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stephbookshine's review
4.0
*I received a free copy of this book. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Space Adventures of Kirk Sandblaster: Space Adventurer was a quick, easy and fun read for fans of chaotic, comic sci-fi.
Kirk himself embodies elements of various well-known characters from Zaphod Beeblebrox (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), Lord Flashheart (Blackadder) and most of the Red Dwarf crew, including Ace ‘Smoke Me a Kipper’ Rimmer. There were also hints of Lone Star and Barf (Spaceballs) in the opening situation and overall style (less the romantic subplot).
However, despite the mix of pop culture influences, Oli Jacobs has created a unique blend in his main characters, and has his own distinct voice and humour that made The Space Aventures of Kirk Sandblaster a witty and intriguing start to what looks to be a promising series.
There is an element of the ‘taster’ to this first novel in the series, as the author is introducing the characters, and setting the tone and plot-style for how his world will work. Hence the plot is a fairly simple seek-and-find adventure. Jacobs mixes it up though by having the story start near the end and then filling in the events via in-story narrative by the ship’s onboard computer. This should be distancing from the main characters, but the actual effect is startlingly intimate, as it feels to the reader that they are hanging out on The Bounty eating sandwiches and groaning at the banter.
The conscious storytelling also allows Jacobs to slip in quite a few meta references, with a particular nod to the Fourth Wall, something I always enjoy spotting (although in some cases more hard to miss than others!)
If you’re after a light, snappy sci-fi read that has its tongue firmly in its cheek, then Sandblaster is the guy for you. His views on kippers are unspecified, but he will have a sandwich if you’re making one…
Sandblaster was mid-way through a sandwich as the reality of explosions and sirens and general space stress came back to him. He had got so into Navi’s stories that he had forgotten about all the potential destruction and kidnapping by Bereyian plunderers. Still…
“I’m sure we have time for Navi to finish…”
“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!”
“Good point.” Sandblaster chomped down the remains of his sandwich and sat forward, puffing out his chest and getting in full-on captain mode.
“Navi, give me the York Notes version of the rest of the events.”
– Oli Jacobs, The Space Adventures of Kirk Sandblaster: Space Adventurer
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/the-space-adventure-of-kirk-sandblaster-oli-jacobs/
The Space Adventures of Kirk Sandblaster: Space Adventurer was a quick, easy and fun read for fans of chaotic, comic sci-fi.
Kirk himself embodies elements of various well-known characters from Zaphod Beeblebrox (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), Lord Flashheart (Blackadder) and most of the Red Dwarf crew, including Ace ‘Smoke Me a Kipper’ Rimmer. There were also hints of Lone Star and Barf (Spaceballs) in the opening situation and overall style (less the romantic subplot).
However, despite the mix of pop culture influences, Oli Jacobs has created a unique blend in his main characters, and has his own distinct voice and humour that made The Space Aventures of Kirk Sandblaster a witty and intriguing start to what looks to be a promising series.
There is an element of the ‘taster’ to this first novel in the series, as the author is introducing the characters, and setting the tone and plot-style for how his world will work. Hence the plot is a fairly simple seek-and-find adventure. Jacobs mixes it up though by having the story start near the end and then filling in the events via in-story narrative by the ship’s onboard computer. This should be distancing from the main characters, but the actual effect is startlingly intimate, as it feels to the reader that they are hanging out on The Bounty eating sandwiches and groaning at the banter.
The conscious storytelling also allows Jacobs to slip in quite a few meta references, with a particular nod to the Fourth Wall, something I always enjoy spotting (although in some cases more hard to miss than others!)
If you’re after a light, snappy sci-fi read that has its tongue firmly in its cheek, then Sandblaster is the guy for you. His views on kippers are unspecified, but he will have a sandwich if you’re making one…
Sandblaster was mid-way through a sandwich as the reality of explosions and sirens and general space stress came back to him. He had got so into Navi’s stories that he had forgotten about all the potential destruction and kidnapping by Bereyian plunderers. Still…
“I’m sure we have time for Navi to finish…”
“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!”
“Good point.” Sandblaster chomped down the remains of his sandwich and sat forward, puffing out his chest and getting in full-on captain mode.
“Navi, give me the York Notes version of the rest of the events.”
– Oli Jacobs, The Space Adventures of Kirk Sandblaster: Space Adventurer
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/the-space-adventure-of-kirk-sandblaster-oli-jacobs/
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