Genrenauts: The Complete Season One Collection

Genrenauts #1-6

by Michael R. Underwood

When Stories Break, You Send in the Genrenauts!

Struggling stand-up comic Leah Tang is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the Genrenauts, a secret organization of dimensional travelers. Leah learns that our world is just one of many, and every other world is the home of a story genre — Science Fiction or Romance, Fantasy or Western — populated by archetypal characters and constantly playing out familiar stories.

The Genrenauts’ mission: find and fix broken stories. If they fail, the ripples from the story worlds will cause havoc and devastation on their home world.

Leah joins the team and dives head-first into the adventure. But the stories are breaking faster and worse than ever before. Will Leah rise to the occasion, or will she end up as just another broken story?

Contains all six novellas from Season One of Genrenauts:

The Shootout Solution
The Absconded Ambassador
The Cupid Reconciliation
The Substitute Sleuth
The Failed Fellowship (Parts 1 & 2)

Brought to you thanks to the support of hundreds of Kickstarter backers.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Westerns, Romance, Adventure, Pop Culture, Urban Fantasy

544 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2016

About the author

Support Mike's writing at https://www.patreon.com/michaelrunder...

Mike's books include:

Genrenauts - a r/Fantasy Stabby Award-finalist science fiction adventure series in novellas. A group of storytellers travel between dimensions to the worlds where genres live to fix broken stories. Starts with The Shootout Solution. Collections available: Genrenauts - The Complete Season One

The Ree Reyes urban fantasy series (Geekomancy, Celebromancy, Attack the Geek, Hexomancy) about magicians who channel the power of popular culture. Starts with Geekomancy.

Born to the Blade, a political action fantasy about duelist diplomats vying for their nation's interests in a world on the brink of war. Co-written with Marie Brennan, Malka Older, and Cassandra Khaw for Serial Box Publishing. Collections available: Born to the Blade Season One.

Shield and Crocus, a superheroes-meets-epic fantasy novel where an aging revolutionary makes a deal with his most deadly foe to turn the tide of a fifty-year-long fight to free his city.

The Younger Gods, a supernatural thriller starring the white-sheep member of a family of demon-worshippers as he tries to stop his big sister from ending the world.

Mike started telling stories when he learned to talk and hasn't seen a reason to stop yet. He grew up playing video games, CCGs, RPGs, and many other delightful games with acronyms. As a teenager, the friendly local game store was his home away from home, and the site of his apprenticeship in geekdom.

Mike earned a B.A. in Creative Mythology and in East Asian Studies from Indiana University, and a M.A. in Folklore Studies from the University of Oregon. Basically, destined to be a novelist. He is also a graduate of the 2007 Clarion West Writers Workshop.

Properly equipped with lots of ways to develop story ideas, Mike has been a barista, a bear builder, a sales representative, and the North American Sales & Marketing Manager for Angry Robot Books.

Mike lives with his wife and their dog in Baltimore, MD.

Reviews

[Michael Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume collects all six episodes from Genrenauts season one, starting with Leah joining the team in The Shootout Solution through the climactic season finale in The Failed Fellowship Part II.

If you like Redshirts, Leverage, or Quantum Leap, you will probably enjoy Genrenauts and its interdimensional story-heists.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020-08: The Shootout Solution: 4 stars. Loads of fun, with some nice commentary about the sheer whiteness of westerns, and how the three characters who go to the western genre to fix a problem literally have to cloak themselves in white skins to get their jobs done. I liked Leah Tang, struggling stand-up comic, and everyone on the Genrenauts team, and liked the slightly ominous tone of the oversight group.

[Martin Spernau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just reading the blurb for this series had me inspired for many fun packed RPG sessions. This weekend I finally got to read the actual novellas, and I read them all in almost one sitting.
Michael R. Underwood succeeds in giving each novella (or episode) in this first season a flavor specific and true to the genre of the story world the current action is set in.
It’s easy to relate to all of the major characters, and each found their own way into my heart. It’s especially interesting to see how they come across as real people, while the characters in the various genre-worlds are ideal stereotypes of their respective genre.
There’s one minor point regarding the narrative style I personally had trouble with: the author uses a fairly close 3rd person narrative, but also head jumps during a single scene. I found it slightly confusing to know who was thinking what in some scenes.
I greatly enjoyed the overall package, and was surprised how well the format as a series of closely related novellas worked. Like with any series you enjoy so much that you binge read all available instalments, I now have to face the long wait until season 2 comes out.

[Hobart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Parallel to our world are various worlds populated by fictional characters in a wide variety of genres (Western, SF, Romance, etc), and when things go wrong in the stories, things go wrong in our world. For example, broken Romance world stories = higher divorce rates here. In this world, there are a number of teams of story specialists who shift to the other worlds to fix the stories and set things back on course here. Leah Tang -- a struggling stand-up comic by night, struggling receptionist by day -- is the newest recruit. Join her as she learns the ropes, rights wrongs, struggles with ethics, and gets shot at while cracking jokes.

Originally printed as 6 episodes in 5 novellas, now collected in one season-long omnibus, Genrenauats as become one of my favorite series this year and I'm glad to get one more chance to talk about it with the release of the collection this week.

There's a great cast of characters here, all of which deserve the reader's time and focus. For example, I was tempted to not-really-ignore, but relegate Angstrom King to back burner status in my mind. He's the leader, he points the team in a direction, but the real excitement's with the rest. This was a mistake on my part -- think of him like Capt. Picard. Sure, for the most part he sits around in his ready room with some Earl Gray (hot) -- but really, some of the more interesting things that happen in he series are because of his actions. King's not Jean-Luc, but there's a similar quality.

I love a good team -- fiction, TV, comics, you name it -- the interaction, the teamwork, the dynamics, there's really nothing like it. There's a great team in these novellas -- some of the intra-team camaraderie got pushed aside for a little romance that doesn't really work for me (but I get why it would for others and appreciate the way Underwood's tackling it). Overall, it's built on solid interactions and relationships that have plenty of room to grow and develop over the many seasons that we hopefully get of this.

Each adventure gives Underwood an opportunity to talk about various genres -- to talk about the clichés, tropes, archetypes, pluses, minuses, and so on of each genre. And one visit to each won't be enough to fully explore these. Don't get me wrong, we're not talking Master's Theses-esque discussion, he jokes about them, plays with them, sometimes turns them upside down while telling his tale.

The collection includes:
The Shootout Solution -- We meet Leah Tang, Angstrom King and the rest of his team. We're also introduced to the concept of Genrenauts, Story Worlds, the effects that they can have on our world -- also, we get a pretty decent story in Western World. Not bad for 148 pages. (For more details, you might want to read my original blog post, my blog post about the audiobook)

The Absconded Ambassador -- The team goes to Science Fiction World to help out on a DS9-like Space Station. On the verge of a major treaty being finalized and signed, the Terran ambassador has been kidnapped. It's up to King and co. to rescue the ambassador and keep the shaky alliance from crumbling in her absence. We learn a little more about everyone, and while having a lot of fun with genre conventions. ( my original blog post, my blog post about the audiobook)

The Cupid Reconciliation -- The team gets back up to full strength in time to go rescue a Rom-Com gone awry. Underwood really lets things fly when it comes to observations about the genre and playing with conventions while using them for comedic -- and narrative -- value. Also -- a couple of seeds that were planted in the first two novellas are watered enough that you can see season/season-plus story arcs beginning to grow. The series took a big jump in quality here. ( my original blog post)

The Substitute Sleuth -- A Police Procedural needs some help, a no-nonsense cop's off-the wall/out-of-the-box partner takes a bullet and another pair of mismatched detectives needs to come in and close the case. We get some major backstory stuff here, and the season arc is moved along nicely. The detective story itself isn't my favorite, but what Underwood does with the tropes, themes, conventions, etc. is really good -- it is more of a TV detective story than a novel detective story. Think Castle, not Harry Bosch (whoops, thanks Amazon, you ruined that point...). ( my original blog post)

The Failed Fellowship (Part 1 & 2) -- This think kicks off with Leah Tang ranting about fantasy fiction and 5 episodes later, she gets to spend 2 episodes in Fantasy World, where a Chosen One with a Magic Artifact story has fallen to pieces. Leah's in hog heaven, the rest of the team are at the top of their game and Underwood is, too. Rollicking good adventure. Best of the batch in every way. ( my original blog post)

I dig this series, and having all of the novellas in one handy collection is going to make it easier (I hope) for others to discover it -- the collection is also a little cheaper than buying all the individual stories, which will also going to make things easier for people to discover it. If you haven't dipped your toe in this world/these worlds yet, what are you waiting for?

[Shell S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I don't love about this utterly original series is having to wait for Season Two, instead of being able to binge it right away.

This series asks "What if you could travel into a story and become part of its solution?" (Who hasn't fantasized about that?) But then it asks "What if once the story has its 'hooks' in you, you might get drawn in too deep to leave?"

This series rewards you with pay-offs for every science fiction/epic fantasy/western/romantic comedy/detective procedural you ever read or watched, by exploring tropes and what disasters might befall the story's inhabitants if they broke down. And stakes are raised in the real world because what happens in fictional stories creates shockwaves in our 'adjacent' world. As a worldbuilding device I found this simple (in its clarity) yet brilliant.

And top priority for me is always the characters. I was immediately drawn in by quippy and resilient Leah Tang, whose reading savvy turns out to be great not only for discouraging drunk fratboys at her open mic stand-up show, but also for her new dream job as a Genrenaut alongside a team of elite agents.

Snarky Asian-American nerd Leah asks a very good question at the beginning of the book, which I will paraphrase as "Why can't someone like me be the hero, why do orphan farm boys like Luke Skywalker get all the fun?!" (This idea is also excellently explored in the farcical Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah Dawson and Kevin Hearne by the way.)

As I got to know them I enjoyed the other Genrenauts (her mentors and teammates) and their struggles as well. There are nuanced backgrounds and backstories that I don't want to spoil here with details. And perhaps most of all I loved the teammates' interactions--there are such honest moments to be found here that the relationships deeply resonated with me.

And, though their appearances are briefer and generally one-offs, I likewise appreciated the "NPCs" in the book world. Many are very archetypal but that's how they are intended to be, and more often than not they still surprised me with their quirks or depth.

Though episodic by genre, Season One does have its own dramatic through-arcs, and sets up plenty of intrigue and obstacles and enemies for Season Two.

I'd say I can't wait, but what I really mean is it will be worth any wait to me. The author has other fun and creative series to read/review in the meantime, like Geekomancy and (maybe a series?) Shield and Crocus. As I've said before...

WHEN YOU LOVE A STORY, SPEAK UP--BOOST THE SIGNAL!

[J.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, you find a published story that incorporates major elements of an idea you had once upon a time and you're disappointed, because now it's already "taken." But other times, you stumble across a story that's very similar to a vague idea you had back in high school and you're thrilled, because someone has already put all the work into your half-baked idea and you can just sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Genrenauts is definitely the latter for me, and I had a blast reading this collection of novellas.

On the surface, these stories have much in common with another of my favorite series, The Chronicles of St. Mary's by Jodi Taylor. But rather than historians traveling back in time, the genrenauts visit other worlds to put stories right and prevent cataclysm on our own planet. Through the eyes of new recruit Leah, we're immediately immersed into the tropes of the Western genre. Over the course of a few months, we also get to tag along to fix a space opera, rom-com, modern police procedural, and epic high fantasy. As someone who literally has a degree in Popular Fiction, I was suitably impressed by Underwood's extensive knowledge of genre and all of it's aspects. Also: each story is both a laugh-out-loud good time and includes edge-of-your-seat conflict.

While Leah's perspective is great for introducing important elements to the readers, every member of the team of genrenauts gets their time to shine. Sometimes I had a hard time adjusting between perspectives and needed a few moments to realign. However, the diversity on the team and in the story worlds themselves was a refreshing embrace of how much of fiction should be, while being delightfully self-aware at the same time.

(Note for readers that has nothing to do with the rating: The hardcopy version of this collection has significant formatting and editing issues in the second novella that made it very difficult to read at times. This clears up dramatically in the third section, so try to stick it through if possible. The story is worth it.)

[TrishEM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for when you want something mostly lighthearted and fun, but with a few poignant moments to ground it with some emotional stakes. The concept of the Genrenauts going around and fixing snags in "story worlds" that reflect and influence our own was explored in delightful ways. Various genres have their tropes sketched out, exploited, and subverted, and it's all entertaining to see happen. Also, the episodic format made the book easy to fit into various gaps in my schedule without losing the threads of the narrative.

I enjoyed watching the protagonist, Leah Tang, a standup comedian who gets roped into the world-saving business and ends up trying to figure out the balances between caution and enthusiasm, and eventually, romance, on the job. Other team members are quite interesting too, with more and more details revealed along the way. The overarching meta-plot resulted in an ending that surprised me but felt right, and I can't wait to see what happens in the second "season," or sequel.

[batya7 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite a 1 but also not exactly 2 star, maybe it is really 1.5 star in my list.
I believe this is a self-published book, a group of novellas, conceived as a TV-series, and it fails on several points. First of all, the stories were highly derivative and not well-fleshed out. Cliches were used for genre-specific shortcuts (i.e., Westerns having shoot-outs, Romances having miscommunications), but the author jumped over story elements, leaving them to the reader's imagination, to get to the next element. I read the stories anyhow because I had nothing else to read, the book was there, and it was a teeny bit pleasing. Teeny being the operating word.

Secondly, there were typos and typography problems (lines split in odd places, paragraphs of dialogue that should have been split in two because you couldn't tell who was speaking, etc.) that were so distracting it made me want to put the book down. This is simply non-professional editing. It detracts from the stories and makes me want to take a red pen and mark up the library book.

Don't read it.

[David Slayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books hit the sweet spot of geek culture and adventure

What if books weren't just stories? What if they came from somewhere? The idea of story explorers, setting out for other universes that we affect, and which in turn affect us, all through fiction, makes a great foundation on which Underwood builds pop references and a deeper understanding of stories to create a quick-paced batch of pulpy, quip-filled fun.

I'd recommend GENRENAUTS for any fan of Jim C. Hines' Libromancer series, to anyone who just enjoys a really fun adventure story, and finally to anyone just enjoys stories.

[Addison Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first three of these novellas as individual ebooks, and loved them enough to pick up the complete season. Michael R. Underwood is a nerd. A huge nerd. It's wonderful. He has the kind of eye for genre and trope that can only come from a deep love of the format. That love comes through as he riffs on the conventions of books and movies in a way that goes to the core of what a story really is, all while telling a story that is fun and engaging in itself.

Read this. You'll be glad you did.

[Tom Sias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a lot of fun, and I look forward to more seasons in the future.

This book is squarely targeted toward those who enjoy exploring the tropes and narrative requirements of various fiction genres. The main cast are witty, plucky action-adventure heroes. The story worlds have interesting texture and rules, and the plot outside each individual world ties them together without overshadowing the individual stories.

Highly recommend this one for genre-fiction nerds who have a preference toward science fiction and fantasy.

[Meera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great grab for all lovers of fiction!

I was a huge fan of Geekomancy series and really wanted to read more from Underwood and this did not disappoint. Although I saw some similarities between the main character in these books and put the Geekomancy series they were different enough that it didn’t seem like a do over. I really appreciated the variety of genres and found them all to be very realistic. I also enjoyed getting all the references that were made, as a huge fan of science-fiction and fantasy that always makes it extra fun for me.

[William Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cool concept, and excellently executed by Underwood. There is not only a great meta-discussion on different types of stories and their structures, but also a lot of great character development through the whole season.
I also really appreciated the in-jokes about cliches in genre storytelling along the way. The characters are aware, and the reader is aware, which creates a quick bond with the characters.
Finally, there is a lot of very good diverse representation in this book, and everyone can find some aspect that they can identify with, even in the middle of a sword and sorcery romp, or a rom-com. Looking forward to season 2!

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild ride of a collection of stories, each of which grapples with a genre and nothing feels out of place (for me anyways). Great characters, solid storytelling, and definitely a series I'd like to see continue on (especially given the ending of Ep6).

[Impishfae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and fun. Bringing the reader along on a self aware narrative poking fun at the tropes that drive so many of our favourite genres.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just... absolutely delightful. I hope there is a season two, because it ended on a cliff hanger.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at ECCC, where Mary and I met the author - as soon as he started describing the premise, I knew I had to have it. Overall just a really fun read that doesn't take itself too seriously, with plenty of pop culture references to enjoy and a cast that is ridiculously diverse (I like it, but it almost feels like he's trying too hard here). Looking forward to season 2!

[Adam Zabell · Rating 4 out of 5]

tl;dr - Not written with the pacing I love, but the characters feel real and for the first time I'm reading an ensemble cast without a single floor lamp among them.

I reviewed these novellas individually, but since Michael published them as an omnibus I wanted to mark this as well. Overall it's worth reading, but I'd start with episode two (Absconded Ambassador) so you can watch the characters in their element before restarting with the first one and its requisite "introduce your character to the rest of the party."

[Stas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun engaging romp.
All Genrenauts are important and none of them are cardboard.

Though I do have complaints about writing. It's somewhat choppy, with halting flow. AND it could use some editing. (Editor is your best friend. Get them involved and watch reader satisfaction rising!)

That said, I am INVESTED.
That Raven witch? Is probably most definitely on the council. I WILL SEE HER HANGED.
Whoever is in charge of these weird happenings IS GOING TO SUFFER.

BRING IT!

[Carre West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genrenauts is just the kind of self-aware semi-meta fiction that I like. It made me feel smart to recognize the tropes being referenced, following the enjoyable banter of the characters with ease. I appreciate the diversity of characters, closer to a real hodgepodge of people and yet with the same feel of the Warehouse 13 crew. But I wouldn't call them normal - they all seemed a bit special, with thorough backstories (some of which is revealed) and inter-character relationships. The novella format within this collection meant that I could take breaks and savor them, or dive right into another one, depending on my mood. The whole concept of this world kept me thinking between reading sessions, and I looked forward to get back to it. I'm so glad I picked this up!


Reading stats:
Days between start and finish: 33
Number of reading sessions: 12
Time spent reading: 14h 18m
Average pages per hour: 33
Average reading session: 72 minutes

[Adam Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I intrigued by the Meta nature of the story, but quickly came to care for the characters. I definitely enjoyed the two part arc in books 5&6 the most, but don't know if it was due to my favorite sub genre being explored or character arcs drawing to a climax.

Very glad I backed the Kickstarter.

[David H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retroactive Review (11 Sep 2021): I read the first two novellas in this collection in 2016, and I was glad to read the rest of them in this Kickstarted-backed collection. It's fun stuff, very genre-aware, and lots of good humor bits as the Genrenauts attempt to fix stories in the Story Worlds.

[Perry]

Something about this just...didn't click with me. At all. Was slogging to get through it and eventually gave up.

Liked the concept. Maybe something about the execution?

Might try coming back to it at a later date.