-Science Fiction/Fantasy-
Deborah Jackson
PROFESSIONAL BOOK REVIEWS
The following are reviews of my books by professional newpaper and magazine sources. Reviews in well-respected review blogs are also included.
For the Love of Mars
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'Deborah Jackson redefines science fiction in the age of rage.
Deborah Jackson is an Ottawa writer who transports readers off-planet. Enthralling page-turners, her multiple novels combine geology, biology and genetic engineering into a matrix worth exploring. A significant turn-of-the-millennium theme runs through her literary creations, which fall within the science fiction genre but, more specifically, within near-future speculation. Her literature conveys an evolving landscape for the reader to explore. To read Jackson is both a departure to outer space and a passage to our inner world.'
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─Adam Shein, Apt613, Ottawa Arts and Culture ezine
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Five Stars! - Book of the Month
"Deborah Jackson’s writing style is crisp and lively with humor, emotion and the human condition written in each character and event that occurs. I especially enjoyed how she was able to make each character three-dimensional, each had a rich back story, strong emotions and just like everyday life, their own secrets and weaknesses."
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The Furies' Bog
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"Ms. Jackson has created a fascinating scientific plotline for this novel, weaving geology, anthropology, and near-future Mars exploration together in a creative way . . . she has developed a plausible chain of events that lead from a bog in the Canadian north through the jungles of Africa and out to the barrenness of Mars.
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The other strength of the novel is characterization. The story is full of intense, driven and flawed people, who strike sparks off each other without fail."
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Five Stars!
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"This book was amazing! Deborah Jackson spent five years writing and researching this book, as well as went back to college to learn more about genetics. She went Back. To. School. That is some real dedication, and it completely shows in her writing.
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Furies’ Bog is a fast paced Science Fiction Thriller combined with a Historical Mystery. A combination of Michael Crichton, Steve Berry, and Dan Brown, three authors I enjoy very much.
-Kim Heniadis, Book Influencer
McMillan Library
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Ice Tomb
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Editor's Pick
"She may be a new kid on the science fiction block, but Ottawa writer Deborah Jackson could well rank up there one day with the likes of Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke. Ice Tomb is surprising not just for its entirely believable plot and well-crafted suspense, but because it has all the earmarks of a tale written by a sci-fi master."
─Mike Gillespie, Ottawa Citizen
Top Pick - 4 1/2 Stars
"Ice Tomb is set in the near future and the science in the fiction is very plausible. A fast-paced story with plenty of twists, this book reads like a classic sci-fi tale. The characters are well drawn, the action plentiful and the outcome surprising."
─RT BOOKclub Magazine
Sinkhole
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Five Stars
"Deborah Jackson explores a variety of human weaknesses and strengths as she leads her characters through the sinkhole and beyond in their quest for fame, fortune, and a miracle cure for disease. Sinkhole not only features a place where the action occurs but also represents the depths of the participants’ feelings... The meaning of love, life, and loss are explored as these explorers fight for their lives amidst amazing discoveries..."
─Melinda Hills, Readers' Favorite
"With its fast-paced action and rich scientific details, this thriller is a pleasure to read. In particular, I enjoyed the fascinating references to biology, caving, microsurgery, revolutionary politics and Maya culture, which were interspersed among a healthy dose of exhilarating adventure."
─Alejandro Bustos, Apartment 613
Mosaic
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"Mosaic, Deborah Jackson’s fourth young adult novel, involves young lovers, pirates, murder, ghosts and hockey; in short, something for everyone. The Ottawa-based writer has structured a suspenseful, action-filled novel which will appeal to an older teen audience.... Jackson considered Mosaic an 'experiment in structuring a novel to match its theme.' Her experiment is definitely a success."
─Ruth Latta, Apartment 613
4 Stars
"I enjoyed reading this book as it was easy to relate to the characters and either like or dislike them. They were very believable. ... the plot kept my attention and I think the author managed to really address her target group (young adults, most likely the category of under 20-year-olds)."
─Kim Anisi, Readers' Favorite
Time Meddlers
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"Combining time travel technology, history and mystery, Time Meddlers is an enthralling science fiction story that transports readers from present day Ottawa back in time to the 1600s....Suspense, humour and memorable characters make this exciting adventure a page turner."
─Diana Mumford, Canadian Teacher Magazine
Recommended
"The characters are very real, and the situations make the book quite a page turner. Can time travel change history? . . . Includes a glossary of Native tribes and terms, and a set of questions for reading groups."
─Children's Literature
Time Meddlers Undercover
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Recommended
"In this sequel to Time Meddlers...Matt and Sarah discover that Nathan Barnes, Matt's father, is mixed-up with the spy network of war-torn Amsterdam. Their travels from England to Holland are dangerous, full of not-so-glamorous pit stops, fights and split-second decision-making. Readers begin to see a change in the two main characters’ relationship, a change which is subtle and with an appropriate amount of embarrassment and charm."
─Stephanie Dror, CM Magazine
"...this is an enthralling story that will have middle grade readers turning the page to find out what risky situations Matt and Sarah will place themselves in next. Information about the English spy network and the Dutch resistance add historical context to the story, and readers are even introduced to the famed diarist, Anne Frank."
─Diana Mumford, Canadian Teacher Magazine
Time Meddlers on the Nile
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Recommended
"Time Meddlers on the Nile is an entertaining blend of historical fiction and science fiction that will appeal to readers of both genres....In the historical notes, Jackson states she chose to illustrate the connection between our lives and those of a distant, remote, lesser known people and how changes in their lives could impact our own. Her explanation for focussing on the Nubian dynasty is refreshing, and the history appears to be well-researched."
─Kerri Hutchinson, CM Magazine
"I really love this series. So so much. But this was by far my favourite book. I loved: The character development. Their growth moves right along with the story, yet not always doing things you expect. Which is nice, even as an adult I never found the story to be predictable. Anyone of any age can love these books."
─Unorthodox Mama Kidlit Reviews