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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
THis was hysterically funny! Played like an SNL version of Star Trek in my head the whole time I was reading :)
This is a book about Star Trek happening not when humanity has reached some kind of communist utopia before travelling the stars, but if it is begins travelling the stars with the crazy 1980s post Regan American quasi-fascist mentality. I haven't watched star trek, so I'm sure a lot of the references went over my head. Took a while to push through this one.
I like Erikson, I love star trek, and I am addicted to crazy humor.
This fit the bill - it is absolutely silly. It has a lot of laughing out loud, and also quite some cringe worthy moments, were you just can't believe what the characters said or did.
It has a lot of innuendo, as the captain tries to seduce whatever has two legs and is female, it does doesn't have any actual sex scenes though.
I liked the "one adventure after another" episodic style - made it really easy to pause and get back into the story.
3 stars from me - I would have wanted a bit more actual plot and at times it really was a bit too over the top silly, but it still entertained me quite well!
This fit the bill - it is absolutely silly. It has a lot of laughing out loud, and also quite some cringe worthy moments, were you just can't believe what the characters said or did.
It has a lot of innuendo, as the captain tries to seduce whatever has two legs and is female, it does doesn't have any actual sex scenes though.
I liked the "one adventure after another" episodic style - made it really easy to pause and get back into the story.
3 stars from me - I would have wanted a bit more actual plot and at times it really was a bit too over the top silly, but it still entertained me quite well!
Funny as hell. Sometimes a bit too much. Nevertheless, a good first read of the year. Review to come.
A string of overblown bit pieces, in a quasi-Star Trek world. I laughed a few times.
This book looked like it would tick all the boxes: sci fi, homage to Star Trek, witticisms... This book is an homage and a lampoon of Star Trek. The author spares no effort in skewering any and all aspects of the beloved show. With love, mind you, with love. He goes for the easy ones as well as the hard ones. For example, Doc doesn't have a tricorder, he had a pentacorder... It would appear that the author has some strong opinions, because he also takes every opportunity to lampoon various current issues: bureaucracies, big government, little government, corporations, human and extraterrestrial rights, sexism you name it. All entertaining. The book is a constant deluge of snark. I found that a bit wearing. So, there's a lot going for this book, and some that doesn't. However, the author penned one of the greatest lines I ever read, "The sprig of parsley garnishing the plate experiences soul-crushing rejection if left uneaten." Yes, that explains it all.
This was brilliant! A rip roaring, hilarious and madcap adventure in space that is predominantly a loving spoof of the original Star Trek series. Now, I am a huge fan of Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, however I wasn't sure how well he would do sci-fi...the answer is: very well! This was such an enjoyable read - quick, funny and pure entertainment. I think there will be levels of appreciation for the story that will come if you also happen to have some knowledge of Star Trek, however I don't feel that it is essential to be able to enjoy the story as it is. If you are an Erikson fan, or just looking for a lighthearted sci-fi adventure, then you should definitely pick this up!
reviews.metaphorosis.com
1 star
Remember when you read that one book, and it had some really funny lines? Or maybe it was even a book that was funny overall? (Say, Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide, or Pratchett's Nation.) Imagine someone took just the funny lines and made a book out of those, and made it a parody of Star Trek to boot. Wouldn't that be funny?
In a word, no. While some of Erikson's lines and situations are funny, the book as a whole is unreadable. Even individual chapters are unreadable. I tried very, very hard, but in the end, the best I could do was to skim the latter half of the book. There's simply no effort to provide any structure or meaningful plot. It's Exaggerated Situation followed Exaggerated Situation - in many cases, the same situation, just with different labels.It's not only incomprehensible, it's dull.
This is the kind of idea that deserves a tossed-off flash piece for a convention magazine. I can't imagine how it became a full-scale book. Even writing the thing can't have been fun, and reading it (or trying to) is torture. And it's a sequel!
I didn't really enjoy what I've read of Erikson's Malazan Empire, but this is much, much worse. Those books had plots, characters, concepts. What this has is one joke, repeated over and over and over. And over. I can't recommend this unless you really, really hate Star Trek, you know it really, really well, and you can laugh at the same thing all day long. If that's not you, don't go near this book.
1 star
Remember when you read that one book, and it had some really funny lines? Or maybe it was even a book that was funny overall? (Say, Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide, or Pratchett's Nation.) Imagine someone took just the funny lines and made a book out of those, and made it a parody of Star Trek to boot. Wouldn't that be funny?
In a word, no. While some of Erikson's lines and situations are funny, the book as a whole is unreadable. Even individual chapters are unreadable. I tried very, very hard, but in the end, the best I could do was to skim the latter half of the book. There's simply no effort to provide any structure or meaningful plot. It's Exaggerated Situation followed Exaggerated Situation - in many cases, the same situation, just with different labels.It's not only incomprehensible, it's dull.
