The Icarus Hunt cover art

The Icarus Hunt

A Novel

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About this listen

 From Timothy Zahn, Hugo Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of two landmark Star Wars® series, comes an original new tale featuring a renegade space pilot, his unusual alien partner, and an unknown cargo that can change the course of galactic history.

Jordan McKell has a problem with authority. Unfortunately for him, the iron-fisted authority of the powerful Patthaaunutth controls virtually every aspect of galactic shipping. In order to survive, Jordan ekes out a living dabbling in interstellar smuggling for outlaw concerns that represent the last vestiges of free trade in the galaxy. So when Jordan and his partner, Ixil--an alien with two ferret-like "outhunters" linked to his neural system--are hired by a mysterious gentleman to fly a ship and its special cargo to Earth, they jump at the job.

Caution has never been one of Jordan's strong suits. But this time he may have taken on more than even he can handle. The ship, Icarus, turns out to be a ramshackle hulk, the ragtag crew literally picked up off the street, and the cargo so secret, it's sealed in a special container that takes up most of the cramped and ill-designed ship. As if that weren't bad enough, it looks like the authorities already suspect something is afoot, there's a saboteur aboard, and the Icarus appears to be shaking apart at the seams.

It doesn't seem as if things could get any worse. That is, until a beautiful crew member helps McKell uncover the true nature of the cargo he's carrying. With his enemies closing in on the lumbering Icarus, the unknown saboteur still aboard, and authorities on Earth pressured to turn them in, McKell and Ixil become fugitives. Their only chance is to stay one step ahead of their pursuers as they try to make it home.

A bold and epic novel filled with unrelenting action and a good dose of humor, The Icarus Hunt is a wild hyperspace romp through the galaxy. Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Hard Science Fiction Humorous Science Fiction Space Opera Interstellar Comedy Witty
All stars
Most relevant
I've read the book many times, and although it's far from perfect, the continuing twists and turns and seemingly unconnected incidents keeps you guessing to the end.

Follow the crew of Icarus as they flee across the galaxy trying to discover exactly why they are being chased and what each others motivations are for being aboard in the first place...

Clever space thriller that keeps you guessing!

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When the story started I wasn't too big a fan of the way the story was told. later on it grew on me and enjoyed the ending.

Started a bit slow, but grew to love it.

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Can't continue despite enjoying the story and characters. Shouting to whispers in each sentence. Very jarring and a real shame. Would love to come back to this if these issues are fixed.

Terrible volume disparity

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This is not, by a big margin, Zahn's best book. It's cliched and predictable. Avoid.

Formulaic and repetitive

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