Definitely felt like this was meant to be the start of something, and a shame if nothing further comes of it. I think the humour worked in places, but it seemed to try and put everything that made Red Dwarf so good across all its seasons into one book, and the inconsistency of this just didn't work. If it had been more focused like the first few seasons it would have been great, but I think in the end it just tried too hard.
They're not winning any awards, but they're always fun! I'm hoping the 20th book comes out before the new year, which should be the last last one in the main series. I see them as lighthearted beach reads. Hope you enjoy!
I read the first book too a little while ago. I don't think I gave my review here - I gave it a 4/5. I'll get back to the series at some point.
Columbus Day by Craig Alanson (Expeditionary Force #1) - as I'm almost up-to-date with the series that I'm currently reading, and finished off a few recently too, I thought it was time to start a new one, and settled on Columbus Day. I'm fully aware that there are, I think, 19 books out in this series so far, so I figured it can't be that bad if it's so popular. To start off with I wasn't entirely sure - it seemed very much something I'd read before - bad aliens invade earth, good aliens come to the rescue. BUt asd the story progressed there were little bits here and there that started to get my attention and make me think, and then things really took a turn and ramped things right up. For me it went from an okay read that I may continue, to one I couldn't put down and will definitely see where the series goes. Not quite sure I'll be in it for the long haul, it really depends where the story goes and if it can keep things interesting enough. We'll see.
Wow. Good to hear! It would have been one of my reads of the year, but I found the ending was all rather too convenient and felt a bit flat after what had gone before. It will end up in my best of the year, I think, but not my 'best of'.
Good to hear. I've only read the first couple of chapters but have to admit I was groaning at the page when the main character kept saying to his wife, "I dunno, one minute I was in the car then I wasn't" like a character in a soap opera who you know is getting themselves into hot water by just not explaining a situation properly! Come on man, get with it! Explain what happened in detail not in single syllables!
Guess you must be single LOLGood to hear. I've only read the first couple of chapters but have to admit I was groaning at the page when the main character kept saying to his wife, "I dunno, one minute I was in the car then I wasn't" like a character in a soap opera who you know is getting themselves into hot water by just not explaining a situation properly! Come on man, get with it! Explain what happened in detail not in single syllables!
At the same time not wanting to overhype as it wasn't 100% perfect….
I've also now read The Traveler by Joseph Eckert, like many other forumites - and loved it!
Such a readable SF story - it's fairly rare I really look forward to coming back to a book, but that was the case here. I thought the author did a pretty good job of predicting what a far future could look like, and interlocking that future with his son Lyle was also well done.
There was a moment of doubt when there's full-on weaponising and I thought the novel was going to turn down this path for the remainder, but luckily I wasn't disappointed. A few have mentioned the ending wasn't great but I thought it was OK; the idea it self was good, maybe just not executed the best way, but also it would be a tricky book to end perfectly anyway.
A very profound time travel novel, and a favourite (maybe the favourite) of the year for me.
