Freelancer: The Great Unknown By Calvin Jordan - Outstanding World Building and Character Development In This Author's First Novel

Freelancer: The Great Unknown by Calvin Jordan

This book interested me because of the first three items in the blurb: "Freelancer. Detective. Investigator-for-hire." Thanks to a previously read book, I've been on kind of a Sci-Fi crime drama kick, and the book's description seemed it would fill the bill.

I enjoyed this story thanks to excellent, well-written characters, and because of the format it is presented in. It reads like a short story collection, but it also has story elements that tie everything together at the end. One thing I really appreciated was how the author included chapters that gave detailed backstory to each of the principal characters at just the right time, which answered the questions: Why does this person behave the way they do? What happened to them to make them the way they are?

Aside from the background reveals, the tale is about a crew of spacers who move from place to place and get into situations sometimes humorous, and often dangerous.

The captain of the Ariadne, Brooke Lawson, and her crew trek around the solar system in search of adventure and profit. They have a lot of adventure and face a lot of danger, but the profit part seems to escape them. Brooke and her crew of four malcontents hope they will find their niche among the planets and asteroid belt of a settled solar system. 

Most of what Brooke knows she learned by watching holographic videos. That training, along with her cleverness, drives her forward until she encounters a person from her past with a deal she cannot refuse. It turns out that she has gotten herself and her companions into something way over her head, and it could spell disaster for her, her crew, and the consequences of failure could rattle the foundations of the entire solar system.

There are five principal characters involved in Freelancer.

Brooke is the leader of a rag-tag collection of what might seem like misfits. She has big dreams of success but just seems to miss the mark. Luckily for her, she has good instincts which often make up for her lack of training and experience.

Kennedy is a woman who is no stranger to violence and conflict. She serves as the first mate and advisor to Brooke and often times keeps her leader grounded and on track.

Priya is adept at understanding and working with technology. She can crack codes that open doors; some that would better had they been left closed. She is timid, and when Brooke gives her some responsibility, there is no guarantee she will be successful, but she is eager to please and works hard for the ship and her captain.

Dr. Richard Fowler does his part by patching up the other crew members when needed. He is a bit of a recluse. He prefers to be alone, but makes room in his life for a tabby cat named Max. 

Hope is a gender-neutral android with issues that appear as severe depression. They are not to be dismissed, though. Hope comes through in numerous life-threating situations.

My favorite plot point of Freelancer is the excellent character development throughout the story, but more so in the chapters that deal with individuals. I think any reader can find something of themselves in a character, or maybe in a combination of them. As I got to know the people, I found a deeper understanding of how they relate to each other and those around them.

With that in mind, I found that Dr. Fowler turns out to be my personal favorite character. His backstory is a roadmap of how one becomes a curmudgeon because of their life choices. He is a great character, in my opinion.

My takeaway from Freelancer is to remember that persistence is the path to success.

I recommend Freelancer to any reader who enjoys a good space opera, including some fine world building and well-developed characters. After a slow start getting into this tale, I found I didn't want to put it down once I got into the rhythm of it. Freelancer is a clearly written story made up of smaller stories with threads that pull the entire tapestry together in the end. I look forward to future Sci-Fi work from Mr. Jordan!

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Calvin Jordan is a writer from South West England; originally from Cornwall, now living in Bristol with his partner. He studied Theatre at the University of York and holds a master’s degree in Playwriting from the same institution. He has been writing since his early teens, whether he's wanted to or not. He has always had a love of science fiction and fantasy, and his hobbies include roleplaying games, consuming caffeine, and the colour purple.

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