In the Hall of the Martian King (Jak Jinnaka) - Softcover

To the delight of sci-fi fans, the scoundrel-hero Jak Jinnaka returns for another tale of high adventure, spying, double-crossing and intergalactic mischief. Just when Jak thinks that looking out for his boss's teenaged relative and trying to keep his visiting, infamous uncle from wreaking havoc will be the trickiest tasks he'll have for a while, he is ordered by the Hive intelligence agency to obtain the newly discovered diary of the progenitor of the "Wager"-the rules upon which their entire legal, spiritual and ethical system rests. The first problem he encounters is that the people he officially works for want him to steal the diary for them; the second arises when he's commanded to steal it for his ex-lover, the Princess of Greenworld, who has used mind control to make him her sex slave; then several old, dangerous friends become involved. A glance at the chapter headings-"A Double-Sided Snipe Hunt"; "A Panty Raid Is Not Standard Procedure"-will give readers an idea of the kind of fun they're in for, and Barnes's invented slang ("toktru" means very true or really; "tove" stands for lover or best friend) will keep them grounded in this fun, futuristic realm. With its eccentric characters and jaunty storytelling, Barnes's (A Princess of the Aerie) romp is irresistibly engaging.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Still suffering from Princess Shyf's brutal mental conditioning (see A Princess from the Aerie [BKL Ja 1 & 15 02]), 18-year-old Jak Jinnaka is now junior administrator of the Martian moon Deimos, and with his buddies Dujuv and Shadow on the Frost nearby, comfortable. Well, except for his secret agentry for the Hive (his home world), the king of Mars, and maybe others. So he has nightmares. His routine is really disrupted, though, when the boss takes four months' vacation, leaving him in charge during the week that his spymaster, Uncle Sib, shows up. Sib around usually means trouble, so Jak isn't surprised when a potentially government-toppling discovery is made on Mars. He is then reunited with his oldest friends and a few enemies in a struggle for the Martian prize that entails rollicking adventure and pointed commentary on the human penchant for ridiculous, corrupt leadership. A final confrontation brings sorrow and insight, leaving Jak a little wiser and eager for the next adventure. Ditto the fans of this funny, perceptive, habit-forming series! Roberta Johnson
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