Feedback received after the release of Hal 4
(Names have been removed to protect the innocent.)
- I don't think I have ever laughed out loud reading a book as much as I have this series.
- Fantastic story with a hint of romance. Haven't enjoyed a series this much since Discworld. Simon Haynes seems to have the same dry witty sense of humour as Terry Pratchett.
- I can't remember when I have enjoyed a book so much! I howled so hard my stomach hurt along with the tears of laughter.
- I can't remember when I enjoyed a book more!
- I love the books! I read both books one and two straight through because I couldn't bring myself to put them down. I sincerely appreciate your work.
- I really think you have a winner with this series.
- I love, love, love Hal Spacejock.and his sidekick robot, Clunk. (Well, I probably love Clunk more, truth be told.)
- Mate these books are bloody fantastic. Can't wait for more of the same.
- I found Hal Spacejock in the school library only this morning. I'm glad that I didn't have any more classes that day because I didn't put it down. The world that you created in Hal Spacejock enthralled me into rigorously absorbing the words off every single page in the book. I have read other Sci-fi, and I must say that I enjoyed Hal Spacejock more than them. In fact, Hal Spacejock has joined the treasured and few of my favourite pieces of literature. I was slightly sad that I finished the book, but after checking the site was quite joyed to see that there were another three books featuring Hal for me to enjoy, with two more planned in the near future and hopefully even more after that!
- I was under the assumption that it'd be one of those annoying parodies that made fun of everything in a genre without bringing anything new to it. Stupid me! I would have read it ages ago if I had known how good it was! I really had a lot of fun with this book. It's got wordplay, puns (some of which are so cheesy they made me groan in horror), genuinely funny bits, wonderful characters, good writing, slightly confusing technology, and SPACESHIPS! Hal is a fool, but he's kind. Clunk, the ageing robot, is super intelligent but terribly naive. I even liked the Navcom, the thing that controls the ship and who's snarky and sarcastic and adorable.
- It has been a long while since I have read a book that was capable of making me laugh out loud. This book not only made me laugh out loud, it did so with surprising and welcome regularity. Hal Spacejock is reminiscent of all three male main characters in The Hitchhiker's Guide series - Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, and Zaphod Beeblebrox all rolled into one hilarious and strangely endearing character.
- Thank-you for the best books I've read in the last few years
- Seriously funny series of books, had to read them all one after the other before I could pick up any other book. Waiting for the next one to be published.
- I've enjoyed Donald Westlake's books for many years - he was one of my favorite writers. While I was reading Hal Spacejock, I almost felt that I was reading something by Westlake. Clever dialog. Great characters. Razor honed plots. Very functional word flow, but immensely enjoyable. Some books are excellent, but they can feel like work to get through. With your book, I never once did the "steeling myself, heavy sigh" upon picking up the book. It was always "oh boy! I get to see what happens to Hal and Clunk next." Well done, sir.
- I read the first ebook, it was hilarous! Simon Haynes pokes at technology and culture in the same skewed ways as Groening and Cohen have done with "Futurama". I now own paperbacks of the other books in the series as a result. (I should point out, though, that "inept" doesn't begin to describe Hal!)
- I would like to thank you for a wonderful series, Hal Spacejock is awesome. Some of my favourite authors include Terry Pratchett; Douglas Adams and Bill Bryson and your name has just been added to that list.
- I loved red dwarf and the first book is as good if not better.
- Hal Spacejock has just the right amount of wacky humor to make it pure gold.
- Each of your stories is better than the last (which is a big call when book 1 was great to begin with). It's going to be a big ask to top 4 with number 5 - but I can't wait to see how you do it.
- After the recommendation of a friend that the Hal Spacejock series just might be my cup of coffee, I read books 1 & 2, back to back, then did the same when I got my hands on 3 & 4. My very great thanks to you Simon for bringing this man into the literary universe - finally a scifi character I readily identify with. Your imagination is a bloody marvel and the humour you pump into the stories is priceless. Bless!
- I just finished book 1, and had a great time! Hal and Clunk are one of the best comedy-adventure teams I've run across in years! I'm really looking forward to more of 'em, can't wait for the ebook release in February...
- I downloaded your first book (excellent idea to make that free!) and I'm laughing at the end of the first dialogue section. I can definitely see the similarities with Terry Pratchett, a favorite of mine. I'll be picking up the others just as soon as I dig through the first one. Consider me a very satisfied and appreciative visitor.
- I love Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, and greatly enjoy Monty Python, Blackadder, Red Dwarf, and Firefly. I recently found a copy of No Free Lunch at my local library, and I read it in a single day. I now am working on finding copies of the rest of the series at the library, at least until I have money to afford to buy my own copies. Thank you for making my life a little funnier.
- Fantastic series so far, hanging out for book 5
- I just finished reading Book Four of your awesome Hal Spacejock series... I must say it was a real pageturner >_> I remember staying up past 4am reading it one time.
- Absolutely loved the first 4 books. Please hurry with books 5 & 6. Cant wait.
- Well done Simon...... I've just read book 1. Now I'm onto book 2, and I have to say THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. I'm a bit behind times, but rest assured I will be purchasing every single one. I'll definitely get my kids interested, when they're a little older. A refreshing change from my usual reads. A fan for life.
- The story is fun and fast-paced, a great book for a quick read or for a younger reader who can appreciate humor, slight cursing, and poop jokes.
- I love your books. They are so good and I love that they are different to so many other books.
- Awesome book. (Hal Spacejock) claims to be better than red dwarf, and it's not far from it.
- Great book. (Hal Spacejock Second Course) picks up from the first one and just makes it better. Loved it, Simon Haynes just gets better and better.
- I have just finished reading the latest Hal Spacejock book. It's great!
- Thanks for another very enjoyable Hal adventure, very hard to put down once you start. Looking forward to the next one.
- I love the first book (I haven't read more at the moment). It's like a Red Dwarf fix I couldn't get for years.
- Love your books. As an avid reader of many genres, I find your books to be the most enjoying and comical read out of anything I have read.
- Read the freebie, thought what the heck, I might like it ... LOVED it! just as good as red dwarf etc,and its written here in Aus!! BONUS, keep it up would love to see you do well. thanks live long and prosper.
- My young nephew and his mates have been sharing these books together ... hal spacejock is their hero fan. I was told to have a read and wow, I'm hooked with the funny madness of hal spacejock. Really trying to convince my friends, but they think I've lost the plot!!! at least i'm screaming with laughter, it's amazing ... keep hal spacejock alive!!!!!
- I love Hal Spacejock. I first found him in my university bookshop with a yellow sticky note claiming it was a signed copy. I also noticed the review comment "better than Red Dwarf!". I had to read it, nothing could be better than Red Dwarf... BUT, it was great. I loved it. Took me a day to read non-stop, and I went straight back to my uni bookstore the next day and bought book 2, which was also signed. I LOVE HAL SPACEJOCK! <3
- Hi, I loved your books, I only discovered them last week but have already read three and am going back tomorrow to get No Free Lunch.
- My son is only three but I read your books to him and he absolutely loves them.
- Have read the first three books, and intend to get the fourth in the next week or so. Great books, great read and a good laugh.
- Love your humor; lighthearted and not trying too hard to be funny
- Just finished reading No Free Lunch - great stuff. Very funny and entertaining. I love the little bits of "win" you give the guys in between massive doses of "oh no". I especially enjoyed the Epilogue, very nice warm fuzzies, and funny too. All round good read.
- I just finished No Free Lunch and wanted to pass on my congratulations. It was a great book - the best Hal so far. The plot, characters and the humour were great - well done!
- This week I've been catching up on Hal Spacejock Books! I'd only read the first... Just finished the 4th at lunch today. I absolutely loved them! I need more!
Feedback received after the release of Hal 3
- I love the books. It is great some of the looks i get reading your books on public transport when i burst out laughing with tears rolling down my cheeks and nearly fall off my seat. Cant wait for the next adventures of Hal, Clunk, The Navcom and all the rest
- I'm going to have to catch up... I've only recently read the first book, which I really enjoyed!
- An excellent effort with the books. Truly an excellent effort. Your characters are a welcome relief from the everyday boredom that surrounds us. This is the funniest series I've read. Hal, Clunk and Navcom...what a crack up! The Hal series is certainly a joy to read. Look forward to future releases.
- I'm really looking forward to reading your latest book, my daughter also thinks you are terrific.
- Can't wait to read the new book, absolutely love the series so far. They are p--s-my-pants laugh-out-loud hilariously funny.
- I love your books. When I got my hands on the first one I read it in a couple of hours. I was so absorbed. I read the other two by the end of the week. Can't wait to get my hands on No Free Lunch.
- To let you know how much I enjoy your books, I feel that Hal and Clunk are not just characters in a book, but friends of mine.
- I absolutely love your books! They're brilliant! I couldn't stop laughing and i couldn't put them down.
- I loved the first three Spacejock books and can't wait for No Free Lunch. (My daughter loves them too) Thanks for such a great read.
- Thanks for the wonderful, amazing, brilliant books! Keep on writing!
- Your books are terrific, I love them and am looking forward to the next one, and the one after that and any others you intend to write. With so many bad things happening in the world it's always great to sit down and have a good laugh, and Hal and co. do that for me. Keep it up please; more, more, more!
- Enjoyed the 1st two immensely, read them on international flights, amazing how they made the time fly (literally)
- It'll hook you in on the first page and won't let you go! Hope you didn't have anything else planned.
- Best read in a long time, just loved it, and will treasure forever.
- Love the series, can't wait for the 4th book!!
- I just recently read the first 3 books and loved them! I miss Hal already. :( April, get here soon. :) [Sorry - it's going to be June now!]
- Read all three and loved them...laughed out loud! Eagerly awaiting #4.
- I ventured out and purchased your book. It was very funny without being corny! Can't wait for it to be converted into a movie.
- I LOVED IT!!! I was laughing out loud for almost the entire book. [Hal 2] And doing that while traveling on trams in Central Melbourne gets you some pretty strange looks. : -) One memorable occasion as I was reading page 193 and the top of 194 where Clunk is [ ] behind the [ ] and then he crashes into the [ ]. I had tears STREAMING down my face I was lauging so hard. I nearly fell off my seat. [Details suppressed so as not to spoil the fun for others.] Thankyou sooo much for bringing your imagination to life. I loved the entire book; the characters, the plot, how you created that world (it was amazing). And who can forget the humour. Writing for that genre, not many people can do it, and in my experience, no one can do it as well as you. I cant wait to read the next installment.
- "I haven't ploughed through a set like I have with the Hal Spacejock series in years. A great read and a laugh till your side hurts sense of humor. I love it and really can't wait till the next in the series is released."
- "A friend recently put me onto this series - damn its awesome! Over 3 days I finished the first two books and I struggled to force myself to close the book when I arrived at uni for tutorials. Now that I have the third in my hands I don't expect I'll be sleeping much tonight :)"
- "I've just finished reading 'Just Desserts' and I can't wait for your fourth book. Thanks for keeping your fans happy!"
- "I really enjoyed your first book--ordered from Powells in the US. By the way, I love your current covers."
- Finished your Hal Spacejock novel last night and parted from Hal and Clunk with great reluctance. What I liked best was that Hal isn't stupid, just stubborn, willful and inept. He genuinely (and wrongly) believes in his skills and abilities as a pilot or just about anything else he puts his mind to. I find that much more compelling in a character than Three Stooges' like pratfalls and playing who's dumber. I think it's refreshing to see a spoof of this cleverness and featuring genuinely charming and likable characters. I detect flashes of Mel Brooks here and there too. A fine tale, well told.
- "It's not the zany slapstick style of comedy I was expecting - more of a really well developed, fun story with interesting characters and enough real-world observations to make it a very enjoyable read. Thanks for a great story."
- "Whew! I just finished Hal Spacejock Second Course on Friday. May I just say, excellent? I really liked Hal 1, but I love Hal 2."
- "Finished reading Hal Spacejock (the first book). It's awesome, I highly recommend it. Very funny, and Hal is like a cross between Han Solo and Arthur Dent. Although, I completely see why everyone is obsessed with Clunk. He's just cool. (Lets put it this way, if you like Red Dwarf, it's like Lister vs. Kryten. Lister's awesome, but Kryten is just.... well.... more. Very hard to explain.)
- "I enjoyed Hal Spacejock immensely!"
- "During long delays at Sydney Airport last weekend, I wandered into the NewsLink store in search of something to read. On the shelf was Hal Spacejock (book 1). I already had a copy but had not read further than page 20 due to work. You will be pleased to learn that I bought a 2nd copy and have now read it in full. Lots of laughs. I am not a SCI-FI reader but what struck me was the the very Australian flavour. Is this a first in the genre? Aussie Sci-Fi? Your natural command of the Australian vernacular has no hint of a Spanish/English background. If the book/s is/are ever produced in film, Hal would need to be an Australian, in my opinion."
- "A friend told me this was one of her best reads so far this year."
- "Love your books, write faster!"
- "I thoroughly enjoyed it, well done!!! My wife kept asking me why I was laughing when I was reading a Sci-Fi book. I recently purchased copies of books two and three and as soon as I am finished the last installment of Harry Potter (had to get in early before someone ruined the ending for me) I will immerse myself once more in the universe of Hal. Do I really have to wait till April for book 4???"
- "I loved the first 2 books - keep up the great work."
- "A flight hostess loaned me a copy of a one of the HS books on a long flight. Passed the time quickly."
- "I loved the first two and can't wait to read Just Desserts"
- "I know I'll be recommending it to all my friends - half way through Hal 3 and enjoying it immensely."
- "I started laughing on page one and didn't stop until the epilogue."
- "Great books, thoroughly enjoyed them, can't wait for 4,5,6 :-)"
- "I picked up Hal Spacejock after finding your website and myspace page and, I really enjoyed it. Not only was I introduced into the wonderfully weird world of Hal and Clunk, but you also inspired me to take that next step in making my writing career an actual reality. (I know it is a long journey I still have to make, but I'm confident I'll get there in the end). Cheers and I look forward to picking up Hal #2 in the next few weeks :)"
- "Just finished HS #3. Opened my head, took my brain out and laughed myself silly. keep up the fun and adventures."
- "I just finished your first Hal book and I really loved it. Now I just need to get the others."
- "I finished Hal Spacejock today - it was a great, humorous read and I'm looking forward to starting 'Just Desserts' tonight. Keep up the good work!!"
- "I just wanted to say how much I loved all your HS books so far. Even if I bought the first one because it compared Hal to Red Dwarf. It is great to see such a funny and sci fi related book written by a west australian."
- "Just read the first book, can't say why i bought it I just did, as i headed out of the airport lounge to the plane. Haven't had a laugh like that because of a book for a long long time. Thoroughly enjoyed and will be purchasing as soon as i get back to Aus. Not going to say better than Red Dwarf just yet, after just one, but definately up there and an equal peer. TV series???????"
- "Recently I gave my 81 yo mother, who has largely stopped reading, HS #1. I then went off with wife and kids to the coast for the night. When we returned the next day she thanked me for giving her your book... she had already finished it and loved every page. Thanks for writing something that woke her up and got her reading again. Now all I have to do is get the next two novels :-)"
- "Second Course was yet another excellent read. Very enjoyable. I'll be starting Just Desserts tonight."
- "I must say I thought Second Course really demonstrated that you were maturing in your art. I found it hugely enjoyable and as a story it held together superbly."
- "On reading the first book, (plus nine pages into the next...) I'd just like to compliment you on your character of Clunk. Most first officers/primary support characters I have found are usually under-represented by authors in favour of the MC; not so here. IMO, you've carried off both HS and Clunk with all the humanity due them as vital central characters. If someone does indeed take your keyboard away, I'll be only too happy to shout you a new one.Thank you, for the refreshingly familiar Aussieness (to invent a word phrase) and the greatest reading and writing software programs that I've personally ever seen."
- "It was a laugh a minute, it really was. I carried it around for three days reading whenever I had some free time. I think this is the first series I've read where the books have done nothing but get better."
- "Hal Spacejock was the damn funniest sf book I have ever read and I have read a few! Keep this up and you might just shock people with a bloody bestseller!"
Feedback received after the release of Hal 2
- "I finished reading Hal2 last night. Wow - in 7 days - near a record for me. Great read. Don't know how you think up the situations to put them in. I marvelled at how much was packed into one night in the Da Vinci code, but Hal and Clunk run rings around them. I REALLY like the way you make the villains responsible for their own demise - subtle Law of Karma stuff (intentional or not). I REALLY like your subtle sense of humour... in fact, I REALLY like a lot about your writing. If it makes it to movie-land, stand your ground with director/producer so they don't destroy the integrity of your creations. I know you're not after fame and fortune (or are you?) so you can afford to be firm when the offers start rolling in."
- "Hal Spacejock was a riot! Thanks for writing it and for persisting in getting it published. Fabulous. I happened to read it during a very difficult time. It saved my sanity. Thank you."
- "I came to the book launch for Second Course and have just finished the book, just as good, if not better than the first."
- "I also forgot to mention that I've just finished the second Hal Spacejock book. Excellent read. Better than the first one, I thought (still liked the first one, just like this one more)."
- "Just finished the "Second Course" It is great and truly outstanding. Can you send me a Katie, I wouldn't mind an affectionate robot. Excellent characters again and so many laughs. Thanks for the great read. Again I look forward to the next one."
- "Someone said it is as good as Red Dwarf. It's far better and would make a great TV series."
- "I love your books! my brother got my Boyfriend your first book... I looked at it and thought it looked cool and I decided to read it... I got past the first page and was hooked instantly! so hooked I almost missed my train stop coz I had my nose buried in the book :D was delighted when I found the website *thru Google* and noticed that there was more than one Hal Spacejock book... I recently got the second book and finished it today... all I can say is... I WANT THE NEXT ONE!! I wanna find out what Clunk and Hal get upto next! fantastic books :D love em to bits! I've recommended them to all my family and friends, keep up the good work! :D"
- "Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. I won one of the free copies last year and realized today as I looked at the magnet on the fridge that I had never taken the time to tell you how great the book was. I have read a lot of Sci-Fi and lots of humourous boks over the years. But so few can combine the two. Yours is one of the lucky few that can entertain me with a great story, and leave me laughing through the pages. One of my favorite series is the Phule series by Robert Asprin. Your book was so very much like that in the way it hit me! Now that I know there is a second book out, I will be ordering that one to read. Great job! Please keep them coming!"
- "Your books rock"
- "I picked up the first two books at the airport and enjoyed both of them immensely. I can't wiat until the next installment in the series, I think they are great. Well Done!"
- "I finished the first Hal novel yesterday and just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to getting the next one."
- "I had a look at your website the other night, as my partner is very into Terry Pratchett and at first did not know what to make of HAL SPACEJOCK, if it were some sort of farce or juvenille series or something. Then we read it, and honestly, I know an artist hates comparisons or such, but we have not found a"genre" based piece of humour this GOOD and FUNNY since Red Dwarf. I really wish you the best of luck and will look forward to the further adventures, as well as anything else you may pen."
- "I finally got a copy of the first Hal Spacejock. I am halfway through it and loving it a great deal. Look forward to the second one. I hope you get it distributed in the US it's definately worth it."
- "I fell in LOVE with the brilliant, witty writing, which is leaving me wanting MUCH MUCH MORE! Very clever stuff, without the smarminess of a lot of other "parodies" of its own genre."
- "Finished book one and loved every page of it. I hope the USA gets it soon."
- "I couldn't stop reading! I was reading them during work breaks, while sitting in traffic jams and anywhere else I found myself with a few minutes to spare. Last night I started re-reading book 1 again."
- "I finally finished my uni exams, so I finally got to read Hal 2 - and WOW, I loved it, I seriously could not put the book down! I've never read a book with so many memorable quotes ^_^ ... do we really have to wait until Jan for Hal 3? Okay... I can wait *figits*"
- "Shock horror!! Last night I finished another of the books I've had on the go for months. Simon Haynes' Hal Spacejock-Second Course, loved it, and I reckon they're getting better. Hal's character is bulking out, and Clunk is as great as ever (poor robot). Anyway, recommended for anyone who likes comic sci-fi, though I dunno how available it is overseas yet."
- "Can't wait for your books to appear on the continent! I've just had someone from Australia to send it over to me."
- "Just finished reading Second Course, very enjoyable, thanks :) pity there's never enough time to read much these days :("
- "The Hal Spacejock series is an important contribution because it strikes new ground in appealing to a wide range of ages. I enjoyed Hal Spacejock #1 immensely, and I am a 60-year-old computer scientist. My 9-year-old son gobbled it up in just a few sittings."
- "I recently bought your first novel "Hal Spacejock" from Dymocks here in Adelaide. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and have a great affinity for the characters. Looking forward to "Second Course" and your other novels in the series. Keep them coming."
- "Just finished Hal Spacejock Second Course - thoroughly enjoyed it. Good luck with the editing of Hal 3. Look forward to reading it in early 2007."
- "At first I thought: "Just another sci-fi writer - whoopee!" Then I read 2nd Course and was hooked! What a hoot. Great story. Not your usual sci-fi novel filled with techno bable. Enough to inspire me to start writing sci-fi. Now that's what I call a job well done, Simon!"
- "Simon - such a great book! and really easy reading. I love the subtle humour - and Clunk and Navcom are wonderful characters. If I was a lucky one in the draw, I'd give the copy to my Mum!"
- "I thoroughly enjoyed Hal Spacejock and HalSpacejock Second Course. The storyline and characters are excellent. Looking forward to Hal Spacejock Books 3,4 and 5. Keep them coming! You are a gifted writer and programmer."
- "I have only just recently gotten into the Hal series, but I am blown away. Well done!!!"
- "I just finished reading Hal Spacejock, I actually finished it a few minutes ago during my "extended" lunch period at work. I just couldn't wait to finish it on my usual trajectory towards home ( I travel about 3 hours per day on buses and trains thus I do a lot of reading). The book is amazing and does not disappoint. I thought of the robots on the first Star Wars movies when I was reading the book. I love the relationship between Hal and Clunk; please make sure Clunk never "dies". [Oops - S] The book had many funny parts including the erotic scenes between clunk and the navcom unit LOL. I also loved the book because it was built on relationships (human/human, human/robot, robot/robot) and lots of dialogue and action as opposed to detailed descriptive scenes which tend to bog down a lot of Science Fiction novels (e.g. books by Peter F. Hamilton). The other aspect of the book that I really loved was that it was in the far future yet had elements of present or past life on earth such as seedy characters and villains, cow dung, etc. [All good books have cow dung - S] The book is ideal for easy reading while you are on a beach or travelling, the chapters whiz by but in the end you are satisfied of how the story turned out and of course not too many people get seriously hurt (Clunk makes sure of that !). A feel good book, and believe me we need more of these books these days specially with what is going on in the world at the present time. I am waiting eagerly for Hal II to arrive in my mailbox, it will be a fun summer!"
- "My husband has just finished reading your first two Hal Spacejock novels and enjoyed them very much. We will be keeping an eye out for the third instalment."
- "I won a copy of Hal Spacejock in one of your draws and have just read it. I thought it was great, very funny but still with a great plot. I often found myself not being able to put it down as I wanted to know what happened next. I know this is a short e-mail but I thought I would let you know what I made of it especially as I won it. All I need now is to win the next book!"
- "This book is a very funny science fiction send up. I think this book is suitable for 12 year olds and up. It will appeal to a wide audience because of its interesting storyline and because it is hilarious. I think Simon Haynes wrote this book very well and I cannot wait for the next one! Ramon, aged 12"
- "I've GOT HS1 and I love it! It's a HOOT!"
- "Cool book -- good read!"
- "Just wanted to say hi and let you know that I really enjoy your writing and your humor - I'm looking forward to Just Desserts"
- "What a fantastic series! Very funny, witty and shows a great sense of humour. Perfect for some light reading!"
- "Hal Spacejock is a funny science fiction book which is complex enough to be interesting but not so technical as to turn the reader off. The characters are well-written and the explanations of space travel are very clear and easy to follow. Hal is an accident-prone pilot and he works with an old-generation robot. The author and publisher are Australian and I would recommend the book to 12 to 16-year-olds." Jack, 15
- "On the books they call your series another 'Red Dwarf' but it's way better, in fact, I'd love to see a TV series made of Hal and Clunk's adventures! Hilarious!!"
- "I loved the first Hal Spacejock novel. I read it in 11 hours (the time it takes to fly from Brisbane to Perth and back) and plan to buy the next one in the series next time I am at the airport."
- "I have now read both your current books... THEY ARE THE BEST! They are so cool! I can't wait for the third one to come out!"
- "I received the copy of Hal Spacejock you sent me and stayed up late reading. It was great! All those problems would have had me sniffing vacuum. I'm sure glad Hal survived! Now I know I have to go to any lengths to get #2 and then #3."
- My husband and I have just finished reading your first two books. I thought he was going to have an asthma attack he laughed so much! He's now in a deep depression, complaining he needs more of Clunk! Can't wait for the third instalment!
- Having read book one and almost through with book two, I must say that if you enjoyed book one, you'll absolutely love book two - it's miles ahead of book one ... and I loved the first book :) Now what *I* want is book three :p
- I'm reading Hal I right now, and it is so much better than expectations. This thing has become my buddy for those hours between classes down at the college.
- I want to read the second one! I love the first one and I'm a new fan of yours :-)
- I finished your book the other day...WOW...What fun...I'll write a blog about it & send out a notice to everyone...This is a must read...Thanks!!!!
- I just want to let you know that I just started reading Hal Spacejock and I am loving it. I could barely put it down to send you this quick note.
- I couldn't put it down. Great stuff. I have a very boring job which means I get to read a lot, so thank you for keeping me entertained :)
- Wanted to let you know that I finally had time to read your 2 books. I laughed myself silly so much that the family was wondering what I was doing !! Very good books....good to see some funny SF here in Oz.
- What a breath of fresh air! There has been almost nothing since Red Dwarf. Well done, keep 'em coming :-)
- Couldn't believe my luck when I found your page! I discovered your books just recently, and read both! I've been a long time Terry Pratchett fan and am so glad to have found you. You make me laugh out loud on buses ... it's embarrassing! Was so disappointed when I went back for a third fix and there were no more books... Can't wait for Just Desserts!
- I bought your book from amazon UK and it was brilliant! I wanted to buy copy for my dad for christmas, did you know your book is going for as much as ?46.97!!!
- Picked up Second Course in an airport and yeh, couldn't put it down. Great writing, great story. Well Done! Gotta get the rest now ..
- I have read Hal Spacejock and just about finished Second Course. I would just like to say these novels are probably the best I have read in a long time, and that is no mere comment as I am a avid reader. They give me so much joy to read them it is one of the few stories that consumes me, I actually feel like I am there - a part of the adventure you might say. Thank you for such a great story and I cannot wait till Just Desserts is released.
Feedback received after the release of Hal 1
- The cows showed me that maybe you are just a few ants short of a picnic.
- I highlighted parts of this book that made me laugh out loud. By the end of the book I had 29 of them. The only other books I've read that made me laugh this much are Terry Pratchett's.
- I'm through the first several chapters and I love it! It's been a long time since I laughed out loud reading a book :) Thank you so much for this!
- "Han Solo meets Hitchhikers Guide! This is some funny stuff. It really is laugh out loud funny. I just came off a binge in the Star Wars universe so I couldn't help but see similarities and enjoyed every one of them! I have dabbled myself with writing and actually came across Simon's site, the author, due to a software application he made for writers I had seen good reviews in other locations. I certainly wasn't looking for something to read as I have a HUGE backlog of other books just waiting for me to have some spare time to pick up. However, I ended up with a copy of Hal and it was a joy to read. Its a quick read, not too intellectual, which too much sci-fi tries to do these days, and just the right mix of humor, excitement, and adventure. The interaction between characters is a roller coaster of good times for all. I read 3-4 books a month and rarely do I put one down and immediately start seeking out more of the same. I like to jump genres to keep my mind fresh, right now all I want is more of Hal and Clunk! If you enjoy a world of quirky characters and side splitting humor. Here is your new base of operations! You will not regret it! "
- "I've finished Hal... and I LOVE Clunk! What a great character - and Navcom - now there's a smoooothe operator. Hal - well... his redeeming feature, for me is.... no, I won't say and spoil it for others."
- "My boy said he loved it, and walked around reading various scenes aloud. Once I've got through my current Mieville, I'll have a look myself and let you know what I think. :)"
- "Love the first one and can't wait for the second one. I am really enjoying Spacejock and I really dig Clunk"
- "Just finished book 1. Need more..."
- "Just finished HS*. I read it in a day and a half, and I can't remember when I last made the time to knock over a novel so quickly. The highlight for me? It involved frozen puddings. Can't wait for the sequel. (Please don't tell me that you're going to write two more, become enormouly successful, and then write three dodgy prequels. I don't think I could live through that again...) Congratulations, well done, and all the best. (* in the spirit of trying to encourage sales, I purchased my copy from Angus and Robertsons, and then stole their remaining copies. We've gotta stick together)"
- "I just finished Hal Spacejock, nicely done and funny, when's the next one?"
- "Hey Simon. Finished "Spacejock". You are one funny man and I love the book and will be lining up for the next one. There would have to be a movie in there. Thank so much for a new hero to watch for - "Clunk" that is."
- "I can't wait till this is available in Canada! It's listed in Amazon.ca as not yet released. Any idea when it'll be available?Regards from, uh, up over!"
- "I was holidaying at Hamilton Island recently (yay!), and when I was waiting at the island's small airport terminal to fly back to the mainland (boo!) I decided to browse through the airport's pulp fiction, to see what sort of mix of authors and subject matter sunseekers go for. Sitting there on the shelf, next to the obligatory Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter was a shiny new Hal Spacejock! Well done Simon!"
- "Really enjoying the book!"
- "Just finished reading Hal Spacejock and found it a great laugh. I know when I've enjoyed a book when it makes me laugh out loud like this one. Looking forward to the next instalments!"
- "Brilliant and look forward to the 2nd and 3rd books"
- "Just finished HS2. Excellent."
- "Read your first book. Could not help laugh, it's a great book. Pity it was so short I finished it in a couple of days."
- "Just thought I'd drop you a line to thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable read. After purchasing Hal Spacejock back when it was first released (after visiting 3 different book stores before I found one that had it in stock, Dymocks of course) I have finally been able to sit down and read it guilt free (now that uni is over). So thanks for the laughs, loved it :D"
- "Unexpected gems, both the novel & the software."
- "Just thought I'd let you know that I've finished Hal, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It moved a little slowly for me at the beginning, but raced towards a hilarious conclusion. I enjoyed the humour and all the references--great work. I'm looking forward to seeing Hal 2 when it comes out! :)"
- "It's a really terrific read, and hilarious - I hope it sells freighterloads! I'll look forward to the next one....?"
- "I am dying to read your books. I read the first chapter and it's hilarious! I'm currently looking for them on the bookshelves of America's Borders."
- "Your website is fantastic, cant wait to read your next book!!!"
- "I like your page layouts, your robot joke, and your attitude."
- "Be assurred you have one dedicated fan here. I will buy the next one and every one after that. I have read the first one three times and it is amazing how it just feels so good. Thanks again."
- "Thoroughly recommend Hal Spacejock if anyone has not had the chance to read it. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Looking foward to Hal's new adventures. Keep up the great work."
- "PS ordered in your latest novel- errr loveable dork be the way to describe Hal?? Great start to the hols- had a riotous couple of days flat on my back reading it. Thoroughly enjoyed it."
- "I read your book Hal Spacejock and got a good laugh out of it. I have two boys 8 and 11 and its a shame its not a motion picture as they would love it. My oldest is going to read it over the hols. I've passed the name on to some people at work who I think would also like it so I'll be able to give you some feedback next year hopefully from them. In the meantime i hope the sales are going well."
- "Love the series"
- "Just read chapter 1 of Hal Spacejock on your webpage and I love it. Will ask the local library to get a copy. I'd like a copy but increasing my library will have to wait a bit."
- "I cant wait to get number 2 on its release. I wish you all the best with the sales for #2. I like the cover shot and wish it was already available. Anyway Good Luck..."
- "I'm about halfway through Hal and am very much enjoying it, especially after all of the big, dark fantasies I've been reading. It really is funny (and I do 'get' British 'humour')"
- "Simon, I finished Hal last night and really enjoyed it. A Very entertaining read. (I was up until midnight reading, damn you for making it so interesting!) Thanks again for sending it to me! P.S. I read in the linked article that this version is about 11,000 words longer than the previous one. What, exactly, got added? I couldn't find any obvious "seams" in the story where it seemed like something might have been stitched in. Loved the argument with the elevator, and the food that tastes like sh*t!"
- "I really enjoyed Hal Spacejock, and I am looking forward to the Second Course, which shall be eagerly devoured."
- "Enjoyed first book. hafta read it again."
- "What a wonderful book Hal Spacejock was, I couldn't put it down and spent much longer on public transport than I needed to, so I could continue reading and was very dissapointed when I finished the book because the adventure was over, for now anyway. I am a Science Fiction fan, especially Star Wars and Star Trek, but your book was even better. I can't wait until the next one is released, excellent work."
- "Hal Spacejock is a very funny novel from Australian writer Simon Haynes. It follows the adventures of the eponymous space freighter pilot, a hapless bungler who is forced to accept an incredibly dangerous job shipping spare robot parts in order to prevent his ship from being repossessed. On the way he joins up with Clunk the cow-hating robot and has numerous (mis)adventures with the ship's navigation system, a land car, and a robotic elevator that only wants him to say the proper words to close the doors. Plenty of laughs and more than enough action to keep you entertained. I hope a stateside publisher picks this up."
- "Really enjoyed the first Hal Spacejock, and am looking forward to how many more times Hal will get a chance to space Clunk, but then again if he does, he might not be able to fight off those who want to take his new ship. :)"
- "G'day Simon, I just finished reading the first of many (I hope) of the Spackjock series. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humour was great and the story moved along nicely, definetly didn't become boring at any point. Just thought I let you know, that I enjoyed reading it. Am waiting with impatience for the 2nd of march for the next one."
- "Just wanted you to know that I read it down at the beach house, and loved it! Looking forward to the second book! I really really enjoyed it, most certainly got to the 'unputdownable' stage, and I thought the ending (a) was VERY satifsying and (b) didn't obviously signal 'book 2'. So congratulations! Thanks for the fun and the pleasure of a great read! I've been touting it ever since I read it, and leaving it out in obvious positions :-) so hopefully that will help a bit, and if it doesn't, I'll bloody well BUY people copies of it!"
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