Most Popular Books by Simon Haynes

"A cunning rival determined to ruin Hal's business, a trainee Peace Office facing a dangerous investigation and a planet with more bugs than a new operating system... When Hal and Clunk set out to make a fresh start, this wasn't exactly what they had in mind. Now Hal must choose: take on the rival to save his own business, or help the attractive trainee with her first - and possibly last - investigation? Whatever he decides, it's No Free Lunch for Hal Spacejock!" -- from cover.

"A five star book!" - Jim C. Hines A cunning rival determined to ruin Hal''s business, an attractive trainee peace officer facing a dangerous investigation and a planet with more bugs than a new operating system ... When Hal and Clunk set out to make a fresh start, this wasn''t exactly what they had in mind. Now Hal must choose: take on the rival to save his own business, or help the trainee with her first - and possibly last - investigation? Whatever he decides, it''s No Free Lunch for Hal Spacejock!

This special collection contains four novels by Simon Haynes. A robot trapped in a medieval kingdom on the brink of war. A fighter pilot out to avenge her slain brother. A down-on-his-luck spacer looking to make it big. A trainee cop on a planet with no crime. 900 pages across four novels, each leading into an ongoing series. Don''t miss this one! Simon Haynes is the author of almost 30 novels across many genres. He''s been a finalist in Australia''s premier speculative fiction award - the Aurealis - four times, winning once.

Winner of the Aurealis Award for Best Horror Short Story Ralph Swindon has invented a way to send physical objects by email, and it works beautifully... until his friend sticks his hand into the machine and they transmit the wrong kind of digits. Now they must knuckle down and find a solution to this nail-biting problem. A 2,000-word horror short story with a darkly comic edge.

Ralph Swindon has just invented a new way to dispose of rubbish, but he can''t turn it off. As the mysterious contraption starts swallowing everything in its path, Ralph and his reluctant helper are faced with a choice: run for their lives, or fix the rogue device before there''s nothing left to run from. A 2,500-word comic science-fiction short story.

Social services call on ten-year-old Daniel, intending to take him away from his home and his mother. Danny has other ideas. A gripping science fiction tale with a twist!

First contact ends up in the rough. Three grumpy old golfers. Two alien civilisations. One unfortunate landing site. A humorous 1,400-word science fiction short story.

Contains a dozen short stories by Simon Haynes.

Space Station Oberon is expecting an important visitor, and everyone is on their best behaviour. But can Hal Junior stay out of trouble? [from back cover].

Hal and Clunk have an exciting new job. They must land their 200-ton cargo ship beside a remote, abandoned house and carry the contents to safety. Problem is, floodwaters are rising and there''s very little time. Then they discover the ground isn''t very stable. In fact, the landscape is about as firm as one of Hal''s delivery dates. So, it''s not long before Hal and Clunk aren''t so much on the job... as underneath it.

Secrets in the deep jungle are worth killing for. Stranded in a sweltering South American town with no money and no way home, Ralph Gardiner has reached rock bottom. When a wealthy local offers him a paid expedition into the rainforest, Ralph figures he has nothing left to lose. He’s dead wrong. Three days out from the nearest road, deep in dense, oppressive jungle, the true nature of their trek remains shrouded in suspicion. But as the isolation sets in and tensions boil over, Ralph finds himself disarmed, trapped, and forced to outwit a ruthless companion who has no intention of sharing the prize. A tense survival thriller short story.

Hal Spacejock explodes onto the science fiction scene with the subtlety of a meteor strike and the hushed reverence of a used car salesman. A perennial loser, Hal borrowed heavily to fund his intergalactic cargo business. His loyal customers evaporated after several highly publicized mishaps, and mounting bills have confined him to planet Lamira. As the book opens, the finance company is despatching heavies to all points of the compass, desperate to track Hal down and extract money and/or vital organs. Meanwhile, on a nearby planet, a wealthy businessman needs a freelance cargo pilot for a suicidal cargo mission. Ideally, he wants a desperate, debt-ridden loser. Hal Spacejock works on several levelsstraight humor, rousing adventure and social satire, and will appeal to fans of Red Dwarf, HitchHikers Guide and works by Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt and Robert Rankin.

After messing up a live fire exercise, Sam Willet is hauled before the squadron leader for punishment. Her career as a fighter pilot appears to be over before it really began. Then, without warning, the enemy launches a major attack. Against this overwhelming force, every pilot is needed... Sam included. Now is her chance to redeem herself. Now is her chance to fight back. But the enemy''s ambitions go far beyond the destruction of a second-string training base. If their bold plan succeeds, it could change the entire course of the war.

Fishing was supposed to be the hard part. When an alien colony ship arrives in Earth’s orbit, rogue pilot Eedo decides he’s had enough of cryo-stasis and deserts to Western Australia. Unfortunately for Ken, Eedo’s lander comes down right outside his coastal getaway. Armed with nothing but a carving knife, bad eyesight, and a foot full of broken glass, Ken is about to have the worst night of his life. A chaotic 4,000-word sci-fi short from the creator of Hal Spacejock.