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halfmanhalfbook's review
4.0
Most aliens think that the earth is doomed. None of them can understand why we are so intent on ruining our only planet, especially as we haven’t developed the technology to get of it safely They are not going to help us either; can you imagine the chaos that would cause! One alien thinks that the earth is worth studying, partly for the places and partly for the other creatures; just not for the humans.
The Bradbury's were driving home whilst mid argument, as usual, and really weren’t expecting the lemon coloured and shaped spaceship to suddenly appear in front of them. Terrified, Mr Bradbury crashes the car. The parent’s climb out and run away as fast as they can. The alien discovers a child in the car. He decides that she need rescuing; from there, from Rrth and from humanity, and he decides to break every rule in the non-contact recommendations and takes her home.
Eight orbits later, Terra was about to enter formal education. As the only human on the planet Fnrr this was going to be very strange, very strange indeed. This is a time of change too, as the extraordinary world ofFnrr spirals into a terrible war.
Mitch Benn is best known for his funny songs and stand-up comedy, and this is his first venture into the realm of the novel. He has drawn on inspiration from various people, including Gaiman, Pratchett and Douglas Adams, whilst still ensuring that his own humour and voice stands out strongly. The concept of the human being the alien is a great one, and he has given her a plot that works really well too. It is definitely aimed at the younger audience, but that doesn’t make it any less readable or enjoyable. Great debut.
The Bradbury's were driving home whilst mid argument, as usual, and really weren’t expecting the lemon coloured and shaped spaceship to suddenly appear in front of them. Terrified, Mr Bradbury crashes the car. The parent’s climb out and run away as fast as they can. The alien discovers a child in the car. He decides that she need rescuing; from there, from Rrth and from humanity, and he decides to break every rule in the non-contact recommendations and takes her home.
Eight orbits later, Terra was about to enter formal education. As the only human on the planet Fnrr this was going to be very strange, very strange indeed. This is a time of change too, as the extraordinary world ofFnrr spirals into a terrible war.
Mitch Benn is best known for his funny songs and stand-up comedy, and this is his first venture into the realm of the novel. He has drawn on inspiration from various people, including Gaiman, Pratchett and Douglas Adams, whilst still ensuring that his own humour and voice stands out strongly. The concept of the human being the alien is a great one, and he has given her a plot that works really well too. It is definitely aimed at the younger audience, but that doesn’t make it any less readable or enjoyable. Great debut.
lordofthemoon's review
4.0
I mostly bought this book because I'm quite fond of [a:Mitch Benn|3090021|Mitch Benn|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1361499727p2/3090021.jpg] as a comedian and had heard good things about it (praise from [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] is not to be sniffed at). It's the story of a baby girl, abandoned by her parents as they are terrified by an alien spaceship that appears in the middle of the road one night. The scientist on board the ship takes the girl home and raises her himself, calling her Terra. Terra grows up, starts school and has to cope with being different. And then, one day, war comes back to the planet Fnrr.
Essentially this is a coming of age tale, with Terra discovering herself and dealing with adversity, being different and alone, but loved, and essentially discovering that people are people, no matter what skin they wear. Benn is obviously an SF fan and particularly early on, there are lots of nods to Golden Age SF, from the gravity bubbles to the scientist-heroes of Mlml (the nation state that Terra and her adoptive father live in).
This is another of those books that I would have devoured as a young teenager, and I look forward to be being to give it as a gift to my nieces and nephews (not to mention the children of friends) as they grow up, along with some of the classics of my own youth. An assured and confident first novel, it's not just young people who will enjoy this, it's got something to say to everyone who ever felt different and alone.
Essentially this is a coming of age tale, with Terra discovering herself and dealing with adversity, being different and alone, but loved, and essentially discovering that people are people, no matter what skin they wear. Benn is obviously an SF fan and particularly early on, there are lots of nods to Golden Age SF, from the gravity bubbles to the scientist-heroes of Mlml (the nation state that Terra and her adoptive father live in).
This is another of those books that I would have devoured as a young teenager, and I look forward to be being to give it as a gift to my nieces and nephews (not to mention the children of friends) as they grow up, along with some of the classics of my own youth. An assured and confident first novel, it's not just young people who will enjoy this, it's got something to say to everyone who ever felt different and alone.
katebrarian's review
3.0
It was funny in exactly the way you expect when Neil Gaiman compares something to Douglas Adams. It was cute, but the character development left something to be desired. One pivotal moment comes to be because a character has an epiphany for no discernable reason. But cute.
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