The Rover

by Drew Magary

About the Drew Magary is a correspondent for GQ and columnist for Deadspin, as well as the author of Someone Could Get Hurt and The Postmortal. He lives in Maryland with his wife and children.Something has landed in Armie Puglian's yard. Something not from here. What is it? What's it looking for? And what happens when Armie decides to keep it?Cover Design by Adil Dara Kim

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction, Novella, Audiobook, Fantasy, Humor

25 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2014

About the author

Drew Magary is a correspondent for GQ Magazine, a columnist for Deadspin, and a Chopped Champion. He’s also the author of four books: The Hike, The Postmortal, Someone Could Get Hurt, and Men With Balls. He lives in Maryland with his wife and three children, and enjoys taking long walks.

Reviews

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a free audible short from KU. An easy way to sample a new author. The actual story is only something like 23 pages, but in audio form it was stretched out to 55 minutes, a nice length for a short listen before bed. Although it would have been even shorter had the narrator read at a normal speed. Which is to say that for some reason, the book was read very, very, very slowly with conspicuously long pauses between words, almost like (though I’m sure that wasn’t the case) someone was trying to take 55 minutes to read a 23 page story on purpose. Other than that, the narrator actually did a good job, voices and all. Just slowly. The story itself was pretty good…an older gentleman, a retiree, finds what he believes to be an intergalactic rover that has landed on his property. Intrigued and frankly also quite lonely, the man takes the rover in and the to have a shortlived adventure together. Essentially, what you have here is a pretty average quiet sort of a short story improved dramatically by a pretty exciting not at all quiet ending. To pun (and yes, I can’t help myself I do pun now and again) the story really took off in the end. Made it worth the time. Also, all in all, a pretty decent introduction to a new author. Read it yourself very quickly or have it read to you very slowly, but isn’t it nice to have options.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great premise for a full book, but as a short story it's rushed and underdeveloped

[Ryan Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish this had been longer, but it’s solid for what it is.

[Josh Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little story to read before my Saturday gets going. Took about a half hour and the world was solidly fleshed out. At times wanted more, at times thought the length was perfect. 6.5/10

[Amara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty sure Armie needs to be in an assisted living facility.

Audiobook is ridiculously slow. I had it up to 2.0 or I would've fallen asleep.

[AmberBug com* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Story WIN

I'm not a huge short story fan but when I do like them, I really like them. I'm almost more critical when it comes to a short story or Novella than a full book.

Immediately I was conflicted about how old the character was. Kid or adult? But after a few paragraphs, this is definitely an adult who owns a house. Then I came across this line " It was just me, an old man alone with a hole". Funny, my husband just finished playing a game about digging a hole (that was exactly what the game was too).

Honestly the beginning is like a wet dream for an adult male who believes we aren't alone. Something falls from the sky into your backyard and you need a shovel to dig it up. Yep, this is a fantasy I know my husband wishes would happen!

Here I'll stop because the last thing I want to do is spoil anything! Let's just say this short story hooked me from the very start and was extremely relatable. I'm going to make sure I read a full book by Drew Magary this year, I feel like it could be a slam dunk.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading and loving Magary's The Hike I was excited to read more of his stuff, and this was available on Audible, so I went for it. Aaaaaaand...uh...I don't totally know what to say about it.

First of all, it's only 50 minutes long, but the narrator reads so freaking slowly that if read at a normal pace it would probably be half that. So that bugged me. It's the first audiobook that's ever made me want to increase the speed while listening, only I still use an old iPod because I'm weird like that, so it wasn't an option. Boo.

But also, what even is the point of this? I didn't get it. It wasn't funny, it wasn't deep, the rover was uninteresting, and then it just ends.

Sorry, Magary, you lost me on this one. I'm gonna say you've grown as a writer, and I will certainly look forward to whatever you do next, but I'm gonna pretend this one never happened.

[James Orlando · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Audible review: I grabbed The Rover because it is in the Audible Plus catalogue and I really liked Magary's The Hike. I don't have much to say that's positive about it. The innovative storytelling I enjoyed in The Hike is not present. This story doesn't do anything unique.

I had a hard time identifying with the main character, even though he and I have a few shared personality traits and life events. I didn't enjoy James Fouhey's reading of this one, but I do feel his voice fit the material perfectly.

This is a pretty short listen, but I can't say the story told is worth that time. There isn't really much of a social commentary being conveyed and the story feels like a first draft.

I'll rate this one as, "I don't think I'm the intended audience".

[Maggie Paxson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read two other Drew Magary books and though I enjoyed the premise of this novella, I found myself dissatisfied at the rather sudden and unresolved ending. As always, the writing style is excellent, but the final plot and reveal of this one just didn't engage me in the same way THE HIKE or POSTMORTAL did.

[Caleb · Rating 2 out of 5]

So yeah, not a great short story here. I mean, the idea is kinda okay. It goes about where I'd expect it to go though. I think the bigger problem is the narration though. It's slow and plodding and just drags the story out even more than it needs to be. I may have had my expectations a bit high given that I enjoyed a previous book by the author though. Oh well.

[⋆˚࿔ Nyah 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.00|5.00⭐️

Really fast and fantastic read! This book was fun, quick, and had the perfect ending. The characters were hilarious and the writing was easy to follow while not being too “YA” novel childish, if that makes sense. A very interesting and gripping story, I’ve been loving Magary’s books so far!

[Brian Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story

The ending is sort of ambiguous, but I found myself empathizing with the protagonist and enjoyed the smaller details and descriptions. If you like Magary's other work, you'll probably like this too.

[Christine Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not a book or a novella. It is a short story. It was amusing but only a trifle. Nothing to "sink your teeth in." I will try one of his books to see if he can sustain a message and story in a longer work but this was like snack before dinner.

[azza ☆⋆｡°‧★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun little 1 hour audiobook that i was able to finish in one sitting. think wall-e meets the old guy from the movie Up. a cute little robot and an old lonely man w a really good ending. rated a 3 because i wish it were longer!!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the hike, but not bad

[Borce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, little short story about a guy who discovers what he believes to be a rover in his backyard. Then, by his own doing, things happen, not-so-good things. And then it ends!

[Pete Demary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent short story

Needed to be a little longer but was a solid read for what it was. Definitely had potential to be a full book.

[Jessica Brooks Hamrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good not great

It was an entertaining read, but fell short of my expectations. I did enjoy it, but not as much as his other works.

[Matt Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting, I read it because of the Hike by Magary. This isn't as good or as long, but it's still fun

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun stuff!

[Les · Rating 2 out of 5]

what the fuh did i just listen to?
i liked the story yes.
im just not really sure what uh, what it was about.

[Steve Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll read anything by Drew Magary, and you should too!

I love this guy. I get into the story immediately, and the more bizarre it gets, the more entranced I am.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was a fun little morsel of a book.

[Beige Alert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, better than Postmortal at least. Like a lot of short stories, it felt like reading someone's writer's workshop post weekend wip.

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story with the potential for so much more. But I really loved the deep character development it was able to create in such a short space.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

can you tell i love drew magary

[Nyassa Kollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

?????

Honestly, a weird little read. I liked it! I think? It’s the type of book you read when taking a shit. Makes you wrap up and think “huh?” when you flush.

[Michael Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s an enjoyable enough story, reminiscent of so many sci-fi movies about unwitting contact but compacted to almost nothing but the details. That brevity helps it, but it also puts a ceiling on it.

[peregrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

really solid short story!! i do love when a weird old guy gets a weird little guy as a friend. good premise and nice character establishment!

[Kurt Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is NOT like the author's usual wild HOT TAKES from his journalism blogging, but the short fiction still has a fine premise with an interesting arc. Like a retelling of "Batteries Not Included," the story concerns a man who fins a mysterious little UFO in his yard. The short little jaunt takes the two through some nifty twists, though it falters a little in an underwhelming ending. Intermittent parts are dragged out a bit by needless description where the author details every distinct moment of an otherwise meaningless sequence. But otherwise there are some nice thoughts and feelings in the story, though it's difficult to peg what exactly the piece is striving to achieve between the silly humor and the somber sadness of its various parts. But part of its enjoyable experience is navigating through those disparate emotions.