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There Goes the Galaxy #1
There Goes the Galaxy
It's the age-old tale of boy meets alien abductor. Boy meets stun-gun. Boy learns he's the only one in the Universe who can save the Earth from extreme world makeover by inter-stellar landlords. (Yeah: he thinks it's a bit much, too.) Like everyone else on his planet, Bertram Ludlow hasn't paid much attention to fluctuations in the intergalactic real estate market. But as a cognitive psychology grad student, he has given some thought to what a complete mental breakdown looks like. And this is pretty close. Now he’s discovering space is a mad and mind-boggling place where interspecies communication rests on the power of a gumball. Where androids demand better work/life balance. Where crime is Art, technology still has its bugs, and lasers don’t go "pyew-pyew." It's also surprisingly easy to get on the Universe's Most Wanted list. So with the weight of the world on his shoulders and the cosmic law on his tail, can Bertram outrun, outwit, and out-bid to save the Earthling squatters from one spaced-out redevelopment plan?
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2011
99 people are currently reading
456 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Thorson
5 books79 followersJenn Thorson always knew she wanted to be a writer; it was the C+ in Penmanship that initially held her back. By the age of 11, she'd written her first mystery novel, Key to the Blue Moon, which her secretary-- er, Mom--was good enough to type up for her. It was a raging hit among the two people she knew.
Spurred by her dramatic success, she went on to write other works, an experience that found her cluing into the Mystery genre, flirting with the Melodramatic Teen style, and becoming better versed in the Embarrassing Poetry of Which We Shall Never Speak Again school of writing.
Yet, oddly, no one stopped her from attending Carnegie Mellon University for Creative and Professional Writing. And it was here she discovered that humor was in her heart. This was a surprise, since the funny bone usually gets so much press.
Soon Jenn graduated from Carnegie Mellon and, with an inconvenient bent toward eating regularly, she took a job as a technical writer for a software development company. In the years that followed, she would move from the joys of explaining where the File menu was, to managing the marketing of the company's product line. Marketing, she realized, involved a gleeful combination of Making Stuff Up and Actually Getting Paid for It; so she became a full-time marketing writer and project manager in a local advertising firm.
She also continued to hone her fiction, and her first published story, "The Last Great Play of Rosie Cosnowski" made its way into the Timber Creek Review.
Since those days, Jenn Thorson's stories have been published in the Humor Press, the magazine for the Lewis Carroll Society of North America, and Romantic Homes magazine.
Her books include the humorous sci-fi trilogy There Goes the Galaxy (There Goes the Galaxy, The Purloined Number and Tryfling Matters) and the Wonderland murder mystery, The Curious Case of Mary Ann.
Jenn Thorson lives in Pittsburgh, PA, and is a member of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America.
_________________________________________________
Want to hear more from Jenn Thorson? Follow her on Twitter at: twitter.com/Jenn_Thorson
Or "Like" her author page on Facebook at: Facebook.com/JennThorsonAuthor
She promises she won't spend the whole time referring to herself in third person, or Tweeting about her lunch.
Spurred by her dramatic success, she went on to write other works, an experience that found her cluing into the Mystery genre, flirting with the Melodramatic Teen style, and becoming better versed in the Embarrassing Poetry of Which We Shall Never Speak Again school of writing.
Yet, oddly, no one stopped her from attending Carnegie Mellon University for Creative and Professional Writing. And it was here she discovered that humor was in her heart. This was a surprise, since the funny bone usually gets so much press.
Soon Jenn graduated from Carnegie Mellon and, with an inconvenient bent toward eating regularly, she took a job as a technical writer for a software development company. In the years that followed, she would move from the joys of explaining where the File menu was, to managing the marketing of the company's product line. Marketing, she realized, involved a gleeful combination of Making Stuff Up and Actually Getting Paid for It; so she became a full-time marketing writer and project manager in a local advertising firm.
She also continued to hone her fiction, and her first published story, "The Last Great Play of Rosie Cosnowski" made its way into the Timber Creek Review.
Since those days, Jenn Thorson's stories have been published in the Humor Press, the magazine for the Lewis Carroll Society of North America, and Romantic Homes magazine.
Her books include the humorous sci-fi trilogy There Goes the Galaxy (There Goes the Galaxy, The Purloined Number and Tryfling Matters) and the Wonderland murder mystery, The Curious Case of Mary Ann.
Jenn Thorson lives in Pittsburgh, PA, and is a member of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America.
_________________________________________________
Want to hear more from Jenn Thorson? Follow her on Twitter at: twitter.com/Jenn_Thorson
Or "Like" her author page on Facebook at: Facebook.com/JennThorsonAuthor
She promises she won't spend the whole time referring to herself in third person, or Tweeting about her lunch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 24, 2014
There is a point where every piece of comic or absurdist science fiction is compared to Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. For this book this point happened before I finished the first chapter and that comparison was not favourable.
What makes the situation worse is the feeling that the author's intention was to write a similar book, the basic premise would like to follow the one of its great ancestor but unfortunately everything just highlights the flaws in There goes the Galaxy. It is not a bad book, but it is a disappointing book, with potential that flares up, only to be snuffed immediately.
The characters never evolve beyond being names and even those names do not stick and are almost impossible to remember. As a result there were several points where I simply had no idea what was happening, who was acting and how this scene fit into the overall structure. Our protagonist was carefully selected to be the perfect average human being who will not be missed… and is a graduate student in cognitive psychology. Which is literally the only information we get about this character for the whole book. He is tossed into the great wide universe and confronted with dangers and wonders and never moves beyond his "cosmic newbie" persona. There are times when he almost develops his own persona only to snap back once he falls back with the other characters. Those get slightly more characterization since they are aliens, but that more is rare and for most of them is more like corporate stereotyping.
The plot structure makes this problem worse. The protagonist chases the story and is always behind the reader, whenever he figures out one part of the greater mystery the author immediately tells the next part which leaves the story only to play catch up. There is no second or third level, there is only the one and it is resolved. There are events that telegraph widely that they serve no purpose, a short detour from the central plotline and those reinforce the whole Hitchhikers Guide feeling. But these actually get recalled later in the book which gives it a nice feeling of cohesion until this is taken too far and torpedoes the central plotline.
in fact most of the problems can be summarized by saying "too far". The story is told by a florid, overloaded language which clearly tries to be vivid but fails spectacularly. The metaphors are trite and in several cases too many. As a result the timing is off, which leads to the few good jokes falling flat after an exhausting buildup.
The whole book works this way. The first three quarters are exhausting buildup for a better fourth quarter, that unfortunately falls flat because of its own flaws and problems. The sad thing is, the book is not bad, but the few good jokes and ideas only highlight the wasted potential. The author clearly has a great style, but it only appears sporadically and hides immediately. The book I read and the book that is featured in the description are two different books and I desperately wanted to read the description, not the book I had in front of me.
What makes the situation worse is the feeling that the author's intention was to write a similar book, the basic premise would like to follow the one of its great ancestor but unfortunately everything just highlights the flaws in There goes the Galaxy. It is not a bad book, but it is a disappointing book, with potential that flares up, only to be snuffed immediately.
The characters never evolve beyond being names and even those names do not stick and are almost impossible to remember. As a result there were several points where I simply had no idea what was happening, who was acting and how this scene fit into the overall structure. Our protagonist was carefully selected to be the perfect average human being who will not be missed… and is a graduate student in cognitive psychology. Which is literally the only information we get about this character for the whole book. He is tossed into the great wide universe and confronted with dangers and wonders and never moves beyond his "cosmic newbie" persona. There are times when he almost develops his own persona only to snap back once he falls back with the other characters. Those get slightly more characterization since they are aliens, but that more is rare and for most of them is more like corporate stereotyping.
The plot structure makes this problem worse. The protagonist chases the story and is always behind the reader, whenever he figures out one part of the greater mystery the author immediately tells the next part which leaves the story only to play catch up. There is no second or third level, there is only the one and it is resolved. There are events that telegraph widely that they serve no purpose, a short detour from the central plotline and those reinforce the whole Hitchhikers Guide feeling. But these actually get recalled later in the book which gives it a nice feeling of cohesion until this is taken too far and torpedoes the central plotline.
in fact most of the problems can be summarized by saying "too far". The story is told by a florid, overloaded language which clearly tries to be vivid but fails spectacularly. The metaphors are trite and in several cases too many. As a result the timing is off, which leads to the few good jokes falling flat after an exhausting buildup.
The whole book works this way. The first three quarters are exhausting buildup for a better fourth quarter, that unfortunately falls flat because of its own flaws and problems. The sad thing is, the book is not bad, but the few good jokes and ideas only highlight the wasted potential. The author clearly has a great style, but it only appears sporadically and hides immediately. The book I read and the book that is featured in the description are two different books and I desperately wanted to read the description, not the book I had in front of me.
March 2, 2015
Sci-fi is not my favorite genre. But I like good writing, good humor and an engaging plot and this book delivers on all counts.
Bertram Ludlow has been kidnapped by alien Rolliam Tsmorlood, because he is the only one who can save Earth and “life as we know it”. There’s only one problem; he has no idea what he’s doing and neither does Rollie.
The resulting story is a hilarious romp through the GCU (Greater Communicating Universe) as we discover its complexities and incongruities along with Bertram.
The story is well paced and speckled with humor. For the first half of the story, Bertram thinks that he has finally lost it and he keeps analyzing what he thinks is his delusion which leads to very funny inner dialogue.
The characters could have used a little bit more development but it does not really take anything away from the story. It could be a personal preference on my part. It certainly didn’t stop me from falling in deep like with Rollie, the badass alien outlaw who becomes Bertram’s sidekick (or vice versa, depending on the situation they find themselves in) against his will.
A solid 4 stars. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.
Bertram Ludlow has been kidnapped by alien Rolliam Tsmorlood, because he is the only one who can save Earth and “life as we know it”. There’s only one problem; he has no idea what he’s doing and neither does Rollie.
The resulting story is a hilarious romp through the GCU (Greater Communicating Universe) as we discover its complexities and incongruities along with Bertram.
The story is well paced and speckled with humor. For the first half of the story, Bertram thinks that he has finally lost it and he keeps analyzing what he thinks is his delusion which leads to very funny inner dialogue.
The characters could have used a little bit more development but it does not really take anything away from the story. It could be a personal preference on my part. It certainly didn’t stop me from falling in deep like with Rollie, the badass alien outlaw who becomes Bertram’s sidekick (or vice versa, depending on the situation they find themselves in) against his will.
A solid 4 stars. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.
December 2, 2011
WOW, so I liked this book a lot, it reminded me much of what I like about the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, only with very different twists. The main characters were lovable funny, and believable. The universe created was a fun one that I felt immersed in, the premise buyable. I just had moments where I felt bogged down as I read, almost too much information, and then it was done. No real ending per say, just done. I want more, which if that's the point and I'm to expect a sequel I'M HOOKED AND WILL GET IT if not then it’s a bit disappointing. This book works very well as a set up book for more to come! I enjoyed the multiple story lines, and things that are so relatable to how earth is. The uninet, the Capclub, books going out of style! It’s a great satire on our own existence, without beating you over the head with it! Overall probably more of a 3.5 if it’s a standalone, 4.5 if it’s the beginning of more to come.
October 3, 2011
What an a amazing adventure. And what an ending. So, to Jenn Thorson, finish and publish that sequel quickly so that I know what happens next !
June 25, 2013
I gave up about 2/3 of the way through. It just felt too much like a Hitchhiker's Guide wanna' be and didn't add anything particularly new or funny or interesting. It's not a terrible book... it just never grabbed me and didn't feel like it had enough going for it to keep me reading.
January 21, 2023
This book works as political satire, science fiction, romcom, travelogue. The premise is galactic and our hero is a noof schlep, hauled off the backwater Earth by a humanoid in a Sorcerer's Apprentice rawhide coat, carted to an audience before a trio of ghosty seers who can't see sh!t.
Thorson has her literary tongue so far in her cheek, her keyboard's going to need reconstructive plastic surgery.
Gangster guilds, shimmery backup singers, a yellow thingie that may or may not be a lifeform, collectible vintage spacecraft that nobody wants, prophecies, entertainment conglomerates, and two of the most keen law enforcement officers in any galaxy.
I have library books to finish, so I haven't ordered the next book in the series. Yet.
Thorson has her literary tongue so far in her cheek, her keyboard's going to need reconstructive plastic surgery.
Gangster guilds, shimmery backup singers, a yellow thingie that may or may not be a lifeform, collectible vintage spacecraft that nobody wants, prophecies, entertainment conglomerates, and two of the most keen law enforcement officers in any galaxy.
I have library books to finish, so I haven't ordered the next book in the series. Yet.
July 17, 2013
This is a story of David and Goliath, if by David we mean dreadfully average Bertram Ludlow, and if by Goliath we mean hyper-intelligent aliens with a love for interstellar capitalism.
