Warning contains traces of satire

It is a nice romp and an expansive universe. There are traces of satire that may be lost on those with fragile sensibilities.

A set of simple plots which is great for this light listen. Some nods to other sci-fi which is nice.

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Different

This was very different to my usual listening but i must admit it was really entertaining. Worth a listen. Good thought up aliens

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Knows where it's towel is at.

Take a splash of Stainless Steel Rat, a soupcon of Hitchhikers Guide, a large chunk of ant-heroes and rub rigorously with some Pythonesk tongue in cheek social commentary and you'll end up with this delightful bite of literature. I was surprised at just how good, and how much fun, this book is. I've purchased another couple of this authors audio books purely on the strength of this one. I thoroughly recommend it.

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A female Stainless Steel Rat?

Follows on from Gate Crashers. Iain M Banks lite alien adventure crossed with some Harry Harrison and more. Screwup politics, humour and bloody great lasers. Not as gory or technical as Corey. Will follow this author and narrator. Thanks for the listen.

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Why is Donald Trump in this?

An ok book (with creative character design) but a cringefest toward the end. Forcing a shallow Donald Trump "parody" into the story for cheap points is annoying, and completely takes the reader away from any sci-fi world building done in the rest of the book.

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1 person found this helpful

Would have been great without the dumb politics

Even if you are as ignorant as the author and think this is hilarious political satire then it just ruins the emersion. That is not good in a story at all, but seems to be even worse in a speaking book.

Started out with a great story, could have been a 5-star book. This was ruined by the the utter disaster of what I assume is the last section, with the author deciding to go on a rant that does not fit in any way with the story. Making it even worse, in doing so he demonstrates why the left can't meme. Hint: it is because good satire has a basis in reality, and when you project your own side's flaws onto a target that opposes those things you miss completely and it just makes the audience cringe. However much you get the target's tone right (which could make this fine for all political sides with a lighter touch and less showing of irrational hatred) if you are accusing him of things his opponents are known for - and he is hated for opposing - then it is just grating.

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2 people found this helpful

It's good :)

So subtle in places that if you're not paying attention you'll miss it. Ground breaking, no , Fun : - Yes :)

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1 person found this helpful

Decent Sci fi spoilt by subplot

I enjoyed this book up to a point. It has a likeable human female main character if a bit young and an array of truly alien aliens and locations/settings all interesting and engaging in their own way. Some of the events are a bit predictable but on the whole not bad with lots of potential too.

(Slight spoiler)

That said, I listen to sci-fi to relax. A bit of escapism. I just don't find the child sex trade relaxing even if it is bushy tailed alien feline-like juveniles. Get it?

To be fair I've stopped a few chapters into other books because there seems to be an preoccupation in several "sci-fi" books I've read/listened-to with teen or younger sexual abuse with heroes rescuing them or coming to the conclusion they can't save the universe.

Not that this is graphic, just, I don't get it. It's meant to be sci-fi not "Stolen" and whatever genre that falls into.

So I let the first occurrence, when they're accidently rescued, go. Then the second occurrence seemed to bring it to a conclusion when, a few chapters later, it was dealt with by characters with a conscience.

Then after another chapter or 2 it was brought up again, apparently causing ruffles...

It seems like it's going to be an underlying theme throughout the book so that's then end of it for me. I listened to chapter 15.

I mention this plotline because I wouldn't have started listening to it had I known there was child, sorry, "alien juvenile" sex trafficking as a main subplot.

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Gentle space opera, with clever defences to other works.

Nice and gentle space opera, with some clever SF concepts. But I really loved listening out for the references to other works. Amongst others there were references to “the hitchhikers guide”, “the expanse” and I think I even caught a reference to some of Terry Pratchett’s works.

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1 person found this helpful

brilliant

absolutely loved it nice story, well read and humourious. as well as entertaining, his best work that I've come across . more please. very easy listen.

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