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Rex Nihilo #1
Starship Grifters
A space-faring ne'er-do-well with more bravado than brains, Rex Nihilo plies the known universe in a tireless quest for his own personal gain. But when he fleeces a wealthy weapons dealer in a high-stakes poker game, he ends up winning a worthless planet - and owing an outstanding debt more vast than space itself!
The only way for Rex to escape a lifetime of torture on the prison world Gulagatraz is to score a big payday by pulling off his biggest scam. But getting mixed up in the struggle between the tyrannical Malarchian Empire and the plucky rebels of the Revolting Front - and trying to double-cross them both - may be his biggest mistake. Luckily for Rex, his frustrated but faithful robot sidekick has the cyber-smarts to deal with buxom bounty hunters, pudgy princesses, overbearing overlords, and interstellar evangelists - while still keeping Rex's martini glass filled.
The only way for Rex to escape a lifetime of torture on the prison world Gulagatraz is to score a big payday by pulling off his biggest scam. But getting mixed up in the struggle between the tyrannical Malarchian Empire and the plucky rebels of the Revolting Front - and trying to double-cross them both - may be his biggest mistake. Luckily for Rex, his frustrated but faithful robot sidekick has the cyber-smarts to deal with buxom bounty hunters, pudgy princesses, overbearing overlords, and interstellar evangelists - while still keeping Rex's martini glass filled.
242 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
About the author
Robert Kroese
55 books622 followersRobert Kroese's sense of irony was honed growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan - home of the Amway Corporation and the Gerald R. Ford Museum, and the first city in the United States to fluoridate its water supply. In second grade, he wrote his first novel, the saga of Captain Bill and his spaceship Thee Eagle. This turned out to be the high point of his academic career. After barely graduating from Calvin College in 1992 with a philosophy degree, he was fired from a variety of jobs before moving to California, where he stumbled into software development. As this job required neither punctuality nor a sense of direction, he excelled at it. In 2009, he called upon his extensive knowledge of useless information and love of explosions to write his first novel, Mercury Falls. Since then, he has written 18 more books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews
May 13, 2021
Starship Grifters
(Rex Nihilo #1)
by Robert Kroese
This is a hoot and a half! This author is so funny! Rex is a real low life but a funny one at that. He has a robot named Sasha that is hilarious but doesn't mean to be. She is my favorite in the book! Rex gambles away nearly everything but then makes a comeback and wins a planet! The guy who lost it seemed awful happy about losing. Seems the planet came with a lot of debt. Which comes with those wanting to be paid.
It is a wild and funny romp with a great cast of unusual characters, funny situations, ( I am giggling just thinking about some of them), and terrific dialogue! I giggled my way through this book!
I am definitely going to follow this series! It's too good to pass up!
(Rex Nihilo #1)
by Robert Kroese
This is a hoot and a half! This author is so funny! Rex is a real low life but a funny one at that. He has a robot named Sasha that is hilarious but doesn't mean to be. She is my favorite in the book! Rex gambles away nearly everything but then makes a comeback and wins a planet! The guy who lost it seemed awful happy about losing. Seems the planet came with a lot of debt. Which comes with those wanting to be paid.
It is a wild and funny romp with a great cast of unusual characters, funny situations, ( I am giggling just thinking about some of them), and terrific dialogue! I giggled my way through this book!
I am definitely going to follow this series! It's too good to pass up!
May 6, 2023
Starship Grifters is a space opera farce that homages other space operas (Star Wars in particular,) and is the first book in the Rex Nihilo Series. The narrator is Sasha, a verbose droid (uh-huh), who is not only Rex’s traveling companion, but she documents and records his escapades as a smuggler/ne’er-do-well. Sound familiar? In a high-stakes poker game, Rex wins an entire planet that is not only worthless, it comes encumbered by an insurmountable debt that aggregates weekly. In order to overcome the debt, Rex and Sasha must strategize an audaciously arrogant scam that will pit them against a buxom bounty-hunter, a heavy-set (Jabba) queen, space evangelists, and the Chaotic Equilibrium. Funny story with silly/witty repartee. There’s a lot to love here. The problem is that almost all the characters are dumb, except for Sasha and she's not the lead. She narrates and for the most part tries to remain an objective observer.
January 1, 2021
Absolutely bonkers. This was so much fun. :D
Rex Nihilo is a space-faring ne’er-do-well that has a penchant for getting himself, and his faithful robot sidekick Sasha, into trouble. And for getting out of said trouble in the most ridiculous manner. Just to get the both of them into yet more trouble.
This time he wins a planet in a poker game. By cheating, of course. Unfortunately, though, that planet isn’t only a worthless piece of space junk, it also brings with it an outstanding debt of 1.6 billion credits. So Rex decides to double-cross the Malarchian Empire AND their adversaries, the rebels of the Frente Repugnante, to scam them (and some others) out of money. Perhaps a mistake.
What follows is complete chaos, in the most fun way imaginable, as Rex and Sasha frequently find themselves in situations where they must pretend to help the (ever-changing) enemy without exposing their swindle. Well, several swindles in fact.
The story is told through Sasha’s voice who is trying to stay polite while she’s inwardly rolling her eyes because of all the human idiots she is surrounded with. Sasha is a Self-Arresting near-Sentient Heuristic Android. Every time she’s about to have an original thought she is shutting down for 15 seconds. Which makes things complicated, as she has to guide the stupid humans to come to helpful conclusions. She also can’t lie. Which further complicates things.
I loved Sasha’s voice. But Rex in all his idiotic cunning glory, while not being the most likable character per se, was equally as entertaining. The dynamic between the two is working very well, with Rex being the eccentric, comic character and Sasha being the straight robot, so to say.
Space farce isn’t easy to do. And the humor won’t be for everyone. It falls somewhere between Spaceballs and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But probably closer to the former. Me? I was having a blast. This book had exceedingly more hits than misses for me, and every chapter had me laughing out loud a couple of times, sometimes even putting me into a complete laughing fit. I’m not a fan of the ending, which suffered from too much exposition and a jarring shift in tone. But it only matters just ever so slightly, as 95% of this novel were a total hoot.
