I got this book about a year ago with a large lot of Sci-fi and have always kept it off to the side as a go to now and then for a good chuckle.  I’ve mentioned it to a few friends, but feel it is time to do a post.  I read it again this afternoon, as the tag line, Complete with Everything: Aliens, Giant Ants, Space Cadets, Robots, One Plucky Girl, has a certain charm to it that I can’t resist.  Coupled with the fact that it’s all crammed into 60pgs, how can it be a miss for an afternoon ride on the bus!

Apparently Jove did 4 No-Frills titles (Science Fiction, Western, Mystery & Romance), all plain covered, 60pg, over-priced and loaded with tongue-in-cheek generic pulp fiction.   The book pretty much nicks a number of ideas (now essentially cliched) from well known novels and weaves them into a fast-paced adventure with a young Captain Kirkish like protagonist.  Just for fun, I tracked down the original NY Times review of the No-Frills series in which the reviewer sums the books up perfectly when he/she (much like the authors of the No-Frills books, the reviewer also decided to remain anonymous) said:

“On one side, these books actually satisfy the need for a garbage read. And, on the other side, they make the childish psychology and esthetics of their genres so clear that you may never read another piece of junk as long as you live.”

Not exactly a highly recommended read, but certainly worth the 1/2hr ride to purge and reset the system after feasting on some heavier literature.