Max Quick: The Bane of the Bondsman

The thrilling conclusion of the Max Quick Trilogy! After the disaster of the Machine in 1912, Max Quick, Casey Cyranus, Ian Keating and Sasha Fwa find themselves in a alternate, dystopian 1977. Countries are no more: there is only a single super-state under the crushing rule of a mysterious golden-masked figure called 'the Bondsman'. But the Bondsman's tyranny extends beyond the mere political realm: everyone has the same horrific Dream every night. Nature itself is corrupted: extreme weather and strange animals are everyday occurrences. And other than the Bondsman's Elite families, humanity works twelve hour days, every day -- the point being misery for misery's sake.But who is the Bondsman? The company soon traces his origins directly to Max's own act of destroying the Machine in 1912. As distrust multiplies even amongst the friends, Max must come to grips with his new-found power -- and discover how to use it to defeat the Bondsman ... or he risks becoming the Bondsman in the end himself!Praise for MAX QUICK: THE POCKET AND THE PENDANT (Max Quick #1, HarperCollins 2011):From Goodreads:"This book was recommended to me ... I immediately ordered it from Amazon. I just finished this book because it was mind boggling. Every time I thought I had it figured out, a twist was thrown into the mix. I just handed it to one of boys who will talk it up as he is reading it to get others excited ...""Loved it! It's so refreshing to see new ideas in children's science fiction. The plot is somewhat based on science, and the mini-societies and alliances that come into existence when time stops are exactly in line with human behavior. This book offers lots of fast-paced action and a solid plot for any sci fi lover, and I can't wait for the sequel!""Her favorite books? "Anne of Green Gables. Oh, and the 'Max Quick' (fantasy) books. I'm on the last one of those, so I'm kind of sad about that."-- AP Syndicated Interview with Oscar Nominee Abigail Breslin“Jeffrey’s descriptions of how time has stopped will stop readers in their own tracks. Plenty of action-adventure appeal.” (Booklist )“An imaginative addition to the middle-grade speculative adventure canon.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books )“This fast-paced adventure…will keep readers turning the pages. The incorporation of figures from Sumerian mythology adds an interesting element that may appeal to fans of Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” series.” (School Library Journal )“Riveting. The Pocket and the Pendant is not what you expect, no matter what you expect.” (Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author )"On March 14, at exactly 1:59 in the afternoon, the world stopped." From that first sentence, THE POCKET AND THE PENDANT grabs you and barrels you along a story that's fantastic in every sense of the word. It's funny, exciting, and fascinating, with tantalizing dollops of historical detail interwoven in a highly modern sci-fi adventure. While it's riveting and complex, it's also a touching story of friendship and finding one's own capacity in a truly unexpected manner. A real treat."By the time you finish reading the first installment of the Max Quick series, you realize how much care and effort was put into crafting the story. Not only are there smart and cool pseudo-scientific explanations for the craziness that goes on in the story, the book is also full of action and adventure that seems already fit for the silver screen.This fun and engaging story about the fateful day that time stops will keep you engrossed and in suspense until the very end, whether you're a kid or an adult.Awards:A Junior Library Guild Selection, 2012 (Top 5%)Maine Student Book Award Nominee, 2013Ulysses Award WinnerSchool Library Journal Selection2.5 Million downloads as a podcast audiobook