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Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure
The crew of the Allons-y take on interesting jobs for people throughout the Universe and sometimes those jobs don't quite work out the way they plan. In their latest adventure, Captain Kai and his shipmates agree to run a little errand for a strange doctor who's secret research is sure to come back and bite them all.
Meanwhile, somewhere across the galaxy, a computer hacker works to infiltrate top secret government files to learn more about a mission on an unknown planet.
Meanwhile, somewhere across the galaxy, a computer hacker works to infiltrate top secret government files to learn more about a mission on an unknown planet.
283 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2013
1 person is currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Shawn Kass
19 books15 followersShawn Kass was born in Killeen Texas. He attended a series of colleges while serving as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. He earned five degrees in subjects including Mathematics, Psychology, Education, and Secure Computer Systems Networking. While on active duty from 1997 to 2006, he was stationed stateside in Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. and while overseas, he served in several Middle East locations.
Upon exiting the service, Shawn became a high school math and science teacher educating students in Washington, D.C., England, Michigan, and Florida. He currently lives in Florida with his wonderful wife, where he is currently teaching at a local school.
Upon exiting the service, Shawn became a high school math and science teacher educating students in Washington, D.C., England, Michigan, and Florida. He currently lives in Florida with his wonderful wife, where he is currently teaching at a local school.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 7, 2013
Not being an avid reader, this book has proven to be a fun and light hearted adventure. The story has good details,a nice pace of action as well character development. The characters have a familiar feel but, a difference that makes them stand out. Another book with these characters would be a read I would really look forward to. This book has been an enjoyable break and look forward to future adventures.
April 16, 2013
This was an amazing ride. Hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
April 17, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Shawn's writing is detailed and it's hard not to stop turning the pages. He's extremely creative and you just can't imagine what he comes up with next!
July 25, 2013
I'll have to say this - Allons-y (French for "Let's Go!") is full of surprises, page-turning scenes, and memorable, strong characters.
It's a space opera in the perfect sense of the term. It has your requisite mad scientists, ship's controls being repeatedly maneuvered in desperate attempts to escape, swash-buckling heroes, and, of course, pink bacterial goo that can communicate with humans!
It seems the author had so much fun with this story - it shows on every page - he made the main characters all wise-cracking, even those with serious tones, and these straight-faced unintentionally fall into witty repartees. It also appears that the author had so much fun, that he felt it was important to publish as it is, without fixing up the many holes in the plot.
Such plot holes are as follows;
- why twenty years of abandonment for the space lab - how did anything survive? (while there are explanations, twenty years seem far too long, especially for the higher life forms)
- and, why did the evil scientist wait twenty years for his valuable data (again, there is an explanation in the book, but a better one would suffice) - in science, data out of date by twenty years would virtually be worthless
- in this space age, how could anyone work around a ship's controls that were twenty years old and still navigate them?
- the death of "good scientist" seems unconvincing, I understand the motive, but not the proportionality of the motive to the murder, which itself seems far too excessive
Chance is a terrific character. All his actions seem to turn out perfectly no matter what he does - he must be the most talented hero in the universe or extraordinarily lucky all the time - but science fiction is replete with heroes like that (hello Captain Kirk, hello Captain Picard). I loved Chance. The best part of the story, to me, was when he finds out about his past. I would like to read another book about him.
Captain Kai is a very likeable but puzzling character. He loves to wisecrack - and that makes him endearing, but his jokes during Chance's profound discovery about his past makes Kai appear very odd and insensitive. Also, perhaps "captain" is the wrong title, as he has only three crew. Perhaps he is more like a mercenary - in the likes of Han Solo, who had Chewbecca. A captain who commanded a large ship of several crew would have stayed out of risky expeditions (although that never stopped Captains Kirk or Picard). I would have tried to make Captain Kai more dignified and perhaps leave the wisecracking to another member of the crew.
The other two female characters are great - and opposite in character to each other, but both strong, resourceful, caring, and admirable.
This story, as mentioned, is a lot of FUN. You get the impression the author loves his material, and delights in sharing it with us. The story knows we won't be taking it too seriously, and we are there for the ride. It's a classic space opera. This story is infectious.
Having said all that, there are numerous plot holes, and perhaps having written this terrific story, the author can take one more look at it and pull it all together. Plot holes are common in science fiction stories, but in this one, they are a bit too glaring. Also, I felt in this story there was too much discussion of the space lab's controls - the characters are always examining rooms or compartments, opening doors through the computer, checking out files, and running through tubes or passageways. There are even chapters on another character trying to hack his way into the space lab, on a remote computer.
Overall, four stars for a story that is delightful and fun to read.
It's a space opera in the perfect sense of the term. It has your requisite mad scientists, ship's controls being repeatedly maneuvered in desperate attempts to escape, swash-buckling heroes, and, of course, pink bacterial goo that can communicate with humans!
It seems the author had so much fun with this story - it shows on every page - he made the main characters all wise-cracking, even those with serious tones, and these straight-faced unintentionally fall into witty repartees. It also appears that the author had so much fun, that he felt it was important to publish as it is, without fixing up the many holes in the plot.
Such plot holes are as follows;
- why twenty years of abandonment for the space lab - how did anything survive? (while there are explanations, twenty years seem far too long, especially for the higher life forms)
- and, why did the evil scientist wait twenty years for his valuable data (again, there is an explanation in the book, but a better one would suffice) - in science, data out of date by twenty years would virtually be worthless
- in this space age, how could anyone work around a ship's controls that were twenty years old and still navigate them?
- the death of "good scientist" seems unconvincing, I understand the motive, but not the proportionality of the motive to the murder, which itself seems far too excessive
Chance is a terrific character. All his actions seem to turn out perfectly no matter what he does - he must be the most talented hero in the universe or extraordinarily lucky all the time - but science fiction is replete with heroes like that (hello Captain Kirk, hello Captain Picard). I loved Chance. The best part of the story, to me, was when he finds out about his past. I would like to read another book about him.
Captain Kai is a very likeable but puzzling character. He loves to wisecrack - and that makes him endearing, but his jokes during Chance's profound discovery about his past makes Kai appear very odd and insensitive. Also, perhaps "captain" is the wrong title, as he has only three crew. Perhaps he is more like a mercenary - in the likes of Han Solo, who had Chewbecca. A captain who commanded a large ship of several crew would have stayed out of risky expeditions (although that never stopped Captains Kirk or Picard). I would have tried to make Captain Kai more dignified and perhaps leave the wisecracking to another member of the crew.
The other two female characters are great - and opposite in character to each other, but both strong, resourceful, caring, and admirable.
This story, as mentioned, is a lot of FUN. You get the impression the author loves his material, and delights in sharing it with us. The story knows we won't be taking it too seriously, and we are there for the ride. It's a classic space opera. This story is infectious.
Having said all that, there are numerous plot holes, and perhaps having written this terrific story, the author can take one more look at it and pull it all together. Plot holes are common in science fiction stories, but in this one, they are a bit too glaring. Also, I felt in this story there was too much discussion of the space lab's controls - the characters are always examining rooms or compartments, opening doors through the computer, checking out files, and running through tubes or passageways. There are even chapters on another character trying to hack his way into the space lab, on a remote computer.
Overall, four stars for a story that is delightful and fun to read.
April 29, 2013
So I read the first page of the book and I was like, meh, it's alright. But all jokes aside the first page was awesome and I'm really stoked about turning to page TWO lol!!! And finishing your book.
October 1, 2022
Fantastic sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is imaginative, and the crew is awesome. The story is brutal in spots with some horror elements and a definite body count. Scooby is a great character. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
The worldbuilding is imaginative, and the crew is awesome. The story is brutal in spots with some horror elements and a definite body count. Scooby is a great character. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
June 26, 2016
This was a great first book to the Allons-y series! The characters are playful and easy to identify with. Shawn Kass does an excellent job of writing!
April 24, 2017
FUCK YOU SHAWN KASS YOU RACIST PIECE OF SHIT.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews