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Brute Force
A peaceful organization of civilized planets is faced with a threat to their very existence. Desperate to save themselves, they turn for help to the most brutal, backward, violent species in the known galaxy: humans.
Growing up in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event known as "The Bad Week" hasn't been easy for Cross Agarwal. Decades ago, in a world before The Bad Week, he would have been graduating from college, starting a career, and living on his own. But in a post-apocalyptic time when mankind is in ruins and on the verge of self-destruction, Cross works in his father's subterranean cobra farm, tries to avoid getting involved in the turf war between his town and the Southern Basin, and wonders if his future will ever be anything but bleak. When a group of aliens appears by surprise and invites a select group of humans to join them, it could be Cross's chance to not only find his own place in the universe, but to also help prove that humanity is good for more than just violence.
Growing up in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event known as "The Bad Week" hasn't been easy for Cross Agarwal. Decades ago, in a world before The Bad Week, he would have been graduating from college, starting a career, and living on his own. But in a post-apocalyptic time when mankind is in ruins and on the verge of self-destruction, Cross works in his father's subterranean cobra farm, tries to avoid getting involved in the turf war between his town and the Southern Basin, and wonders if his future will ever be anything but bleak. When a group of aliens appears by surprise and invites a select group of humans to join them, it could be Cross's chance to not only find his own place in the universe, but to also help prove that humanity is good for more than just violence.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2023
191 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Scott Meyer
17 books2,643 followersScott Meyer has been a radio DJ, a stand-up comic, a writer for video games, an office manager, and a pretend ghost bellhop.
He is the creator of the comic strip Basic Instructions, and has now written a novel.
He and his wife live in Florida, to be close to their cats.
He is the creator of the comic strip Basic Instructions, and has now written a novel.
He and his wife live in Florida, to be close to their cats.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
December 2, 2025
I liked both the concept and the execution. It's original, and so funny!
I loved that doesn't takes itself seriously and just goes all in. I had a great time.
I loved that doesn't takes itself seriously and just goes all in. I had a great time.
August 24, 2023
Over the years Meyer has managed to broaden his range of characterisations from "Snarky Gen-X Nerd", "Snarky Gen-X Nerd (evil)", and "Woman" in his first few novels at least a little bit, but he still struggles with giving characters their own voice in dialogue, particularly when there are more than three of them. In Brute Force, all the human characters apart from the protagonist's dad (Snarky Unsupportive Parent) and Madre (Snarky Killer Nun) are basically interchangeable, and considering that they're all supposed to be post-apocalyptic mass murderers, they're all just far too amiable—after the prologue not a single one ever so much as raises his voice towards our Snarky Unlikely Hero, no matter how mixed his successes as leader get. There are non-human characters to provide conflict, sure, but the sailing just feels unnaturally smooth.
It does make for easy reading, and apart from that Meyer's writing has reached a comfortable plateau in terms of quality. The premise is interesting enough, as well, and I suppose not every novel has to be taxing to be worth reading—things can just be fun.
It does make for easy reading, and apart from that Meyer's writing has reached a comfortable plateau in terms of quality. The premise is interesting enough, as well, and I suppose not every novel has to be taxing to be worth reading—things can just be fun.
March 11, 2024
There were so many times while listening to this book that I had to pause it because of how loudly and hard I was laughing.
"Blessed are the meek, for I won't have to kill them"
"Blessed are the meek, for I won't have to kill them"
April 4, 2023
Highly amusing!
The book covers surprisingly murky grey areas of morality, but in comic fashion. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and wish to tell Scott Meyer something very important: Hear me, lesser life form …
The book covers surprisingly murky grey areas of morality, but in comic fashion. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and wish to tell Scott Meyer something very important: Hear me, lesser life form …
December 23, 2024
2.5 stars. Mildly amusing at times, but excessively unrealistic and superficial. If up your alley, fine, but if looking for something with depth, more than a quickly written, forgettable snarky story - this isn’t it.
May 1, 2023
A fun, light book. Not quite on par with Meyer's other books, but I enjoyed it.
Great narration.
Great narration.
April 20, 2024
It's great to see another book from Scott Meyer hit the shelves. This was just as much fun and funny as the rest of his work. I'm glad to see a new idea with all the wit and character of Magic series. A light, enjoyable read that had me chuckling throughout.
July 14, 2025
A violent post apocalyptic world has to come to grips with moving past violence when the answer to all their problems is delivered on a plate. Very funny with Scott Meyer's usual playful character dynamics.
October 17, 2023
Hilarious!
January 31, 2024
Fun, silly, and snarky. A joyous jaunt around with a cast of colour and ridiculous characters, both human and alien.
Felt a bit like reading a Borderlands side-quest.
Felt a bit like reading a Borderlands side-quest.
July 9, 2023
In this uproariously entertaining tale, "Brute Force," humanity finds itself thrust into the midst of an intergalactic conflict as the most violent species in the universe. However, there's a twist: they are recruited by a pacifistic species to fight against an enemy whose ancient military traditions are more comical than effective. What unfolds is a side-splitting account of thousands of deaths that will leave you laughing and pondering the absurdity of war.
From the very beginning, the juxtaposition of humans being branded as the most violent species in the universe is a stroke of brilliance. It forces readers to confront their own preconceived notions about humanity's place in the cosmos while setting the stage for the satirical comedy to follow. The sheer irony of humans, with all their destructive tendencies, becoming the unlikely saviours of a peaceful race, is a recipe for hilarity.
The enemy the humans face is an intriguing contrast—a species steeped in ancient military traditions but lacking intelligence. This combination creates a perfect storm of humorous situations as the enemy's ill-conceived tactics lead to one catastrophe after another. From tripping over their own weapons, their antics will keep readers in stitches. The author skilfully crafts these comedic moments without undermining the gravity of war, striking a delicate balance that keeps the story both light-hearted and poignant.
What truly shines in this narrative is the clever writing and sharp wit. The author's ability to blend satire, slapstick humour, and thought-provoking social commentary is commendable. The characters, especially the human soldiers, are depicted with depth and nuance, offering a reflection of our own complexities. Through their interactions, the story examines themes of violence, pacifism, and the absurdity of conflict in a way that is both entertaining and intellectually stimulating.
While "Brute Force" expertly navigates the humorous aspects of war, it does not shy away from the serious consequences and sacrifices. It reminds us that even in the face of absurdity, there are real lives at stake and genuine emotions at play. This delicate balance between comedy and tragedy is handled with sensitivity, allowing readers to connect with the characters and their experiences on a deeper level.
However, it's worth noting that humour is subjective, and what might evoke laughter for one reader could fall flat for another. Some may find the comedic elements too exaggerated, detracting from the story's overall impact. Additionally, those seeking a purely light-hearted comedy may find the exploration of deeper themes to be too heavy-handed.
In summary, "Brute Force" is a brilliantly conceived and skilfully executed story that delivers laughs, while simultaneously challenging our perceptions of violence and war. The hilarious mishaps of the enemy species, combined with the thought-provoking commentary on humanity, create a compelling narrative that will leave readers chuckling and contemplating the contradictions of our existence. Strap in for a wild and laughter-filled ride through the cosmos in this uproarious tale of unconventional heroes and the absurdity of war. You've got love AI I could not write a review like this in a million years, but funnily enough it's written exactly what I was thinking of writing, how ironic!
From the very beginning, the juxtaposition of humans being branded as the most violent species in the universe is a stroke of brilliance. It forces readers to confront their own preconceived notions about humanity's place in the cosmos while setting the stage for the satirical comedy to follow. The sheer irony of humans, with all their destructive tendencies, becoming the unlikely saviours of a peaceful race, is a recipe for hilarity.
The enemy the humans face is an intriguing contrast—a species steeped in ancient military traditions but lacking intelligence. This combination creates a perfect storm of humorous situations as the enemy's ill-conceived tactics lead to one catastrophe after another. From tripping over their own weapons, their antics will keep readers in stitches. The author skilfully crafts these comedic moments without undermining the gravity of war, striking a delicate balance that keeps the story both light-hearted and poignant.
What truly shines in this narrative is the clever writing and sharp wit. The author's ability to blend satire, slapstick humour, and thought-provoking social commentary is commendable. The characters, especially the human soldiers, are depicted with depth and nuance, offering a reflection of our own complexities. Through their interactions, the story examines themes of violence, pacifism, and the absurdity of conflict in a way that is both entertaining and intellectually stimulating.
While "Brute Force" expertly navigates the humorous aspects of war, it does not shy away from the serious consequences and sacrifices. It reminds us that even in the face of absurdity, there are real lives at stake and genuine emotions at play. This delicate balance between comedy and tragedy is handled with sensitivity, allowing readers to connect with the characters and their experiences on a deeper level.
However, it's worth noting that humour is subjective, and what might evoke laughter for one reader could fall flat for another. Some may find the comedic elements too exaggerated, detracting from the story's overall impact. Additionally, those seeking a purely light-hearted comedy may find the exploration of deeper themes to be too heavy-handed.
In summary, "Brute Force" is a brilliantly conceived and skilfully executed story that delivers laughs, while simultaneously challenging our perceptions of violence and war. The hilarious mishaps of the enemy species, combined with the thought-provoking commentary on humanity, create a compelling narrative that will leave readers chuckling and contemplating the contradictions of our existence. Strap in for a wild and laughter-filled ride through the cosmos in this uproarious tale of unconventional heroes and the absurdity of war. You've got love AI I could not write a review like this in a million years, but funnily enough it's written exactly what I was thinking of writing, how ironic!
April 30, 2025
Hát már megint mit olvastam a kicsi gülü füleimmel. XD
Nem mintha csalódtam volna a könyvben, teljesen ellenkezőleg, de hogy kicsi gülü fülem és kicsi gülü agyam. Mondjuk legalább már tudom, hogy egy bolygóközi háború is megnyerhető azzal, hogyha kéznél van egy kő.
A militarista sci-fi találkozott a humans-are-the-space-orcs gondolatmenettel, és a humor mellé jutott még egy szép adag szürke moralitás is, amit Meyernek sikerült tökéletesen kiegyensúlyoznia. Soha nem ment a humor kárára, és a humor is tudta, hogy mikor kell megállnia, hogy akkor ezt most megemésztjük egy kicsit. Persze, ez elsősorban humor, de hogy nem ostoba humor, és nagyon tetszett, hogy végig gondolkoztam azon, hogy akkor ezt az egész háború dolgot mégis hogyan kéne megállítani/elkerülni, mikor az ellenség a szó legszorosabb értelmében nem hajlandó belátni, hogy itt csak vesztesek lehetnek. Főleg, mert a saját, évszázadokon át gyökeret eresztett kódexük nem engedi, és talán még szavuk sincs rá. Egyszerre sajnáltam őket és szurkoltam, hogy növesszenek maguknak stratégiát és nevettem azon, amikor az emberek szembeszálltak velük.
Nagyon tetszett, hogy bár minden aliennek megvolt A Tulajdonsága, de hogy azért csak volt annak is valami mélysége, és tényleg volt kezdve vele, és hozzáadott a konfliktushoz is.
Illetve a kötelező katolikus karaktert is megbocsátottam, mert voltak értelmezései, és elkerülte azt, hogy végtelen idegesítő legyen.
Mondjuk ahhoz képest, hogy az összes emberi karakter valahol a szarkasztikus egymondatosak puffogtató vonalon mozgott, elkülöníthető maradt és megvolt az a pár jellemvonása ami megkülönböztette a többiektől. Személyes kedvencem Meatmachine volt :D Utána a csaj, aki nagyon ügyesen belőtte magát mindig a second-in-commandnak :D
Ami még külön tetszett, hogy az abuziv apának se lett megbocsátva, nem volt semmi kötelék kovácsolás, hanem be volt látva, hogy yepp, egy seggfej, és ennek megfelelően is kezeljük. Szeretem mikor nem bocsátunk meg a seggfej szülőnek.
Az idegenek közül a The Pile volt a kedvencem, új genderem, nagyon adtam az egészet.
