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Good Boys #1
The Lost Tribe
When alien species converge on Earth, each enlisting the help of humans, only one author has the testicular fortitude to envision the madness that Jeremy Robinson.
In the serene backdrop of New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch, Micah Taylor, an ex-Army Ranger, finds solace with his loyal Golden Retriever, Grover. Their peaceful existence is suddenly shattered when a first date with his old friend, Jess Bender, takes an unexpected turn. Bright lights descend from the sky, leading them into the dark woods and a shocking the Kynolari, an advanced alien species with a special connection to Micah, here on a quest to find ‘The Lost Tribe’—a colony that vanished millennia ago.
Micah, Jess, and Grover soon find themselves in the crosshairs of the enigmatic Twilight Directorate, a covert agency hell-bent on capturing the Kynolari. As alliances are forged and galactic secrets unravel, they learn of an even graver the Draun, a merciless genocidal species. They have come to Earth, have infiltrated our society, and are eager to drag humanity into the cosmos’s deadliest war.
Good Boys is a whirlwind of suspense, humor, and heart written by #1 Audible and New York Times bestselling author, Jeremy Robinson. Dive into an action-packed tale where loyalty, love, and the bonds of friendship are tested against the vast and violent mysteries of the universe.
In the serene backdrop of New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch, Micah Taylor, an ex-Army Ranger, finds solace with his loyal Golden Retriever, Grover. Their peaceful existence is suddenly shattered when a first date with his old friend, Jess Bender, takes an unexpected turn. Bright lights descend from the sky, leading them into the dark woods and a shocking the Kynolari, an advanced alien species with a special connection to Micah, here on a quest to find ‘The Lost Tribe’—a colony that vanished millennia ago.
Micah, Jess, and Grover soon find themselves in the crosshairs of the enigmatic Twilight Directorate, a covert agency hell-bent on capturing the Kynolari. As alliances are forged and galactic secrets unravel, they learn of an even graver the Draun, a merciless genocidal species. They have come to Earth, have infiltrated our society, and are eager to drag humanity into the cosmos’s deadliest war.
Good Boys is a whirlwind of suspense, humor, and heart written by #1 Audible and New York Times bestselling author, Jeremy Robinson. Dive into an action-packed tale where loyalty, love, and the bonds of friendship are tested against the vast and violent mysteries of the universe.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2024
480 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Robinson
164 books2,616 followersJeremy Robinson is the New York Times bestselling author of seventy novels and novellas, including Apocalypse Machine, Island 731, and SecondWorld, as well as the Jack Sigler thriller series and Project Nemesis, the highest selling, original (non-licensed) kaiju novel of all time. He’s known for mixing elements of science, history and mythology, which has earned him the #1 spot in Science Fiction and Action-Adventure, and secured him as the top creature feature author. Many of his novels have been adapted into comic books, optioned for film and TV, and translated into thirteen languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children. Visit him at www.bewareofmonsters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
January 31, 2026
I really enjoyed The Lost Tribe. On paper, the idea sounds unhinged (like many of Robinson's books), and I’ll admit I wasn’t sure it would hold together. Somehow, it absolutely does. Jeremy Robinson leans hard into the fun without ever letting the story feel disposable. It’s fast, loud, and packed with his trademark humor, but there’s also a surprising amount of heart beating under the chaos. The action moves at a steady clip, the jokes land, and the characters are far more engaging than the premise might suggest at first glance.
The perspective in this book is unique. Seeing the world through dogs (well, advanced space dogs), not as a gimmick but as fully realized characters, gives the story a fresh angle that feels playful and oddly thoughtful at the same time. If you’ve ever looked at your dog and thought, “You might actually be smarter than most people I know,” this book is for you. It’s funny, frequently ridiculous, and yet grounded by genuine affection for the human-canine bond. Space may be vast and dangerous here, but being a "good boy" still matters. Possibly more than saving the galaxy.
I listened to the audiobook, and Tom Taylorson was amazing. His range of voices and comedic timing made the whole thing feel cinematic, like a summer blockbuster you can’t stop listening to. This was pure entertainment from start to finish, the kind of book that reminds you reading can just be fun. If this series keeps up this energy, I’m all in for book two. Also, I will never hear “Who’s a good boy?” the same way again.
The perspective in this book is unique. Seeing the world through dogs (well, advanced space dogs), not as a gimmick but as fully realized characters, gives the story a fresh angle that feels playful and oddly thoughtful at the same time. If you’ve ever looked at your dog and thought, “You might actually be smarter than most people I know,” this book is for you. It’s funny, frequently ridiculous, and yet grounded by genuine affection for the human-canine bond. Space may be vast and dangerous here, but being a "good boy" still matters. Possibly more than saving the galaxy.
I listened to the audiobook, and Tom Taylorson was amazing. His range of voices and comedic timing made the whole thing feel cinematic, like a summer blockbuster you can’t stop listening to. This was pure entertainment from start to finish, the kind of book that reminds you reading can just be fun. If this series keeps up this energy, I’m all in for book two. Also, I will never hear “Who’s a good boy?” the same way again.
March 25, 2025
The Lost Tribe
Good Boys
By Jeremy Robinson
I loved this book! It's about first encounters with aliens. But the aliens are looking for their lost tribe. They are here on earth. The main character, the ex-Army Ranger Micah and friend, with Micah's dog, spot the aliens. But the aliens are intelligent dogs! The people with the aliens are slaves and treated like "dogs." The aliens speak too. The men in black are suddenly after them all. It's a fun, funny, exciting tale, and I can't wait to start the next book!
Good Boys
By Jeremy Robinson
I loved this book! It's about first encounters with aliens. But the aliens are looking for their lost tribe. They are here on earth. The main character, the ex-Army Ranger Micah and friend, with Micah's dog, spot the aliens. But the aliens are intelligent dogs! The people with the aliens are slaves and treated like "dogs." The aliens speak too. The men in black are suddenly after them all. It's a fun, funny, exciting tale, and I can't wait to start the next book!
October 8, 2024
I just listened to this audiobook and it may be my favorite ever! The narration is perfect and I am now anxiously awaiting for book II to drop!
I don't think I have enjoyed an intergalactic romp this much since Star Wars. But this story has something even better...DOGS!! This was such a fun book, but it goes deeper than that. There are some really cool relationships formed as the story progresses, and I can't wait to see how that shakes out during the next two books, which will complete the series. But there is one thing for sure...Grover is definitely a good boy!
I don't think I have enjoyed an intergalactic romp this much since Star Wars. But this story has something even better...DOGS!! This was such a fun book, but it goes deeper than that. There are some really cool relationships formed as the story progresses, and I can't wait to see how that shakes out during the next two books, which will complete the series. But there is one thing for sure...Grover is definitely a good boy!
February 9, 2025
Good Boys is another example of Jeremy Robinson’s amazing literary talent, bringing together an epic tale of sci-fi, action, humour and heart. Grab your good boy (or girl) and enjoy this first book in a new trilogy that you will absolutely love
August 21, 2024
Dog lovers unite!!
I laughed. I cried. I laughed so hard I cried. Jerc & Sean were voiced perfectly and that space dog was hilarious
(beware there’s a lot of ehhh adult situations & swearing)
I listened to it twice today. I’ll prolly listen again when book two is published. Advanced friendly alien space dogs … you can’t go wrong with that! I also loved the humans, Micah & Jess!
Fun! Fast paced! A rollicking good time!
I laughed. I cried. I laughed so hard I cried. Jerc & Sean were voiced perfectly and that space dog was hilarious
(beware there’s a lot of ehhh adult situations & swearing)
I listened to it twice today. I’ll prolly listen again when book two is published. Advanced friendly alien space dogs … you can’t go wrong with that! I also loved the humans, Micah & Jess!
Fun! Fast paced! A rollicking good time!
May 9, 2025
Loved it
September 24, 2024
Good Boys
Mr. Robinson does it again...An entertaining, sci fi storyline, one that you really can't put down...I laughed and cried during some parts...Can't wait for book 2
Mr. Robinson does it again...An entertaining, sci fi storyline, one that you really can't put down...I laughed and cried during some parts...Can't wait for book 2
September 6, 2024
Good Boys... but not a great story
Please don't take this personally but I didn't enjoy this book at all. I wanted to, I really did. I love dogs, had one my entire life, and I've loved most of what Jeremy has written, but this one was just meh at best. I'll get the good stuff out of the way first.
This was clearly written by someone who knows dogs and cares about them deeply. When Grover is seriously injured, the pain and anguish that is described is 100% real and relatable to aayone who has lost a dog. It's a horrible feeling and I'll never forget the pain I feel when I have to say goodbye to a furry friend crossing the rainbow bridge. The final battle between the main villian is good. Plenty of action sequences that would look awesome on film.
Now on to the bad. I apologize in advance for the scatter brained list. I tried to write down notes as I read the book so it might seem a bit out of order as I remember them.
The aliens talk exactly like humans, using the same kinds of phrases and curses, despite being completely different societies. There's numerous examples of the Kylonari flip dlopping between having no idea what the humans mean and then using Earth based euphemisms and slang. The one alien uses a device on Grover to save his life when they can't get back to the ship. Why wasn't this used in the first place? The chihuahua character is trying too hard to be a Deadpool like character and he just comes off as annoying. I'm all for gross out humor. Jackass, Tropic Thunder, South Park, etc, are some of the funniest things out there. But they allow jokes to breathe and don't constantly force it on you. The moose statue bit was quite funny, but the airport security guard part was pointless and unnecessary. It was only used to make a Furry joke, and nobody likes them, both the Furries and Furry jokes. Basically just erase Furries from existence. The aliens use Earth euphemisms and phrases but don't understand animals and certain phrases when it's convenient. It's very inconsistent. Chirk is constantly dealing with puke or sex and it's just plain annoying. Micah mentions losing his parents several times, indicating he clearly cared about them, but that is never explored or explained. There's a segment involving a giant squid that is absolutely useless and could have been cut. It did nothing to contribute to the main story or character development. There's so much that I wanted to enjoy, but I just couldn't.
I know Jeremy and his readers, myself included read a lot of these reviews and scoff at the negative ones. Like I said, please don't take this personally. This book clearly means a lot to Jeremy, but I just didn't enjoy it. I have not read the book that explains the villains backstory so introducing them didn't do much for me. I would like to go read it so I can hopefully understand them better. I just don't think I'll be able to read book 2 when it comes out.
Please don't take this personally but I didn't enjoy this book at all. I wanted to, I really did. I love dogs, had one my entire life, and I've loved most of what Jeremy has written, but this one was just meh at best. I'll get the good stuff out of the way first.
This was clearly written by someone who knows dogs and cares about them deeply. When Grover is seriously injured, the pain and anguish that is described is 100% real and relatable to aayone who has lost a dog. It's a horrible feeling and I'll never forget the pain I feel when I have to say goodbye to a furry friend crossing the rainbow bridge. The final battle between the main villian is good. Plenty of action sequences that would look awesome on film.
Now on to the bad. I apologize in advance for the scatter brained list. I tried to write down notes as I read the book so it might seem a bit out of order as I remember them.
The aliens talk exactly like humans, using the same kinds of phrases and curses, despite being completely different societies. There's numerous examples of the Kylonari flip dlopping between having no idea what the humans mean and then using Earth based euphemisms and slang. The one alien uses a device on Grover to save his life when they can't get back to the ship. Why wasn't this used in the first place? The chihuahua character is trying too hard to be a Deadpool like character and he just comes off as annoying. I'm all for gross out humor. Jackass, Tropic Thunder, South Park, etc, are some of the funniest things out there. But they allow jokes to breathe and don't constantly force it on you. The moose statue bit was quite funny, but the airport security guard part was pointless and unnecessary. It was only used to make a Furry joke, and nobody likes them, both the Furries and Furry jokes. Basically just erase Furries from existence. The aliens use Earth euphemisms and phrases but don't understand animals and certain phrases when it's convenient. It's very inconsistent. Chirk is constantly dealing with puke or sex and it's just plain annoying. Micah mentions losing his parents several times, indicating he clearly cared about them, but that is never explored or explained. There's a segment involving a giant squid that is absolutely useless and could have been cut. It did nothing to contribute to the main story or character development. There's so much that I wanted to enjoy, but I just couldn't.
I know Jeremy and his readers, myself included read a lot of these reviews and scoff at the negative ones. Like I said, please don't take this personally. This book clearly means a lot to Jeremy, but I just didn't enjoy it. I have not read the book that explains the villains backstory so introducing them didn't do much for me. I would like to go read it so I can hopefully understand them better. I just don't think I'll be able to read book 2 when it comes out.
July 29, 2025
This was pretty great! I loved the beginning. The audio version is the BEST
August 20, 2024
Jeremy Robinson is a wicked awesome world builder
Are you a dog person?
Well! Mr Robinson has outdone himself with this first entry into a world where maybe, just maybe something tinkered around with early humanity playing a really, really long game. Hence, the arrival of a search and recover mission after centuries of war, only to find out they may not be out of the war yet. what really happened to their people who were lost during a galactic war with a race of beings beyond evil (I realize that some people don’t think of evil as a state of being. Evil is the only word that fits). This first work is simply beautiful! How he can create the concept of dogs in space for adults. I laughed out loud and sobbed. Jeremy writes his characters so well you build a bond that feels like a new friendship. Enjoy reading or listening to My new friend, Good Boys: The Lost Tribe.
Are you a dog person?
Well! Mr Robinson has outdone himself with this first entry into a world where maybe, just maybe something tinkered around with early humanity playing a really, really long game. Hence, the arrival of a search and recover mission after centuries of war, only to find out they may not be out of the war yet. what really happened to their people who were lost during a galactic war with a race of beings beyond evil (I realize that some people don’t think of evil as a state of being. Evil is the only word that fits). This first work is simply beautiful! How he can create the concept of dogs in space for adults. I laughed out loud and sobbed. Jeremy writes his characters so well you build a bond that feels like a new friendship. Enjoy reading or listening to My new friend, Good Boys: The Lost Tribe.
August 29, 2024
Entertaining, quirky, fun read!
I made the mistake of starting this book at 02:30 when I woke up. It is now almost 06:00 and I have to go and do chores. As usual, Jeremy has written a very good book that has an original plot that disproves Darwin's theory and supplies us with another. At the same time, the universe is in dire straits, and a small lethal team of aliens and humans is its only hope. Doses of humor, along with firefights and a little romance, make for a truly enjoyable read.
I made the mistake of starting this book at 02:30 when I woke up. It is now almost 06:00 and I have to go and do chores. As usual, Jeremy has written a very good book that has an original plot that disproves Darwin's theory and supplies us with another. At the same time, the universe is in dire straits, and a small lethal team of aliens and humans is its only hope. Doses of humor, along with firefights and a little romance, make for a truly enjoyable read.
August 29, 2024
Fun Read!
What can I say--this book has it all! Space travel, aliens, dogs, combat, humor, dogs, great plot, action, and dogs. I became a dog lover late in life, and felt every emotion Micah felt about Grover. This is a fun story and quick read. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
What can I say--this book has it all! Space travel, aliens, dogs, combat, humor, dogs, great plot, action, and dogs. I became a dog lover late in life, and felt every emotion Micah felt about Grover. This is a fun story and quick read. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
August 21, 2024
awesome sci fi with Dogs!
Good Boys is a fantastic book. Science fiction and humor run rampant in Robinson’s newest novel. If you like dogs, sci-fi or Jeremy Robinson’s humor, you really should check it out! The audible is fun as well!
Good Boys is a fantastic book. Science fiction and humor run rampant in Robinson’s newest novel. If you like dogs, sci-fi or Jeremy Robinson’s humor, you really should check it out! The audible is fun as well!
August 27, 2024
Of course, this was fantastic..
As I was already a fan of JR, I pre-ordered this book and the audiobook. Narrator did a phenomenal job. Seriously. Top tier audiobook. The story was really touching. Loved the drama between intergalactic species. I am a dog person. Every dog person should love this book. Action, adventure, instinctual urges and the bond between "man" and his best friend... what more could one ask for? It's also laugh out loud hilarious. So, there's that, too!
As I was already a fan of JR, I pre-ordered this book and the audiobook. Narrator did a phenomenal job. Seriously. Top tier audiobook. The story was really touching. Loved the drama between intergalactic species. I am a dog person. Every dog person should love this book. Action, adventure, instinctual urges and the bond between "man" and his best friend... what more could one ask for? It's also laugh out loud hilarious. So, there's that, too!
January 14, 2025
DNF....tried to get past the first couple of pages and too cheesy and crass...oh well.
February 11, 2025
Unique and intriguing!
A very unique and unusual premise to a delightful and fun opening g novel in a promising series.... Perhaps a bit " far out" for my tastes but still a great change of pace by an innovative author....Enjoyable!
A very unique and unusual premise to a delightful and fun opening g novel in a promising series.... Perhaps a bit " far out" for my tastes but still a great change of pace by an innovative author....Enjoyable!
October 2, 2025
this book was so dumb....but I loved it!
October 17, 2025
A bonkers book that made me laugh out loud so often! And cry a few times. Thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end!
November 13, 2024
What a great concept! Had me laughing because I am a dog person. If you like dogs this is for you!
August 21, 2024
Another knockout by Robinson! Hilarious and exciting!
How does he keep doing it?! Jeremy Robinson has enough creativity for several lifetimes, and this first installment of his Good Boys trilogy was so much fun! I laughed out loud, I cheered, I got a little misty-eyed, and I laughed a lot more! This story was action-packed, and I didn't want it to end!
If you're an animal lover, this is perfect for you, but do you have to be a dog lover to enjoy this book? Absolutely not - but you probably will be before you finish the story! Robinson's characters, be they human or canine, have depth, and it's impossible not to grow attached to them.
I can't wait for the second book to be released in October! I enjoyed this so much, I'll probably read it again before then!
How does he keep doing it?! Jeremy Robinson has enough creativity for several lifetimes, and this first installment of his Good Boys trilogy was so much fun! I laughed out loud, I cheered, I got a little misty-eyed, and I laughed a lot more! This story was action-packed, and I didn't want it to end!
If you're an animal lover, this is perfect for you, but do you have to be a dog lover to enjoy this book? Absolutely not - but you probably will be before you finish the story! Robinson's characters, be they human or canine, have depth, and it's impossible not to grow attached to them.
I can't wait for the second book to be released in October! I enjoyed this so much, I'll probably read it again before then!
August 25, 2024
EXCELLENT!!
Laughter and adventure from the first page to the last and, of course, DOGGOS!!! Chirk is everything! I laughed out loud so many times and teared up a few times as well. I absolutely loved this story ❤️
Laughter and adventure from the first page to the last and, of course, DOGGOS!!! Chirk is everything! I laughed out loud so many times and teared up a few times as well. I absolutely loved this story ❤️
November 13, 2025
The good: Great narration and it started off well. The humor between the main group and the stoner was good.
The bad: it devolved into a series of crass and sophomoric sex jokes and endless boring ‘action’ scenes.
The bad: it devolved into a series of crass and sophomoric sex jokes and endless boring ‘action’ scenes.
August 23, 2024
Bonkers fun as usual!
If you've ever read a Jeremy Robinson book, you might have an idea what to expect. If you haven't, it's non stop action, humor, ludicrous situations, and also Easter eggs from other books. While there are tons of over the top humor in this, it's the more subtle asides and subtle humor that really make me laugh the most.
If you've ever read a Jeremy Robinson book, you might have an idea what to expect. If you haven't, it's non stop action, humor, ludicrous situations, and also Easter eggs from other books. While there are tons of over the top humor in this, it's the more subtle asides and subtle humor that really make me laugh the most.
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August 23, 2024Dog Treats
Skillfully written, serious and full of intrigue, so much so that it was hard to put down. Mix that in with hilarious and you have the perfect novel. I can't wait for the next chapter in this trilogy.
Skillfully written, serious and full of intrigue, so much so that it was hard to put down. Mix that in with hilarious and you have the perfect novel. I can't wait for the next chapter in this trilogy.
September 19, 2024
I wanted to like this one. I’m a Golden Retriever guy (Buddy and Blu), and I was really looking forward to “what might be”. While the author nailed some things with the relationship between dog and man, the constant references to penis jokes, mammary glands, and every sexual innuendo know to man (or dog in this case) completely trashed the story for me. I mean, they just kept coming at you non-stop. I’m good with some well placed jokes, but these were way overused. Killed the story for me. I don’t consider myself a prude, but I guess I am now. To each his own, but I don’t see myself reading part two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2025
Well.. about 2 weeks into reading this book I lost my “good boy” Nico after 14 years. I laughed, I cried, and ultimately this zany sci book about alien dogs was therapeutic for me in a tough time. Thanks for writing this Jeremy Robinson!
August 31, 2024
(This is for the audiobook; Goodreads didn't have the audiobook version listed yet)
Non-spoiler summary: this is a funny, touching, action packed story about space aliens and dogs. Highly recommended (albeit this isn’t a kid friendly book) :)
(possible spoilers past this point, although I’ll try my best to keep them minimal)
I’ve been a fan of Jeremy Robinson since Project Nemesis, although I can’t say I’ve read all his books. I need to get on his Infinite Timeline and Chess books but I have too many books in my queue. The fact that Good Boys turned out to be a gem just puts the pressure to put more Robinson on my list :D
I enjoyed the Polarity characters. They strike me as a mix of Star Trek and Orville: funnier than a Star Trek crew but more serious than the crew from the Orville. You get their bond with each other as early as chapter 1 and we get to learn more through their dialogue and narration about their past, home life, and the customs of their home planet without there being a massive exposition dump. My only real complaint is that there is a big reveal regarding the Polarity that you kinda see coming but even that’s mitigated by the fact that there’s plenty of surprises you don’t.
The Earth characters are relatable and fun. We get a couple on their very first date that have great chemistry, a stoner, a government operative who is made to unhand the main characters (heh), and villains who seem like masterminds but are eventually revealed to be serving/trying to stop an ultimate force. They’re three-dimensional personalities and even the villains have sympathetic motives. To paraphrase my earlier statement, none of the characters are Saturday morning archetypes.
There’s also a golden retriever named Grover. Whatever’s coming to mind when you hear that, you’re (likely) correct :)
The story and lore built behind it is awesome. The structure is such that the action is split up between different characters and places, which works even if it sometimes causes revelations to pop up a few times. Not my favorite but not annoying. The connection between the Polarity, their enemies the Duran, and the creatures on Earth is pretty cool and and throws an wrench that’s both quickly worked out but also weighs on the rest of the book. Finally, something other media can take notes from, the book gives a satisfying ending while setting things up for a sequel (small spoiler: a sequel is coming about two months after this review is posted and the author specifically announced that this was part 1 of a trilogy). It pumps you up to see what the characters have to do and what happened to the world after the book’s events.
If you’ve ever read Jeremy Robinson’s books before, you can guess about the humor. From the tried and true bad language to both Polarity and humans often having no idea what the other is talking about, I laughed my butt off at many points in the book. I adored it because, unless I need to read/watch more sci-phi, I don’t often see characters making not understanding references the aliens are making so it was a nice change of pace here. It happens MANY time so some people may get annoyed but I always got chuckle from them. The king of comedy in this book is Chirk. He has the best dialogue and actions without being a one-note comedy relief, followed closely by the stoner Sean. Some of the best laughs I’ve had come from those two together. The best way I can describe Chirk is that he’s an R-rated Rocket Raccoon (if you love the Guardians of the Galaxy films, I can say with almost certainty that you will love this book).
Of course, I can’t review an audio book without talking about the narrator, Tom Taylor son. I know there’s audio book fans who hate it when narrators use different voices but I like it and Tom does it well here. All his voices fit the characters and he does female voices well. I occasionally forgot that this was a one person show. And let me perfectly clear: if any adaptation of Good Boys doesn’t have Tom Taylor son in the role of Chirk, I pray that it’s because they found someone equally great because it’s hard to think of anyone more perfect. Heck, the acknowledgments even state Jeremy picked Tom as the narrator after hearing him read as Chirk. I don’t know if he’s as funny on the page (although I have no doubt he is) but Tom Taylor son's narration doesn’t hurt.
This is a great book. This mixes mindless summer blockbuster awesomeness with the intelligence of the best literature. The stakes build up to a final showdown, none of the characters are one-note, and it mixes humor and seriousness so you’re on the edge of your seat, then fall back laughing at some of the characters’ antics or dialogue. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, either in print, book, or audio. Jeremy Robinson hit it out of the park and is definitely a good boy.
Non-spoiler summary: this is a funny, touching, action packed story about space aliens and dogs. Highly recommended (albeit this isn’t a kid friendly book) :)
(possible spoilers past this point, although I’ll try my best to keep them minimal)
I’ve been a fan of Jeremy Robinson since Project Nemesis, although I can’t say I’ve read all his books. I need to get on his Infinite Timeline and Chess books but I have too many books in my queue. The fact that Good Boys turned out to be a gem just puts the pressure to put more Robinson on my list :D
I enjoyed the Polarity characters. They strike me as a mix of Star Trek and Orville: funnier than a Star Trek crew but more serious than the crew from the Orville. You get their bond with each other as early as chapter 1 and we get to learn more through their dialogue and narration about their past, home life, and the customs of their home planet without there being a massive exposition dump. My only real complaint is that there is a big reveal regarding the Polarity that you kinda see coming but even that’s mitigated by the fact that there’s plenty of surprises you don’t.
The Earth characters are relatable and fun. We get a couple on their very first date that have great chemistry, a stoner, a government operative who is made to unhand the main characters (heh), and villains who seem like masterminds but are eventually revealed to be serving/trying to stop an ultimate force. They’re three-dimensional personalities and even the villains have sympathetic motives. To paraphrase my earlier statement, none of the characters are Saturday morning archetypes.
There’s also a golden retriever named Grover. Whatever’s coming to mind when you hear that, you’re (likely) correct :)
The story and lore built behind it is awesome. The structure is such that the action is split up between different characters and places, which works even if it sometimes causes revelations to pop up a few times. Not my favorite but not annoying. The connection between the Polarity, their enemies the Duran, and the creatures on Earth is pretty cool and and throws an wrench that’s both quickly worked out but also weighs on the rest of the book. Finally, something other media can take notes from, the book gives a satisfying ending while setting things up for a sequel (small spoiler: a sequel is coming about two months after this review is posted and the author specifically announced that this was part 1 of a trilogy). It pumps you up to see what the characters have to do and what happened to the world after the book’s events.
If you’ve ever read Jeremy Robinson’s books before, you can guess about the humor. From the tried and true bad language to both Polarity and humans often having no idea what the other is talking about, I laughed my butt off at many points in the book. I adored it because, unless I need to read/watch more sci-phi, I don’t often see characters making not understanding references the aliens are making so it was a nice change of pace here. It happens MANY time so some people may get annoyed but I always got chuckle from them. The king of comedy in this book is Chirk. He has the best dialogue and actions without being a one-note comedy relief, followed closely by the stoner Sean. Some of the best laughs I’ve had come from those two together. The best way I can describe Chirk is that he’s an R-rated Rocket Raccoon (if you love the Guardians of the Galaxy films, I can say with almost certainty that you will love this book).
Of course, I can’t review an audio book without talking about the narrator, Tom Taylor son. I know there’s audio book fans who hate it when narrators use different voices but I like it and Tom does it well here. All his voices fit the characters and he does female voices well. I occasionally forgot that this was a one person show. And let me perfectly clear: if any adaptation of Good Boys doesn’t have Tom Taylor son in the role of Chirk, I pray that it’s because they found someone equally great because it’s hard to think of anyone more perfect. Heck, the acknowledgments even state Jeremy picked Tom as the narrator after hearing him read as Chirk. I don’t know if he’s as funny on the page (although I have no doubt he is) but Tom Taylor son's narration doesn’t hurt.
This is a great book. This mixes mindless summer blockbuster awesomeness with the intelligence of the best literature. The stakes build up to a final showdown, none of the characters are one-note, and it mixes humor and seriousness so you’re on the edge of your seat, then fall back laughing at some of the characters’ antics or dialogue. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, either in print, book, or audio. Jeremy Robinson hit it out of the park and is definitely a good boy.
August 21, 2024
The New God Of Science Fiction Returns To Intergalactic War While Maintaining A Very Human Tale. This is one of those Robinson tales that will be great for anyone, no matter if you've never read a single other book by him or those of us (few) like myself who have known him since MySpace when he only had a couple of books available and have read everything he's written since. It is the start of a brand new trilogy - one we're apparently going to get the entire trilogy of in 2024 or at worst a calendar year of this book's release on US Memorial Day Weekend 2024 (last weekend of May, for non-US based readers). You know, for those who have seen Robinson promise a trilogy before and then either never (not yet?) complete it - UNITY, Viking Tomorrow, etc - or take quite some time (HUNGER). Still, he completes series faster than that dragon/ throne dude with the other TV series, so at least Robinson has *that* going. :D
The tale itself is one of those heartful yet irreverent and action packed tales that Robinson has become somewhat known for (Space Force, ExoHunter, Tribe) that also has a decent amount of not-really-hidden-at-all meta commentary about book reviews and people claiming to know an author's real-world political or religious positions, which was quite awesome to read - and worked perfectly into and with the story being told at the time of the commentary. Honestly, the story at times seems reminiscent of Richard Phillips' Second Ship series, also about an intergalactic war that Earth winds up involved in, except that Robinson's version is lighter, much more humorous, more action packed, and with less fantasy/ high scifi - ie, the aliens are much easier to envision in Robinson's tale. Oh, and if you love a certain talking raccoon in a certain cinematic universe... you're *really* going to love one of *these* aliens in particular. :)
Overall a truly fun, action packed tale that shows great promise for the upcoming sequels. Very much recommended.
The tale itself is one of those heartful yet irreverent and action packed tales that Robinson has become somewhat known for (Space Force, ExoHunter, Tribe) that also has a decent amount of not-really-hidden-at-all meta commentary about book reviews and people claiming to know an author's real-world political or religious positions, which was quite awesome to read - and worked perfectly into and with the story being told at the time of the commentary. Honestly, the story at times seems reminiscent of Richard Phillips' Second Ship series, also about an intergalactic war that Earth winds up involved in, except that Robinson's version is lighter, much more humorous, more action packed, and with less fantasy/ high scifi - ie, the aliens are much easier to envision in Robinson's tale. Oh, and if you love a certain talking raccoon in a certain cinematic universe... you're *really* going to love one of *these* aliens in particular. :)
Overall a truly fun, action packed tale that shows great promise for the upcoming sequels. Very much recommended.
April 13, 2025
Sooo, I actually listened to this book (Audible), along with the other two in the trilogy in about a week. I adore this trilogy. It appeals to my goofy, nerdy, animal loving personality, and it was uproariously hilarious. The premise itself is a riot; however, only Jeremy Robinson could turn the most whack-a-mole idea into such a hard core emotional investment by the end. I didn’t come up for air until I finished them all! Somehow, by the end, talking, upright walking, elite canine infiltrators was such a norm… I found myself giving my German Sheperd a solemn nod, “I see you, you amazing bad ass operator in disguise, I see you.”
If you’re looking for a laugh, a break neck adventure, an honest, emotional connection to characters, or a complete break with reality…. EVERYONE should have a listen. The narrator was OUTSTANDING! The voices were spot on and if there is ever a movie or Netflix adaptation, the actors are going to have HUGE shoes to fill in their portrayal.
I laughed (out loud, and I mean loud), I sobbed, I cheered, I ducked, I weaved, and I kicked ass. What more can you ask for?
If you’re looking for a laugh, a break neck adventure, an honest, emotional connection to characters, or a complete break with reality…. EVERYONE should have a listen. The narrator was OUTSTANDING! The voices were spot on and if there is ever a movie or Netflix adaptation, the actors are going to have HUGE shoes to fill in their portrayal.
I laughed (out loud, and I mean loud), I sobbed, I cheered, I ducked, I weaved, and I kicked ass. What more can you ask for?
August 30, 2024
Let's face it, Jeremy Robinson is one of the best sci-fi writers of his generation. He typically eschews traditional series in favor of an incredibly diverse collection of stand-alone novels, though sometimes later links them in crossover books. Good Boys is one of his rare endeavors into an intentional trilogy, and IT IS AWESOME!
Take an alien story, cross it with some of the most beloved dog breeds, and set them on a noble quest. That is what Good Boys does. Making their first contact with humans, it is no surprise that the kylonari, the canine aliens, quicky befriend the people they meet. "Man's best friend" proves to be an intergalactic concept. Dog lovers will revel in this story filled with action, creativity, and love.
I had never heard of Tom Taylorson before this book. It turns out that he is an outstanding character actor! The diversity of voices, the pace changes, the inflections, everything about his performance was stellar (pun intended)!
Listen, read, or do both, but however you consume literature, make sure you get this book!
Take an alien story, cross it with some of the most beloved dog breeds, and set them on a noble quest. That is what Good Boys does. Making their first contact with humans, it is no surprise that the kylonari, the canine aliens, quicky befriend the people they meet. "Man's best friend" proves to be an intergalactic concept. Dog lovers will revel in this story filled with action, creativity, and love.
I had never heard of Tom Taylorson before this book. It turns out that he is an outstanding character actor! The diversity of voices, the pace changes, the inflections, everything about his performance was stellar (pun intended)!
Listen, read, or do both, but however you consume literature, make sure you get this book!
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