Book Review – Revenge: Jason Steed
We were asked to review, Revenge, which is a Jason Steed novel by Mark A. Cooper because they thought it would appeal to martial artists. There was a catch however, it’s juvenile fiction, so it’s targeted at 9-year-olds and up.
Take down a ruthless criminal gang – from the inside.
Rescue the ambassador’s kidnapped daughter.
Capture a traitor.No problem.
If that sounds like it could be the plot of a bad action movie, well then you’ve pretty much nailed Revenge, except this book might actually have more action. By page 69 our 11-year old protagonist has been in 3 fights, involved in 2 murders, a torture scene and one of his school yard chums has committed suicide.
A bit heavy you think? Well, that sort of depends on your 9-year-old I suppose. If he’s the type to play violent video games like Call of Duty, I don’t think he’ll find the disregard for life in this book particularly unusual. By the end of the book, I had lost count of the number of people shot or killed by the guns or martial prowess of Jason Steed.
Considering the heavy subject matter, I was a little surprised at the simplification of other subjects. I can understand simplifying things for the younger audience by making Chinese a single generic language, (yes our little hero speaks Chinese, Japanese, French and is working on German – he also has his pilot’s license), but the representation of the martial arts bothered me at times.
At one point he begins to defend himself against two attackers, and notes that they know karate and wonders what style. He eventually answers his own question… “Tae Kwon Do, good style and fast.”
Hmmm… is this just poorly written prose, or does Mr. Steed, or the author think Tae Kwon Do is a style of karate? There was also movement between Japanese and English on describing kicks, and I think it would have made more sense to keep it consistent. But those were the most egregious errors, ones that could be made by anyone without any martial arts knowledge.
I’ll ignore that our pre-teen wonder has multiple black belts in several different disciplines and is capable of taking on multiple, often armed, adult attackers after 6-years of training. This IS adolescent fiction after all, and some things should be overlooked. It’d be pretty boring if the poor kid was quickly throttled by the Triad members sent to kill him.
When I was 9, I was trying to get my hands on everything I could by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I’m not sure I would have been into this sort of adolescent wish fulfillment fantasy fiction at that point in my life, but for all of my complaints, the action is quick and almost constant, and likely to connect with today’s kids intent on violent video games and ‘exciting’ subject matter.
So can I recommend this sophomore effort by the author Mark A. Cooper? If you read the first one and liked it, I suspect you’ll enjoy the second one. If the idea of reading about an 11-year-old that racks up a kill count comparable to Wesley Snipes in Passenger 57 doesn’t appeal to you, then you’d best skip it.
Revenge: Jason Steed, a novel by Mark A. Cooper, available from Sourcebooks March 2012.
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So basically this is a very polite way of saying it’s crap. You do have a way with words, I’ll give you that (lol). An 11 year old martial arts expert: sounds like a contradictio in terminis to me and not a good starting point for a thrilling read. It’s pretty odd to ask a grown man to review a kids book (a better choice would be actual members of the target audience), let alone one with such an apparantly silly theme that seems to be making a mockery of the martial arts but then again there are stranger things in the world. Rather you than me I’d say. Question: did you actually get past page 69? In general I tend to finish the books I start but if they’re really bad I give up, my time on earth being limited and all.
That was excellent! Made me want to read it just to experience what was portrayed in the review. More please!
Zara – I read the entire book, but I did nearly put it down around page 124 (about half way through), because it gets pretty over the top. However, there were two things motivating me onwards. The first was that I had agreed to review the book, and I felt it was necessary to finish it in order to be completely fair. And second I was also re-installing Windows 7 on a computer, so I had large gaps of time to fill.
Do I, as an adult, think it’s ridiculous? Yes. Do I think younger person might enjoy it? Perhaps. Would I recommend it to kids to read? I’m not a parent so I don’t know.
@Chris: that’s a thoughtful judgement and of course it is important to honour one’s commitments, even if they’re unpleasant at times.
Do you read martial arts/action themed books (adult fiction) and if so what titles can you recommend? I’ve read the Clavell novels and a fictional biography of Musashi along with some books by Lustbader (the ninja etcetera) but that’s about it. Good suggestions are always welcome.
Well, according to “A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do” by Alex Gillis, TKD is a shotokan variant that was promoted in a way to make it look like a native Korean art.
When it comes to novels I liked the “John Rain” novels by Berry Eisler (John Rain is a hitman using Judo) and the “Lawson Vampire” novels by Jon F. Merz (Lawson is a vampire using ninjutsu).
The Eisler books are pretty decent thrillers, and the Merz novels are great to waste some time.
I’d also like to use this opportunity to tell you, that I really like this blog. I’m checking it almost daily, though this is the first time I actually comment on something.
Keep up the good work!
Lenny: Thanks for your reply, we’re glad you enjoy the blog.
I’m not very familiar with the roots of Tae Kwon Do, but I think it has sufficiently evolved in it’s own right to be considered a Korean martial art. One could claim that Karate is a style of Kung Fu, since the Okinawins learned it from Chinese monks using that same argument, despite the fact they’re very different arts.
Also, Revenge is a book where Chinese is considered a single language, so I have a hard time believing the author was making the historical connection. However, I’ll put Gillis’ book on my list of eventual must-reads.
And I completely agree; Berry Eisler is fantastic – these two series are not on the same level, not even close. Eisler’s books inspire me to send him motivational letters to get his next book out faster, while Cooper’s book inspires me to try writing my own.
I’ll take a look at the Merz series – I like to have something on my phone to kill time when I’m waiting in line, at the doctor’s office etc. A ninjitsu practicing vampire seems entertaining.. as long as he doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight, or suffer teenaged angst. Thanks for the suggestion.
Zara: Just as Lenny suggested, check out Barry Eisler, his John Rain series (I’ve read them all), is both excellent from a martial arts standpoint, but also actual story and character development. I would also recommend Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series. Again, decent stories, and the fights have a more realistic bent.
Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll be sure to check them out.
Personally, this sort of “adolescent wish fulfilment fantasy fiction” just irritates me. But I guess there’s a market for it.
Well, I think, as you quoted me, that Jason Steed is targeted more at adolescents than adults. I would recommend passing it and going for Barry Eisler or Lee Child.
Your honest review was a nice change of pace for me. Thanks. 🙂
I read the book and, at 12, am pretty sure I’m in the age range. So, if you want a review form me? First of all, there is violence (loads of it!) and some language. I feel relatively sure that whoever made this for 9+ didn’t really read the book. Second, I don’t think the author knows much about martial arts, but neither do I, and really, who does? Third, I actually quite enjoyed the book. There were certain parts where I was like, “What?”, but it was a plot that at least drove me to finish the book, which is more than I can say of some. Mark A. Cooper did an OK job to me.