A tartalom alapján könnyen ki lehet találni, hogy mi fog történni, de ennek ellenére a végéig rágtam a körmöm, hogy miként fogjuk ezt megoldani? Mert nyilván az emberek azért kellettek, hogy elintézzék a random elnyomó és aggresszív fajt, de közben meg mindig ott volt, hogy adtak nekik egy esélyt, hogy megadják magukat, és te is szurkoltál, hogy az egész véget érjen, de aztán mindig jött egy humormorzsa, ami megakadályozta, hogy átmenjél pesszimistába, és hát egy ponton a The Enemyvel is úgy voltam, hogy srácok, ti rohantatok tátott szájjal a faszerdőbe, nem tudom mit gondoltatok mi fog történni.
Jól ki volt egyensúlyozva, és nagyon jól szórakoztam.
Ó, és minden audiobooknak kötelezően előírnám a blooperek hozzáádását, mert nagyon szívmelengető amikor a narrátor is őszintén elneveti magát a poénnál.
Nem mintha csalódtam volna a könyvben, teljesen ellenkezőleg, de hogy kicsi gülü fülem és kicsi gülü agyam. Mondjuk legalább már tudom, hogy egy bolygóközi háború is megnyerhető azzal, hogyha kéznél van egy kő.
A militarista sci-fi találkozott a humans-are-the-space-orcs gondolatmenettel, és a humor mellé jutott még egy szép adag szürke moralitás is, amit Meyernek sikerült tökéletesen kiegyensúlyoznia. Soha nem ment a humor kárára, és a humor is tudta, hogy mikor kell megállnia, hogy akkor ezt most megemésztjük egy kicsit. Persze, ez elsősorban humor, de hogy nem ostoba humor, és nagyon tetszett, hogy végig gondolkoztam azon, hogy akkor ezt az egész háború dolgot mégis hogyan kéne megállítani/elkerülni, mikor az ellenség a szó legszorosabb értelmében nem hajlandó belátni, hogy itt csak vesztesek lehetnek. Főleg, mert a saját, évszázadokon át gyökeret eresztett kódexük nem engedi, és talán még szavuk sincs rá. Egyszerre sajnáltam őket és szurkoltam, hogy növesszenek maguknak stratégiát és nevettem azon, amikor az emberek szembeszálltak velük.
Nagyon tetszett, hogy bár minden aliennek megvolt A Tulajdonsága, de hogy azért csak volt annak is valami mélysége, és tényleg volt kezdve vele, és hozzáadott a konfliktushoz is.
Illetve a kötelező katolikus karaktert is megbocsátottam, mert voltak értelmezései, és elkerülte azt, hogy végtelen idegesítő legyen.
Mondjuk ahhoz képest, hogy az összes emberi karakter valahol a szarkasztikus egymondatosak puffogtató vonalon mozgott, elkülöníthető maradt és megvolt az a pár jellemvonása ami megkülönböztette a többiektől. Személyes kedvencem Meatmachine volt :D Utána a csaj, aki nagyon ügyesen belőtte magát mindig a second-in-commandnak :D
Ami még külön tetszett, hogy az abuziv apának se lett megbocsátva, nem volt semmi kötelék kovácsolás, hanem be volt látva, hogy yepp, egy seggfej, és ennek megfelelően is kezeljük. Szeretem mikor nem bocsátunk meg a seggfej szülőnek.
Az idegenek közül a The Pile volt a kedvencem, új genderem, nagyon adtam az egészet.
A tartalom alapján könnyen ki lehet találni, hogy mi fog történni, de ennek ellenére a végéig rágtam a körmöm, hogy miként fogjuk ezt megoldani? Mert nyilván az emberek azért kellettek, hogy elintézzék a random elnyomó és aggresszív fajt, de közben meg mindig ott volt, hogy adtak nekik egy esélyt, hogy megadják magukat, és te is szurkoltál, hogy az egész véget érjen, de aztán mindig jött egy humormorzsa, ami megakadályozta, hogy átmenjél pesszimistába, és hát egy ponton a The Enemyvel is úgy voltam, hogy srácok, ti rohantatok tátott szájjal a faszerdőbe, nem tudom mit gondoltatok mi fog történni.
Jól ki volt egyensúlyozva, és nagyon jól szórakoztam.
Ó, és minden audiobooknak kötelezően előírnám a blooperek hozzáádását, mert nagyon szívmelengető amikor a narrátor is őszintén elneveti magát a poénnál.
March 5, 2025
Brute Force by Scott Meyer is an amusing and fast-paced sci-fi comedy that takes a well-worn trope—the recruitment of post-apocalyptic humans by an advanced alien alliance—and infuses it with Meyer's signature droll humor and absurdist wit. The result is an entertaining read that doesn't take itself too seriously but still delivers an engaging adventure.
Set in the aftermath of The Bad Week, a catastrophic event that left humanity fractured and self-destructive, the novel follows Cross Agarwal, an unlikely protagonist who spends his days in his father’s underground cobra farm while avoiding the escalating war between rival human factions. When an intergalactic alliance of three alien species arrives with an offer of peace and prosperity in exchange for human warriors to fight their battles, Cross and his eccentric companions—including the oddly named Meat Machine—find themselves catapulted into an interstellar conflict.
The book is packed with archetypal characters, each exaggerated for comedic effect. Rather than relying on deep character development, Brute Force thrives on humor, fast pacing, and playful absurdity. Meyer’s comedic style, well known from his Magic 2.0 series, shines through in the exaggerated personalities, witty banter, and fish-out-of-water situations. The story itself, while engaging, is not particularly innovative in terms of character dynamics, but it excels in its creative world-building and playful exploration of futuristic science.
Fans of Meyer's previous works, as well as those who enjoy lighthearted sci-fi comedies like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or Redshirts, will find plenty to enjoy here. Additionally, readers who appreciate military sci-fi series like BattleTech or Warhammer 40K��but with a humorous twist—may also be entertained. While there is violence and some mild profanity, the book remains within a mild PG-13 range, making it accessible to a wide audience.
In the end, Brute Force is a fun, fast-moving sci-fi adventure that doesn’t break new ground but delivers plenty of laughs and action along the way. An easy recommendation for fans of comedic space operas and sci-fi with a playful edge.
Set in the aftermath of The Bad Week, a catastrophic event that left humanity fractured and self-destructive, the novel follows Cross Agarwal, an unlikely protagonist who spends his days in his father’s underground cobra farm while avoiding the escalating war between rival human factions. When an intergalactic alliance of three alien species arrives with an offer of peace and prosperity in exchange for human warriors to fight their battles, Cross and his eccentric companions—including the oddly named Meat Machine—find themselves catapulted into an interstellar conflict.
The book is packed with archetypal characters, each exaggerated for comedic effect. Rather than relying on deep character development, Brute Force thrives on humor, fast pacing, and playful absurdity. Meyer’s comedic style, well known from his Magic 2.0 series, shines through in the exaggerated personalities, witty banter, and fish-out-of-water situations. The story itself, while engaging, is not particularly innovative in terms of character dynamics, but it excels in its creative world-building and playful exploration of futuristic science.
Fans of Meyer's previous works, as well as those who enjoy lighthearted sci-fi comedies like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or Redshirts, will find plenty to enjoy here. Additionally, readers who appreciate military sci-fi series like BattleTech or Warhammer 40K��but with a humorous twist—may also be entertained. While there is violence and some mild profanity, the book remains within a mild PG-13 range, making it accessible to a wide audience.
In the end, Brute Force is a fun, fast-moving sci-fi adventure that doesn’t break new ground but delivers plenty of laughs and action along the way. An easy recommendation for fans of comedic space operas and sci-fi with a playful edge.
June 3, 2024
My first by Scott Meyer, a book club selection. Brute Force is a comedic sci-fi story in which some kind of apocalyptic event has turned the Earth into a kind of Mad Max society of scavengers and tyrannical warlords, although it might be more accurate to describe it like the Borderlands video games (or what I imagine the Borderlands video games to be like, anyway), as it is very comedic in tone. After a short introduction to the characters, they are suddenly visited by three species of aliens, who have come to the Earth to request help - they have made incredible advances in technology, communication, and expanding the breadth of their knowledge, but they have done all of this without any violence and lack even the most basic self-defense, and unfortunately, their exploration has been curtailed by a violent race of warrior dudes. It's a decent idea and it's fleshed out well with several characters and races that all follow a specific logic that is always best exploited for comedy, more in the vein of Futurama than like, Ricky and Morty or something. I did notice very quickly that every single human character talks in exactly the same way, pure snark, like characters in a Marvel movie (but fortunately funnier than a Marvel movie). A few characters do get a character-specific trait or joke but in general most of them are interchangeable personality-wise. Overall this had the effect for me of a pretty funny episode of Futurama - I always liked Futurama, but I can't say it would have been a really great episode.
January 29, 2024
Almost stuck the landing
I was.looking for some light reading after the feeling underwhelmed by the last book i read. Having read Meyer's wizard 2.0 series, i figured this one off novel was worth a shot, and it was. Scott Meyer has an absurd sense of humor, and with a fair amount of wit sprinkled within. This book was slow to start, but once he got going, Scott had me laughing with some of the character dialogue. The Madre had me in stiches with her quote about family disappointment, The Coward's dialogue with the various Firsts was hysterical, and i won't see a.friendly game of Poker the same for sometime to come.
The book breezed by, until chapter 31, where stalled out after the final colony was saved. After defeating three hordes of warriors, having the action stall out for three chapters, only to ramp back up to another battle scene. These last chapters did not introduce anything new r different, it did not enhance the story one bit. All it did was prolong the books conclusion by another hour or so of less interesting filler.
I would.have no issues recommending this book with someone looking for an absurd sci-fi book to pass an afternoon.
I was.looking for some light reading after the feeling underwhelmed by the last book i read. Having read Meyer's wizard 2.0 series, i figured this one off novel was worth a shot, and it was. Scott Meyer has an absurd sense of humor, and with a fair amount of wit sprinkled within. This book was slow to start, but once he got going, Scott had me laughing with some of the character dialogue. The Madre had me in stiches with her quote about family disappointment, The Coward's dialogue with the various Firsts was hysterical, and i won't see a.friendly game of Poker the same for sometime to come.
The book breezed by, until chapter 31, where stalled out after the final colony was saved. After defeating three hordes of warriors, having the action stall out for three chapters, only to ramp back up to another battle scene. These last chapters did not introduce anything new r different, it did not enhance the story one bit. All it did was prolong the books conclusion by another hour or so of less interesting filler.
I would.have no issues recommending this book with someone looking for an absurd sci-fi book to pass an afternoon.
March 18, 2024
The Scott Meyer unique sense of humor that you may know from his webcomic "Basic Instructions" is in full swing here. Characters like Knifeketeer and Omnipresent Man seem to be the inspiration for some of the ideas in this book. The main concept behind the story also seemed to be inspired by the reddit.com/r/HFY community.
I felt like I had more out-loud laughs than nearly any other book I remember.
The big finale seemed more complicated than necessary. It felt like the author had decided that it was enough time with the jokes, it was time to wrap up the story he had gotten himself into. But overall it was worth it for all the laughs. It was a good story that didn't feel like a copy of anything I was familiar with. I'd give it a 4.8 if I could.
I felt like I had more out-loud laughs than nearly any other book I remember.
The big finale seemed more complicated than necessary. It felt like the author had decided that it was enough time with the jokes, it was time to wrap up the story he had gotten himself into. But overall it was worth it for all the laughs. It was a good story that didn't feel like a copy of anything I was familiar with. I'd give it a 4.8 if I could.
July 3, 2024
I did not enjoy this book.
The story is not very creative, I've read similar on the subreddit "humanity f*ck yeah!" More than 10 years ago. And most of those had more believable idiot aliens that are baffled by humans creative brutality than contained in this book.
Some jokes about human scrappy post apocalyptic behaviour are quite funny, but the aliens and most human characters are unfunny charicatures that repeat the same jokes over and over and over and over and over [...] and over again, when the joke was already falling flat the second time they were repeated. I get that humour is subjective, but I don't see how this book can get more than a weak smile after the first couple of chapters
Go to r/hfy, you'll get the same content but better over there.
The story is not very creative, I've read similar on the subreddit "humanity f*ck yeah!" More than 10 years ago. And most of those had more believable idiot aliens that are baffled by humans creative brutality than contained in this book.
Some jokes about human scrappy post apocalyptic behaviour are quite funny, but the aliens and most human characters are unfunny charicatures that repeat the same jokes over and over and over and over and over [...] and over again, when the joke was already falling flat the second time they were repeated. I get that humour is subjective, but I don't see how this book can get more than a weak smile after the first couple of chapters
Go to r/hfy, you'll get the same content but better over there.
July 14, 2024
An absolutely great book by Scott Meyer (who is the author of other great books like Magic 2.0). In this book we have an earth that is closer to "Mad Max" to start after the "bad week" and then aliens show up. They are odd little aliens (where they don't seem to common sense bright as compared to humans, also not ruthless or liars). They need to humans to fight back against the "killers" (later called the enemy) who are like star-fish (or at least that is how I picture them) who like to stab people and do so one at a time. The humans eventually go through a battle and while the other races are tricked (after the humans beat the killers) they are then betrayed and the final fight scene comes into existence. It is what you expect from a Meyers book and a great one at that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2024
Reviewed on Audible after my first listen, but forgot to add it on here:
Some of the best sci-fi humor I’ve ever listened to. I have laughed so many times listening to this book that it has to be a record for me. The narrator and author created something truly special here between the Mad Max parody world to the absurdly named characters ("Kid Stretcher Kyle", "Meat Machine") to the aliens and their culture, with special honors to the Enemy and their 27 different words for "stabbing."
I recently listened to this book again for some inspiration for my own humor writing, and it was just as much fun the second time around.
Some of the best sci-fi humor I’ve ever listened to. I have laughed so many times listening to this book that it has to be a record for me. The narrator and author created something truly special here between the Mad Max parody world to the absurdly named characters ("Kid Stretcher Kyle", "Meat Machine") to the aliens and their culture, with special honors to the Enemy and their 27 different words for "stabbing."
I recently listened to this book again for some inspiration for my own humor writing, and it was just as much fun the second time around.
January 13, 2024
The writing is messy. But I found the premise interesting and the plot picks up considerably towards the end. I like that Meyer stretches and attempts different styles. So, while this may not have been my personal favorite, I appreciate the effort. In some ways it reminds me of Master of Formalities (which is still my favorite book of his) in terms of morality and ethics vs tradition and custom with more slapstick and general silliness that is prevalent in his other series.
Will keep reading and hope that Luke Daniels continues to narrate.
Will keep reading and hope that Luke Daniels continues to narrate.
June 13, 2025
In this book, a post-apocalyptic human race, including cobra farmers, cannibals and catholic warpriests, are recruited into an alien alliance to be their interstellar army.
It's written in a cynical and funny way, a lot like the writing from the videogame Borderlands. While it starts out mildly amusing, I did feel like I lost interest as the book progressed, and by the end I was just eager to finish it.
It would perhaps have been more enjoyable with more character development and slightly more intelligent aliens, or maybe it should have just been a bit shorter at the end.
It's written in a cynical and funny way, a lot like the writing from the videogame Borderlands. While it starts out mildly amusing, I did feel like I lost interest as the book progressed, and by the end I was just eager to finish it.
It would perhaps have been more enjoyable with more character development and slightly more intelligent aliens, or maybe it should have just been a bit shorter at the end.
July 21, 2023
Great stand-alone story.
Earth is in ruin and everyone is living Mad Max style, a young kid lives in the wasteland doing the family business of milking snakes when aliens come down and ask him and a group of humans to fight for them in wars against a really dumb but straightforward enemy.
I really enjoyed this book, fun characters, scenes that made me laugh out loud, and a good dose of barbarism.
Recommended for anyone wanting a fun story with some good beatings.
Earth is in ruin and everyone is living Mad Max style, a young kid lives in the wasteland doing the family business of milking snakes when aliens come down and ask him and a group of humans to fight for them in wars against a really dumb but straightforward enemy.
I really enjoyed this book, fun characters, scenes that made me laugh out loud, and a good dose of barbarism.
Recommended for anyone wanting a fun story with some good beatings.
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June 29, 2024For the audiobook:
This book sucks, I punched out after an hour. It's humor and writing is for 12 year olds, I can't believe people actually like it. My theory is that people are so indifferent that can't be bothered to even write a review and just assume people will figure out how bad it is right in the beginning.
I just don't think Scott Meyer is for me, regardless of the how many amazing reviews the NPCs keep giving his books.
This book sucks, I punched out after an hour. It's humor and writing is for 12 year olds, I can't believe people actually like it. My theory is that people are so indifferent that can't be bothered to even write a review and just assume people will figure out how bad it is right in the beginning.
I just don't think Scott Meyer is for me, regardless of the how many amazing reviews the NPCs keep giving his books.
August 21, 2025
This book surprised me. A lot. On the surface, it is a naive sci-fi, post-apocalyptic brainless "kill the aliens" with some, occasionally quite good, puns and laughs. Pure guilty entertainment.
Below the surface though, there are some serious themes and sometimes they hit you hard. And I loved that dichotomy.
So it is probably not 5 stars, but who cares - I was entertained and made to contemplate. And that's all one can hope from a book ;)
Below the surface though, there are some serious themes and sometimes they hit you hard. And I loved that dichotomy.
So it is probably not 5 stars, but who cares - I was entertained and made to contemplate. And that's all one can hope from a book ;)
April 24, 2023
2.5 and rounding up
Brute Force is the very definition of an idiot plot. While this "can" be excused by the fact that it's a comedy it does strain that a bit.
Dialogue is a bit awkward and unnatural but has it's moments. I especially liked meat machine.
Overall it has it's issues but is entertaining enough.
Brute Force is the very definition of an idiot plot. While this "can" be excused by the fact that it's a comedy it does strain that a bit.
Dialogue is a bit awkward and unnatural but has it's moments. I especially liked meat machine.
Overall it has it's issues but is entertaining enough.
September 22, 2023
I'd love to lie and say that I read this book in its entirety, but I hit about 50% and decided it just wasn't going a direction I enjoyed, so I bailed. I am not ready to say it's not a good book, but it came across as a little tryhard on the funny front, while not really delivering for me. I do enjoy Meyer's writing, however this just wasn't a winner for my personal tastes at this time.
December 7, 2023
Childish but in a rarely done way... Its like author had good idea which he put in middle & forced the 1st half and conclusion to get book out.
If you found Clamps/Stabbing robot from Futurama funny, you should like this one.
First half of the book was a slog, but then had gimmick ideas that, were actually interesting & funny, came up.
+1* since MINOR char make fun of religion for a bit, which i luv.
If you found Clamps/Stabbing robot from Futurama funny, you should like this one.
First half of the book was a slog, but then had gimmick ideas that, were actually interesting & funny, came up.
+1* since MINOR char make fun of religion for a bit, which i luv.
March 16, 2024
Hilarious sci fi book with really well written but easy to read dialogue. If you're a fan of books like Space Team Universe series or Bobiverse you'll find this book's character interaction very similar. I listened to the audiobook and I'm glad I did because after hearing the narrator, I can't imagine reading it any other way.
May 13, 2024
Really a 3.5-star book. A satirical sci-fi-esque romp. If you haven't read Scott Meyer before you will probably find it very very amusing. However, having read all the Magic 2.0 series, I found this book to be a bit templatey. The characters are very similar to the usual Meyer characters, the humor is the same (dry, a lot of irony).
July 30, 2024
A realistic look at humanity as a whole.
What would you do in a dystopian future when you live in a cave full of snakes, and your neighbors are warlords and people that want to sell you to the highest bidder? Well that's just the beginning of this thing. It only gets stranger from there.
What would you do in a dystopian future when you live in a cave full of snakes, and your neighbors are warlords and people that want to sell you to the highest bidder? Well that's just the beginning of this thing. It only gets stranger from there.
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