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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
Parody of all the Star Trek tropes.
Interesting idea, but tries too hard to be funny.
The last few chapters suddenly turn serious (up to a point) as an explanation is given to say why everything is happening.
Interesting idea, but tries too hard to be funny.
The last few chapters suddenly turn serious (up to a point) as an explanation is given to say why everything is happening.
If Capt Kirk and Zap Branigan were mashed together and made eerily competent. But with an interesting subversive agenda against the federation. Hilarious, interesting, and totally worth the read.
This book is one long exercise in insanity from start to finish. With plot pacing that's so breakneck you or the characters hardly ever get a second to breath before the next crisis occurs.
The lead Hadrian Sawback is obviously (like most of the novel's clear ode to Star Trek) Erikson's take on Kirk, which I much approve of given that Kirk has always bothered me. The character is absurd, and gives an impression of utterly reckless behavior. But quickly you realize he knows exactly what he's about. Alot of other readers have compared him to Futurama's Zapp Brannigan, but he's actually very much the opposite of Zapp.
Like I said about the pacing, it never stops for a second. They rush from one escapade to the next with barely any time to recompose yourself beforehand. While this keeps the laughs coming constantly (the primary goal of the novel, so it can't be faulted too terribly) It does sort of hurt the structure of the novel and holds it back from being able to flesh its characters out a bit more. That said however the characters are indeed well done which any reader of Erikson's knows he's perfectly capable of in spades. Galk is a personal favorite with his nihilistic musings on the futility of existence. And of course, the Terran Marines are standouts in their utterly over the top diligence in their warcraft.
The novel contains nods upon odes upon references upon eyewinks to Star Trek and similar space fiction, and while such a novel could've easily felt really tired and unneccessary, Erikson executes it in such a wonderful way that neither requires the reader to understand all of the injokes, nor feels like it relies too heavily on the tropes created by the book's clear influences.
The book does play up the captain's sexism a little too much, but at the same time it does feel sort of necessary in order to expose the sexism clearly abundant in much of the 20th century science fiction Willful Child regularly references, beyond even Star Trek and Kirk's womanizing. Have no fear though, there are women in this book that kick ass just as much as Hadrian himself.
A wild book to say the least, and I hope very much that Erikson gets to put out a couple more adventures of the crew of the Willful Child.
The lead Hadrian Sawback is obviously (like most of the novel's clear ode to Star Trek) Erikson's take on Kirk, which I much approve of given that Kirk has always bothered me. The character is absurd, and gives an impression of utterly reckless behavior. But quickly you realize he knows exactly what he's about. Alot of other readers have compared him to Futurama's Zapp Brannigan, but he's actually very much the opposite of Zapp.
Like I said about the pacing, it never stops for a second. They rush from one escapade to the next with barely any time to recompose yourself beforehand. While this keeps the laughs coming constantly (the primary goal of the novel, so it can't be faulted too terribly) It does sort of hurt the structure of the novel and holds it back from being able to flesh its characters out a bit more. That said however the characters are indeed well done which any reader of Erikson's knows he's perfectly capable of in spades. Galk is a personal favorite with his nihilistic musings on the futility of existence. And of course, the Terran Marines are standouts in their utterly over the top diligence in their warcraft.
The novel contains nods upon odes upon references upon eyewinks to Star Trek and similar space fiction, and while such a novel could've easily felt really tired and unneccessary, Erikson executes it in such a wonderful way that neither requires the reader to understand all of the injokes, nor feels like it relies too heavily on the tropes created by the book's clear influences.
The book does play up the captain's sexism a little too much, but at the same time it does feel sort of necessary in order to expose the sexism clearly abundant in much of the 20th century science fiction Willful Child regularly references, beyond even Star Trek and Kirk's womanizing. Have no fear though, there are women in this book that kick ass just as much as Hadrian himself.
A wild book to say the least, and I hope very much that Erikson gets to put out a couple more adventures of the crew of the Willful Child.
This is a over the top parody of Star Trek and as much as I wanted to really like it the main character he had all the bad traits of Captain Kirk dialed up to 11. The downside is since this is his first captaincy he has no friends on the ship since he picked his officers based on how hot looking they were. The book does have great gems of humor studded throughout the story that has a fun time picking on tropes of SF. The part that I enjoyed the most was about the marines he deliberately leaves behind and yet they still manage to get to the ship and save his bacon. Overall an amusing read even if the hero of the story irritated the hell out of me.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
A Starship Captain raised on Kirk
So I have a confession. I don't enjoy parody fiction. I've tried and I can see the cleverness in it and get excited every time I find a new one, but when I'm reading it I just don't enjoy it. It's too much for me. Over the top and feels more like making fun of things I love.
Don't ask me why, I enjoy it in other forms, just not fiction.
All that aside, I did like this book. Its an easy read, fast paced and quick. Its about a starship captain who was raised on all the things we have been. Kirk and Buck Rogers and all the best and worst of tv. He thinks he's invincible, all women should be hit on and that rules don't apply to him.
Honestly I would've likely loved this in any other format but to me it just reads...mean.
So certainly try it if you like parody and Star Trek. I can pick lines randomly in the book and just laugh every time.
So I have a confession. I don't enjoy parody fiction. I've tried and I can see the cleverness in it and get excited every time I find a new one, but when I'm reading it I just don't enjoy it. It's too much for me. Over the top and feels more like making fun of things I love.
Don't ask me why, I enjoy it in other forms, just not fiction.
All that aside, I did like this book. Its an easy read, fast paced and quick. Its about a starship captain who was raised on all the things we have been. Kirk and Buck Rogers and all the best and worst of tv. He thinks he's invincible, all women should be hit on and that rules don't apply to him.
Honestly I would've likely loved this in any other format but to me it just reads...mean.
So certainly try it if you like parody and Star Trek. I can pick lines randomly in the book and just laugh every time.
To me this book doesn't offer much. Let's face it, Star Trek is begging for a good parody and us fans want it badly. Unfortunately, Erikson's book wasn't my kind of funny.
These are the voyages of the Willful Child and it's arrogant captain, Hadrian Alan Sawback, who is this
combined with a healthy dose of this:
and a some of this:
In my quest to read more science fiction, I have made a point of reading scifi books by authors whose fantasy novels I have enjoyed. Steven Erikson's epic Malazan series led me to this book, which is more than just science fiction. It's his very tongue in cheek homage to Star Trek, a show he loves dearly, and an obvious cathartic break from his decades long work on Malazan. For these reasons, I can most certainly appreciate the effort, but frankly, I'm just not a fan.
Not that the book isn't well written. Lots of interesting characters and Erikson's already proven skill with words and his sharp wit. It's not easy to nail comedic timing in a non-visual medium, but Erikson manages some fantastic sight gags with just words on a page. The banter and power struggle between Sawback and Tammy, the AI that's taken over his ship, is particularly amusing.
The problem is that the jokes get old fast when it's just a variation of the same. Particularly the ones involving Sawback's lechery and misogyny. I get it. This is satire and I'm fine with that. But after a while, it all gets boring because Sawback and his people really don't learn or grow or do anything. Sawback is the intrepid hero who is always right even when he's wrong, and even though the women don't indulge his antics, much of which come from inner monologues anyway, I grew tired of hearing about it.
The ridiculousness of Captain Kirk is reknown and I praise Erikson for being able to satirically critique something he loves so much, but I think he could have done so within a few less pages. When I heard about the sequel, [b:Willful Child: Wrath of Betty|28220781|Willful Child Wrath of Betty|Steven Erikson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455361938s/28220781.jpg|48249443], I had to roll my eyes because I can't help but think that this is just going to be more of the same, and, I predict, somewhere along the way, this will happen:
www.bibliosanctum.com
combined with a healthy dose of this:
and a some of this:
In my quest to read more science fiction, I have made a point of reading scifi books by authors whose fantasy novels I have enjoyed. Steven Erikson's epic Malazan series led me to this book, which is more than just science fiction. It's his very tongue in cheek homage to Star Trek, a show he loves dearly, and an obvious cathartic break from his decades long work on Malazan. For these reasons, I can most certainly appreciate the effort, but frankly, I'm just not a fan.
Not that the book isn't well written. Lots of interesting characters and Erikson's already proven skill with words and his sharp wit. It's not easy to nail comedic timing in a non-visual medium, but Erikson manages some fantastic sight gags with just words on a page. The banter and power struggle between Sawback and Tammy, the AI that's taken over his ship, is particularly amusing.
The problem is that the jokes get old fast when it's just a variation of the same. Particularly the ones involving Sawback's lechery and misogyny. I get it. This is satire and I'm fine with that. But after a while, it all gets boring because Sawback and his people really don't learn or grow or do anything. Sawback is the intrepid hero who is always right even when he's wrong, and even though the women don't indulge his antics, much of which come from inner monologues anyway, I grew tired of hearing about it.
The ridiculousness of Captain Kirk is reknown and I praise Erikson for being able to satirically critique something he loves so much, but I think he could have done so within a few less pages. When I heard about the sequel, [b:Willful Child: Wrath of Betty|28220781|Willful Child Wrath of Betty|Steven Erikson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455361938s/28220781.jpg|48249443], I had to roll my eyes because I can't help but think that this is just going to be more of the same, and, I predict, somewhere along the way, this will happen:
www.bibliosanctum.com
Not sure what I think about this. *edit*
Yes I am. Avoid.
Comedy that falls flat, no underlying insightful commentary or story.
Episodic, misogynistic. No depth.
Think Zapp Brannigan from Futurama played straight and rewarded for his behaviour. Blech.
Yes I am. Avoid.
Comedy that falls flat, no underlying insightful commentary or story.
Episodic, misogynistic. No depth.
Think Zapp Brannigan from Futurama played straight and rewarded for his behaviour. Blech.
This is a ridiculously over the top Star Trek parody. Just ridiculous. It's as if Erikson wrote something to flex his non-Malazan writing skills and just went with this, this, nonsensical book. Totally enjoyable, often laugh out loud funny, you'll finish it at a gallop.
What on earth did I just read? There were killer kitten tornadoes and mecha-chickens and an AI named Tammy...
I can't even
Ok, it was seriously funny, and gave me a unique insight into Erikson's mind, so I'm going to round up to 3.5.
I can't even
Ok, it was seriously funny, and gave me a unique insight into Erikson's mind, so I'm going to round up to 3.5.