What do you think?
Rate this book
Where the Hell is Tesla? #2
Don't Touch the Blue Stuff!
The sequel to Where the Hell is Tesla? is HERE!
SOMETHING CALLED THE “BLUE JUICE” IS COMING. FOR ALL OF US.
Luckily, me (Chip Collins), Pete, Nikola Tesla, Bobo, and FBI Agent Gina Phillips are here to kick its ass, and send it back to last Tuesday. Maybe. Or maybe we’ll fail, and everyone in the multiverse is doomed. (Seriously, you might want to get that underground bunker ready.) Either way, I’ve got to get home to Julie and find out… woah, I’m not about to tell you that right here in the book description! TMI.
WARNING: If you haven’t read Where the Hell is Tesla?, I apologize in advance, as you might get completely freaking lost. If you do, just call my apartment, I’m usually around, and I’ll fill you in.
(If I’m not stuck in the ITA.) – Chip
SOMETHING CALLED THE “BLUE JUICE” IS COMING. FOR ALL OF US.
Luckily, me (Chip Collins), Pete, Nikola Tesla, Bobo, and FBI Agent Gina Phillips are here to kick its ass, and send it back to last Tuesday. Maybe. Or maybe we’ll fail, and everyone in the multiverse is doomed. (Seriously, you might want to get that underground bunker ready.) Either way, I’ve got to get home to Julie and find out… woah, I’m not about to tell you that right here in the book description! TMI.
WARNING: If you haven’t read Where the Hell is Tesla?, I apologize in advance, as you might get completely freaking lost. If you do, just call my apartment, I’m usually around, and I’ll fill you in.
(If I’m not stuck in the ITA.) – Chip
330 pages, ebook
Published August 25, 2017
75 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Rob Dircks
14 books291 followersRob Dircks is the #1 Audible bestselling author of
You're Going to Mars!
, the
Where the Hell is Tesla?
series,
The Wrong Unit
, and more (including the anti-self-help book
Unleash the Sloth! 75 Ways to Reach Your Maximum Potential By Doing Less
). He's also got a drawerful of screenplays and short stories, some of which appear on his original audio sci-fi short story podcast Listen To The Signal, also narrated by the author.
Rob's a member of SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America), and is a big fan of classic science fiction. When not writing, he's helping other authors publish their own work with Goldfinch Publishing, writing and designing for the award-winning ad agency he owns with his brother (appropriately called Dircks Associates), and generally doing what he calls "sampling": video production, audio production, app development, photography, guitar, reading, cooking. (Note the absence of the phrases "going to the gym" and "running iron-man triathalons.") He lives in New York with his wife and two kids. You can get in touch at robdircks.com.
Rob's a member of SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America), and is a big fan of classic science fiction. When not writing, he's helping other authors publish their own work with Goldfinch Publishing, writing and designing for the award-winning ad agency he owns with his brother (appropriately called Dircks Associates), and generally doing what he calls "sampling": video production, audio production, app development, photography, guitar, reading, cooking. (Note the absence of the phrases "going to the gym" and "running iron-man triathalons.") He lives in New York with his wife and two kids. You can get in touch at robdircks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
Read
September 14, 2019Hi, I'm the author. I received such an overwhelming response to Where the Hell is Tesla?, and so many requests for a sequel, I decided to give it a go. The result? For me, it was WONDERFUL to revisit the world of Chip and Pete, Tesla, Bobo, Meg -- and add a few new friends, a million new twists, test the limits of absurdity, and see if Chip can once again save the multiverse (and himself). It was an absolute labor of love, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it!
June 13, 2019
"Please enjoy this fictional document which spins tales of imaginary events that could never, ever happen. Ever."
Rob Dircks's Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! follows our friends from Where the Hell is Tesla? into yet another Scooby Doo-like adventure in time. This time Chip is yanked out of his wedding to help save Pete (and his countless permutations) from the "Blue Juice", some bizarro exterrestrial plasma consciousness that is sucking in everything it can find like it thinks it's the Matrix.
Basically, if you loved the humor and adventure of Where the Hell is Tesla?, then it's pretty much guaranteed you'll also get a kick out of Don't Touch the Blue Stuff!. If not? Ehh, your loss. I personally thought it was slap your momma awesome.
As a bonus, we get a stronger dose of philosophy in novel #2, as Chip fights to find his true identity as he visits world after parallel world where he's Kind of a Big Deal, and comes to the realization that his home iteration is more of an underachiever than he first imagined. He attempts to walk in his other selves' much bigger shoes, and finds the fit isn't all that bad after a while.
"You probably think you're the center of the universe, right? What if I told you that not only was there no center, but that there were so many universes there couldn't possibly be a center. What if I told you that at this very moment, there were versions of us, infinite versions, not fighting like rats over an old piece of pizza, but sitting like men at this exact table, talking out their differences and reaching a compromise? What if I told you that if you blow this world to smithereens, there are infinite other versions that don't, and that make it work, so what's the point? And what if I told you I've already seen entire universes collapse, and that being king of the world doesn't mean shit? It's like being king of a speck of dust."
"What if I told you that the only thing that matters, the only thing, is love?"
Rob Dircks's Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! follows our friends from Where the Hell is Tesla? into yet another Scooby Doo-like adventure in time. This time Chip is yanked out of his wedding to help save Pete (and his countless permutations) from the "Blue Juice", some bizarro exterrestrial plasma consciousness that is sucking in everything it can find like it thinks it's the Matrix.
Basically, if you loved the humor and adventure of Where the Hell is Tesla?, then it's pretty much guaranteed you'll also get a kick out of Don't Touch the Blue Stuff!. If not? Ehh, your loss. I personally thought it was slap your momma awesome.
As a bonus, we get a stronger dose of philosophy in novel #2, as Chip fights to find his true identity as he visits world after parallel world where he's Kind of a Big Deal, and comes to the realization that his home iteration is more of an underachiever than he first imagined. He attempts to walk in his other selves' much bigger shoes, and finds the fit isn't all that bad after a while.
"You probably think you're the center of the universe, right? What if I told you that not only was there no center, but that there were so many universes there couldn't possibly be a center. What if I told you that at this very moment, there were versions of us, infinite versions, not fighting like rats over an old piece of pizza, but sitting like men at this exact table, talking out their differences and reaching a compromise? What if I told you that if you blow this world to smithereens, there are infinite other versions that don't, and that make it work, so what's the point? And what if I told you I've already seen entire universes collapse, and that being king of the world doesn't mean shit? It's like being king of a speck of dust."
"What if I told you that the only thing that matters, the only thing, is love?"
September 27, 2017
My original Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Don’t Touch the Blue Stuff! is the second novel in the series called Where the Hell is Tesla? by Rob Dircks. After saving the multiverse in Where the Hell is Tesla?, Chip Collins is rudely interrupted during his wedding to once again enter the Interdimensional Transfer Apparatus, designed by Nicola Tesla himself, to interact with the infinite multiple universes. Chip is accompanied by the no-nonsense FBI agent, Gina Phillips. Chip’s friend, Pete, is in danger and soon it becomes clear that Pete has been taken by something called the Blue Juice, which threatens everyone in the multiverse. Once again, Chip must his skills, resources, charm, and luck working together with Tesla, Gina, the alien creature Bobo, and more to try to save the multiverse, and Pete, one more time.
This is a perfect and hilarious follow-up to Where the Hell is Tesla? I highly recommend reading the first novel before this second novel, simply because it’s a richer experience. There is a sum up of the first novel in this novel, however, just in case. As with the first novel in the series, it is written as emails from Chip to his now-wife, Julie. I personally like this storytelling style as everything is not only from the perspective of Chip, but the reader gets Chip’s amusing commentary and reactions. Mixed in there with the humor is real emotion, vulnerability, and philosophy. This is not a novel that takes itself too seriously, but there is a real take-home message. The story also moves along at a fast pace with a lot of action and the email style is not a hindrance. All of the characters are interesting and are hilarious when interacting with Chip and his antics. Once again, there are multiple versions of the characters in the various dimensions and seeing the differences and similarities between is fun and also highly entertaining from Chip's perspective. I particularly enjoyed the time Chip spends in a different dimension impersonating himself. Overall, it was an amusing and unexpectedly crazy ride that was ultimately a heartwarming story underneath the absurdity.
The narration by Rob Dircks is perfect for the characters and the style of the book. He’s not the best with accents; the Indian accent was particularly Apu-esque. However, overall, he really captures the characters well. The production quality was good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes light and entertaining science fiction stories.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Don’t Touch the Blue Stuff! is the second novel in the series called Where the Hell is Tesla? by Rob Dircks. After saving the multiverse in Where the Hell is Tesla?, Chip Collins is rudely interrupted during his wedding to once again enter the Interdimensional Transfer Apparatus, designed by Nicola Tesla himself, to interact with the infinite multiple universes. Chip is accompanied by the no-nonsense FBI agent, Gina Phillips. Chip’s friend, Pete, is in danger and soon it becomes clear that Pete has been taken by something called the Blue Juice, which threatens everyone in the multiverse. Once again, Chip must his skills, resources, charm, and luck working together with Tesla, Gina, the alien creature Bobo, and more to try to save the multiverse, and Pete, one more time.
This is a perfect and hilarious follow-up to Where the Hell is Tesla? I highly recommend reading the first novel before this second novel, simply because it’s a richer experience. There is a sum up of the first novel in this novel, however, just in case. As with the first novel in the series, it is written as emails from Chip to his now-wife, Julie. I personally like this storytelling style as everything is not only from the perspective of Chip, but the reader gets Chip’s amusing commentary and reactions. Mixed in there with the humor is real emotion, vulnerability, and philosophy. This is not a novel that takes itself too seriously, but there is a real take-home message. The story also moves along at a fast pace with a lot of action and the email style is not a hindrance. All of the characters are interesting and are hilarious when interacting with Chip and his antics. Once again, there are multiple versions of the characters in the various dimensions and seeing the differences and similarities between is fun and also highly entertaining from Chip's perspective. I particularly enjoyed the time Chip spends in a different dimension impersonating himself. Overall, it was an amusing and unexpectedly crazy ride that was ultimately a heartwarming story underneath the absurdity.
The narration by Rob Dircks is perfect for the characters and the style of the book. He’s not the best with accents; the Indian accent was particularly Apu-esque. However, overall, he really captures the characters well. The production quality was good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes light and entertaining science fiction stories.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
September 21, 2017
The author kindly provided me with a code for the audiobook on Audible and this is my honest review.
I thought both the book and the narration were excellent (like all of Rob's books). Rob Dircks is one of the best narrators I have listened to so it is great that the author narrates his own books. I listened to Where The Hell Is Tesla? for the second time yesterday and started this book around 10 minutes later. It was great to catch up with Chip, Pete, Nikola Tesla, and of course Bobo (he is just awesome) but also to be introduced to some fun new characters.
Both books in this series are very well written, original, and funny. As soon as I finished this book my first thought was that I will listen to the book again in a few months (I have read very few books twice). I highly recommend this book and if there is another sequel (I really hope there is) I will be very happy.
I thought both the book and the narration were excellent (like all of Rob's books). Rob Dircks is one of the best narrators I have listened to so it is great that the author narrates his own books. I listened to Where The Hell Is Tesla? for the second time yesterday and started this book around 10 minutes later. It was great to catch up with Chip, Pete, Nikola Tesla, and of course Bobo (he is just awesome) but also to be introduced to some fun new characters.
Both books in this series are very well written, original, and funny. As soon as I finished this book my first thought was that I will listen to the book again in a few months (I have read very few books twice). I highly recommend this book and if there is another sequel (I really hope there is) I will be very happy.
September 21, 2017
"A big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff" was how the Tenth Doctor described time. Don't Touch the Blue Stuff takes place in that big ball. In fact this book is the ball, ball of fun, barrel of laughs, waterslide of goofiness. This whole book is hilariously fun and that would be enough.
But there's more. Within the wildly imaginative humor there's a touching love story and some very respectable science fiction that takes on even the metaphysical aspects of perception and creation. This sequel to "Where the Hell is Tesla?" brings back all the beloved characters, (sometimes dozens of them) and continues Chip's adventures in alternative reality.
I listened to the audio version of the book. Only Rob Dircks could (and does) narrate this book. He's like that crazy fun friend you want to be around because you never know what's going to happen next.
I hope this series is going to continue, it's a blast, from the past, the present and the future. After listening I felt happy and light hearted. It's that kind of book.
But there's more. Within the wildly imaginative humor there's a touching love story and some very respectable science fiction that takes on even the metaphysical aspects of perception and creation. This sequel to "Where the Hell is Tesla?" brings back all the beloved characters, (sometimes dozens of them) and continues Chip's adventures in alternative reality.
I listened to the audio version of the book. Only Rob Dircks could (and does) narrate this book. He's like that crazy fun friend you want to be around because you never know what's going to happen next.
I hope this series is going to continue, it's a blast, from the past, the present and the future. After listening I felt happy and light hearted. It's that kind of book.
July 30, 2018
I absolutely loved the first in this series and now sorry I waited so long to read the follow up as it is equally as good.
Funny, bonkers and incredibly enjoyable sci-fi story. The characters and plot are spot on. I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended series
Free arc from netgalley
Funny, bonkers and incredibly enjoyable sci-fi story. The characters and plot are spot on. I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended series
Free arc from netgalley
September 7, 2017
Witty and Amiable Fun
There are a fair number of scifi based humorous buddy adventures out there, and lots of them are entertaining enough. But, this book, (and the series), strikes me as just right. The setup, (that Tesla left behind a portal to all of the other multiverses, our slacker heroes found it, and now they perform multiverse saving missions for the FBI), is basic, sound and only as complicated as you want it to be. The author doesn't struggle to make sense of or to justify the setup. It's just there as a frame upon which to hang an infinite number of amusingly daft and complicated plots and sequels. Along the same lines, the rom-com is mild and mostly focused on the com, the buddy angle is comfortable and taken for granted, and the adventure is always urgent, apocalyptic, and inventively silly.
What nails this for me is the characters, the dialogue, and the dry, deadpan fourth wall confidences shared by the narrator with the reader. Our heroes, Chip and Pete, are introduced as high end Beavis and Butthead types. But, the author early on drops the stoooopid aspects of their characters, and what we see are two characters who are smart, observant, and witty, but choose to present themselves to the world as slackers and mooks. That way we get some low, slapstick comedy and some very witty and clever high end stuff, and indeed we never know which we'll get in any particular situation. When faced by a purple extraterrestrial maneater we don't know if Chip will fart, quote Carl Jung, or faint, (or all three), and the unpredictability of which direction the joke will come from, (the purple maneater might drop a bon mot as well), is a big part of the fun.
And the point here is fun. None of the humor is especially edgy or political or has any point other than to make a joke, kid one of the characters, or bump the story along. There are actually some touching scenes, and they are dropped in subtly and judiciously in order to keep the story grounded, keep us invested in the characters, and make the heroes heavy enough that they don't float away into silly land. And, the author is perfectly happy to wander off and give us a very funny scene, (say, Chip's civil wedding ceremony), that is almost completely non-essential to the book, but perfectly formed to serve as a cheery break in the action. This also serves to make the whole book feel like it's a story being told over a few beers to a bunch of friends.
This book is a sequel to "Where the Hell is Tesla?", but I think it's more fun. All of the original characters have returned and the quantum multi-verse portal thingy is still where we left it. The first book was weighed down a bit by the need to introduce Chip and Pete and to set up the whole Tesla's portal premise. Here, we hop right into the laughs and the action. I was afraid that the whole thing might feel old or labored in a sequel, but for me the energy, cheerfulness, and clever humor was as fresh and engaging as before. And that's nice to know.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
There are a fair number of scifi based humorous buddy adventures out there, and lots of them are entertaining enough. But, this book, (and the series), strikes me as just right. The setup, (that Tesla left behind a portal to all of the other multiverses, our slacker heroes found it, and now they perform multiverse saving missions for the FBI), is basic, sound and only as complicated as you want it to be. The author doesn't struggle to make sense of or to justify the setup. It's just there as a frame upon which to hang an infinite number of amusingly daft and complicated plots and sequels. Along the same lines, the rom-com is mild and mostly focused on the com, the buddy angle is comfortable and taken for granted, and the adventure is always urgent, apocalyptic, and inventively silly.
What nails this for me is the characters, the dialogue, and the dry, deadpan fourth wall confidences shared by the narrator with the reader. Our heroes, Chip and Pete, are introduced as high end Beavis and Butthead types. But, the author early on drops the stoooopid aspects of their characters, and what we see are two characters who are smart, observant, and witty, but choose to present themselves to the world as slackers and mooks. That way we get some low, slapstick comedy and some very witty and clever high end stuff, and indeed we never know which we'll get in any particular situation. When faced by a purple extraterrestrial maneater we don't know if Chip will fart, quote Carl Jung, or faint, (or all three), and the unpredictability of which direction the joke will come from, (the purple maneater might drop a bon mot as well), is a big part of the fun.
And the point here is fun. None of the humor is especially edgy or political or has any point other than to make a joke, kid one of the characters, or bump the story along. There are actually some touching scenes, and they are dropped in subtly and judiciously in order to keep the story grounded, keep us invested in the characters, and make the heroes heavy enough that they don't float away into silly land. And, the author is perfectly happy to wander off and give us a very funny scene, (say, Chip's civil wedding ceremony), that is almost completely non-essential to the book, but perfectly formed to serve as a cheery break in the action. This also serves to make the whole book feel like it's a story being told over a few beers to a bunch of friends.
This book is a sequel to "Where the Hell is Tesla?", but I think it's more fun. All of the original characters have returned and the quantum multi-verse portal thingy is still where we left it. The first book was weighed down a bit by the need to introduce Chip and Pete and to set up the whole Tesla's portal premise. Here, we hop right into the laughs and the action. I was afraid that the whole thing might feel old or labored in a sequel, but for me the energy, cheerfulness, and clever humor was as fresh and engaging as before. And that's nice to know.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
September 9, 2017
I just so enjoy the characters, the outrageous plot, and the snappy dialogue. The sheer exuberance displayed by lead character Chip, his damn-the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead approach to plot twists (plus the crying, cussing, vomiting that accompany it), carry me along like a tidal wave. The underlying 'love is all' message of both books in this series never gets sappy, old, or hackneyed. And I never tire of Pete, Tesla, Gina, Bobo, and other fellow travelers as they courageously forge ahead (or bumble ahead) of troubles and catastrophes.
February 10, 2019
Mini-Review:
Chip is not a hero. He's kind of a moron. That's not accurate either. Chip is a regular joe that ends up getting into crazy inter-dimensional adventures. Pretty sure I would never be able to "read" these books but they're 90% fun to listen to. There's 10% of this is really dumb but ignore it.
If you're in the mood for a goofball story, this is it. There's a good story at the core of the insanity + stupid shit. A solid story for some laughs and groans.
Chip is not a hero. He's kind of a moron. That's not accurate either. Chip is a regular joe that ends up getting into crazy inter-dimensional adventures. Pretty sure I would never be able to "read" these books but they're 90% fun to listen to. There's 10% of this is really dumb but ignore it.
If you're in the mood for a goofball story, this is it. There's a good story at the core of the insanity + stupid shit. A solid story for some laughs and groans.
December 12, 2018
4.5 out of 5 - Hilarious sequel to Where the Hell is Tesla
Don't Touch the Blue Stuff picks up from where Where the Hell is Tesla left off. I recommend that you read that book first as things will make a lot more sense, although the multiverse can be nonsensical at the best of times.
It is hard not to love Rob Dircks' Telsa series. The stories are imaginative, full of heart, and the characters engaging. Who wouldn't want to spend time with Chip, Nikola, and friends?
In this installment, Chip is reunited with his true love, Julie, and they have just been married. However, the ceremony is interrupted by the FBI and Chip finds himself separated once again from Julie as he and his boss, FBI agent Gina Phillips, race to rescue Chip's friend Pete who may have been consumed by a strange substance called the Blue Juice. It may be only a matter of time before the entire multiverse is consumed by the juice and they need to stop that from happening. Gina is a fun character and the relationship between Chip and Gina is most entertaining.
What I appreciate about this series is that you enter into different worlds by passing through doors along an infinite hallway and as each door is opened, the reader is treated to a new surprise. There is a lot of creative stuff going on in the novel, all very entertaining and never boring. It is like a magician reaching into her hat and pulling out one wonderful surprise after another.
Another wonderful part of the experience is the narration. Rob Dircks is not only the author but the narrator. Sometimes, having the author also do the narration is less than an optimal experience. However, Rob hits it out of the park again and I can't imagine anyone else doing it better. He has an extensive repertoire of character voices which bring the story to life.
Disclaimer: This book would have been reviewed earlier, but I was unleashing my sloth. That is another story all together.
Don't Touch the Blue Stuff picks up from where Where the Hell is Tesla left off. I recommend that you read that book first as things will make a lot more sense, although the multiverse can be nonsensical at the best of times.
It is hard not to love Rob Dircks' Telsa series. The stories are imaginative, full of heart, and the characters engaging. Who wouldn't want to spend time with Chip, Nikola, and friends?
In this installment, Chip is reunited with his true love, Julie, and they have just been married. However, the ceremony is interrupted by the FBI and Chip finds himself separated once again from Julie as he and his boss, FBI agent Gina Phillips, race to rescue Chip's friend Pete who may have been consumed by a strange substance called the Blue Juice. It may be only a matter of time before the entire multiverse is consumed by the juice and they need to stop that from happening. Gina is a fun character and the relationship between Chip and Gina is most entertaining.
What I appreciate about this series is that you enter into different worlds by passing through doors along an infinite hallway and as each door is opened, the reader is treated to a new surprise. There is a lot of creative stuff going on in the novel, all very entertaining and never boring. It is like a magician reaching into her hat and pulling out one wonderful surprise after another.
Another wonderful part of the experience is the narration. Rob Dircks is not only the author but the narrator. Sometimes, having the author also do the narration is less than an optimal experience. However, Rob hits it out of the park again and I can't imagine anyone else doing it better. He has an extensive repertoire of character voices which bring the story to life.
Disclaimer: This book would have been reviewed earlier, but I was unleashing my sloth. That is another story all together.
September 13, 2017
I received the audio version free in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars. I relistened to the first book before going in to this one so I had a fresh comparison and because it was a pretty short listen anyway. Both books are told in the same fashion. Emails from Chip to Julie. For me this is a love hate style. I love the authors mixing it up and using a different style for his books. Adds a freshness to things. On the other hand by the end of the book I tend to be tired of the action breaking for email. From, to, date, re. Etc. Still I wouldn't want to take away the books uniqueness by leaving the email style. Like I said. Love hate. If you enjoyed the first book you will also enjoy this one. I did feel this was a stronger story. It seemed more focused to the problem at hand of saving Pete and figuring out the blue stuff. If you read the first you may know what I mean when I say it kind of rambled on. I mean they had to find the way out of the ITA back to the correct dimension. While doing so Chip was constantly sidetracked reminiscing old times to Julie. This story has some of that, but not near as much it seemed. Still all these memories add to the humor of the book. Again there is an abundance of profanity which is fine with me but may not be for all. If you were offended by the humor or language in the first then this isn't going to work for you. If you enjoyed all that came in the first then dive into this one straight away. Again the author narrates his own story and again does great. In fact I didn't even realize the author narrated the first book I just thought it was, well, a narrator.
3.5 stars. I relistened to the first book before going in to this one so I had a fresh comparison and because it was a pretty short listen anyway. Both books are told in the same fashion. Emails from Chip to Julie. For me this is a love hate style. I love the authors mixing it up and using a different style for his books. Adds a freshness to things. On the other hand by the end of the book I tend to be tired of the action breaking for email. From, to, date, re. Etc. Still I wouldn't want to take away the books uniqueness by leaving the email style. Like I said. Love hate. If you enjoyed the first book you will also enjoy this one. I did feel this was a stronger story. It seemed more focused to the problem at hand of saving Pete and figuring out the blue stuff. If you read the first you may know what I mean when I say it kind of rambled on. I mean they had to find the way out of the ITA back to the correct dimension. While doing so Chip was constantly sidetracked reminiscing old times to Julie. This story has some of that, but not near as much it seemed. Still all these memories add to the humor of the book. Again there is an abundance of profanity which is fine with me but may not be for all. If you were offended by the humor or language in the first then this isn't going to work for you. If you enjoyed all that came in the first then dive into this one straight away. Again the author narrates his own story and again does great. In fact I didn't even realize the author narrated the first book I just thought it was, well, a narrator.
January 30, 2021
Rob Dircks' follow up to Where the Hell is Telsa? is a wild ride from start to finish. Chip Collins must once gain rise to the occasion by plunging into Blue Stuff, a sentient substance that is spreading to all the dimensions Chip and his best friend Pete discovered in the first book.
All the while Chip is on this journey, he engages in the type of dialogue that made Dircks' first book such a fun reading experience. For example, Chips is having a telepathic conversion with ABA (not the Swedish pop group):
I try like hell not to think about my dark secrets. Don’t think about your dark secrets Chip, Don’t think about your dark secrets, Chip.
~~Relax, kid. I’m just funnin’ witcha. You really gotta want me to know whatchya thinkin’. That’s how it works. I can’t just go pullin’ shit outta you willy nilly.~~
“Wait. How do you know English? And why do you sound like you come from Staten Island?”
~~The language thing, whateva, it’s just thoughts, language doesn’t matta. Kapeesh? And the accent? I just like it, I don’t know, you were pushing out the thought about your exterminator guy Phil. He’s from Staten Island. I like it.~~
Dircks, Rob. Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! (Where the Hell is Tesla? Book 2) (pp. 115-116). Goldfinch Publishing. Kindle Edition.
By the way, ABA is the King of the Cockroaches
This book never takes itself too seriously, and that is great when I want entertainment and not a morality tale.
Great SF comedy, something we need in these times when everything is so serious.
All the while Chip is on this journey, he engages in the type of dialogue that made Dircks' first book such a fun reading experience. For example, Chips is having a telepathic conversion with ABA (not the Swedish pop group):
I try like hell not to think about my dark secrets. Don’t think about your dark secrets Chip, Don’t think about your dark secrets, Chip.
~~Relax, kid. I’m just funnin’ witcha. You really gotta want me to know whatchya thinkin’. That’s how it works. I can’t just go pullin’ shit outta you willy nilly.~~
“Wait. How do you know English? And why do you sound like you come from Staten Island?”
~~The language thing, whateva, it’s just thoughts, language doesn’t matta. Kapeesh? And the accent? I just like it, I don’t know, you were pushing out the thought about your exterminator guy Phil. He’s from Staten Island. I like it.~~
Dircks, Rob. Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! (Where the Hell is Tesla? Book 2) (pp. 115-116). Goldfinch Publishing. Kindle Edition.
By the way, ABA is the King of the Cockroaches
This book never takes itself too seriously, and that is great when I want entertainment and not a morality tale.
Great SF comedy, something we need in these times when everything is so serious.
April 10, 2018
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
How great is this book??? Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! is the sequel to one of my favourite books, Where The Hell Is Tesla? and it is just as good as its predecessor.
What I really like about this series is the way it's written. It feels very much like lad humour, like a kinda grown up version of The Inbetweeners meets the Big Bang Theory. Obviously the main character is awful at science (he always failed chemistry, you know) but you do have Nikola Tesla meeting Albert Einstein meeting a different Nikola Tesla, so what more could you want from the science involved in this book? It was incredible!
I also really like how the majority of it is written in the form of emails, mostly from Chip to Julie. I think it's really fun, especially when they won't send in the ITA. I wouldn't like to receive the amount of emails Julie does at the end of each novel when Chip has wifi again.
I also think that Chip is a very likable main character. He's funny, he's zany and a lot of the time actually says what a lot of us would be thinking. Though if I ended up covered in cockroaches, I wouldn't be as calm about it as he was.
How great is this book??? Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! is the sequel to one of my favourite books, Where The Hell Is Tesla? and it is just as good as its predecessor.
What I really like about this series is the way it's written. It feels very much like lad humour, like a kinda grown up version of The Inbetweeners meets the Big Bang Theory. Obviously the main character is awful at science (he always failed chemistry, you know) but you do have Nikola Tesla meeting Albert Einstein meeting a different Nikola Tesla, so what more could you want from the science involved in this book? It was incredible!
I also really like how the majority of it is written in the form of emails, mostly from Chip to Julie. I think it's really fun, especially when they won't send in the ITA. I wouldn't like to receive the amount of emails Julie does at the end of each novel when Chip has wifi again.
I also think that Chip is a very likable main character. He's funny, he's zany and a lot of the time actually says what a lot of us would be thinking. Though if I ended up covered in cockroaches, I wouldn't be as calm about it as he was.
May 2, 2019
I love this series. This book is, in my opinion, as great as the first one. I love that through this process we get to watch Chip grow into himself. I can totally relate to him. I can't wait for more. So great. Also, totally love that the writer reads the audiobook. It isn't always the right choice but in this case, I feel like he tells it the way it's supposed to be told, and it makes the whole experience so much better.
September 27, 2017
4.5 stars
Rob Dircks seems to always hit all the right things to make a great novel. Since this is a sequel to a novel that came out a couple of years ago, he perfectly addresses this by adding in a great little review. He doesn’t shy away from “breaking the fourth wall” and addresses the readers directly. I like this approach as it gives a nice personal touch to the book.
Just like the first book, Where the Hell is Tesla?, this was a fun and silly sci-fi novel that explores alternate dimensions with famous former scientists (Tesla and Einstein) that form a rag-tag team to solve/defeat a serious problem.
Warning: There is a fair amount of profanity in this book. While some may think it is unnecessary, it is partially what makes the character of Chip.
One thing I keep coming back to is how “personal” this book is. I am not sure how to best explain this. Chip starts to get really serious about his life and future life decisions and the book reflects this tone really well (especially the audio version). It’s not just that though. We really get a good idea of who these characters are with great character-building that makes this a complete novel and a fantastic sequel.
Stray thoughts: (these do not have much to do with the book, just my thoughts. Because of this, this section will not be included in the Audible or Amazon reviews. I’ll also put in spoiler tags just so this review won’t be too long.)
Audiobook narrator Rob Dircks rating: 4.5 stars
Rob is great at narrating books. I almost think he could quit his job as a writer and go full-time into the audio-narrator industry! You can tell he takes lots of time and care into making sure the audio production is very well done and the characters are living, breathing beings. His accents/voices for Tesla AND Einstein were terrific!
Rob Dircks seems to always hit all the right things to make a great novel. Since this is a sequel to a novel that came out a couple of years ago, he perfectly addresses this by adding in a great little review. He doesn’t shy away from “breaking the fourth wall” and addresses the readers directly. I like this approach as it gives a nice personal touch to the book.
Just like the first book, Where the Hell is Tesla?, this was a fun and silly sci-fi novel that explores alternate dimensions with famous former scientists (Tesla and Einstein) that form a rag-tag team to solve/defeat a serious problem.
Warning: There is a fair amount of profanity in this book. While some may think it is unnecessary, it is partially what makes the character of Chip.
One thing I keep coming back to is how “personal” this book is. I am not sure how to best explain this. Chip starts to get really serious about his life and future life decisions and the book reflects this tone really well (especially the audio version). It’s not just that though. We really get a good idea of who these characters are with great character-building that makes this a complete novel and a fantastic sequel.
Stray thoughts: (these do not have much to do with the book, just my thoughts. Because of this, this section will not be included in the Audible or Amazon reviews. I’ll also put in spoiler tags just so this review won’t be too long.)
Audiobook narrator Rob Dircks rating: 4.5 stars
Rob is great at narrating books. I almost think he could quit his job as a writer and go full-time into the audio-narrator industry! You can tell he takes lots of time and care into making sure the audio production is very well done and the characters are living, breathing beings. His accents/voices for Tesla AND Einstein were terrific!
January 3, 2019
Shit is crazy don't ask
August 7, 2019
Love this book. Easy and enjoyable read. Can't wait to read the third part.
June 20, 2021
Book 2, Chip & GiGi get married.
John Dies at the End meets MIB on a quest through time to save the multiverse from the Blue Juice with Nikola Tesla’s help via his magic journal.
Sci-fi Nerd fan service 💯
If you like wacky, goofy, humorous sci-fi this could be the book for you.
“Everyone drinks Moshpit, tastes just like Budweiser.”
Abba the cockroach king ….
I enjoyed this sequel. The path of painless pampering. Funny, silly, easy, quick, nonsense 🤗
Author reads the book, fantastic! I look forward to book 3!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
John Dies at the End meets MIB on a quest through time to save the multiverse from the Blue Juice with Nikola Tesla’s help via his magic journal.
Sci-fi Nerd fan service 💯
If you like wacky, goofy, humorous sci-fi this could be the book for you.
“Everyone drinks Moshpit, tastes just like Budweiser.”
Abba the cockroach king ….
I enjoyed this sequel. The path of painless pampering. Funny, silly, easy, quick, nonsense 🤗
Author reads the book, fantastic! I look forward to book 3!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
April 20, 2019
Oh Chip...... Dear Rob, I LOVE your books. Please keep writing, so I can keep reading!
December 17, 2022
My Audible review: This is copied and pasted from my Where The Hell Is Tesla? review for obvious reasons: I can't convey in words how entertaining Rob Dircks' narration, inflection, emotion, and energy is. I suspect a lot of this is tied to the stories he is reading are ones he wrote, but that doesn't change my hope that he's hired to narrate many other stories. If excessive use of "curse words" would put you off, you might be better served steering clear of this series. Dircks doesn't shy away from the vocabulary that his characters prefer.
So, we're on a sequel to a comedy / science fiction farce, huh? I guess we shouldn't expect the same quality, since the set-up was covered in the first story. That's fine. We'll just treat this review like it's for a sequel and not a stand-alone novel, because this story would be somewhat difficult to process without first reading it's predecessor.
I have no complaints about the obvious "How can I put Chip in the same situation as in the first book?" solution. Writing a story in the format of emails that aren't being sent is pretty limiting on how the protagonist could fall into the same problem. I'm not going to take any points away for that. Now, "Does Chip need to be in the same situation as the first book?" question is more valuable. I would say no, but the writing style would take an abrupt turn that some listeners might not be able to manage. If you stroll into this sequel not expecting it to be mildly predictable at the start, you're fooling yourself.
Replacing Pete with Gina isn't ideal, but the story needed more characters than the core three (and Julie, the audience). Gina is a solid foil for Chip's antics, so I'm happy to have her around.
Now, I do have a few complaints about this novel: The Julie / Bobo introduction scene probably should have had a little more attention. It felt like it was supposed to be a touching scene and a comedic fumbling at the same time. Neither of those feelings really hit home. Also, lifting out historical figures works if it's necessary for the story. Doing it twice feels a touch gimmicky. If a new one is added in each subsequent novel, I will be disappointed.
Does this sequel retain the fun of the first? Not really. The audience is already in love with the characters, so they'll be on board for more, even if it doesn't have the same energy. Pete as a damsel in distress is a fair decision on Dircks' part. Pete probably wouldn't work as a solo protagonist and using a female character would be too cliche. This does reduce the amount of story spent on Chip interacting with Pete, but Dircks doesn't waste any time when they are together.
I preface this analogy with a warning that it may seem insulting, but hear me out: This book reminds me of A.I. The story really could have ended at a certain point, then another novel could have resolved the second plot. I suspect the length wasn't enough and Dircks made the right call in not trying to stretch what was covered in the first plot, so he simply added a second one to solve the problem. This start-stop-start-stop is a little jarring, but the main issue is that the second adventure should really have been more epic than the first, based on the obstacles faced by the characters. It almost felt like a "I can't end this with a looming horror still present, so I have to resolve it before the end."
TLDR: Don't Touch The Blue Stuff! is almost as good as Where The Hell Is Tesla? and Dircks' narrating is a big part of that. I'm still on board for the next book.
I would categorize this story as: A-sequel-that-needed-a-little-more-time-in-the-oven-but-is-still-really-enjoyable
So, we're on a sequel to a comedy / science fiction farce, huh? I guess we shouldn't expect the same quality, since the set-up was covered in the first story. That's fine. We'll just treat this review like it's for a sequel and not a stand-alone novel, because this story would be somewhat difficult to process without first reading it's predecessor.
I have no complaints about the obvious "How can I put Chip in the same situation as in the first book?" solution. Writing a story in the format of emails that aren't being sent is pretty limiting on how the protagonist could fall into the same problem. I'm not going to take any points away for that. Now, "Does Chip need to be in the same situation as the first book?" question is more valuable. I would say no, but the writing style would take an abrupt turn that some listeners might not be able to manage. If you stroll into this sequel not expecting it to be mildly predictable at the start, you're fooling yourself.
Replacing Pete with Gina isn't ideal, but the story needed more characters than the core three (and Julie, the audience). Gina is a solid foil for Chip's antics, so I'm happy to have her around.
Now, I do have a few complaints about this novel: The Julie / Bobo introduction scene probably should have had a little more attention. It felt like it was supposed to be a touching scene and a comedic fumbling at the same time. Neither of those feelings really hit home. Also, lifting out historical figures works if it's necessary for the story. Doing it twice feels a touch gimmicky. If a new one is added in each subsequent novel, I will be disappointed.
Does this sequel retain the fun of the first? Not really. The audience is already in love with the characters, so they'll be on board for more, even if it doesn't have the same energy. Pete as a damsel in distress is a fair decision on Dircks' part. Pete probably wouldn't work as a solo protagonist and using a female character would be too cliche. This does reduce the amount of story spent on Chip interacting with Pete, but Dircks doesn't waste any time when they are together.
I preface this analogy with a warning that it may seem insulting, but hear me out: This book reminds me of A.I. The story really could have ended at a certain point, then another novel could have resolved the second plot. I suspect the length wasn't enough and Dircks made the right call in not trying to stretch what was covered in the first plot, so he simply added a second one to solve the problem. This start-stop-start-stop is a little jarring, but the main issue is that the second adventure should really have been more epic than the first, based on the obstacles faced by the characters. It almost felt like a "I can't end this with a looming horror still present, so I have to resolve it before the end."
TLDR: Don't Touch The Blue Stuff! is almost as good as Where The Hell Is Tesla? and Dircks' narrating is a big part of that. I'm still on board for the next book.
I would categorize this story as: A-sequel-that-needed-a-little-more-time-in-the-oven-but-is-still-really-enjoyable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2017
*Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Try the blue stuff, it's delicious.
If you liked the first book you will like this one too. It's more of the same, which in this case isn't a bad thing at all. There are some good chuckles and a fun story.
Bring nachos for the ending.
The author did a great job with the narration.
Try the blue stuff, it's delicious.
If you liked the first book you will like this one too. It's more of the same, which in this case isn't a bad thing at all. There are some good chuckles and a fun story.
Bring nachos for the ending.
The author did a great job with the narration.
September 3, 2017
As good as the first book in this series. I would recommend both. Comparisons to Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett spring to mind.
An entertaining example of a science fiction story that uses humor and does not take itself too seriously. Original and unique
An entertaining example of a science fiction story that uses humor and does not take itself too seriously. Original and unique
February 13, 2022
The hilarious follow-up to Where The Hell Is Tesla? Another compulsively readable (or in my case, listenable--Rob actually reads both audiobooks and he's a terrific performer!) comic sci-fi multidimensional masterpiece. Seriously, you guys need to check out this author! I'm moving right on to his next book--the only one I haven't read--and now, like many of his readers, I'll soon be stuck waiting and jonesing for his next! :)
May 17, 2018
I always think this is one of the weirdest books ever. But I find myself thinking about it regularly and couldn't help myself, I had to try the second.
Rob is just as silly in this book as the first. Keep doing what you're doing, man, I can't seem to get enough of it.
Rob is just as silly in this book as the first. Keep doing what you're doing, man, I can't seem to get enough of it.
September 16, 2017
“Don't Touch the Blue Stuff!” is the second book from Rob Dircks in his wonderfully witty and comical “Where the Hell is Tesla?” series. Not only is he the author of the piece, he is also the narrator of the audiobook edition; which in my opinion, is a good thing. Not only is the book well written for its genre, the narration was professionally done as well. All around, if you like wacky, zany, and downright fun science fiction books, I do not think you can go wrong with the latest book in a series which I hope will continue to grow over time. When a book opens rather early with the phrase, “Trust us, we are the FBI.”, what could possibly go wrong? I want to include a quick plug for Goldfinch Publishing here in this review. If you enjoy any of Mr. Dircks’ books or if you are looking for some free audiobook short stories, visit their website and sign up to be on their mailing list. It is worth your time and effort for the audiobook shorts alone.
If you have listened to the first book in the series titled “Where the Hell is Tesla?”, then you know exactly what you are in for when you pick up the second book. With that said, I believe in this book you will get a bigger and more complex story from the first. Much of the fun of the first book was the discovery and science, where this book is more focused on accomplishing specific goals but it takes place in a similar location and time. Again, I think this was a good direction to take the book and for me it kept it quite interesting. You may be asking, can I read this book without reading the previous one? I would highly recommend you go through the first book prior to picking this one up as it references many events or encounters from the first. So, go and read the first book knowing that the second one is already available in audiobook format. That way, you will be able to jump right into this book when you are done with the first.
The book gives us all the regular cast of characters you came to know and love from the first, but there are many new, strange, and exciting encounters yet to be discovered in its pages. We get our beloved BoBo back, which was one of my favorite characters. But you will also see the inclusion of a few additional famous people from history, the purple people eater, and our favorite FBI agent. You will get a glimpse introduced to a hoard, family, gaggle, not really sure what you would call it, of cockroaches. Mr. Dircks also does a good job of including references to pop culture by poking fun at popular movies or books such as: Terminator, Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and even Goodnight Moon; which for many with kids is a revered piece or literature. And, like with the first book, this one also is told mostly by way of email communications across multidimensional universes; yep, no way to get away from all that SPAM email even in such a place.
Let me turn your attention to the book’s narration. Again, this book is narrated by the author himself. Often this is not a good thing, but I like listening to Mr. Dircks’ rich, clear, and crisp voice. He is able to successfully narrate the many characters found in the pages of the book, and I do enjoy the voice he gave to Tesla. The audio was well produced and I was unable to recall any specific issues or inconsistencies while listening. I really like when the combination of the same author and narrator works as I feel the story can be told better because the narrator knows the material and why it was written the way it was.
Not only does the book contain humor and science, it does have some aspects of character relationships, light romance, and tight bonding friendships. When I reviewed he first book, I said it was like a modern day “Bill and Ted’s Adventure”, and this book continues that crazy feel. Mr. Dircks’ writing for this book, not intended as an insult, reminds me of the dog from the movie “UP!” and his short attention span; squirrel… The book at times can feel like it is all over the place, but in the end, it all comes together into a fun and humorous way.
For parents or younger readers, I would say this book is geared more towards mature audiences. The book contains a fair amount of vulgar language. It includes some topics which may not be suitable for younger readers along with a few scientific concepts that may be difficult for younger readers to comprehend. If you are at all offended by heavy use of offensive language, I would not recommend this book to you.
In summary, let me say, multidimensional universes can be complicated however Mr. Dircks makes it fun in a way that appeals to a larger audience. The book is very light-hearted and comes in at about six and a half hours of audio. If you enjoyed the first, grab this book and give it a listen. If you have not, and you like comical science fiction books, get the first in the series and then pick this one up.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
If you have listened to the first book in the series titled “Where the Hell is Tesla?”, then you know exactly what you are in for when you pick up the second book. With that said, I believe in this book you will get a bigger and more complex story from the first. Much of the fun of the first book was the discovery and science, where this book is more focused on accomplishing specific goals but it takes place in a similar location and time. Again, I think this was a good direction to take the book and for me it kept it quite interesting. You may be asking, can I read this book without reading the previous one? I would highly recommend you go through the first book prior to picking this one up as it references many events or encounters from the first. So, go and read the first book knowing that the second one is already available in audiobook format. That way, you will be able to jump right into this book when you are done with the first.
The book gives us all the regular cast of characters you came to know and love from the first, but there are many new, strange, and exciting encounters yet to be discovered in its pages. We get our beloved BoBo back, which was one of my favorite characters. But you will also see the inclusion of a few additional famous people from history, the purple people eater, and our favorite FBI agent. You will get a glimpse introduced to a hoard, family, gaggle, not really sure what you would call it, of cockroaches. Mr. Dircks also does a good job of including references to pop culture by poking fun at popular movies or books such as: Terminator, Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and even Goodnight Moon; which for many with kids is a revered piece or literature. And, like with the first book, this one also is told mostly by way of email communications across multidimensional universes; yep, no way to get away from all that SPAM email even in such a place.
Let me turn your attention to the book’s narration. Again, this book is narrated by the author himself. Often this is not a good thing, but I like listening to Mr. Dircks’ rich, clear, and crisp voice. He is able to successfully narrate the many characters found in the pages of the book, and I do enjoy the voice he gave to Tesla. The audio was well produced and I was unable to recall any specific issues or inconsistencies while listening. I really like when the combination of the same author and narrator works as I feel the story can be told better because the narrator knows the material and why it was written the way it was.
Not only does the book contain humor and science, it does have some aspects of character relationships, light romance, and tight bonding friendships. When I reviewed he first book, I said it was like a modern day “Bill and Ted’s Adventure”, and this book continues that crazy feel. Mr. Dircks’ writing for this book, not intended as an insult, reminds me of the dog from the movie “UP!” and his short attention span; squirrel… The book at times can feel like it is all over the place, but in the end, it all comes together into a fun and humorous way.
For parents or younger readers, I would say this book is geared more towards mature audiences. The book contains a fair amount of vulgar language. It includes some topics which may not be suitable for younger readers along with a few scientific concepts that may be difficult for younger readers to comprehend. If you are at all offended by heavy use of offensive language, I would not recommend this book to you.
In summary, let me say, multidimensional universes can be complicated however Mr. Dircks makes it fun in a way that appeals to a larger audience. The book is very light-hearted and comes in at about six and a half hours of audio. If you enjoyed the first, grab this book and give it a listen. If you have not, and you like comical science fiction books, get the first in the series and then pick this one up.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
May 21, 2019
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
It's hard to find good, well-written humorous science fiction. There are a few authors still writing in this genre that are worth reading and Rob Dirks is definitely one to look for.
Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! is a follow-up to Dirks' Where the Hell is Tesla? which I enjoyed quite a bit.
Safe at home after saving the inter-dimensional multiverse, Chip Collins is about to marry his love, Julie when the FBI arrive to tell him that he's needed for another mission in the multiverse. Having saved life as we know it once, he's the dimension's best chance at surviving a new threat from beyond the doors. Chip and FBI agent Gina Phillips will work with Nicola Tesla to enter the multiverse to save Chip's friend Pete who has been enveloped in a strange substance called Blue Juice. But Pete may only be the first to fall to the stuff ... if Gina and Chip and Tesla can't find a way to send the goo back to wherever it came from, the Blue Juice will take over the planet, one squishy human at a time.
The book is full of quirky characters, such as 'Bobo' - a furry, three-foot alien that can regenerate himself like a starfish.
Rob Dirks is certainly playful and not afraid to reach low for a laugh. And that's the one problem I had with this volume ... I felt like too many things were included simply for a laugh rather than as an oddball way to twist the plot. In fact the goal here (get rid of the blue goo) seems far-reaching and secondary to ... well, to anything else we can throw at the moment. The first book was an adventure with a clear goal ... get back home. This book appears to have a clear goal, but really it's just a means to put Chip back in his Wonderland for a new adventure. The difference seems minor, but it was enough to have me wonder why we had so many letters home that didn't deal with the plot.
One other difference between this book and the previous was that I actually read this book and I listened to author Rob Dirks read the first. Dirks clearly had as much fun narrating as he did writing and his enthusiasm was infectious. I wonder if I were to listen to this second book if I might not like it more.
Looking for a good book? Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! by Rob Dirks is a follow-up to Where the Hell is Tesla? and is face-paced sci-fi comedy, reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Ron Goulart and good for a quick read if you enjoy a guffaw or two with your inter-dimensional rifts.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It's hard to find good, well-written humorous science fiction. There are a few authors still writing in this genre that are worth reading and Rob Dirks is definitely one to look for.
Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! is a follow-up to Dirks' Where the Hell is Tesla? which I enjoyed quite a bit.
Safe at home after saving the inter-dimensional multiverse, Chip Collins is about to marry his love, Julie when the FBI arrive to tell him that he's needed for another mission in the multiverse. Having saved life as we know it once, he's the dimension's best chance at surviving a new threat from beyond the doors. Chip and FBI agent Gina Phillips will work with Nicola Tesla to enter the multiverse to save Chip's friend Pete who has been enveloped in a strange substance called Blue Juice. But Pete may only be the first to fall to the stuff ... if Gina and Chip and Tesla can't find a way to send the goo back to wherever it came from, the Blue Juice will take over the planet, one squishy human at a time.
The book is full of quirky characters, such as 'Bobo' - a furry, three-foot alien that can regenerate himself like a starfish.
Rob Dirks is certainly playful and not afraid to reach low for a laugh. And that's the one problem I had with this volume ... I felt like too many things were included simply for a laugh rather than as an oddball way to twist the plot. In fact the goal here (get rid of the blue goo) seems far-reaching and secondary to ... well, to anything else we can throw at the moment. The first book was an adventure with a clear goal ... get back home. This book appears to have a clear goal, but really it's just a means to put Chip back in his Wonderland for a new adventure. The difference seems minor, but it was enough to have me wonder why we had so many letters home that didn't deal with the plot.
One other difference between this book and the previous was that I actually read this book and I listened to author Rob Dirks read the first. Dirks clearly had as much fun narrating as he did writing and his enthusiasm was infectious. I wonder if I were to listen to this second book if I might not like it more.
Looking for a good book? Don't Touch the Blue Stuff! by Rob Dirks is a follow-up to Where the Hell is Tesla? and is face-paced sci-fi comedy, reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Ron Goulart and good for a quick read if you enjoy a guffaw or two with your inter-dimensional rifts.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2017
Note: Even though this is Book 2 in the series, it works fine as a stand alone.
Chip’s at it again! He was very fun in Where the Hell Is Tesla? and he’s just as fun in this book. The humor has carried over well even as the author added in a little seriousness. Pete has gone missing and Julie has big news for Chip that he hears just before being swept off by the FBI to assist in this latest problem with the inter-dimensions.
Agent Gina Phillips gives Chip a much needed hand throughout this adventure. She’s sometimes brutal but sometimes laughing (at Chip’s expense) and she make a great ally and would be a horrible enemy. Honestly, I am hardpressed to say whether Chip or Gina is my favorite character. Toss in some great minds like Tesla and Einstein and I was a very happy camper.
Bobo puts in an appearance early on and then again later in the story. He’s a contributing character even though he can only speak in rhymes. Then there’s Pete who has gone missing and the mysterious Blue Juice is suspected to be at fault. Indeed, all the dimensions everywhere may be in danger! Chip and Gina certainly have theirs hands full… at least until they meet a wise cockroach that provides some much needed answers. Yep! If you have any fear of large talking insects, then you may need to mentally gird your loins before launching into this book.
I loved the insects. That may just be me.
Everything worked up until the end of the the story… or so I thought. The tale really felt like it was wrapped up but I still had something like 2 hours left on this audiobook. Well, yes, there was a bit more adventure and world saving to be done. Gina needs to save a special person. Chip has to pretend to know it all as President. That was all good but it felt like a Chip short story or side novella that was added to the end of Don’t Touch the Blue Stuff! So, that’s not a bad thing necessarily; it just wasn’t expected.
All told, I like this book a little more than Where the Hell Is Tesla? because of Gina. She’s a fun character, being so serious much of the time. He ability to be both fed up with Chip and also protect him as ordered created many humorous situations. I think everyone needs a Bobo.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Rob Dircks continues to impress me with his narrating abilities. Once again, all the character voices were distinct and his female voices were believable. I also liked his accents (Serbian, German, Togolese, etc.) and felt they were well done. There were no technical issues with this recording.
Chip’s at it again! He was very fun in Where the Hell Is Tesla? and he’s just as fun in this book. The humor has carried over well even as the author added in a little seriousness. Pete has gone missing and Julie has big news for Chip that he hears just before being swept off by the FBI to assist in this latest problem with the inter-dimensions.
Agent Gina Phillips gives Chip a much needed hand throughout this adventure. She’s sometimes brutal but sometimes laughing (at Chip’s expense) and she make a great ally and would be a horrible enemy. Honestly, I am hardpressed to say whether Chip or Gina is my favorite character. Toss in some great minds like Tesla and Einstein and I was a very happy camper.
Bobo puts in an appearance early on and then again later in the story. He’s a contributing character even though he can only speak in rhymes. Then there’s Pete who has gone missing and the mysterious Blue Juice is suspected to be at fault. Indeed, all the dimensions everywhere may be in danger! Chip and Gina certainly have theirs hands full… at least until they meet a wise cockroach that provides some much needed answers. Yep! If you have any fear of large talking insects, then you may need to mentally gird your loins before launching into this book.
I loved the insects. That may just be me.
Everything worked up until the end of the the story… or so I thought. The tale really felt like it was wrapped up but I still had something like 2 hours left on this audiobook. Well, yes, there was a bit more adventure and world saving to be done. Gina needs to save a special person. Chip has to pretend to know it all as President. That was all good but it felt like a Chip short story or side novella that was added to the end of Don’t Touch the Blue Stuff! So, that’s not a bad thing necessarily; it just wasn’t expected.
All told, I like this book a little more than Where the Hell Is Tesla? because of Gina. She’s a fun character, being so serious much of the time. He ability to be both fed up with Chip and also protect him as ordered created many humorous situations. I think everyone needs a Bobo.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Rob Dircks continues to impress me with his narrating abilities. Once again, all the character voices were distinct and his female voices were believable. I also liked his accents (Serbian, German, Togolese, etc.) and felt they were well done. There were no technical issues with this recording.
November 9, 2017
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
Chip has a good life after the adventures in the previous book. He is finally back with Julie and they are planning to get married. But the wedding is suddenly interrupted because Pete, living in another dimension with Maggie, has disappeared. Chip will have to enter again the Interdimensional Transfer Apparatus, with Gina Phillips, her boss in the FBI, just to discover that Pete has been swallowed by a blue stuff. The situation is so dire that they will need Tesla’s assistance again.
This is a continuation of the previous book, and kind of conclusion to the story. It also was totally hilarious, with tons of absurd scenes and unique characters. Dircks has a powerful imagination to be able to come up with something like this.
This time I was able to connect better to the characters than in the previous book, and somehow I cared more for them. Gina was a nice addition to the story as Chip’s sidekick. She mostly can’t stand Chip, and enjoys making things difficult for him.
This book is also written in epistolary style, which is funny, since Chip knows beforehand that Julie will not be getting his emails until he is back in his original dimension.
I found this book light and refreshing, but as with the previous one, the book dragged a bit for me. It is not a long book by any means, but I think I soon reach my quota with this kind of humor.
Dircks’ narration was great again, and I wonder if he has contemplated the possibility of pursuing a career as narrator too, apart from writing books. There was nothing in his narration or audio production that could be called amateur. All voices were distinctive enough in a subtle way, his acting was superb, and he even sang several times!
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Chip has a good life after the adventures in the previous book. He is finally back with Julie and they are planning to get married. But the wedding is suddenly interrupted because Pete, living in another dimension with Maggie, has disappeared. Chip will have to enter again the Interdimensional Transfer Apparatus, with Gina Phillips, her boss in the FBI, just to discover that Pete has been swallowed by a blue stuff. The situation is so dire that they will need Tesla’s assistance again.
This is a continuation of the previous book, and kind of conclusion to the story. It also was totally hilarious, with tons of absurd scenes and unique characters. Dircks has a powerful imagination to be able to come up with something like this.
This time I was able to connect better to the characters than in the previous book, and somehow I cared more for them. Gina was a nice addition to the story as Chip’s sidekick. She mostly can’t stand Chip, and enjoys making things difficult for him.
This book is also written in epistolary style, which is funny, since Chip knows beforehand that Julie will not be getting his emails until he is back in his original dimension.
I found this book light and refreshing, but as with the previous one, the book dragged a bit for me. It is not a long book by any means, but I think I soon reach my quota with this kind of humor.
Dircks’ narration was great again, and I wonder if he has contemplated the possibility of pursuing a career as narrator too, apart from writing books. There was nothing in his narration or audio production that could be called amateur. All voices were distinctive enough in a subtle way, his acting was superb, and he even sang several times!
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2017
You never know with sequels... Fortunately, you don't have to worry about this one - Dircks' second in the Tesla series delivers every bit as well as the first (and if you haven't seen that review, look for it - I rave like a fangirl, teehee).
Chip and Pete and Bobo and Julie and Nikola are back - but not only are they back, they're back with a vengeance. The new adventure is even more madcap, yet still oddly relatable, than the first; somehow, Dircks' has this fantastic ability to take these guys that should, by rights, irritate the hell out of me (in real life, they would - Chip would be beyond irritating and Pete too perfect by half) and make me love them and cheer for them and hope beyond hope that they'll keep coming back for more...
The new additions to the cast - from a sanctimonious by-the-book FBI agent who turns out to have hidden depths, to a demigod cockroach with the soul of Mr. Miyagi and the voice/attitude of your best friend's Uncle Geno, to Einstein in all his wild-haired Teutonic glory - provide a slew of new opportunities for fabulously crafted snark and pratfalls. Oh, and surprisingly spot-on insights into the human condition that are delicately layered throughout in ways that you don't even notice until they're past you and the lesson is learned. And it's all delivered in the same balls-to-the-wall writing style that made the first book so entertaining.
There doesn't appear to be any mention of a third installment - I really hope that's oversight, because these characters and this world are too good to let go so soon...
My review copy was provided by SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America) through NetGalley. Check them out - they have some seriously talented writers!
Chip and Pete and Bobo and Julie and Nikola are back - but not only are they back, they're back with a vengeance. The new adventure is even more madcap, yet still oddly relatable, than the first; somehow, Dircks' has this fantastic ability to take these guys that should, by rights, irritate the hell out of me (in real life, they would - Chip would be beyond irritating and Pete too perfect by half) and make me love them and cheer for them and hope beyond hope that they'll keep coming back for more...
The new additions to the cast - from a sanctimonious by-the-book FBI agent who turns out to have hidden depths, to a demigod cockroach with the soul of Mr. Miyagi and the voice/attitude of your best friend's Uncle Geno, to Einstein in all his wild-haired Teutonic glory - provide a slew of new opportunities for fabulously crafted snark and pratfalls. Oh, and surprisingly spot-on insights into the human condition that are delicately layered throughout in ways that you don't even notice until they're past you and the lesson is learned. And it's all delivered in the same balls-to-the-wall writing style that made the first book so entertaining.
There doesn't appear to be any mention of a third installment - I really hope that's oversight, because these characters and this world are too good to let go so soon...
My review copy was provided by SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America) through NetGalley. Check them out - they have some seriously talented writers!
June 24, 2018
This was another weird-as wild ride with Chip, Pete, Gina, Tesla and Bobo. It's not so much the plot/story-line that's weird (though it is, no doubt) but with these books its the style of writing that makes them so different and enjoyable. You just get swept along with the action.
However, I'm left with soooo many questions, mainly resulting from the meeting with ABBA (a cockroach king imbued with essence of Bobo, not the Swedish pop group).
Now the other BIG thing to take away from book 2 is the introduction of the league of Pete's and interacting Tesla's.
I like these books, they are quirky, weird, and while you know you're going to get a happy ending, you never really know how you'll get there. Definitely will be on the look out for book 3.
However, I'm left with soooo many questions, mainly resulting from the meeting with ABBA (a cockroach king imbued with essence of Bobo, not the Swedish pop group).
Now the other BIG thing to take away from book 2 is the introduction of the league of Pete's and interacting Tesla's.
I like these books, they are quirky, weird, and while you know you're going to get a happy ending, you never really know how you'll get there. Definitely will be on the look out for book 3.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews