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His first novel was published by a big conglomerate, so his name is out there, and it's a name that has passed through the filter that editors at big imprints are supposed to represent. Secondly, everything about the book speaks of quality. Angry Young Spaceman is a handsome volume, with catchy cover art by Mike Brennan and elegant design throughout. The imprint itself has one of the loveliest websites I've seen in a long time, and it has substantial content to keep you reading for a few hours.
Thirdly, Munroe is actually a good writer, which is the best way to set him apart from the legions of Internet prose artists. Angry Young Spaceman tells the story of Sam, the human of the title, even though he's not so much angry as disaffected. It's the year , and Sam needs to pay off some student loans so he's on his way offplanet to teach English. He arrives at Octavia, a planet with a partially liquid atmosphere and an alien species that resemble Earth octopi.
Sam settles in, takes tours, falls in love, all in a relatively non-urgent manner. The plot moves forward in a completely surreal way, because none of it seems to make sense. Why would aliens want to learn English? And why does Sam, a typical human, feel so uncomfortable about exporting culture when it is apparently received so heartily?
The puzzle only unravels about halfway through the book, and it's a nasty revelation. Humans have spent a good portion of the millennium conquering any nearby alien races, and subjugating them to the worst excesses of our cultural supremacy. Our first hint comes on page The one that brought me here. And if we take the simplistic explanation that all science fiction reduces down to commentary on our present circumstances, then Munroe has targetted the excesses of Western consumer-normative capitalism with deadly aim.
And there's a free jab at science fiction too, with its typical collusion with the expansionist jihad for the values of our society.
Wagon train to the stars indeed. To my mind, none of this would work without a protagonist that could carry this type of anti-story. This book has a ton of detail about interplanetary conditions and a pretty rich cast of planets and aliens, and the interaction between characters is depicted in a very natural, and fairly entertaining way. However, it seems the author's detail was expended on these aspects of the book, leaving the rest of it somewh This is like the young man's earlys self-discovery road trip book, if it takes place in the distant future, and if you substitute the road trip with a teaching job in outer space.
However, it seems the author's detail was expended on these aspects of the book, leaving the rest of it somewhat dwindling. The book reads like a timed essay test -- a great start coming out of the gate, but wrapped up abruptly at the end with some logical gaps, as if the author suddenly realized he had to wind the story up in short order. Overall, it wasn't a painful read or anything, but it was sort of a let-down. Oct 29, Emily rated it did not like it.
I couldn't get very far in this book because I disliked it so much, so maybe the ending gets much better, but I doubt it. As a current Peace Corps Volunteer who is a TEFL teacher, I feel like the author is trying to write about personal experiences, although they come across poorly. There is very little character development or description, so much so that I couldn't picture what any of the non-humanoids looked like at all.
I'm personally upset that the main character couldn't remember any of hi I couldn't get very far in this book because I disliked it so much, so maybe the ending gets much better, but I doubt it.
I'm personally upset that the main character couldn't remember any of his training on the first day of school, nor did he even consider making a lesson plan. I feel very close to this topic so I am probably extra sensitive about it. I hope others enjoyed it.
Aug 10, Sean Randall rated it liked it. I really felt for the characters here and enjoyed it a great deal, but it didn't really seem to go anywhere or progress much. Despite it working well as a lesson on just how much of a strong arm the Earth and Humanity could present to aliens with touching sincerity, there was also a thread of incomprehension and the elements didn't quite harmonise. Dec 13, Ryan rated it it was ok. Starts off really well and has a good concept and character but once it gets going it doesn't go anywhere.
Just a guy going through the day on an alien underwater planet with breathable water atmosphere. I had such high expectations from the amazon sample but it didn't deliver. Nov 29, Matt Tremblay added it. Between the Ujos soju , Sokchu Chuseok , corporal punishment, and Earthification Americanization , there are many sentiments I related to as an ex-pat in SoKo. Plot-wise, perhaps not captivating enough if you aren't "in" on the jokes. Feb 21, Damon rated it liked it.
A well written allegory about the Peace Corps, with a kind of charming sci-fi twist. I read this book when I first moved to San Francisco, and identified with the whole "fish out of water" aspect of the book. Sep 25, Juliana rated it liked it Shelves: Some aspects of this are a bit heavy-handed, but as usual Jim Munroe tells a fun and funny story with interesting characters and thoughtful social commentary.
I'd especially recommend it to people interested in reading about the experience of living in a culture very different from one's own. Mar 27, Jeff rated it really liked it. This is the first book I've read from Munroe, I have to say I really enjoyed it. Jun 06, Will rated it really liked it. Enjoyed this book so much more than i expected to. Jan 09, Victoria O'Neal rated it really liked it.
Recommended by a friend. It was pretty good character driven sf. Not too deep, but diverting. Jun 11, Dylan rated it liked it.
Jun 11, Stephanie rated it liked it. I didn't like this as much as the other books of Munroe's that I've read, but it was very creative and an intelligent story.
And therein lies an irony: This is part reflection about the human male condition, part reflection on stronger government influence on surrounding governments here, planets. Lila rated it it was ok Jun 21, His first novel was published by a big conglomerate, so his name is out there, and it's a name that has passed through the filter that editors at big imprints are supposed to represent. Munroe was managing editor at the magazine Adbusters in the s, before publishing his debut novel Flyboy Action Figure Comes With Gasmask in
Aug 19, John rated it it was amazing. A fun fun read, Very charming. Cuthill rated it really liked it May 24, Carrington Vanston rated it really liked it Aug 18, Pshazz rated it really liked it Jan 04, Matthew rated it did not like it Apr 10, Lila rated it it was ok Jun 21, Drew rated it liked it Jul 30, Debs rated it really liked it Apr 19, Jim Gavin rated it liked it Jun 13, Sarah H rated it liked it Apr 12, Corey rated it really liked it Aug 01, Jess rated it liked it Jan 04, Claudia Nunes rated it really liked it Dec 27, James Ford rated it liked it Mar 27, Jay rated it liked it Feb 07, There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Anarchist Though as far as I can tell the non-violent type , Vegan, Dad. See his website for more information, especially regarding those 'indie DIY-leanings' which he is particularly passionate about.