ixteen centuries in the future, Jak Jinnaka serves as a humble administrator for the Hive, the solar system's largest nation. But that's just a cover. He's also the brainwashed love slave of Princess Shyf of the Aerie, a small but influential solar-system power. But that's not entirely true either, because Hive Intel has partially deprogrammed him so he can act as a double agent and spy on the Princess. All in all, Jak enters this, the third book of his adventures after The Duke of Uranium and A Princess of the Aerie, with a very complicated life.
On Mars, archaeologists working in the tiny nation of Red Amber Magenta Green have discovered an artifact that belonged to Paj Nakasen. Nakasen founded "the Wager," the most widely practiced religion in the solar system. The artifact is a lifelog, essentially full documentation of Nakasen's life and writings, and thus of enormous value and cultural significance. The king of Red Amber Magenta Green knows that his small country doesn't have the resources to properly study the lifelog, and is willing to turn it over to the Hive, but protocols must be met and face saved all around. The Hive sends Jak to handle what should be a straightforward, if somewhat delicate, negotiation.
But if you think it's going to be easy, well, you don't know Jak.
Jak's three bosses—the Hive government, Hive Intel and Princess Shyf—all want Jak to get the lifelog for them alone. Additionally, Jak must bring his government boss's great-great-granddaughter on the mission so she can get experience in the field. Hive Intel saddles Jak with a junior agent from an influential family—an incompetent dolt whom he cannot fire no matter how much the man deserves it. As these and other forces converge on Red Amber Magenta Green, Jak finds his life is not just complex, it's downright convoluted.
An entertaining escapade
John Barnes understands that if you create a setting that's a pleasure to visit, readers will keep coming back for more. His 36th century is a playground world with many comforts. Jak constantly takes hot baths, snacks on warm danishes and coffee, and sleeps in whenever possible. He's surrounded by family and friends who are strong and intelligent and who care for him a great deal. It's not all a picnic, though. Jak also embarks on adventures, battles his enemies, takes risks and suffers losses. Along the way, he sees splendid sights and examines the bizarre and amusing politics of the time.
Despite all that, Jak comes across as passive at times. He's acquired so many masters, enemies and cohorts that he tends to get bounced around like a ping-pong ball, with few chances to take initiative. This is especially true when he and his party visit Paxhaven, a kind of space-opera Rivendell—or perhaps Oz—whose inhabitants devote themselves to solving everyone's problems as kindly and gently as possible. It's interesting and intriguing, yes. But suspenseful? Not so much.
Clearly this series will continue, and perhaps Barnes has bigger plans for Jak that are slowly unfolding. I'll stick around to see what happens next because these books are readable and fun, if on the light side. In the Hall of the Martian King takes us to entertaining locales, shows off some pomp and pageantry, throws in a little danger and explores some tough political quandaries. All the ingredients of a good novel.
