Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsEat Hot Photons, Martian Slime!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 22, 2022
Sorry, that had nothing to do with the book, I just felt like saying it. And, in a way, it fits.
Listen, when I was a kid I heard about the Lensman series but I never came across it. I devoured all the Heinlein I could get my hands on but for some reason missed out on Doc Smith. Which is crazy, because Heinlein talked about him all the time.
Anyway, as an adult I finally tracked down a copy of Triplanetary and was disappointed. Kimball Kinnison and his Galactic Patrol were...boring. I just couldn't get into it. I wanted to, but it was just flat.
For some reason the name, "Backyard Soaceship" reminded me if Heinlein's "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel". I love that book, and have read it at least a half dozen times. So I gave it a shot. And I'm glad I did.
Van Tudor's Peacekeepers are not the Lensmen. They're generally independent, with a "Sink or Swim" mentality when it comes to newbies. Once you're trained you're on your own.
I had a lot of fun reading this. The writing is clever, with plenty of banter and humor. Van has a strong sense of right and wrong which I appreciate. He's a good guy, who likes a good time but is still a gentleman.
Don't expect a deep, meaningful plot here. It's not Doestoevski. But it is fun and I plan on reading the whole series.
Cheers!
