You know the saying that you should listen to your inner voice? Ignatz Bauer would disagree! He is someone who scrapes by bending (breaking!) the rules and 'borrowing' (permanently) things he wants. However when he attempts to steal a new type of ship he gets more than he bargained for. An AI is downloaded into his brain (called Ralph) and is now the proverbial inner voice. Turns out the AI has information that others want and so Ignatz gets a target on his back as well as Amanda a trainee bounty hunter who needs her first capture to get her license. Unfortunately Amanda has a conscience and normally ends up letting her marks go rather than turning them in.... Together they form a hilarious team attempting to escape the other bounty hunters (and whomever else is after Ignatz and Ralph).
This humorous tale is in a similar vein to Hitch-hikers, but doesn't quite have the same laugh a minute track record. There are many more comedic hits than misses and it is a highly entertaining read. I look forward to seeing where this group of misfits go next.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and I am submitting this review on my volition.
1 zh.51 1 follower

Adventure in space, humour and chase, an enjoyable and eventful ride, another great read from Pruden )

Everyone seems out to want a piece of Ignatz Bauer, preferably his head. By far is it no mere head, either, since he keeps hearing voices - or, more accurately, one persistent voice, as it so happens that the head in question is currently housing an exceptional AI acquired from a military scout ship and thus something that might prove to have significant consequences for the worlds populated by organics - if they even ever get as far as discovering what is being hidden from the view of most, since the odds look far from favourable. Though with the s of Ignatz concerned, you never know.

A team of unly allies starts to form as our talented (or simply very, very lucky so far) con man Ignatz has a bounty on his head alongside other issues he's trying to dodge, and Amanda, trying to leave her past behind and start anew as a bounty hunter, gets involved in something bigger than it would have seemed at first glance. Not to forget Ralph the AI now fully integrated with Ignatz's brain (of whom the latter would have happily gotten rid of by any means necessary, unless it included losing his head), and there are more fascinating creatures (and creations) yet to meet and places to visit as the story unfolds.

Slightly lighter entertainment than usual from Pruden, an enjoyable and eventful ride nevertheless. He is great at bringing characters to life that the readers start to root for, even when at first glance some of them wouldn't inspire much enthusiasm or even compassion. Interesting points about the sentience and personhood of thinking machines and other issues are also raised. The author has a way to draw the reader in and keep their interest keen, so the next book in this series is going to be something to look forward to. Meanwhile we can keep wondering how Ignatz manages to pull off all the stunts he has so far. He might well become another reader favourite in the future, the start seems promising already. Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer)721

“Brain for Rent: Hardly Used” (The Galactic Misadventures of Ignatz Bauer #1) by D.M. Pruden. ?????? Genre: Sci Fi Space Opera. Location: Djor Cluster in a galaxy far, far away. Time: Future.

Ignatz Bauer, 35, is a conman and thief. He has Ralph, a stolen ship’s AI, living in his head. Unfortunately, the owner wants Ralph back (with or without Ignatz’s head). But the AI refuses to leave his head. Amanda Frey turned her back on her wealthy, privileged life on Trangarten to become a bounty hunter. Now she wants to capture Ignatz to save her failing career. But after a series of misadventures, she ends up traveling with Ignatz to save Ralph.

Ralph is an artificial intelligence (AI). He holds a secret many would kill for. When Ignatz boarded his ship, Ralph jumped into his brain to escape his owners. Mobi is an artificial intelligence robot. He lives on Tri-vingus, a planet where only robots are allowed. He’s fond of Ignatz, and they often secretly trade items. Now bounty hunters (and an evil entity trying to destroy all biological life) are looking for Ignatz’s brain, so the four are on the run.

Pruden has written a short space opera with all required parts. Ignatz may not be quite as charming and fascinating to women readers as the author writes, but he’s not offensive and he tries to be gallant. Since this is the 1st in a series, the characters and world view will probably be more fully developed in future books. There are lots of plots left hanging, which bodes well for future books. It’s 3 stars from me.
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