Bradley's Reviews > Jack Four

Jack Four by Neal Asher
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it was amazing
bookshelves: 2021-shelf, sci-fi, transhumanism, space-opera
Read 2 times. Last read September 21, 2022 to September 23, 2022.

It's a pretty easy bet that whenever I see that there's a new Neal Asher book, I'm going to be all over it like Jain tech and the Spatterjay virus with a side-dose of an ancient galactic war machine.

And you know what? My FANBOY REACTIONS ARE UNKILLABLE. -- Kinda like what happens to us when we get infected with the Spatterjay virus or when we get altered by Jain tech.


So here are the killer bits: All you folks who have been curious about Neal Asher's massively wicked future filled with all these nasties doing their things in wonderfully creative combinations but have been too overwhelmed by the sheer weight of everything that came before to actually TRY IT? Well, I'd point to this book.

It's self-contained, has a lot of REALLY interesting worldbuilding, has a great adventure, and if my reaction is anything to go by, it'll make you shiver with pure imaginative delight. I would also point out that there's a LOT of great body-horror stuff in this Hard SF.

We get a taste of everything. The Graveyard, the Prador King, Spatterjay, the AI Polity, and even Masada. But since this is self-contained and shows the worlds AFTER so much has happened, and he's just as clueless as a new reader would be, it hits that sweet spot.

For old fans, it's just like coming home and getting a gorge full of alien parasites. In other words, FUN. :)



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Reading Progress

September 9, 2021 – Shelved as: to-read
September 9, 2021 – Shelved
November 14, 2021 – Started Reading
November 22, 2021 – Shelved as: 2021-shelf
November 22, 2021 – Shelved as: sci-fi
November 22, 2021 – Shelved as: transhumanism
November 22, 2021 – Shelved as: space-opera
November 22, 2021 – Finished Reading
September 21, 2022 – Started Reading
September 23, 2022 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

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message 1: by Trish (new)

Trish That thing looks like a facehugger grown out of control cross-bred with one of the nasties from Starship Troopers. *lol*


Bradley But oooooooooh so much more deadly.


message 3: by Trish (new)

Trish Which makes it oh so much better.


message 4: by Michael (new)

Michael Mayer III Chronologically, when is this set in the Polity Universe? Neal Asher hasn't updated his website yet where he has a running timeline and even though it's a standalone, I wouldn't want to read it out of order. Do you have any indication based on events mentioned or anything like that?


Bradley Later, but since there isn't any DIRECT connection with the others other than the big elements, now out in the universe at large, I honestly don't think you HAVE to avoid this. It might be a great introduction.

Then again, ANY of the trilogies might be a great introduction.


message 6: by Michael (new)

Michael Mayer III Ah ok, I finished Prador Moon and currently am on Shadow of the Scorpion. I plan to go chronologically so maybe I'll just wait a bit for the price of the Kindle version to go down, haha. I wonder if he has another trilogy planned.


Bradley Yep, this book is the start of a new trilogy.

You know, it's weird. I'm not even close to being a huge fan of the chronological order. Those first books were OKAY. I'm sure you've probably heard that Asher becomes a much better writer. ;)


message 8: by Michael (new)

Michael Mayer III I have and I can’t wait to get to the later series after reading your reviews, haha. Really, I want to see his characters get more fleshed out and less like cardboard cutouts. Once that happens, I will enjoy the series even more. Also, I just can’t do a big galaxy spanning running series in anything but chronological order or I’ll get confused.


Bradley Fair enough. Especially since I’m the same way. ;)


message 10: by William (new) - added it

William Planning on reading this after Rise of the Jain.


Bradley :) Ah, the fun. :)


message 12: by Charles (new)

Charles Bradley, have you found yourself wanting to fondle cans of lump crab meat while reading Polity pr0n? 🤔


Bradley LOOOOOOL

No. I just had a meal that looked like it came from Spatterjay, tho. :)


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