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Kangaroo #1
Waypoint Kangaroo
A high octane science-fiction spy thriller that puts a new spin on the outer space adventure, WAYPOINT KANGAROO kicks off a blockbuster series full of adrenaline and intrigue.
Kangaroo isn’t your typical spy. Sure, he has extensive agency training, access to bleeding-edge technology, and a ready supply of clever (to him) quips and retorts. But what sets him apart is “the pocket.” It’s a portal that opens into an empty, seemingly infinite, parallel universe, and Kangaroo is the only person in the world who can use it. But he's pretty sure the agency only keeps him around to exploit his superpower.
After he bungles yet another mission, Kangaroo gets sent away on a mandatory “vacation:” an interplanetary cruise to Mars. While he tries to make the most of his exile, two passengers are found dead, and Kangaroo has to risk blowing his cover. It turns out he isn’t the only spy on the ship–and he’s just starting to unravel a massive conspiracy which threatens the entire Solar System.
Now, Kangaroo has to stop a disaster which would shatter the delicate peace that’s existed between Earth and Mars ever since the brutal Martian Independence War. A new interplanetary conflict would be devastating for both sides. Millions of lives are at stake.
Weren’t vacations supposed to be relaxing?
This outer space thriller marks Chen’s debut. Chen has an extensive network of connections to prominent science fiction authors, and has studied under John Scalzi, James Patrick Kelly, and Ursula K. LeGuin.
Kangaroo isn’t your typical spy. Sure, he has extensive agency training, access to bleeding-edge technology, and a ready supply of clever (to him) quips and retorts. But what sets him apart is “the pocket.” It’s a portal that opens into an empty, seemingly infinite, parallel universe, and Kangaroo is the only person in the world who can use it. But he's pretty sure the agency only keeps him around to exploit his superpower.
After he bungles yet another mission, Kangaroo gets sent away on a mandatory “vacation:” an interplanetary cruise to Mars. While he tries to make the most of his exile, two passengers are found dead, and Kangaroo has to risk blowing his cover. It turns out he isn’t the only spy on the ship–and he’s just starting to unravel a massive conspiracy which threatens the entire Solar System.
Now, Kangaroo has to stop a disaster which would shatter the delicate peace that’s existed between Earth and Mars ever since the brutal Martian Independence War. A new interplanetary conflict would be devastating for both sides. Millions of lives are at stake.
Weren’t vacations supposed to be relaxing?
This outer space thriller marks Chen’s debut. Chen has an extensive network of connections to prominent science fiction authors, and has studied under John Scalzi, James Patrick Kelly, and Ursula K. LeGuin.
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First published June 21, 2016
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About the author
Curtis C. Chen
26 books150 followersOnce a Silicon Valley software engineer, CURTIS C. CHEN (陳致宇) now writes speculative fiction and runs puzzle games near Portland, Oregon. His debut novel WAYPOINT KANGAROO (a 2017 Locus Awards Finalist and Endeavour Award Finalist) is a science fiction thriller about a superpowered spy facing his toughest mission yet: vacation. The sequel, KANGAROO TOO, lands our hero on the Moon to confront long-buried secrets.
Curtis' short stories have appeared in Playboy Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, MISSION: TOMORROW, and OREGON READS ALOUD. He is a graduate of the Clarion West and Viable Paradise writers' workshops.
You can find Curtis at Puzzled Pint Portland on the second Tuesday of most every month. And yes, there is a puzzle hidden in each of the KANGAROO book covers! Finding the rabbit holes is left as an exercise for the reader.
Curtis' short stories have appeared in Playboy Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, MISSION: TOMORROW, and OREGON READS ALOUD. He is a graduate of the Clarion West and Viable Paradise writers' workshops.
You can find Curtis at Puzzled Pint Portland on the second Tuesday of most every month. And yes, there is a puzzle hidden in each of the KANGAROO book covers! Finding the rabbit holes is left as an exercise for the reader.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
January 16, 2025
"Кенгуруто" е пич. Е, няма си друго име, но пък има таланта да забърква каши и да нервира околните. Има си и торба, една много специална кенгурска торба. ;)
Не знае и какво е отпуск, та когато го натоварват на кораб за Марс, някак не може да се отпусне и да се наслади на непознатото усещане. :)
И естествено се оказва прав - има нещо гнило в Дания, така де, в безплатното пътешествие до Червената планета, съчетано с безлимитна кредитна карта.
Арт от Fan Gao
Много от фантастите смятат, че когато се разселим из Слънчевата система, една от първите ни задачи ще е да изпаднем в нерешими конфликти и съответно, ще избухнат първите междупланетни войни. Не ни трябват извънземни, за да си усложним максимално ситуацията сами. Вероятността за такъв сценарий е доста голяма.
И докато в това отношение са песимисти, все пак са оптимисти, че това разселване ще се състои. За което пък аз съм песимист, защото виждам малко да се работи в световен мащаб по тази задача, а от един момент нататък може и да се окажем безвъзвратно закъснели...
Бард са уцелили този път с дебютния роман на Къртис Чен. Надявам се скоро да преведат и втората част! (пак го направих, купих си първа част от поредица започната от тях, дано не ми е за последен път, но "Избрана световна фантастика" има много специално място в моето сърце, та нямаше как иначе...)
Приятно четене!
Не знае и какво е отпуск, та когато го натоварват на кораб за Марс, някак не може да се отпусне и да се наслади на непознатото усещане. :)
И естествено се оказва прав - има нещо гнило в Дания, така де, в безплатното пътешествие до Червената планета, съчетано с безлимитна кредитна карта.
Арт от Fan Gao
Много от фантастите смятат, че когато се разселим из Слънчевата система, една от първите ни задачи ще е да изпаднем в нерешими конфликти и съответно, ще избухнат първите междупланетни войни. Не ни трябват извънземни, за да си усложним максимално ситуацията сами. Вероятността за такъв сценарий е доста голяма.
И докато в това отношение са песимисти, все пак са оптимисти, че това разселване ще се състои. За което пък аз съм песимист, защото виждам малко да се работи в световен мащаб по тази задача, а от един момент нататък може и да се окажем безвъзвратно закъснели...
Бард са уцелили този път с дебютния роман на Къртис Чен. Надявам се скоро да преведат и втората част! (пак го направих, купих си първа част от поредица започната от тях, дано не ми е за последен път, но "Избрана световна фантастика" има много специално място в моето сърце, та нямаше как иначе...)
Приятно четене!
January 16, 2025
Waypoint Kangaroo
By Curtis C. Chen
This was a fun book! One of the military/spy guys that has the only "pocket" and the power to use it has been getting the team in trouble. He is sent on a mandatory vacation to Mars. He was last there years ago during the war.
This trip starts out with him encountering people who are not who they say they are. Then there are the murders. Fast, fun, and exciting.
By Curtis C. Chen
This was a fun book! One of the military/spy guys that has the only "pocket" and the power to use it has been getting the team in trouble. He is sent on a mandatory vacation to Mars. He was last there years ago during the war.
This trip starts out with him encountering people who are not who they say they are. Then there are the murders. Fast, fun, and exciting.
August 3, 2024
Много готин фантастичен трилър! Книгата притежава динамично действие и доста интересен главен герой. Той е футуристичен таен агент (наричан Кенгуру), който носи със себе си необясним портал към паралелна вселена. Извършвал е важна шпионска дейност, обаче към даден момент присъствието му на Земята става неудобно, затова шефовете му го изпращат на екскурзия до Марс. На борда на космическия кораб Кенгуру се забърква в много опасни приключения...
December 12, 2016
“Nobody gets my jokes,” laments Kangaroo, the otherwise unnamed protagonist of Curtis C. Chen’s Waypoint Kangaroo. He’s not kidding. The titular spy can’t coax a single laugh from anyone else in the novel, though he hardly lets a moment pass without cracking wise. For the reader, Kangaroo’s prodigious attempts at humor are also more likely to elicit a groan than a laugh. But it doesn’t stop us rooting for him to find one that sticks.
Kangaroo is an archetypal underdog hero, so dogged determination is stamped on his DNA. The fact that he would probably bomb onstage if he tried his hand at stand-up comedy is what makes him so endearing. His disappointment is genuine; so is his need to keep trying.
Kangaroo is a sci-fi spy with a quirky sci-fi superpower – the innate and inexplicable ability to open a pocket (hence the code name) to a parallel universe and store things inside it. The story sees his boss sending him packing on a cruise ship to Mars to get him out of the way during a department audit. Coincidentally (or not), Kangaroo becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that has literal world shaking consequences.
Waypoint Kangaroo is a fun, fast-paced novel full of engaging characters, high-stakes, and some nice twists and turns. The book doesn’t quite stick the landing: the last two chapters wobble a bit, though it still manages to stay on its feet.
A blast from cover to cover and I’m looking forward to the sequel.
Kangaroo is an archetypal underdog hero, so dogged determination is stamped on his DNA. The fact that he would probably bomb onstage if he tried his hand at stand-up comedy is what makes him so endearing. His disappointment is genuine; so is his need to keep trying.
Kangaroo is a sci-fi spy with a quirky sci-fi superpower – the innate and inexplicable ability to open a pocket (hence the code name) to a parallel universe and store things inside it. The story sees his boss sending him packing on a cruise ship to Mars to get him out of the way during a department audit. Coincidentally (or not), Kangaroo becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that has literal world shaking consequences.
Waypoint Kangaroo is a fun, fast-paced novel full of engaging characters, high-stakes, and some nice twists and turns. The book doesn’t quite stick the landing: the last two chapters wobble a bit, though it still manages to stay on its feet.
A blast from cover to cover and I’m looking forward to the sequel.
February 4, 2019
Ahoy me mateys! I absolutely loved this sci-fi tale about a bumbling James Bond type-character code name: Kangaroo. Kangaroo’s name is not because he is from Australia or because he can jump high or because he is a “genetically-engineered human-marsupial.” As he puts it, “come on, that last one is pretty ridiculous.” No it is because he has a Pocket.
The Pocket is a portal that opens up into an empty parallel universe. It is pretty nifty for spy work. Storing things in the Pocket and smuggling are some of the things he is good at. He is not so good with small talk, clever jokes, or staying out of trouble. James Bond he isn’t. In fact the latest mission didn’t go according to plan so Kangaroo finds himself on a forced cruise ship vacation. He isn’t pleased.
I however was immensely pleased by this silly, endearing tale of how Kangaroo’s vacation turns into a crisis. I absolutely loved Kangaroo’s mix of ineptitude when dealing with normal people and then how he can suddenly use his spy skills with aplomb. He is constantly trying to prove his worth to the agency and prove that he doesn’t need watching. He tells bad jokes but is so plucky that I couldn’t help but root for him.
The story did take some unexpectedly fun turns. I loved the majority of the secondary characters. The story is action packed and fun. I read it in one sitting and I loved it! I can’t wait to read book two! Arrr!
Side note: with an awesome title like that how can ye not want to read this one?
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
The Pocket is a portal that opens up into an empty parallel universe. It is pretty nifty for spy work. Storing things in the Pocket and smuggling are some of the things he is good at. He is not so good with small talk, clever jokes, or staying out of trouble. James Bond he isn’t. In fact the latest mission didn’t go according to plan so Kangaroo finds himself on a forced cruise ship vacation. He isn’t pleased.
I however was immensely pleased by this silly, endearing tale of how Kangaroo’s vacation turns into a crisis. I absolutely loved Kangaroo’s mix of ineptitude when dealing with normal people and then how he can suddenly use his spy skills with aplomb. He is constantly trying to prove his worth to the agency and prove that he doesn’t need watching. He tells bad jokes but is so plucky that I couldn’t help but root for him.
The story did take some unexpectedly fun turns. I loved the majority of the secondary characters. The story is action packed and fun. I read it in one sitting and I loved it! I can’t wait to read book two! Arrr!
Side note: with an awesome title like that how can ye not want to read this one?
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
January 5, 2017
I think this would have been a three star book if I hadn't listened to the audio. The narrator was mediocre in the first place but unfortunately he made the two main women, Jemisin and Jessica, sound emotional and bitchy. Totally not cool.
The story is an interesting concept. The MC has a way of opening up a pocket universe that has nothing to do with ours. There are no stars, for example. He can use this ability to store things, which is quite funny at times. This is an ability that he alone has. He ends up being a spy who's a bit on the sloppy side but generally gets the job done. Forced to go on vacation on a cruise bound for Mars, "Evan" is having a hard time with the concept of relaxing and just having fun. Luckily for him there's a murder that must be solved.
A lot of this was fun and at one point it was utterly unputdownable, but sometimes the plot wasn't woven together tightly enough. There would be things going on that were critical, they would have to go on the back burner, but then they wouldn't be thought of again for a long time. It was odd.
I had one thing that really bugged me. The spy characters are posing as OSS officers but they're a Major and Commander. I have no idea how it worked in the OSS but Major is a rank in the Army, Air Force, and Marines, while Commander is a rank in the Navy and Coast Guard. Since these two ranks don't exist in the same branch of the military this chucked me right out of the story and into wishing the author had done a bit of research.
I don't feel like that was the only place that a bit of research would have been a good thing. It felt like this was a fun book that he wrote on the fly with just imagination. This made it light and fun but somewhat insubstantial.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading the book but I would definitely discourage people from listening to the audio.
The story is an interesting concept. The MC has a way of opening up a pocket universe that has nothing to do with ours. There are no stars, for example. He can use this ability to store things, which is quite funny at times. This is an ability that he alone has. He ends up being a spy who's a bit on the sloppy side but generally gets the job done. Forced to go on vacation on a cruise bound for Mars, "Evan" is having a hard time with the concept of relaxing and just having fun. Luckily for him there's a murder that must be solved.
A lot of this was fun and at one point it was utterly unputdownable, but sometimes the plot wasn't woven together tightly enough. There would be things going on that were critical, they would have to go on the back burner, but then they wouldn't be thought of again for a long time. It was odd.
I had one thing that really bugged me. The spy characters are posing as OSS officers but they're a Major and Commander. I have no idea how it worked in the OSS but Major is a rank in the Army, Air Force, and Marines, while Commander is a rank in the Navy and Coast Guard. Since these two ranks don't exist in the same branch of the military this chucked me right out of the story and into wishing the author had done a bit of research.
I don't feel like that was the only place that a bit of research would have been a good thing. It felt like this was a fun book that he wrote on the fly with just imagination. This made it light and fun but somewhat insubstantial.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading the book but I would definitely discourage people from listening to the audio.
June 22, 2017
5 Stars
I absolutely loved Waypoint Kangaroo and wish that I wrote a deserved review. This book was a guilty pleasure of mine as it appeals to all of my likes. This was a fast paced science fiction story with some very cool aspects. Waypoint Kangaroo is the perfect title. Just an awesome read.
I absolutely loved Waypoint Kangaroo and wish that I wrote a deserved review. This book was a guilty pleasure of mine as it appeals to all of my likes. This was a fast paced science fiction story with some very cool aspects. Waypoint Kangaroo is the perfect title. Just an awesome read.
September 24, 2016
FULL REVIEW AT MY BLOG, TOTAL INABILITY TO CONNECT
Curtis Chen is a local Portland author who I see quite often, and have hung around quite a bit (though much like David Levine, I doubt he could pick me out of a lineup), so I've had my eyes on this novel since he announced it some time back (last year?). Kangaroo is a spy, but one with a very particular and exclusive talent - he can open a "pocket" to a foreign bit of space, in which he can store anything of any size, for an indefinite amount of time, until he can return there and recover it. You can imagine that this would be pretty useful in general, but doubly so for a spy, as it allows him to have a variety of specialized instruments, weapons, etc for missions, as well as smuggling out important items without being caught with them. Neat, right?
Except Kangaroo is a bit of a loose cannon - too loose for his employers at times, as he finds a way to bungle some form of his missions seemingly consistently. So when Kangaroo yet again involves some collateral damage in a careless mistake, he's asked by his boss to 'take a vacation', and walk away, specifically while their office is being audited, and there's a chance he could blow it for them. However, as Kangaroo boards his cruise ship to Mars, he quickly finds himself unable to discontinue working, and is quickly entwined in a murder mystery on the ship, assisting the military-employee crew of the boat.
Waypoint Kangaroo is a blast. It's fast-paced, intelligent, witty, and has a lot of twists and turns. Not the most complicated plot line I've ever read, but I appreciate that because it let me simply enjoy the fast pace and pleasurable prose. Kangaroo isn't your typical wittier-than-thou, smooth-talking protagonist we deal with so often in male-centered first person spyish novels, which was a nice break; he's certainly witty, but isn't perfect by any means. I had a good chuckle - I was reading this while on vacation, but on a vacation in which I found myself working more than not. Often my boss and friends tell me I'm 'terrible at taking time off' because I never stop working, and never let myself reset and rest. The entire novel, Kangaroo is ripped on for never relaxing, not knowing how to turn off work, etc - it hit very close to home, and made me laugh quite often at the irony of it.
In the end, I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and found it to be an encouraging and fun debut from Curtis. I look forward to the forthcoming sequel, and hopefully I'll see Curtis sooner than later so I can tell him in person that I enjoyed the work quite a bit.
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Curtis Chen is a local Portland author who I see quite often, and have hung around quite a bit (though much like David Levine, I doubt he could pick me out of a lineup), so I've had my eyes on this novel since he announced it some time back (last year?). Kangaroo is a spy, but one with a very particular and exclusive talent - he can open a "pocket" to a foreign bit of space, in which he can store anything of any size, for an indefinite amount of time, until he can return there and recover it. You can imagine that this would be pretty useful in general, but doubly so for a spy, as it allows him to have a variety of specialized instruments, weapons, etc for missions, as well as smuggling out important items without being caught with them. Neat, right?
Except Kangaroo is a bit of a loose cannon - too loose for his employers at times, as he finds a way to bungle some form of his missions seemingly consistently. So when Kangaroo yet again involves some collateral damage in a careless mistake, he's asked by his boss to 'take a vacation', and walk away, specifically while their office is being audited, and there's a chance he could blow it for them. However, as Kangaroo boards his cruise ship to Mars, he quickly finds himself unable to discontinue working, and is quickly entwined in a murder mystery on the ship, assisting the military-employee crew of the boat.
Waypoint Kangaroo is a blast. It's fast-paced, intelligent, witty, and has a lot of twists and turns. Not the most complicated plot line I've ever read, but I appreciate that because it let me simply enjoy the fast pace and pleasurable prose. Kangaroo isn't your typical wittier-than-thou, smooth-talking protagonist we deal with so often in male-centered first person spyish novels, which was a nice break; he's certainly witty, but isn't perfect by any means. I had a good chuckle - I was reading this while on vacation, but on a vacation in which I found myself working more than not. Often my boss and friends tell me I'm 'terrible at taking time off' because I never stop working, and never let myself reset and rest. The entire novel, Kangaroo is ripped on for never relaxing, not knowing how to turn off work, etc - it hit very close to home, and made me laugh quite often at the irony of it.
In the end, I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and found it to be an encouraging and fun debut from Curtis. I look forward to the forthcoming sequel, and hopefully I'll see Curtis sooner than later so I can tell him in person that I enjoyed the work quite a bit.
Rating: 4.25 / 5
December 13, 2017
If you're in the mood for a book with a decent amount of action, a bit of science, tongue-in-cheek humor and not much gloom and doom, here you are.
This may seem like a strange thing to say regarding a book about a starship hijacking for extremely destructive purposes, but it's true. Our main character, who goes by Kangaroo, is on vacation. His boss wants him off the planet because the department is being audited and although Kangaroo is indeed a spy, the boss feels he can't be trusted not to say something that will land everybody in trouble. So Kangaroo gets an all-expense paid trip on a star cruiser to Mars.
Naturally, there's more to it than that. I've given enough away already about the plot, so I won't go much further than that.
This is a science fiction book- starships, implanted tech devices like heat scanners implanted in eyes and phones implanted in shoulders, a spy who can open a portal into another universe, nanobots, colonization of planets- but it doesn't generally get really science-y. The portal is essentially magic, since no one has any idea how it works. The trappings are science fiction but it's all in service of an action/thriller type story, complete with countdown to doom by the end.
It's a briskly paced book that doesn't take much very seriously. I don't know if it was quite as funny as it thought it was, but I'm not holding that against it. My issue with the book is that although the main character is kind of a nebbish who's been altered to look utterly average, he gets laid pretty easily. I know, it's a spy book, James Bond, all that. But it feels very male-gazey. It's hard to see a gorgeous, competent and intelligent woman jumping at this guy, who's mostly made himself distinctive by getting drunk. Our hero seems to have a very romanticized (as opposed to romantic) view of women, and has a bit of a white knight complex. It felt juvenile, even beyond the tepid humor.
That's why the book doesn't get rated higher. The premise was decent, and I'm even interested in seeing what happens next. Just let Kangaroo get a clue when it comes to interacting with women!
This may seem like a strange thing to say regarding a book about a starship hijacking for extremely destructive purposes, but it's true. Our main character, who goes by Kangaroo, is on vacation. His boss wants him off the planet because the department is being audited and although Kangaroo is indeed a spy, the boss feels he can't be trusted not to say something that will land everybody in trouble. So Kangaroo gets an all-expense paid trip on a star cruiser to Mars.
Naturally, there's more to it than that. I've given enough away already about the plot, so I won't go much further than that.
This is a science fiction book- starships, implanted tech devices like heat scanners implanted in eyes and phones implanted in shoulders, a spy who can open a portal into another universe, nanobots, colonization of planets- but it doesn't generally get really science-y. The portal is essentially magic, since no one has any idea how it works. The trappings are science fiction but it's all in service of an action/thriller type story, complete with countdown to doom by the end.
It's a briskly paced book that doesn't take much very seriously. I don't know if it was quite as funny as it thought it was, but I'm not holding that against it. My issue with the book is that although the main character is kind of a nebbish who's been altered to look utterly average, he gets laid pretty easily. I know, it's a spy book, James Bond, all that. But it feels very male-gazey. It's hard to see a gorgeous, competent and intelligent woman jumping at this guy, who's mostly made himself distinctive by getting drunk. Our hero seems to have a very romanticized (as opposed to romantic) view of women, and has a bit of a white knight complex. It felt juvenile, even beyond the tepid humor.
That's why the book doesn't get rated higher. The premise was decent, and I'm even interested in seeing what happens next. Just let Kangaroo get a clue when it comes to interacting with women!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2016
Kangaroo was an orphan who stumbled upon the unique and supernatural ability to create a pocket universe to stash things in. As he grew up, the government nabbed him to work for them as a spy. He has been physically implanted with tools that come in handy for all sorts of things a spy might need. He has his own handler, his own doctor and his own gadget guy. Kangaroo is a great James Bond for the future! A bumbling, wanna-be hero who is always jumping in feet first without thinking ahead. He is kept very busy as he travels the universe carrying out his assignments in a post-war universe.
But when his current mission takes a bad turn and his partner is killed, Kangaroo is sent on vacation while his department undergoes an audit. He boards a cruise to Mars. There’s only one problem. Kangaroo doesn’t know how to deal with the term “vacation.” He can’t quite turn off the work brain and turn on the relaxation one. He makes a spy game out of everything he does. When you’re looking for trouble, you usually find it! Trouble comes in the form of a hijacked spaceship and Kangaroo must race time to save those aboard and end the potential for another war between worlds.
If I could describe this book in one word, that word would be FUN! Kangaroo is as entertaining as they come. What a character! Always up to something! Whether he is trying to relax into his vacation and have a few drinks, or chasing the bad guys, he puts himself right smack in the middle of all sorts of escapades. This is a great book and first in a new series!
I want to thank the publisher (St. Martin’s Press) for providing me with the ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
But when his current mission takes a bad turn and his partner is killed, Kangaroo is sent on vacation while his department undergoes an audit. He boards a cruise to Mars. There’s only one problem. Kangaroo doesn’t know how to deal with the term “vacation.” He can’t quite turn off the work brain and turn on the relaxation one. He makes a spy game out of everything he does. When you’re looking for trouble, you usually find it! Trouble comes in the form of a hijacked spaceship and Kangaroo must race time to save those aboard and end the potential for another war between worlds.
If I could describe this book in one word, that word would be FUN! Kangaroo is as entertaining as they come. What a character! Always up to something! Whether he is trying to relax into his vacation and have a few drinks, or chasing the bad guys, he puts himself right smack in the middle of all sorts of escapades. This is a great book and first in a new series!
I want to thank the publisher (St. Martin’s Press) for providing me with the ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
October 29, 2018
Кенгуру скача в тълпа от проблеми
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
Един шпионски трилър винаги може да се получи по-забавен, ако действието му се премести в космическото пространство. Къртис Чен явно е съзрял една чудесна идея в главата си и се е постарал да изпълни заданието по най-продуктивния начин. „Междинна станция ‘Кенгуру’“ („Бард“, 2018, с превод на Владимир Зарков) не е толкова мощно попълнение към поредицата „Избрана световна фантастика“, но си личи, че е писана за широка публика и може да позабавлява читателя за известно време. Лично аз не съм по шпионските истории, но затова пък с удоволствие разгръщам фантастичните. Ето повод да смеся двете, та поне да се отсрамя пред почитателите, защото не харесвам сюжети тип Джеймс Бонд. А, и да си внеса малко свежест сред навалицата от супергерои, размятани наоколо от киноиндустрията. В действителност Кенгуру е доста симпатичен и не всичките му умения са негов патент, но пък си има нещо уникално. Идеята за „джобна вселена“ всъщност стана истинския повод да се поинтересувам от него. Представете си шпионин, който си крие джаджите в друга вселена и има достъп до нея по всяко време. Сега си представете, че са го изпратили на почивка, без тайно оборудване и се налага да импровизира. Трябва си и акъл, да.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
Един шпионски трилър винаги може да се получи по-забавен, ако действието му се премести в космическото пространство. Къртис Чен явно е съзрял една чудесна идея в главата си и се е постарал да изпълни заданието по най-продуктивния начин. „Междинна станция ‘Кенгуру’“ („Бард“, 2018, с превод на Владимир Зарков) не е толкова мощно попълнение към поредицата „Избрана световна фантастика“, но си личи, че е писана за широка публика и може да позабавлява читателя за известно време. Лично аз не съм по шпионските истории, но затова пък с удоволствие разгръщам фантастичните. Ето повод да смеся двете, та поне да се отсрамя пред почитателите, защото не харесвам сюжети тип Джеймс Бонд. А, и да си внеса малко свежест сред навалицата от супергерои, размятани наоколо от киноиндустрията. В действителност Кенгуру е доста симпатичен и не всичките му умения са негов патент, но пък си има нещо уникално. Идеята за „джобна вселена“ всъщност стана истинския повод да се поинтересувам от него. Представете си шпионин, който си крие джаджите в друга вселена и има достъп до нея по всяко време. Сега си представете, че са го изпратили на почивка, без тайно оборудване и се налага да импровизира. Трябва си и акъл, да.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
March 19, 2018
An engaging interplanetary thriller, and a fine debut. 4 stars
A silly, cinematic, pulse-pounding SF thriller that has some WSoD issues, but powers its way right past those. An unusual super-science superpower is at center stage. Basically this is a Boys Own Adventure story from the 1940s, updated to 21st century sensibilities and a whole lot better written. Setting: a GINORMOUS nuclear-powered space-liner, the Dejah Thoris! Did you pick up on that classical reference? The titular Kangaroo is an engagingly dorky Secret Agent Man, who finds danger, treachery, betrayal and romance aboard the grand new Dejah Thoris! . The good guys win, and Order is (largely) restored at the end, with a hook for Kangaroo 2. I’ll be reading it.
Gorgeous artwork from 1917:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...
And, if you like the idea of a Luxury Liner in Space, you might try David Drake's Starliner, free at Baen: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A silly, cinematic, pulse-pounding SF thriller that has some WSoD issues, but powers its way right past those. An unusual super-science superpower is at center stage. Basically this is a Boys Own Adventure story from the 1940s, updated to 21st century sensibilities and a whole lot better written. Setting: a GINORMOUS nuclear-powered space-liner, the Dejah Thoris! Did you pick up on that classical reference? The titular Kangaroo is an engagingly dorky Secret Agent Man, who finds danger, treachery, betrayal and romance aboard the grand new Dejah Thoris! . The good guys win, and Order is (largely) restored at the end, with a hook for Kangaroo 2. I’ll be reading it.
Gorgeous artwork from 1917:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...
And, if you like the idea of a Luxury Liner in Space, you might try David Drake's Starliner, free at Baen: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 7, 2018
Нали си спомняте старата история за това как думата „кенгуру” всъщност не е името на животното, а означава „не разбирам” на езика на коренните австралийци? Е, ако това е вярно, то тогава за главния ни герой наистина няма по-подходящ псевдоним (или кодово име ако предпочитате), тъй като така и няма да разберете истинското му име. Защото колкото и да се опитате да го сгащите, протагонистът от „Междинна станция „Кенгуру“ (изд. „Бард”) е космически шпионин, зареден до дупка с не-чак-толкова-здравословна параноя и пълна торба свежи лафове. Финалист за наградата „Локус“ и гарантирано удоволствие за сай-фай феновете (и особено тия, които си падат по Стоманения плъх на Хари Харисън), дебютният роман на Къртис Чен е чаровен (пет)звезден трилър из пределите на Слънчевата система. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
February 1, 2018
4 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
A spy with his own pocket universe to stash things in goes on vacation. But his all-expenses paid luxury cruise to Mars doesn't turn out quite like he'd expected.
I've met Curtis Chen, in a casual, convention-y sitting at the same table way. He seemed quiet, reserved, unassuming. I'd never read any of his work. But apparently, under that calm demeanour is a trenchant wit and a great sense of storytelling.
Waypoint Kangaroo is the epitome of formula - from the moment the goofy but talented hero goes on vacation, you know exactly how this is going to go; we've seen it many times before. Chen touches all the required ... waypoints (sorry) - the surprising danger, the beautiful woman, the life and death stakes. In concept, there's not a lot that's new here.
What Chen brings is exactly the right balance of humor, technology, romance, and adventure. Yes, it's a familiar plot, in the same way that all Bond films are familiar. That doesn't mean some of them can't be good, and Chen's take on an oldy-but-goody is very good. I went into this book thinking "this won't work". I came out of it thinking "Hey! I want to read the next one."
Chen relies on one simple, unexplained gimmick - the pocket universe in which our hero can stash anything he likes, and get it out in clever ways. Beyond that, though is a well-thought out world and backstory of inter-planetary war, carefully and smoothly introduced at just the right moments, in just the right amounts to complement the main story and not overwhelm it. The hero is roughly the right amount of brave, modest, and foolish. Maybe a bit on the callow side, but he's meant to be young and sheltered. Ditto the anachronistic and slightly chauvinist attitude.
All in all, a surprisingly fun book. There aren't many moments where you'll say "I never thought of that," but innovation aside, Waypoint Kangaroo is well worth a read, and I recommend it.
A spy with his own pocket universe to stash things in goes on vacation. But his all-expenses paid luxury cruise to Mars doesn't turn out quite like he'd expected.
I've met Curtis Chen, in a casual, convention-y sitting at the same table way. He seemed quiet, reserved, unassuming. I'd never read any of his work. But apparently, under that calm demeanour is a trenchant wit and a great sense of storytelling.
Waypoint Kangaroo is the epitome of formula - from the moment the goofy but talented hero goes on vacation, you know exactly how this is going to go; we've seen it many times before. Chen touches all the required ... waypoints (sorry) - the surprising danger, the beautiful woman, the life and death stakes. In concept, there's not a lot that's new here.
What Chen brings is exactly the right balance of humor, technology, romance, and adventure. Yes, it's a familiar plot, in the same way that all Bond films are familiar. That doesn't mean some of them can't be good, and Chen's take on an oldy-but-goody is very good. I went into this book thinking "this won't work". I came out of it thinking "Hey! I want to read the next one."
Chen relies on one simple, unexplained gimmick - the pocket universe in which our hero can stash anything he likes, and get it out in clever ways. Beyond that, though is a well-thought out world and backstory of inter-planetary war, carefully and smoothly introduced at just the right moments, in just the right amounts to complement the main story and not overwhelm it. The hero is roughly the right amount of brave, modest, and foolish. Maybe a bit on the callow side, but he's meant to be young and sheltered. Ditto the anachronistic and slightly chauvinist attitude.
All in all, a surprisingly fun book. There aren't many moments where you'll say "I never thought of that," but innovation aside, Waypoint Kangaroo is well worth a read, and I recommend it.
August 5, 2016
Disclaimer: I received this book free through a giveaway (although, not through Goodreads itself). I don't think it affects my review.
A secret agent, code-named Kangaroo, has the apparently unique ability to open a portal to an empty universe and store stuff there. This makes him extremely valuable and makes up for the other areas where he may lack some of the qualities ideal in a secret agent. But when he's on vacation, none of that should matter. Except on his vacation cruise between Earth and Mars he stumbles upon a plot that could lead to interplanetary war.
I find I don't really have a lot to say about this book. It's fun, but it doesn't blow me away. I did find exploring the various uses of the main character's "super power" was pretty neat, and interested me more than the plot itself. It does kind of strike me a bit like the author had nurtured an idea for a cool super power he'd like to have (and come on, don't we all at least have a couple?), and then wrote it into a novel so he could have it vicariously. I don't think that's a positive or a negative (good books have origins in all sorts of places), it's just a feeling I got.
I think on the face of it, a spy adventure novel, even one set in space with high tech implants, is not completely in my wheelhouse as a reader. It's not completely out of it, either, but it's the kind of thing that I'll likely read and not get too attached to unless it really does something cool. This book... I read and enjoyed, I can't point to any particular flaws, but I didn't get too attached to. I suspect it's intended to be the first part of a series, and though if I magically had a copy of the next book I would read it and probably enjoy it again, I don't see myself going to any effort to seek it out. But again, that's more about the subgenre than the specifics of this book. People who are more into spy tales may well find this the start to a fun new series.
A secret agent, code-named Kangaroo, has the apparently unique ability to open a portal to an empty universe and store stuff there. This makes him extremely valuable and makes up for the other areas where he may lack some of the qualities ideal in a secret agent. But when he's on vacation, none of that should matter. Except on his vacation cruise between Earth and Mars he stumbles upon a plot that could lead to interplanetary war.
I find I don't really have a lot to say about this book. It's fun, but it doesn't blow me away. I did find exploring the various uses of the main character's "super power" was pretty neat, and interested me more than the plot itself. It does kind of strike me a bit like the author had nurtured an idea for a cool super power he'd like to have (and come on, don't we all at least have a couple?), and then wrote it into a novel so he could have it vicariously. I don't think that's a positive or a negative (good books have origins in all sorts of places), it's just a feeling I got.
I think on the face of it, a spy adventure novel, even one set in space with high tech implants, is not completely in my wheelhouse as a reader. It's not completely out of it, either, but it's the kind of thing that I'll likely read and not get too attached to unless it really does something cool. This book... I read and enjoyed, I can't point to any particular flaws, but I didn't get too attached to. I suspect it's intended to be the first part of a series, and though if I magically had a copy of the next book I would read it and probably enjoy it again, I don't see myself going to any effort to seek it out. But again, that's more about the subgenre than the specifics of this book. People who are more into spy tales may well find this the start to a fun new series.
August 19, 2018
В началото малко се дразнех, защото не изглеждаше нещо да се случи. Но се случи.
В крайна сметка книгата се оказа симпатично четиво, без големи претенции. Да, хареса ми.
Това, което ми избоде очите, беше преводът на "shit" (вероятно) и производни като "гадост" - звучеше малко дървено на повечето места... И странната употреба на "тебЕ" в прекомерни количества. Но се преглъща.
Кратък очерк по темата:
http://knigoqdec.blogspot.com/2018/08...
В крайна сметка книгата се оказа симпатично четиво, без големи претенции. Да, хареса ми.
Това, което ми избоде очите, беше преводът на "shit" (вероятно) и производни като "гадост" - звучеше малко дървено на повечето места... И странната употреба на "тебЕ" в прекомерни количества. Но се преглъща.
Кратък очерк по темата:
http://knigoqdec.blogspot.com/2018/08...
April 13, 2024
Hapless space spy extraordinaire muddles along, a little like the book.
June 30, 2016
The debut novel by Curtis Chen "Waypoint Kangaroo" is fantastic. I've always been a fan of "speculative thriller" novels, those which have elements of intrigue, action and science fiction / fantasy elements and this novel delivers on all counts. Not to mention that the protagonist, dialogue and utter absurdity of some scenes are just plain funny as hell. Yes, I know humor is subjective, but if you don't find yourself chuckling out loud while reading "Waypoint Kangaroo" you ought to check yourself for a pulse.
Characterization is done very well across the board, but Kangaroo himself is a "jump out of the pages, grab you by the collar, let's go grab a drink and I'll tell you some great stories" kind of creation. His quips and observations are hilarious, but alway stop short of venturing into the world of slapstick. The dialogue is spot-on as well.
Warning: This novel has more plot twists than an alpine rollercoaster. Just amazing to follow along. Right around Chapter Five, I stopped guessing at what would happen next and just enjoyed the ride.
From a purely narrative mechanics standpoint, the story is crafted extremely well. I've seen other novels, similar to it, spiral off into chaos and confusion - but Chen keeps a steady hand on the reins at all times, unbeknownst to the reader.
The primary plot arc is deeply satisfying but so are the multiple sub-plot elements.
All in all, I think "Waypoint Kangaroo" is the perfect beach / summer read for any fan of fast-paced, humorous speculative fiction who may be looking for something very different from anything you've read before.
Characterization is done very well across the board, but Kangaroo himself is a "jump out of the pages, grab you by the collar, let's go grab a drink and I'll tell you some great stories" kind of creation. His quips and observations are hilarious, but alway stop short of venturing into the world of slapstick. The dialogue is spot-on as well.
Warning: This novel has more plot twists than an alpine rollercoaster. Just amazing to follow along. Right around Chapter Five, I stopped guessing at what would happen next and just enjoyed the ride.
From a purely narrative mechanics standpoint, the story is crafted extremely well. I've seen other novels, similar to it, spiral off into chaos and confusion - but Chen keeps a steady hand on the reins at all times, unbeknownst to the reader.
The primary plot arc is deeply satisfying but so are the multiple sub-plot elements.
All in all, I think "Waypoint Kangaroo" is the perfect beach / summer read for any fan of fast-paced, humorous speculative fiction who may be looking for something very different from anything you've read before.
July 12, 2016
Curtis C Chen’s Waypoint Kangaroo is a clever mix of space opera, superheroics, and spy thriller. Set in a future that sees Earth’s colony of Mars having fought a bloody war of independence from the mother planet, peace has been regained enough for interplanetary travel and commerce to settle into a routine that includes regular vacation cruises.
Our hero, Kangaroo (and no, that’s not his real name), has been forced onto one of these cruises. He didn’t exactly botch his last mission, but he certainly could have been quieter about it—seeing as he’s supposed to be a secret agent. And, while he’s a decently competent spy, he knows full well that the main reason he’s allowed into the field at all is his unique ability to access a pocket universe that allows him to store items in an unknown area of outer space—hence the unusual codename.
Read the full review by Doreen Sheridan on our blog!
Our hero, Kangaroo (and no, that’s not his real name), has been forced onto one of these cruises. He didn’t exactly botch his last mission, but he certainly could have been quieter about it—seeing as he’s supposed to be a secret agent. And, while he’s a decently competent spy, he knows full well that the main reason he’s allowed into the field at all is his unique ability to access a pocket universe that allows him to store items in an unknown area of outer space—hence the unusual codename.
Read the full review by Doreen Sheridan on our blog!
August 30, 2016
Waypoint Kangaroo is a fantastic read! Once I hit the half way point I couldn't put it down and stayed up much too late one night, I mean morning, to finish it.
I could tell you about Kangaroo, about his pocket, or about any of the other points already mentioned inside the book cover but what I've never seen before, and maybe it's because I'm way off base, is that this is Kangaroo's origin story. Sure, Kangaroo already has a "superpower," his pocket, but this is the story we will all be able to look back on and say to ourselves, "This is when Kangaroo stopped being a joey." Or we'd say that if we were channeling Kangaroo.
Kangaroo is not "bumbling," he's just not James Bond; he's human. It's that humanity that, I suspect, I hope, will allow Kangaroo to continue to grow and change as Chen continues to explore who he is.
I could tell you about Kangaroo, about his pocket, or about any of the other points already mentioned inside the book cover but what I've never seen before, and maybe it's because I'm way off base, is that this is Kangaroo's origin story. Sure, Kangaroo already has a "superpower," his pocket, but this is the story we will all be able to look back on and say to ourselves, "This is when Kangaroo stopped being a joey." Or we'd say that if we were channeling Kangaroo.
Kangaroo is not "bumbling," he's just not James Bond; he's human. It's that humanity that, I suspect, I hope, will allow Kangaroo to continue to grow and change as Chen continues to explore who he is.
June 22, 2016
I loved this book! A spy thriller-comedy-space romp with a killer sense of humor, it will have you racing along with the breakneck plot from page one. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys zero - gravity hijinks, murder mysteries, and all you can eat buffets on their reading adventures!
December 1, 2018
Таен агент носи вселена в джоба си: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...
И все пак Кенгуру. Той е таен агент с мистична способност, която няма научно обяснение. В джоба си носи разтегателен портал към празна паралелна вселена и може да крие разни неща вътре – при това далеч не само дребнички. И да ги вади при нужда. Знам как звучи, интересна и доста откачена идея, която позволява на Чен да го разкарва насам натам за тайни мисии. Само дето след последната нещата са се оплели яко и се налага Кенгуру да бъде изпратен поне за малко някъде по-далеч, докато шумотевицата поутихне. И така, той се озовава в крайно нежелан отпуск – отдавна е забравил какво е това почивка и как да ѝ се наслаждава, а автентичната му самоличност е отдавна погребана под всички прикрития, с които разполага. Сега е с ново име и професия, а скоро установява, че на кораба има доста хора, свързани с разузнаването – и една много красива жена силно привлича вниманието му. А това, че той привлича нейното, е по-неправдоподобно от портала в джоба му :)
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...
И все пак Кенгуру. Той е таен агент с мистична способност, която няма научно обяснение. В джоба си носи разтегателен портал към празна паралелна вселена и може да крие разни неща вътре – при това далеч не само дребнички. И да ги вади при нужда. Знам как звучи, интересна и доста откачена идея, която позволява на Чен да го разкарва насам натам за тайни мисии. Само дето след последната нещата са се оплели яко и се налага Кенгуру да бъде изпратен поне за малко някъде по-далеч, докато шумотевицата поутихне. И така, той се озовава в крайно нежелан отпуск – отдавна е забравил какво е това почивка и как да ѝ се наслаждава, а автентичната му самоличност е отдавна погребана под всички прикрития, с които разполага. Сега е с ново име и професия, а скоро установява, че на кораба има доста хора, свързани с разузнаването – и една много красива жена силно привлича вниманието му. А това, че той привлича нейното, е по-неправдоподобно от портала в джоба му :)
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...
April 26, 2025
this is a 4.5 rating to me.
lead character is enjoyable as a brilliant imbecile, brave and afraid.
quite enjoyable other characters too.
there's action, suspense, space, unexplainable things, ships, knives, lasers and some love.
lead character is enjoyable as a brilliant imbecile, brave and afraid.
quite enjoyable other characters too.
there's action, suspense, space, unexplainable things, ships, knives, lasers and some love.
April 26, 2017
Five stars for a first book. Yep. It's great fun, but never breaks the unwritten rules of SF.
It's a space opera/spy story, with the authorial privilege of creating just ONE impossible thing, in this case the very same "magic" pocket that Bugs Bunny used in so many cartoons. As SF requires, the pocket has rules and constraints, and Chen carefully observes them.
The plot is fast-moving, has twists, and is well-paced and well-managed. There are interesting characters, not least of which is our hero, whose real name will not be revealed yet. In one of those coincidences that happen so often between books, the book I read before this one was Peter Hamilton's Night Without Stars, which has a major character named Joey (which is what we call baby kangaroos). And you know, the personalities sort of match up ...
Highly recommended, and I'm watching for the next one.
It's a space opera/spy story, with the authorial privilege of creating just ONE impossible thing, in this case the very same "magic" pocket that Bugs Bunny used in so many cartoons. As SF requires, the pocket has rules and constraints, and Chen carefully observes them.
The plot is fast-moving, has twists, and is well-paced and well-managed. There are interesting characters, not least of which is our hero, whose real name will not be revealed yet. In one of those coincidences that happen so often between books, the book I read before this one was Peter Hamilton's Night Without Stars, which has a major character named Joey (which is what we call baby kangaroos). And you know, the personalities sort of match up ...
Highly recommended, and I'm watching for the next one.
January 19, 2018
This book could have been a nice light entertainment - murder mystery on a cruise to Mars.
The sort of books I usually give 3* and move on.
Unfortunately it had it had too many issues , the major one being the protagonist, Evan (“this is not my real name” but who cares) , AKA the Kangaroo.
He’s described as a young (early- mid twenties) yet well-experienced secret agent ( the book starts off with an action scene around the Mongolian border).
The thing is , throughout the story you actually feel like you are reading about an enthusiastic, slightly geeky, teenager with cool bionic implants and super cool powers.
As said, there were other problems but this one actually killed the book for me.
Perhaps this books targets a younger audience...
Anyway, 2* , - 1/2 for the even more embarrassing closure .
The sort of books I usually give 3* and move on.
Unfortunately it had it had too many issues , the major one being the protagonist, Evan (“this is not my real name” but who cares) , AKA the Kangaroo.
He’s described as a young (early- mid twenties) yet well-experienced secret agent ( the book starts off with an action scene around the Mongolian border).
The thing is , throughout the story you actually feel like you are reading about an enthusiastic, slightly geeky, teenager with cool bionic implants and super cool powers.
As said, there were other problems but this one actually killed the book for me.
Perhaps this books targets a younger audience...
Anyway, 2* , - 1/2 for the even more embarrassing closure .
August 2, 2016
Awesome debut novel with a cool and unique concept, high stakes, relentless humor, and slick pacing. A lot of outer space sci-fi tends to drag in my opinion, but Chen balances things out with his quirky protagonist Kangaroo, who never lets up with the wisecracking, even as the conflict gets lethal on a grand scale.
May 18, 2022
Сравнително добра идея, макар и доста клиширана и кошмарна реализация. Книгата успява да е убийствено скучна при все целия екшън, който автора е наблъскал вътре. А главният герой е един от най-досадните некадърници, на които съм попадал в литературата. През цялото време имах чувството, че Чен описва анимационен герой от "Луди мелодии". И да излезе втора, се съмнявам да я прочета.
December 14, 2018
Meh.
Much better than I could have wrote.
Much better than I could have wrote.
January 30, 2018
This is a fun spy romp that mashes together a bunch of genres.
We have Kangaroo, a young spy with the superpower of being able to open a portal to an empty universe, giving him the ability to store anything in pure vacuum for retrieval later. He essentially has the magic medicine bag of Shaman from Marvel’s Alpha Flight by John Byrne: Omnibus. Or perhaps the book from Jim Hines’ Libriomancer. This duplicates the ability characters have in video games to carry multiple objects that would otherwise require a semi to haul around. He has access to a pocket universe, hence his code name, Kangaroo. Kangaroo is young and snarky and a little rough around the edges.
He’s told to go on vacation by his boss in order to avoid being interviewed during an internal audit. They want Kangaroo out of town... waaaay out of town. So they send him up the space elevator to catch a ride on the Princess of Mars cruise spaceship “Dejah Thoris” (named after Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars, of course), on a nice trip to the red planet.
Unfortunately for the cruise, but fortunately for Kangaroo, who doesn’t know how to vacation, there is a murderous hijacker aboard the ship. Kangaroo is in a unique position to help, but he can’t reveal his secret or divulge who he really works for.
So yeah, hijinks ensue.
Personally, I would’ve dialed back on the murder parts of the story. The hijacking and threat to the passengers and Mars is enough stakes. Show the one murder to prove the guy means business, but don’t go slaughtering people left and right.
There’s also a part where we get the backstory of the bad guy, but it comes just as the tension increases and the action should really kick into high gear, thus defusing the intensity and downshifting the story into neutral for a bit. The information really could have come much earlier, thus preserving the story’s momentum. But that’s a fairly minor quibble.
I enjoyed this enough to read the next one.
We have Kangaroo, a young spy with the superpower of being able to open a portal to an empty universe, giving him the ability to store anything in pure vacuum for retrieval later. He essentially has the magic medicine bag of Shaman from Marvel’s Alpha Flight by John Byrne: Omnibus. Or perhaps the book from Jim Hines’ Libriomancer. This duplicates the ability characters have in video games to carry multiple objects that would otherwise require a semi to haul around. He has access to a pocket universe, hence his code name, Kangaroo. Kangaroo is young and snarky and a little rough around the edges.
He’s told to go on vacation by his boss in order to avoid being interviewed during an internal audit. They want Kangaroo out of town... waaaay out of town. So they send him up the space elevator to catch a ride on the Princess of Mars cruise spaceship “Dejah Thoris” (named after Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars, of course), on a nice trip to the red planet.
Unfortunately for the cruise, but fortunately for Kangaroo, who doesn’t know how to vacation, there is a murderous hijacker aboard the ship. Kangaroo is in a unique position to help, but he can’t reveal his secret or divulge who he really works for.
So yeah, hijinks ensue.
Personally, I would’ve dialed back on the murder parts of the story. The hijacking and threat to the passengers and Mars is enough stakes. Show the one murder to prove the guy means business, but don’t go slaughtering people left and right.
There’s also a part where we get the backstory of the bad guy, but it comes just as the tension increases and the action should really kick into high gear, thus defusing the intensity and downshifting the story into neutral for a bit. The information really could have come much earlier, thus preserving the story’s momentum. But that’s a fairly minor quibble.
I enjoyed this enough to read the next one.
October 3, 2021
It's not even that this is a *bad* book as much as it is aggressively not a *good* one. There are elements that could have been good, but the whole think is so shallow and uneven that recalling these just frustrated me more. At no point do I like the whiny, immature Kangaroo and so the fact the Ellie -- who could have been an actual character and is instead a "Congrats! You get one (1) love interest for completing this mission" -- seems to like him comes off as nonsensical. This whole thing reads like the male fantasy on a kid playing D&D with a character who is clearly meant to be him and continually rolling threes. This is underscored by the repeated "I have superpowers both technological and supernatural that make me the only useful person in every situation, even though I am personally useless." Replace him with a multi tool that thinks it is funny/self-pities and you would lose little
A few more drafts and some tougher beta readers and this could have been good.
I wondered why this over all the books in the slush pile saw publication. Then I read the acknowledgements and understood that it may not have been on merit alone.
A few more drafts and some tougher beta readers and this could have been good.
I wondered why this over all the books in the slush pile saw publication. Then I read the acknowledgements and understood that it may not have been on merit alone.
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