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Jubilee #1
Jubilee
It was meant to be an in and out mission…
In the distant future, special agents Col Perolo and Danee Hasum are sent to retrieve a corpse from the lawless artificial world of Jubilee - where their mission goes perilously pear-shaped. They might be falling in love, or they might even be saving the galaxy. Either way, the authorities will not be pleased.
Publishers Weekly:
"An amusing and fast-paced saga sure to please fans of classic space opera."
Considering Stories:
“As entertaining a look at human foibles as any crime novel written by Elmore Leonard. Stanford’s writing is infectious, readable stuff. Ideas and action flow nicely, the characters pop, the situations veer from light to dark and back again with ease, and the book balances beach read readability, grit, and satiric punch."
A Reviewer Darkly:
"Jubilee is a breath of fresh air in a genre that seems too often stuck in a pattern of dense stories that tend to take themselves too seriously.”
In the distant future, special agents Col Perolo and Danee Hasum are sent to retrieve a corpse from the lawless artificial world of Jubilee - where their mission goes perilously pear-shaped. They might be falling in love, or they might even be saving the galaxy. Either way, the authorities will not be pleased.
Publishers Weekly:
"An amusing and fast-paced saga sure to please fans of classic space opera."
Considering Stories:
“As entertaining a look at human foibles as any crime novel written by Elmore Leonard. Stanford’s writing is infectious, readable stuff. Ideas and action flow nicely, the characters pop, the situations veer from light to dark and back again with ease, and the book balances beach read readability, grit, and satiric punch."
A Reviewer Darkly:
"Jubilee is a breath of fresh air in a genre that seems too often stuck in a pattern of dense stories that tend to take themselves too seriously.”
- GenresScience FictionMystery
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2264 people want to read
About the author
Stephen K. Stanford
2 books50 followersCrime and SciFi author.
JUBILEE is available on all platforms including audiobook - click cover image below to order. STARS LIKE US (Jubilee series #2) is also available
Praise for Jubilee:
Publishers Weekly: "An amusing and fast-paced saga sure to please fans of classic space opera."
Considering Stories: “As entertaining a look at human foibles as any crime novel written by Elmore Leonard. Stanford’s writing is infectious, readable stuff. Ideas and action flow nicely, the characters pop, the situations veer from light to dark and back again with ease, and the book balances beach read readability, grit, and satiric punch."
I fell in love with Sci-Fi as a kid, devouring my fathers’ vast “golden age” collection. In 2019 I decided on a whim to try my hand at the genre after reading two bad ones in a row. Who would have thought that would lead to the publication of Jubilee just a few years later? I live in Melbourne, Australia with my wife Vani, and two highly truculent Siamese cats.
JUBILEE is available on all platforms including audiobook - click cover image below to order. STARS LIKE US (Jubilee series #2) is also available
Praise for Jubilee:
Publishers Weekly: "An amusing and fast-paced saga sure to please fans of classic space opera."
Considering Stories: “As entertaining a look at human foibles as any crime novel written by Elmore Leonard. Stanford’s writing is infectious, readable stuff. Ideas and action flow nicely, the characters pop, the situations veer from light to dark and back again with ease, and the book balances beach read readability, grit, and satiric punch."
I fell in love with Sci-Fi as a kid, devouring my fathers’ vast “golden age” collection. In 2019 I decided on a whim to try my hand at the genre after reading two bad ones in a row. Who would have thought that would lead to the publication of Jubilee just a few years later? I live in Melbourne, Australia with my wife Vani, and two highly truculent Siamese cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 3, 2023
3.5/5
I’m conflicted about this one. “Jubilee” is undeniably an imaginative sci-fi adventure that I mostly enjoyed. However, I have a few reservations, particularly with the ending, which didn’t quite resonate with me, hence my decision not to rate the book higher. But it changes little; it’s an engaging book, with excellent futuristic ideas, solid characters, and explosive action.
Detectives Col and Danee embark on a hastily arranged mission to retrieve the body of a prominent conservative politician who, it seems, got naughty on Jubilee. They quickly discover that the body has been swapped, and the deceased’s identity will bring even more trouble. As the situation gets more complicated, an unexpected bond forms between them. Which is tricky since Col is already married and will need Danee’s help in rescuing his wife.
The adventure combines scientific intrigue, imaginative twists, and a touch of romance. Things get crazy. In other words, don’t let my rating stop you from giving it a chance. My reservations revolve around the ending, which, while not to my personal liking, is likely to appeal to the majority of readers.
ARC through NetGalley
I’m conflicted about this one. “Jubilee” is undeniably an imaginative sci-fi adventure that I mostly enjoyed. However, I have a few reservations, particularly with the ending, which didn’t quite resonate with me, hence my decision not to rate the book higher. But it changes little; it’s an engaging book, with excellent futuristic ideas, solid characters, and explosive action.
Detectives Col and Danee embark on a hastily arranged mission to retrieve the body of a prominent conservative politician who, it seems, got naughty on Jubilee. They quickly discover that the body has been swapped, and the deceased’s identity will bring even more trouble. As the situation gets more complicated, an unexpected bond forms between them. Which is tricky since Col is already married and will need Danee’s help in rescuing his wife.
The adventure combines scientific intrigue, imaginative twists, and a touch of romance. Things get crazy. In other words, don’t let my rating stop you from giving it a chance. My reservations revolve around the ending, which, while not to my personal liking, is likely to appeal to the majority of readers.
ARC through NetGalley
October 28, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Jubilee is the first novel in the eponymous science-fiction series, written by Stephen K. Sanford, published by Flame Tree Press. A fun romp adventure that is set in a really imaginative world, which paired together with solid characterisation and explosive action gifts the reader with a narration that has reminiscences of classic detective pulp in a space setting.
Jubilee is an artificial world existing in a parallel universe; a place where people go to lose their inhibitions and enjoy in a place akin Las Vegas. Detectives Col and Danee are sent to retrieve a corpse there; a mission that should have been quick, but after a delay due to circumstances, nothing goes according to plan. After returning to their home planet of Brouggh, the rising popularity of the Movement 4 Morality party and its ascend to power will put our characters on the run while trying to rescue Col's wife, all with the help of Douglas, the AI leader of Jubilee.
A fun adventure that is not afraid to poke fun at toxic masculinity, especially if we take into account Col's narration; however, Col hides much more behind his appearance, being a really complex character that is dealing with trauma. He's conflicted between his wife and Danee, a situation that is only aggravated as they are forced on a rescue mission in which he will need Danee's help.
The rest of the cast is also interesting, with Douglas shining a bit over the rest; a really proficient character who also has space for funny moments.
Jubilee is a novel full of action, but there's still space for some world-building, with the most interesting parts dedicated to the own world of Jubilee, a quite imaginative setting that serves as the refuge for our characters. As you might expect from this kind of novel, the pacing is quite fast, with some intercalated slower moments to let the reader breathe.
If you are looking for a pulpy science-fiction adventure that also allows the imagination to fly wild, Jubilee is a great novel in that regard. I'm quite curious to see how the lives of our characters will continue in the next novel!
Jubilee is the first novel in the eponymous science-fiction series, written by Stephen K. Sanford, published by Flame Tree Press. A fun romp adventure that is set in a really imaginative world, which paired together with solid characterisation and explosive action gifts the reader with a narration that has reminiscences of classic detective pulp in a space setting.
Jubilee is an artificial world existing in a parallel universe; a place where people go to lose their inhibitions and enjoy in a place akin Las Vegas. Detectives Col and Danee are sent to retrieve a corpse there; a mission that should have been quick, but after a delay due to circumstances, nothing goes according to plan. After returning to their home planet of Brouggh, the rising popularity of the Movement 4 Morality party and its ascend to power will put our characters on the run while trying to rescue Col's wife, all with the help of Douglas, the AI leader of Jubilee.
A fun adventure that is not afraid to poke fun at toxic masculinity, especially if we take into account Col's narration; however, Col hides much more behind his appearance, being a really complex character that is dealing with trauma. He's conflicted between his wife and Danee, a situation that is only aggravated as they are forced on a rescue mission in which he will need Danee's help.
The rest of the cast is also interesting, with Douglas shining a bit over the rest; a really proficient character who also has space for funny moments.
Jubilee is a novel full of action, but there's still space for some world-building, with the most interesting parts dedicated to the own world of Jubilee, a quite imaginative setting that serves as the refuge for our characters. As you might expect from this kind of novel, the pacing is quite fast, with some intercalated slower moments to let the reader breathe.
If you are looking for a pulpy science-fiction adventure that also allows the imagination to fly wild, Jubilee is a great novel in that regard. I'm quite curious to see how the lives of our characters will continue in the next novel!
January 24, 2024
It's got a pulp detective/sci fi vibe. Pokes fun at patriarchal toxic masculinity with Grendevan culture and Col's presentation/narration. Col is actually deeper than you realise at first, seriously traumatised. Sana and Danee are the best. Douglas has a weird accent - more pirate than Scottish. An enjoyable romp in a far future galaxy.
June 2, 2024
I picked up Jubilee on Friday night and then binged it all through Saturday. It was such an addictive and fast paced adventure.
Jubilee is an artificial world existing in a parallel universe. It’s the place people go to let loose, with few laws and plenty of attractions to spend your money on. When Detectives Col and Danee are sent to retrieve a body, it should be a quick mission, but with a delay due to an inebriated coroner and a growing attraction between these two, nothing is going to plan. As political unrest escalates on their home planet of Brouggh due to the rising popularity of the Movement 4 Morality party, these two will need to pull out all the stops in a daring rescue mission while being hunted down by those who want them dead.
Jubilee was an action-packed page turner of a book. I loved the chase scenes through space, the futuristic technology and Douglas, the AI leader of Jubilee. There were quite a few tense moments where I had to keep reading to ensure everyone was safe, as well as some laugh out loud scenes which added another layer to the story. Although a science fiction adventure at its heart, there were some cosy mystery and espionage elements which I also really enjoyed.
My only negative with the book was the romantic relationships which I found a bit too convenient and unrealistic, but this didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
If you love sci fi adventure then this is definitely a book for you.
Jubilee is an artificial world existing in a parallel universe. It’s the place people go to let loose, with few laws and plenty of attractions to spend your money on. When Detectives Col and Danee are sent to retrieve a body, it should be a quick mission, but with a delay due to an inebriated coroner and a growing attraction between these two, nothing is going to plan. As political unrest escalates on their home planet of Brouggh due to the rising popularity of the Movement 4 Morality party, these two will need to pull out all the stops in a daring rescue mission while being hunted down by those who want them dead.
Jubilee was an action-packed page turner of a book. I loved the chase scenes through space, the futuristic technology and Douglas, the AI leader of Jubilee. There were quite a few tense moments where I had to keep reading to ensure everyone was safe, as well as some laugh out loud scenes which added another layer to the story. Although a science fiction adventure at its heart, there were some cosy mystery and espionage elements which I also really enjoyed.
My only negative with the book was the romantic relationships which I found a bit too convenient and unrealistic, but this didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
If you love sci fi adventure then this is definitely a book for you.
January 2, 2024
When Col and Danee shift out of normal space into a parallel universe, free from government jurisdiction or control, their mission should be simple enough. Law enforcement officers, they’ve come to Jubilee, the free-for-all galactic pleasure garden, to take possession of a corpse and return to their planet. Unfortunately, they are met with some technical difficulties, given an exclusive hotel room for the night, and wined and dined as only that locale can offer. It’s not the cesspit some believe. In fact, the Jubilee experience can cater to whatever passions you bring. Want to lose your inhibitions about gambling, drink, drugs, or sex? You can. Want to have a day in near-Zero G, bouncing around and having fun? You can. Want to indulge in the simple decadences of exquisite food and lovely wine? You can do that to. This is Col’s first visit to the place, and while he’s there he even gets a security team job offer from the AI in control of the place. He’s happy with his current role, thanks, but he promises to keep it in mind.
When they finally arrive at their home planet to find much has changed in the two days they’ve been away. The Movement 4 Morality (M4M) group has secured power on their home planet and are applying a tight control over the various branches of government and enforcement. Soon enough, Col and Danee are on the run, dodging torture and threats alike, and making their way back to the one safe port—Jubilee. There, they will work with Jubilee’s AI Douglas to devise a plan to outmaneuver the M4M, recover Col’s wife Sana from servitude to the sinister M4M leader, and possibly smash the oppressive M4M by ferreting out its dirtiest secrets. To do so may require DNA modifications, ferreting out a hidden LAI (Large Artificial intelligence), outwitting a psychotic chairman, and dodging true believers and tormentors alike.
Stephen K. Stanford’s science fiction novel Jubilee is a space opera romp that effectively balances light adventure with some dark consequences. At the novel’s beginning (following a cheeky “translator’s note” from the far future), we find ourselves in the hands of a point of view character who is unafraid of sharing his awestruck moments at the possibilities of Jubilee’s strangeness and excesses. Soon enough, the novel gets pulled out of the gee whiz future speculations into much more grounded issues about the grimdark side of legislated morality and totalitarian control, which includes the protagonist losing a body part in a moment of pure body horror. However, the text’s “translator” also breaks the fourth wall just before it happens, inviting a page turn for those who would prefer not to see such material.
In fact, there are a few moments where such intrusions occur, and they are cleverly utilized and never gratuitous. Folks who don’t mind delving into darker regions can carry on, but those who’d prefer not to be triggered can read the book with little worry about hitting on their personal squirm buttons. The writing is generally clever stuff, applying some intriguing references to quirky and comic sf of the past (I noted sections that might have been offering nods to such fare as Red Dwarf and the TTRPG, Tales of the Floating Vagabond) as well as staid entries in the genre (this book evokes and plays with almost as many permutations of society as Haldeman’s The Forever War) but an awareness of such influences is unnecessary in appreciating the wit and ideas at play in the story itself. The book is self-contained, with clear beginning, middle, and end but there is a wealth of material the author might exploit for future books.
Where Stanford’s book offers the best surprises is in how quickly things can change and how much ground the prose can cover in relatively short order. By the time we hit the middle of the book, the characters are familiar, but the situations are a far cry from where we started. There are numerous twists, not only in the plot but in terms of where our characters go and how they wind up.
Jubilee is the sort of book that will please both regular readers of non-intrusive space opera adventure as well as those looking for the pointed social critiques of the coolest New Wave sf. And which is as entertaining a look at human foibles as any crime novel written by Elmore Leonard. Stanford’s writing is infectious, readable stuff. Ideas and action flow nicely, the characters pop, the situations veer from light to dark and back again with ease, and the book balances beach read readability, grit, and satiric punch.
#
Special Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
When they finally arrive at their home planet to find much has changed in the two days they’ve been away. The Movement 4 Morality (M4M) group has secured power on their home planet and are applying a tight control over the various branches of government and enforcement. Soon enough, Col and Danee are on the run, dodging torture and threats alike, and making their way back to the one safe port—Jubilee. There, they will work with Jubilee’s AI Douglas to devise a plan to outmaneuver the M4M, recover Col’s wife Sana from servitude to the sinister M4M leader, and possibly smash the oppressive M4M by ferreting out its dirtiest secrets. To do so may require DNA modifications, ferreting out a hidden LAI (Large Artificial intelligence), outwitting a psychotic chairman, and dodging true believers and tormentors alike.
Stephen K. Stanford’s science fiction novel Jubilee is a space opera romp that effectively balances light adventure with some dark consequences. At the novel’s beginning (following a cheeky “translator’s note” from the far future), we find ourselves in the hands of a point of view character who is unafraid of sharing his awestruck moments at the possibilities of Jubilee’s strangeness and excesses. Soon enough, the novel gets pulled out of the gee whiz future speculations into much more grounded issues about the grimdark side of legislated morality and totalitarian control, which includes the protagonist losing a body part in a moment of pure body horror. However, the text’s “translator” also breaks the fourth wall just before it happens, inviting a page turn for those who would prefer not to see such material.
In fact, there are a few moments where such intrusions occur, and they are cleverly utilized and never gratuitous. Folks who don’t mind delving into darker regions can carry on, but those who’d prefer not to be triggered can read the book with little worry about hitting on their personal squirm buttons. The writing is generally clever stuff, applying some intriguing references to quirky and comic sf of the past (I noted sections that might have been offering nods to such fare as Red Dwarf and the TTRPG, Tales of the Floating Vagabond) as well as staid entries in the genre (this book evokes and plays with almost as many permutations of society as Haldeman’s The Forever War) but an awareness of such influences is unnecessary in appreciating the wit and ideas at play in the story itself. The book is self-contained, with clear beginning, middle, and end but there is a wealth of material the author might exploit for future books.
Where Stanford’s book offers the best surprises is in how quickly things can change and how much ground the prose can cover in relatively short order. By the time we hit the middle of the book, the characters are familiar, but the situations are a far cry from where we started. There are numerous twists, not only in the plot but in terms of where our characters go and how they wind up.
Jubilee is the sort of book that will please both regular readers of non-intrusive space opera adventure as well as those looking for the pointed social critiques of the coolest New Wave sf. And which is as entertaining a look at human foibles as any crime novel written by Elmore Leonard. Stanford’s writing is infectious, readable stuff. Ideas and action flow nicely, the characters pop, the situations veer from light to dark and back again with ease, and the book balances beach read readability, grit, and satiric punch.
#
Special Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2024
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
There is a pulp sci-fi/detective noir feel to this story which reminds me of Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat books and I do think fans of that are likely to also enjoy Jubilee.
What I particularly appreciated was the worldbuilding here, as we explore the planet construct of Jubilee and the parallel universe it links to, full of different alien races and futuristic technology which made me long to explore more.
But there wasn’t really time to dwell too much on these details, as our main character and first-person narrator Col pulls us into a hectic-paced action-packed adventure, in which he dives and bounces around spying, rescuing and escaping – with brief detours to canoodle with his girlfriend and partner – before springing back into the fray. It was very James Bond, but with far more luck and less suave charm (Col seems mainly baffled that anyone would be willing to speak to him, let alone anything else!).
Which leads me to my least favourite aspect of the story, the romantic sub-plot. It wasn’t the morality of a married man slipping into an affair with his work partner (and prior mentee) that I objected to, but the general lack of depth the the female love interest and the suspiciously convenient, almost wish-fulfilment ending, which allowed Col to cop out of making any difficult decisions about his personal life to my mild annoyance! Still, I was able to mostly ignore the love-life side of things because there was so much going on elsewhere in the story which interested me more (For example, I LOVED Douglas and Batum and could have easily read more of their exploits!).
In fact, there were at least three points in the plot (a pair of blue eyes, a mysterious cave-ly origin, and a DNA-based disguise respectively) where I thought I had spotted the direction in which the story was going only to be fooled as the plot took another sudden turn and deposited us somewhere completely different. It definitely kept me on my toes and guessing from beginning to end.
All-in-all this is a very readable space opera – witty, clever and with some good socio-political critique along the way. The sci-fi adventure really worked for me, the romance aspects less so, but readers who like a bit of classic space detective action-adventure are in for a fun ride here.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
There is a pulp sci-fi/detective noir feel to this story which reminds me of Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat books and I do think fans of that are likely to also enjoy Jubilee.
What I particularly appreciated was the worldbuilding here, as we explore the planet construct of Jubilee and the parallel universe it links to, full of different alien races and futuristic technology which made me long to explore more.
But there wasn’t really time to dwell too much on these details, as our main character and first-person narrator Col pulls us into a hectic-paced action-packed adventure, in which he dives and bounces around spying, rescuing and escaping – with brief detours to canoodle with his girlfriend and partner – before springing back into the fray. It was very James Bond, but with far more luck and less suave charm (Col seems mainly baffled that anyone would be willing to speak to him, let alone anything else!).
Which leads me to my least favourite aspect of the story, the romantic sub-plot. It wasn’t the morality of a married man slipping into an affair with his work partner (and prior mentee) that I objected to, but the general lack of depth the the female love interest and the suspiciously convenient, almost wish-fulfilment ending, which allowed Col to cop out of making any difficult decisions about his personal life to my mild annoyance! Still, I was able to mostly ignore the love-life side of things because there was so much going on elsewhere in the story which interested me more (For example, I LOVED Douglas and Batum and could have easily read more of their exploits!).