Bertram Ludlow is abducted from his apartment by an alien named Rollie, and taken into deep space to the Seers of Rhobux, who have a devious plan in store for this very average man. The Seers reveal that only Bertram can save the Earth, so they give him a Yellow Thing to wear around his neck, which looks vaguely like a star fruit, and send him on his way.
Armed with this oddity, Bertram sets out to rescue the human race. We don’t actually own the Earth you see, and now it’s going to be sold to the highest bidder; humanity is either part of the prize, or a nuisance to be fumigated like an infestation of carpenter ants, depending on the buyer. Bertram, of course, can’t let that happen.
His puzzling and amusing adventure brings him into conflict with the intergalactic penal system, two amoral agents who shoot first and ask questions later, the leader of the criminal underworld, and intergalactic entrepreneurs vying to use our little neck of the woods for their own mysterious motives. The immensity of space and the complexities of inter-species relations add a colorful backdrop to the story, as Bertram discovers that the universe is every bit as dysfunctional as the Earth. Perhaps even more so.
It seemed like Thorson's witty humor had me chuckling every few pages, and despite instances where the prose could have been executed more efficiently – sometimes a few sentences are used where one would suffice – and some similarities to The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the story was engaging and original. Thorson’s “stellar” imagination has created a dynamic plot that is likely to surprise many readers with its twists and turns, especially in the deeper pages of the book where her ingenuity is on full display.
My biggest criticism comes in the form of a pet peeve. I found the conclusion disappointing because nowhere in the book is it mentioned that There Goes the Galaxy is book #1 in a series. I was expecting a satisfying conclusion and didn’t get it because the story isn’t actually over. This method of drawing readers in by Publishers/Authors has always struck me as false advertising, and generally leaves me deeply annoyed; if I’d wanted to read a series, I would’ve chosen to read a series. In all fairness, I do have to note that this is a widely-used tactic in movies, books and television, and that I just happen to disagree with the practice.
All in all, Thorson did well with her first installment, and as long as the sequel says “Book II” or some such on the cover, I’m likely to read it.
Bertram Ludlow is abducted from his apartment by an alien named Rollie, and taken into deep space to the Seers of Rhobux, who have a devious plan in store for this very average man. The Seers reveal that only Bertram can save the Earth, so they give him a Yellow Thing to wear around his neck, which looks vaguely like a star fruit, and send him on his way.
Armed with this oddity, Bertram sets out to rescue the human race. We don’t actually own the Earth you see, and now it’s going to be sold to the highest bidder; humanity is either part of the prize, or a nuisance to be fumigated like an infestation of carpenter ants, depending on the buyer. Bertram, of course, can’t let that happen.
His puzzling and amusing adventure brings him into conflict with the intergalactic penal system, two amoral agents who shoot first and ask questions later, the leader of the criminal underworld, and intergalactic entrepreneurs vying to use our little neck of the woods for their own mysterious motives. The immensity of space and the complexities of inter-species relations add a colorful backdrop to the story, as Bertram discovers that the universe is every bit as dysfunctional as the Earth. Perhaps even more so.
It seemed like Thorson's witty humor had me chuckling every few pages, and despite instances where the prose could have been executed more efficiently – sometimes a few sentences are used where one would suffice – and some similarities to The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the story was engaging and original. Thorson’s “stellar” imagination has created a dynamic plot that is likely to surprise many readers with its twists and turns, especially in the deeper pages of the book where her ingenuity is on full display.
My biggest criticism comes in the form of a pet peeve. I found the conclusion disappointing because nowhere in the book is it mentioned that There Goes the Galaxy is book #1 in a series. I was expecting a satisfying conclusion and didn’t get it because the story isn’t actually over. This method of drawing readers in by Publishers/Authors has always struck me as false advertising, and generally leaves me deeply annoyed; if I’d wanted to read a series, I would’ve chosen to read a series. In all fairness, I do have to note that this is a widely-used tactic in movies, books and television, and that I just happen to disagree with the practice.
All in all, Thorson did well with her first installment, and as long as the sequel says “Book II” or some such on the cover, I’m likely to read it.
November 9, 2015
Douglas Addams fans rejoice! If you enjoy avant garde scifi satire, like Dr. Who, the original Star Wars movie, and the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, you’ll tumble down the rabbit hole into author Jenn Thorson’s world of misadventures and misfits. Life As We Know It is in danger. Only everyman Bertram, a grad student kidnapped en route to his PhD by an alien Indiana Jones and now bouncing like a human pinball through the Greater Communicating Universe, can save us. Help!
There Goes the Galaxy grabbed me from the get-go, much in the same way Bertram was grabbed in his sock feet by Rollie. And unlike Bertram, who at one point is abandoned at an alien spaceport, author Jenn Thorson never released me, not even at the end of the book, when I was ready for the second course, the sequel The Purloined Number. The pacing is outstanding, with the two leads on the run and time running out, it’s mostly fast, but things like characters preparing in intriguing ways for the next scene still happen in the lulls, so there’s never a dull moment. Infopills between a few chapters give necessary background info in the style of Ben Bova, but more humorous..Plenty of celebrity references provide belly laughst in the course of this satire, much in the manner of Futurama and the Simpsons, only better! This book lasted me about a week, reading on breaks, at mealtimes and bedtime. I’ve now read it three times and probably will again. It’s action-packed fun, like a graphic novel, only it’s a word comic you can’t put down. For scifi lovers, it’s a gift that will never be forgotten!
See my blog for full review and excerpt: https://belindayhughes.wordpress.com/...
There Goes the Galaxy grabbed me from the get-go, much in the same way Bertram was grabbed in his sock feet by Rollie. And unlike Bertram, who at one point is abandoned at an alien spaceport, author Jenn Thorson never released me, not even at the end of the book, when I was ready for the second course, the sequel The Purloined Number. The pacing is outstanding, with the two leads on the run and time running out, it’s mostly fast, but things like characters preparing in intriguing ways for the next scene still happen in the lulls, so there’s never a dull moment. Infopills between a few chapters give necessary background info in the style of Ben Bova, but more humorous..Plenty of celebrity references provide belly laughst in the course of this satire, much in the manner of Futurama and the Simpsons, only better! This book lasted me about a week, reading on breaks, at mealtimes and bedtime. I’ve now read it three times and probably will again. It’s action-packed fun, like a graphic novel, only it’s a word comic you can’t put down. For scifi lovers, it’s a gift that will never be forgotten!
See my blog for full review and excerpt: https://belindayhughes.wordpress.com/...
September 12, 2012
A very fast, very fun read in the tradition of Douglas Adams.
In fact, it's a pretty darn direct descendant of Hitchhiker's Guide, right down to the very human-looking alien who comes and snatches away a hapless earthling, who must now save his planet. It's loaded with terrible, TERRIBLE puns and a fairly standard "run around trying to save things while being Intergalactic Fugitives" plot, and yet it's lighthearted and funny enough to really work. Hell, the awful puns just keep things ticking along, and keep you reading a few passages out loud to get the aural humour that's going on.
There's a LOT of extraneous hyphens, and some fairly unfortunate homophone mixups in this self-published novel, but all in all, they don't really detract. The characterizations are strong, the aliens are suitably alien, the alien SOCIETY is plausible, and Translachew Gum and various infopills are a very clever bit of technology suggestion (and fixes for looming plot holes). Even the slightly self-indulgent side plot about the literal death of print is amusing.
Fast, fun, and more enjoyable than scarfing down a case of DiversiDine's finest snacks while being made Sun Slushes at a LibLounge.
In fact, it's a pretty darn direct descendant of Hitchhiker's Guide, right down to the very human-looking alien who comes and snatches away a hapless earthling, who must now save his planet. It's loaded with terrible, TERRIBLE puns and a fairly standard "run around trying to save things while being Intergalactic Fugitives" plot, and yet it's lighthearted and funny enough to really work. Hell, the awful puns just keep things ticking along, and keep you reading a few passages out loud to get the aural humour that's going on.
There's a LOT of extraneous hyphens, and some fairly unfortunate homophone mixups in this self-published novel, but all in all, they don't really detract. The characterizations are strong, the aliens are suitably alien, the alien SOCIETY is plausible, and Translachew Gum and various infopills are a very clever bit of technology suggestion (and fixes for looming plot holes). Even the slightly self-indulgent side plot about the literal death of print is amusing.
Fast, fun, and more enjoyable than scarfing down a case of DiversiDine's finest snacks while being made Sun Slushes at a LibLounge.
October 31, 2011
This is a sort of slap-stick science fiction adventure. Earthling kidnapped by aliens only to find he is slated to save his home planet but must fight his way through the rather bizarre universe to do so.
And it is pretty funny; full of sarcastic retorts, one liners, absurd situations and lots of word play. A send up of the absurdities of earth culture through the lens of aliens. If you like smart aleck and playful sci-fi you will enjoy this one.
I did feel like it was drawn out a bit too much and the plot suffered. The chapters that were marketing book parodies were funny at times but really slowed the book down (they did add some important background information but I am not sure they were the best vehicle or tool for this).
And the marketing and reality show aspect as a hook was a little thin at times. But, to be fair, you don't read these kind of books to think to deeply about the plot and plausibility.
My verdict: comic intergalactic adventure that could use a little more polish and plot tightening.
And it is pretty funny; full of sarcastic retorts, one liners, absurd situations and lots of word play. A send up of the absurdities of earth culture through the lens of aliens. If you like smart aleck and playful sci-fi you will enjoy this one.
I did feel like it was drawn out a bit too much and the plot suffered. The chapters that were marketing book parodies were funny at times but really slowed the book down (they did add some important background information but I am not sure they were the best vehicle or tool for this).
And the marketing and reality show aspect as a hook was a little thin at times. But, to be fair, you don't read these kind of books to think to deeply about the plot and plausibility.
My verdict: comic intergalactic adventure that could use a little more polish and plot tightening.
February 8, 2012
Book Giveaway & Review: When Jenn Thorson emailed me about her new novel, There Goes the Galaxy, I couldn’t help but laugh. I loved the off-the-wall concept and knew it was a book I wanted to read. If you like your science fiction mixed with a healthy dose of irreverence, humor, and Keystone Cops style bumbling then you’re going to feel right at home reading this fun novel. And, thanks to Jenn’s generosity, one lucky reader is going to win a copy of their very own.
Bertram Ludlow is a mild-mannered cognitive psychology grad student. He’s on track to get his PhD, if he can only get his thesis finished. He’s been under a lot of stress, so I guess he can be excused for thinking the alien who just appeared in his basement apartment is a mental aberration. Yep, Bertram thinks he’s hallucinating and rapidly on his way to a nervous breakdown. He’s worked so hard to get through grad school that he deserves a break, and a nervous breakdown may be an ideal way to get one. Read the rest of my review and enter our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=2852.
Bertram Ludlow is a mild-mannered cognitive psychology grad student. He’s on track to get his PhD, if he can only get his thesis finished. He’s been under a lot of stress, so I guess he can be excused for thinking the alien who just appeared in his basement apartment is a mental aberration. Yep, Bertram thinks he’s hallucinating and rapidly on his way to a nervous breakdown. He’s worked so hard to get through grad school that he deserves a break, and a nervous breakdown may be an ideal way to get one. Read the rest of my review and enter our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=2852.
August 31, 2015
I got this as part of a Kickstarter package for Robert Kroese's Distopia. I've read and enjoyed several of his books, so I thought I'd give this a shot (it being free was also a plus!).
It starts out with an American graduate student, Bertram Ludlow, who's kidnapped, taken offworld and told that only he can save Earth. He reacts rationally, by assuming that stress from the end of his degree has caused him to have a break with reality. This unusual turn makes for an interesting start, but the book felt overfilled with ideas. Large portions of the book are given to parodies of modern marketing & corporate speak, which is often repetitive beyond the point of diminishing returns. Starbucks-ian coffee shops, reality tv, the endless churn of pop stars, unwanted personal gadgets -- all get their turn in the snarky sun. Most are funny, there's just too much of it. Add to that an EXTREMELY rushed ending (I assumed there was at least another 10% on my ebook when I "turned" the last page), and it was a clever premise that didn't live up to its promise. Funny, but it rarely rises above that.
It starts out with an American graduate student, Bertram Ludlow, who's kidnapped, taken offworld and told that only he can save Earth. He reacts rationally, by assuming that stress from the end of his degree has caused him to have a break with reality. This unusual turn makes for an interesting start, but the book felt overfilled with ideas. Large portions of the book are given to parodies of modern marketing & corporate speak, which is often repetitive beyond the point of diminishing returns. Starbucks-ian coffee shops, reality tv, the endless churn of pop stars, unwanted personal gadgets -- all get their turn in the snarky sun. Most are funny, there's just too much of it. Add to that an EXTREMELY rushed ending (I assumed there was at least another 10% on my ebook when I "turned" the last page), and it was a clever premise that didn't live up to its promise. Funny, but it rarely rises above that.
July 1, 2012
It isn't too often that one gets to read a humorous scifi novel these days and Jenn Thorsen has written such a book.
The book describes the travels of two adventurers. One is Rolliam Tsmordlood, an alien and Bertram Ludlow, an Earth inhabitant. Rolliam snatches Bertram from his apartment and the action begins. Before long, Bert and Rollie have bounced around the galaxy, met up with a number of bizarre folks and found out how determine the Reg Force could be in tracking down fugitives, which Rollie and Bertram had become without even breaking a sweat. Ludlow has to find out who is bidding to buy Earth and turn it into a money-making operation with or without the inhabitants. But first he has to find who owns the planet.
The ending is a bit inconclusive so I expect a second book is in the works
The book has a convoluted and very enjoyable plot. The plot and characters indicate that a warped mind is behind this book. I think the world needs more warped minds.
The book describes the travels of two adventurers. One is Rolliam Tsmordlood, an alien and Bertram Ludlow, an Earth inhabitant. Rolliam snatches Bertram from his apartment and the action begins. Before long, Bert and Rollie have bounced around the galaxy, met up with a number of bizarre folks and found out how determine the Reg Force could be in tracking down fugitives, which Rollie and Bertram had become without even breaking a sweat. Ludlow has to find out who is bidding to buy Earth and turn it into a money-making operation with or without the inhabitants. But first he has to find who owns the planet.
The ending is a bit inconclusive so I expect a second book is in the works
The book has a convoluted and very enjoyable plot. The plot and characters indicate that a warped mind is behind this book. I think the world needs more warped minds.
October 30, 2011
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I haven't read much in the sci fi genre before, but this definitely opened up a new intergalactic world for me. I love how the author takes some very clever swipes at the world of marketing and how 'celebrities' market themselves, with her own intergalactic twist. It is one of those books that becomes instantly quotable and you find yourself rereading parts because it makes you smile. It is a humorous tale that would not only appeal to sci fi fans, it would also appeal to those of us that dwell in the land of the uninet, erm I mean internet. Basically it is a great read and I am looking forward to the next instalment
There Goes the GalaxyJenn Thorson
There Goes the GalaxyJenn Thorson
April 5, 2016
This is an exciting, fast paced space romp in which the lovable Bertram Ludlow is swept into an extra-galactic mission so save life has he knows it. No, literally SAVE LIFE AS HE KNOWS IT.
Jenn has a wonderful command for the English Language, and has woven a tapestry of comedic activity throughout the Greater Communication Universe.
I had fun trying to keep pace with Jenn's use of playfully appropriate character and place names; my personal favorite: the Luddites. Read the book and put one and one together to see how she has poked fun at them, and other communities, bringing light to the basic human condition...life as we know it.
I'm so glad I was challenged to read this book. As an Indie Author, Jenn Thorson has quite a career ahead of her if this continues to be the quality of material she is able to put forth to the Science Fiction community.
Jenn has a wonderful command for the English Language, and has woven a tapestry of comedic activity throughout the Greater Communication Universe.
I had fun trying to keep pace with Jenn's use of playfully appropriate character and place names; my personal favorite: the Luddites. Read the book and put one and one together to see how she has poked fun at them, and other communities, bringing light to the basic human condition...life as we know it.
I'm so glad I was challenged to read this book. As an Indie Author, Jenn Thorson has quite a career ahead of her if this continues to be the quality of material she is able to put forth to the Science Fiction community.
April 5, 2015
One day your in grad school. The next you're being abducted by aliens and told you have to save life as you know it. No problem.
This book has no end of obscure references and it's fun to figure out how the author came up with names.
This book has no end of obscure references and it's fun to figure out how the author came up with names.
January 2, 2017
Fun sci fi
The author is very well educated and skillfully uses her references in a clever and humorous but not pompous manner. Can't wait to read the sequel. Great character development.
The author is very well educated and skillfully uses her references in a clever and humorous but not pompous manner. Can't wait to read the sequel. Great character development.
June 23, 2013
I had a a hard time getting to the end of the book, and it turns out it's not even a real end, just setup for a sequel.
September 18, 2017
This is a great first stop on the There Goes the Galaxy trilogy by Jenn Thorson. Jenn is a fantastic writer, she has the best sense of humor and after you read her book, you want to go out with her to enjoy a glass of wine--just to hear her witty repartee.
