A Robot Named Clunk was a nice little discovery by Simon Haynes. It is the first in a series called Hal Space Jock. The robot that the book is named after join Hal in a simple mission, what follows is a series of mishaps that is compounded by Hal. The effect of the story is one of a series of problems that build upon each other and finally come a stunning conclusion.

Some of the accidents seemed a little contrived as they happen just when Hal or Clunk seem to be achieving what they wanted. The feel is of a man and a robot assigned to him by a mega corporation are the but of a collection of jokes set up by fate. They sometimes avoid death and dismemberment by a lucky accident or just plain stupidity.

I kept reading right to the end, Simon Haynes does have a way with keeping you on the edge of your seat. If you like a fun time and watching the slapstick antics of a robot and an incompetent pilot, this book will be for you.

I was quite impressed with Simons Haynes ability to keep the story going and still manage to find plausible reasons for the characters to do something either really clever to get out of a situation or really stupid to create an even later on that solved on of their problems.

4/5