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stephbookshine's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This is the seventh Kirk Sandblaster book and while some of them can be read as standalone books, there is a benefit of reading them in series order and getting the characters’ backstories.
You get a head start with this instalment in that respect, as the first chapter takes us all the way back to Kirk’s childhood, showing us the start of the kind of AI that we see in Kirk’s adult adventures, like Navi or some of the prosthetics that characters like Xlaar and Beansmith rely on.
Then we skip back to ‘present-day’ Kirk and Xlaar, as they find out quickly – and violently – that technology is out to kill humans in general, and Kirk in particular, due to something called ‘Protocol 9’. Cue the usual silly shenanigans, where Kirk charges wilfully into obvious danger and makes increasingly stupid decisions (and sandwiches), staying alive through a combination of dumb luck and the reluctantly heroic efforts of an exasperated Zaarian sidekick with anger issues and a soft spot for his pet idiot.
A wild mixture of Robocop, Skywalker, Hitchiker’s Guide and Red Dwarf, the Kirk Sandblaster books never fail to provide entertainment, in the form of a chaotic and light-hearted, space action-comedy. The ending here is one of those ‘they think it’s all over’ ones, leaving a tantalising ‘To Be Continued…’ leading off in the direction of the next instalment (rather ominously titled, ‘Kirk Sandblaster Faces the End’ – see my interview with the author for some insider information on this front!) And I’ll leave you with some wise words from the author himself:
‘While it is a series, and you may get more out of it by reading the previous books, I think the main thing is to enter the book with a sense of fun. Nothing is too serious, and if it is, then you have to find the lighter side. So, don’t worry about weird alien names or complex sounding futuristic technology, just enjoy the ride.’
– Oli Jacobs, 26th March 2020.
With a wide yawn, Sandblaster tried to keep himself awake.
“You really need to stop talking.”
“But I have something to say.”
“Well make it quick, I’m getting drowsy here.”
“I must kill you.”
Both Sandblaster and Beansmith looked confused.
“Say that again?”
“I must kill you, Kirk Sandblaster.”
“Did you hear that, Kirk?”
He’d fallen asleep again. Luckily, this time Beansmith didn’t need to nudge him awake. Unluckily, this was because the sound of the Bounty firing up, and Navi announcing the activation of its weapons was enough to shake the space adventurer out of a dream world of delicious sandwiches and thrilling adventure.
“What’s going on?”
“Die.” Navi said, as the Bounty’s weapons began to whirr with the imminent blasting of several lasers.
Directed straight at Kirk Sandblaster.
– Oli Jacobs, Kirk Sandblaster vs Protocol 9
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/kirk-sandblaster-vs-protocol-9-oli-jacobs/
This is the seventh Kirk Sandblaster book and while some of them can be read as standalone books, there is a benefit of reading them in series order and getting the characters’ backstories.
You get a head start with this instalment in that respect, as the first chapter takes us all the way back to Kirk’s childhood, showing us the start of the kind of AI that we see in Kirk’s adult adventures, like Navi or some of the prosthetics that characters like Xlaar and Beansmith rely on.
Then we skip back to ‘present-day’ Kirk and Xlaar, as they find out quickly – and violently – that technology is out to kill humans in general, and Kirk in particular, due to something called ‘Protocol 9’. Cue the usual silly shenanigans, where Kirk charges wilfully into obvious danger and makes increasingly stupid decisions (and sandwiches), staying alive through a combination of dumb luck and the reluctantly heroic efforts of an exasperated Zaarian sidekick with anger issues and a soft spot for his pet idiot.
A wild mixture of Robocop, Skywalker, Hitchiker’s Guide and Red Dwarf, the Kirk Sandblaster books never fail to provide entertainment, in the form of a chaotic and light-hearted, space action-comedy. The ending here is one of those ‘they think it’s all over’ ones, leaving a tantalising ‘To Be Continued…’ leading off in the direction of the next instalment (rather ominously titled, ‘Kirk Sandblaster Faces the End’ – see my interview with the author for some insider information on this front!) And I’ll leave you with some wise words from the author himself:
‘While it is a series, and you may get more out of it by reading the previous books, I think the main thing is to enter the book with a sense of fun. Nothing is too serious, and if it is, then you have to find the lighter side. So, don’t worry about weird alien names or complex sounding futuristic technology, just enjoy the ride.’
– Oli Jacobs, 26th March 2020.
With a wide yawn, Sandblaster tried to keep himself awake.
“You really need to stop talking.”
“But I have something to say.”
“Well make it quick, I’m getting drowsy here.”
“I must kill you.”
Both Sandblaster and Beansmith looked confused.
“Say that again?”
“I must kill you, Kirk Sandblaster.”
“Did you hear that, Kirk?”
He’d fallen asleep again. Luckily, this time Beansmith didn’t need to nudge him awake. Unluckily, this was because the sound of the Bounty firing up, and Navi announcing the activation of its weapons was enough to shake the space adventurer out of a dream world of delicious sandwiches and thrilling adventure.
“What’s going on?”
“Die.” Navi said, as the Bounty’s weapons began to whirr with the imminent blasting of several lasers.
Directed straight at Kirk Sandblaster.
– Oli Jacobs, Kirk Sandblaster vs Protocol 9
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/kirk-sandblaster-vs-protocol-9-oli-jacobs/
stephbookshine's review
4.0
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This is the seventh Kirk Sandblaster book and while some of them can be read as standalone books, there is a benefit of reading them in series order and getting the characters’ backstories.
You get a head start with this instalment in that respect, as the first chapter takes us all the way back to Kirk’s childhood, showing us the start of the kind of AI that we see in Kirk’s adult adventures, like Navi or some of the prosthetics that characters like Xlaar and Beansmith rely on.
Then we skip back to ‘present-day’ Kirk and Xlaar, as they find out quickly – and violently – that technology is out to kill humans in general, and Kirk in particular, due to something called ‘Protocol 9’. Cue the usual silly shenanigans, where Kirk charges wilfully into obvious danger and makes increasingly stupid decisions (and sandwiches), staying alive through a combination of dumb luck and the reluctantly heroic efforts of an exasperated Zaarian sidekick with anger issues and a soft spot for his pet idiot.
A wild mixture of Robocop, Skywalker, Hitchiker’s Guide and Red Dwarf, the Kirk Sandblaster books never fail to provide entertainment, in the form of a chaotic and light-hearted, space action-comedy. The ending here is one of those ‘they think it’s all over’ ones, leaving a tantalising ‘To Be Continued…’ leading off in the direction of the next instalment (rather ominously titled, ‘Kirk Sandblaster Faces the End’ – see my interview with the author for some insider information on this front!) And I’ll leave you with some wise words from the author himself:
‘While it is a series, and you may get more out of it by reading the previous books, I think the main thing is to enter the book with a sense of fun. Nothing is too serious, and if it is, then you have to find the lighter side. So, don’t worry about weird alien names or complex sounding futuristic technology, just enjoy the ride.’
– Oli Jacobs, 26th March 2020.
With a wide yawn, Sandblaster tried to keep himself awake.
“You really need to stop talking.”
“But I have something to say.”
“Well make it quick, I’m getting drowsy here.”
“I must kill you.”
Both Sandblaster and Beansmith looked confused.
“Say that again?”
“I must kill you, Kirk Sandblaster.”
“Did you hear that, Kirk?”
He’d fallen asleep again. Luckily, this time Beansmith didn’t need to nudge him awake. Unluckily, this was because the sound of the Bounty firing up, and Navi announcing the activation of its weapons was enough to shake the space adventurer out of a dream world of delicious sandwiches and thrilling adventure.
“What’s going on?”
“Die.” Navi said, as the Bounty’s weapons began to whirr with the imminent blasting of several lasers.
Directed straight at Kirk Sandblaster.
– Oli Jacobs, Kirk Sandblaster vs Protocol 9
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/kirk-sandblaster-vs-protocol-9-oli-jacobs/
This is the seventh Kirk Sandblaster book and while some of them can be read as standalone books, there is a benefit of reading them in series order and getting the characters’ backstories.
You get a head start with this instalment in that respect, as the first chapter takes us all the way back to Kirk’s childhood, showing us the start of the kind of AI that we see in Kirk’s adult adventures, like Navi or some of the prosthetics that characters like Xlaar and Beansmith rely on.
Then we skip back to ‘present-day’ Kirk and Xlaar, as they find out quickly – and violently – that technology is out to kill humans in general, and Kirk in particular, due to something called ‘Protocol 9’. Cue the usual silly shenanigans, where Kirk charges wilfully into obvious danger and makes increasingly stupid decisions (and sandwiches), staying alive through a combination of dumb luck and the reluctantly heroic efforts of an exasperated Zaarian sidekick with anger issues and a soft spot for his pet idiot.
A wild mixture of Robocop, Skywalker, Hitchiker’s Guide and Red Dwarf, the Kirk Sandblaster books never fail to provide entertainment, in the form of a chaotic and light-hearted, space action-comedy. The ending here is one of those ‘they think it’s all over’ ones, leaving a tantalising ‘To Be Continued…’ leading off in the direction of the next instalment (rather ominously titled, ‘Kirk Sandblaster Faces the End’ – see my interview with the author for some insider information on this front!) And I’ll leave you with some wise words from the author himself:
‘While it is a series, and you may get more out of it by reading the previous books, I think the main thing is to enter the book with a sense of fun. Nothing is too serious, and if it is, then you have to find the lighter side. So, don’t worry about weird alien names or complex sounding futuristic technology, just enjoy the ride.’
– Oli Jacobs, 26th March 2020.
With a wide yawn, Sandblaster tried to keep himself awake.
“You really need to stop talking.”
“But I have something to say.”
“Well make it quick, I’m getting drowsy here.”
“I must kill you.”
Both Sandblaster and Beansmith looked confused.
“Say that again?”
“I must kill you, Kirk Sandblaster.”
“Did you hear that, Kirk?”
He’d fallen asleep again. Luckily, this time Beansmith didn’t need to nudge him awake. Unluckily, this was because the sound of the Bounty firing up, and Navi announcing the activation of its weapons was enough to shake the space adventurer out of a dream world of delicious sandwiches and thrilling adventure.
“What’s going on?”
“Die.” Navi said, as the Bounty’s weapons began to whirr with the imminent blasting of several lasers.
Directed straight at Kirk Sandblaster.
– Oli Jacobs, Kirk Sandblaster vs Protocol 9
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/kirk-sandblaster-vs-protocol-9-oli-jacobs/
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