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Tales of the Galactic Midway #2
The Three Legged Hootch Dancer
Thaddeus Flint must find a way to make his carnival successful on its trial run through the galaxy
153 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1983
4 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Mike Resnick
813 books550 followersMichael "Mike" Diamond Resnick, better known by his published name Mike Resnick, was a popular and prolific American science fiction author. He is, according to Locus, the all-time leading award winner, living or dead, for short science fiction. He was the winner of five Hugos, a Nebula, and other major awards in the United States, France, Spain, Japan, Croatia and Poland. and has been short-listed for major awards in England, Italy and Australia. He was the author of 68 novels, over 250 stories, and 2 screenplays, and was the editor of 41 anthologies. His work has been translated into 25 languages. He was the Guest of Honor at the 2012 Worldcon and can be found online as @ResnickMike on Twitter or at www.mikeresnick.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 10, 2023
In part #2 of #4, the carnival hits endless snags and stumbles through mishaps and low profits as it takes to the stars, trying to find ways to make earthly amusements entertaining for unimpressed aliens.
The first book was casual fun, despite how vile I find Thaddeus Flint--the carnival's slimy owner--to be. It was manageable because, though important, he wasn't the main character. This time he's the primary lead, though there's quite a bit of headhopping. A better effort is made to give him at least minor morality, but he's still a sleazeball.
But the biggest problem I had was general disinterest. What seemed like a novel idea in #1--before they got to space--quickly begins to appear stupid. Why would aliens care about a carnival? And why would I care if it fails? They could just go back to Earth and do it there again (though a small contrivance that I didn't buy is supposed to keep them from going home.)
The alien species are too bland and humanlike. They get a quick description of their differing physiques (red or blue skin, scales, feathers, etc) but they're too familiar in their mannerisms--coughing, clearing their throats, sighing, and smiling their ways through the dialogue. A magician alien, though pitably charming, does the exact sort of tricks a human one does, with no prior knowledge of Earth. Somehow, sleight-of-hand has independently developed on multiple worlds. I don't really like any of the human characters much anymore either. The main issue in this story relys heavily on the show's stripper and how her whole sense of identity hinges on her stripper act. I found that pretty tedious, and the final message didn't resonant with me.
I'll keep reading these, slowly, but I feel apathetically ambivalent.
2.5 rounded up.
The first book was casual fun, despite how vile I find Thaddeus Flint--the carnival's slimy owner--to be. It was manageable because, though important, he wasn't the main character. This time he's the primary lead, though there's quite a bit of headhopping. A better effort is made to give him at least minor morality, but he's still a sleazeball.
But the biggest problem I had was general disinterest. What seemed like a novel idea in #1--before they got to space--quickly begins to appear stupid. Why would aliens care about a carnival? And why would I care if it fails? They could just go back to Earth and do it there again (though a small contrivance that I didn't buy is supposed to keep them from going home.)
The alien species are too bland and humanlike. They get a quick description of their differing physiques (red or blue skin, scales, feathers, etc) but they're too familiar in their mannerisms--coughing, clearing their throats, sighing, and smiling their ways through the dialogue. A magician alien, though pitably charming, does the exact sort of tricks a human one does, with no prior knowledge of Earth. Somehow, sleight-of-hand has independently developed on multiple worlds. I don't really like any of the human characters much anymore either. The main issue in this story relys heavily on the show's stripper and how her whole sense of identity hinges on her stripper act. I found that pretty tedious, and the final message didn't resonant with me.
I'll keep reading these, slowly, but I feel apathetically ambivalent.
2.5 rounded up.
July 26, 2013
I don't know if I'm just getting older and my tastes are changing or if I'm just not amused by these kinds of books (no... wait... I'm reading a book by Ron Goulart and finding it funny so...)
This wasn't even mind-candy.
This wasn't even mind-candy.
September 6, 2013
This was a rather disappointing followup to Sideshow, which was fairly limited in itself. It is as though Resnick's good ideas for setting up this world were all used up.
December 15, 2022
Entertaining but predictable sequel to Sideshow. The carnival has left Earth and now plays to alien audiences on backwater planets. Fairly amusing and fast paced, but Resnick went on to write much better books.
April 28, 2016
Needs work
What an odd tale. The story surrounds a celestial circus on the verge of going bankrupt since none of the planets they visit have the slightest idea what a carnival is all about. Throw in a three legged stripper who can’t hold the audience’s attention and you have a recipe for disaster.
I took into consideration that the sci-fi genre has matured over the years and the readers and writers of the day were mocked, scorned and belittled back in the 70’s and early 80’s. Still, the story line was herky-jerky at best. I’m not sure if the author was under pressure to meet a deadline or if he felt the story was good enough for publication. Whatever the reason, it came across as an unfinished manuscript needing more fleshing out and imagination.
At times I found the story difficult to follow and who was talking despite the over abundance of character tags. Nothing bothers me more than a scene where only two people are talking and we are constantly reminded every other sentence who is talking! Maddening. For me, this only adds more unwanted words to an unfinished storyline.
The story has an eclectic cast of characters which is evident by the book color. The artwork does capture their make-up in the story.
The ending was so odd I felt it came from another unfinished work.
Overall, not one of my favorites.
Two and-a-half stars.
What an odd tale. The story surrounds a celestial circus on the verge of going bankrupt since none of the planets they visit have the slightest idea what a carnival is all about. Throw in a three legged stripper who can’t hold the audience’s attention and you have a recipe for disaster.
I took into consideration that the sci-fi genre has matured over the years and the readers and writers of the day were mocked, scorned and belittled back in the 70’s and early 80’s. Still, the story line was herky-jerky at best. I’m not sure if the author was under pressure to meet a deadline or if he felt the story was good enough for publication. Whatever the reason, it came across as an unfinished manuscript needing more fleshing out and imagination.
At times I found the story difficult to follow and who was talking despite the over abundance of character tags. Nothing bothers me more than a scene where only two people are talking and we are constantly reminded every other sentence who is talking! Maddening. For me, this only adds more unwanted words to an unfinished storyline.
The story has an eclectic cast of characters which is evident by the book color. The artwork does capture their make-up in the story.
The ending was so odd I felt it came from another unfinished work.
Overall, not one of my favorites.
Two and-a-half stars.
August 17, 2009
Thaddeus Flint's traveling carnival has taken to the stars, and it's...pretty dull, actually. The aliens aren't too interested in seeing a human take off her clothes, or an animal tamer when the animal more closely resembles the audience, or rigged games when the marks are telepaths. Luckily, Flint still has a few tricks up his sleeve. This brief novel is just as much fun as its predecessor, Sideshow, and can probably stand on its own just fine.
May 25, 2015
The circus is traditionally and historically one of the most fun and enjoyable places that mankind has come up with. Who doesn't love the circus? Resnick took that idea and ran with it and the result was these lightest and most amusing of his Birthright Universe novels. The Best Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gunslinger in the Whole Damned Galaxy (title of the fourth volume) says it all, right? Grab a bag of peanuts, play some calliope music, and settle in under the big top.
January 16, 2012
Mike Resnick doesn't write *bad* books, but IMO this is the weakest entry in a series which wasn't one of his strongest to begin with. If you like the Galactic Midway gang in the first place, t's still worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews