For Love of Mother-Not

Pip & Flinx #5

by Alan Dean Foster

This is a prequel to Pip & Flinx Adventures #1, The Tar-Aiym Krang.

He was just a freckle-faced, redheaded kid with green eyes and a strangely campelling stare when Mother Mastiff first saw him at the auctioneer's block. One hundred credits and he was hers.

For years the old woman was his only family. She loved him, fed him, taught him everything she knew—even let him keep the deadly flying snake he called Pip.

Then Mother Mastiff mysteriously disappeared and Flinx took Pip to tail her kidnappers. Across the forests and swamps of the winged world called Moth, their only weapons were Pip's venom... and Flinx's unusual Talents.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Space Opera

247 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Bestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.

Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.

Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my first Alan Dean Foster read. I've read a few SW novels. But this is my very first ADF read when it comes to his own unique stories.

I did decide to read his Pip and Flinx novels in chronological order, first, and I'm not sure this was a precisely wise idea. It wasn't a bad idea, but I got the distinct impression that a stormcloud was on the horizon and I really didn't know what was to come. Hence, Flinx almost felt like a special snowflake. You know. A Mary Sue. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that if it's done well and it's not exactly as if it was especially pronounced here. Indeed, I just felt like we were strolling down backstory lane and getting to know an (unknown) character's life and history from early childhood through YA and gradually unfolding what makes him special.

This was great! Seriously! It was a light adventure! Not light for the characters, but definitely a light adventure for us. Alien worlds, alien characters, mysterious and somewhat sinister organizations, quirky new friends, and a quest to save a beloved old woman. (Not to mention saving himself.)

And best of all? Pip! The quasi-telepathic flying serpent that befriends Flinx early on, who spits acid and is a best bud for all the novels. :)

I'll be honest here. I made lots of internal comparisons between this and Steven Brust's Talos novels, but it's only superficial. ADF started writing these before Brust even though this particular novel came out the same year and Brust's first. But it's hard to ignore. Telepathic communication buddy novels with small dragons, whether SF or Fantasy, has a very particular feel. :)

Anyway! It's pretty perfect for wanting a light and fast and fun read, especially if you're tired of neigh invincible angry chicks with swords and world-shattering destinies. Go for something classic for a change. :)

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first, introductory Pip & Flinx adventure, though it was not the first published. Mother Mastiff, the woman who purchased Flinx and then raised and cared for him, has been kidnapped, and he and Pip set off across the wondrous world Moth in order to rescue her. It's an exciting adventure, with terrific settings and characters. It's a good introduction to Foster's Humanx Commonwealth, and also explains some of the points left open in Bloodhype and The Tar-Aiym Krang. The first edition paperback has a lovely Michael Whelan cover.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first foray into re-reading Alan Dean Foster. We meet Pip and Flinx for the first time. Chronologically the first book of this particular series, in publishing order book four or five.

I don't recall reading this before and all my others reading of this author lies easily 20 years in the past, so I can't say how it fits in with the other Flinx books.

It was an easy, entertaining read. Perfect as brain candy for the beach. Fast moving plot, likeable characters, good suspense, believable story.

Reading order for Alan Dean Foster is here. I will continue!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave this one five stars out of a sense of nostalgia but then I realised the younger me probably wouldn't have done so and a more level head prevailed.

I read quite a bit of Alan Dean Foster's Humanx Commonwealth series when I was quite a bit younger but there were a few I missed back then and there have also been a fair few new volumes released since then, so I'm currently making my way through the entire series in chronological order (which is quite a bit different from publication order, as Foster loves to go back and fill in gaps).

The Commonwealth series, like Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, is made up of a number of smaller sub-series. This is the first Flinx book, chronologically. At the start of this book, Flinx is a small child being sold on an auction block. A cantankerous old lady known only as Mother Mastiff feels compelled to purchase him and raise him as if he were her own son. Over the course of this book, Flinx goes from early childhood to his late teens and along the way it becomes clear that he's no ordinary kid.

Flinx has a 'Talent', you see, and due to this Talent he is being hunted by two separate parties... neither of which want to be his friends. One of these parties makes the mistake of kidnapping Mother Mastiff (his 'Mother-Not' from the title) in order to gain leverage over Flinx. Big mistake.

Don't worry too much, though; Flinx gains a couple of unlikely allies along the way...

P.S. The Flinx books would probably have the loathsome 'Young Adult' label slapped on them if they were published today. Fortunately, the majority of them were published before people lost the ability to tell the difference between a genre and a target demographic. (Cranky old man rant mode OFF...)

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the origins story of the Pip and Flinx series by Alan Dean Foster although it is #5 in order of publication. I recommend reading this first if you have any thought of reading this series. Foster is a very good story teller.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here’s one that I thought I’d read thirty-odd years ago.

But having picked it up again, I can’t remember anything about it*. So, with that feeling of deja-vu nullified to zero, I looked at the book with unexpectedly fresh eyes and thirty-odd years of further experience. Was it worth a read?

Definitely.

For Love of Mother-Not is the first book in the Pip and Flinx series, although actually the fourth published. As the first novel chronologically it introduces us to Philip Lynx (Flinx) as a young boy, who at the beginning of the novel is bought at a slave auction by elderly Mother Mastiff on the planet Moth. He is a quiet boy who has clearly experienced a lot, not all of it good. His journey to Moth is a confused mixture of memories, his mother and father unknown to him.

Living with Mother Mastiff, they discover by accident that Flinx has a Talent – empathy, the ability to feel other people’s emotions. This saves Mother Mastiff from a theft, where the thief has swallowed the trinkets. They decide to keep the talent a secret.

Flinx finds himself adopted by Pip, a flying Alaspinian miniature dragon (rather like a flying snake, but one which, when threatened, can spit corrosive toxins.) They develop a symbiotic relationship, as Pip is found to be empathic - telepathic on the emotional level - which seems to be advantageous when combined with Flinx's own Talent.

When Mother Mastiff suddenly disappears, Flinx is left to fend for himself and also to find his foster-mother. He finds that Mastiff may have been snatched by the Meliorare Society, a renegade scientific group whose eugenic programme may be a connection between Flinx and his mysterious past.

With Pip, Flinx sets off to find Mother Mastiff, and, if kidnapped, save her from her captors.

The second half is more about the nature of the Meliorare Society who fit that trope of ‘misunderstood evil scientists’ admirably. They’re not baddies that you want to boo and hiss at, but it is pretty clear where the sympathies of the reader should lie. The main event of the story is straight out of the cowboy stories, albeit on a larger scale. The inclusion of an older woman, a tracker named Lauren Walder, helps get around that issue of a professed urbanite finding his way in the outdoors woods and gives Flinx his first chaste flirtation.

What strikes me most about the book overall is how easy it is to read. For Love of Mother-Not is refreshingly straight-forward, a story that deceptively drags you in from the start and keeps you reading. There is no literary trickery, no leaping forward and backward in time or jarring cuts to different points of view. It is a novel where plot and characterisation do their job and do it well – to tell a tale, to create characters you get to know and care for (although I still draw a line personally at the acid-spitting flying snake) , and to do so with a minimum of fuss and bother. There’s no deliberate attempt to be flash, to consciously impress and make the reader feel that they are being bombarded with rhetoric.

And that’s what makes it impressive.

Love of Mother-Not is restrained in its ‘show and tell’ and refined in its ability to focus on what matters to the point where, by the end of it, I was won over. Whilst there were plot points I felt I had read elsewhere (the slave auction at Moth was similar to scenes in Robert Heinlein’s Citizen of the Galaxy, for example) it was never felt to be derivative, nor did it feel (unlike Citizen of the Galaxy) that the plot was there more to carry a message than tell a tale. Instead the story is sensible and the characters identifiable.

To my surprise I picked this one off the pile and rarely put it down until I had finished it. For the Love of Mother-Not, despite the awful title, is a rather forgotten read that is worthy of anyone wanting an entertaining read. I will rush to read more from this series.



*The book was not published as a paperback in the UK in the 1980’s, despite me thinking it was!

[J L's Bibliomania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed Alan Dean Foster’s stories of Flinx and Pip when I was a teen/college student. This was the mid-80’s and there were a half dozen books or so. They’ve recently been re-released (and apparently several more books have been written). My younger son, the voracious SF-Fantasy reader, picked up a few from the library, so I decided to give it a re-read.

I typically like to read extended series in the order they were written, not the order things occur chronologically in the series. Even when the book is earlier in the series chronology, later written books tend to have spoilers because the author assumes that you have already read the previously published volumes, or because they feel they have to explicitly show the tie-in to the other books. I also typically find it jarring to go from the prequel written with a writer’s mature voice back to the chronologically later books by the fledgling author (Mercedes Lackey and Katherine Kurtz are two good examples of this).

From reading the front covers of the books my son brought home, it appeared that For Love of Mother-Not was the first book in the series. And it is, it is the origin story of how Flinx met Pip. The book is plot driven, adventures and peril abound, but I found the book lacking something and the digressions to other points of view disruptive. And then I went to Mr. Foster’s website and discovered that For Love of Mother-Not was actual a prequel, written in the mid-80’s and not actually the first Flinx story. I don’t know if that explains my sense of missing something, but when next I return to this universe, I will go back to The Tar-Aiym Krang, which is the first book in the Commonwealth Universe.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an attempt to fill in some of the blanks in the Flinx backstory, Foster published this prequel to the events that took place in The Tar-Aiym Krang. It tells how Flinx was adopted, about his relationship with Mother Mastiff, about his beginning uses of his talent, and provides some context about his enemies -- information that was sort of alluded to in Orphan Star and The End of the Matter is more explicitly handled here.

Its also a really good action adventure novel, as Mastiff is kidnapped and Flinx has to use all of his skills to find her.

If you are a big reader of the series, this book does have some information that is not quite on all four corners with books that were written before this one, but which chronicle events that took place after this book. But, to me, that is the author's choice. He is reinventing the story as he sees it. We are along for the ride, and if you overlook those issues, its a sweet ride indeed.

[Got My Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also posted on my blog Got My Book.

An interesting YA prequel to a long running (though now complete) NA SF series.

BOOK DETAILS:
For Love of Mother-Not by Alan Dean Foster, read by Stefan Rudnicki, published by Audible Studios (2009) / Length: 8 hrs 15 min

SERIES INFO:
This is (chronologically) Book #1 of 14 in the completed "Pip & Flinx" series, all of which are available on audio. If you prefer to read in publication order, it is #5.

SUMMARY:
This is probably my favorite of the Pip & Flinx adventures that I have read (I am currently a little over half way through the series.)

CHARACTERS:
Flinx: His ethics aren't what I would consider acceptable, specifically regarding other people's property. But considering his lack of true parental guidance, I guess it's to be expected. He is such a complex yet essentially likable character though.

Mother Mastiff: Very interesting as a fictional character, but not someone I would entrust with an actual child. She does really love him, and makes some unselfish decisions to try and protect him.

WORLDBUILDING:
Let me start by saying that I spent many years in the Pacific NW of the US (where it rains a lot), and I think I would go crazy living on a planet where it rains nearly constantly.

This is not a "central" world; so, although there is lots of tech that is more advanced, it is mostly the little things. A favorite piece of tech is the oil based version of a water bed (it sounds nice & toasty, and I'm writing this in the Fall). And I really like the large riding bird that Flinx eventually rents.

The book doesn't really try to get you up to speed on all the details of the vast Humanx Commonwealth. That's actually OK, because Flinx's "world" is much smaller at this point. I never felt like I had a firm grasp on the details of the market area Flinx grew up in, however; but once we got out into the forest, the descriptions were great.

PLOT:
This is the first book, chronologically, in Flinx's story, but it was not written first. In a way, it is just a much longer version of all the prequel novellas being written now days to fill in a character's backstory. But there is also a fully developed adventure here as well.

That mix means that we jump fairly quickly through Flinx's childhood before getting to the main body of the story. I really like the beginning, with his meeting Mother Mastiff. The rest of his childhood seemed a bit rushed. The last hour is very engrossing, and does a good job of setting things up for the remaining books in the series.

HIGHLIGHTS:
--The moment when Flinx first takes Mother Mastiff's hand
--There are some interesting perspectives on who are "good people" vs "bad people" and how outward behavior and attitudes can be one thing while your goals can be another.

CONTENT NOTES(?): Children can be "adopted" from the government by paying a fee (i.e. slavery, although they don't like to call it that). Abuse, by some, of the process and the children is hinted at. / There is a group of people who basically feel that any horror is justified if it is for the greater good. / Flinx is a teenage boy and experiences the usual physical & emotional responses to an attractive older woman.

I COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT: Some swearing / I don't think it is a good idea to give a small child complete freedom. / Theft

NARRATION:
Character voices differentiated = Yes, mostly through mild accents & manner of speaking. It is not strong for minor characters. He has a very deep voice, so neither the child nor female voices sound authentic; but they are acceptable. / Phrasing, Pacing & Pronunciation = The non-dialog parts are a bit flat / Emoting = Good enough, for dialog / Speed = Slow. I listened on 1.5, rather than my usual 1.25, and it is still a touch slow.

There was a small repeated section

[Anne Patkau · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But I don't want to be different," he insisted, almost crying. "I just want to be like everyone else." p245. The plaint of many a teen, but in a sci-fi setting. Easy to care for characters in a believable chase cross-country, saved more by smarts than deus ex machina luck. No odd omens or peculiar prophecies - straight action, motivated by different honest convictions.

In the marketplace of backwater planet Moth, Flinx, now 16, was raised the last eight years by Mother Mastiff, now 98. Gene-manipulating scientists from the aged Meliorare Society kidnap first his mother-not as leverage to control their subject #11 and his erratic mental powers of sensing emotion, then his telepathic catalyst, shoulder-riding stray Pip, a venomous Allaspinian mini-dragon. When her beloved pets are killed in crossfire, tough attractive fishing lodge manager Lauren adds her driving, shooting, and wildlife expertise to the red-haired lad's quest. Two Peaceforcers pursue mere days behind, and aim to "fix" "the monster".

Alien names are easy to spell, and relate to known words. Slickertics are synthetic raincoats necessary in constantly damp climate. Flinx rides to the forest wilderness atop an ostrich-like stupava, then steals a hovercraft-type mudder. Lauren drives a jet boat across The-Blue-That-Blinded, until a giant penestral fish threatens to swallow them and their craft. They follow the enemy aerial skimmer with their own, and awaken a sated herd of monstrous horned Devilope to crush the laboratory buildings.

Typos:
p109 cummunity is community
p163 speciman is specimen
p242 exposion is explosion

[Meggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this audio book series by accident and decided to try it out. The starting point for Flint and his flying dragon Pip was well developed and enjoyable from the beginning till the end. I liked Flint. He was a smart young boy and I'm looking forward to read more about his adventures.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Par for the course for ADF. An enjoyable read. Nothing of earth shattering brilliance, but he's always good for an enteraining story.

[Philip Athans · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've touched base with Alan Dean Foster, and was excited when this came up in my random TBR stack. I've been aware of this book for ages, especially because of the amazing Michael Whelan cover art, but like so many books, just never seemed to get around to it.

I was taken in by it from word one and loved basically every word of it. For Love of Mother-Not seamlessly bridges the gap between "old school" space opera and contemporary SF in a way that showcases the best of both ends of that spectrum.

Though this was the fifth Pip & Flinx book written it's the first in chronological order and I'm glad (at least so far) that I started here.

I WILL read the rest of the series--I promise!

[Excel Lifestyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun sci fi adventure that suffers from the constraints of being a prequel.

Chronologically this is the first in Alan Dean Fosters classic Pip and Flix series. Pip being a flying, acid spitting reptilian pet and Flinx (the Star) is a young orphan with Empathic abilities that grew up in a bustling marketplace. Think Deanna Troi but from the hood and useful.

Flinx is purchased on the slave bock by a grouchy store owner called Mother Mastiff. Years later, for reasons unknown, Ma’ Mastiff is kidnapped and it’s up to Flinx to save her. On the way he’ll encounter firefights, desperate chases, and deadly creatures. He’ll also learn the secrets of his origin and mental powers.

It’s a fun adventure but pretty small scale. Foster couldn’t go too crazy given the books prequel status so it feels a little lame.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

This is the prequel novel to Alan Dean Foster’s classic Pip & Flinx adventures. Flinx is a young orphan boy that has some unusual abilities. When his adoptive mother , known as Mother Mastiff, is kidnapped, he embarks on a quest to save her. Accompanied by a telepathic flying dragon Pip, he encounters many obstacles and learns that she is not the only person in peril. This is a classic coming of age story. It feels geared toward a younger audience but can be read by anyone. – Wendy M.

[D.H.]

This was a fun sci fi book with an interesting low tech world (low tech in the sci fi sense, still more advanced than our own world.) Protagonist Flinx was an interesting and likable character (although a bit young for my personal tastes in this, the first chronological book in the series). The unusual creatures of the world, such as the riding ostrich, and of course the series namesake, Pip the ‘mini-dragon,’ were fun and interesting juxtaposed next to the tech elements.

There was a bit of a style difference in prose compared to more recent literature – I guess I’d describe it as a bit more focus on narration. It didn’t bother me, just an observation.

Overall a fun book if you like sci-fi without too futuristic of tech, and a mixing in of some interesting biological aspects.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story that left me with many questions! What other talent does Flinx have? What happened that flung him far from that warehouse?

[Janet Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked me on this series from the first word! There are lots of reviews that synopsize and analyze this book, so I won't bother

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 9 yo is obsessed with dragons but, having made it through every installment in "Wings of Fire" - multiple times - is chronically short of other dragon-containing books to read. I suddenly recalled this old series about a kid with a pet "mini-dragon" and was inspired to hunt it down to see if it might be age appropriate.
I was probably in my late teens when I read the series, and I am sure I didn't read all of it, let alone in order. So when my search popped this title up as first in the series, I handed over a couple of bucks and downloaded it.
As a stand-alone, it's not bad. It's not fantastic: there are some awkward bits of dialog, most of the characters are pretty minimally sketched, etc. But as a bit of beach-read level sci-fi, it's perfectly satisfying.
Then I managed to acquire a paper copy of #2, Tar-Aiym Krang / Orphan Star.
In its first chapter, I knew something was wrong. It was now obvious that "Mother-Not" was written as back-fill in Flinx's story. A quick check of publishing dates revealed that it was actually 10 years newer than that first book. Unfortunately, it feels like Foster didn't actually reread "Tar-Ayim Krang" before writing it! There were several obvious continuity errors: in "Krang," Flinx's prime street performance location is the result of Mother Mastiff's ruthless defense of the spot since he was an infant; in "Mother-Not," he decides to become a street-performer at age 16 on the spur of the moment. More annoying, here Flinx is introduced to his famous pet, Pip, in his mid-teens. In the older "Krang," he has a flash-back from childhood in which a young girl on the playground is fascinated rather than repelled by the flying snake. More subtle is Flinx's own not-so-subtle use of his empathic powers in "Krang." In the newer "Mother-Not," he spends a great deal of time running from two groups of pursuers: first, the mad scientists responsible for giving him those powers now eager to regain control of their escaped lab rat, and second, a Commonwealth-sponsored team eager to forcibly "cure" him of the same powers. If these events were really only months old in "Krang," he would hardly be using his tel-empathic mojo to casually impress the crowds during his street performance! Finally, the use of language, the development of characters, and the like are simply not quite as good in "Mother-Not" as they are in "Krang."
So, while I would happily assign three stars to "Mother-Not" as a stand-alone or Actual first book in the series, I took one away because of the clumsy square-peg-in-round-hole attempt to insert it into a series already well established.

PS: No, I decided not to encourage my 9 yo to read it. It's only secondarily about the flying snake. There are adult themes scattered throughout, and although there's little of anything overtly sexual in this book, the subsequent books are. It would not have been a very satisfying read for her in any case.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be the first of the Pip & Flinx series although Goodreads lists it as #5. This is a reread for me (probably 25 years ago) and was almost as good as I remember still rate as 4 out of 5 stars. The lack of telling what is happening by one character to another does not ring true (mother to son especially). Good action story and beginning world(Universe)building saga. Plan on rereading 'The Tar-Aiym Krang' next. The Tar-Aiym Krang

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Love of Mother Not by Alan Dean Foster is a science fiction book. It’s the first book in a series, and it stars Flinx, an orphan who has empath abilities because of people when he was a small child. When his surrogate mother gets abducted, he and his found pet, a mini dragon, (not actually a dragon, more a flying snake) track and rescue her. There are two opposing sides, the Meliorare society (abducters, responsible for his ability in the first place) and the government, who wants to make him ‘normal.’ It’s a really good story, and I would recommend it to people who like fantasy stories.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I immediately was caught up in this story and it became a page turner for me. It slowed down a bit during the forest part, but quickly became a page turner again after he reached his destination... I liked the writing, the plot and characters... I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Purpleallison Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very "meh". I kept waiting for it to get exciting. Or at least to a point where I couldn't put the book down. But it never got there. The story wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.

[Andrew Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the novels in this extensive series within his Commonwealth universe are highly worthwhile.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, personally, this book was four stars but that is because I'm a vicarious adrenaline junkie and, while this book has many adventurous aspects, it isn’t really an action/adventure book. I'm giving it 5 stars because the opening, which is nothing much- an old woman walking through a bizarre near her home- was so well written as to immediately draw me in. Unfortunately amateur authors abound these days, particularly in sci fi and fantasy. So much so that it has probably been (excluding re-reads of personal favorites like Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy) more than a hundred books since I read something by a truly professional author. I picked this book up at a time I was feeling extremely exhausted by poor story telling. I probably only finished 1 of the last 10 books I started and that one ended so poorly as to make me wish I hadn't. So, thank you Mr. Foster, for reminding me why I love reading.

It should also be noted that Goodreads.com lists these books in order of publication WHICH IS CONTRARY TO THE INTERNAL CHRONOLOGY- THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS SERIES. Personally, I don't understand this, reading according to internal chronology is the only thing that makes sense to me, to avoid spoilers if for no other reason.

Here the author gives the humble beginnings of Flinx, an orphan "sold" into foster-childhood to Mother Mastiff by a very capitalistic and minimal government. Mother is a merchant in the bizarre and raises Flinx in the rough and tumble streets of this somewhat frontier world. Mother knows Flinx's secret- that he has empathic abilities. These abilities eventually lead Flinx to a non-sentient alien "dragon" which is also empathic. Flinx names his new best friend "Pip".

Obviously there is more to the story but I shall leave that for you to discover.

Bottom line: Worth the read.

[Hidekisohma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. I really didn't want to DNF this book. i really didn't. i got like 150 pages in and i just couldn't anymore.

I saw this was the prequel to the series and wanted this to be my first book in the series i read, but honestly, i just couldn't deal with the main character. he was so boring it kinda hurt my face.

The fantasy was pretty generic and getting any sort of emotional reaction from him was moderately painful. Even when he has to KILL someone for the first time ever his reaction was like that of spilling a glass of milk. If the main character doesn't even care why should I?

This seems to be a theme with ADF though as the main character from spellsinger was only slightly more interesting than this guy.

I'm giving ADF one more chance and after this i can't do anymore. It's like this author comes up with REALLY good ideas for the premise, but doesn't have the ability to bring it to fruition. I almost feel like he should just be the idea man and tell another person that idea and have them write it instead, allowing them to flesh out the characters and come up with better endings.

Every time i looked at this book on goodreads staring at me with its 60% done i was like "ugh...i really SHOULD go back and finish it" but i didn't have the heart to do so. i just couldn't. and i think 150 pages is respectable. i read over half of it and i just didn't care. i knew if i forced myself to finish it i'd get in one of my reading slumps and i just couldn't do that to myself again.

It's not a 1 because i didn't outright HATE it, i was just so so so bored. 1.5/5 rounded up to a 2 just because there wasn't hatred for this book. Just boredom. Which, some can argue is even worse.

[Falynn - the TyGrammarSaurus Rex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me.

I read Mid-Flinx in my early teens not realising it was part of a series. When I re-read it earlier in the year, I decided to take a look at some of the other books - and started here with the first Flinx book chronologically.

It's not a bad book per se. The plot is reasonably interesting, the world ADF has built is really fascinating and there's some good ideas explored, or at least hinted at, in connection with the evolution of the human race and bio-engineering.

But... and maybe this is more a style thing, or a change in fashion over the last thirty years... I found the whole thing rather flimsy. The characters are mostly paper-thin and there is the obligatory "love interest" (and thank f**k that didn't do the way I was dreading expecting). The writing was very much tell rather than show and the plot, while interesting, was also too thin, with almost no sub-plots or difficulties to be faced beyond the obvious.

I think, if I'd read it as a teen and was coming back to it now, I would love it. The nostalgia would cover over the cracks. Unfortunately, without that, this was overall an unsatisfying read for me.

[Terry Graybill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently the Flinx and Pip series can be numbered any of several different ways - publication order, chronological order in the Commonwealth universe of Foster and something else (where this is #5). Most suggest this is the first book, and it certainly is the first I read many years ago. I recommend reading this one first.

Foster has gone on to publish a series of 15 books about the adventures of Flinx and Pip. Flinx is a young boy, purchased in the not-exactly-a-slave-market by an elderly woman, a tough huckster in the marketplace of a tough world. She's not his mother but serves as one (hence mother-not) while encouraging him to grow up and hone his skills, not necessarily always above the law. When she is kidnapped, Flinx goes after her along with his reptilian companion, not a pet but a reptilian (dragon) that enhances his emotional empathetic abilities. We watch him come into his semi-adulthood as well as maturing his talents.

Moth is a planet of many interesting hazards such as giant fish that grow larger, depending on the size of the lake, and even small ones can swallow skimmers and “mudders” which can fly just above the surface.

If you haven't read this series, this is pure adventure and entertainment. Enjoy.

[Elmer Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who cares if this is chronologically the first story? If readers were consuming as the books were released, they couldn't go back and start over, so why would I??

I read Tar Aiym Krang first and highly enjoyed it. Flinx, Pip, and Mastiff were all introduced appropriately, and this book does little to tarnish/enhance that image. Moreover, this story does little more than cloud the Talent issue with conspiracy and governmental intervention. However, I will go back and pick up Orphan Star next to scope out these so-called Talents and where our hero goes next!

Do I care how much Flinx costs? Nope.
Does it matter that Pip was in the trash? Again, nope... but how'd he get there in the first place??
Will we see Laura and her maternal interests again? Who? haha, nope.

I felt bad for Mother Mastiff being kidnapped and threatened with surgery for stupidity's sake. I felt bad that the space police were going to make Flinx "normal." Why would anyone agree with that storyline?

I was more intrigued with the stupava and Devilions than the Meliorares, with their genetic manipulations.

This was an enhancement on the canon perhaps but not worth seeking out to complete my understanding of the series.

Read at your peril.

Thanks for reading.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, the Kindle version I read was presented more like an ARC than a novel that’s been out since 1983. There were numerous typos, incorrect words, and oddly placed commas throughout the e-book. Also, Kindle-unlimited only offered this book not the actual first book in the series.

I read a lot of Alan Dean Foster’s work in the 80s. I read three or four books in the Spellsinger series. I read the novelization of The Abyss, which I thought really fleshed out parts of the movie that were probably on the cutting room floor. I have good memories of his books. This one however, was not as good. Perhaps the rest of the series is better. I will keep my eyes out on Libby.

What makes this book not as good as my memory of his other books? This is fresh and those are memories. I picked this one up, because I have fond memories of those other books. I read it, because it was a fun book. It was diverting. The plot was just too much going on and yet too distracted at the same time. There are good scenes, but I wasn’t fond of the plot that hung it together. The book is probably full of Easter eggs for those readers that came to this one properly in the series. It just wasn’t the book for me.