In fact, there were at least three points in the plot (a pair of blue eyes, a mysterious cave-ly origin, and a DNA-based disguise respectively) where I thought I had spotted the direction in which the story was going only to be fooled as the plot took another sudden turn and deposited us somewhere completely different. It definitely kept me on my toes and guessing from beginning to end.
All-in-all this is a very readable space opera – witty, clever and with some good socio-political critique along the way. The sci-fi adventure really worked for me, the romance aspects less so, but readers who like a bit of classic space detective action-adventure are in for a fun ride here.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
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January 15, 2024Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for an eARC copy of this in exchange for an unbiased, honest review!
In full honesty, I DNFed this book rather early on, but that’s because I really hated being in the main character’s head, the story wasn’t adding anything new, exciting, or interesting to a sci-fi setting/mystery story, and for lack of a better term: I got the ick.
The main character wastes no time at all commenting on the attractiveness of women around him, clocks the brothels in his immediate vicinity as soon as he lands in Jubilee despite being married (if his was a situation that included polyamory/open relationships: great. But it’s clear that it doesn’t and he briefly mentions tremendous guilt over lusting after his partner, so it felt gross and I didn’t really want to watch a character cheat and agonize over it for any more pages).
The A.I. character’s purpose as a plot device was unclear and its voice was grating. And while there was opportunity to showcase a really cool alternate reality sci-fi world, the story spends the first 50 pages giving backstory (on the MC’s previously happy marriage?? Weird choice when he cheats on her a couple pages later) and having the characters experience zero gravity (which felt boring because: space).
It’s a short story, but I really disliked the voice and where the plot was going; I unfortunately found it sexist and unexciting.
In full honesty, I DNFed this book rather early on, but that’s because I really hated being in the main character’s head, the story wasn’t adding anything new, exciting, or interesting to a sci-fi setting/mystery story, and for lack of a better term: I got the ick.
The main character wastes no time at all commenting on the attractiveness of women around him, clocks the brothels in his immediate vicinity as soon as he lands in Jubilee despite being married (if his was a situation that included polyamory/open relationships: great. But it’s clear that it doesn’t and he briefly mentions tremendous guilt over lusting after his partner, so it felt gross and I didn’t really want to watch a character cheat and agonize over it for any more pages).
The A.I. character’s purpose as a plot device was unclear and its voice was grating. And while there was opportunity to showcase a really cool alternate reality sci-fi world, the story spends the first 50 pages giving backstory (on the MC’s previously happy marriage?? Weird choice when he cheats on her a couple pages later) and having the characters experience zero gravity (which felt boring because: space).
It’s a short story, but I really disliked the voice and where the plot was going; I unfortunately found it sexist and unexciting.
February 16, 2024
Jubilee, run by the Al Douglas, a parallel universe, where you can do as you please. When Col and Danee are suddenly sent to Jubilee to collect a body of a politician who has died, they expected it to be a easy job, but how wrong can it be. The body is waiting for Col and Danee, but there is a problem, it's not the right body, someone has swapped this body before they got there.
Col's wife goes missing as well, and Cole and Danee are put in the frame for murder. Has this something to do with the missing body that was swapped and if so, who is behind it and most importantly why?
This is a detective crime story but also a sci-fi one. The pace of the story was a bit slow at the begin but soon picked up speed, with some humour and romance. The characters were interesting and likeable.
Col's wife goes missing as well, and Cole and Danee are put in the frame for murder. Has this something to do with the missing body that was swapped and if so, who is behind it and most importantly why?
This is a detective crime story but also a sci-fi one. The pace of the story was a bit slow at the begin but soon picked up speed, with some humour and romance. The characters were interesting and likeable.
October 6, 2023
Really enjoyed Stephen Stanford’s first book Jubilee despite sci-fi not being my general genre of books I favour. It’s a compelling read and made me want to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next. It’s well written and humorous, sci-fi with great personal relationships woven into the narrative. Would highly recommend.
November 23, 2023
Action packed fantasy thriller. Nice plot, humour and interesting characters. For me the pace slowed a little in the middle of the book, but I was glad I continued reading right to the exciting end. Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.
December 31, 2023
I finished it, it probably shouldn’t have & I regret that I did.
This is the most sexist, masquerading as non-sexist, book I have read this year 😬 eww. Also, so much delusional wishful thinking 🤣 & “bleh” writing 😬.
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Jubilee
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Space Rescues
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Stephen K Stanford
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: Zhang
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Slow (obnoxious man)
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Space Opera
1.5/𝟱
🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ A series of mysteries, traveling & investigations
*Sigh* Anyway- when a married man ends up in an parallel universe on an AI led ship/country named Jubilee, situations make him take a job there & further his estrangement from his wife. As he enjoys his life on Jubilee with Danee, a fresh young thing that wanted him for years, he remembers a spreading galactic cult when he finds out they took his estranged (horned) wife. With his fresh gf, said man goes on a mission to save the girlfriend with some “ai/tech friends” - when the dust of the mission settles though, how will his relationships end?
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌱THE MEH - *Spoilers*
~ “surprise, I am pregnant”
~ unfortunate perceptions of masculinity
~ bizarre that a thriving matriarchy would elect a “king” that they allow no executive powers to, & who they speak to sternly & snappishly & have whoring about 💁(NO sense)
~ lack of follow through with elements of the story regarding the matriarchy
~ male cheating on wife with ex-student who “admired” him “back then” 🙄🙄🙄
~ the flow & dialogue are off, with some characters sounding infantile 🫠
~ annoying & obnoxious MC
~ wtf is Sana when she appears?!
~ your girlfriend comes to talk to me INSTEAD OF YOU, MY HUSBAND after I found out you are bonning?! WTF?! WHO WROTE THIs?!
♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
This is the most sexist, masquerading as non-sexist, book I have read this year 😬 eww. Also, so much delusional wishful thinking 🤣 & “bleh” writing 😬.
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Jubilee
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Space Rescues
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Stephen K Stanford
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: Zhang
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Slow (obnoxious man)
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Space Opera
1.5/𝟱
🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ A series of mysteries, traveling & investigations
*Sigh* Anyway- when a married man ends up in an parallel universe on an AI led ship/country named Jubilee, situations make him take a job there & further his estrangement from his wife. As he enjoys his life on Jubilee with Danee, a fresh young thing that wanted him for years, he remembers a spreading galactic cult when he finds out they took his estranged (horned) wife. With his fresh gf, said man goes on a mission to save the girlfriend with some “ai/tech friends” - when the dust of the mission settles though, how will his relationships end?
✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
🌱THE MEH - *Spoilers*
~ “surprise, I am pregnant”
~ unfortunate perceptions of masculinity
~ bizarre that a thriving matriarchy would elect a “king” that they allow no executive powers to, & who they speak to sternly & snappishly & have whoring about 💁(NO sense)
~ lack of follow through with elements of the story regarding the matriarchy
~ male cheating on wife with ex-student who “admired” him “back then” 🙄🙄🙄
~ the flow & dialogue are off, with some characters sounding infantile 🫠
~ annoying & obnoxious MC
~ wtf is Sana when she appears?!
~ your girlfriend comes to talk to me INSTEAD OF YOU, MY HUSBAND after I found out you are bonning?! WTF?! WHO WROTE THIs?!
♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
Thank you to Author Stephen K. Stanford, Flametree Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this epic space adventure 💫
Col is a soldier simply following orders when he and colleague Danee travel on a secret mission to the planet of Jubilee, run by the AI Douglas. Miraculously located 8 seconds in the future in a parallel universe, there are few rules and entrance is only possible via invitation... something the two of them have seemingly acquired via political channels.
But almost immediately, it's clear there is far more happening beneath the surface than they have been briefed on. Between the impossibly advanced technology, a fanatical galactic political movement, kidnapping, DNA altering, murder and an unexpected job offer, how will Col make it out alive?
I had great fun reading this book and trying to guess how each twist and turn would play out. Witnessing things unfold from Col's perspective (your classic street wise soldier) was quite interesting , especially when it involved matters of the heart, as he often said or did things in a way that only landed him in more hot water.
A perfect read for those looking for your classic space opera, with a heavy lean on future high tech and the implications this would have. I can't wait to see what else the Author comes up with in future!
Col is a soldier simply following orders when he and colleague Danee travel on a secret mission to the planet of Jubilee, run by the AI Douglas. Miraculously located 8 seconds in the future in a parallel universe, there are few rules and entrance is only possible via invitation... something the two of them have seemingly acquired via political channels.
But almost immediately, it's clear there is far more happening beneath the surface than they have been briefed on. Between the impossibly advanced technology, a fanatical galactic political movement, kidnapping, DNA altering, murder and an unexpected job offer, how will Col make it out alive?
I had great fun reading this book and trying to guess how each twist and turn would play out. Witnessing things unfold from Col's perspective (your classic street wise soldier) was quite interesting , especially when it involved matters of the heart, as he often said or did things in a way that only landed him in more hot water.
A perfect read for those looking for your classic space opera, with a heavy lean on future high tech and the implications this would have. I can't wait to see what else the Author comes up with in future!
January 26, 2024
This one had me excited, but unfortunately it went sideways very quickly. This follows Col and his partner as they go to the equivalent of Vegas in space, Jubilee. There a politician has supposedly died and they are to fetch the body. Unfortunately things go sideways on their return. The political landscape has changed, they are framed for the murder, and Col’s wife has gone missing. Thus begins the ‘romp’ of the story. Col returns to Jubilee where he’s made quick friends of the AI that runs the place and they begin a wild mission to find his wife and upset the new political landscape.
My biggest issues with this were primarily the characters. The writing was simple, yes. But the character of Col annoyed the piss out of me. Not only was everything VERY easy for him, but he spent the entirety of the book cheating on his wife? And in a very obvious, everyone could tell way that had me just going ‘wtf’? Additionally the women, though in the story, had very little to add. For a book that focused on the women, they were little more than boobs and sex objects.
This seems to have found it’s audience based on a lot of reviews but it really wasn’t for me.
2 out of 5 mobiles
My biggest issues with this were primarily the characters. The writing was simple, yes. But the character of Col annoyed the piss out of me. Not only was everything VERY easy for him, but he spent the entirety of the book cheating on his wife? And in a very obvious, everyone could tell way that had me just going ‘wtf’? Additionally the women, though in the story, had very little to add. For a book that focused on the women, they were little more than boobs and sex objects.
This seems to have found it’s audience based on a lot of reviews but it really wasn’t for me.
2 out of 5 mobiles
Read
November 29, 2025Fantastic far future story with amazing world building and characters. Would've been perfect book but is, unfortunately, brought down by bad story decisions and plot devices.
At some point, in the middle, introduced is an invisibility device, which is not good thing at all. It moves story forward but serves as a plot device. With ability powerful like that much more could've been achieved. So it takes away from characters, makes them less smart. Story starts feel more magical from now.
Contains few explicit violence scenes that are tied to politics. Which is the background theme. Which together, takes away from the enjoyment. Main character acts irrationally at certain places. He takes too much risk and puts himself and friends at great danger needlessly.
Fortunately, other book features don't drop in quality. Very good prose and world building continues through the rest. Rich technology, whenever used for good or bad, makes it not only s-f, but a good post-humanist story.
At some point, in the middle, introduced is an invisibility device, which is not good thing at all. It moves story forward but serves as a plot device. With ability powerful like that much more could've been achieved. So it takes away from characters, makes them less smart. Story starts feel more magical from now.
Contains few explicit violence scenes that are tied to politics. Which is the background theme. Which together, takes away from the enjoyment. Main character acts irrationally at certain places. He takes too much risk and puts himself and friends at great danger needlessly.
Fortunately, other book features don't drop in quality. Very good prose and world building continues through the rest. Rich technology, whenever used for good or bad, makes it not only s-f, but a good post-humanist story.
dnf
January 31, 2024ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jubilee is a fast-paced, action-packed detective story with a very interesting setting of a lawless alternate space dimension but unfortunately one that I did not enjoy. I stopped reading it at the 40% mark because the crass writing style, tonal whiplash and the constant objectification of women was too much. I get that it supposed to emulate the vibe of the neo-noir detective novel but with some added humour but the characterisation lacked depth and the love-triangle situation was unpleasant to read about. The pacing was also much too quick for me as well, so many events would happen to the main character, and I would say some of these events were fairly traumatic, but unfortunately their impacts were never explored resulting in minimal character growth. Readers who like fast-paced action and adventure scifi might enjoy this one more.
Jubilee is a fast-paced, action-packed detective story with a very interesting setting of a lawless alternate space dimension but unfortunately one that I did not enjoy. I stopped reading it at the 40% mark because the crass writing style, tonal whiplash and the constant objectification of women was too much. I get that it supposed to emulate the vibe of the neo-noir detective novel but with some added humour but the characterisation lacked depth and the love-triangle situation was unpleasant to read about. The pacing was also much too quick for me as well, so many events would happen to the main character, and I would say some of these events were fairly traumatic, but unfortunately their impacts were never explored resulting in minimal character growth. Readers who like fast-paced action and adventure scifi might enjoy this one more.
February 12, 2024
I found Jubilee by Stephen K. Stanford to be a real imaginative sci-fi adventure with a sort of pulp detective vibe going on.
It’s an action packed fantasy thriller with a great plot, lots of great futuristic ideas and solid characters. Throw in some explosive action to boot, a bit of humour and Jubilee made for a great read, set in a far future galaxy.
We follow Detectives Col and Danee as they embark on a mission to retrieve the body of a politician who, it appears, got up to some naughty escapades. They find that the body was swapped and our story progresses from there.
I found Jubilee to be an engaging read, full of twists, turns and intrigue, with a touch of romance for good measure set in an incredibly imaginative futuristic world.
A big 4 stars from me.
It’s an action packed fantasy thriller with a great plot, lots of great futuristic ideas and solid characters. Throw in some explosive action to boot, a bit of humour and Jubilee made for a great read, set in a far future galaxy.
We follow Detectives Col and Danee as they embark on a mission to retrieve the body of a politician who, it appears, got up to some naughty escapades. They find that the body was swapped and our story progresses from there.
I found Jubilee to be an engaging read, full of twists, turns and intrigue, with a touch of romance for good measure set in an incredibly imaginative futuristic world.
A big 4 stars from me.
March 1, 2024
Stephen K. Stanford sets his fun romp in the far future when a political movement is slowly taking over planets. Col and his investigator partner Danee are sent to the lawless (think Las Vegas) artificial world out of phase with the galaxy, Jubilee(paper from Flame Tree Press) A politician's body has to be returned, and with the coroner on a drinking jag, they get a free three days. Unfortunately that’s enough time for the movement to have taken over Col’s hom planet, soon Both Col and Danee are soon fired, Col has his eye gouged out, and discovers that his wife is missing. Luckily there is help found in Jubilee and Col has a lot of talents at spy work\, James Bond style, Lots of fun. I wouldn't mind more adventures.
November 21, 2025
Two cops, Col and Danee, are sent to pick up the body of a bigwig who died on an anything-goes vacation on Jubilee, a Las Vegas-on-steroids space station in its own pocket universe. Douglas, the major domo AI, tells them Jubilee has only three rules—be an adult, don’t harm others, and leave when your money runs out. When they go to the morgue to pick up the body, they find—not the body of a middle-aged man—but a dead teenager whose DNA matches that of his son. I wish all the action had taken place on Jubilee, but sadly, Col and Danee return home, where the plot complications did not hold my attention.
October 7, 2023
An engaging and fast paced read. An imaginative futuristic world, where what happens on Jubilee stays on Jubilee, except for the dead politician that the main characters Detectives Danee and Col are sent to pick up.
There’s been a body switch, or has there? It’s not just the wrong body that Danee and Col have to worry about, Col’s wife has been arrested during an attempted coupe and Danee and Col’s attraction isn’t staying plutonic. It’s a page turner that left me wanting to know what’s happening next. Hopefully there’s a second in a series on the way.
There’s been a body switch, or has there? It’s not just the wrong body that Danee and Col have to worry about, Col’s wife has been arrested during an attempted coupe and Danee and Col’s attraction isn’t staying plutonic. It’s a page turner that left me wanting to know what’s happening next. Hopefully there’s a second in a series on the way.
September 14, 2025
Well, that was a fun read. I bumped into the author in a book store in Lorne, VIC when I was looking for a new sci-fi/fantasy book, and I'm very glad I decided to buy - it was exactly what I was looking for and I finally got around to reading it now! Action-packed, quick-paced and pleasantly quirky, I looked forward to every time I sat down to read. Easy to also draw parallels to the current age we live in, it felt topical and relevant, and boy do I hope AIs end up being as nice as Douglas and Batum!
November 10, 2025
Stephen K. Stanford delivers pure sci-fi adventure with style, wit, and an irresistible sense of pulp-detective swagger. In Jubilee (Book 1), we follow Detectives Col and Danee through a far-future galaxy filled with shady politicians, swapped bodies, and plenty of morally gray characters. It’s fast-paced, full of intrigue, and packs in humor alongside bursts of high-octane action. Stanford builds a galaxy that feels alive, gritty yet imaginative, with just enough romance and mystery to keep you hooked from page one to the explosive finale.
February 1, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway for my honest review of this title. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I usually don't like sci-fi thrillers very much, but this one was excellent. Very easy to read and understand without a bunch of over technical garbage throughout it. Lots of action and adventure. And the bad guy gets it stuck to him in the end. Who doesn't like that? I recommend you give it a try this one was highly entertaining.
January 13, 2025
I loved Jubilee, it’s witty and fast-paced. I really wanted to know what was going to happen next and nearly fell out of my chair four or five times, surprised by the turns of the plot. A number of laughing out loud moments, too. It reminded me of some of my favourite sci-fi reads as a teenager, an entirely new world, wonderfully imaginative and dynamic but all too human, with relatable personal struggles, doubts and triumphs. Can’t wait to get my hands on book 2.
October 7, 2023
I’m not generally a reader of science fiction, but I decided to give this book a go…. And I loved it. It was fast paced, entertaining, well-written, and I engaged with the characters… It feels like the first book in a series… and it certainly left me wanting to know more about the characters… I recommend it!
October 8, 2023
There are some clever ideas in Stephen Stanford’s Jubilee, as well as characters you can be sympathetic towards. For all the current tropes, however, I found the book curiously old fashioned, with some Golden Age sensibilities. I also found the first-person narrative to have a simplistic tone, which kept me from really engaging with the book. Pleasant and diverting bot no more.
October 20, 2023
This is good fun, light sci-fi. It sits somewhere between The Hitch-hiker's Guide and Blade Runner. Likeable characters pursue all manner of adventures over vast distances, encountering some imaginative high technology along the way. The stakes are high enough for the reader to care what happens, but it's not a daunting read.
December 15, 2023
A rollicking tale with the perfect blend of action and romance, Jubilee is a compelling homage to old-school sci-fi while being fresh, sharp and contemporary. A master of world-building, Stephen K. Stanford grips the reader from the get-go, taking us on a rousing journey with characters we truly care about. An immersive read for both the sci-fi aficionado and the novice.
December 20, 2023
I rarely DNF a book, but this book was not my cup of tea. I tried reading it a few times, but sadly, I just don't connect to it in any way. I do think that there are plenty of people who would enjoy this, though. Giving 3 stars, as it may be a good book, but just not my type of book.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the e-arc for an honest review
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the e-arc for an honest review
May 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t read a sci fi book for some years, and this was such a fast moving story that it held my interest right up until the end.
Stephen K Stanford is a new sci fi author who has created a believable world in Jubilee, and I would love to see this book as a movie.
I hear there is a sequel coming, and I will be keeping my eyes open for that!
Stephen K Stanford is a new sci fi author who has created a believable world in Jubilee, and I would love to see this book as a movie.
I hear there is a sequel coming, and I will be keeping my eyes open for that!
February 18, 2024
Oof, my first though was, "Wow, that's a sucky ai art cover." While I was peeved by that, I did give it a chance. Did a chat gp bot write this book too? The writing plodded along and was super unimmaginative.
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