Interview: J.J. Ackerknecht on ‘Ruthless Space Pirates are Marauding’
“Each book really builds on the one before it.”
Author JayAck talks about how his Stat Menu sci-fi book series is moving from being mostly Earth-focused—and expanding out into the farther reaches of space.
In the superhero LitRPG series All I Got is This Stat Menu, Anya Nowicki is a barista from Brooklyn turned superpowered alien slayer. The series—which just released the fourth volume—is written by J.J. Ackerknecht AKA Justin Josiah Ackerknecht AKA JJ AKA JayAck.
The new book is Ruthless Space Pirates are Marauding and All I Got is This Stat Menu:
With the latest threat to Earth stopped, all Anya wanted was to rest and recover. She didn’t expect any thanks or rewards—but she didn’t expect to get arrested, either…
A multi-genre fan, JayAck loves fantasy, sci-fi, horror, “and the intersections where those genres meet, as well as almost all of their little subgenre children.” He’s been writing about 20 years—including comics, short stories, webserials, and now, publishing to Amazon. “I love characters with big hearts,” he says, “and monsters with sharp teeth.”
In our exclusive interview, JayAck tells Monster Complex what inspired his superhero book series, shares some info about the latest volume, explains how the new book fits into the bigger picture, and he names some story creators that have influenced his books.
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Exclusive Q&A: J.J. Ackerknecht talks about Ruthless Space Pirates are Marauding and All I Got is This Stat Menu
Q: What inspired your “All I Got is This Stat Menu” superhero book series?
Initially it was a post on the r/writingprompts subreddit back in 2018. The prompt was something like, “You find that you have the ability to summon a menu that can grant you any set of skills you want. What do you do with this power?”
It got somewhat popular. And a bunch of redditors expressed interest in reading a full story about what I wrote.
Turns out that prompt was the tip of an iceberg called “LitRPG” (or Literary Role-Playing Game) that involves game elements (kind of like Dungeons and Dragons) within the narrative itself. It’s a pretty fun sub-genre, and seemed to pair well with my love of sci-fi and fantasy mingling together.
Q: The latest book in the series is the brand-new fourth volume, Ruthless Space Pirates are Marauding and All I Got is This Stat Menu. What can you share about this book?
This is the book where the narrative moves from being mostly Earth-focused to expanding out into the farther reaches of space. If books 1-3 are an alien invasion + superheroes, then this marks the shift to space opera + superheroes.
Q: Can readers start with this book? Or are all these books part of a bigger picture?
The books are all part of a bigger picture and starting with book #4 would be very bad. Each book really builds on the one before it, so please start at the beginning, and go from there. The series as a whole is set to be six books long, so we're 2/3rds or the way there!
Q: What similar stuff (comics, movies, TV, games, etc) are you a fan of and/or influenced your books?
OG Star Wars, Flash Gordan, anime like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and Tenchi Muyo, the X-Com and Mass Effect series of games, cosmic horror like The Color Out of Space, and comics like the X-Men (specifically the Chris Claremont stuff from the ‘80s).
Q: I *love* these book covers! Why do these books look so great?
The primary reason they look great is because my artist, Enzo Fernandez (aka pkblitz on places like Twitter and Instagram) is incredible and works his ass off to make them look that way.
The much more distant second reason is because when I started publishing, I heard a lot about how busy cover artists are, and you’re likely to lose them to another author or project. So I wanted a strong visual language for my covers if I ever had to switch so that even if the style changed, they’d still be identifiable at a glance. That took the form of bright colors with simple, abstract graphical elements in the background.
But really, it’s all Enzo.
Q: Your author website lists that (at least) six “All I Got is This Stat Menu” books are planned. What are your goals for this series?
Right now, to get it finished. I’ve written a lot of first books to series that are never finished, so this is my first time making it this far. Ideally, by the end of it, I’ll have a satisfying conclusion that wraps the major plot elements up while still leaving some mystery to wonder about, and the readers will have had a fun time along the way. If I can make my readers happy, and stay true to the themes and ideas and characters in the story, I’ll call that a big win.
Q: What are the best ways for readers to keep track of future books and any other author news?
I’m most active on Bluesky and my personal Discord, where I post pictures of my dogs, talk about games and books and anything else, and also give the latest updates on my work. I also have a Patreon, but I’m generally only active on there as I close in on release dates and post advance chapters of the next book.
Find more J.J. Ackerknecht Online
All I Got is This Stat Menu (series)
Anya Nowicki, a barista from Brooklyn turned superpowered alien slayer, has become one of hundreds of hosts for the Archive: a collection of nigh-infinite alien knowledge and skills. The possession of the Archive has marked her and the others as targets for the interstellar threat known as the gnosiphages.
Content Warning: These books contains strong language and graphic violence.
#1 Homicidal Aliens are Invading and All I Got is This Stat Menu
Infinite power at your fingertips, and a target on your back.
Anya Nowicki, along with thousands of people around the globe, has found herself a host for alien technology known as the Archive. The Archive allows its hosts to alter their minds and bodies in an instant through holographic menu systems. With the touch of a button, anyone can become super strong, gain magical abilities, purchase a giant robot, or become a master in any of an almost infinite number of skills that range from advanced combat techniques to fidget-spinning. However, Anya has also become the target for nightmarish, shape-shifting creatures that have come to Earth following the newfound extraterrestrial tech. The Archive can grant their hosts great power, but it may not be enough to survive the horde of murderous aliens hunting them down.
#2 Planetary Destruction is Imminent and All I Got is This Stat Menu
Infinite power at your finger-tips, but will it be enough?
Following her victory against the aliens in Washington, Anya Nowicki has allied herself with the Department of Extraterrestrial Research and Defense: a newly formed organization headed by the shrewd Director MacDougal. Other hosts for the Archive, like Anya, have also joined the DERD, dedicating their time and efforts to honing their supernatural abilities, and searching for whatever aliens remain on Earth.
The hostile creatures known as gnosiphages have gone into hiding, but they have not remained idle. Hosts have been vanishing overnight, along with many civilians all across the globe. Something is still out there, stalking mankind, building its own power. It will take everything Anya has, and all her friends working together, to save the Earth from the apocalyptic crisis rushing towards it.
#3 Tyrannical Supervillains are Scheming and All I Got is This Stat Menu
Infinite power at your fingertips, and in the hands of your enemies.
After the alien invasion, Anya Nowicki thought she’d settle into the easy life: a cushy government job, living in the world’s most advanced city with her new girlfriend, and generally not dealing with anything more dangerous than meetings that should have been emails. She was right, for awhile.
However, Earth’s recent success against the ravenous gnosiphages has drawn the eyes of other extraterrestrial life. Humanity’s unprecendented growth across fields of technology and magic thanks to the Archive has the greater powers across the galaxy worried. They’ve sent three powerful warriors to observe Earth’s hosts and—if necessary—put them down for good.
Worse, the brief period of global unification mankind experienced during the invasion is already starting to strain. A shadowy group of Archive-enhanced terrorists has begun to emerge, and if they’re not found and stopped, it could mean global war.
With enemies closing in at home and from beyond, Anya and her friends will have to watch their backs, or lose everything they’ve fought so hard to gain.
#4 Ruthless Space Pirates are Marauding and All I Got is This Stat Menu
Infinite power at your fingertips, and those that want it for themselves.
With the latest threat to Earth stopped, all Anya wanted was to rest and recover. She didn’t expect any thanks or rewards—but she didn’t expect to get arrested, either. But the Cosmic Wardens do not tolerate any breach of their sacred Code, and they’ve found Anya guilty of exactly that. In a single evening she was taken from Earth, locked in a cell, and thrown across the galaxy.
Samaira, Pan, and their friends remain stranded on Earth, locked within a powerful containment field. If they want to save Anya, and have any hope of protecting Earth from further attacks, they’ll need to find a way off-planet, and across the infinite sea of stars. Assuming they can even find Anya at all.
And assuming Anya can survive long enough for them to get to her. With a power-mad Warden Commander, space pirates, wild gnosiphage swarms, murderous (but adorable) alien spies, bland prison food, and every other danger the far reaches of space can offer, it won't be easy. It’s a long way home, but if Anya can survive the trip, she might be able to change everything.
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Author J.J. Ackerknecht talks about his superhero LitRPG series All I Got is This Stat Menu. JayAck talks about how his sci-fi book series is moving from being mostly Earth-focused to expanding out into the farther reaches of space. “Each book really builds on the one before it.”