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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 14, 2026
I've been a fan of VC Ling since encountering their excellent first book, ‘King Street Run’ (reviewed on my blog). I had a feeling that her second outing would be something equally unusual, and I’m pleased to say that I was right!
This is a charming science-fiction romp that strongly reminded me of Douglas Adams, in that it uses wit like a blade to cut through the various everyday nonsense that we humans regard as ‘normal’.
Partners Epsilon and Sigma are investigating the Earth with a view to allowing it to join the intergalactic community at large - except humanity really isn’t doing much to endear itself to its alien neighbours, what with war, famine and general unfriendliness among its own race. Fortunately the rest of the universe are much more civilized, so the task at hand is trying to figure out how (if) they can make this work. However, in the meantime a mysterious figure has taken it upon themselves to start nipping the nastiest humans in the bud. Can we blame them? Or does greater action have to be taken?
Spending time undercover in a small country village as a kind of alien anthropologist is not a desirable job, but I found myself so endeared to poor Epsilon as she deals with the everyday business of getting by, doing her best while biting her tongue at the social awfulness she has to endure. At least she has a sensible Earth companion to help (of the feline variety).
The story scampers along merrily, with delightful prose that anyone who’s even come close to the concept of ‘whimsy’ will adore, while maintaining an inherent cleverness as it takes shots at humanity’s idiocy. I mean, you can’t really deny that:
‘The status quo is maintained by one side pretending they’re not doing anything nefarious even though they very obviously are, and the other side pretending they haven’t noticed.’
Sums up the state of the world right now rather well, I’d say.
The non-Earth characters are sympathetic rather than superior, and it does hearken back somewhat to classic Dr Who (or even ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’) in the puzzlement of someone arriving on Earth and simply asking awkward questions. I really did laugh aloud at several points, even though the humour is pretty gentle and the morals clear without being heavy-handed.
This is an absolutely delightful adventure, unique and so friendly to its reader that the intergalactic elders would certainly approve.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
This is a charming science-fiction romp that strongly reminded me of Douglas Adams, in that it uses wit like a blade to cut through the various everyday nonsense that we humans regard as ‘normal’.
Partners Epsilon and Sigma are investigating the Earth with a view to allowing it to join the intergalactic community at large - except humanity really isn’t doing much to endear itself to its alien neighbours, what with war, famine and general unfriendliness among its own race. Fortunately the rest of the universe are much more civilized, so the task at hand is trying to figure out how (if) they can make this work. However, in the meantime a mysterious figure has taken it upon themselves to start nipping the nastiest humans in the bud. Can we blame them? Or does greater action have to be taken?
Spending time undercover in a small country village as a kind of alien anthropologist is not a desirable job, but I found myself so endeared to poor Epsilon as she deals with the everyday business of getting by, doing her best while biting her tongue at the social awfulness she has to endure. At least she has a sensible Earth companion to help (of the feline variety).
The story scampers along merrily, with delightful prose that anyone who’s even come close to the concept of ‘whimsy’ will adore, while maintaining an inherent cleverness as it takes shots at humanity’s idiocy. I mean, you can’t really deny that:
‘The status quo is maintained by one side pretending they’re not doing anything nefarious even though they very obviously are, and the other side pretending they haven’t noticed.’
Sums up the state of the world right now rather well, I’d say.
The non-Earth characters are sympathetic rather than superior, and it does hearken back somewhat to classic Dr Who (or even ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’) in the puzzlement of someone arriving on Earth and simply asking awkward questions. I really did laugh aloud at several points, even though the humour is pretty gentle and the morals clear without being heavy-handed.
This is an absolutely delightful adventure, unique and so friendly to its reader that the intergalactic elders would certainly approve.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
August 16, 2026
if you like Terry pratchet and Douglas Adams you should give this a go. the humour had me laugh out loud three or four times and I rarely have a book do that. I love how dry the wit is. but there are big issues dealt with too including why humans are so destructive, the way we treat animals and how we are self absorbed. its difficult to review this book without giving the plot and twists away - there are a lot of twists and turns so I'm going to pick out some more general things I really liked.
if you know Ling's first novel you'll know she goes the extra mile for readers by adding easter eggs in the story. Ling doesn't add random detail to stuff there's nearly always a reason something is the way it is so I found the paintings mentioned in different chapters have all gone missing in real life. what does that mean? I'm going to do a second read and see what else I can find.
there's a scene where Epsilon who is one of the main characters and is super intelligent is talking to an arrogant old man. the way Ling writes this interaction is pure bliss. I don't think there's a woman on the planet who won't connect with it.
the murders are chef's kiss excellent and I loved the way they were spaced out so that you have two stories intertwined.
this is a great read and certainly one of the most original and funny things I've read.
if you know Ling's first novel you'll know she goes the extra mile for readers by adding easter eggs in the story. Ling doesn't add random detail to stuff there's nearly always a reason something is the way it is so I found the paintings mentioned in different chapters have all gone missing in real life. what does that mean? I'm going to do a second read and see what else I can find.
there's a scene where Epsilon who is one of the main characters and is super intelligent is talking to an arrogant old man. the way Ling writes this interaction is pure bliss. I don't think there's a woman on the planet who won't connect with it.
the murders are chef's kiss excellent and I loved the way they were spaced out so that you have two stories intertwined.
this is a great read and certainly one of the most original and funny things I've read.
August 16, 2026
I came I read I loved it. Acute social observation with a sci-fi background. Excellent narrative voice which really made the book for me. Think Terry Pratchett.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews