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Carson's Folly: The Misadventures of an Accidental Starship Captain
Galactic Mayhem Meets an Unlikely Hero
He’s an accidental captain; she’s a stunning alien genius. Love, adventure, humor, and cosmic secrets entwine in this star-swept odyssey! Carson Twiddle hadn’t planned on his day being interrupted by a sentient cube. Then again, nothing in his life ever went according to plan.
A file clerk with no ambition and even less confidence, Carson was content with his unremarkable life—until a database error accidentally erased all record of his existence. By an obscure bureaucratic twist of fate, he's suddenly promoted to captain of the Rusty Bucket, a spaceship held together with spit, duct tape, and sarcasm. "...The characters and dialogue are endearing and enjoyable. Also, I like that the book is clean. It is hard to find clean science fiction and fantasy." - From a Reviewer
Now, with space pirates on his tail, an alien cube leaking universe-shattering secrets, and the enigmatic Calista—captain of a Rigellian research vessel—watching his every move, Carson must navigate interdimensional anomalies, cosmic conspiracies, and the growing realization that he might be more than just an administrative mistake."...The humor is sharp, the dialogue crackles with wit, and the crew of the Rusty Bucket is full of quirky, unforgettable characters...." - From a Reviewer
As the challenges mount, Carson learns that being a leader isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about having the right crew. With Calista challenging him at every turn and a slow-burn, clean, and wholesome romance unfolding, Carson’s Folly delivers an action-packed, heartwarming sci-fi adventure filled with humor, high-stakes peril, and unforgettable characters. This novel revives the found family trope romance genre in a funny sci-fi setting."...With a barely-functioning ship, a mismatched crew, and a knack for stumbling into intergalactic trouble, Carson’s journey is packed with witty dialogue and unexpected depth..." - From a Reviewer
For fans of Douglas Adams, John Scalzi, and the wit of Terry Pratchett, this is a tale of accidental heroism, reluctant leadership, and the wild unpredictability of the cosmos. This book is recommended for all teens & young adults, adults, parents, and grandparents who love a good, clean story with romance, adventure, action, and a heartwarming conclusion. Based on wholesome, traditional science fiction storytelling and strong characters with redemption, challenges, personal growth, action, and teamwork at the core.Other Books in the Released 8.11.2025 - - A Thrilling Space Opera of Alien Labs and Galactic Peril (Legacy of the Founders Book 2)Pre-Sale Now - - Safe-Harbor Bound by Destiny, Forged in Cosmic Fire (Legacy of the Founders Book 3)
This Novel is thrilling, family-friendly sci-fi adventure for readers aged 12 and up, perfect for teens, young adults, and adults. With action, humor, and universal themes of exploration and teamwork, this all-ages novel captivates readers from tweens to grown-ups.
He’s an accidental captain; she’s a stunning alien genius. Love, adventure, humor, and cosmic secrets entwine in this star-swept odyssey! Carson Twiddle hadn’t planned on his day being interrupted by a sentient cube. Then again, nothing in his life ever went according to plan.
A file clerk with no ambition and even less confidence, Carson was content with his unremarkable life—until a database error accidentally erased all record of his existence. By an obscure bureaucratic twist of fate, he's suddenly promoted to captain of the Rusty Bucket, a spaceship held together with spit, duct tape, and sarcasm. "...The characters and dialogue are endearing and enjoyable. Also, I like that the book is clean. It is hard to find clean science fiction and fantasy." - From a Reviewer
Now, with space pirates on his tail, an alien cube leaking universe-shattering secrets, and the enigmatic Calista—captain of a Rigellian research vessel—watching his every move, Carson must navigate interdimensional anomalies, cosmic conspiracies, and the growing realization that he might be more than just an administrative mistake."...The humor is sharp, the dialogue crackles with wit, and the crew of the Rusty Bucket is full of quirky, unforgettable characters...." - From a Reviewer
As the challenges mount, Carson learns that being a leader isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about having the right crew. With Calista challenging him at every turn and a slow-burn, clean, and wholesome romance unfolding, Carson’s Folly delivers an action-packed, heartwarming sci-fi adventure filled with humor, high-stakes peril, and unforgettable characters. This novel revives the found family trope romance genre in a funny sci-fi setting."...With a barely-functioning ship, a mismatched crew, and a knack for stumbling into intergalactic trouble, Carson’s journey is packed with witty dialogue and unexpected depth..." - From a Reviewer
For fans of Douglas Adams, John Scalzi, and the wit of Terry Pratchett, this is a tale of accidental heroism, reluctant leadership, and the wild unpredictability of the cosmos. This book is recommended for all teens & young adults, adults, parents, and grandparents who love a good, clean story with romance, adventure, action, and a heartwarming conclusion. Based on wholesome, traditional science fiction storytelling and strong characters with redemption, challenges, personal growth, action, and teamwork at the core.Other Books in the Released 8.11.2025 - - A Thrilling Space Opera of Alien Labs and Galactic Peril (Legacy of the Founders Book 2)Pre-Sale Now - - Safe-Harbor Bound by Destiny, Forged in Cosmic Fire (Legacy of the Founders Book 3)
This Novel is thrilling, family-friendly sci-fi adventure for readers aged 12 and up, perfect for teens, young adults, and adults. With action, humor, and universal themes of exploration and teamwork, this all-ages novel captivates readers from tweens to grown-ups.
501 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2025
263 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 18, 2025
Publisher's Folly
Not the worst book I've ever attempted to read and had to give up on... But not far from it. Repititious and juvenile, it reads like a junior high schooler's first pathetic try at creative writing.
Not the worst book I've ever attempted to read and had to give up on... But not far from it. Repititious and juvenile, it reads like a junior high schooler's first pathetic try at creative writing.
December 4, 2025
For fans of Dungeon-Crawler Carl and Star Trek TNG
Amusing opening, great cover and Amazon page. Realize that one of the primary rules in the story seems to be “if it’s funny, allow it,” and go with the flow, much like the Dungeon-Crawler Carl series. Many malapropisms are used for comedic effect like the fractal noodles or “wild nebulas couldn’t keep me away.”
Twiddle goes from societal erasure to captain of a rust bucket ship for an eleven-year contract, all thanks to an ancient high-tech artifact he pocketed. Technology is mostly out of Star Trek: food replicators, AI, shields, comms, docking clamps, sensor tech, transporters, and even Data’s speech patterns for Rusty. However, Twiddle often uses the artifact to grant wishes like the alien in Starman. The two main characters date in VR, meet on paradise planets briefly, and get engaged to be married once his tour is up. Sweet, as promised. Their final Founder discovery sets up a basis for the sequel.
Negatives:
- I didn’t buy the stationmaster of asteroid X-17 as a credible mastermind villain for that many years and that much distance.
- A lot of dialog paragraphs run together or are missing quotes, making discussions difficult to follow.
- No goals, age, description or background appear for Twiddle except his desire to meet Calista. Accordingly, Calista should merit a detailed description the first time he sees her on p 48. We don’t find out her hair or eye color until p 114. Skin color comes on 145.
Indeed, nothing much concrete is provided about the world: number of floors/rooms on his ship, money, fuel, entertainment, vac suits, ftl mechanisms, or even a change of clothing.
Amusing opening, great cover and Amazon page. Realize that one of the primary rules in the story seems to be “if it’s funny, allow it,” and go with the flow, much like the Dungeon-Crawler Carl series. Many malapropisms are used for comedic effect like the fractal noodles or “wild nebulas couldn’t keep me away.”
Twiddle goes from societal erasure to captain of a rust bucket ship for an eleven-year contract, all thanks to an ancient high-tech artifact he pocketed. Technology is mostly out of Star Trek: food replicators, AI, shields, comms, docking clamps, sensor tech, transporters, and even Data’s speech patterns for Rusty. However, Twiddle often uses the artifact to grant wishes like the alien in Starman. The two main characters date in VR, meet on paradise planets briefly, and get engaged to be married once his tour is up. Sweet, as promised. Their final Founder discovery sets up a basis for the sequel.
Negatives:
- I didn’t buy the stationmaster of asteroid X-17 as a credible mastermind villain for that many years and that much distance.
- A lot of dialog paragraphs run together or are missing quotes, making discussions difficult to follow.
- No goals, age, description or background appear for Twiddle except his desire to meet Calista. Accordingly, Calista should merit a detailed description the first time he sees her on p 48. We don’t find out her hair or eye color until p 114. Skin color comes on 145.
Indeed, nothing much concrete is provided about the world: number of floors/rooms on his ship, money, fuel, entertainment, vac suits, ftl mechanisms, or even a change of clothing.
April 26, 2025
It’s art – let it wash over you
This book is not the Great American Novel, but it is entertaining. In each chapter a different crisis has to be overcome. The story has a story ark as crewmembers are added, and a slow-burn romance grows.
I liked the author's scene descriptions, but I found myself wondering "How does that work?" for a lot of the fictitious technology in a way that never happens when I am watching a sci-fi television show or movie. It's a minor issue though, as the technology is not the story.
This book is not the Great American Novel, but it is entertaining. In each chapter a different crisis has to be overcome. The story has a story ark as crewmembers are added, and a slow-burn romance grows.
I liked the author's scene descriptions, but I found myself wondering "How does that work?" for a lot of the fictitious technology in a way that never happens when I am watching a sci-fi television show or movie. It's a minor issue though, as the technology is not the story.
August 16, 2025
Carson's Folly was a good, happy read. I enjoyed his space adventures and the interaction and the slow burn romance with Calista. The author tended to repeat details about the clones and maybe the slow burn romance between Carson and Clalista was a bit drawn out, but the payoff was worth it. I have already started book 2 (Araphon) of the series and look forward to the adventures of Carson, Calista, and the rest of the crew.
May 22, 2025
This book is quite episodic. Each chapter is a problem Carson has to overcome. The book is long and I admit there were times when I wished he would hurry up and get to where he was going. Still, on the whole I enjoyed the book. The characters are fun to read about. Also, I appreciated that the book is clean, no sex or bad language.
July 7, 2025
Overall I liked
The story. It got long in a couple of places but jumping a couple of chapters ahead seemed to do just the trick. It started as an improbable plot but soon it found its stride and carrief on from there. Overall, I am looking forward to the sevond novel.
The story. It got long in a couple of places but jumping a couple of chapters ahead seemed to do just the trick. It started as an improbable plot but soon it found its stride and carrief on from there. Overall, I am looking forward to the sevond novel.
October 1, 2025
Hard to read
This read like a magazine serial collected into book form. Some of the chapters were even out of order. It would be an exaggeration to say it took me the 11 years of the journey to read it, but it surely felt like it. I'm not going to waste my time on the sequel
This read like a magazine serial collected into book form. Some of the chapters were even out of order. It would be an exaggeration to say it took me the 11 years of the journey to read it, but it surely felt like it. I'm not going to waste my time on the sequel
September 8, 2025
Excellent
What a great read!!! I'll buy the next book! And did I read somewhere that this was his first Wi-Fi book? If so, I'm super impressed. This was truly a beautiful story... 🙂
What a great read!!! I'll buy the next book! And did I read somewhere that this was his first Wi-Fi book? If so, I'm super impressed. This was truly a beautiful story... 🙂
August 23, 2025
There is no other way to put it but to say that this was bad.
I tried it because I stupidly fell for Amazon’s recommendation that this book would be similar to the No Stress Space Express series. Well Amazon, your recommendations suck!
The story is a jumbled mess of illogical unbelievable events, ludicrous science (that is a total absence of any plausible science) and just plain nonsense.
This book reads like a junior high school project. One that would likely not get a passing grade if the teacher took his job seriously.
I tried it because I stupidly fell for Amazon’s recommendation that this book would be similar to the No Stress Space Express series. Well Amazon, your recommendations suck!
The story is a jumbled mess of illogical unbelievable events, ludicrous science (that is a total absence of any plausible science) and just plain nonsense.
This book reads like a junior high school project. One that would likely not get a passing grade if the teacher took his job seriously.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews