The Crossover: Planet Gallywood #3

by Andrew Gillsmith, Karen Holmes (editor)

Ah, the primetime crossover event: the surest sign of all that a franchise is running out of steam.

With everyone feeling a bit down in the mouth after the events of The Pilot, Loppy suggests a family vacation. And what better vacation than a voyage aboard the grand dame of interstellar cruise ships, The Love Craft? Our heroes set a course for adventure and their minds on romance, but fate--to say nothing of the Tropes--has other plans. A solar storm near the tropical planet Puerto Valhalla forces the ship to redirect to another, more mysterious Fantasy Planet.

There, the Chosen One must face his deepest hopes and fears--a test of his mettle with the future of the entire entertainment industry in the balance. Will Trope Magick be enough to prevent the arch-villain Severinus Kratsch and his sidekick Betty Neezquaff from subverting reality itself?

Join Gus, Elvie, Rufus, Loppy, Edwina and the rest of the gang for the melodramatic conclusion to the Planet Gallywood series.

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2025

Reviews

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit sad to reach the end of this trilogy today. It was an entertaining read with enough thought behind it to make you stop and think about life and reality. Gillsmith truly has something to say behind all the ridiculousness that makes the story fun. The plot is sufficiently exciting, the characters are dynamic and interesting, and the tone of the narrator/author entertaining. I suggest this trilogy to any who enjoyed reading Douglas Adams' very similar genre.

[Mary Ann Seidman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I loved this book. I don't know if it possible for another sequel but I would gobble it up in a minute. This is one author that really does make me laugh out loud on many occasions. The book was silly, but that is what you wanted. I don't know what else to say but read, enjoy it, do yourself a favor.

[Jameson Skaife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great conclusion (I'm assuming) to the series. I loved the meta discussion of storytelling, narrative, tropes, cliches, etc. I really did love following these characters. The galactic world was so we'll developed and the new worlds got weirder and wilder.

[Jon James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry Pratchett giving Fantasy Island the Spaceballs treatment

The Gallywood series is a shockingly soulful satire of the entertainment industry, and the third installment continues to deliver on that in spades.

Filled with equal amounts laugh-out-loud humor, biting criticism of Hollywood, and heartfelt characters seeking goodness, The Crossover brings the tale of Elvie and Gus to a satisfying conclusion.

The charming narrator continues his self-aware commentary on writers, keeping the meta-humor high and ascending to a character in his own right as the plot races towards a high-stakes conclusion that is equally personal for Elvie and the now-teenaged Gus (owing to his alien biology).

While telling a space opera romp through the galaxy filled with homages to Love Boat and Fantasy Island, The Crossover manages to also explore deep themes such as love and loss, free will, and non-traditional family.

It's a book that artfully dances back and forth across the lines between humor, satire, and charm, creating a captivating read that is as fun as it is gratifying.

[Andrew Gillsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodbye, Gallywood!

At least for now.