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The Auctioneer
Matthew Carter, eighteen and orphaned recently due to the death of his father, continues on the family tradition of auctioneering. It is not his chosen profession, but one that is thrust upon him by circumstance.
Offered a chance to make some money by a man named Baltarus, Matthew reluctantly agrees, and to his surprise, ends up on an alien star-port where he auctions off rare items from all over the galaxy.
Matthew learns his trade and grows into it, but complications arise when he is forced to sell an alien woman named Anarra. He buys her in order to give her the freedom she desires. They become friends, and soon become lovers.
Life is good, but all that changes when he becomes a target of unknown assassins. Additionally, he is forced to sell a planet named Volarus, something that goes against his conscience.
Matthew finds out there’s more to life than making money, and races against time to find a loophole in order to stop Volarus from being next on the bidding block, as well as finding out the faceless killers who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Offered a chance to make some money by a man named Baltarus, Matthew reluctantly agrees, and to his surprise, ends up on an alien star-port where he auctions off rare items from all over the galaxy.
Matthew learns his trade and grows into it, but complications arise when he is forced to sell an alien woman named Anarra. He buys her in order to give her the freedom she desires. They become friends, and soon become lovers.
Life is good, but all that changes when he becomes a target of unknown assassins. Additionally, he is forced to sell a planet named Volarus, something that goes against his conscience.
Matthew finds out there’s more to life than making money, and races against time to find a loophole in order to stop Volarus from being next on the bidding block, as well as finding out the faceless killers who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2018
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
J.S. Frankel
91 books237 followersJ.S. Frankel was born in Toronto, Canada, many moons ago and managed to scrape through high school and university, earning a BA in English Literature and leaving no book unopened during his time at the University of Toronto. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Japan in order to teach English to the hapless residents of whichever city he happened to be living at the time.
In 1997, he married the charming Akiko Koike and their union produced two rather interesting children. Frankel and his family make their home in Osaka where he teaches during the day and attempts to write YA fiction at night.
In 1997, he married the charming Akiko Koike and their union produced two rather interesting children. Frankel and his family make their home in Osaka where he teaches during the day and attempts to write YA fiction at night.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 3, 2019
What a ride! Matt is a reluctant Auctioneer on earth, following in his father’s footsteps. Then he is swept into a galaxy where the almighty dollar (unit) rules and buying and selling the force that drives the society. Matt finds out that nothing is off-limits to the greedy buyers when he is forced to sell a winged girl. Luckily Matt is not only an all-around good guy, but also clever enough to exploit a loophole and he saves the girl.
The rest of the story is full of twists and turns, dangerous baddies and heroes we can cheer for. This book has a lot of action scenes and the world building is spectacular with alien races and technologies described in Frankel’s signature way, where each word counts to paint a picture seen through Matt’s eyes. The humor in his assessment of the aliens around him is well done. Even when faced with a completely new reality and not all of it is good, Matt never loses his good-hearted spirit and goes to great lengths to see justice done and innocents protected.
This is mainly a sci-fi read but I want to say the story arc between Matt and Anarra, the winged young woman he saves, is sweet and understated. They have some genuinely touching moments where even though they couldn’t be more different, they work together and bring out the best in each other.
One awesome thing about Frankel, is he takes something that could be a trope and turns it on its head, in this case the relationship between Matt and Anarra. Anarra knows nothing of the outside worlds, she’s basically been kept as an oddity for her entire life before being sold as an object and she is COMPLETELY BADASS! I loved how she is written as an equal partner and opens a can of whoop-ass when necessary. She’s physically larger than Matt, not at all cute or pretty in the traditional sense and Matt has absolutely no problem with this. Again, this is only a very small part of the story, but I wanted to mention how well it was done.
The action never lets up until the very end. Highly recommended!
The rest of the story is full of twists and turns, dangerous baddies and heroes we can cheer for. This book has a lot of action scenes and the world building is spectacular with alien races and technologies described in Frankel’s signature way, where each word counts to paint a picture seen through Matt’s eyes. The humor in his assessment of the aliens around him is well done. Even when faced with a completely new reality and not all of it is good, Matt never loses his good-hearted spirit and goes to great lengths to see justice done and innocents protected.
This is mainly a sci-fi read but I want to say the story arc between Matt and Anarra, the winged young woman he saves, is sweet and understated. They have some genuinely touching moments where even though they couldn’t be more different, they work together and bring out the best in each other.
One awesome thing about Frankel, is he takes something that could be a trope and turns it on its head, in this case the relationship between Matt and Anarra. Anarra knows nothing of the outside worlds, she’s basically been kept as an oddity for her entire life before being sold as an object and she is COMPLETELY BADASS! I loved how she is written as an equal partner and opens a can of whoop-ass when necessary. She’s physically larger than Matt, not at all cute or pretty in the traditional sense and Matt has absolutely no problem with this. Again, this is only a very small part of the story, but I wanted to mention how well it was done.
The action never lets up until the very end. Highly recommended!
December 29, 2018
Title: The Auctioneer
Author: J. S. Frankel
Publisher: eXtasy Books
ISBN: B07MD3Q563
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Auctioneer-J-S...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Matthew Carter, eighteen and orphaned recently due to the death of his father, continues on the family tradition of auctioneering. It is not his chosen profession, but one that is thrust upon him by circumstance.
Offered a chance to make some money by a man named Baltarus, Matthew reluctantly agrees, and to his surprise, ends up on an alien star-port where he auctions off rare items from all over the galaxy.
Matthew learns his trade and grows into it, but complications arise when he is forced to sell an alien woman named Anarra. He buys her in order to give her the freedom she desires. They become friends, and soon become lovers.
Life is good, but all that changes when he becomes a target of unknown assassins. Additionally, he is forced to sell a planet named Volarus, something that goes against his conscience.
Matthew finds out there’s more to life than making money, and races against time to find a loophole in order to stop Volarus from being next on the bidding block, as well as finding out the faceless killers who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Matthew didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he did know he didn’t want to be an auctioneer. Now his father agreed to allow him to go to collage until he dies leaving Matthew with a pile of debts and only one viable job, being an auctioneer. Now you would think his that was it at least is was before Baltarus arrived taking him away, literally to a place in a distant galaxy. You see, they needed a new auctioneer and felt that he would fit the bill, though it would have been nice if they had asked Matthew before taking him. Now an auction is still an auction it is just the items for sale are very rare. That is until Matthew is told he would be selling an alien woman, Anarra. Now Matthew is smart enough to know that he is allowed to purchase one item yearly and he chooses to save Anarra. Unfortunately, that puts him up against a nasty and self serving bidder Nibblo. Life is nothing like Matthew expected as he has to deal with living in space, dealing with aliens who are vastly different creating unexpected circumstances forcing Matthew to stand by everything his father taught him. Even when that puts him and Anarra in danger. That is just the beginning of this fast paced story.
This was an incredible sci-fi story with unique characters who drove the plot. Matthew never thought much of himself until he was forced to stand for what and who he believed. Nibble was definitely the an evil character who would do whatever he had to to win any auction he wanted. He was not used to anyone standing up to him like Matthew did causing the inevitable conflicts between them. It was wonderful that it didn’t matter that Matthew and Anarra were different because they accepted each other in ways most people wouldn’t.
Author: J. S. Frankel
Publisher: eXtasy Books
ISBN: B07MD3Q563
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Auctioneer-J-S...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Matthew Carter, eighteen and orphaned recently due to the death of his father, continues on the family tradition of auctioneering. It is not his chosen profession, but one that is thrust upon him by circumstance.
Offered a chance to make some money by a man named Baltarus, Matthew reluctantly agrees, and to his surprise, ends up on an alien star-port where he auctions off rare items from all over the galaxy.
Matthew learns his trade and grows into it, but complications arise when he is forced to sell an alien woman named Anarra. He buys her in order to give her the freedom she desires. They become friends, and soon become lovers.
Life is good, but all that changes when he becomes a target of unknown assassins. Additionally, he is forced to sell a planet named Volarus, something that goes against his conscience.
Matthew finds out there’s more to life than making money, and races against time to find a loophole in order to stop Volarus from being next on the bidding block, as well as finding out the faceless killers who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Matthew didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he did know he didn’t want to be an auctioneer. Now his father agreed to allow him to go to collage until he dies leaving Matthew with a pile of debts and only one viable job, being an auctioneer. Now you would think his that was it at least is was before Baltarus arrived taking him away, literally to a place in a distant galaxy. You see, they needed a new auctioneer and felt that he would fit the bill, though it would have been nice if they had asked Matthew before taking him. Now an auction is still an auction it is just the items for sale are very rare. That is until Matthew is told he would be selling an alien woman, Anarra. Now Matthew is smart enough to know that he is allowed to purchase one item yearly and he chooses to save Anarra. Unfortunately, that puts him up against a nasty and self serving bidder Nibblo. Life is nothing like Matthew expected as he has to deal with living in space, dealing with aliens who are vastly different creating unexpected circumstances forcing Matthew to stand by everything his father taught him. Even when that puts him and Anarra in danger. That is just the beginning of this fast paced story.
This was an incredible sci-fi story with unique characters who drove the plot. Matthew never thought much of himself until he was forced to stand for what and who he believed. Nibble was definitely the an evil character who would do whatever he had to to win any auction he wanted. He was not used to anyone standing up to him like Matthew did causing the inevitable conflicts between them. It was wonderful that it didn’t matter that Matthew and Anarra were different because they accepted each other in ways most people wouldn’t.
February 12, 2020
A little bit of a Golden Age-y tale. Enjoyable, but not satisfying
Matthew Carter followed in his father's footsteps to become an auctioneer on Earth. Not that he really wanted to, but because he didn't have any other options. When his father died, he became an auctioneer to support himself, and is offered a job by an alien looking to hire an auctioneer.
The author, plain and simple, needed more research and a better understanding of finance, as his set-up might work for the story but fails for any resemblance to reality.
The tale is told from a politically correct modern sensibility, and that's enjoyable enough in that I don't think anyone really wants sentient beings or inhabited planets being offered for sale. However, the author falls well short on his understanding of what auctions can accomplish and how auction bidders make money off resale of items after curing them of certain features that are often unattractive to other buyers - making the item or property more valuable. Nothing unethical there - yet he treats it as a cardinal sin. He also falls well short in his understanding of borrowed money and leverage - something galactic super-traders would be extremely conversant of.
He ultimately does get one thing right - which I won't spoil, because naming it leads inevitably to a unique solution in who the real baddie is in the story. Unfortunately, the ending feels contrived and forced because he doesn't understand how money and finance work.
Matthew Carter followed in his father's footsteps to become an auctioneer on Earth. Not that he really wanted to, but because he didn't have any other options. When his father died, he became an auctioneer to support himself, and is offered a job by an alien looking to hire an auctioneer.
The author, plain and simple, needed more research and a better understanding of finance, as his set-up might work for the story but fails for any resemblance to reality.
The tale is told from a politically correct modern sensibility, and that's enjoyable enough in that I don't think anyone really wants sentient beings or inhabited planets being offered for sale. However, the author falls well short on his understanding of what auctions can accomplish and how auction bidders make money off resale of items after curing them of certain features that are often unattractive to other buyers - making the item or property more valuable. Nothing unethical there - yet he treats it as a cardinal sin. He also falls well short in his understanding of borrowed money and leverage - something galactic super-traders would be extremely conversant of.
He ultimately does get one thing right - which I won't spoil, because naming it leads inevitably to a unique solution in who the real baddie is in the story. Unfortunately, the ending feels contrived and forced because he doesn't understand how money and finance work.
August 16, 2020
Out of this World!
‘The Auctioneer’ is a highly original, fast-paced sci-fi novel that transports the reader to new worlds while at the same time challenging and reinforcing their values and priorities.
The story delivers mystery and intrigue in a classic science-fiction setting populated by a plethora of different types of people and creatures. The characters are diverse and interesting, each vastly different from the others, and from the outset it is hard for the reader — and, indeed, the heroes of the story— to know who really can be trusted.
Different rules and standards apply in different worlds — but does that make them all acceptable? This is the crux of the complication that sets this story in motion, and the issue which the reader finds so compelling.
‘The Auctioneer’ is a brilliant read, full of surprises and twists, and enjoyably unpredictable in its resolution.
‘The Auctioneer’ is a highly original, fast-paced sci-fi novel that transports the reader to new worlds while at the same time challenging and reinforcing their values and priorities.
The story delivers mystery and intrigue in a classic science-fiction setting populated by a plethora of different types of people and creatures. The characters are diverse and interesting, each vastly different from the others, and from the outset it is hard for the reader — and, indeed, the heroes of the story— to know who really can be trusted.
Different rules and standards apply in different worlds — but does that make them all acceptable? This is the crux of the complication that sets this story in motion, and the issue which the reader finds so compelling.
‘The Auctioneer’ is a brilliant read, full of surprises and twists, and enjoyably unpredictable in its resolution.
July 27, 2019
Young Matthew, left destitute by his father's untimely death, has no choice but to follow in his Dad's footsteps and become an auctioneer, just like him. After he leads his latest auction, he's approached by a man who offers to hire him. Hoping for a better paycheck, Matthew went with him to discuss the deal and suddenly discovered himself in another universe.
For a moment around this point, I thought I'd walked into the Star Wars Cantina! The sounds, looks, feel of being in an utterly alien place wrapped around me. The author's ability for description is delectable!
Now here's where the story really gets interesting: SciFi, Mystery, murders, mayhem, goons that could rival any Mob story you've ever encountered and romance...!... this story brings it all together for a truly tantalizing tale.
You won't want to put it down for a second!
Matthew's morals and sense of justice are frowned upon in this alien atmosphere. They DO have rules, but proving they were broken turned out to be quite a burden. And so is knowing just who can be trusted!
The author managed to create some very intriguing characters, some of whom you'll love, others you'll love to hate. But each and every one of them will bring forth an emotion.
Our reluctant hero learns a lot, most especially, perhaps, how to accept the differences he keeps encountering and just what the meaning of "love" and "home" really are.
I found this tale to be delightful and highly recommend this great read.
For a moment around this point, I thought I'd walked into the Star Wars Cantina! The sounds, looks, feel of being in an utterly alien place wrapped around me. The author's ability for description is delectable!
Now here's where the story really gets interesting: SciFi, Mystery, murders, mayhem, goons that could rival any Mob story you've ever encountered and romance...!... this story brings it all together for a truly tantalizing tale.
You won't want to put it down for a second!
Matthew's morals and sense of justice are frowned upon in this alien atmosphere. They DO have rules, but proving they were broken turned out to be quite a burden. And so is knowing just who can be trusted!
The author managed to create some very intriguing characters, some of whom you'll love, others you'll love to hate. But each and every one of them will bring forth an emotion.
Our reluctant hero learns a lot, most especially, perhaps, how to accept the differences he keeps encountering and just what the meaning of "love" and "home" really are.
I found this tale to be delightful and highly recommend this great read.
September 25, 2019
A story that WILL make you smile.
There are times when you just want a book that brings a smile to your face. You don’t want to think to hard about it, you just want to lose yourself in the story.
This is most definitely one of those books. Aliens, worlds and planets in galaxies far, far, farrrrrr away. An inter-galactic romance with a golden-haired winged beauty. What more could you ask for??
This book isn’t just for the YA audience. It’s for every man or woman who still has that inner child residing in their heart and mind.
I can easily see this as a TV series and I sincerely hope it at least becomes a book series.
A five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read for the sheer enjoyment and one extra ⭐️ for bringing that smile to my face.
Merged review:
There are times when you just want a book that brings a smile to your face. You don’t want to think to hard about it, you just want to lose yourself in the story.
This is most definitely one of those books. Aliens, worlds and planets in galaxies far, far, farrrrrr away. An inter-galactic romance with a golden-haired winged beauty. What more could you ask for??
This book isn’t just for the YA audience. It’s for every man or woman who still has that inner child residing in their heart and mind.
I can easily see this as a TV series and I sincerely hope it at least becomes a book series.
A five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read for the sheer enjoyment and one extra ⭐️ for bringing that smile to my face.
There are times when you just want a book that brings a smile to your face. You don’t want to think to hard about it, you just want to lose yourself in the story.
This is most definitely one of those books. Aliens, worlds and planets in galaxies far, far, farrrrrr away. An inter-galactic romance with a golden-haired winged beauty. What more could you ask for??
This book isn’t just for the YA audience. It’s for every man or woman who still has that inner child residing in their heart and mind.
I can easily see this as a TV series and I sincerely hope it at least becomes a book series.
A five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read for the sheer enjoyment and one extra ⭐️ for bringing that smile to my face.
Merged review:
There are times when you just want a book that brings a smile to your face. You don’t want to think to hard about it, you just want to lose yourself in the story.
This is most definitely one of those books. Aliens, worlds and planets in galaxies far, far, farrrrrr away. An inter-galactic romance with a golden-haired winged beauty. What more could you ask for??
This book isn’t just for the YA audience. It’s for every man or woman who still has that inner child residing in their heart and mind.
I can easily see this as a TV series and I sincerely hope it at least becomes a book series.
A five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read for the sheer enjoyment and one extra ⭐️ for bringing that smile to my face.
January 23, 2020
This was a fun read, definitely falling into the more light-hearted side of the genre - more Orville than Blade Runner, especially in that the folks on the Orville are flawed folks just trying to do the right thing. Mathew starts off as someone who lets life pull him along and as a result really isn't happy with where he is. He definitely gets more active (sometimes rashly so) when he discovers there are things worth taking a stand for. I like the way the author structured the world, and the off beat approach he took to setting it up. Sure we've heard of slick space pilots, and questing heroes, but how about an ordinary Joe just trying making a living (while not getting killed) as a space auctioneer? If you're looking for a fun and different take on the genre, give this a whirl.
December 21, 2019
This had an intriguing premise, a human who is taken off world to become an interstellar auctioneer (without his consent). It was an entertaining, fast paced read and never boring. It's reasonably short so won't take too long to read. Matthew is an engaging hero if occasionally a little too good to be true. I felt sometimes that he didn't react as much or as badly as a normal human would to certain events. I also liked the heroine, Anarra and that she wasn't conventionally beautiful. I enjoyed the variety of different worlds, and aliens and especially the Traders when you finally met them. A fun read.
January 9, 2020
The Auctioneer by J. S. Frankel is a well written, action-packed gem of a science fiction tale you won’t want to miss! I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Matthew, the reluctant auctioneer working on an alien world and his beautiful winged girlfriend, Anarra, on their dangerous quest for truth and justice for all. This book was hard to put down. J. S. Frankel never disappoints, but this one is my favorite.
May 22, 2020
What am I bid for this— What! Selling planets, stars, even slaves? Now wait just a dang minute. But waiting a minute, together with a human who brought along his opinion and earthly morals, doesn’t quite sit well with aliens accustomed to having their way with things. And at the edge of the universe, in a galaxy several billion light-years away, things go awry. What a ride! The Auctioneer delivers an agglomeration of some of the weirdest and coolest, most colorful and creative aliens and alien worlds fathomable by any human brain. Cactus man, butter-stick dude, toadlike and treelike and every type in between. Just what I needed to take my mind off things for a spell. This story sent me up and away. A fantastically fun, yet harrowing adventure, a vacation from planet Earth. And it blasts off like this…
Matthew is deviously scooped up and put to work, the first human “auctioneer” in some distant galaxy on the far side of the universe. He travels to strange worlds while meeting even stranger, cool and not-so-cool customers, all while performing his new job. It’s a job he never really wanted back home, but for some reason and as long as he’s not on Earth, he seems to excel at it. But Matthew quickly learns things don’t jive well at his new spaceport. The unpredicted happens and his plan to return to Earth as a rich man, takes a detour. Because he doesn’t take crap from the bidders. And he’s probably too fair and just. His earthly, virtuous values don’t sit well with the mega greedy and galactically powerful. And this gets him—and his new, smokin’-hot, winged and towering alien girlfriend—into hot water. Stirring the pot, trying to inject his honorable and well-intentioned principles, perhaps some revised regulations here and there, all while steadily going against the grain of his new situation, doesn’t sit well with everyone. Enemies come quickly. The hot water boils over. The auctioneer guild gets burnt. People get hurt. Becoming despised, unwanted, the culprit…
Can Matthew fix the mess he wedged himself into? Can he save seven billion people and an entire world, from annihilation? Who is behind the plot to to take him out of the equation? The plot that nearly turns him into an outcast. But, he’s clever, and his capable and wonderful and sexy girlfriend has his back. Yet will it be enough? Find out in this one-of-a-kind, out-of-this-galaxy adventure. Superbly written with flowing, fantastic prose.
J.S. Frankel’s, The Auctioneer, ROCKS! Five stars easy.
By the way, I also read Jesse’s, The Incredible Aunty Awesome sauce. It totally lived up to its title. It was AWESOME! I’m anxiously look forward to more great stories from this author.
Matthew is deviously scooped up and put to work, the first human “auctioneer” in some distant galaxy on the far side of the universe. He travels to strange worlds while meeting even stranger, cool and not-so-cool customers, all while performing his new job. It’s a job he never really wanted back home, but for some reason and as long as he’s not on Earth, he seems to excel at it. But Matthew quickly learns things don’t jive well at his new spaceport. The unpredicted happens and his plan to return to Earth as a rich man, takes a detour. Because he doesn’t take crap from the bidders. And he’s probably too fair and just. His earthly, virtuous values don’t sit well with the mega greedy and galactically powerful. And this gets him—and his new, smokin’-hot, winged and towering alien girlfriend—into hot water. Stirring the pot, trying to inject his honorable and well-intentioned principles, perhaps some revised regulations here and there, all while steadily going against the grain of his new situation, doesn’t sit well with everyone. Enemies come quickly. The hot water boils over. The auctioneer guild gets burnt. People get hurt. Becoming despised, unwanted, the culprit…
Can Matthew fix the mess he wedged himself into? Can he save seven billion people and an entire world, from annihilation? Who is behind the plot to to take him out of the equation? The plot that nearly turns him into an outcast. But, he’s clever, and his capable and wonderful and sexy girlfriend has his back. Yet will it be enough? Find out in this one-of-a-kind, out-of-this-galaxy adventure. Superbly written with flowing, fantastic prose.
J.S. Frankel’s, The Auctioneer, ROCKS! Five stars easy.
By the way, I also read Jesse’s, The Incredible Aunty Awesome sauce. It totally lived up to its title. It was AWESOME! I’m anxiously look forward to more great stories from this author.
November 26, 2020
I won't say much to that brilliant story, only, believe it or not, this story ROCKS.
I hardly could stop, to do other things.
I will get under skin, into your eyes, into your soul.
You think you have figured it out, think again. Yes, it takes you through another way.
Unpredictable with twists.
Brilliantly written. Brilliant story.
Mr Frankel is a master story teller. I just love his stories.
I hardly could stop, to do other things.
I will get under skin, into your eyes, into your soul.
You think you have figured it out, think again. Yes, it takes you through another way.
Unpredictable with twists.
Brilliantly written. Brilliant story.
Mr Frankel is a master story teller. I just love his stories.
Read
March 7, 2021A great story
Great book with great story and characters. Imaginative and detailed. I read it in one sitting. Plan on reading more JS Frankel
Great book with great story and characters. Imaginative and detailed. I read it in one sitting. Plan on reading more JS Frankel
May 26, 2022
Another great read by Frankel! I like the characters he creates and especially the situations they face in overcoming obstacles. (By Parker)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews