Rabid Reader's Reviews

Publication Date: July 1, 2013

 

Charlie Pinwright is the most forgettable man on earth. As a child, his mother frequently picked the wrong boy up from school simply forgetting his face. After losing his girlfriend to a Spanish cake decorator, losing his job and being forced to share his flat with another family (the landlord leased the bedroom simply forgetting that Charlie was there), Charlie is kidnapped by an alien bounty hunter. Charlie soon finds out that the continuation of existence as we know (and don’t know) it may rest on his shoulders. Can one forgettable man save the galaxy?

 

 

The author, J.F. Monahan, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.

 

Upon downloading this novel and reading the opening page, I knew I was in trouble. Rarely does this reviewer have the chance to review a novel so perfectly within what she loves to read and I must warn my readers, [easyazon-link asin=”B00D5EO4LO” locale=”us”]Intergalactic Terrorist (New Dimension)[/easyazon-link] falls into that “Perfect for Tammy” genre of science fiction comedy. Not simply science fiction comedy but whacked out science fiction comedy. Is it ridiculous that Charlie’s mother once hit him with a pan thinking he was a burglar because she didn’t remember his face? Yes. Did this reader have that little thrill of delight that says, “Terrible things are going to happen to this character, but they’re going to be awesome?” Absolutely.

If you’re looking for realism, you may want to head to a different aisle. Monahan is very like Douglas Adams in feeling, but his story is in actuality quite different. When Charlie is mistaken for a robot, the plot device makes sense to the reader. He got his job by being mistaken for someone else. His mother called because she found his number in her book and didn’t remember him. The dialogue is a bit stilted but how does one talk to an alien? Would a dictatorial human character in the book comfort an alien when he’s crying and try to help? To readers it may seem unlikely but this is a whacked-out reality and the ability to suspend disbelief is as essential and as logical as a one-eyed alien hooker whose pimp removed her other two eyes.

If there’s anything I like better than science fiction/comedy, it’s meta-fiction. At the end of this novel, we get a healthy dose of meta-fiction that paired with the nonsensical nature of what we just read, makes for that shade of brilliance. It is time to break up with this novel and these characters and move to the next. Savor that satisfied feeling because soon you will experience the ups and downs of another read and another life. This is in no way a spoiler. This is the reality of the narrative just experienced. I cannot overstate how much [easyazon-link asin=”B00D5EO4LO” locale=”us”]Intergalactic Terrorist (New Dimension)[/easyazon-link] was the right book at the right time for this reader and, to be fair, the sort of novel is always the right book at the right time. If you are a fan of Douglas Adams, Ford Forkum or Jasper Fforde and, like me, you love the genre, head on out and pick this one up. Get to know Charlie in his moments of trial and moments of glory and let me know what you think of the most forgettable man in the universe.

[easyazon-link asin=”B00D5EO4LO” locale=”us”]Intergalactic Terrorist (New Dimension)[/easyazon-link] is escapism at its best.

If Intergalactic Terrorist (New Dimension) by J.F. Monahan sounds like a book for you, read an excerpt and buy on:

Amazon U.S. • Amazon U.K. • Amazon Canada

 

For more information on J.F. Monahan visit his website and the Intergalactic book trailer on YouTube. You can connect with J.F. Monahan on Goodreads, Facebook and on Twitter @JosephMonahan and as @NewDimen_book.