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mattab94's review
2.0
The book isn't badly written. The story is fairly interesting and the characters are OK. But that's the issue with this book. Most of it is just 'fairly average'.
The start of the novel is the best bit. The aliens keep trying to make contact, but somehow keep getting killed in various Earthly accidents. Sadly, the novel doesn't keep this fast-paced and rather humorous thread going throughout.
Jeff is introduced with an interesting backstory. He is keeping away from computers and worried about being spied on. After the first 25% of the novel this is completely forgotten. I have the feeling the author wanted to do something with this part of the character but run out of time/words and had to rush the ending.
After the start, Jeff becomes a bit boring. He finds himself on an amazing spaceship with loads of creatures (I really enjoyed the setting and descriptions in the book). But he doesn't seem to care. A few comments here and there, but otherwise he seems innately skilled at navigating and using the ship's facilities and computer systems. Again, I think this was supposed to lead somewhere, but didn't.
The big battle at the end is disappointing. Bunnie are supposedly terrible creatures who are able to are killing machines (but they don't eat victims anymore). And yet they are easily thwarted. The writing of the battle was clearly trying to be suspenseful, but there weren't big enough stakes. Nobody had anything to lose. All the weapons were stun weapons, so there was no emotion when Jeff's comrades went down. The reader knows they'll be back on their feet in a chapter or two. What the battle really needed was a poignant death. Oliop needed to die because he was such a lovable character.
The main motive for the antagonist was laughable. I know this book is a comedy, but the motive meant I couldn't take the book seriously, and I was really trying.
To summarise: The book had potential that wasn't used. The setting and descriptions were good, but the plot and characters were average. The book needed to be shorter, faster paced and make use of the promises it sets out at the start of the book relating to the main character.
The start of the novel is the best bit. The aliens keep trying to make contact, but somehow keep getting killed in various Earthly accidents. Sadly, the novel doesn't keep this fast-paced and rather humorous thread going throughout.
Jeff is introduced with an interesting backstory. He is keeping away from computers and worried about being spied on. After the first 25% of the novel this is completely forgotten. I have the feeling the author wanted to do something with this part of the character but run out of time/words and had to rush the ending.
After the start, Jeff becomes a bit boring. He finds himself on an amazing spaceship with loads of creatures (I really enjoyed the setting and descriptions in the book). But he doesn't seem to care. A few comments here and there, but otherwise he seems innately skilled at navigating and using the ship's facilities and computer systems. Again, I think this was supposed to lead somewhere, but didn't.
Spoiler
The big battle at the end is disappointing. Bunnie are supposedly terrible creatures who are able to are killing machines (but they don't eat victims anymore). And yet they are easily thwarted. The writing of the battle was clearly trying to be suspenseful, but there weren't big enough stakes. Nobody had anything to lose. All the weapons were stun weapons, so there was no emotion when Jeff's comrades went down. The reader knows they'll be back on their feet in a chapter or two. What the battle really needed was a poignant death. Oliop needed to die because he was such a lovable character.
The main motive for the antagonist was laughable. I know this book is a comedy, but the motive meant I couldn't take the book seriously, and I was really trying.
To summarise: The book had potential that wasn't used. The setting and descriptions were good, but the plot and characters were average. The book needed to be shorter, faster paced and make use of the promises it sets out at the start of the book relating to the main character.
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