Lesley L. Smith http://www.lesleylsmith.com/ is the author of nearly a dozen novels. A Jack by Any Other Name was published in 2017 and is the first novel in his The Space Operetta series. It is the 59th book I completed reading in 2023.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of mild violence, mature language, and mature situations, I categorize this novel as PG.

Jack Jones was sitting in a restaurant in 2095 when he was murdered. Jack had been a famous singer and Shakespearean actor, part of a company that traveled planet to planet aboard the ship Shakespeare. He had also been a spy. Fortunately, a new body was quickly cloned for him. Unfortunately, while he had a brain backup, it was 32 years out of date.

Jack has forgotten all he ever knew about being a spy. He attempts to investigate his own murder as well as take on other missions. Jack succeeds despite his ineptitude. Only a select few know he is the resurrected Jack. Unsure who can be trusted, he stumbles through his new life. at various times he finds himself in danger, has attempts made on his life, and has several intimate encounters.

I spent 6+ interesting hours reading this 291-page science fiction novel. The book is written tongue-in-cheek and outside my usual reading range. In hindsight, I should have skipped it. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3 out of 5.

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Jack Jones is a clone of the original Jack Jones who was murdered. Blessed with a fine voice, but missing thirty years of Old Jack's memories, young Jack ships on board the Shakespeare - a vessel of the Terran Cultural Committee and full of spies. He's posing as Old Jack's son and joining the performing company. Old Jack had been the captain of the ship and lead vocalist - he was also married to Gina, now the current captain. Oops, that's going to be awkward. Young Jack sets out to solve his own older self's murder while performing in concerts, Shakespeare, and Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas on alien worlds. he doesn't know who he can trust. He discovers Old Jack might have been mixed up in something none too savoury when he finds an illegal FTL drive and someone is killed in his cabin. Things get twisty and the mystery is finally resolved. I was almost sold on this, but I've been a professional singist and Jack's performances didn't quite sit right with me. He spends all his time reflecting on how brilliant he is, but we don't feel it. Also he has a libido the size of the Eiffel Tower, jumping into bed at the drop of an undergarment, and eventually having to ask the doc for drugs to tone down his massive sexual urges. Duh. I know young Jack is only 18, but even for an 18 year old he's pretty juvenile. The concept is interesting but the protagonist isn't very engaging (he just thinks he is) and on the whole this was a bit cheesy.

Jack is a clone. The only problem is the body he was grown from was not dead, as required by law. I found the story hard to believe.