Wait! Did you say a Jump Space… Accountant? What is this? Something like, “Have actuarial table, will travel?”
Well, not exactly. If you are into hard science fiction with a twist, check out this delightful series by Andrew Moriarty. Follow the adventures of Jake Stewart as he deftly slings data, ship specs, rulebooks, and, yes, spreadsheets to defy the bad guys at every turn. There are rail guns and space battles too, but Jake’s way of dealing with violence will likely leave you in stitches.
Book 1 & 2
Jake didn’t start out as the fearless upholder of a reconciled balance sheet. In Book 1,Trans Galactic Insurance, he’s a lowly Belter from the outer rim of the settled universe. A naïve young man of twenty-something, he’s enrolled in the merchant academy in the Core. His schooling is fully funded by a once-in-a-lifetime scholarship. Or is it?
It turns out that to officially enroll in his second year at the academy, there is a nasty requirement he must meet first. Like come up with at least 10,000 credits to buy his place in the specialized area of study he wants to pursue. He gathers friends to help him though the schemes that will garner enough credits to make the deposit due in just a month. And that’s when the trouble begins.
Though Book 1 is the beginning of Jake’s adventures in Jump Space, you might want to start with Book 2 of the series, Orbital Claims Adjuster. In his second book, Moriarty has fleshed out the characters, and they have a more solid feel as Jake sets out on his first job under the supervision of the enigmatic Mr. Dashi. With an expense account and a first mission, Jake is all set to be the best corporate operative in the galaxy. Yet again, things go awry.
The Sequels
In each of the sequels you get to experience Jake’s growth, learn more about Mr. Dashi and other characters in this rich star system that has become isolated from the humans’ Galactic Empire, and enjoy Moriarty’s dark, nerdy humor—there is steel underneath the laughs. The plot twists and the surprising ways Jake wins out over obstacles will keep you coming back for more.
The Adventures of a Jump Space Accountant series continues with six more books:
- Book 3: Third Moon Chemicals
- Book 4: A Corporate Coup
- Book 5: The Jump Ship
- Book 6: The Military Advisors
- Book 7: Revolt in the Palace
And…drum roll please,
- Book 8: A Free Trader released on December 21. As of this writing, I haven’t read the newly released sequel, but it was on my Kindle before you could say “Free trades!”
Follow Jake’s growth from his humble beginnings to taking down the worst of the worst in Jump Space.
And Other Works
If these scenarios don’t power your spaceship, you can check out Moriarty’s other hard sci-fi (currently 7-book) series, Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire. To see what else Moriarty is up to, visit his website: https://jumpspacewriting.com/ . At the bottom of the page is a place to sign up for his monthly newsletter and receive a free book!
I am a retired community college mathematics professor with an interest in quantum physics, unified field theories, aliens, and great stories. I’ve been an avid reader of speculative fiction ever since I read A Wrinkle in Time when I was a kid. For the past many years (uh hm, we won’t put a number), I’ve made attempts at writing my own great stories, with mixed results. In his book Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction, Orson Scott Card describes four types of stories: the Milieu Story, the Idea Story, the Character Story, and the Event Story. Though all four of these concepts are important to a well-crafted tale, I find myself writing primarily Character stories. I enjoy exploring how characters develop with changing circumstances and how we can view social paradigms through a different lens. I also like to challenge myself to select a well-worn trope – young person going to magic school, first encounter of aliens and humans, etc. – and see if I can come up with a fresh take. Since joining the Speculative Fiction Writers Association, my writing has improved greatly. I’ve had two short stories published: “A Tea Story” in the e-zine Punk Noir, and “In the Dark” in the anthology Madam, Don’t Forget Your Sword: Tales of Companions, Sidekicks, and Minions edited by Helen Davis and Elizabeth Davis. I’ve served as Secretary for SpecFicWriters since January 2025.