I rarely laugh out loud at a book but this one made me do it. And this book is not exactly in my wheelhouse. I do like Sci Fi--and I love humor--but it's not the major type of book I read. I normally read mysteries and biographies but this first book hooked me on the entire series. The second book is The Purloined Number and the last is Tryfling Matters. You can see by the titles that this writer doesn't take herself--or the world--too seriously.
This kind of book is a breath of fresh air after all the depressing news every day (but I shan't get into that). Instead, I recommend you start with There Goes the Galaxy and then enjoy the other two in order.
Oooooh, and I also have a secret. A little bird tells me this may be a *series* rather than a trilogy but heck, my lips are sealed.
Highly recommended. Jenn Thorson is a terrific writer and deserves much success--and I don't say that kind of thing lightly.
I rarely laugh out loud at a book but this one made me do it. And this book is not exactly in my wheelhouse. I do like Sci Fi--and I love humor--but it's not the major type of book I read. I normally read mysteries and biographies but this first book hooked me on the entire series. The second book is The Purloined Number and the last is Tryfling Matters. You can see by the titles that this writer doesn't take herself--or the world--too seriously.
This kind of book is a breath of fresh air after all the depressing news every day (but I shan't get into that). Instead, I recommend you start with There Goes the Galaxy and then enjoy the other two in order.
Oooooh, and I also have a secret. A little bird tells me this may be a *series* rather than a trilogy but heck, my lips are sealed.
Highly recommended. Jenn Thorson is a terrific writer and deserves much success--and I don't say that kind of thing lightly.
August 22, 2019
One of my favorite books, and trilogy. Thornson did an excellent job of world building, from the Greater Communicating Universe (GCU), to DiversiDine, to the UniNet, well realized planets and inhabitants, the Intergalactic Underworld, Vos Laegos, Translachew (a gum that translates language), info-pills. I go could on and on about the rich, in-depth world and universe building.
The characters have personality, and are each funny in their own way.
I just love this trilogy. I really hope to see spin-offs in the future.
The characters have personality, and are each funny in their own way.
I just love this trilogy. I really hope to see spin-offs in the future.
May 10, 2020
I would actually have given this book 3.5 stars if I could. Initially I found it written almost as a piece of fan fiction homage to Douglas Adams both with regard to plot and characters but I am glad that I persevered. The story grew into its own as it progressed, until by the end I had developed a strong interest in the outcome. I do feel that it ends at a rather unnatural point, making progression to the second book in the series necessary. However I am sufficiently invested in the story to probably do so at some stage.
December 3, 2020
Reasonable, but felt like it was trying to be a Hitch Hikers Guide - and didn't quite manage it - the ridiculous names and the little "side-bars" about races or people that had no real bearing on the story reminded me of Douglas Adams ...... but not in a good way I'm afraid! I'll read the rest of the series at some point - but only because I got over excited and bought them all before reading a page!
July 17, 2021
I guess that any comic sci-if will be compared to “The Hitchhikers Guide” at some point. I almost stopped after a few chapters because of the unnecessary “manual” inserts. However once past the inserts, the book started to be fun. It has left me wanting to read the next book.
March 24, 2017
Most of the book tries too hard to be like the Hitchhiker's series. A lot of random dad jokes. Eventually about halfway, the book finally get a plot and into a groove where suddenly the character have a purpose and are somewhat interesting. I enjoyed the ending and am excited to read about the future of our planet!
July 28, 2017
Up till I dropped it, this book was a badly written copy of Hitchhicker guide to the galaxy.
July 29, 2017
Fun read
Delightful book. Humor mixed with action. GCU is a much different place than Earth (otherwise known as Tryfe) in the book.
Delightful book. Humor mixed with action. GCU is a much different place than Earth (otherwise known as Tryfe) in the book.
August 7, 2017
Entertaining in spots, but overall, kind of dragged out for me. May return to give #2 a try, but not right now.
February 13, 2018
Great characters
I liked all the characters, their personalities and their weird but firm friendships. ROLLIE is my favorite character along with the Protostar
I liked all the characters, their personalities and their weird but firm friendships. ROLLIE is my favorite character along with the Protostar
January 13, 2024
Unfortunately I'm going to DNF this one. I just wasn't enjoying it.
June 17, 2017
A Hitchhiker's clone.
I finished the preview, but I couldn't convince myself to spend the money for the full book.
I finished the preview, but I couldn't convince myself to spend the money for the full book.
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