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A review by andrewbenesh1
Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry
5.0
Snappy Space Fun
I probably wouldn't have picked this book up if Jason Fry hadn't tweet about it - the book is targeted towards younger readers (8-12 y/o), and even though I intellectually know there's great stuff there I struggle with my biases towards adult and YA lit. And me missing this book would have been a shame, because it's the most fun read I've had in recent months.
The book focuses on a family of privateers who engage in interstellar piracy. Despite being relatively short, each character is given a chance to fully develop, from the brash and trigger happy Yana to the stern but compassionate Diocletia. The family is well developed in general; we see them navigate conflicts while maintaining cohesion, and find ways to balance their dual roles as both crew and kin. It's very easy to become emotionally attached, which pays of well in the final act. Even more curmudgeonly characters like Huff are very likable in the end.
While focusing closely on the family relationships, this book does a good job of capturing larger galactic intrigue. The plot is centered on political subterfuge, and is presented in a way that is both complex and accessible. Fry doesn't talk down to younger readers, but instead illustrates more abstract and indirect processes organically. As a result, the book serves as a good introduction to more politically oriented science fiction.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the action and fun of the book. The dialogue is quick, smart, and clever, and there's a handy appendix of naval terms if readers have a hard time keeping up. The action is written in a very clean manner, so that readers can track what's happening without being overwhelmed. And throughout it all, there's a sense of energy, lightness, and fun; the reader never feels bogged down with details and the world building never feels irrelevant to the storyline.
Whether you're looking for a book series to introduce your young reader to modern science fiction, or if you're looking for something fun and rewarding for an adult reader, this book will deliver. It's way more fun than it has any right to be.
Needless to say, Book 2 is on my shopping list!
I probably wouldn't have picked this book up if Jason Fry hadn't tweet about it - the book is targeted towards younger readers (8-12 y/o), and even though I intellectually know there's great stuff there I struggle with my biases towards adult and YA lit. And me missing this book would have been a shame, because it's the most fun read I've had in recent months.
The book focuses on a family of privateers who engage in interstellar piracy. Despite being relatively short, each character is given a chance to fully develop, from the brash and trigger happy Yana to the stern but compassionate Diocletia. The family is well developed in general; we see them navigate conflicts while maintaining cohesion, and find ways to balance their dual roles as both crew and kin. It's very easy to become emotionally attached, which pays of well in the final act. Even more curmudgeonly characters like Huff are very likable in the end.
While focusing closely on the family relationships, this book does a good job of capturing larger galactic intrigue. The plot is centered on political subterfuge, and is presented in a way that is both complex and accessible. Fry doesn't talk down to younger readers, but instead illustrates more abstract and indirect processes organically. As a result, the book serves as a good introduction to more politically oriented science fiction.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the action and fun of the book. The dialogue is quick, smart, and clever, and there's a handy appendix of naval terms if readers have a hard time keeping up. The action is written in a very clean manner, so that readers can track what's happening without being overwhelmed. And throughout it all, there's a sense of energy, lightness, and fun; the reader never feels bogged down with details and the world building never feels irrelevant to the storyline.
Whether you're looking for a book series to introduce your young reader to modern science fiction, or if you're looking for something fun and rewarding for an adult reader, this book will deliver. It's way more fun than it has any right to be.
Needless to say, Book 2 is on my shopping list!