Jack Jetstarks Intergalactic Freakshow
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When the music stops, the universe goes to war.
By Jennifer Lee Rossman
Science Fiction
Release Date: December 4, 2018
Trade Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1732254633
Novel: Approximately 75,000 words/ 260 pages
Also available as an ebook
Find it Online:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Goodreads
Independent Bookstores
iTunes/Apple iBooks
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Wholesale: Ingram or direct: publisher[at]worldweaverpress[dot]com
By Jennifer Lee Rossman
Science Fiction
Release Date: December 4, 2018
Trade Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1732254633
Novel: Approximately 75,000 words/ 260 pages
Also available as an ebook
Find it Online:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Goodreads
Independent Bookstores
iTunes/Apple iBooks
Kobo
Wholesale: Ingram or direct: publisher[at]worldweaverpress[dot]com
DescriptionJack Jetstark travels the universe to seek out the descendants of superpowered freaks created long ago by VesCorp scientists. The vibrations encoded in a particular song transform the members of Jack’s crew into a firebreather and an angel, a wildman and telepathic conjoined triplets, so they hide the truth of who they really are with the theatrics of a carnival.
The song plays every night through the receptor Jack carries with them, but when one night it has a different ending and their temporary powers become permanent, Jack believes the change is a signal from the woman who sent him on this quest in the first place. He and his freaks must navigate a universe at war to protect the love of his life. But does the ruler of VesCorp really need protecting? ExcerptThe crowd grew restless in the renovated cargo bay of my carnival ship, muttering amongst themselves and drifting toward the exit. But they wouldn’t leave; they never left, not before the show started. The draw was too strong, their thirst for the bizarre and grotesque too unquenchable. They would stand in that dim alcove of the Rubeno Mardo’s cargo bay for hours if I let them, just for the briefest glimpse of the exotic performers promised by the advertisements posted throughout town.
Across the tapestry of the universe and all its vast and varied cultures, there ran a single, unifying thread: no one could resist the allure of the words “not for the faint of heart” written in a scandalous, jagged font and followed by four exclamation points. Good marketing knew no bounds. From my post in the shadows, I looked out over the audience with satisfaction. Used to be I couldn’t see the floor between the people, the way they crowded in. Now it seemed I saw more of it every show, but I couldn’t complain about the turnout on this night, nor about the revenue they brought in. There was something to be said for docking on the less affluent moons and planets. Sure, the rich people floating around on their space stations and on the hoity toity worlds that governed their solar systems had coin enough to melt down into disposable flatware, but they spent it on electronic gadgets that numbed their brains, not on the kind of quality entertainment we offered. On the farming and mining colonies, where the only forms of entertainment were swatting mosquitoes and throwing rocks at neighbors, the arrival of a carnival ship made for a major event. They saved up all year for a night’s diversion from their hard lives. And I was all too glad to provide it for them. “We made a killing tonight,” my pilot Lily whispered in my ear, her bright smile evident in her voice. “Might even be able to afford the fuel to get us to the next gig.” “We’ll be fine,” I said, not really listening as a person in the crowd drew my attention. “I think we found another one.” “Who?” I pointed to the girl, dressed in her best flannel shirt and black slacks, with most of the hay brushed out of her coppery hair. She was a teenager, but the electric fascination in her eyes as she waited for the show to begin wasn’t the excitement of a mere child. Something about our world spoke to her. Maybe the opportunity to travel the galaxies, maybe the camaraderie of a carnival family, or maybe just the chance for something more than the lot life had given her. Whatever the case, she’d be part of the crew before we departed the next day. I was sure of it. “She could just be excited for the show,” Lily argued, crossing her arms. “It doesn’t mean she’s one of us.” I nudged her with my elbow, grinning. “Why do you doubt me?” “Because you refuse to.” She pointed a long, manicured nail at the crowd. “They’re waiting,” she said, disappearing into the darkness as she went back to her mark. “Can’t rush the music,” I said, yet even as the words left my mouth, the old receiver crackled to life beside me, singing the first notes of my intro. Adrenaline surged to my heart at the sound of the slowly rising tones of the eerie, wordless song, and I hurried to my post on the catwalk. Her voice sounded more like a warbling violin than it did a singing woman, which only added to the ethereal ambiance. A murmur went through the crowd as I emerged from the shadows high above the stage. I felt alive, fire burning through my veins. “Ladies and gentlemen and nonbinary gentlefolk,” I boomed, the music growing high and tense, “consider this your last warning. You are about to bear witness to creatures and abominations from the farthest reaches of the known universe, horrors the human eye was never meant to see. I cannot be held responsible for the effects these sights have on your psyche. Some people never recover from the shock, so I encourage those with sensitive dispositions or weak hearts to leave now.” No one left; no one ever left. about the Author
Jennifer Lee Rossman is a disabled and autistic freak, and proudly so. Her work has been featured in many anthologies and her debut novella, Anachronism, was published by Kristell Ink in 2018. She blogs at http://jenniferleerossman.blogspot.com/ and tweets @JenLRossman.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Jack Jetstark's Intergalactic Freakshowby Jennifer Lee RossmanGiveaway ends February 13, 2019. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Praise"…a femme fatale noir story with a feel-good gloss. The characters are endearing, even the baddies…Space opera fans who enjoy a generous helping of antics and drama will revel in this adventure."
--Publishers Weekly "Filled with themes of acceptance, hope, activism, and friendship, Jack Jetstark’s Intergalactic Freakshow is a jaunty #ownvoices debut…readers will root for Jack and company and will look for more from Rossman." —Booklist "An epic space adventure full of fascinating characters, pulse-pounding action, and wicked twists. I'm ready to run away with this circus!" —Mary Fan, author of Starswept "…a great novel that blends superheroes and sci-fi in a delightful way, with a carnival freak show thrown in for good measure. These aren’t heroes in costumes, but powered individuals who use their abilities for the good of the universe. It’s full of twists and turns, betrayals and unlikely alliances, and an overall message of chosen family being one of the most powerful forces in the universe." --Mad Scientist Journal "This is a story of accepting your uniqueness and wearing it like a badge. Being proud of who you are and where you came from. A story of love in all its transformations and ugliness. I adored every second of reading this and would not want any of my bookworm friends to miss this experience." --Trails of Tales "Characters you’ll love populate a welcoming, lived-in universe; this is non-serious, seriously fun space opera." --B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog "Under the surface of Jack Jetstark’s Intergalactic Freakshow is a adventure story that asks important questions about power, leadership, and a rebellion worth fighting for. Based on the premise of a carnival where for the span of a song, the performers are transformed, the book takes a turn based on romance, justice, and freedom." --Utopia State of Mind |