Party Night on Union Station

EarthCent Ambassador #10

by E.M. Foner

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.

Book Ten of EarthCent Ambassador. Start series with Book One, Date Night on Union Station.

Kelly heads to Earth for the first ever Conference of EarthCent Ambassadors, but while the cat's away, the mice will play.

Genres: Science Fiction, Humor, Fiction, Fantasy

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2016

About the author

I wrote Date Night on Union Station while taking a break from work on a science fiction epic I've been struggling with for years. The goal was to cheer myself up and to find out if there is still an audience for a science fiction comedy that gets its laughs from dialogue and funny situations rather than from gross-outs and shocks. As many readers have pointed out, the EarthCent series could be rated PG under the old fashioned system, no bloodshed, no graphic sex, no four letter words. And after years of imagining a galaxy for my epic in which multiple human civilizations are at war with each other, it did me a world of good to write about a galaxy where most people are just trying to make a living and find some joy in life. I received so many requests to extend the Date Night universe into a series that I put aside my epic for an extended period to write a sequel, Alien Night on Union Station. The events take place five years after the conclusion of Date Night, and the plot involves a mix of business, diplomacy, gaming and family relations. As a bonus, we finally get to meet Kelly's mother. After the positive response to Alien Night, I wrote a third book for the series, High Priest of Union Station, which is currently in the editing stage and due out in mid-October. I just started a book that extends the EarthCent galaxy with a different mission and cast of characters, though they may intersect at some point.

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to force myself to press forward on this one, reminding myself how much I’ve enjoyed the series, because, wow, it is very talky at the beginning as a LOT of stilted conversations with massive info dumps take place in the first few chapters to catch us up on the time skip of a few years and what the current events are.

But, slog past that, and, once you get to the sardonic alien bug doctor, it once again is a hilarious, snarky, fun filled ride! (Mostly.)

Our dear ambassador is heading back to Earth for the first time in decades for a big diplomatic conference as humans struggle to convince all the other species that we aren’t all a bunch of savages - and kind of failing.

Frankly, a lot of the Earth sections were downright depressing. If I want to see ranting, xenophobic humans, foaming at the mouth about the dangerous “Other”, I’ll just turn on today’s news. I’m reading this series precisely because I would like to see a different possible future than the one we are currently staring down the barrel of.

But, meanwhile, with Kelly off station, her colleagues are planning to surprise her on her return with a party celebrating her career (an event referred to by most of the characters as Ballmageddon as the preparations start to get just slightly out of hand). And her daughter is taking advantage of the empty house to throw a few parties / promotional events for her inter-species clothing line.

Also, Let’s Make Friends is still the smash hit kids show of the galaxy, especially with an addition of a young Stryx – brought on in an attempt to show that the AIs aren’t just all-knowing, all-powerful robots who run the universe--- they are freaking adorable all-knowing, all-powerful robots who run the universe!

Like, imagine BB-8 on Sesame Street. (Has this already happened? If not, why not? Someone please make this happen STAT)

So a major conference, a major ball, a delicate political situation, a teenager daughter on the loose – I'm sure nothing can go wrong – right?

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Party Night on Union Station

I loved the scene introducing the Farling doctor. He's one of the funniest characters I've encountered yet in the series and hope he becomes a more frequent fixture on Union Station.

It appears that Samuel is training to be a Vergallian prince. I look forward to following the bidding young romance between he and Ailia in upcoming episodes.

I find Dring's insistence on throwing Kelly a ball to end all balls quite poignant and am glad that he has never left Mac's Bones in all these years. After all, a human lifespan must be like a short vacation to him.

Thank you for another entertaining story, Mr. Foner. Now excuse me while I begin reading "Review Night..."

[Dave Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just thoroughly enjoy these books. In this one Foner sets up the biggest surprise party in the universe, prevents an intergalactic war and a whole bunch of other great side stories as the folks on union station deal with life among the stars. As usual what I love about these books is, among the sci fi elements is a lot of great information on how diverse groups of people can get along and work together. Another fun ride.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

So my biggest worry with this series is how much time progresses in between each book. This is part of what makes the series such a favorite of mine. However, I know that at some point Kelly and and many other characters will age out.

Yet again, I was wrong to worry. Yes, as the series has gone on, there has been less focus on the original round of characters. However, I think I may like the children and grandchildren even more than Kelly, Joe, and Co. So if you are like me, fear not.

As for this particular book. We get to see what Earth is like now that aliens have moved in and started their businesses. Then there are the citizens of Earth, you know, the ones that stayed behind and don't have exposure to so many alien cultures? Yeah, they fall into two camps, and I won't spoil it fo you since it isn't what you expect.

Judging by the plot of this one, I suspect this book marks the transition point from the first generation to the second generation. Sad as I am about this, I am alright and hopeful for the future.

Once more, I recommend this series to anyone wanting feel good slice of life books and either enjoy or at least don't mind sci-fi.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, best of the best!

Most interesting, funny, thought provoking and down to earth (get it?) series about potential aliens in our future that I have ever come across in my voracious reading appetite. I hope this series is endless!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable addition

I love these books. Science fiction should not have to be all about threats to the galaxy, death, and destruction. I love that these books are light-hearted and fun.

[Steve Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of these books. They are just a fun series of stories from Union Station all based around the ambassador from earth and the crazy things that happen to her and her family. Plus all the very interesting aliens that they run into. So fun.

[shannon Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites

So far this is one of my favorites of this series. It's like seeing old friends every time I read one of these books. I just loved the big party Dorothy had when the family was out of town. Very cute.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s party time

When Kelly and Joe take Sam and leave the station to visit Earth the fun begins. Even Beowulf goes out for a sleepover. But debts must be paid so there are bigger things going on. A great read.

[Robert Luff · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites in the series yet! So many good plotlines, especially Samuel's story -- his is turning out to be quite interesting. But so was Dorothy's plotline, and Joe & Kelly finally got a lot of screen time, after barely appearing in the previous book. It all culminated in a love letter to the characters and series that are, at this point, 10 books in. A rewarding read.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series!

Still love the characters, humor, adventure of each book! Recommend that the books be read in order as there is a good number of characters to remember.

[Cat Girczyc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one where the author sets up situations but doesn't do anything with them.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the humor .

[Groucho42 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly and family head to Earth for a conference while others plan a party for her. The usual, easy, read.

[Bob Snook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always fun to be on

Union station, a good book of you enjoy "soft" sci-fi. I've enjoyed all 11 books and looking forward to 12.

[Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Party time

The ambassador is away and everyone parties. Our wannabe rulers stage an insurrection. Beware of alien toys. Fun times in Union Station

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a bit of a time jump with this one and getting up to speed on all the characters takes a bit of time. That said, it's fun to get reacquainted with everyone and to see how everything has changed and yet remained the same. Lots of fun.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

EarthCent Ambassador Kelly McAllister is on her way to a conference on Earth and has traded in her first-class ticket to buy passage on a freighter for herself, her husband Joe, and her son Samuel. While she is away, the Maker Dring decides to throw a surprise party in her honor. Since Dring has an unlimited budget, the party planners decide to go all out and throw an old-fashioned ball. The idea has such appeal that aliens from all over the tunnel network are competing for invitations. But the ball isn’t the only party on Union Station. Kelly’s daughter Dorothy decides to host a flash dance to promote her designer clothing business. Meanwhile, Spinner, a young Stryx, has joined the cast of “Let’s Make Friends.” As always, a fun read and a real pick-me-up.

[Kathy Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in a brilliant series! I went back and reread all the previous after reading this just to revisit the wealth of detail that Foner has created in this world of mankind's 1st tentative steps out into the galaxy under the guidance of the Stryx. This series is so much more than a humans-meets-aliens tale, but also a rich, satiric look at some of mankind's most cherished social conventions. This time Foner looks back at Earth and how we treat up and coming business with old established one. What gets promoted and what gets abandoned? Also an hysterical look at the press, out-of-control parties when the parents are away, and who would have thought ballroom dancing was universal?

[Jacque Holst · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Maker wants to honor the ambassador. He gives a ball and invites everyone (everything)? SURPRISE!

E. M. Foner wrote "Party Night on Union Station is getting a sequel because I’m addicted to my own characters." So am I, addicted to the Union Station series that is. No violence. no sex, (ignore the picture on all of the covers). The books are addictive, very funny, very human and true to life. Most aliens love to dance and the humans aren't too bad at dancing.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat's away

In this episode we learn how the strix are close to omnipotence and that they are really fast, loved how a insurance policy saves the day and there is a grand ball ,with my favorite little "girl" back, even though she's been in the background of the last stories,MORE MORE MORE!!! (wrote this after reading MEGAN'S DRAGON, which is very good itself!)

[Jessica Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted but not light headed

This is one of my favorite series. The continuing characters in this series keep growing, the ideas in the series keep growing; for light hearted sf/humor/ideas/romance, you can't beat it.

[hollace turnage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci fi can be fun

I hope this will be a new trend. There is a lot of fun sci fi, the problem is that it is one to five decades old. Read this series, then look for the rest. Then look up Mr. Foner again and pray he has continued writing about his delightful characters.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Party Night

What a fun series! This book was awesome. A little bit of everything. All of the beloved characters returning. This episode was definitely light on its feet.

[Susan Wachowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny.

This latest story of my fav space station is cute and funny and gives hints about future trouble. Well written for humor and I need more Beowulf and Dring!

[Janean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again...

A great read as always. I always enjoy a light hearted Union Station story and this was better than the last!

[Jesse Deleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars party reading fun.

Thank you E.M. Foner for another 5 Stars party reading fun. I'm happy and grateful for your writing this series. A fan.

[Brad Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story!

Fun, fun, fun... I am looking forward to many more of these books. If you haven't read one yet I highly recommend you do.

[Denise Weldon-siviy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Armageddon! Luv it!

Another great entry in the earth cent ambassador series. I look forward to reading many, many more!

Thanks E M Goner!