Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Jacked” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Jacked

Kirk Dougal (Goodreads Author)

3.79 · Rating details · 19 ratings · 15 reviews

In the near future, fifteen-year-old "Tar" Hutchins is a fixer.

He can repair technology just by touching it. That's a dangerous thing to be in a world after The Crash, an event that left millions dead or little more than empty, mindless shells. In the aftermath, a new regime hunts down technology and destroys machines with ruthless zeal, even executing fixers like Tar.

And ...more

Get A Copy

ebook, 312 pages

Published May 31st 2016 by Ragnarok Publications (Per Aspera Press)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Jacked, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Ragnarok Publications 2016 Titles

14 books — 4 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-34

Average rating 3.79 ·

Rating details

· 19 ratings · 15 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Jacked

Jun 02, 2016 Frank Errington rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Review copy

Jacked is an instantly engaging story, which takes place a decade or so after The Crash; set in a post-apocalyptic society struggling to rebuild itself in the ruins of California.

Before The Crash people had become more connected than ever. "More and more of the machines were talking to the air and finally some people decided they wanted to talk to the air, too. And not through any machines. So they hooked themselves straight into it. Jacked is what they called it."

Not everybody accept Review copy

Jacked is an instantly engaging story, which takes place a decade or so after The Crash; set in a post-apocalyptic society struggling to rebuild itself in the ruins of California.

Before The Crash people had become more connected than ever. "More and more of the machines were talking to the air and finally some people decided they wanted to talk to the air, too. And not through any machines. So they hooked themselves straight into it. Jacked is what they called it."

Not everybody accepted this way of life. After The Crash, a leader who opposed technology came to power. With the support of a group of loyal supporters, known as the Black Shirts it became, follow their ways...or suffer the consequences.

Tar, lives with a man he calls his uncle, and he is a fixer. He has the uncanny ability to bring many tech items, called apps, back to functionality. Tar sets out on a quest to find others of his kind while the Black Shirts, under the leadership of Father Eli, do their worst to try and stop him and his friends.

YA novels are not everyone's cup of tea, but Jacked is a solid story with a number of very "Chilly" twists. The author has come up with several new slang terms for this futuristic tale. Words like "Chilly," the equivalent of cool, and others. By the way, I'm adding "Chilly" to my personal lexicon immediately.

According to the author, "The inspiration came from the advancement of several technologies in the last few years. Near field communication plays a part in the book and, with four teenagers at home, I have seen the almost religious "constant connectivity" dynamic play out on a daily basis. Also, wearable technology is making big leaps forward and I believe it will not be long before embedded technology becomes much more common. Jacked takes all of those real world advancements and mixes them up in a 'what if' bowl."

A quick kudos to artist Shawn King for his outstanding work on the eye-catching cover for Jacked.

Jacked will be available soon from Ragnarok publications in both paperback and e-book formats.

Recommended.

Kirk Dougal has had fiction works appear in a number of anthologies and saw his debut novel, Dreams of Ivory and Gold, published in May of 2014. His YA dystopian novel, Jacked, leads the launch of Ragnarok Publications' Per Aspera SF imprint. He's also completed a SF/Lit RPG novel, Reset, and is working on a sequel to Dreams of Ivory and Gold. Kirk makes his home in Ohio with his wife and four children. ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

May 21, 2016 Adam Selby-Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: the-2016-reading-challenge

Note: I received an eARC of this novel from Ragnarok Publications in return for a fair and honest review

Young Adult (YA) isn’t an area that I’ve ever really had any interest in exploring. Partially this is because I’m nowhere near the reader age that the genre is targeted at, but also because I think that to a certain extent I’ve unconsciously brought into the negative stereotypes that are propagated about the genre: that YA fiction is characterised by poor writing, shallow characterisation and Note: I received an eARC of this novel from Ragnarok Publications in return for a fair and honest review

Young Adult (YA) isn’t an area that I’ve ever really had any interest in exploring. Partially this is because I’m nowhere near the reader age that the genre is targeted at, but also because I think that to a certain extent I’ve unconsciously brought into the negative stereotypes that are propagated about the genre: that YA fiction is characterised by poor writing, shallow characterisation and is generally dumbed-down for its intended audience. As such, it was with a feeling of slight trepidation that I started reading Jacked, worried that I would soon be wading through turgid prose and two-dimensional characters.

To my relief, I found that absolutely none of the above complaints apply to Jacked. Instead, I found myself quickly engaging with the story that the author was telling, as well as the characters. In the near-future, science and technology progressed to a point where the majority of humanity could become directly connected to the world-wide web via neural ports, becoming the World-Wide Mind. Humanity is united by the Mind, but its greatest strength becomes the ultimate weakness when a virus is introduced into the Mind, resulting in ‘The Crash’. Anyone connected to the Mind when the virus hits is either killed outright or goes ‘Zom’, becoming little more than lifeless husks aimlessly wandering around. It’s a fairly standard post-apocalyptic setting, then, but one with an intriguing hook in the form of the Mind and The Crash.

Jacked itself begins approximately 10-15 years after the effects of The Crash; it’s set in a post-apocalyptic society struggling to rebuild itself in the ruins of California. The survivors have regressed to a late 19th-Century, agrarian-based economy, with most technology either destroyed or wrecked. The main character, Tar, is a young ‘Fixer’, able to operate and repair ruined or powered-down tech just by touching it. At first Tar is able to keep this a secret, using his poorly-understood power to fix tech units and barter for food and favours, but before long his unique ability attracts the attention of the ‘Black Shirts’, a quasi-religious and anti-technology group that shun the use of any technology that could be linked with The Mind, and who kill anyone who attempts to use it. Going on the run with his best friend, Tar has to seek safety while simultaneously trying to find the true origins of his powers, and whether anyone else like him exists.

I found that Jacked is a good introduction to the post-apocalyptic genre for a YA reader – it’s grounded enough in reality not to alienate a casual or new reader, but features enough advanced tech and core concepts, such as the rise of radical, fascist-style groups, resource scarcity and the difficulties encountered surviving in the aftermath of a disaster, to spark some real interest. The concept may have been done many times before, becoming a stereotype – gifted child protagonist fleeing tyrannical authorities in an attempt to reach uncertain safety – but in Dougal’s hands, the story is executed with flair, drawing the reader into the story and making them engage with Tar and his story. Tar’s ‘Fixer’ ability is particularly well-written, reminiscent of Tron in the way he flies through corridors of glowing lines. And as per all of the stories published by Ragnarok Publishing, Jacked features a brilliant cover by the artist Shawn King, who has produced some of my favourite cover jackets I’ve seen on books. As such, I can highly recommend this novel to all readers, both younger and older, as an excellent read ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 31, 2016 Koeur rated it liked it · review of another edition

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2016/06/0...

Publisher: Ragnarok

Publishing Date: May 2016

ISBN:9781941987896

Genre: SciFi

Rating: 3.3/5

Publishers Description: He can repair technology just by touching it. That’s a dangerous thing to be in a world after The Crash, an event that left millions dead or little more than empty, mindless shells. In the aftermath, a new regime hunts down technology and destroys machines with ruthless zeal, even executing fixers like Tar.

And Tar has caught their attention.

Review ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2016 Kiersten rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-read

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

This is the story of a young boy whose been hidden away from his Uncle because of his seemingly otherworldly power with high technology objects. 15 years before The Crash happened and ended up killing or immobilizing most of the world's population. Now, a group called The Faithful lead the anti-tech revolution and promise to stomp out anyone who wants to revert to the technology ridden days of the past. Tar is one of the peo ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 24, 2016 Aylin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

I received an ARC from Ragnarok via NetGalley to give an honest review and this was an enjoyable read. There are no major faults in the story that I would describe as unrealistic yet I wasn’t totally hooked. And some things in the end weren’t to my taste as the book was build up very nicely and could have done without those elements.

I liked the world building, the descriptions were very detailed and made the atmosphere of the setting nicely clear. Also, the premise of the story was interesting. I received an ARC from Ragnarok via NetGalley to give an honest review and this was an enjoyable read. There are no major faults in the story that I would describe as unrealistic yet I wasn’t totally hooked. And some things in the end weren’t to my taste as the book was build up very nicely and could have done without those elements.

I liked the world building, the descriptions were very detailed and made the atmosphere of the setting nicely clear. Also, the premise of the story was interesting. It took quite a while to understand what is going on in this world, particularly because the reader is left in the dark about what the Crash actually was. Every now and then there is a little piece of information that contributes to the puzzle and this leaves room for one’s own imagination. A little sad though that the story is resolved rather quickly in the end, potentially it would have been better to leave some details out in the beginning to give the climax more attention.

I don’t know if the author attempted to include some social critique in his story, nevertheless I though the topic of technological advancement is provoking some thinking. The result in the story is rather dramatic and unthinkable but it outlines the dangers that can come with the reliance on technology. Sometimes I think people should take a step back and make themselves aware of what is happening or what could be the consequences of a certain advancement. On the other hand though the book also shows that not everything has to be dangerous or catastrophic and technology actually does improve lives.

There are some things though that did not add up for me.

I don’t like that the main character is only 13 years old, I mean sure, in the circumstances he grew up he is probably very capable and can handle situations most 13 years old kids in our society couldn’t. But sometimes Tar seemed too mature for his age, especially when they meet this one other character. Having to fulfil a task, the man lets them lead the way as this is supposedly something Tar and his friend are better at. Even if, the man still is grown up and can aid in this situation. That was just overly ‘Tar is the hero of this story’ for me, it’s OK when the main protagonist is not able to do anything he tries.

Another matter that I rolled my eyes at was the introduction of the girl. She was perfectly all right for the story but we could have done without the warm feeling that overcame Tar when he looked into her eyes. No, this was not necessary at all, everything would have worked exactly the same way without this plotline as the story made sense in itself on its own.

Overall I liked spending my time reading the book because it is SciFi and an at large well-crafted story.

Find more reviews here: Secrets of a Unique Mind
...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 06, 2016 Rob Hayes rated it liked it · review of another edition

Jacked by Kirk Dougal is a YA sci-fi thriller with a very interesting concept. The idea is that almost all electronics (or tech) has shut down after the Crash. At the same time, the majority of the population either died or went brain dead. A bunch of religious zealots (Black Shirts) are now in charge and they have pretty much criminalised the use or fixing of any technology. Then along come the Fixers. Individuals who can bring electronics back to life with nothing but a touch. Tar is one of th Jacked by Kirk Dougal is a YA sci-fi thriller with a very interesting concept. The idea is that almost all electronics (or tech) has shut down after the Crash. At the same time, the majority of the population either died or went brain dead. A bunch of religious zealots (Black Shirts) are now in charge and they have pretty much criminalised the use or fixing of any technology. Then along come the Fixers. Individuals who can bring electronics back to life with nothing but a touch. Tar is one of these Fixers and the story is about his struggle against the Black Shirts.

The concept is what is really interesting here. Not the dystopian future or the lack of tech, but the idea that these religious fanatics have taken over and are running something a lot like a dictatorship. The Fixers themselves are the other real interest and (without any spoilers) I liked the way Dougal explains their mysterious powers.

It was clear a lot of work has gone into the world building and the characters use of internet-age related slang was a good way to show it. The characters say 404 instead of lost and fragged instead of the more popular f-word. It was quite fun even if I couldn't quite figure out what book meant as it seemed to have multiple different meanings.

The characters were interesting and none more so than the baddies. In fact I'd have liked a bit more of an exploration into their lives. Our main character of Tar felt a little like every other YA hero. He was strong willed but not very strong, had a mysterious ability that puts him front and center, and he just wants to help everyone. He was a bit bland to be honest, but not enough to be a distraction.

The biggest problem the book faced was its pacing. It feels like nothing is happening for a lot of it as the characters are chased, captured, escape, chased, captured, escape. And the main character doesn't make a decision until the final 20%. Until then the story happens to him rather than him happening to the story. There were a few times I was growling at Tar to take control of his life even for just a moment.

The world feels a little small because everything that is happening is happening in such a small area of it. This Crash was a worldwide event but all the major players appear to be in one city. It seems a little odd. I like to find out what was going on in other areas of the world and how the Crash was affecting them.

In the end, Jacked was a fun take on the YA dystopian thriller. Fans of Hunger Games and Divergent will probably love it, but it wasn't really my cup of tea. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 25, 2016 Mandy rated it really liked it

I was torn on how many stars to give this title. In the end, I gave the benefit of the doubt to the writer and for other reasons following, I rated Jacked a 3.5, rounding up to 4-stars.

Pros:
I liked the world building. I think the language fit the story very well with the world that was created. "App, hard boot, etc." fit much better than other dystopias I've read. Other dystopias have random words thrown in for slang. This story’s slang fit and I could imagine the changing of language over time ...more

flag Like · see review

May 31, 2016 Becca Butcher rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Holy Crap! This is amazeballs!

I'm not sure I can write this without any spoilers but I'll try. Okay, how to describe Jacked…awesome, well written, fast paced, edge of your seat, unrelenting… Should I keep going?

First, the technical stuff. Jacked is the launch of Per Aspera Press, a Ragnarok Publications imprint. If you have read any of my other reviews, you should know I LOVE Ragnarok's very talented authors. If Dougal's novel is any indication, we will all love Per Aspera Press and all the SF ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 05, 2016 Tric rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-dystopia

'Jacked' , by Kirk Dougal is a fast-paced read, set in a disturbing dystopian future. The main character, Taro, is special among the wreck of humans still lving, he is a fixer. Fixers have the ability to fix technology, which was fried during ''The Crash''. During The Crash, millions died who were linked-in to The Mind, best described as an instant connection to the internet through a brain implant. Since then, technology has been outlawed by religious zealots called Black Shirts. Taro has to hi ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 09, 2016 Melissa J. Katano rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-science-fiction

Like many YA novels of recent history, Jacked is set in a dystopian future where teens are the hope for their future. After The Crash, in which most of the people integral for keeping civilization moving smoothly (teachers, law enforcement, fire, military and government employees), as well as the best and brightest minds are either killed outright, or turned into "zoms," most technology beyond what was available in the 70's has been outlawed.

Tar Hutchins is a young teenage boy with an extraordin ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 03, 2016 Toni Boughton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: a-keeper, sooooo-good, thriller, worth-a-re-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag Like · see review

May 19, 2016 Donald Armfield rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks-kindle, science-fiction, young-adult

An entire government against his skill of repairing old tech equipment with just a single touch. Tar the gifted teenager battles his way in a future where tech equipment becomes scarce and causes the world to crash after relying on it's power on everyday use.

This book has page gripping chase scenes, a science fiction sting of a worlds end and a government keeping further use of technology from ever expanding again. Dougal has created a powerful teenage character that had discovered his gift has ...more

flag Like · see review

May 31, 2016 Clay Sanger rated it liked it · review of another edition

*Review Copy*

Dougal's "Jacked" has the feel of Cyberpunk-Meets-The-Postman -- a YA Dystopian Thriller set against a grimy, post-technological-collapse society ruled by anti-tech zealots.

To be fair, I don't normally *do* YA --- I like my post-apocalyptic fiction all grown up, as a general rule. That being said, while "Jacked" might not have been the best fit for my personal tastes, I think it would be a great addition to my teenagers' bookshelf, so I'll be ordering them a copy. Without reservati ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 03, 2016 Shawn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ragnarok

Really enjoyed this one.
I found myself imagining it as a film, whether it was due to the trend of every YA book being made into a movie or because I just connected with it easily I can't say, but I can say it would make a great one amidst all the sameness of YA book-movies out there.

Only thing that didn't sit 100% well with me was a couple of the slang terms used throughout -- some take a second to realize what they mean, and therefore throw off the flow. But other than that, great story, and a ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 16, 2016 Polly Krize rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well-written and imaginative! Post-Apocalyptic fiction at its best. Has enough twists in it to make it original and intriguing to any reader, not only YA. Tar's ability to "fix" electronic equipment with only a touch is only the tip of the iceberg! Fast-paced, bet you will read it in one sitting! Recommended. ...more

flag Like · see review