Hook astride what looks like a metal surfboard, handgun raised and pointing at a target off the page. On the back, a silver sphere disgorges silver flying saucers from honeycombed openings in its side.
Illustration is credited to Peter Goodfellow.
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450 01963 2 (? - UK edition doesn't actually specify this as the ISBN, but it appears on both the cover and inside with the publication details)
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There is no blurb - just the continuation of the cover illustration, as detailed above.
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'We'll slit this Hook's throat,' said Walton Gaines, with all the dark authority in his voice reaching clearly from the galley to where Hook sat at the controls of the space cutter.
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Hook has joined with four others in the theft of works of art from a Boosted Men controlled planet. Sadly, his companions want to kill him to increase their share of the loot. Oddly enough, Hook manages to outwit and outfight his would-be betrayers. His triumph is marred by the unfortunate event of his proceeds from the robbery getting sucked into space during a crash on the Star City Stellopolis which is in orbit around the planet Voyden. During this crash, Hook manages to rescue Bolan Bunji Cater - a nobleman. Bunji's mother, the lady Terifia, is ever so grateful - and though she has fat legs, Hook finds himself embroiled with her.
The villain of this piece is the Curlman Lars Cu-Foylty - who preys on the Voydun inhabitants of the planet below, recording their feelings as they are hunted to replay them in expensive 'exper' sessions for the elite. Stranded on Voyden, Hook has to throw in his lot with the Voydun.
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This is the only one where Hook doesn't meet a Boosted Man. Other than that, we learn a bit about Hook's view of the world - which is mildly altruistic in a pragmatic sort of way. Shaeel and Karg don't appear in this one either.
This book is dedicated 'For Simon Rack and the Chronicler of his adventures, Laurence James'.
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