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The QUEICO Project: A fast-paced, humorous science fiction adventure featuring aliens with edible tails
WHAT THE HECK IS A QUEICO?Reluctant human hero Roger Denton and his Podok bodyguard buddy, Raz, are back together as space detectives and co-owners of The R & R Premium Detective Agency.What starts out as a small job working for the incredibly rich developer of PermaPuppies and KonstantKittens - pets that never grow up - rapidly develops into a tons-of-fun mystery/adventure when Roger and Raz break a few minor laws on the planet Sarlanti and are forced into working for the Ministry of Tax Dodgery, investigating wormhole extensions, a sin-city-like moon, and the mysterious QUEICO Project.A funny and fast-paced adventure with likeable characters, set in the year 2112. American English. Complete story (no cliff-hanger). 62,000 words. If you like adventures with lots of laughs, you'll really like this. Don't miss out on the fun. Get it NOW !
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2020
9 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 28, 2024
The QUEICO Project is the fourth book in the ‘Podok Tales’. It again involves protagonists Roger Denton (a teacher) and An-Zo Raz (Podok master of the tail-fighting discipline of mak su), who here team up to form a detective agency. Roger aids Raz to capture and return a couple of teenagers to a wealthy industrialist on the planet Sarlanti, and then become involved in a case involving discovering where that dodgy individual’s wealth came from. What follows is a well-written and enjoyable buddy caper, oozing gentle humour.
Now, I’ve read the first Podok book, but not yet the second and third (an opportunity arose with this one, so I said ‘what the hell’). I loved the first and ‘five starred’ it. I still like this (a lot), but I think it does have a couple of issues. First, in the opener to the series set in Hawaii, the background was well elaborated and added flavour to the caper, whereas in this one, the planet Sarlanti and its people, in spite of being alien, are surprisingly rather bland. The inhabitants drink beer and coffee; they stay in hotels just like ours and live in houses like ours; their teens are stroppy computer nerds (again, like ours), and so on. I think the author could have put more effort into describing a more colourful and quirky culture, and that would have added to the comic potential of the story. Second, in this book, the peril is dialled down: our heroes get into a few modest scrapes and seem to deal with these rather easily – without being arrested, stunned, kidnapped, threatened etc, as they were previously. A slightly more convoluted plot would have increased the tension and excitement.
Nevertheless, having said all this, I am still a fan of Podoks and the author, Chet Novicki, and I would encourage readers to give the series a go. And I will most certainly be looking for the chance to read the second and third books when the opportunity arises.
Now, I’ve read the first Podok book, but not yet the second and third (an opportunity arose with this one, so I said ‘what the hell’). I loved the first and ‘five starred’ it. I still like this (a lot), but I think it does have a couple of issues. First, in the opener to the series set in Hawaii, the background was well elaborated and added flavour to the caper, whereas in this one, the planet Sarlanti and its people, in spite of being alien, are surprisingly rather bland. The inhabitants drink beer and coffee; they stay in hotels just like ours and live in houses like ours; their teens are stroppy computer nerds (again, like ours), and so on. I think the author could have put more effort into describing a more colourful and quirky culture, and that would have added to the comic potential of the story. Second, in this book, the peril is dialled down: our heroes get into a few modest scrapes and seem to deal with these rather easily – without being arrested, stunned, kidnapped, threatened etc, as they were previously. A slightly more convoluted plot would have increased the tension and excitement.
Nevertheless, having said all this, I am still a fan of Podoks and the author, Chet Novicki, and I would encourage readers to give the series a go. And I will most certainly be looking for the chance to read the second and third books when the opportunity arises.
July 5, 2022
Great sci fi adventure
This series is an enjoyable change from the doom, destruction, and death science fiction that is prevalent right now. Although the non-human sapients are a little too fond of using torture to get information. Carl is great, and I hope Roger has more adventures.
This series is an enjoyable change from the doom, destruction, and death science fiction that is prevalent right now. Although the non-human sapients are a little too fond of using torture to get information. Carl is great, and I hope Roger has more adventures.
November 29, 2023
Fun, winding adventure
Heavier on the humor than anticipated for a scifi detective novel. A little bit hardboiled from a puzzling out people’s motives perspective. A little bit Men In Black (kinda) from a partnership and aliens / mix of locales perspective. This one was a fun read with a clever genre twist.
Heavier on the humor than anticipated for a scifi detective novel. A little bit hardboiled from a puzzling out people’s motives perspective. A little bit Men In Black (kinda) from a partnership and aliens / mix of locales perspective. This one was a fun read with a clever genre twist.
January 22, 2024
Fun stuff!
The story has some great world building, and I got sucked into the tale fast. There are many humorous moments, but at times it seemed like the author was trying too hard to be funny, and it just missed the mark.
The story has some great world building, and I got sucked into the tale fast. There are many humorous moments, but at times it seemed like the author was trying too hard to be funny, and it just missed the mark.
February 1, 2025
This series has been a lot of fun and I've been enjoying Roger's journey so of course I bought book 4 to see what's going to happen next. It doesn't disappoint at all. It picks up exactly where things ended and it's even better than book 3. As for what Queico means, it's top secret. Enjoy!
June 7, 2025
I am still enjoying this series I am glad there is at least one more book to read. I will miss these characters when the series is over.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews