Toby Frost (1)

Another rollicking ripping yarn from the worlds of Space Captain Smith – did we expect any less?

It is a change of pace though. The same universe of (now vanquished) lemming-men, but here more of a covert spy story. Led by the redoubtable (and synthetic) Miss Frampton, an android Mary Poppins, she and Mister Cleaver must thwart the villains and save the day.

Excellent characters and a good story, Miss Frampton is one of the most interesting android characters I've read. I would love to read more of her. Could the book have used a better-armed editor though? That last chapter did feel a little rushed, the curse of the looming deadline perhaps?… (meer)

Captain Isambard Smith and crew are back again, this time trying to stop the Ghast and their Edenite allies from destroying the planet Urn and its crops of tea - good for drinking and instilling the whole of the British Space Empire with with moral fiber and fighting spirit.

This one's full of great dialogue, character interaction and slightly more than a passing nod to Frank Herbert's "Dune" and William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" among other books. The exchanges between Carveth and Suruk are a joy to behold, being sharp, witty and at times quite biting in tone. Poor Rhianna finally has to almost bludgeon Smith to get him to do more than just kiss her and I got a great kick out of Suruk going around collecting money on bets about Smith and Rhianna's relationship.

The Grandmaster of the Collective Union of Plantation Production Associates: "The tea *must* brew."
(If that quote rings bells here is its "Dune" (film) equivalent: A member of the Spacing Guild: "The spice *must* flow.")… (meer)

After a slow start this book picks up and rolls right along. I'm fairly sure I missed a number of puns along the way, but got most of the rest of them. Toby Frost's main character Captain Isambard Smith isn't the brightest penny in the pile, but he's up beat, forthright and loyal to the British Empire. Suruk, Smith's M'Lak friend and companion, is refreshing in his candor and desire for heads to decorate his mantle and Polly Corveth is cool too.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Mr. Frost.… (meer)