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The Cardboard Spaceship
Lewis Darby, a science fiction writer of some repute, is about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.
Also known as the Captain, Lewis lives with his mother in modern day Indiana. What nobody knows is that sometimes Captain crawls beneath an old refrigerator box in the basement and pretends it's a spaceship. And what Captain doesn't realize is that he has a date with destiny.
One peculiar April morning, Captain crosses paths with Jennifer Pichon, the child of legendary space explorer Marty Pichon and Kitty Malhotra, the Princess of Saturn. They join forces just in time as the terrifying astronomical event called "No-Shape" is poised to ravage the Solar System from Mercury to Neptune and beyond.
Together, Captain and the mysterious Jennifer face such terrors as the jungles of Venus, the perilous Worm Caves, and the decaying, giant insect-ridden wastes of Mars - and perhaps even fall in love along the way.
Their journey is filled with trials, but they alone can save the solar system from certain doom.
Also known as the Captain, Lewis lives with his mother in modern day Indiana. What nobody knows is that sometimes Captain crawls beneath an old refrigerator box in the basement and pretends it's a spaceship. And what Captain doesn't realize is that he has a date with destiny.
One peculiar April morning, Captain crosses paths with Jennifer Pichon, the child of legendary space explorer Marty Pichon and Kitty Malhotra, the Princess of Saturn. They join forces just in time as the terrifying astronomical event called "No-Shape" is poised to ravage the Solar System from Mercury to Neptune and beyond.
Together, Captain and the mysterious Jennifer face such terrors as the jungles of Venus, the perilous Worm Caves, and the decaying, giant insect-ridden wastes of Mars - and perhaps even fall in love along the way.
Their journey is filled with trials, but they alone can save the solar system from certain doom.
- GenresScience Fiction
202 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 20, 2017
When I received the review request for The Cardboard Spaceship, the author described it as “a mind-bending adventure in the style of say Theodore Sturgeon mixed with Douglas Adams. It's inspired by old pulp writers, and while humorous in parts, it is also very sentimental.” He was not wrong.
I’m not a big reader of science fiction and I have not read Theodore Sturgeon, though I have read Douglas Adams and I am aware of the style of the old pulp science fiction novels and I guess that The Cardboard Spaceship is written in this vein.
The novel centres on a writer, Lewis Darby, nearly 40, who still lives with his mother. In the evenings Lewis goes down into his basement, sits in a cardboard box, and pretends he is a starship commander.
Lewis meets Jennifer, a beautiful young woman, who insists she is a fan of his work, and just wants to chat.
The gormless, slightly love-struck, Lewis doesn’t seem to have an in-built radar for stalker types and so, naturally, his fortunes take a bizarre turn for the worse in which he discovers the veiled reality of life on earth and the possible impending demise of both himself and the planet. (Although to be truthful things would have been much worse for him had Jennifer not arrived.)
Jennifer, it turns out, is a space traveller, with a specific mission: to find Lewis, save him, and enlist his help in stopping the destruction of not just earth, but the universe.
From here on out, this is a madcap adventure that I could only describe as Lewis Carroll in space. I kept waiting for the Cheshire Cat to appear with directions or the Mad Hatter to save the day. After my first WTF moment I just decided to adopt the same approach that I have when I watch super hero movies – I stopped thinking.
The result – I really liked it.
I just smiled, laughed and enjoyed what was a bizarre adventure.
My main quibbles with this story were stylistic. At times the writing was simple and was a classic example of "telling" rather than "showing", yet at other times the story flowed very well. Therefore, some sections I raced through and some sections dragged. I was left wondering if this was a by-product of this being a collaborative effort and a poor blending of the different styles of each author.
Over all this is an enjoyable story and could be read by the MG audience through to adults.
3 Stars
I’m not a big reader of science fiction and I have not read Theodore Sturgeon, though I have read Douglas Adams and I am aware of the style of the old pulp science fiction novels and I guess that The Cardboard Spaceship is written in this vein.
The novel centres on a writer, Lewis Darby, nearly 40, who still lives with his mother. In the evenings Lewis goes down into his basement, sits in a cardboard box, and pretends he is a starship commander.
Lewis meets Jennifer, a beautiful young woman, who insists she is a fan of his work, and just wants to chat.
The gormless, slightly love-struck, Lewis doesn’t seem to have an in-built radar for stalker types and so, naturally, his fortunes take a bizarre turn for the worse in which he discovers the veiled reality of life on earth and the possible impending demise of both himself and the planet. (Although to be truthful things would have been much worse for him had Jennifer not arrived.)
Jennifer, it turns out, is a space traveller, with a specific mission: to find Lewis, save him, and enlist his help in stopping the destruction of not just earth, but the universe.
From here on out, this is a madcap adventure that I could only describe as Lewis Carroll in space. I kept waiting for the Cheshire Cat to appear with directions or the Mad Hatter to save the day. After my first WTF moment I just decided to adopt the same approach that I have when I watch super hero movies – I stopped thinking.
The result – I really liked it.
I just smiled, laughed and enjoyed what was a bizarre adventure.
My main quibbles with this story were stylistic. At times the writing was simple and was a classic example of "telling" rather than "showing", yet at other times the story flowed very well. Therefore, some sections I raced through and some sections dragged. I was left wondering if this was a by-product of this being a collaborative effort and a poor blending of the different styles of each author.
Over all this is an enjoyable story and could be read by the MG audience through to adults.
3 Stars
April 26, 2017
Lewis Darby, nicknamed the captain, a writer of science fiction. They don’t sell too badly, his books, and so he doesn’t have to worry about money.
Thirty nine years of age, Captain still likes to sit in a cardboard box, and pilot it through the skies.
What I felt for Captain was empathy. He is clearly quite isolated, and himself admits he needs to get a life.
I think the lines "It made Captain happy to be surrounded by other people, but also accentuated his solitude, and he wished he was accompanied or bound for a rendezvous" demonstrated this best.
Jennifer is the odd stranger, from another planet, and has been following the Captain. I think for brevity the meeting between the characters, Jennifer and Captain, could have been shortened.
In lines "Jennifer began to worry about the odour she could smell at the edge of everything"
"She felt terribly cold. Couldn’t there be another way? No. They had told her all she needed to know, all she needed to do."
"No, all because of IT, the menace, the mad colour in the sky."
Intrigue is set up, and a question mark hovers over Jennifer: Can she be trusted? She is clearly conflicted, and there is trouble ahead. As put in lines "It's just like they said it would be"
Who is they?
The opening chapters of The Cardboard Spaceship are gentle, and the blossoming relationship between Captain and Jennifer is taking root.
This is evident in lines "It impressed Captain that she wrote, and he smiled. He couldn’t understand people who didn’t."
After this a plot twist ensues, and with that chaos, as with the magic of imagination Jennifer tells Captain that he is to pilot his cardboard box, for real this time, as to escape the creature behind them.
There are parts of the story that contain good physical description. I did like "They hit something hard, some barrier in the sky, and crashed through it like it was a amalgamation of flesh and rock, a sinewy stone that groaned as they punched through it."
There are many space creatures to enjoy.
Packs of ghastly, translucent wolves
Demons, which in appearance are ‘small, ebony – skinned children'
The flesh golems ‘pink – coloured, naked, but sexless'
The Braconids with ‘waspish forms'
And ‘headless hulks, with great arms and uneven legs, their organs on the outside of their bodies'
Plerrxxvizzinommm
A mmrowwr
Is possibly the silliest and least believable of the space creatures.
Though there are numerous enemies, Jennifer, and the Captain must face the No- Space, the threat that is eating every planet and leaving extinct many life forms.
There are also some stabs of humour in The Cardboard Spaceship.
Thirty nine years of age, Captain still likes to sit in a cardboard box, and pilot it through the skies.
What I felt for Captain was empathy. He is clearly quite isolated, and himself admits he needs to get a life.
I think the lines "It made Captain happy to be surrounded by other people, but also accentuated his solitude, and he wished he was accompanied or bound for a rendezvous" demonstrated this best.
Jennifer is the odd stranger, from another planet, and has been following the Captain. I think for brevity the meeting between the characters, Jennifer and Captain, could have been shortened.
In lines "Jennifer began to worry about the odour she could smell at the edge of everything"
"She felt terribly cold. Couldn’t there be another way? No. They had told her all she needed to know, all she needed to do."
"No, all because of IT, the menace, the mad colour in the sky."
Intrigue is set up, and a question mark hovers over Jennifer: Can she be trusted? She is clearly conflicted, and there is trouble ahead. As put in lines "It's just like they said it would be"
Who is they?
The opening chapters of The Cardboard Spaceship are gentle, and the blossoming relationship between Captain and Jennifer is taking root.
This is evident in lines "It impressed Captain that she wrote, and he smiled. He couldn’t understand people who didn’t."
After this a plot twist ensues, and with that chaos, as with the magic of imagination Jennifer tells Captain that he is to pilot his cardboard box, for real this time, as to escape the creature behind them.
There are parts of the story that contain good physical description. I did like "They hit something hard, some barrier in the sky, and crashed through it like it was a amalgamation of flesh and rock, a sinewy stone that groaned as they punched through it."
There are many space creatures to enjoy.
Packs of ghastly, translucent wolves
Demons, which in appearance are ‘small, ebony – skinned children'
The flesh golems ‘pink – coloured, naked, but sexless'
The Braconids with ‘waspish forms'
And ‘headless hulks, with great arms and uneven legs, their organs on the outside of their bodies'
Plerrxxvizzinommm
A mmrowwr
Is possibly the silliest and least believable of the space creatures.
Though there are numerous enemies, Jennifer, and the Captain must face the No- Space, the threat that is eating every planet and leaving extinct many life forms.
There are also some stabs of humour in The Cardboard Spaceship.
October 16, 2016
3.5 ***
I received a free copy in exchange for this review. I'm sorry it took so long.
This book was great in certain parts and ways! I liked the captain's background, and jenn was interesting as well. Eveb Perlexx, who was only there for a bit, seemed great. I just don't think the three interacted very well. the book kind of left me feeling like Jen and Lew were originally written younger, but the ages were changed for some reason.
The adventures were good, but maybe were rushed through at times. Maybe I'm being unfair, but this book's second page was my second favorite ever. I hoped that it would shine like that all the way through. Instead, I saw the story speckled with brilliance, but it lacked some real connecting twine. Also, I believe that at times, Matt said things that didn't reach right. He understood what he meant, and the editing left me out of the loop.
I received a free copy in exchange for this review. I'm sorry it took so long.
This book was great in certain parts and ways! I liked the captain's background, and jenn was interesting as well. Eveb Perlexx, who was only there for a bit, seemed great. I just don't think the three interacted very well. the book kind of left me feeling like Jen and Lew were originally written younger, but the ages were changed for some reason.
The adventures were good, but maybe were rushed through at times. Maybe I'm being unfair, but this book's second page was my second favorite ever. I hoped that it would shine like that all the way through. Instead, I saw the story speckled with brilliance, but it lacked some real connecting twine. Also, I believe that at times, Matt said things that didn't reach right. He understood what he meant, and the editing left me out of the loop.
August 19, 2016
The beginning of this novel grabbed my attention immediately, and through skillful description and dialogue, held it to the end. The first scene is one of the best written ones I’ve seen yet--Matthew Snee did it well!
Overall, the description of the world in this novel is absolutely fascinating and well done. It’s hard to avoid info-dumps, but the author does it successfully.
The dialogue is realistic, unique to each character, and very well written. I love that the main character is just called ‘Captain’, and following his journeys in this novel is a pleasure to read.
I highly recommend this book and author!
Overall, the description of the world in this novel is absolutely fascinating and well done. It’s hard to avoid info-dumps, but the author does it successfully.
The dialogue is realistic, unique to each character, and very well written. I love that the main character is just called ‘Captain’, and following his journeys in this novel is a pleasure to read.
I highly recommend this book and author!
February 23, 2015
This was a great first novel by Snee and Chirlin. The Captain is a great character and the constant change of scenery is just fantastic. Really enjoyed this book.
August 31, 2016
I gave this book to my friend, she has a young son. She said he enjoyed it and he cant wait to finish the book. Thank you for the giveaway.
December 15, 2017
A cute read that had me thoroughly entertained. My teenage grandson would love this.
September 13, 2019
I really couldn't get into this book, it might of just been a bad time because I normally like science fiction books. I will try to read it again another time. I received this book from GoodReads.
September 5, 2016
Not typically a book that I would pick up and read but, it surprisingly it turned out to
one that I enjoyed. I gave it to my kids to ready and they also enjoyed it. I am so glad that I won this on GoodReads and I will pay it forward and give it to a friend to read. Thanks again.
one that I enjoyed. I gave it to my kids to ready and they also enjoyed it. I am so glad that I won this on GoodReads and I will pay it forward and give it to a friend to read. Thanks again.
September 16, 2016
I won this on GoodReads tried to get my son to read it and he could not get past the 39 year old living in his mom's basement playing in a box thing. So will see if I can get someone to read it for me or will donate it to the free books for the disadvantaged program here were I live.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 23, 2018Yeah.... had to DNF. Couldn't get past about 17%.
Don't even remember why. Just..... not the book for me. There's actually a very good chance I've already donated this book so I couldn't even try to finish it if I wanted to.
Don't even remember why. Just..... not the book for me. There's actually a very good chance I've already donated this book so I couldn't even try to finish it if I wanted to.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews