Review: Jack Glass by Adam Roberts

Jack Glass by Adam Roberts

Rating:

Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Space Opera

Publisher: Gollancz

Publication Date: 2013

Pages: 384 pages

Why did I choose to read this book?

Since I tried out Adrian Tchaikovsky I was so amazed by his versatility in topics and styles and his consistency in quality, details and his ambition to enhance the readers experience in many ways ( chapter names in Service Model ). So I got FOMO so I asked myself where can I find similar reading experiences? Maybe I should take recommendations from the Mr. Tchaikovsky himself. Thankfully he has such recommendations on his website and also gave us some in an interview on YouTube. So I went to my favourite local store in Berlin Otherland and bought 5 books of 5 new authors to checkout. The cover of Jack Glass did the rest.

Introduction

"Murder will out. But in space, no one can hear you scream."

Adam Roberts’ Jack Glass is a cerebral, genre-blending marvel that combines a spacefaring future with classic whodunit mystery. Winner of the British Science Fiction Association Award, it boldly asks what happens when the most dangerous man in the solar system also happens to be the smartest. Part murder mystery, part philosophical inquiry, part hard sci-fi—this book is anything but ordinary.

What’s It About?

The novel is split into three interlinked mysteries:

• A locked-room prison escape on a remote asteroid.
• A high-society murder mystery on Earth where class tensions simmer beneath the surface.
• A conspiracy that exposes corruption at the heart of an oppressive interplanetary system.

At the center of it all is Jack Glass—an outlaw, a genius, a killer, and possibly a hero.

Why You Should Read It

• A Genre-Defying Concept: Roberts effortlessly fuses golden-age detective tropes with futuristic world-building.
• A Compelling Antihero: Jack Glass is as enigmatic as he is fascinating—equal parts revolutionary and sociopath.
• Smart and Subversive: The book doesn’t just tell a story—it toys with your expectations of sci-fi and crime fiction.

Standout Elements

World-Building: A gritty solar system ruled by elites, with believable technology and a disturbing class divide.

Characters: Diana and her companions are strong voices in their own right, and Jack Glass casts a long shadow over all of them.

Themes: Power, justice, and the line between revolution and terrorism—all explored with nuance.

Writing Style: Clever, philosophical, and at times slyly humorous. Roberts balances intellect and intrigue with skill.

Weak Points?

• The narrative structure might feel disjointed for readers expecting a linear story.
• The prose can be dense—this isn’t a “light” read.
• The genre-blending may confuse readers looking for a straightforward sci-fi or mystery.

Read This If You Like...

• The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi – for brilliant antiheroes and intricate plotting.
• Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan – for gritty, tech-heavy crime in a dystopian future.
• Classic locked-room mysteries with a twist.

Final Verdict

– Daring, brilliant, and refreshingly different. Jack Glass is a must-read for fans of mind-bending sci-fi that isn’t afraid to get philosophical. Come for the murder mystery—stay for the existential crisis.