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Operation Outfect: Spreading humankind to the stars. What could go wrong?
‘I’ve started an interstellar space programme and I need some passengers.’
A South African billionaire has a surprisingly viable plan to send humanity to the stars at the speed of light. He enlists an old army friend to help, but what appears to be another giant leap for mankind soon turns out to be something far darker.
To uncover the truth, Neil Grenham has to delve back into his past – and the undead heart of the old apartheid machine. Along the way, he finds himself dealing with dubious multibillionaires, Nigerian scamsters, white supremacists, and the looming threat of global extinction.
The science of Operation Outfect is real. The implications are horrifying.
A South African billionaire has a surprisingly viable plan to send humanity to the stars at the speed of light. He enlists an old army friend to help, but what appears to be another giant leap for mankind soon turns out to be something far darker.
To uncover the truth, Neil Grenham has to delve back into his past – and the undead heart of the old apartheid machine. Along the way, he finds himself dealing with dubious multibillionaires, Nigerian scamsters, white supremacists, and the looming threat of global extinction.
The science of Operation Outfect is real. The implications are horrifying.
- GenresScience Fiction
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2020
10 people want to read
About the author
Alex Canna
3 books11 followersGrowing up in South Africa and the USA, I studied psychology and philosophy before becoming a windsurfing entrepreneur, a reluctant intelligence officer (working in a slowly decomposing nuclear bunker) and an advertising writer. I now live in Pembrey on the South Wales coast.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 23, 2021
My rating 4.3
The book "Operation Outfect: Spreading humankind to the stars. What could go wrong?" by Alex Canna is a very good novel in which the writer touches on a lot of different details on our home planet such as rich races for the first space flight, global warming, internet scams, etc. If you are expecting science fiction in which everything is bursting with effects, you will not get it in this book. But I liked the idea of how to expand the human species through space. In general, this book is about the greed of multimillionaire individuals who will do anything to remain immortal in some way. Whether is morally correct or not. The first-person writing style was a bit tiring for me at first because I didn't read first-person books often, but soon I didn't have any problems, even the more thoughts of the main character were somehow more accessible to me. There’s a lot of black humor running through the book and I liked that too.
Now a little about the story: Neil Grenham, a failed computer technology expert, receives an invitation from his multimillionaire friend Max to join him in his new project. Neil’s previous rich life fell apart like a tower of cards and everyone who knew him fled like rats from a sinking ship. He was surprised by the call of his friend whom he had not seen from the army in South Africa. Max assures him that he is ideal for the job of luring multimillionaires to join his space project. Neil accepts that job because honestly there haven’t been too many jobs offer lately. But when his past interfered with his present, he would wonder if it was a smart decision.
I would recommend the book to fans of science fiction and a slight touch of thriller.
The book "Operation Outfect: Spreading humankind to the stars. What could go wrong?" by Alex Canna is a very good novel in which the writer touches on a lot of different details on our home planet such as rich races for the first space flight, global warming, internet scams, etc. If you are expecting science fiction in which everything is bursting with effects, you will not get it in this book. But I liked the idea of how to expand the human species through space. In general, this book is about the greed of multimillionaire individuals who will do anything to remain immortal in some way. Whether is morally correct or not. The first-person writing style was a bit tiring for me at first because I didn't read first-person books often, but soon I didn't have any problems, even the more thoughts of the main character were somehow more accessible to me. There’s a lot of black humor running through the book and I liked that too.
Now a little about the story: Neil Grenham, a failed computer technology expert, receives an invitation from his multimillionaire friend Max to join him in his new project. Neil’s previous rich life fell apart like a tower of cards and everyone who knew him fled like rats from a sinking ship. He was surprised by the call of his friend whom he had not seen from the army in South Africa. Max assures him that he is ideal for the job of luring multimillionaires to join his space project. Neil accepts that job because honestly there haven’t been too many jobs offer lately. But when his past interfered with his present, he would wonder if it was a smart decision.
I would recommend the book to fans of science fiction and a slight touch of thriller.
August 14, 2021
A billionaire hires Neil Grenham to recruit a select group of investors to fund a scheme to send the genetic code for human life into space. Neil also must convince the aliens on those habitable planets to turn the codes into human beings. This goal becomes the main plot of the novel, and it’s full of interesting discussions about the art of persuasion, the viability of life on other planets, and climate change since the Earth is on the brink of serious disaster.
The project returns Neil to South Africa where he once worked within the apartheid machine. Backstory about those days transforms into a second plot later in the book: Neil has an old secret, and several characters have their own agenda regarding the space mission. Despite the backstory, there isn’t much foreshadowing of the shift in plots, and it seemed a little out of the blue for me.
This sci-fi novel reads at a steady pace and is full of believable details related to climate change, space travel, Fox news, and some references to covid-19. Mostly a book of planning and discussion, the action picks up toward the end. I enjoyed the characters and found them all realistic and well-rounded. Neil’s first-person narration worked well and I liked his dry humor and commentary on the events of the past and present. Recommended to sci-fi readers who enjoy stories about plans to colonize other planets and how those plans might go wrong.
The project returns Neil to South Africa where he once worked within the apartheid machine. Backstory about those days transforms into a second plot later in the book: Neil has an old secret, and several characters have their own agenda regarding the space mission. Despite the backstory, there isn’t much foreshadowing of the shift in plots, and it seemed a little out of the blue for me.
This sci-fi novel reads at a steady pace and is full of believable details related to climate change, space travel, Fox news, and some references to covid-19. Mostly a book of planning and discussion, the action picks up toward the end. I enjoyed the characters and found them all realistic and well-rounded. Neil’s first-person narration worked well and I liked his dry humor and commentary on the events of the past and present. Recommended to sci-fi readers who enjoy stories about plans to colonize other planets and how those plans might go wrong.
January 11, 2022
In this unusual but quietly gripping sci-fi novel, aliens and outer space are replaced by real-world climate change related threats which lead to the formation of an outlandish plan by a South African billionaire to convince the inhabitants of far distant planets to replicate the DNA of a select group of the super-rich.
The main plot is made plausible by adequate but not overdone scientific explanation, while the flashbacks to the protagonist's experiences during his unwilling participation in national service under the evil Apartheid regime build up the tension in true thriller style, as elements of that past catch up with him.
The South African backdrop, ranging from big city to bush, offers an additional dimension to the narrative, particularly for me, as someone who stays in this diverse, delightful and sometimes dangerous country; the potential threat of my home being swamped by a tsunami certainly brought me to the edge of my seat.
Overall, an engrossing read, recommended especially to fans of reality-based sci-fi and ecological thrillers.
The main plot is made plausible by adequate but not overdone scientific explanation, while the flashbacks to the protagonist's experiences during his unwilling participation in national service under the evil Apartheid regime build up the tension in true thriller style, as elements of that past catch up with him.
The South African backdrop, ranging from big city to bush, offers an additional dimension to the narrative, particularly for me, as someone who stays in this diverse, delightful and sometimes dangerous country; the potential threat of my home being swamped by a tsunami certainly brought me to the edge of my seat.
Overall, an engrossing read, recommended especially to fans of reality-based sci-fi and ecological thrillers.
August 29, 2021
The world's richest and most powerful people have descended on a remote compound in South Africa to meet with Max Londt, an eccentric billionaire who has developed a way for humankind to colonize the stars.
Neil Grenham, a disgraced PR expert with a reputation for helping the worst people in the world to terrible things, is recruited to help convince the billionaires to sign up and the extra-terrestrial beings to take them. In the process, he delves into his own past with the South African military during the apartheid and realizes that something far darker might be involved in this plan for the rich to escape Earth.
This story started strong, but it feels like it lost its way somewhere. It has all the stuff I love about sci-fi; interesting characters, a fun concept, and the big ethical questions. I was hooked for the first two-thirds. But around that time, I felt like I was reading an entirely different book than the one I began reading.
The novel takes place in South Africa, and the culture and fraught history of that place adds a lot to the book. Early on, it serves as a way to tie a story about grand ideas to an Earth that is very much in trouble right now. The descriptions, characters, and unique feel of this place really add to this story. But then it takes it over.
We begin with a story about a billionaire launching a program to send other billionaires into space, leaving the world they have plundered to burn. It is a story we see playing out around us and has interesting implications. The exact method used to transport people into space at light speed is also interesting and is worthy of some deep discussions.
But, toward the end, the story gets stuck in the history of apartheid. While there are certainly some interesting parallels from that brutally racist and oppressive system and a future where only the rich get to survive, any correlation is largely left up to the reader.
Overall, I did like it and would recommend it. The writing is fun and clever, the characters are interesting, as are the ideas presented. But the caveat is that, for me, the ending felt unsatisfying.
Neil Grenham, a disgraced PR expert with a reputation for helping the worst people in the world to terrible things, is recruited to help convince the billionaires to sign up and the extra-terrestrial beings to take them. In the process, he delves into his own past with the South African military during the apartheid and realizes that something far darker might be involved in this plan for the rich to escape Earth.
This story started strong, but it feels like it lost its way somewhere. It has all the stuff I love about sci-fi; interesting characters, a fun concept, and the big ethical questions. I was hooked for the first two-thirds. But around that time, I felt like I was reading an entirely different book than the one I began reading.
The novel takes place in South Africa, and the culture and fraught history of that place adds a lot to the book. Early on, it serves as a way to tie a story about grand ideas to an Earth that is very much in trouble right now. The descriptions, characters, and unique feel of this place really add to this story. But then it takes it over.
We begin with a story about a billionaire launching a program to send other billionaires into space, leaving the world they have plundered to burn. It is a story we see playing out around us and has interesting implications. The exact method used to transport people into space at light speed is also interesting and is worthy of some deep discussions.
But, toward the end, the story gets stuck in the history of apartheid. While there are certainly some interesting parallels from that brutally racist and oppressive system and a future where only the rich get to survive, any correlation is largely left up to the reader.
Overall, I did like it and would recommend it. The writing is fun and clever, the characters are interesting, as are the ideas presented. But the caveat is that, for me, the ending felt unsatisfying.
February 3, 2021
If you're a sci-fi fan and you're expecting a lighthearted romp through space, or even a good old-fashioned alien invasion, this is not that book. It is more than that: it's a sci-fi book with almost realistic and credible scenarios, that hits uncomfortably close to home, that challenges its readers, and makes one question the state of the world around them. It is, in a word, excellent.
Without spoiling the book too much, the story revolves around an alternative way to get humans to other potentially habitable planets. Canna's theory is clearly well thought out, and plausible enough that I wonder if some billionaire in the world might actually be looking into it. Combine that with the looming threat of climate change, I was hooked. His descriptions were so realistic I actually paused at a few scenes and Googled some of the scenarios that were presented within the story (especially a giant tsnumai caused by the collapse of ice shelves in Antarctica that could wipe out coastal cities around the globe...as someone who spent the past 12 years of my life living within 15 minutes of the ocean, this was particularly alarming).
Canna's characters were also interesting, the heroes complex and likeable, and the villains were ones who I loved hating. The ending, in my opinion, was also perfect, and made me smile.
In terms of some minor criticisms, Canna did utilize flashbacks quite a bit within the story, which I normally do not have an issue with. For several of these moments, I was able to follow along well. However, there were a few instances where the transition to the flashback was not clearly defined, and I didn't even realize I was in a flashback until halfway through the scene, which caused a bit of minor confusion. There were also a few transitions that seemed incredibly abrupt, where some of the action seemed to come out of nowhere, without any buildup.
Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's thought-provoking and insightful, and definitely a unique take on space exploration and climate change. This story should serve as a wake up call to how fragile our world really is. Definitely a book worth reading.
Without spoiling the book too much, the story revolves around an alternative way to get humans to other potentially habitable planets. Canna's theory is clearly well thought out, and plausible enough that I wonder if some billionaire in the world might actually be looking into it. Combine that with the looming threat of climate change, I was hooked. His descriptions were so realistic I actually paused at a few scenes and Googled some of the scenarios that were presented within the story (especially a giant tsnumai caused by the collapse of ice shelves in Antarctica that could wipe out coastal cities around the globe...as someone who spent the past 12 years of my life living within 15 minutes of the ocean, this was particularly alarming).
Canna's characters were also interesting, the heroes complex and likeable, and the villains were ones who I loved hating. The ending, in my opinion, was also perfect, and made me smile.
In terms of some minor criticisms, Canna did utilize flashbacks quite a bit within the story, which I normally do not have an issue with. For several of these moments, I was able to follow along well. However, there were a few instances where the transition to the flashback was not clearly defined, and I didn't even realize I was in a flashback until halfway through the scene, which caused a bit of minor confusion. There were also a few transitions that seemed incredibly abrupt, where some of the action seemed to come out of nowhere, without any buildup.
Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's thought-provoking and insightful, and definitely a unique take on space exploration and climate change. This story should serve as a wake up call to how fragile our world really is. Definitely a book worth reading.
March 1, 2021
In this near-future sci-fi tale, South African billionaire Max Londt has an innovative idea for getting humans to the stars. All he needs is more people to go, as he informs disgraced adman Neil Grenning when he brings him into the project to help. Of course, it’s not really that simple.
Told in first person from Neil’s perspective, the story follows him as he becomes more and more involved in Londt’s plan and works in support of it.
Elements I liked:
The premise of this story drew me in. I wanted to know more about this new way to get humanity to the stars. I also liked that the setting mostly wasn’t the all-too-common U.S. or European setting. And what a great title - I eagerly read to find out what it meant. The science was well described and made sense. The story had a feel to it that I remember from the stories I enjoyed when I first discovered science fiction (stories by authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, as I remember them now, from a distance of many years).
Elements I struggled with:
I did not get a great sense of urgency. The subtitle and blurb hint at things going wrong and something darker to the giant leap that will get humans to the stars, but those didn’t wholly materialize in the story. There are threats and difficulties enough, but the characters are largely blasé about them and seem little invested in the whole thing. Also, there was a plot hole in the design of Max’s innovation that bothered me and seemed obvious, but wasn’t addressed in the story (spoiler below for details).
Overall:
The execution of the story, while well-written, lacked the oomph, the urgency that the blurb and subtitle promised. The big reveal of the technology to get to the stars doesn’t come until almost half-way through the book, after a lot of overlong background and flashbacks that really slow the pace. After the big reveal, events accelerate rapidly. So…an entertaining story with an interesting premise, but the reader has to persist to get there.
Told in first person from Neil’s perspective, the story follows him as he becomes more and more involved in Londt’s plan and works in support of it.
Elements I liked:
The premise of this story drew me in. I wanted to know more about this new way to get humanity to the stars. I also liked that the setting mostly wasn’t the all-too-common U.S. or European setting. And what a great title - I eagerly read to find out what it meant. The science was well described and made sense. The story had a feel to it that I remember from the stories I enjoyed when I first discovered science fiction (stories by authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, as I remember them now, from a distance of many years).
Elements I struggled with:
I did not get a great sense of urgency. The subtitle and blurb hint at things going wrong and something darker to the giant leap that will get humans to the stars, but those didn’t wholly materialize in the story. There are threats and difficulties enough, but the characters are largely blasé about them and seem little invested in the whole thing. Also, there was a plot hole in the design of Max’s innovation that bothered me and seemed obvious, but wasn’t addressed in the story (spoiler below for details).
Overall:
The execution of the story, while well-written, lacked the oomph, the urgency that the blurb and subtitle promised. The big reveal of the technology to get to the stars doesn’t come until almost half-way through the book, after a lot of overlong background and flashbacks that really slow the pace. After the big reveal, events accelerate rapidly. So…an entertaining story with an interesting premise, but the reader has to persist to get there.
April 1, 2021
Neil could definitely use a break. With his professional and personal life in shambles, he’s got nothing to do but try to ignore three days of unwashed dishes, unshaved stubble, and unpaid bills. Then he gets a call from billionaire Max Londt. All he has to do is travel to South Africa and begin selling the idea of interstellar space travel to the super-wealthy, and he can forget about his failed life in London.
It doesn’t hurt that he actually has a history with the billionaire Londt, nor that he’s attracted to Michelle, an attractive biologist co-worker in Londt’s South African complex. Neil works up probable doomsday scenarios and presents them to Londt’s wealthy guests, and Max Londt works on closing the deal to finance their working capital. The linchpin of the new venture? That he and his staff have discovered a way to travel at the speed of light to a new habitable world.
But just when everything seems to be humming along nicely, that’s when it all starts to fall apart. Is there a real conspiracy going on behind the scenes, or is it just a conspiracy theory? But if it’s not some massive misunderstanding, it’s the start of something monumental, and Neil is going to be lucky to come out of this alive…
I have tried to evaluate this story fairly, even though it wasn’t my kind of book. The very liberal viewpoint is unmistakable, so I’ll warn conservatives about it ahead of time. I loathe the main premise—I think we need to learn how to get along on this world, rather than give up and brainstorm ways to save the very rich. And the part where they decided not to fight the human-trafficking organ harvesters—and the facile justifications they used—that actually disgusted me. I considered taking a star off for that reason alone.
But the book is very well-written with a moderate pace—the prose carries the reader along effortlessly. The characterization was skillful. The fact that it was plausible enough to irritate me speaks well of the world building, at least in terms of thoroughness. There were a few proofreading blarts, but good luck finding new reading material that’s utterly error-free, whether from a publishing house or a one-person shoestring operation. The only writing criticisms I have to make is that I could have done with less of the protag’s backstory, and the plot stopped dead in its tracks at times to accommodate the world building, although the latter isn’t unheard of with science fiction. Overall, if the story premise appeals to you, and the caveats listed above don’t dissuade you, then you will likely enjoy the book.
It doesn’t hurt that he actually has a history with the billionaire Londt, nor that he’s attracted to Michelle, an attractive biologist co-worker in Londt’s South African complex. Neil works up probable doomsday scenarios and presents them to Londt’s wealthy guests, and Max Londt works on closing the deal to finance their working capital. The linchpin of the new venture? That he and his staff have discovered a way to travel at the speed of light to a new habitable world.
But just when everything seems to be humming along nicely, that’s when it all starts to fall apart. Is there a real conspiracy going on behind the scenes, or is it just a conspiracy theory? But if it’s not some massive misunderstanding, it’s the start of something monumental, and Neil is going to be lucky to come out of this alive…
I have tried to evaluate this story fairly, even though it wasn’t my kind of book. The very liberal viewpoint is unmistakable, so I’ll warn conservatives about it ahead of time. I loathe the main premise—I think we need to learn how to get along on this world, rather than give up and brainstorm ways to save the very rich. And the part where they decided not to fight the human-trafficking organ harvesters—and the facile justifications they used—that actually disgusted me. I considered taking a star off for that reason alone.
But the book is very well-written with a moderate pace—the prose carries the reader along effortlessly. The characterization was skillful. The fact that it was plausible enough to irritate me speaks well of the world building, at least in terms of thoroughness. There were a few proofreading blarts, but good luck finding new reading material that’s utterly error-free, whether from a publishing house or a one-person shoestring operation. The only writing criticisms I have to make is that I could have done with less of the protag’s backstory, and the plot stopped dead in its tracks at times to accommodate the world building, although the latter isn’t unheard of with science fiction. Overall, if the story premise appeals to you, and the caveats listed above don’t dissuade you, then you will likely enjoy the book.
July 21, 2021
Dear (insert billionaire name here),
Maverick South African biotech billionaire Max Londt has a
bonkers plan for ultra-rich, paranoid suckers like you. Come
and feed your ego at his game farm, fully stocked with hot and
cold running elephants and many thrillingly dangerous reptiles,
including your fellow delegates. Oh, and bring truckloads of cash –
you are so going to be fleeced.’
Right from the start, this narrative sucked me in with Canna's signature writing style -- effortless, engaging, eloquent, and liberally peppered with dry humor. After enjoying his THE SOUTH TOWER, I already knew I was in for a treat when picking up OPERATION OUTFECT. Canna lived up to my expectations again, weaving a intriguing, strange, well-crafted story that feels chillingly timely (Musk and other space-obsessed billionaires, Covid19, climate change, etc.) and smoothly executed, in a world where monsters aren't imaginary (and wear human faces). Those "vampire clinics" made my blood curdle -- as did Max and Neil's evident apathy about exposing them (but, well, if I was looking for that kind of book... I'd be picking up a Jane Hawk novel instead). The dozens of ways in which the world may implode in the near or far future wasn't comforting, either.
One confusing aspect was, at times, the flashbacks; it took me a while, sometimes, to realize we'd bounced back or forward, and I think the transitions could have been clearer. Sometimes the pace slowed, too, but not for long. There are many things I enjoyed about this novel -- the plausibility of a plot that's obviously been brainstormed a bunch, a variety of interesting characters across the spectrum of good and evil, the refreshingly wonderful prose -- but among all those, a special shout-out to the nitty-gritty yet memorable details Canna manages to tuck into each scene which really do magically make words on a page orchestrate a movie in my head (just one simple example that's lingered with me: a waiter as a human fractal, with tattoos within his tattoos!). This is the sort of book that I'd color up with a highlighter if I had a paperback in hand and wasn't reading it on a screen.
Maverick South African biotech billionaire Max Londt has a
bonkers plan for ultra-rich, paranoid suckers like you. Come
and feed your ego at his game farm, fully stocked with hot and
cold running elephants and many thrillingly dangerous reptiles,
including your fellow delegates. Oh, and bring truckloads of cash –
you are so going to be fleeced.’
Right from the start, this narrative sucked me in with Canna's signature writing style -- effortless, engaging, eloquent, and liberally peppered with dry humor. After enjoying his THE SOUTH TOWER, I already knew I was in for a treat when picking up OPERATION OUTFECT. Canna lived up to my expectations again, weaving a intriguing, strange, well-crafted story that feels chillingly timely (Musk and other space-obsessed billionaires, Covid19, climate change, etc.) and smoothly executed, in a world where monsters aren't imaginary (and wear human faces). Those "vampire clinics" made my blood curdle -- as did Max and Neil's evident apathy about exposing them (but, well, if I was looking for that kind of book... I'd be picking up a Jane Hawk novel instead). The dozens of ways in which the world may implode in the near or far future wasn't comforting, either.
One confusing aspect was, at times, the flashbacks; it took me a while, sometimes, to realize we'd bounced back or forward, and I think the transitions could have been clearer. Sometimes the pace slowed, too, but not for long. There are many things I enjoyed about this novel -- the plausibility of a plot that's obviously been brainstormed a bunch, a variety of interesting characters across the spectrum of good and evil, the refreshingly wonderful prose -- but among all those, a special shout-out to the nitty-gritty yet memorable details Canna manages to tuck into each scene which really do magically make words on a page orchestrate a movie in my head (just one simple example that's lingered with me: a waiter as a human fractal, with tattoos within his tattoos!). This is the sort of book that I'd color up with a highlighter if I had a paperback in hand and wasn't reading it on a screen.
January 21, 2024
I liked this book. I can’t say too much about it without actually spoiling what was fun about it, so I will try and talk around any specifics.
It’s a fast book, not very long, and it’s very smart—smart enough to be lean. It’s also very modern. It mentions covid in the past tense and features tech of the day and, maybe, some cutting edge tech ideas. Some of the characters are billionaires—so any bit of tech that seems noticeably advanced could easily be explained away by the extra money floating around.
The main character in the story is capable, sarcastic, down on his luck, and willing to take a very strange assignment from a very rich man. I have to give the author credit, the assignment and the reason for it are impressively audacious. Setting this all up creates the first act of the book.
The second act is made up of all the steps the main character takes to fulfill his assignment, and I thought this portion of the book was very inventive. Solutions come from familiar elements turned on their heads.
The third act is high-action and completely unexpected—but conventional when compared to the rest of the book. I think the author detoured so that this opening publication could have an ending, but the grander story could continue. That’s how it seemed to me.
Vague enough? Sure, but no spoilers!
Here’s something specific—I loved this book. It’s an effortless read and engaging from the first page. It’s short, and for a book with a high body count, it’s very light hearted.
It doesn’t have a lot of jokes, but I think it qualifies as a dark comedy. It was always interesting, very often amusing, and I know at least one passage that made me chuckle out loud, which, as you might agree, is not easy for a novel to do.
This edition also includes a generous excerpt from another of the author’s books.
So, yes. If you are thinking of giving this novel a try — sure! Jump right in. It’s terrific!
Highly recommended.
It’s a fast book, not very long, and it’s very smart—smart enough to be lean. It’s also very modern. It mentions covid in the past tense and features tech of the day and, maybe, some cutting edge tech ideas. Some of the characters are billionaires—so any bit of tech that seems noticeably advanced could easily be explained away by the extra money floating around.
The main character in the story is capable, sarcastic, down on his luck, and willing to take a very strange assignment from a very rich man. I have to give the author credit, the assignment and the reason for it are impressively audacious. Setting this all up creates the first act of the book.
The second act is made up of all the steps the main character takes to fulfill his assignment, and I thought this portion of the book was very inventive. Solutions come from familiar elements turned on their heads.
The third act is high-action and completely unexpected—but conventional when compared to the rest of the book. I think the author detoured so that this opening publication could have an ending, but the grander story could continue. That’s how it seemed to me.
Vague enough? Sure, but no spoilers!
Here’s something specific—I loved this book. It’s an effortless read and engaging from the first page. It’s short, and for a book with a high body count, it’s very light hearted.
It doesn’t have a lot of jokes, but I think it qualifies as a dark comedy. It was always interesting, very often amusing, and I know at least one passage that made me chuckle out loud, which, as you might agree, is not easy for a novel to do.
This edition also includes a generous excerpt from another of the author’s books.
So, yes. If you are thinking of giving this novel a try — sure! Jump right in. It’s terrific!
Highly recommended.
December 19, 2023
There's an interesting idea behind this book - several, really - and I kept linking it to everything from The Andromeda Strain to Blood Music to anything by John Grisham to 2012 and many other apocalypse movies, but nothing stuck.
My problem was I couldn't get into the story. Every character seemed superficial to me, nobody had any depth. Everybody seemed manipulated, doing what the author needed them to do rather than behaving as I'd expect, and all the scenes seemed contrived, forced to fit a plot line rather than a logical outcome from one to the next. The protagonist starts out whiny (in my opinion) and never seems in control of himself or what's happening to him. There's a love story somewhere in there (or what I thought was one) and again, I never cared enough about the characters to take an interest in them, what they were experiencing, or why.
I did get a kick out of some of the cultural references and the author plays with tropes well (mad geniuses, egocentric billionaires, prejudice and bigotry). Much of the story deals with areas I have experience in: business, capitalists, and entrepreneurs, not to mention several years in marketing (where much of the story focuses). None of it seemed plausible as written, and that last part is the key. I got the sense the author wrote from experience (good!) but kept the experience too distant to wrap around a story (not good). I wanted to be engaged and never could.
I had another challenge with what I'd call the "flightyness" of the book. There was a lot going on but nothing captured my attention because nothing happened long enough for me to care or focus on it.
A pass from me on this one, and I'd like to see another by the author for comparison's sake.
My problem was I couldn't get into the story. Every character seemed superficial to me, nobody had any depth. Everybody seemed manipulated, doing what the author needed them to do rather than behaving as I'd expect, and all the scenes seemed contrived, forced to fit a plot line rather than a logical outcome from one to the next. The protagonist starts out whiny (in my opinion) and never seems in control of himself or what's happening to him. There's a love story somewhere in there (or what I thought was one) and again, I never cared enough about the characters to take an interest in them, what they were experiencing, or why.
I did get a kick out of some of the cultural references and the author plays with tropes well (mad geniuses, egocentric billionaires, prejudice and bigotry). Much of the story deals with areas I have experience in: business, capitalists, and entrepreneurs, not to mention several years in marketing (where much of the story focuses). None of it seemed plausible as written, and that last part is the key. I got the sense the author wrote from experience (good!) but kept the experience too distant to wrap around a story (not good). I wanted to be engaged and never could.
I had another challenge with what I'd call the "flightyness" of the book. There was a lot going on but nothing captured my attention because nothing happened long enough for me to care or focus on it.
A pass from me on this one, and I'd like to see another by the author for comparison's sake.
April 1, 2021
This was a very well-planned and researched sci-fi story about a venture that, given what I know of technology, could plausibly happen. The story was believable and well mapped. Not normally a reader of sci-fi, I enjoyed it anyway.
Neil, recently having had a falling out with his last employer, is grateful for the chance to begin again when an old associate gives him a job opportunity. The story quickly gets going, and the author crafts his characters in such a way that readers really root for the good guys, and enjoy disliking the bad guys. All were believable with plausible motivations.
One small issue I had was with the flashbacks. Sometimes they were a bit confusing, and I couldn't often tell when they began, which would sometimes throw me off a bit when I realized one was happening without realizing the flashback had started.
Overall, however, the story is very enjoyable, and I believe that fans of sci-fi, especially those who appreciate the research and work that went into this, would enjoy this story.
Neil, recently having had a falling out with his last employer, is grateful for the chance to begin again when an old associate gives him a job opportunity. The story quickly gets going, and the author crafts his characters in such a way that readers really root for the good guys, and enjoy disliking the bad guys. All were believable with plausible motivations.
One small issue I had was with the flashbacks. Sometimes they were a bit confusing, and I couldn't often tell when they began, which would sometimes throw me off a bit when I realized one was happening without realizing the flashback had started.
Overall, however, the story is very enjoyable, and I believe that fans of sci-fi, especially those who appreciate the research and work that went into this, would enjoy this story.
February 6, 2021
I found this book hard to read. The writing was professional and smooth. The author knew the character's history inside out, which was super impressive. However, I felt that the start of this story was just a means for the author to share the character's mundane military experiences and past work stints. Therefore, I felt many chapters could have been entirely glossed over. For the longest time, there's not really a key aim for the character. Instead, he's just moseying on for chapters not asking too many questions. It's realistic, but not captivating. Later on, the tale finally gets to some action, if you read long enough to catch it.
All-in-all, well written, and definitely a tale for the right audience. Cannan has a brilliant understanding of science, politics, and all the technicalities he brushes on in this book.
All-in-all, well written, and definitely a tale for the right audience. Cannan has a brilliant understanding of science, politics, and all the technicalities he brushes on in this book.
December 29, 2023
To go to the stars…
…You first need to leave Earth. And that takes work. ‘Operation Outfect’ is a first-person account of an almost crackpot scheme to get humans to another solar system. The MC is charged with recruiting billionaire investors to fund the South African based project, a task that involves everything from ‘vampire clinics’ to Nigerian hackers to racial tensions to the about to collapse Antarctic ice sheet.
The science in the story is well presented and credible.
That said, the tale came across as padded – it would have worked much better at half the length. Much of the action came across as contrived. The interstellar travel scheme, while interesting, was also a bit dubious and to me seemed unlikely to generate the interest it did in the book.
…You first need to leave Earth. And that takes work. ‘Operation Outfect’ is a first-person account of an almost crackpot scheme to get humans to another solar system. The MC is charged with recruiting billionaire investors to fund the South African based project, a task that involves everything from ‘vampire clinics’ to Nigerian hackers to racial tensions to the about to collapse Antarctic ice sheet.
The science in the story is well presented and credible.
That said, the tale came across as padded – it would have worked much better at half the length. Much of the action came across as contrived. The interstellar travel scheme, while interesting, was also a bit dubious and to me seemed unlikely to generate the interest it did in the book.
February 16, 2021
Wow! What a ride! Well written page-turner. The first person voice was natural and realistic. The writing got out of the way and let the story run free. Would love to see this made into a movie.
January 8, 2024
I found this to be quite fascinating. There is a megalomaniac billionaire, shadowy conspiracies and some ordinary people who are trying to make it day by day. The main character was very relatable because he is one of the ordinary people just trying to keep it together.
The billionaire has a rather unique plan to save Planet Earth from climate disaster, which he is able to make sound like a good idea. The plot has a lot of ins and outs, which seemed to be realistic, human nature being what it is.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a touch of Science Fiction.
The billionaire has a rather unique plan to save Planet Earth from climate disaster, which he is able to make sound like a good idea. The plot has a lot of ins and outs, which seemed to be realistic, human nature being what it is.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a touch of Science Fiction.
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