I can only hope that the next instalment shines more light on the matter. Now, this isn't a deal breaker and for most people, you will be more than happy with what information we are given and will thoroughly enjoy this book.
The Aggressive is a bold and strong start to the Titanwar saga and I cannot wait to read the next instalment. This is a must read for any fan of thrillers and SciFi and what I really liked about The Aggressive is that it is not what I would call hard science fiction. You don't need to be clued up on the internal workings of interstellar space travel, you don't need to understand the impact of high G manoeuvres on the human body. Gem Jackson takes it easy on these finer details of human activity in space so this is a great place for any strong stomached newcomer to science fiction to start.
Keep an eye on Gem Jackson as his name will become big in the SciFi world if his debut is anything to judge by.
August 18, 2020
I was given an ARC via BookFunnel in exchange for an honest review.
"A pilot. A terrorist. A special agent. Three lives, one ship and a Solar System on the edge."
The Aggressive contains the interstellar political complexity of Bioware's Mass Effect with the pacing of Neal Stephen's thriller, Reamde. Gem Jackson, as a debut novelist, has some serious writing chops, and though I came into this book skeptical because I am not normally a fan of sci-fi; Jackson really kept me going, and I found myself reading much more than my normal clip of 20 pages a day (and perhaps even sneaking a peek at some scenes when I couldn't stand any more tension).
The book focuses around three differing character viewpoints: Anton, the terrorist; September, the genetically-enhanced government agent; and Leon, the wet behind the ears military pilot; interchanging narratives before converging upon the plot's cumulative whole. While the book does seem to push September as the main driver of the series; the real star lies in Leon's character development, going from a modest pushover to a brave solider in charge, and I honestly wish I could just have an entire novel of his adventures.
Jackson delivers his promise of a sci-fi thriller with a hefty dose of grimdark (spoiler: don't get too attached to characters, they just might not make it), with gristly battle scenes, a gritty writing style, and one of the most revolting descriptions of a sex scene I have ever read (I may have cringed); Jackson's writing and talent for descriptive flair is sure to provoke a visceral reaction towards even the most hardcore of grimdark fans.
What holds me back from giving this book a full five stars is the fact that, even in an ARC, Jackson does have a habit of using some rather archaic terms that have since been abandoned in modern authorship (such as using "span" instead of "spun"), and I found that jolting me out of the story--especially on some of the more action-packed scenes. Since I had an ARC, I hope that these things will be smoothed out during final publication.
If you're looking for a quick read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, doesn't fall into the overly-technical prose of most science fiction universes, and has just enough world building to keep you hungry for more, I strongly recommend picking up the Aggressive, where things start out with a bang and just keep coming.
"A pilot. A terrorist. A special agent. Three lives, one ship and a Solar System on the edge."
The Aggressive contains the interstellar political complexity of Bioware's Mass Effect with the pacing of Neal Stephen's thriller, Reamde. Gem Jackson, as a debut novelist, has some serious writing chops, and though I came into this book skeptical because I am not normally a fan of sci-fi; Jackson really kept me going, and I found myself reading much more than my normal clip of 20 pages a day (and perhaps even sneaking a peek at some scenes when I couldn't stand any more tension).
The book focuses around three differing character viewpoints: Anton, the terrorist; September, the genetically-enhanced government agent; and Leon, the wet behind the ears military pilot; interchanging narratives before converging upon the plot's cumulative whole. While the book does seem to push September as the main driver of the series; the real star lies in Leon's character development, going from a modest pushover to a brave solider in charge, and I honestly wish I could just have an entire novel of his adventures.
Jackson delivers his promise of a sci-fi thriller with a hefty dose of grimdark (spoiler: don't get too attached to characters, they just might not make it), with gristly battle scenes, a gritty writing style, and one of the most revolting descriptions of a sex scene I have ever read (I may have cringed); Jackson's writing and talent for descriptive flair is sure to provoke a visceral reaction towards even the most hardcore of grimdark fans.
What holds me back from giving this book a full five stars is the fact that, even in an ARC, Jackson does have a habit of using some rather archaic terms that have since been abandoned in modern authorship (such as using "span" instead of "spun"), and I found that jolting me out of the story--especially on some of the more action-packed scenes. Since I had an ARC, I hope that these things will be smoothed out during final publication.
If you're looking for a quick read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, doesn't fall into the overly-technical prose of most science fiction universes, and has just enough world building to keep you hungry for more, I strongly recommend picking up the Aggressive, where things start out with a bang and just keep coming.
August 29, 2020
(I took part in the Advanced Readers Program in exchange for an honest review)
The Aggressive is one of those books I just could not put down. You are thrown into the deep end. Three main characters guide you through the story.
There is September (Tem), a secret agent. Anton, the terrorist being chased by Tem and whose connections seem to stretch across the known universe. Leon, a soldier. He, perhaps, undergoes the biggest transformation. Leon starts off as shy and underestimated by his peers but shows he can rise above and beyond when everything goes terribly pear-shaped.
The political mosaic in Jackson’s The Aggressive is another part I enjoyed most. The solar system has been colonised. Jackson goes beyond the “Earth vs. Mars” power struggles we so often see elsewhere. The colonies have all forged their own path. Not all are happy with the dominance of the inner planets.
I really enjoyed reading how all this played out. Some of the violent scenes were quite shocking. In contrast, the humour Jackson uses to lighten things up worked quite well.
The Aggressive will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Be prepared for unexpected turns and twists. It is a great read for everyone who wants to read an action packed Sci Fi thriller without too much technological explanations. Humans made space travel work, now lets see what a hotbed of intrigue it has become. :D
Jackson’s writing flows nicely. That makes it easy to read it in one sitting or get back into it quickly. By the end, all I wanted was to read the next book in the series. I definitely recommend this book!
Jackson took the brave step to self-publish this book and boy does he deliver! I am seriously impressed by the story he has crafted. Calling it now, I say the Titanwar series will become one of your favourites in no time!
The Aggressive is one of those books I just could not put down. You are thrown into the deep end. Three main characters guide you through the story.
There is September (Tem), a secret agent. Anton, the terrorist being chased by Tem and whose connections seem to stretch across the known universe. Leon, a soldier. He, perhaps, undergoes the biggest transformation. Leon starts off as shy and underestimated by his peers but shows he can rise above and beyond when everything goes terribly pear-shaped.
The political mosaic in Jackson’s The Aggressive is another part I enjoyed most. The solar system has been colonised. Jackson goes beyond the “Earth vs. Mars” power struggles we so often see elsewhere. The colonies have all forged their own path. Not all are happy with the dominance of the inner planets.
I really enjoyed reading how all this played out. Some of the violent scenes were quite shocking. In contrast, the humour Jackson uses to lighten things up worked quite well.
The Aggressive will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Be prepared for unexpected turns and twists. It is a great read for everyone who wants to read an action packed Sci Fi thriller without too much technological explanations. Humans made space travel work, now lets see what a hotbed of intrigue it has become. :D
Jackson’s writing flows nicely. That makes it easy to read it in one sitting or get back into it quickly. By the end, all I wanted was to read the next book in the series. I definitely recommend this book!
Jackson took the brave step to self-publish this book and boy does he deliver! I am seriously impressed by the story he has crafted. Calling it now, I say the Titanwar series will become one of your favourites in no time!
November 7, 2020
The Aggressive is a fast paced sci-fi thriller with some great action and engaging characters. September Long is an intelligence officer on the hunt for a career terrorist. Anton Biarritz is that criminal, and he is in the middle of his biggest job yet. And finally Leon Wood is a pilot from the Aggressive thrown into the middle of it and quickly finds himself overwhelmed.
The story alternates between their three P.O.V's. September is a badass determined to bring down her man, and has no patience for any bullshit. I loved her! Anton is a violent psychopath, executing his biggest job yet and he is determined to stay ahead of Long. His chapters were bloody but entertaining. I was unsure of Leon at first, he was in way over his head physically and emotionally. However, he has some major growth and his journey is so important to the plot.
As Anton's plan goes into motion, chaos soon descends on the solar system. Tensions rise and there is plenty of action between spaceship battles, street chases, and straight up violence and gore. The sci-fi angle was easy to follow, if like me you are still relatively new to reading sci-fi. The thriller angle of the plot was highly entertaining. This was the first book to a series, and I can already tell I'm in for good time if the series continues as strong as it has started.
The story alternates between their three P.O.V's. September is a badass determined to bring down her man, and has no patience for any bullshit. I loved her! Anton is a violent psychopath, executing his biggest job yet and he is determined to stay ahead of Long. His chapters were bloody but entertaining. I was unsure of Leon at first, he was in way over his head physically and emotionally. However, he has some major growth and his journey is so important to the plot.
As Anton's plan goes into motion, chaos soon descends on the solar system. Tensions rise and there is plenty of action between spaceship battles, street chases, and straight up violence and gore. The sci-fi angle was easy to follow, if like me you are still relatively new to reading sci-fi. The thriller angle of the plot was highly entertaining. This was the first book to a series, and I can already tell I'm in for good time if the series continues as strong as it has started.
August 30, 2020
I received an ARC for reviewing this book.
One of my biggest takeaways from reading The Aggressive is that I really should read more sci-fi. This novel was a quick, enjoyable read (though I did discover my phone is not the best reading device), with some good characters and interesting ideas. Elements of space travel and space warfare were well thought-out, which isn't always the case with the limited sci-fi I have read. Seeing a story in the news about one of the locations in the story and the discovery of water there, just cements the likelihood of it becoming a major trading port in the future.
My biggest complaint about the book is largely mitigated by the knowledge it is the first book in a series. Still, I found the ending rather abrupt and unsatisfying. I'd have liked another 20-50 pages to find a natural break in the story. Other issues were relatively minor, such as being a bit confused for the first page or two, before realizing the characters are discussing a different vessel than the one they're on, and several autocorrect-style typos.
All in all, The Aggressive is good read, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a near-Earth sci-fi of mild to moderate "hardness". I am certainly looking forward to the second book.
One of my biggest takeaways from reading The Aggressive is that I really should read more sci-fi. This novel was a quick, enjoyable read (though I did discover my phone is not the best reading device), with some good characters and interesting ideas. Elements of space travel and space warfare were well thought-out, which isn't always the case with the limited sci-fi I have read. Seeing a story in the news about one of the locations in the story and the discovery of water there, just cements the likelihood of it becoming a major trading port in the future.
My biggest complaint about the book is largely mitigated by the knowledge it is the first book in a series. Still, I found the ending rather abrupt and unsatisfying. I'd have liked another 20-50 pages to find a natural break in the story. Other issues were relatively minor, such as being a bit confused for the first page or two, before realizing the characters are discussing a different vessel than the one they're on, and several autocorrect-style typos.
All in all, The Aggressive is good read, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a near-Earth sci-fi of mild to moderate "hardness". I am certainly looking forward to the second book.
September 10, 2020
4.5 stars
The Aggressive by Gem Jackson is a gut-wrenching explosion of a debut, and one of the best sci-fi books I’ve read this year. It’s a perfectly orchestrated sci-fi thriller that will appeal to fans of recent titles like Velocity Weapon and Stormblood, as well as grimdark readers looking for a sci-fi (spacedark? grimspace?) escape.
The book is aptly named, completely discarding subtle tension for head-to-head confrontations, sinister politics, and visceral scenes of violence that aren’t for the faint of heart.
The three protagonists range from loose cannon to completely unhinged serial killer. Jackson alternates between their POVs and weaves them together in an unpredictable way. I thought reading the perspective of both fugitive and detective would kill some of the intrigue, but instead, it ramps up the action and leads to some thrilling scenes.
There are plenty of pleasing sci-fi elements, and I learned a couple of new physics concepts like Kessler Syndrome, which is critical in the early chapters. It also never occurred to me that you would experience acceleration in space, though perhaps I’m just an unobservant fan of sci-fi.
The Aggressive is an excellent example of how under-appreciated great self-published books are. Whether or not it’s Jackson’s goal, I wouldn’t be surprised if this book gets snapped up by a big publisher.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy, and congrats on a great debut – please write the sequel soon!
The Aggressive by Gem Jackson is a gut-wrenching explosion of a debut, and one of the best sci-fi books I’ve read this year. It’s a perfectly orchestrated sci-fi thriller that will appeal to fans of recent titles like Velocity Weapon and Stormblood, as well as grimdark readers looking for a sci-fi (spacedark? grimspace?) escape.
The book is aptly named, completely discarding subtle tension for head-to-head confrontations, sinister politics, and visceral scenes of violence that aren’t for the faint of heart.
The three protagonists range from loose cannon to completely unhinged serial killer. Jackson alternates between their POVs and weaves them together in an unpredictable way. I thought reading the perspective of both fugitive and detective would kill some of the intrigue, but instead, it ramps up the action and leads to some thrilling scenes.
There are plenty of pleasing sci-fi elements, and I learned a couple of new physics concepts like Kessler Syndrome, which is critical in the early chapters. It also never occurred to me that you would experience acceleration in space, though perhaps I’m just an unobservant fan of sci-fi.
The Aggressive is an excellent example of how under-appreciated great self-published books are. Whether or not it’s Jackson’s goal, I wouldn’t be surprised if this book gets snapped up by a big publisher.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy, and congrats on a great debut – please write the sequel soon!
August 31, 2020
I beta read this book, so I'm a little unsure of what changed in the final copy, but from what I read this book is a very fascinating look at the future. The characters were intricate and well-developed. I loved the setting and the descriptions of the places. There was just enough detail to give you a clear view of the solar system without being hit over the head with world-building. The plot is fast-paced and exciting, it's really a page-turner! I'll definitely be revisiting this book now that it is out.
September 8, 2020
I grabbed this book as soon as I saw it listed. Sure, for $.99, I'll take a chance! It looked like something I'd like, and mostly I did. There is so much about this book that is excellent. However, it has one glaring fault and one stylistic touch that nearly stopped me from finishing it.
The characters are well drawn. The technology is plausible (in a sci-fi way) and used well. The plot zips right along at a good pace. The good guys are, respectively, likeably crusty, charmingly suave, competent but frightfully innocent, and over-the-hill but still deceptively sharp . The bad guy is dashing, eloquent, devious, brilliant, and psychotically cruel. The supporting characters seldom grow beyond cutouts with names, though there are occasional sparks of surprising depth and complexity.
The personally repulsive stylistic touch is a tendency towards horrific, graphic violence. Some events that could be implied are so graphically detailed that I very nearly closed the book and went on to another one. I realize this is my totally subjective judgement, but I like authors that imply what's happening rather than force me to look at terrorist events in horrific detail. I am not a slasher fan. I realize that Mr. Jackson used the violence as a part of the plot and character development, and he did it well. It's just not something I'm comfortable with.
The glaring fault—total lack of proofreading. Does anyone read their own books? Do editors read final proofs? Missing punctuation really should be caught. Missing words are like hitting a brick wall. When a major character in one paragraph suddenly is referred to by the name of their nemesis, actually mixing up the good guy and the bad guy(!), that's too much to forgive.
Several places in the book, I had to stop and go back and reread the previous sentence (or paragraph) and try to logically puzzle out what the missing word was, or what the correct word should be. It's an interesting game, but that is not why I read books. I count that as editing, and I like to be paid for it.
Although I nearly gave up without finishing it, I am glad I kept reading. By the end of the book I find myself eagerly waiting for the next installment. But, please, proofread the next one, Mr. Jackson!
The characters are well drawn. The technology is plausible (in a sci-fi way) and used well. The plot zips right along at a good pace. The good guys are, respectively, likeably crusty, charmingly suave, competent but frightfully innocent, and over-the-hill but still deceptively sharp . The bad guy is dashing, eloquent, devious, brilliant, and psychotically cruel. The supporting characters seldom grow beyond cutouts with names, though there are occasional sparks of surprising depth and complexity.
The personally repulsive stylistic touch is a tendency towards horrific, graphic violence. Some events that could be implied are so graphically detailed that I very nearly closed the book and went on to another one. I realize this is my totally subjective judgement, but I like authors that imply what's happening rather than force me to look at terrorist events in horrific detail. I am not a slasher fan. I realize that Mr. Jackson used the violence as a part of the plot and character development, and he did it well. It's just not something I'm comfortable with.
The glaring fault—total lack of proofreading. Does anyone read their own books? Do editors read final proofs? Missing punctuation really should be caught. Missing words are like hitting a brick wall. When a major character in one paragraph suddenly is referred to by the name of their nemesis, actually mixing up the good guy and the bad guy(!), that's too much to forgive.
Several places in the book, I had to stop and go back and reread the previous sentence (or paragraph) and try to logically puzzle out what the missing word was, or what the correct word should be. It's an interesting game, but that is not why I read books. I count that as editing, and I like to be paid for it.
Although I nearly gave up without finishing it, I am glad I kept reading. By the end of the book I find myself eagerly waiting for the next installment. But, please, proofread the next one, Mr. Jackson!
September 27, 2020
Overall, this was an enjoyable book that I read through fairly quickly once I made it through the first chapters (more of this in a bit).
Jackson obviously has a flare for storytelling - his imagery and narrative is on point. He obviously went to great lengths to get the detail right. As another reviewer pointed out, it reminds one of The Expanse.
All this, however, made the few negative points stand out, mostly to do with plot lines that did not line up.
1. In the first few chapters, those from earth are described as having course language and cursing repetitively. And yet, this is not demonstrated in the dialogue - in fact, Ramos speaks soon after this revelation and he comes across as rather well spoken.
2. I felt that the the author chose gore and shock over more probable plot lines. (This is discounting the first chapter with Anton in which the violence is just gratuitous.) For example, the Cronus is a state of the art ship with the latest technology but the only way they can train their medics is through the occasional capture of pirates on whom they them practice? This is later explained away by a psychotic Captain but would an aspiring state/system really leave its flagship vessel in the hands of a madman?
3. Another point that really stuck with me. On Ceres: Anton obviously got to the Station Commander first. The latter then recommends that Tem and Tariq see Ramachandran, who is key to solving the mystery. If Anton is so efficient at his job, it’s not evident at this point. Why bother leveraging the Station Commander if the latter was going to recommend the one scientist who could help the agents. This part doesn’t make any sense. As does the part where Anton convinces Tariq to kill himself. This plot twist left me scratching my head in bewilderment, if anything else. That, and the picture of Tariq’s family that was suddenly drawn in the preceding pages, there having been no mention of the family (that I caught) in the first 65% of the book.
These were my main issues but once past the first few chapters, the story really became engaging and I couldn’t put the book down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2021
While I’m not normally a sci-fi reader, Gem Jackson’s The Aggressive left me turning pages until the very end. I really liked Jackson’s effortless writing voice and believable dialogue, as well as his well-rounded, unique cast of diverse characters.
September and Tariq were definite favorites of mine, although I could have happily seen more of September, as I found her concept fascinating. Leon was at the top of my list, as he was an Everyman thrown into one desperate, terrifying situation after the other and had to evolve into an unlikely hero as he went.
The world-building was rich and detailed without bogging the reader down or being overly-conscious of itself and didn’t toss in too much tech just to be fancy.
Jackson held no punches when it came to his action sequences, and being able to see from the villain’s point of view was refreshing and made the story much more complex and worthwhile.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Aggressive and can’t wait for the sequel.
-PS, oh dear god, meat plants. While I’m not normally a sci-fi reader, Gem Jackson’s The Aggressive left me turning pages until the very end. I really liked Jackson’s effortless writing voice and believable dialogue, as well as his well-rounded, unique cast of diverse characters.
September and Tariq were definite favorites of mine, although I could have happily seen more of September, as I found her concept fascinating. Leon was at the top of my list, as he was an Everyman thrown into one desperate, terrifying situation after the other and had to evolve into an unlikely hero as he went.
The world-building was rich and detailed without bogging the reader down or being overly-conscious of itself and didn’t toss in too much tech just to be fancy.
Jackson held no punches when it came to his action sequences, and being able to see from the villain’s point of view was refreshing and made the story much more complex and worthwhile.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Aggressive and can’t wait for the sequel.
-PS, oh dear god, meat plants.
September and Tariq were definite favorites of mine, although I could have happily seen more of September, as I found her concept fascinating. Leon was at the top of my list, as he was an Everyman thrown into one desperate, terrifying situation after the other and had to evolve into an unlikely hero as he went.
The world-building was rich and detailed without bogging the reader down or being overly-conscious of itself and didn’t toss in too much tech just to be fancy.
Jackson held no punches when it came to his action sequences, and being able to see from the villain’s point of view was refreshing and made the story much more complex and worthwhile.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Aggressive and can’t wait for the sequel.
-PS, oh dear god, meat plants. While I’m not normally a sci-fi reader, Gem Jackson’s The Aggressive left me turning pages until the very end. I really liked Jackson’s effortless writing voice and believable dialogue, as well as his well-rounded, unique cast of diverse characters.
September and Tariq were definite favorites of mine, although I could have happily seen more of September, as I found her concept fascinating. Leon was at the top of my list, as he was an Everyman thrown into one desperate, terrifying situation after the other and had to evolve into an unlikely hero as he went.
The world-building was rich and detailed without bogging the reader down or being overly-conscious of itself and didn’t toss in too much tech just to be fancy.
Jackson held no punches when it came to his action sequences, and being able to see from the villain’s point of view was refreshing and made the story much more complex and worthwhile.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Aggressive and can’t wait for the sequel.
-PS, oh dear god, meat plants.
September 8, 2020
It's like I'm reading an after action report of Elite Dangerous or EVE online
I stumbled upon this book after finishing 'Infinite War' by another author and though I had zero expectations going into this of what to expect I was very pleasently surprised! Aside from a few grammatical issues towards the end being my biggest gripe everything read very well! I appreciated the way Gem split up the chapters and made use of the different characters. Everyone introduced into this great story felt useful and had their role. I absolutely loved the setting and backdrop that Gem constructed, I've always been a fan of space games, think E:D, EVE, Stellaris etc and seeing a story that could quite easily be reproduced in one of those games was fantastic! Although Gem calls themselves an indie author I can quite easily see the polish beginning to show and that as this series progresses were going to see even better things be written. Great job Gem I can't wait as the best is yet to come from you!
I stumbled upon this book after finishing 'Infinite War' by another author and though I had zero expectations going into this of what to expect I was very pleasently surprised! Aside from a few grammatical issues towards the end being my biggest gripe everything read very well! I appreciated the way Gem split up the chapters and made use of the different characters. Everyone introduced into this great story felt useful and had their role. I absolutely loved the setting and backdrop that Gem constructed, I've always been a fan of space games, think E:D, EVE, Stellaris etc and seeing a story that could quite easily be reproduced in one of those games was fantastic! Although Gem calls themselves an indie author I can quite easily see the polish beginning to show and that as this series progresses were going to see even better things be written. Great job Gem I can't wait as the best is yet to come from you!
March 18, 2021
3.5 stars!
I have never read a sci-fi thriller before and this was quite good! We also get the perspective of the villain as well, that’s not something you usually see in thrillers especially sci-fi thrillers (well it might happen all the time, this is the first sci-fi thriller I have read hehe) and I really liked that aspect. I liked the characters and this world, I will more than likely read book 2.
I have never read a sci-fi thriller before and this was quite good! We also get the perspective of the villain as well, that’s not something you usually see in thrillers especially sci-fi thrillers (well it might happen all the time, this is the first sci-fi thriller I have read hehe) and I really liked that aspect. I liked the characters and this world, I will more than likely read book 2.
November 11, 2020
A long view at space war
September Long is a distant relation of Lazarus Long with a bit of Dorsal fighting spirit. In short, she's a kick-was no nonsense came and a dogged detective to have chasing after clues in a crime.
September Long is a distant relation of Lazarus Long with a bit of Dorsal fighting spirit. In short, she's a kick-was no nonsense came and a dogged detective to have chasing after clues in a crime.
September 5, 2022
Had to take a bit of a break on this one, but once I got back into it, I really enjoyed it
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