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Too Many Zeros
Tim and Coral Townsend are sent to stay on a remote farm when they make a discovery that will change their lives forever: aliens! Suddenly they’re plunged into a wild adventure full of incredible new technology, intelligent mice and friendly aliens in need of help.
But their new friends aren’t alone. Evil agents of a darker power are watching their every move, preparing to strike with mind parasites and killer robots. Now Tim, Coral and their friends must outwit their enemies and find the courage to face the darkest, most deadly force in the universe.
Get ready for an adrenaline-filled adventure with a cast of zany characters, furious action and a heart-stopping climax.
With Too Many Zeros, the adventure begins ...
"A rollicking good read for pre-teenage children and their parents. It's funny, fast-paced and captivating. A real page-turner."
Maggie Rainey-Smith
This witty and highly imaginative adventure/science fiction novel is the first book in the Forty Million Minutes series.
But their new friends aren’t alone. Evil agents of a darker power are watching their every move, preparing to strike with mind parasites and killer robots. Now Tim, Coral and their friends must outwit their enemies and find the courage to face the darkest, most deadly force in the universe.
Get ready for an adrenaline-filled adventure with a cast of zany characters, furious action and a heart-stopping climax.
With Too Many Zeros, the adventure begins ...
"A rollicking good read for pre-teenage children and their parents. It's funny, fast-paced and captivating. A real page-turner."
Maggie Rainey-Smith
This witty and highly imaginative adventure/science fiction novel is the first book in the Forty Million Minutes series.
271 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
5 people want to read
About the author
Geoff Palmer
6 books3 followersGeoff Palmer is a writer, which is astonishingly convenient as you appear to be a reader! He’s climbed mountains in Africa, picked grapes in Switzerland, sold cameras in London, programmed computers in Fiji, and spent eight years working as a professional photographer. He’s also quite tall.
Geoff’s first novel, Telling Stories, won the Reed / North & South Fiction Award, and in 20+ years of freelance technical writing he’s won four Qantas Media Awards and been a finalist for Columnist of the Year. His second novel, Too Many Zeros, was published by Penguin in 2011, and a number of other novels have followed since.
He writes, every day if he can, subject to the demands of his cat, Heidi, who regards him as her personal servant, portable cushion and entertainment centre. In return, she kindly allows him to share her house in Wellington, New Zealand.
Geoff’s first novel, Telling Stories, won the Reed / North & South Fiction Award, and in 20+ years of freelance technical writing he’s won four Qantas Media Awards and been a finalist for Columnist of the Year. His second novel, Too Many Zeros, was published by Penguin in 2011, and a number of other novels have followed since.
He writes, every day if he can, subject to the demands of his cat, Heidi, who regards him as her personal servant, portable cushion and entertainment centre. In return, she kindly allows him to share her house in Wellington, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 9, 2011
A fun and amusing read, written by Wellington based award-winning technology writer Geoff Palmer.
12 year old Tim and his older sister Coral are staying with their aunt and uncle on the West Coast (NZ) while their reckless adventure seeking parents recover from a hang-gliding accident. Coming from the big smoke of Auckand, small town life is a shock for them - no cell phone coverage, a rural school where there are only three classes, not to mention catching the ancient school bus 'Fitchett's Flyer' with the entire school role every day.
But even more wierd were the two mice that seemed to be communicating with Tim while he was trying to get his aunts old microwave to work one night. The next day two 'foreign' students start at school and Tim puts it all together and come up with the most logical conclusion - aliens, of course. He's right and much hilarity and mayhem follows. Lots of cross-species misunderstanding (very typical of that real confusion that exists between Kiwis and other nationalities), some nasty aliens chasing them down and a thrilling conclusion with car chases, expolsions and near death experiences to keep you reading makes this a satisfying read. Palmer obviously knows his techie stuff but also writes his characters sympathetically so this will appeal to both boys and girls. I like that it is unashamedly Kiwi too - right down to the pikelets!
12 year old Tim and his older sister Coral are staying with their aunt and uncle on the West Coast (NZ) while their reckless adventure seeking parents recover from a hang-gliding accident. Coming from the big smoke of Auckand, small town life is a shock for them - no cell phone coverage, a rural school where there are only three classes, not to mention catching the ancient school bus 'Fitchett's Flyer' with the entire school role every day.
But even more wierd were the two mice that seemed to be communicating with Tim while he was trying to get his aunts old microwave to work one night. The next day two 'foreign' students start at school and Tim puts it all together and come up with the most logical conclusion - aliens, of course. He's right and much hilarity and mayhem follows. Lots of cross-species misunderstanding (very typical of that real confusion that exists between Kiwis and other nationalities), some nasty aliens chasing them down and a thrilling conclusion with car chases, expolsions and near death experiences to keep you reading makes this a satisfying read. Palmer obviously knows his techie stuff but also writes his characters sympathetically so this will appeal to both boys and girls. I like that it is unashamedly Kiwi too - right down to the pikelets!
October 2, 2017
On the surface, Telling Stories alternates between a series of hilarious short stories and the diary entries of its lead character, Steven Spalding, His alter-ego, Eric Dombey, is a real "piece of work" and there are some great moments, with biting satire and laugh out loud wit. But the stories and diary feed off each other begin to reveal the real story behind the stories. Or is it?
Clever stuff. It'll make you laugh and make you think. A rare combination.
Clever stuff. It'll make you laugh and make you think. A rare combination.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews