What do you think?
Rate this book
Jon & Lobo #1-2
Jump Gate Twist
The First Two Novels-- One Jump Ahead and Slanted Jack --in the Popular Jon & Lobo SF Adventure Series, Plus the Short Story Which Began the Series, and More—All in One Moderately-Priced Volume with a New Cover Treatment.
“Van Name has created a hero worth at least a dozen more novels . . . I want this to be a series. I want to read a new one every year.” — Orson Scott Card
Jon A nanotech-enhanced warrior who wants nothing more than a quiet life and a way back to his strange home world. An AI-enhanced Predator-Class Assault Vehicle, a mobile fortress equipped for any environment from the seabed to interstellar space. TWO WOLVES IN A GALAXY OF LARGER PREDATORS!
For the first time in a Jon & Lobo book, “My Sister, My Self,” the short story which introduced Jon Moore.
One Jump Jon Moore wanted only to relax on the pristine planet of Macken--but Macken was the secret battleground of two megacorporations, both determined to control the local jump gate and the riches of an undeveloped world. Finding allies and enemies among terrorist groups and elite mercenaries, gun-runners and the only kind of government possible on a frontier short on rules and long on riches, Jon and Lobo fight to a climax with a corporate army that can't afford to leave any witnesses. Exotic settings, fast action, real tech, mechanically-enhanced animals—and a beautiful woman who's as deadly as a cobra!
Slanted The job looked simple Jon agreed to help a con man, a friend from a part of his past he’d rather forget, protect a very special young boy. But the deal didn’t stay simple, as each move Jon and Lobo made resulted in more danger and more enemies. The best con man Jon’s ever known, a ruthless gang boss, a heavily armed group of religious fanatics, a beautiful woman with a mysterious agenda, and an interstellar government out to clean up a dangerous frontier world rush together toward an explosive climax—and Jon and Lobo are caught in the middle.
Plus new introductions by the author, making this a package that every Jon & Lobo fan will want to buy.
“Van Name has created a hero worth at least a dozen more novels . . . I want this to be a series. I want to read a new one every year.” — Orson Scott Card
Jon A nanotech-enhanced warrior who wants nothing more than a quiet life and a way back to his strange home world. An AI-enhanced Predator-Class Assault Vehicle, a mobile fortress equipped for any environment from the seabed to interstellar space. TWO WOLVES IN A GALAXY OF LARGER PREDATORS!
For the first time in a Jon & Lobo book, “My Sister, My Self,” the short story which introduced Jon Moore.
One Jump Jon Moore wanted only to relax on the pristine planet of Macken--but Macken was the secret battleground of two megacorporations, both determined to control the local jump gate and the riches of an undeveloped world. Finding allies and enemies among terrorist groups and elite mercenaries, gun-runners and the only kind of government possible on a frontier short on rules and long on riches, Jon and Lobo fight to a climax with a corporate army that can't afford to leave any witnesses. Exotic settings, fast action, real tech, mechanically-enhanced animals—and a beautiful woman who's as deadly as a cobra!
Slanted The job looked simple Jon agreed to help a con man, a friend from a part of his past he’d rather forget, protect a very special young boy. But the deal didn’t stay simple, as each move Jon and Lobo made resulted in more danger and more enemies. The best con man Jon’s ever known, a ruthless gang boss, a heavily armed group of religious fanatics, a beautiful woman with a mysterious agenda, and an interstellar government out to clean up a dangerous frontier world rush together toward an explosive climax—and Jon and Lobo are caught in the middle.
Plus new introductions by the author, making this a package that every Jon & Lobo fan will want to buy.
736 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 3, 2018
3.5 stars - It took me a while to warm to Jon, I liked Lobo immediately...Jon, was wily and I wasn't sure about him. But after the first book, and reading the short story about Jon and Jennie, he was my buddy.
Anyway, this is about a human and machine team, though the machine seems to have more emotions than the human much of the time. Jon does A LOT of internal dialogue, explaining and rolling ideas around in his head and the stories are flush with description, so they aren't fast, but they are clever, funny and interesting.
Read the short stories, and Van Name's musings, they really helped me care about the characters a lot more.
I enjoyed Slanted Jack more than the first one, lots of crazy characters, Jack is awesome and I saw through Maggie right away, but this is a con story, so don't trust anyone. Looking forward to seeing what happens to Jon and Lobo next.
Anyway, this is about a human and machine team, though the machine seems to have more emotions than the human much of the time. Jon does A LOT of internal dialogue, explaining and rolling ideas around in his head and the stories are flush with description, so they aren't fast, but they are clever, funny and interesting.
Read the short stories, and Van Name's musings, they really helped me care about the characters a lot more.
I enjoyed Slanted Jack more than the first one, lots of crazy characters, Jack is awesome and I saw through Maggie right away, but this is a con story, so don't trust anyone. Looking forward to seeing what happens to Jon and Lobo next.
July 23, 2011
Full disclosure, I have met the author, Mark Van Name, in a professional setting. The company with which I am employed has a working relationship with his company, Principled Technologies. I received a copy of Jump Gate Twist as a gift after meeting with him and the company's other founder, Bill Catchings. Prior to our meeting, I had no knowledge of Mr. Van Name, and prior to receiving this book, I was not aware that he was a published science-fiction author. My copy of the book is signed by the author and has a nice sticker on the inside front cover with my name. I would like to thank Mark and Principled Technologies for the gift. That being stated, I had no expectations for the book. I was a huge fan of science fiction when I was younger, but as I have grown older, my tastes have ventured into other areas, currently spy fiction, particularly James Bond novels, and hardboiled crime fiction.
The book is compilation of two novels and two short stories plus additional tidbits from the author. The main protagonist is Jon Moore who was mentally challenged as child due to some unique properties of his home planet. Jon's first change is the subject of the first short story, "My Sister, My Self." His enhancement was done by his sister with healing powers that were the result of the same properties of their world. At some later point, Jon's body is further enhanced with nanotechnology as part of a corporate experiment which eventually goes awry and possibly makes his home world uninhabitable. That topic is only covered piecemeal in various flashbacks throughout the two novels. Returning to his home planet and finding his lost sister are Jon's overall goals in the series which currently includes four novels.
In the first novel, One Jump Ahead , Jon finds an intelligent attack vehicle named Lobo which has been left as a monument in a city square on a far outpost world. Lobo has its (or "his" since Jon comes to refer to Lobo in the masculine) own back-story in which he was damaged in battle. Through some negotiation, Jon is able to acquire Lobo from the head of the planet for services rendered. He is later able to have the damaged ship repaired. The main plot of the novel is the rescue of a kidnapped girl that comes to involve a couple of competing megacorporations and a less-than-forthright arms dealer.
The second novel, Slanted Jack , has even more twists and turns than the first. The Jack from the title is an accomplished con man who reappears from Jon's past. Jon agrees to help with protecting a gifted boy whose family originated from Jon's lost home world. After the initial plan falls apart, Jon has to run an intricate triple con that involves a mobster, a group of religious fanatics with a stash of weapons, and the local government who wants to catch both. The boy and Jon's not-quite-friend Jack serve as bait in the scheme.
Finally, the second short story, "Lobo, Actually," focuses only on Lobo and takes place during his period of downtime in the city square. It is a Christmas story that explores some interesting thoughts on religion and deity. The story is also interesting in that it is told from Lobo's point of view and not that of a human.
Overall, I found Jump Gate Twist to be a solid example of space opera, and I mean that in a positive sense. With tons of action and continually unfolding plot twists, Jon Moore very much reminds me of a futuristic James Bond.
The book is compilation of two novels and two short stories plus additional tidbits from the author. The main protagonist is Jon Moore who was mentally challenged as child due to some unique properties of his home planet. Jon's first change is the subject of the first short story, "My Sister, My Self." His enhancement was done by his sister with healing powers that were the result of the same properties of their world. At some later point, Jon's body is further enhanced with nanotechnology as part of a corporate experiment which eventually goes awry and possibly makes his home world uninhabitable. That topic is only covered piecemeal in various flashbacks throughout the two novels. Returning to his home planet and finding his lost sister are Jon's overall goals in the series which currently includes four novels.
In the first novel, One Jump Ahead , Jon finds an intelligent attack vehicle named Lobo which has been left as a monument in a city square on a far outpost world. Lobo has its (or "his" since Jon comes to refer to Lobo in the masculine) own back-story in which he was damaged in battle. Through some negotiation, Jon is able to acquire Lobo from the head of the planet for services rendered. He is later able to have the damaged ship repaired. The main plot of the novel is the rescue of a kidnapped girl that comes to involve a couple of competing megacorporations and a less-than-forthright arms dealer.
The second novel, Slanted Jack , has even more twists and turns than the first. The Jack from the title is an accomplished con man who reappears from Jon's past. Jon agrees to help with protecting a gifted boy whose family originated from Jon's lost home world. After the initial plan falls apart, Jon has to run an intricate triple con that involves a mobster, a group of religious fanatics with a stash of weapons, and the local government who wants to catch both. The boy and Jon's not-quite-friend Jack serve as bait in the scheme.
Finally, the second short story, "Lobo, Actually," focuses only on Lobo and takes place during his period of downtime in the city square. It is a Christmas story that explores some interesting thoughts on religion and deity. The story is also interesting in that it is told from Lobo's point of view and not that of a human.
Overall, I found Jump Gate Twist to be a solid example of space opera, and I mean that in a positive sense. With tons of action and continually unfolding plot twists, Jon Moore very much reminds me of a futuristic James Bond.
May 13, 2021
When the ride is the most intriguing character
I have really enjoyed this series. Each book is centered around an interesting and topical issue. The two main characters are some of the most interesting characters I have ever encountered and one of them is the spaceship that the leading man rides. Both action packed, humorous, and thought-provoking. A good read.
I have really enjoyed this series. Each book is centered around an interesting and topical issue. The two main characters are some of the most interesting characters I have ever encountered and one of them is the spaceship that the leading man rides. Both action packed, humorous, and thought-provoking. A good read.
March 3, 2013
An "origins" novel in which Jon and Lobo meet, a sequel involving an elaborate con, and a couple of background-filling short stories. The premise and plot are pretty ingenious, there are leavening dashes of humor, and except that the author goes on too long with ruminations and has Jon flashing rage so often that it gets repetitive the storytelling is suitably paced. What really sets this series apart from the general run of action/thrillers is Jon---who (unless I'm reading more into his character than the author intends) starts out mentally retarded and profoundly emotionally retarded, and is healed of the first but not the second. There's really a feeling in his narrative that his intellectual brain operates on one level while, kinda like the Incredible Hulk, his emotions are only barely under control. One might wonder how he could live for 150 or so years without developing a little more maturity, but the contrast does add intriguing nuances to the stories. I did think that the aforementioned repetitiveness took the edge off, and so will wait a while before deciding whether to read sequels and prequels.
June 3, 2011
I had already read the two novels in this volume, so I was in it for the two short stories and Mark's essay commentaries on his work. Most of the essay commentaries were pretty much identical to what he says when he speaks in public (man, he must get tired of saying it over and over again!), but the two stories were new to me and good. The first, "My Sister, My Self," gave some nice background and was surprisingly sweet. I had my doubts about the second, "Lobo, Actually," which I had heard Mark talk about as being a Christmas story about Lobo, a futuristic invincible self-aware tank. After reading Card's "War of Gifts" I am wary of futuristic Christmas tales, but this one I enjoyed and actually found quite touching. Go Mark.
November 18, 2013
I liked this book now that I've actually had the chance to go back and read it.
Saying I read it is a bit deceiving really. What I read were the short stories and the commentaries. I'd already read both of the novels that are reprinted in this edition.
If you've read the two novels this might be a bit much to get the stories and commentary. IF you're a fan, it's worth it. I like the work that Mark does and I like the honesty and clarity of his comments. The glimpse into the mind of a writer is as much value to me as the stories in this volume.
Saying I read it is a bit deceiving really. What I read were the short stories and the commentaries. I'd already read both of the novels that are reprinted in this edition.
If you've read the two novels this might be a bit much to get the stories and commentary. IF you're a fan, it's worth it. I like the work that Mark does and I like the honesty and clarity of his comments. The glimpse into the mind of a writer is as much value to me as the stories in this volume.
August 25, 2010
I had already read the first two Jon and Lobo books, and enjoyed them well enough. I bought this one for the extras--several essays and several short stories.
The best of a very good bunch is Lobo's Christmas story. Set in the time before Jon and Lobo hooked up, it is sweet and sentimental and very, very clever. For the sentimental among you--keep the tissues handy.
The best of a very good bunch is Lobo's Christmas story. Set in the time before Jon and Lobo hooked up, it is sweet and sentimental and very, very clever. For the sentimental among you--keep the tissues handy.
May 20, 2011
The short stories are fun but don't actually add much to the series. The history that Jon and Lobo fans are so eager for can be found in books 3 (Lobo) and 4 (Jon) much more than in these very short stories. I still love the novels that are features in this collection though. If you haven't read them and you like fast-paced, heist-style sci-fi, give it a try.
August 17, 2010
Just not my thing. If you like sentient tanks with a tendency to pout and a protagonist who's pretty sure he's better than everyone else (and in some ways really is), plus enjoy the first person point of view, then you'll probably like this book as much as I didn't.
January 21, 2014
Fantastic Series. I love Lobo!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews