The Arbitrator
📘 About This Book
“Was there a pang of remorse for his actions in his mind? Possibly, but what choice did he have? If he wanted to survive, he had no room for weakness. Max Nowaz’s science fiction novel, The Arbitrator, follows the story of 153 year-old Jim Brown, a former highly successful administrator who is now rotting in jail, for tax fraud. However, in reality, he is there for taking revenge and killing several people on the planet Levita, after meeting the beautiful Narissa... In prison, he has acquired a drug habit, which is killing him slowly and his only chance of survival is a very expensive renewal process, which will make him young again and cure his drug habit. After ten years in jail, he is suddenly given a reprieve and offered a chance to redeem himself. He is sent as the ‘Arbitrator’ to ‘Pirrus’ in another solar system, to try and stop a rebellion and bring matters under control. Will he complete the mission successfully to earn enough funds for his regeneration? Only time will tell. Just when he thinks he has accomplished his task, he meets Gina, the daughter of a rebel, and finds out that there is a plot by foreign powers to invade the planet... The plot thickens when Brown also discovers that there is a mole in his organisation who is undermining his efforts to succeed. How will Brown react to the devastating news? This book will appeal to fans of innovative science fiction and people who enjoyed the stories in The Avatar and The Blade Runner.
📖 Summary
Max Nowaz's 2016 science fiction novel, The Arbitrator, introduces readers to a sprawling futuristic universe centered around a 153-year-old protagonist named Jim Brown. Once a highly successful administrator, Jim’s life has taken a dark turn, landing him in prison for what is officially recorded as tax fraud. However, the truth of his incarceration is far more sinister and personal. In reality, Jim is behind bars for taking brutal revenge and killing several people on the distant planet Levita. His fateful path to violence and vengeance began when he met the captivating and beautiful Narissa, a meeting that upended his existence and set him on a collision course with tragedy and retribution. Now aging behind bars, Jim faces an even more immediate threat to his survival than the prison walls themselves. Ten years into his sentence, he has developed a severe drug habit that is slowly and methodically killing him from the inside out. His only hope for a future lies in a very expensive rejuvenation and renewal process, a high-tech medical miracle that would not only make him young again but also completely cure his crippling drug addiction. Unfortunately, securing such a procedure from the depths of a prison cell seems entirely impossible. Yet, fate or perhaps powerful forces with their own hidden agendas intervene. After a decade of suffering, Jim is suddenly granted an unexpected reprieve. He is offered a tantalizing, albeit dangerous, chance to redeem himself and secure the means to save his own life. Instead of rotting away in his cell, Jim is thrust back into the field as the designated Arbitrator. His new assignment sends him to Pi, plunging him headfirst into high-stakes interstellar intrigue, moral ambiguity, and the heavy burdens of his own complicated past. As Jim navigates this pivotal mission, Nowaz's narrative explores deep themes of survival, the corrosive nature of revenge, and the lengths to which a person will go when backed into a corner. Jim's internal monologue reveals a man who is acutely aware of the weight of his actions, occasionally questioning whether a pang of remorse should trouble his mind, yet ultimately recognizing that survival in his harsh reality leaves no room for weakness. The Arbitrator combines classic science fiction world-building with gritty noir elements, following an aging antihero as he attempts to claw his way back from the brink of destruction. Through Jim's eyes, the novel examines how past choices haunt the future, and whether redemption is truly possible for someone who has crossed lines from which there is seemingly no return. Spanning 288 pages of gripping fiction, the story keeps readers engaged as Jim balances his urgent need for self-preservation with the complex demands of his new role.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Engaging sci-fi premise blending futuristic world-building with gritty crime elements
Compelling and deeply flawed protagonist with a complex backstory
Fast-paced plot driven by high stakes and desperate survival
Explores mature themes such as revenge, addiction, and redemption
⚠️ Cons
The protagonist's heavy drug habit and criminal past may feel grim for some readers
Limited background details provided on the broader political landscape outside the main premise
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of The Arbitrator? +
The book was written by Max Nowaz.
When was The Arbitrator published? +
It was published in 2016.
How many pages does the book have? +
The novel spans 288 pages.
Why is Jim Brown in prison? +
Officially he is jailed for tax fraud, but in reality, he is there for taking revenge and killing several people on the planet Levita.
What is Jim's ultimate goal after receiving his reprieve? +
He seeks to complete his mission as the Arbitrator on Pi to secure a very expensive renewal process that will make him young again and cure his drug habit.
