The US Cover shows a picture of Hook looking like a typical action-hero type - all stern glare and shadowed face. He looks like the love-child of Charlton Heston, John Wayne, and, oh, that guy in 'Space 1999'.
The UK cover is different. In this picture, Hook is shown as having a more 'sensitive' face, eyebrows that owe something to Dan Dare, and a very distinctive hairline giving him a heart-shaped face.
450 01838 5 (? - UK edition doesn't actually specify this as the ISBN, but it appears on both the cover and inside with the publication details)
0-523-00528-8 (US edition)
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UK blurb reads:
The century is 10,000, Earth Dating. The boundaries of the known world of the twentieth century have expanded beyond belief, beyond thought. Earth still remains, but as one of many planets throughout the galaxies, where a myriad of life forms exist.
Life has turned in a new direction, to a new future, but there are still problems to overcome, still the same struggle for survival.
And Ryder Hook is just one Earthman who is at home in a star-ship, on an alien planet, or on Earth. But he has been singled out for a purpose - to take part in a singular experiment . . .'
US blurb reads:
The century is 10,000, Earth Dating. The boundaries of the world as we know it have expanded beyond belief, beyond thought. Earth still remains - but as one of many planets throughout the galaxies, where myriad life forms exist.
Life has taken a new direction, to a new future, but there are still problems to overcome - and the same struggle for survival.
And Ryder Hook is just one Earthman who is at home in a starship, on an alien planet, or on Earth. But he has been singled out for a purpose - to take part in a singular experiment . . .
This is the first novel in a spellbinding new science-adventure series about a superhuman warrior of the future. Ryder Hook travels through the cosmos as a master of all he enouncters. He is a man of supreme adventure, timeless in his fearless conquering spirit! Watch for further books in the action-packed saga of Ryder Hook!'
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'Hook had never been more aware of the intolerance of the galaxy whirling and glittering away outside than in this very instant as the starship's engines ripped themselves to shreds.'
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Hook is travelling aboard the HGL Starship Iquique when it blows up due to some fairly serious engine problems. On his way to the nearest (and last) life-pod, Hook rescues Pera Southerton from a desperate Krifman trying to take her place ('We're loaded. He was one extra.'). Forced by circumstances to the free world of Ledrun, Hook and a handful of survivors are all set to be forced into slavery by the evil Goton Telander. Taken to the city of Lacon, Hook shoots his way out and allows everyone to escape. Hook takes Pera Southerton with him as he breaks free. Pera obtains tickets off-planet and a heavily disguised Hook and Pera attempt to leave - only to fall back into the evil grip of Goton Telander.
And from there on in, it gets more complex.
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Oh, we learn a lot about Hook in this one. I guess we have to if we're going to read any more. So, we find out that he was thrown out of Earth's Armed Services, but not before he had taken part in a military project that made him more than human. We also find out that his mother was an actress before she married, his father died in a mysterious accident, and that Hook has a brother and a sister. Hook was born on January 1st, 10,000 - which is nice.
We also learn that Hook has an alter ego - Jack Kinch, galactic assassin. Trouble is, we never find out exactly what Jack Kinch ever did or who he assassinated.
Hook has no credit card, and no loyalty to any multi-planent organisation. He's heterosexual, but not wanting to be tied up in any long-term relationship. Actually, he doesn't even have a relationship with the female lead in this book. He has a good friend, his best friend, called Shaael. Shaael is a hermaphrodite.
We also learn about the Boosted Men, why Hook dislikes them, and what happens when Hook is near a Boosted Man.
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