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No Going Back (Jon & Lobo #5)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 85 ratings · 19 reviews

ENOUGH IS ENOUGHJon and Lobo are back–and everything is about to change.

If they both survive.

Haunted by memories of children he could not save, Jon Moore is so increasingly self-destructive that even his best friend, the hyper-intelligent Predator-Class Assault Vehicle, Lobo, is worried. When Jon risks meeting a woman from his distant past and undertakes a high-stakes miss...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published May 29th 2012 by Baen (first published May 1st 2012)

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May 23, 2012 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012_release_read, genre-sf, read_2012, review_fbc, t1_recommended_2012

FBC Rv replacing older and rawer review as it is just an edited version of it:

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS Mark Van Name's debut "One Jump Ahead" introduced Jon Moore mercenary ex-soldier and a man of many secrets that are so dangerous that he must live alone and make no attachments, and partner Lobo, personal AI warship (PCAV) mooning as park statue/exhibition on an obscure world, an AI ship of many secrets of its own, secrets that would not do for anyone to know either.

"No Going Back" is the 5th Jon and...more FBC Rv replacing older and rawer review as it is just an edited version of it:

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS Mark Van Name's debut "One Jump Ahead" introduced Jon Moore mercenary ex-soldier and a man of many secrets that are so dangerous that he must live alone and make no attachments, and partner Lobo, personal AI warship (PCAV) mooning as park statue/exhibition on an obscure world, an AI ship of many secrets of its own, secrets that would not do for anyone to know either.

"No Going Back" is the 5th Jon and Lobo adventure and it came two years after the previous installment rather than at the one year schedule of the first 4. The novel returned to the more classic adventure feel of the first three books and while the darker and weightier Children No More was very good, I think the original tone works better especially now that the author has it down pitch perfect.

What makes No Going Back stand out is precisely what the title literally means, namely that from now on it is no going back to the older days as the series finds here focus and a narrative pillar. The super-competent hero with extraordinary powers trope revived so well in this series gets one more dimension, a clear goal and I am really interested to see how the author handles it.

Of course Jon and Lobo are such great characters as the first person narration of which Lobo gets a little share here in this book, has worked so well to have established and any new series installment is still a huge asap, get the e-arc on the spot and read it immediately notwithstanding how many other books I have in the queue.

As style goes, the novel is a gripping read from the first pages when Jon is in the process of trying to crash a party of rich old pedophiles - party where 10 children are auctioned off - on an obscure planet with great natural beauty but harsh physical characteristics. In the link above you can read the first 15 chapters on Baen's site and see how smooth everything goes.

The structure of No Going Back is a bit different from its predecessors, with chapters numbered "x days from the end" mixed with the 100+ year old backstory that continues Jon's memories from long ago, now from the time in his youth immediately after escaping the hell of his native - now quarantined - planet when he was not understanding his powers and trying to get the time needed to do so, while Lobo's interludes offer more insight into the AI's special human-like personality, the why's of which having been set-up in "Overthrowing Heaven".

No Going Back functions well as a standalone as all earlier books' story lines are recounted briefly here and there, while the salient facts about Jon and Lobo are also gone through, so you can start delving in the saga here, though from the way things end, I suspect the next volumes will become much more tightly connected in both plot and secondary characters.

As my usual, positional rankings go, this series is in my top tier, get/read asap any installment, while No Going Back is probably the best executed to date, though Children No More was "more serious". The clear series focus established here should only add to the pluses in the future when new Jon and Lobo adventures will appear.

Overall No Going Back still remains a pretty classical space adventure sf novel with modern style and sensibilities and with the the generally expected stuff implied by such, very well done but nothing previously not seen and it is one of my highly recommended novels of 2012.(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf-f-goodies

I'm a fan of this series. I love Jon and I really love Lobo! That said, the last book(Children No More) and this one are a bit darker than the earlier ones. Indeed, Lobo worries (as only an almost omniscient entity can worry) that Jon has some kind of death wish. His 'jobs' are getting even more dangerous and his nightmares are getting worse. We get to watch Jon grapple with morality. He doesn't want to turn into a vicious, cold-blooded killer and gets himself in all sorts of jams trying to not...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Ove rated it 5 of 5 stars

A pivotal book in the series

The new Jon & Lobo novel is already available at baen’s ebook store. So I just had to get it, and started reading it shortly after.

I have followed Mark L. van Name and this exquisite space opera series with military science fiction tendencies, for some time now. It is about a man and his intelligent assault shuttle.

Jon is the man, a nano-machine-human hybrid, the only known survivor of horrible experiments on children on Aggro. He destroyed Aggro with a cloud of n...more A pivotal book in the series

The new Jon & Lobo novel is already available at baen’s ebook store. So I just had to get it, and started reading it shortly after.

I have followed Mark L. van Name and this exquisite space opera series with military science fiction tendencies, for some time now. It is about a man and his intelligent assault shuttle.

Jon is the man, a nano-machine-human hybrid, the only known survivor of horrible experiments on children on Aggro. He destroyed Aggro with a cloud of nano-machines when he escaped as a child, putting it and his home planet under quarantine ever since (this was more than a hundred years ago).

Lobo is his grumpy but lovable intelligent assault shuttle also created in horrible experiments on children. They have dealt with Lobo’s creator in an earlier book and he got what he deserved.

Rescuing abused children has been a theme in the series, one easy to care for. It is easy to forget that there are many children in our own time faring badly. The book starts with them rescuing ten kids about to be auctioneered of to a bunch of rich powerful men. Particularly one of the men takes offence and woe to hunt them down. Unluckily for them he is one of the most powerful men in the sector.

Lobo is worried with Jon’s increasingly destructive behavior. He is taking greater and greater risks. Jon is struggling with the secret that he is a nano-machine hybrid. He hasn’t even told Lobo. His struggle with that and also Lobo’s thoughts on the matter is a big part of the book that brings you close to the characters.

A love from the past complicates things for Jon. There are as usually a bit of romance in the tale, enough to give a spice. Jon is not a playboy but he has had one different lady in each book so far. Some of them do come back though.

This is a pivotal book in the series, you learn a lot about the nature of our heroes and they truly have to take steps that there are NO GOING BACK from. The stakes get higher and the ending plays directly into the next book without being a cliffhanger.

Jon and Lobo are even more like good old friends after this book. I highly recommend No Going Back.

A little bit of warning though – the burb is off a bit, seems someone mixed in things from a previous book there; they don’t go after any artifacts in this book.(less)

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Sep 11, 2012 Cliff rated it 4 of 5 stars

Latest in the 'Jon and Lobo' series, Jon being a human, the only one enhanced with nanomachines, and Lobo is a (very) intelligent 'Predator Class Assault Vehicle' (Shades on Iain M Banks sentient spacecraft - did he steal the idea?). High class space opera. Jon, who escaped a research facility on his home planet of Pinkelponker (I had to google the word and find it is the common name for a berry found in the USA), has eventually ended up as a kind of Robin Hood of the spaceways. The relationship...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lovers of fantasy and science fiction

the fifth installment in the Jon and Lobo series
In this book Jon puts himself and Lobo in far more danger than ever before
To save some children in trouble and stop the uber rich from hurting any more innocents, how far will Jon go ?
Will Lobo finally confront Jon about the risks he keeps taking ?
In this book we not only find out more of Jon's past and the possible fate of his sister Jenny, but a little bit more about Lobo.
As always it's action packed and fast paced from start to finish, yet again...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook

I have been following the adventures of Jon Moore and his predator class assault vehicle (PCAV), Lobo, since the first novel, ‘ One Jump Ahead’. Jon is the first successful hybrid of human and nano-machine technology and Lobo is the only truly intelligent ‘ AI’. Together, they form a remarkable team. But they are keeping secrets from one another, out of habit and necessity.

At one hundred and fifty-seven years of age, Jon still resembles a man in his late twenties. Technology has advanced to the...more I have been following the adventures of Jon Moore and his predator class assault vehicle (PCAV), Lobo, since the first novel, ‘ One Jump Ahead’. Jon is the first successful hybrid of human and nano-machine technology and Lobo is the only truly intelligent ‘ AI’. Together, they form a remarkable team. But they are keeping secrets from one another, out of habit and necessity.

At one hundred and fifty-seven years of age, Jon still resembles a man in his late twenties. Technology has advanced to the point where a man might actually linger into his sixteenth decade, but he would more resemble an octogenarian than someone flush with youth. The fact Jon does not age has been mentioned in previous novels, as well as his everlasting youth being the reason he does not form close relationships. It’s an important factor in ‘ No Going Back’, however, as Jon confronts his past of over a century ago and Lobo contemplates their future. Jon and has very few true friends, but has Lobo and his intelligent PCAV is a better friend than he realises.

Lobo is worried about Jon. The man’s quest to save every mistreated child in the galaxy has become more than a focus. It seems to be Jon’s entire reason for being and he has been taking an increasing number of risks. In Lobo’s opinion, his behaviour is or soon will be, self-destructive.

Every ‘ Jon And Lobo’ novel combines action and adventure with the revelation and resolution of an aspect of Jon’s or Lobo’s past. ‘ No Going Back’ moves one step further and, in keeping with the title, presents the pair with a series of events and a final choice from which neither of them can turn, or return. The action rolls off the first page with Jon surfing down a sand dune toward his assignment, the daring rescue of children who are being auctioned off to the highest bidder. From there, we follow the duo as they answer a call from Jon’s past, a call which could unravel one hundred and twenty years of hiding and comes from the same planet as his current, most powerful foe. Jon is then faced with his past and present combined and a lead he has been waiting nearly one hundred and thirty years for: evidence his sister might still be alive.

In this novel, the action is interspersed with chapters from Lobo, which is the first time the reader ‘ hears’ his voice. In these interludes, set out like journal entries, Lobo not only expresses his concerns regarding Jon’s behaviour but reveals the fact he knows who and what Jon is and what he is capable of. Jon’s secret is not so secret. Lobo also gives many facts about himself and his own capabilities as an exchange and a legacy, should Jon require it. These chapters are compelling, for Lobo’s voice and what he reveals.

As always, humour adds levity to the darker themes in the form of Jon’s conversation with appliances and machines and the sarcastic interplay between Jon and Lobo. Oh and there is a love interest in this one, too, the progress of which is quiet and contemplate and serves to properly highlight Jon’s hesitance to connect with other people.

All in all, ‘ No Going Back’ is a very satisfying novel and the conclusion will guarantee fans of the series will be watching for any mention of the next instalment. Stay well, Mr. Van Name, we need to know what happens next!

(Review originally written for and published at SFCrowsnest.com)(less)

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Dec 18, 2012 Per Gunnar rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

I wasn’t really thrilled with the previous book, Children No More, in the series so I was quite happy that this one brings the series back in shape. Although it’s still a lot about children in the book it’s not really the main focus of the story. Instead we’re back to Jon doing some good old infiltration work. Of course there’s a girlie in it as well which brings the usual complications for Jon.

There are still a lot of flashbacks in the book and I’m not really a great fan of loads of flashbacks...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Leons1701 rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series has been quietly gathering steam, particularly in books 3 and 4 where we learned a lot more about the respective origins of Jon and Lobo. And here's the payoff. Jon takes a job rescuing a child from a group of rich old men that kidnaps children and auctions them off. Of course, Jon insists on rescuing all the children, which complicates things slightly, but not as much as being identified by the leader of the group, one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in all of humanity. Norm...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, science-fiction

This book was not as grim as the last book in the series, Children No More, but still continued the more serious bent in Jon's character development that has taken place since the first two rather fluffy (fun) heist stories. Jon is at a point where he can no longer ignore the nightmares from his childhood, and in response he keeps throwing himself, and Lobo, into situations where he has to help people, usually children, even at great personal risk to himself. As Lobo observes, he's spinning out...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Jeffrey Grant rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book wasn't as strong as the previous ones, but I chalk that up to this being something of a transition novel. The events of the book seem to be setting up a new direction for the main characters but it's all the same song and dance until the very end, though the Lobo interludes are interesting. Of course the author couldn't write an entire book of exposition so he had to have them doing something. It still a good read, I just didn't find it quite as exciting as the other books in the serie...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, favorites

I love this series, I hope to read a new one every year. I've had the privilege of getting to know the author very briefly and only online and via his blog, but he's an amazing author and person.
Jon and Lobo are so fun to read. This universe Mark has created is so fun, so full of potential!

This is probably my favorite book in my favorite series by one of my favorite authors (Steven Pressfield being my other favorite)

This is an amazing book. Get the series. Read it now. Read up to this book.

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Oct 05, 2012 Don rated it 5 of 5 stars

That's what I'm talkin' about!! These books have been getting better and better as the series has progressed. This one finally elevated itself to the "page turner you can't put down" status you always hope for in reading a book. It's exciting and I had a great time reading this. I can't say anything more without spoiling it, but I will say that some important things finally happen with the back story and you get some catharsis on some things that have been hanging out there for a while. Very sat...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-2012, sci-fi

I really enjoy Mark's writing style, his characters, and his story universe. As the title suggests, there are some significant developments in the book and story arc. While I recommend against it, the series is well done enough in the individual books, that they can easily stand alone... but go for the whole series. Really.

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Jul 05, 2012 Barry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-reviewed-2012

A very well done SF novel. The characters both major and minor are very carefully fleshed out. In the book, Jon and Lobo enter a higher partnership and I look forward to the next novel in the series.

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May 08, 2012 Arthur rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series has really grown on me. The first book or two were alright, but nothing spectacular. However, they got better with time and this one is excellent. Highly recommend this series.

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Aug 02, 2012 John rated it 5 of 5 stars

A good follow-up to others in the Jon and Lobo series. Finally the truth comes out between man and machine and we can progress to a different plotline in the next books.

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Jul 28, 2012 Dan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative-fiction

Van Name manages to ratchet up the pull of each Jon & Lobo novel: the more you read, novel to novel, the more you want to read more. I read this one in under two days. The action is fast-paced, as readers have come to expect, but the emotional depth that Van Name reached in Children No More continues in No Going Back. This time, it's not as dark, but just as compelling. This time, Jon falls in love. There's more to the novel--especially for those readers who want to know more about Jon's pas...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Bill rated it 4 of 5 stars

New love, lost loves,less action, more reflection, turning point in the story line.

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May 22, 2013 Carl rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 16, 2013 Stephanie marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Michael Joint rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 19, 2013 Lisa marked it as to-read

Apr 05, 2013 Aggie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 05, 2013 thp1017 rated it 2 of 5 stars

Apr 01, 2013 Kyle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 29, 2013 Richard marked it as to-read

Mar 24, 2013 Rollin Reeve rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 17, 2013 Sahara added it

Shelves: science-fiction

Mar 15, 2013 Daniel Chen marked it as to-read

Mar 14, 2013 Rony rated it 4 of 5 stars

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No Going Back (Jon & Lobo #5)

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