This is the kind of idea that deserves a tossed-off flash piece for a convention magazine. I can't imagine how it became a full-scale book. Even writing the thing can't have been fun, and reading it (or trying to) is torture. And it's a sequel!
I didn't really enjoy what I've read of Erikson's Malazan Empire, but this is much, much worse. Those books had plots, characters, concepts. What this has is one joke, repeated over and over and over. And over. I can't recommend this unless you really, really hate Star Trek, you know it really, really well, and you can laugh at the same thing all day long. If that's not you, don't go near this book.
As Star Trek homages/parodies go, Willful Child was a lot of fun. It doesn't come close to approaching the comic genius of a Bauchelain and Korbal Broach tale, but Steven Erikson is clearly a fan, and knows precisely where to best tweak, twist, and torture the original series. Overall, it's a bit edgier and more mature than I expected, especially in regards to Captain Hadrian Sawback's sexual harassment issues, but I think Erikson did a fine job of walking the line between good-natured insult and outright offense.
If you ever thought Captain Kirk was a little too restrained, or a little too hesitant, than you are going to love Captain Sawback. This is a man who crewed his entire ship based on how attractive the women are, who can't speak to a woman without commenting on her appearance or inviting her into bed, and who believes it's just a matter of time before even the most reluctant give in to his charms. Sawback is a man who loves risks and embraces danger, constantly putting himself in harm's way. He knows he shouldn't be leading away parties, but he doesn't give a damn. He wants to get out there, to be at the front, and to charge head-long into the unknown, and to hell with the risks. , His torn-shirts and broken hands are not only a long-running joke, but a badge of honor. He's arrogant and condescending, but saved from being a monster by the fact that he is so oblivious to any offense his behavior might cause.
In terms of story, there is one (rather thin) plotline that drives the whole novel, but really this is a series of episodic adventures that hit on all the classic elements of Trek. We've got first contact, Prime (and Secondary) Directives, time travel, antagonistic aliens, a sort of neutral zone, artificial intelligence, mysterious portals, ill-equipped landing parties, and more. His aliens are one of the best aspects of the novel, pushing their appearance and behavior far beyond the limits of anything that would have made it passed TV censors. Alliances, treaties, intergalactic war, and stunningly stupid double-crosses are all specter that haunt the tale, and the ways in which Erikson turns bullies into cowards is exceptionally funny.
It's all very well done, with just the right sort of pokes and jabs to maximize the humor in each situation. Much of that humor is sophomoric, pun-laden, and slapstick in nature, but you have to give Erikson credit for working so hard to set-up his jokes - there's one in particular that takes 200+ pages to pay off, all in the name of a good chuckle. The one tired old joke that he does stay away from is that of the red shirts in every landing party, but he balances that with his security teams always choosing the worst possible weapon for the situation, giving Sawback yet another chance to play hero.
While it's primarily a Star Trek parody, Erikson does also poke fun at some very 21st century entertainment obsessions as well. Social media and popular music have a key role to play, and I promise you will never look at another cute kitten meme the same way ever again. He even plays with the oft-abused trope of how the future will remember us, with some genuinely funny bits surrounding our obsession with professional athletes. On top of that, he gets in some not very subtle jabs at the production values of J.J. Abrams and the like, with some genuinely funny observations on what space looks like and sound like, and how style so often trumps substance (the bit about the 80s Windows starfield screensaver is a lot funnier than it really should be).
If I had to describe Willful Child, I'd call it a novel that wants to be Galaxy Quest, but which settles for a compromise between Spaceballs and Futurama, as interpreted through some bad-taste Saturday Night Live sketches. If any of that turns you off, then much of this will largely fall flat. If you can appreciate that eclectic mix, however, then give it a read. It's not exactly a compulsive page-turner, but it is a lot of fun, and the kind of book that you'll look forward to diving into again.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
If you ever thought Captain Kirk was a little too restrained, or a little too hesitant, than you are going to love Captain Sawback. This is a man who crewed his entire ship based on how attractive the women are, who can't speak to a woman without commenting on her appearance or inviting her into bed, and who believes it's just a matter of time before even the most reluctant give in to his charms. Sawback is a man who loves risks and embraces danger, constantly putting himself in harm's way. He knows he shouldn't be leading away parties, but he doesn't give a damn. He wants to get out there, to be at the front, and to charge head-long into the unknown, and to hell with the risks. , His torn-shirts and broken hands are not only a long-running joke, but a badge of honor. He's arrogant and condescending, but saved from being a monster by the fact that he is so oblivious to any offense his behavior might cause.
In terms of story, there is one (rather thin) plotline that drives the whole novel, but really this is a series of episodic adventures that hit on all the classic elements of Trek. We've got first contact, Prime (and Secondary) Directives, time travel, antagonistic aliens, a sort of neutral zone, artificial intelligence, mysterious portals, ill-equipped landing parties, and more. His aliens are one of the best aspects of the novel, pushing their appearance and behavior far beyond the limits of anything that would have made it passed TV censors. Alliances, treaties, intergalactic war, and stunningly stupid double-crosses are all specter that haunt the tale, and the ways in which Erikson turns bullies into cowards is exceptionally funny.
It's all very well done, with just the right sort of pokes and jabs to maximize the humor in each situation. Much of that humor is sophomoric, pun-laden, and slapstick in nature, but you have to give Erikson credit for working so hard to set-up his jokes - there's one in particular that takes 200+ pages to pay off, all in the name of a good chuckle. The one tired old joke that he does stay away from is that of the red shirts in every landing party, but he balances that with his security teams always choosing the worst possible weapon for the situation, giving Sawback yet another chance to play hero.
While it's primarily a Star Trek parody, Erikson does also poke fun at some very 21st century entertainment obsessions as well. Social media and popular music have a key role to play, and I promise you will never look at another cute kitten meme the same way ever again. He even plays with the oft-abused trope of how the future will remember us, with some genuinely funny bits surrounding our obsession with professional athletes. On top of that, he gets in some not very subtle jabs at the production values of J.J. Abrams and the like, with some genuinely funny observations on what space looks like and sound like, and how style so often trumps substance (the bit about the 80s Windows starfield screensaver is a lot funnier than it really should be).
If I had to describe Willful Child, I'd call it a novel that wants to be Galaxy Quest, but which settles for a compromise between Spaceballs and Futurama, as interpreted through some bad-taste Saturday Night Live sketches. If any of that turns you off, then much of this will largely fall flat. If you can appreciate that eclectic mix, however, then give it a read. It's not exactly a compulsive page-turner, but it is a lot of fun, and the kind of book that you'll look forward to diving into again.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Willful Child: Wrath of Betty by Steven Erikson is what I would call in-your-face narrative humor. This is less a book of ideas, and more one of puns, jokes, double entendres, and other clever wordplay. While there is a loosely structured plot behind it all, the story is completely secondary to the humor.
This is a book that's almost exhausting to read. Erikson packs a joke or a pun into almost every single sentence. Names are entirely ridiculous, dialogue is over-the-top cheesy, and the action is frantically slapstick. It's rude and ribald, rarely rising above the level of crass bathroom humor, but if you're an open-minded fan of all things Star Trek, then it works. If you're not even a casual fan . . . well, you're probably wise to avoid this at all costs, as the parody simply doesn't work if you can't appreciate the references.
Basically, this is a continuation (and an exaggeration) of the Kirk era, with all the sexism, misogyny, arrogance, and casual racism taken to the extreme. There are nods to the progressive, more socially aware aspects of the Picard era, but they really only exist to further emphasize how much of a bad-ass, self-important, womanizing space cowboy Captain Hadrian Sawback really is. It's an episodic story, flitting from scene to scene, with what almost feel like commercial breaks in between. This is not a story to be consumed in one sitting, but one to be enjoyed a few chapters at a time. More than that, and it moves beyond exhausting to become tiresome and tedious.
Willful Child: Wrath of Betty is not the best example of Erikson's humor - for that, check out his far superior Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach - but still an entirely amusing diversion for Star Trek fans.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
This is a book that's almost exhausting to read. Erikson packs a joke or a pun into almost every single sentence. Names are entirely ridiculous, dialogue is over-the-top cheesy, and the action is frantically slapstick. It's rude and ribald, rarely rising above the level of crass bathroom humor, but if you're an open-minded fan of all things Star Trek, then it works. If you're not even a casual fan . . . well, you're probably wise to avoid this at all costs, as the parody simply doesn't work if you can't appreciate the references.
Basically, this is a continuation (and an exaggeration) of the Kirk era, with all the sexism, misogyny, arrogance, and casual racism taken to the extreme. There are nods to the progressive, more socially aware aspects of the Picard era, but they really only exist to further emphasize how much of a bad-ass, self-important, womanizing space cowboy Captain Hadrian Sawback really is. It's an episodic story, flitting from scene to scene, with what almost feel like commercial breaks in between. This is not a story to be consumed in one sitting, but one to be enjoyed a few chapters at a time. More than that, and it moves beyond exhausting to become tiresome and tedious.
Willful Child: Wrath of Betty is not the best example of Erikson's humor - for that, check out his far superior Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach - but still an entirely amusing diversion for Star Trek fans.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.