Perhaps the funniest book I’ve read this year.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Rex Nihilo is a space-faring ne’er-do-well that has a penchant for getting himself, and his faithful robot sidekick Sasha, into trouble. And for getting out of said trouble in the most ridiculous manner. Just to get the both of them into yet more trouble.
This time he wins a planet in a poker game. By cheating, of course. Unfortunately, though, that planet isn’t only a worthless piece of space junk, it also brings with it an outstanding debt of 1.6 billion credits. So Rex decides to double-cross the Malarchian Empire AND their adversaries, the rebels of the Frente Repugnante, to scam them (and some others) out of money. Perhaps a mistake.
What follows is complete chaos, in the most fun way imaginable, as Rex and Sasha frequently find themselves in situations where they must pretend to help the (ever-changing) enemy without exposing their swindle. Well, several swindles in fact.
The story is told through Sasha’s voice who is trying to stay polite while she’s inwardly rolling her eyes because of all the human idiots she is surrounded with. Sasha is a Self-Arresting near-Sentient Heuristic Android. Every time she’s about to have an original thought she is shutting down for 15 seconds. Which makes things complicated, as she has to guide the stupid humans to come to helpful conclusions. She also can’t lie. Which further complicates things.
I loved Sasha’s voice. But Rex in all his idiotic cunning glory, while not being the most likable character per se, was equally as entertaining. The dynamic between the two is working very well, with Rex being the eccentric, comic character and Sasha being the straight robot, so to say.
Space farce isn’t easy to do. And the humor won’t be for everyone. It falls somewhere between Spaceballs and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But probably closer to the former. Me? I was having a blast. This book had exceedingly more hits than misses for me, and every chapter had me laughing out loud a couple of times, sometimes even putting me into a complete laughing fit. I’m not a fan of the ending, which suffered from too much exposition and a jarring shift in tone. But it only matters just ever so slightly, as 95% of this novel were a total hoot.
Perhaps the funniest book I’ve read this year.
4.5 stars rounded up.
May 22, 2014
Ah, space farce. Not a common genre and not many can do it well. Starship Grifters is a cut above—with more hits than misses—yet not without its flaws. It landed some big laughs and that was a treat.
The Holy Grail* of space comedy is The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series, of course. Frankly, nothing can touch it. Douglas Adams was a literary treasure, like Flann O'Brien, and I loved all his works including the Dirk Gently series and his final book Last Chance to See about endangered species—there couldn't be a more meaningful end to his life and career. How can you top that? You can't. Adams had a big heart to match his comedic genius; his charm put him into a class of his own. Starship Grifters can't compete. But given that...a worthy effort that falls closer to Space Balls than Hitchhiker's. In fact, like Space Balls, Starship Grifters gets a lot of mileage satirizing such Star Wars tropes as the Death Star that can be blown up with a single shot and the plucky rebel forces.
The main character, Rex Nihilo, falls into the "loveable rogue" stereotype although a little more rogue and little less loveable than some. Think a dumber yet more cunning version of Han Solo blended with an homage to Harry Harrison, the pulp sci-fi author of the Stainless Steel Rat series. The result is a frappé of stupidity, narcissism and derangement rather than the serious James-Bond-style scheming of the Stainless Steel Rat. Rex is the comedian of the story (for the most part) while his sidekick, the android Sasha, is the straight...errh... straightrobot. The story follows Rex and Sasha as they try to outrace galactic debt collectors while scamming money out of billionaires, the fascist military, and the rebels alike. Rex has no morals or common sense, but he's clever and a great talker, frequently outwitting his enemies.
Unfortunately, except for Sasha, almost every single character in the book is irremediably stupid. Just plain DUBM. It makes for some very funny situations, but I would also call it a flaw in the book. Ironic, yes, that the android was the brains...but by the end of the book the stupidity of the majority of the characters (the female bounty hunter being an exception) started to feel a bit too easy. It made the plot devices easier to pull off when you weren't dealing with anyone with two brain cells to rub together. And it also made the comedy a bit too obvious at time. Another flaw arose in the voice of Sasha--too many occurrences of sarcasm or "wit" that seemed inappropriate for an android, even one that bordered on sentience. Just didn't feel right. And my last criticism is that the tone wasn't 100% nailed. The comedy tended to fluctuate between the truly absurd (things that only make sense on paper as jokes), the merely ridiculous (things that could happen but are quite farfetched), and character-driven witty dialogue (realistic situations) And then there's the very end of the book where the tone shifted abruptly.
But I dwell, I dwell on the negative. It really is a solid comedy overall. If you like silliness, space opera, Space Balls, and/or Star Wars (but not religiously), then you will probably like Starship Grifters. 3 1/2 stars.
*And by "Holy Grail" I mean Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail.
The Holy Grail* of space comedy is The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series, of course. Frankly, nothing can touch it. Douglas Adams was a literary treasure, like Flann O'Brien, and I loved all his works including the Dirk Gently series and his final book Last Chance to See about endangered species—there couldn't be a more meaningful end to his life and career. How can you top that? You can't. Adams had a big heart to match his comedic genius; his charm put him into a class of his own. Starship Grifters can't compete. But given that...a worthy effort that falls closer to Space Balls than Hitchhiker's. In fact, like Space Balls, Starship Grifters gets a lot of mileage satirizing such Star Wars tropes as the Death Star that can be blown up with a single shot and the plucky rebel forces.
The main character, Rex Nihilo, falls into the "loveable rogue" stereotype although a little more rogue and little less loveable than some. Think a dumber yet more cunning version of Han Solo blended with an homage to Harry Harrison, the pulp sci-fi author of the Stainless Steel Rat series. The result is a frappé of stupidity, narcissism and derangement rather than the serious James-Bond-style scheming of the Stainless Steel Rat. Rex is the comedian of the story (for the most part) while his sidekick, the android Sasha, is the straight...errh... straightrobot. The story follows Rex and Sasha as they try to outrace galactic debt collectors while scamming money out of billionaires, the fascist military, and the rebels alike. Rex has no morals or common sense, but he's clever and a great talker, frequently outwitting his enemies.
Unfortunately, except for Sasha, almost every single character in the book is irremediably stupid. Just plain DUBM. It makes for some very funny situations, but I would also call it a flaw in the book. Ironic, yes, that the android was the brains...but by the end of the book the stupidity of the majority of the characters (the female bounty hunter being an exception) started to feel a bit too easy. It made the plot devices easier to pull off when you weren't dealing with anyone with two brain cells to rub together. And it also made the comedy a bit too obvious at time. Another flaw arose in the voice of Sasha--too many occurrences of sarcasm or "wit" that seemed inappropriate for an android, even one that bordered on sentience. Just didn't feel right. And my last criticism is that the tone wasn't 100% nailed. The comedy tended to fluctuate between the truly absurd (things that only make sense on paper as jokes), the merely ridiculous (things that could happen but are quite farfetched), and character-driven witty dialogue (realistic situations) And then there's the very end of the book where the tone shifted abruptly.
But I dwell, I dwell on the negative. It really is a solid comedy overall. If you like silliness, space opera, Space Balls, and/or Star Wars (but not religiously), then you will probably like Starship Grifters. 3 1/2 stars.
*And by "Holy Grail" I mean Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail.
October 20, 2021
You'd have to be brain damaged to like this book. No wonder I enjoyed it so much.
(Three stars, in this case, means that it was about as good as I expected. It should not be seen as criticism.)
If this were a movie, it would land somewhere between Spaceballs and Galaxy Quest. While generally pretty pedestrian, every so often author Krouse would land an unexpected left hook:
Or a pain-killer called "pheelsophine".
I got exactly what I wanted, which was a few hours of no-brain-wave-activity fun. Although, to my surprise, it actually grew rather clever in the final few pages.
(Three stars, in this case, means that it was about as good as I expected. It should not be seen as criticism.)
If this were a movie, it would land somewhere between Spaceballs and Galaxy Quest. While generally pretty pedestrian, every so often author Krouse would land an unexpected left hook:
"Gaaaah!" cried Rex as we approached. "What is that thing? It looks like a model of the human digestive tract made from broken beer bottles and sadness.".
Or a pain-killer called "pheelsophine".
I got exactly what I wanted, which was a few hours of no-brain-wave-activity fun. Although, to my surprise, it actually grew rather clever in the final few pages.
April 27, 2014
Seriously, this was one of the funniest books I've read since A Confederacy of Dunces. It's basically a sci-fi epic concerning the misadventures of Rex Nihilo, as seen through the eyes of his assistant robot Sasha - who, by the way, is unable to lie and therefore painfully honest at times. She also has a failsafe preventing her from forming independent thought, which is one of the many running gags throughtout the novel (others include Rex' failing memory and his increasingly absurd misnaming of the enemy's secret weapon, the plasmatic entropy cannon).
I was pleasantly surprised by the author's choice to use Sasha as a first person character; her deadpan observations are hilarious, as is the constant banter between her and Rex - who is basically an ignorant fool reminiscent of a Mel Brooks character (obviously, Spaceballs comes to mind, but the witty dialogue also reminded me of, for instance, Blazing Saddles.) During their adventures, Rex and Sasha encounter a colorful bunch of side characters; a sexy bounty hunter, a torture-lovin' bad guy called Heinous Vlaak, the somewhat incompetent members of a rebel alliance (though the name was changed after a lawsuit, so they're called Frente Repugnante now - don't ask.) A big part in the middle of the book revolves around a rescue mission, and the way all our heroes fumble about and bicker and even - often accidentally - do something right is quite satisfying. I don't want to give away much more of the plot, so let me just sum it up like this: Rex Nihilo wins a useless planet in a poker game, which sets off a series of events that may seem rather random at times, but actually comes together quite nicely in the end. Although there is one little twist at the end that I didn't like, the story was fast-paced, entertaining and (mostly) surprising in its clever turns.
Now, I must admit that I'm hardly a scifi fan, so I was a little reluctant to read this. However, there are so many funny moments in this book that I'm glad I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one. There's an estimated 3,89 succesful joke per page, varying from clever wordplay to explanations of (mostly made up) scientific phenomena. There are also a few references to the well-known classics, but fortunately they're quite subtle. In fact, they're so subtle I probably missed half of them. On another note, I must also say that I appreciated the absence of dystopianism; modern scifi (in movies at least, don't know about books) has a tendency to be grim about our future, or to make a point about the extreme advancements in, say, social media or ecology. But Starship Grifters stays lighthearted throughout, a few remarks concerning corporate culture aside. The book just wants to be a fun space story in the vein of a 1950's B-movie, and it sure succeeds at that. In fact, it reminded me of the brilliant Space Quest adventure games I used to play in the nineties.
All in all, I can recommend this to anyone who just wants to have a fun read, whether you like scifi or not.
I was pleasantly surprised by the author's choice to use Sasha as a first person character; her deadpan observations are hilarious, as is the constant banter between her and Rex - who is basically an ignorant fool reminiscent of a Mel Brooks character (obviously, Spaceballs comes to mind, but the witty dialogue also reminded me of, for instance, Blazing Saddles.) During their adventures, Rex and Sasha encounter a colorful bunch of side characters; a sexy bounty hunter, a torture-lovin' bad guy called Heinous Vlaak, the somewhat incompetent members of a rebel alliance (though the name was changed after a lawsuit, so they're called Frente Repugnante now - don't ask.) A big part in the middle of the book revolves around a rescue mission, and the way all our heroes fumble about and bicker and even - often accidentally - do something right is quite satisfying. I don't want to give away much more of the plot, so let me just sum it up like this: Rex Nihilo wins a useless planet in a poker game, which sets off a series of events that may seem rather random at times, but actually comes together quite nicely in the end. Although there is one little twist at the end that I didn't like, the story was fast-paced, entertaining and (mostly) surprising in its clever turns.
Now, I must admit that I'm hardly a scifi fan, so I was a little reluctant to read this. However, there are so many funny moments in this book that I'm glad I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one. There's an estimated 3,89 succesful joke per page, varying from clever wordplay to explanations of (mostly made up) scientific phenomena. There are also a few references to the well-known classics, but fortunately they're quite subtle. In fact, they're so subtle I probably missed half of them. On another note, I must also say that I appreciated the absence of dystopianism; modern scifi (in movies at least, don't know about books) has a tendency to be grim about our future, or to make a point about the extreme advancements in, say, social media or ecology. But Starship Grifters stays lighthearted throughout, a few remarks concerning corporate culture aside. The book just wants to be a fun space story in the vein of a 1950's B-movie, and it sure succeeds at that. In fact, it reminded me of the brilliant Space Quest adventure games I used to play in the nineties.
All in all, I can recommend this to anyone who just wants to have a fun read, whether you like scifi or not.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 27, 2017DNF at ~40% of the audiobook.
I might come back at a later time to see this one to the end, as it could be that I just wasn't in the right mood for this type of humour right now.
I had a lot of trouble with the narrator on this one. I thought she was PERFECT while doing the first person narration aspects of the robot, but I couldn't stand some of the other voices she did (mainly male). I don't complain about narrators very often, and have several female narrators I really like, but this time I think it's the narration that's killing the book for me.
I might come back at a later time to see this one to the end, as it could be that I just wasn't in the right mood for this type of humour right now.
I had a lot of trouble with the narrator on this one. I thought she was PERFECT while doing the first person narration aspects of the robot, but I couldn't stand some of the other voices she did (mainly male). I don't complain about narrators very often, and have several female narrators I really like, but this time I think it's the narration that's killing the book for me.
August 30, 2017
Not as funny as HHGTTG but not bad either.
April 10, 2017
This book opened me up to an entire sub-genre I didn't think I would enjoy. Sci-fi farce/comedy. I've never been one to enjoy comedic fiction as I've always found the genre is better suited for TV or Movies. Boy was I wrong.
This book is a hilarious romp through a far-future galaxy that exposes some of the ridiculous throughout the Star Wars Saga and in science fiction in genre. That's not to say this is dumb, however, If anything it's quite the opposite. Mr. Kroese is a brilliant writer. Even when he isn't being funny every line of this book crackles with energy. And for every witty reference there is a smart creation of his own such as their form of Rationalizing Interstellar Travel. And as much as I was laughing throughout, I never felt disconnected from the silly universe created in this book.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between sarcastic, self-centered and self-proclaimed legend, Rex Nihilo, and his robot partner Sasha. He's a conman always on the lookout for a pay day and she is a semi-sentient robot unable to tell a lie or develop an have original original thought. Their banter and antics hold the entire story together. Every time she has to get him out of a mess of his own design or pour him a margarita while he watches others do his bidding.
The story here isn't going too win any awards, but it's almost secondary to me. This is a parody of science fiction through and through, and an adventure filled with mishaps and accidental victories. Every member in the supporting cast is great and will keep you laughing, but nobody does it like Rex. Any time he opens his mouth it's gold, obnoxious gold, but gold nonetheless. I highly recommend this novel, especially for those who haven't tried this sub-genre before and are looking for something fresh
This book is a hilarious romp through a far-future galaxy that exposes some of the ridiculous throughout the Star Wars Saga and in science fiction in genre. That's not to say this is dumb, however, If anything it's quite the opposite. Mr. Kroese is a brilliant writer. Even when he isn't being funny every line of this book crackles with energy. And for every witty reference there is a smart creation of his own such as their form of Rationalizing Interstellar Travel. And as much as I was laughing throughout, I never felt disconnected from the silly universe created in this book.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between sarcastic, self-centered and self-proclaimed legend, Rex Nihilo, and his robot partner Sasha. He's a conman always on the lookout for a pay day and she is a semi-sentient robot unable to tell a lie or develop an have original original thought. Their banter and antics hold the entire story together. Every time she has to get him out of a mess of his own design or pour him a margarita while he watches others do his bidding.
The story here isn't going too win any awards, but it's almost secondary to me. This is a parody of science fiction through and through, and an adventure filled with mishaps and accidental victories. Every member in the supporting cast is great and will keep you laughing, but nobody does it like Rex. Any time he opens his mouth it's gold, obnoxious gold, but gold nonetheless. I highly recommend this novel, especially for those who haven't tried this sub-genre before and are looking for something fresh
April 30, 2014
Starship Grifters is a hilarious trip through space with many jokes and references to other sci-fi properties probably just barely passing copyright inspection. Although the publisher's summary of the book made it sound a little cheesy to me, I had faith this would be worth it from reading Robert Kroese's previous works, and in the first couple pages I found the usual smart-ass humor and smart writing I expected. Although the robot companion Sasha narrates the book and provides amusing asides herself between episodes of shutting down due to self-aware thinking (a mechanic of the story which was surprising and used very well towards the end), the main character is really space merchant Rex Nihilo. Rex is a little hard to love at first due to his overconfidence, but he is also quickly shown to be quite amusingly stupid and yet amazingly skilled at turning any situation towards his own profit through conning everyone. This was one of the things that impressed me the most in this book, that Rex is constantly in the right position to hold something against someone to get what he wants, even when he is quite often about to be killed. Kroese wrote these situations really well and made them believable, no matter how silly it gets. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to many.
May 6, 2014
I'm fairly new to the Sci-Fi genre. I've read Hitchhicker and Fuzzy Nation. This book felt similar to me. The humor, the crazy, rebellious antics. I love Rex Nihilo. I want to be Rex Nihilo. He has a way of making things turn out in his favor, even when he's trying to make it go sour.
If you want a synopois, you'll have to read another review.
I'm just letting you know that you won't be sorry for picking up this book.
I've been a big fan of Robert Kroese's books since the first Mercury. His ability to make the reader laugh is what drew me in, & makes me stay. Now, I'm not saying that there's nothing but humor. Who would reaad a book without a solid plot?
This was one of those books that kept me up way too late. I'm too old to be reading until 3am and going to work the next morning. But there you have it. Some books you just have to be tired for.
*FYI: I did recieve an advance review copy, in exchange for a review. However, my opinions are my own.
If you want a synopois, you'll have to read another review.
I'm just letting you know that you won't be sorry for picking up this book.
I've been a big fan of Robert Kroese's books since the first Mercury. His ability to make the reader laugh is what drew me in, & makes me stay. Now, I'm not saying that there's nothing but humor. Who would reaad a book without a solid plot?
This was one of those books that kept me up way too late. I'm too old to be reading until 3am and going to work the next morning. But there you have it. Some books you just have to be tired for.
*FYI: I did recieve an advance review copy, in exchange for a review. However, my opinions are my own.
June 2, 2017
This book was corny and silly and cheesy....and I loved every single minute of it! It's very close to 5 stars for me. Very close.
I've never read a space farce, so I have nothing else to compare it to, but I have most definitely watched movies of the genre. This played out in my head exactly like the movies I've seen. Ridiculous situations, illogical logic, and just over the top shenanigans.
I may have time later to write a full review, but for now I just want to say: if you like space fantasy and silliness, but like smart silliness, then you should totally give this a try!
I've never read a space farce, so I have nothing else to compare it to, but I have most definitely watched movies of the genre. This played out in my head exactly like the movies I've seen. Ridiculous situations, illogical logic, and just over the top shenanigans.
I may have time later to write a full review, but for now I just want to say: if you like space fantasy and silliness, but like smart silliness, then you should totally give this a try!
April 5, 2019
Amusing, like a cross between Spaceballs and Hitchhiker's Guide, with some jokes that fall short and other that really hit the mark. A fun read.
April 27, 2018
“But has money ever made you truly happy?” “No,” said Rex. “But the lack of it has made me unhappy, and I’m pretty good at extrapolating."
This book was over-the-top silly, quite cheesy, and a lot of fun.
This book was over-the-top silly, quite cheesy, and a lot of fun.
May 6, 2014
To state any possible bias upfront, I got a copy of this novel to read prior to publication because Robert Kroese had seen a review I'd written of one of his other novels on here, and asked if I'd like to read this one prior to publication. On the one hand, this may bias me towards enjoying the book; on the other, I imagine the fact that I enjoyed his previous work may have had something to do with why he'd like me to read his new stuff, so I may have already been biased in his favor.
Starship Grifters is essentially a sci fi humor heist story, narrated by a near-sentient robot. In terms of other books I've read, I'd place it most similar to Divine Misfortune, Heroics for Beginners, or Good Omens in feel. It's definitely light reading, though there was an element at the end of the novel that I found completely unexpected and which made the story simultaneously more sensible and more interesting.
Things I liked about this book:
- Footnotes. Honestly, I've not yet read a novel with footnotes that I didn't enjoy. I find that they're typically a good way to add a bit of irreverent weirdness without bogging down the text in parentheticals. This novel follows that tradition.
- Banter. I am willing to suspend quite a bit of disbelief in order to enjoy a good bit of banter (such as, oh, that I enjoy the TV show Bones), and there's a good amount here.
- Irreverent weirdness. I know people who think sarcasm has a bad name, but I think these are people who don't realize that something can be sarcastic without being mean. Dry understatement is also a form of sarcasm. Irreverent weirdness can be as well. Thankfully, I found that most of this weirdness wasn't just weird for the sake of being weird -- a la Douglas Adams, for example -- but weirdness that generally tied back together, more along the lines of, say, Connie Willis.
- Parody restraint. There's a lot of parody of Star Wars in this book, but while there is a space princess with cinnamon bun hairstyle, and imperial troops with amazingly poor marksmanship, and a weapon capable of destroying planets...it thankfully reins itself in before also needing to mock all of the central characters.
- Good twist near the end. I don't want to put in spoilers, but I was pleasantly surprised by something I did not see coming which made this feel much fluff like.
Things I did not like about this book:
- Unbelievably stupid characters. Most of the antagonists in this story are stupefyingly idiotic, which is funny for a little while but begins to drag a bit by the end.
- Similarity of dialogue. Many of the characters have very similar styles of speech, which prevents them from really developing their own voice. That's not my usual preference, but that preference is also probably partially a function of my reading a lot of very long series, where character development and continuity of characters is more meaningful than it will be in a stand alone novel.
Overall, a fun, light read, which is quite appropriate as we gear up for summer.
Starship Grifters is essentially a sci fi humor heist story, narrated by a near-sentient robot. In terms of other books I've read, I'd place it most similar to Divine Misfortune, Heroics for Beginners, or Good Omens in feel. It's definitely light reading, though there was an element at the end of the novel that I found completely unexpected and which made the story simultaneously more sensible and more interesting.
Things I liked about this book:
- Footnotes. Honestly, I've not yet read a novel with footnotes that I didn't enjoy. I find that they're typically a good way to add a bit of irreverent weirdness without bogging down the text in parentheticals. This novel follows that tradition.
- Banter. I am willing to suspend quite a bit of disbelief in order to enjoy a good bit of banter (such as, oh, that I enjoy the TV show Bones), and there's a good amount here.
- Irreverent weirdness. I know people who think sarcasm has a bad name, but I think these are people who don't realize that something can be sarcastic without being mean. Dry understatement is also a form of sarcasm. Irreverent weirdness can be as well. Thankfully, I found that most of this weirdness wasn't just weird for the sake of being weird -- a la Douglas Adams, for example -- but weirdness that generally tied back together, more along the lines of, say, Connie Willis.
- Parody restraint. There's a lot of parody of Star Wars in this book, but while there is a space princess with cinnamon bun hairstyle, and imperial troops with amazingly poor marksmanship, and a weapon capable of destroying planets...it thankfully reins itself in before also needing to mock all of the central characters.
- Good twist near the end. I don't want to put in spoilers, but I was pleasantly surprised by something I did not see coming which made this feel much fluff like.
Things I did not like about this book:
- Unbelievably stupid characters. Most of the antagonists in this story are stupefyingly idiotic, which is funny for a little while but begins to drag a bit by the end.
- Similarity of dialogue. Many of the characters have very similar styles of speech, which prevents them from really developing their own voice. That's not my usual preference, but that preference is also probably partially a function of my reading a lot of very long series, where character development and continuity of characters is more meaningful than it will be in a stand alone novel.
Overall, a fun, light read, which is quite appropriate as we gear up for summer.
July 4, 2017
Great read. , awesome audio option
I both read and listens to this book. It is fun to listen to as the reader makes voices for the characters. It is a good read too. I highly recommend it.
I both read and listens to this book. It is fun to listen to as the reader makes voices for the characters. It is a good read too. I highly recommend it.
May 28, 2014
Robert Kroese is one of the funniest writers currently putting ink to paper. His Mercury trilogy was a sublime mix of Douglas Adams and Christopher Moore. In Starship Grifters, Kroese turns his attention from fantasy to science fiction and shows he is still one funny SOB. Starship Grifters is a bit of a throwback to the 50s and 60s space operas. To be precise, it is a bit of a tribute to the satirical sci-fi novels of Harry Harrison, such as Bill, The Galactic Hero and the Stainless Steel Rat series. This should come to no surprise to Kroese since he dedicated the novel to Mr. Harrison. In this very funny and somewhat irreverent novel, The author follows the adventures of Rex Nihilo, a not so bright galactic con-man as narrated by his faithful sidekick android SASHA (Self-Arresting near-Sentient Heuristic Android). Everyone is this 30th century universe is as smart as a Martian rock so it is no surprise that Sasha narrates this with sardonic humility and perhaps a little surprised that Rex and the rest of the carbon based races has gotten this far. The basic plot involves Rex having won a planet...and a staggering debt attached to it... and then conjuring a plot to avoid being tortured for a million years on the prison planet of Gulagatraz. It's a convoluted plot that includes a lot of memory repression. (Rex: "Does it hurt?" Sasha: 'You won't remember a thing."). As funny as it is, Kroese's gift, as is Adams' and Moore's, is the ability to catch the quirks and inconsistencies of human nature. But if satiric sociopolitical commentary isn't your thing, don't fret. Starship Grifters is above all else an exciting and hilarious literary escape. Starship Grifters will be adored by the lovers of humorous sci-fi but is enjoyable for anyone who like funny satires.
June 21, 2014
The answer is yes.
The question? Should I read this book?
Funny SF is tricky. Funny SF that holds up over an entire novel is a rarity. The writing in this book is sharp, tight, and clever. I laughed out loud enough to lose track of tally or occurrence. In a word, this novel is SMART.
Robert Kroese delivers an action-stuffed SF adventure packed with funny acronyms, believable and outlandish characters, and a plot with more twists than a page of calligraphy or a barrel of monkey tails. Set in a future galaxy, far far away, Starship Grifters tickles our nostalgia with SF references that most should recognize. From those expendable red shirt wearers to large starships that have the capacity for destroying planets, this book is accessible. It is also wonderfully layered for you deep-rooted SF aficionados. I mean when a starship is named Flagrante Delicto, which is Latin, it's hard to go wrong.
Now, does this mean you'll love this as much as me? Nope, it don't. Humor is painfully relative, but I imagine you'll at least crack a smile or whack a knee. I laughed, often, at times uproariously. It's been a while since I've had such fun with an SF adventure. The key is that this doesn't take itself too seriously, and neither should we.
Kate Rudd narrates the audiobook, and I highly recommend this for listening. Rudd is amazing! She infuses each character with a sense of individuality and the breath of life. At first I was a little anxious, but within five minutes Rudd had won me over, and within ten, I was a staunch Rudd believer.
Now, go grab a martini and let the listening begin. "It's time for piggy to go to market!"
The question? Should I read this book?
Funny SF is tricky. Funny SF that holds up over an entire novel is a rarity. The writing in this book is sharp, tight, and clever. I laughed out loud enough to lose track of tally or occurrence. In a word, this novel is SMART.
Robert Kroese delivers an action-stuffed SF adventure packed with funny acronyms, believable and outlandish characters, and a plot with more twists than a page of calligraphy or a barrel of monkey tails. Set in a future galaxy, far far away, Starship Grifters tickles our nostalgia with SF references that most should recognize. From those expendable red shirt wearers to large starships that have the capacity for destroying planets, this book is accessible. It is also wonderfully layered for you deep-rooted SF aficionados. I mean when a starship is named Flagrante Delicto, which is Latin, it's hard to go wrong.
Now, does this mean you'll love this as much as me? Nope, it don't. Humor is painfully relative, but I imagine you'll at least crack a smile or whack a knee. I laughed, often, at times uproariously. It's been a while since I've had such fun with an SF adventure. The key is that this doesn't take itself too seriously, and neither should we.
Kate Rudd narrates the audiobook, and I highly recommend this for listening. Rudd is amazing! She infuses each character with a sense of individuality and the breath of life. At first I was a little anxious, but within five minutes Rudd had won me over, and within ten, I was a staunch Rudd believer.
Now, go grab a martini and let the listening begin. "It's time for piggy to go to market!"
August 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. There were several moments I had to put it down for a few seconds because I was laughing so hard. It was really really funny!
I liked the concept, the characters, the wordplay, puns, and witty dialogue and descriptions.
Where this book let me down was how sometimes the attempts at humor were a little hamfisted. It was relentless, beating me over the head, until I eventually became numb to it. But then something would happen, maybe a line or two of dialogue, or whatever, and I'd have to stop again to laugh.
This made the story somewhat weak in parts. There was never any sense of urgency, I never felt invested in the outcome. It just meandered along to a crazy ending I totally didn't see coming.
There were other moments when the author would go into too much explanation about what was really going on. Some stories keep you on your toes guessing, and you're not always sure about the motives behind decisions the characters make. Maybe the plot unfolds in a clever, mysterious way that makes you go "Why didn't I catch that?" Here, it's mostly spelled out for you, at length, even if you already know. It made me feel like I was being spoon fed, but only just a little, sometimes. It still had a few unexpected surprises and twists, don't get me wrong!
I had trouble deciding between 3 and 4 stars on this one. 3 stars seems too harsh, because it really was great! But 4 seems a bit too generous, because it could have been just a bit better. If you're in the mood for a light story that will make you giggle like a kid, this is it!
I liked the concept, the characters, the wordplay, puns, and witty dialogue and descriptions.
Where this book let me down was how sometimes the attempts at humor were a little hamfisted. It was relentless, beating me over the head, until I eventually became numb to it. But then something would happen, maybe a line or two of dialogue, or whatever, and I'd have to stop again to laugh.
This made the story somewhat weak in parts. There was never any sense of urgency, I never felt invested in the outcome. It just meandered along to a crazy ending I totally didn't see coming.
There were other moments when the author would go into too much explanation about what was really going on. Some stories keep you on your toes guessing, and you're not always sure about the motives behind decisions the characters make. Maybe the plot unfolds in a clever, mysterious way that makes you go "Why didn't I catch that?" Here, it's mostly spelled out for you, at length, even if you already know. It made me feel like I was being spoon fed, but only just a little, sometimes. It still had a few unexpected surprises and twists, don't get me wrong!
I had trouble deciding between 3 and 4 stars on this one. 3 stars seems too harsh, because it really was great! But 4 seems a bit too generous, because it could have been just a bit better. If you're in the mood for a light story that will make you giggle like a kid, this is it!
May 6, 2015
The best way I can think to describe it is if Christopher Moore would have writing a story in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy universe. Also it reminded me a lot of the old Mel Brook movies!
Really entertaining book about the space adventures of our hero(?) Rex Nihilo and his sidekick Sasha the robot! lots and lots of humor (maybe a bit too much?) and fun characters doing the most ridiculous and dumb decisions possible as they try to blow up a planet, seriously the only one that seem to have a brain was Sasha! The only problem I had with the book is that I wish it wouldn't all have been joke after joke, by the end it felt a bit repetitive especially with Rex, the book is on the short side so I can only think that if it would have been longer it would have given us a little more time to breath between every scene, but that doesn't take away from the book, it was really fun and I did lol many times throughout the story and the ending was completely unexpected and left me with a big smile in my face and eager for the next adventure.
Really entertaining book about the space adventures of our hero(?) Rex Nihilo and his sidekick Sasha the robot! lots and lots of humor (maybe a bit too much?) and fun characters doing the most ridiculous and dumb decisions possible as they try to blow up a planet, seriously the only one that seem to have a brain was Sasha! The only problem I had with the book is that I wish it wouldn't all have been joke after joke, by the end it felt a bit repetitive especially with Rex, the book is on the short side so I can only think that if it would have been longer it would have given us a little more time to breath between every scene, but that doesn't take away from the book, it was really fun and I did lol many times throughout the story and the ending was completely unexpected and left me with a big smile in my face and eager for the next adventure.
August 12, 2017
Action, adventure, and con games in outer space!
From the point of view of his long-suffering robot Sasha, the comic adventures of Rex Nihilo, shortly after he wins an APPLE -- Alien Planet Perplexingly Like Earth -- in a card game. And discovers it comes with a lien of over a billion credits.
His exploits attempting to save him from the debtors' prison of the galaxy include a forest moon that has about one tree, a Knight of Chaotic Equilibrium, a rebellion against the Malarchy, the question of a planet being blown up, an inflitration that goes extremely well, a bounty hunter, many rumors of a cloaking device, and more.
Lots of fun allusions to other SF works. Star Wars most distinctly, with Dune and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy also notable.
From the point of view of his long-suffering robot Sasha, the comic adventures of Rex Nihilo, shortly after he wins an APPLE -- Alien Planet Perplexingly Like Earth -- in a card game. And discovers it comes with a lien of over a billion credits.
His exploits attempting to save him from the debtors' prison of the galaxy include a forest moon that has about one tree, a Knight of Chaotic Equilibrium, a rebellion against the Malarchy, the question of a planet being blown up, an inflitration that goes extremely well, a bounty hunter, many rumors of a cloaking device, and more.
Lots of fun allusions to other SF works. Star Wars most distinctly, with Dune and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy also notable.
May 8, 2014
Better than three shots of Pheelsophine! This is an epic space romp. It's Buck Rogers meets Space Balls meets Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy. The jokes range from the subtle and cerebral to corny groaners but always kept me smiling. Rex keeps so many balls in the air he is never sure of how it will all play out but is sure it will all turn out fine. This is high space adventure, theatre of the absurd amongst the stars. I did not see the ending coming and that made for a nice surprise to a very enjoyable and fun read.
May 1, 2014
Rex Nihilo is a bumbling conman who thankfully has a wonderful, loyal, competent robot sidekick named Sasha. He gets into lots of trouble swindling others, gambling, and winning a useless planet in a poker game. To evade a life of endless torture and imprisonment, he gallivants through space in the most hilarious manner. The story is told through Sasha, who is the levelheaded one in all this. STARSHIP GRIFTERS is a unique sci-fi tale that took me on a wild ride. I didn’t want it to end.
August 24, 2014
Absolutely hilarious. There's a lot of Star Wars parody in here, but that's certainly not all there is to the novel. Every time you think things can't possibly get any more bizarre, they do just that.
Very well done, and now I'll have to pick up the prequel short story while hoping more material is on its way.
Very well done, and now I'll have to pick up the prequel short story while hoping more material is on its way.
February 14, 2020
You have probably seen that video where Kurt Vonnegut, that Grand Old Master of lunatic science fiction his own bad self, draws out the arcs of stories. (If you have not, it is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP3c1h8v2ZQ). What the arcs do is go up and down over time, like sine waves. And that is how things are supposed to work.
I do not know if Robert Kroese has ever seen that video, but if you sat down and drew a story arc for STARSHIP GRIFTERS, it would start off in an arc, and swing round to a circle, and then swing around the other way, and circle back again, and do a few more artistic curlicues, and then dribble off the end of the chalkboard. I don't know what the final image would look like. It might be more like a message than a story arc. "Jeremy Bearimy," let's say, or "DON'T PANIC."
I caught most of the stupid puns (although it took me far, far too long to pick up on 'General Issimo' than it should have) and probably all of the wink-wink nudge-nudge references, and laughed probably more than I should have. But by the time the circular storyline spiraled into nonexistence, I wasn't in a jovial mood.
I am not saying this was BAD. It is Douglas Adams crossed with Zapp Brannigan. But even Zapp Brannigan wants something. All Rex Nihilo (wink wink, nudge nudge) wants is for the vodka not to run out. It's not enough to push this mess of a novel forward at anything faster than a turtle's pace.
I do not know if Robert Kroese has ever seen that video, but if you sat down and drew a story arc for STARSHIP GRIFTERS, it would start off in an arc, and swing round to a circle, and then swing around the other way, and circle back again, and do a few more artistic curlicues, and then dribble off the end of the chalkboard. I don't know what the final image would look like. It might be more like a message than a story arc. "Jeremy Bearimy," let's say, or "DON'T PANIC."
I caught most of the stupid puns (although it took me far, far too long to pick up on 'General Issimo' than it should have) and probably all of the wink-wink nudge-nudge references, and laughed probably more than I should have. But by the time the circular storyline spiraled into nonexistence, I wasn't in a jovial mood.
I am not saying this was BAD. It is Douglas Adams crossed with Zapp Brannigan. But even Zapp Brannigan wants something. All Rex Nihilo (wink wink, nudge nudge) wants is for the vodka not to run out. It's not enough to push this mess of a novel forward at anything faster than a turtle's pace.
January 26, 2018
Bring on book two! I loved this crazy space romp. Any lead character that can confuse his evil captors into letting him go is enjoyable to me. It was silly, and clever and made me giggle.
Rex is ridiculous, this entire universe is ridiculous, some of the jokes fall a little flat, but they come fast and furious and most of them are awesome, so the book was just a fabulous romp from one side of Euclidean space to the other.
Rex is ridiculous, this entire universe is ridiculous, some of the jokes fall a little flat, but they come fast and furious and most of them are awesome, so the book was just a fabulous romp from one side of Euclidean space to the other.
July 19, 2019
Very funny science fiction with inside jokes throughout the book. And poor Sasha having to put up with Rex. She really is a saint, or the worst enabler ever.
April 30, 2014
What did I just read? And why did I like it so much?
Starship Grifters is a crazy story about a gambling, alcoholic, con-artist and his robot assistant that accidentally become owners of a planet that put them deep in debt and smack-dab in the center of a conflict between the current galactic empire and the rebels who want to overthrow it.
There are character names like Rex Nihilo and General Issimo, the Malarchy Empire, and the prison planet Gulagatraz. There are borrowed quotes from The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and Star Wars, as well as plenty of other similarities and ... parodies. If Ex Nihilo means out of nothing, then does Rex Nihilo mean king of nothing? There were probably other names that had plays on words that I didn't catch.
Taken piecemeal, that would make this book seem quite silly and derivative. However, on the whole it all works. I got caught up in the story, and the absolute wonder of how Rex Nihilo spins his yarns to con people, and the witty, snarky banter between him and his robot assistant Sasha.
If Douglas Adams and Mel Brooks wrote Star Wars as an episode of Leverage, and JJ Abrams and Michael Bay directed and produced it for the SyFy channel, you might end up with something close to Starship Grifters.
And that twist at the end... just another crazy whiskey tango foxtrot moment in a book full of fun moments.
Starship Grifters was provided to me by the author for review. Thanks!
Starship Grifters is a crazy story about a gambling, alcoholic, con-artist and his robot assistant that accidentally become owners of a planet that put them deep in debt and smack-dab in the center of a conflict between the current galactic empire and the rebels who want to overthrow it.
There are character names like Rex Nihilo and General Issimo, the Malarchy Empire, and the prison planet Gulagatraz. There are borrowed quotes from The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and Star Wars, as well as plenty of other similarities and ... parodies. If Ex Nihilo means out of nothing, then does Rex Nihilo mean king of nothing? There were probably other names that had plays on words that I didn't catch.
Taken piecemeal, that would make this book seem quite silly and derivative. However, on the whole it all works. I got caught up in the story, and the absolute wonder of how Rex Nihilo spins his yarns to con people, and the witty, snarky banter between him and his robot assistant Sasha.
If Douglas Adams and Mel Brooks wrote Star Wars as an episode of Leverage, and JJ Abrams and Michael Bay directed and produced it for the SyFy channel, you might end up with something close to Starship Grifters.
And that twist at the end... just another crazy whiskey tango foxtrot moment in a book full of fun moments.
Starship Grifters was provided to me by the author for review. Thanks!
May 14, 2014
Oh what fun this book is. I totally, totally needed to laugh--and the fact that this book did make me laugh given the month I'm having is astounding. And I laughed a lot, out loud, not just the "that's cute" inside laugh. This is the perfect mix of parody, silliness, and genuine love of the genre. If I had to compare it to something in terms of tone, it'd probably be Galaxy Quest or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy but it is derivative of neither. Wonderful voice on the part of the narrator, Sasha, a robot who is the perfect vehicle for us to ride along in this crazy world that Kroese has created. The story develops at a wonderful speed--and maintains that pace. He had the same wit and pace in Mercury Falls and it's a gift. Not everyone can be funny, much less this funny, while still creating a story with characters you will care about (even if they exasperate you at times) that never bogs down. Truly a gifted writer.
Full disclosure: I received this book free because I'd really enjoyed the author's first book Mercury Falls; no review was expected.
Full disclosure: I received this book free because I'd really enjoyed the author's first book Mercury Falls; no review was expected.
August 27, 2016
Full disclosure: I was given an early copy to review.
This book has everything you need for a science fiction book: Imperial Rulers (bad guys), small rebel band, gambling, prison planet, bounty hunters, and a religious sect or "hockey religion".
It also has everything you need in a satire; it makes fun of all of them sometimes at the same time.
The characters all seem deeply flawed in so many ways, but not really in the same ways. The only one that is remotely normal is the narrator named Sasha, a robot, which may explain the normality. The Robot tells of her owner, Rex, who is thrown into one bad and awkward situation after another, mostly due to his trying to get out of the previous situation.
Robert Krouse has a very distinct style of writing that I find refreshing. Starship Grifters is a very easy to read satire/spoof/farce of science fiction books and movies. The writing flows well, yet still makes you laugh and think a little. There is also a nice twist at the end that I should have seen coming, but since I didn't, it was a nice surprise.
This book has everything you need for a science fiction book: Imperial Rulers (bad guys), small rebel band, gambling, prison planet, bounty hunters, and a religious sect or "hockey religion".
It also has everything you need in a satire; it makes fun of all of them sometimes at the same time.
The characters all seem deeply flawed in so many ways, but not really in the same ways. The only one that is remotely normal is the narrator named Sasha, a robot, which may explain the normality. The Robot tells of her owner, Rex, who is thrown into one bad and awkward situation after another, mostly due to his trying to get out of the previous situation.
Robert Krouse has a very distinct style of writing that I find refreshing. Starship Grifters is a very easy to read satire/spoof/farce of science fiction books and movies. The writing flows well, yet still makes you laugh and think a little. There is also a nice twist at the end that I should have seen coming, but since I didn't, it was a nice surprise.
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