God Emperor of Didcot (Space Captain Smith Book 2)

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There are still sufficient sci-fi references to satisfy your inner anorak, though I found this book had fewer outright comedic moments than the first. Happily these were traded for a story with more depth and better execution and for me this was a definite improvement over the first. First we are introduced to Suruk's family. This scenario provides a perfect environment to explore the dubious benefits bestowed by the Empires' manifesto of "civilising barbarians".

Poor Suruk's acute embarrassment at being a "fish out of water" amongst his own kin neatly illustrates the power of the stick-and-carrot methodology the British Space Empire and it's real world analogue employs: Now genteel, tasteful and civilised, the M'lak relatives provide a superb comedic counterpoint to the persona of Suruk the barbaric killer.

Yet we quickly learn that whilst these traits are usually desirable, they ironically prove detrimental to the Empire's current plight since the M'lak have also lost their taste for violence - and it is this trait that the intrepid adventurers are seeking. It is only through Suruk entreating his kin to join their cause and rediscover their lost honour that they rediscover their sense of identity though they don't eschew all the Empire's trappings and hence the future of the Empire is secured. As an unexpected consequence of their encounter, seeds of doubt are sewn in Suruk's mind and he begins to question his own sense of identity and his future direction.

Secondly we are introduced to the Deepspace Operations Group or D. This is a commando unit so highly trained and elitist that there are only 5 members, yet these 5 have the reputation of fighting like warriors. The main pleasure from the encounter with the D. Clearly this character is a deadly force to be reckoned with, equally as clear is the fact he is borderline certifiably mad. The combination of the two makes for a volatile but interesting character: Hopefully this isn't the first encounter with him as he is a rich vein waiting to be tapped.

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Of some disappointment was the encounter with the eponymous "God-Emperor" himself. At the risk of revealing too much, here was a puppet character on more than one level: I thought he was going to earn his God-Emperor title by thoroughly playing the despot and possibly be offered an ultimate shot at redemption or something, but the character was wasted.

Perhaps he was meant to be nothing more than an ironic twist having a totally ineffectual character named as "God-Emperor". But it didn't quite work for me since a character deemed important enough to be used in the title ought to be pivotal in the story itself. Likewise the opportunity to actually incorporate the stranded telepathic children into the storyline was lost since they provided nothing more than a brief diversion from the main narrative and a token pretext for the existence of the God-Emperor.

Still only a couple of niggles - more lost opportunities for enrichment than elements that ruin the read. The Tea Must Brew. A good fun read and one that I recommend. May 30, Veronica rated it really liked it Shelves: A fluffy 4 stars.

After the heart-crushing book I just finished, I needed something that went completely in the other direction. The tea must brew! There are puns, parodies, and pernicious despots — all served up with a heaping helping of British humor. It was grade A nonsense and good for several laughs. Jul 22, Paul rated it it was amazing.

The Tea is Under Threat. If anything, God Emperor of Didcot is even funnier than the first book in the series.

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The main characters return from Space Captain Smith and Frost makes use of this familiarity to develop the characters further and give them some space to grow. And they really do benefit from this — especiall With this sequel to Space Captain Smith, Toby Frost brings back Isambard Smith and his near-competent crew for an adventure that rocks the very heart of the British Space Empire And they really do benefit from this — especially in the case of Carveth and Suruk. This is still comedy first and foremost, though, and the jokes come quick and fast.

There are digs at and references to plenty of SF tropes and classics as well as some well aimed barbs and a stream of well-written smuttiness that was far funnier than it deserved to be. But the truth is that he really is in a class of his own. Feb 24, Cindy Matthews rated it really liked it. The British Space Empire's source of tea is threatened. God Emperor of Didcot is a fitting sequel to Frost's Space Captain Smith with all of the wacky characters you came to know and love in the first tale along with some new weird friends.

The M'Lak have become metrosexual accountants and architects rath The British Space Empire's source of tea is threatened. The M'Lak have become metrosexual accountants and architects rather than blood-thirsty warriors. Suruk has to convince his family members that sometimes you have to get your golf sweater dirtied in battle in order to really live. Will Polly ever find her hitman crush?

Books by Toby Frost

Will Smith ever get up the nerve to tell space hippy Rhianna that he really cares for her? All this and water-tankfuls of morally uplifting tea awaits the happy reader. Dec 03, Embracing My Books rated it liked it. You can read my review here: Oct 17, Jamie rated it it was amazing Shelves: Not a deep meaningful story but one that has a nice tempo, some wit and characters I like if you enjoyed the first book you will enjoy this.

May 31, Tom rated it really liked it. It's not often that you read books where the author carefully sets up a pun over the course of an entire page and then drops it in your lap with obvious relish. Lots of eye-rolling i. Jul 28, Amy P rated it it was ok. Mar 15, Ian Nisbet rated it really liked it Shelves: Smith seems to be getting his act together on several fronts.

Smith and his motley crew happen to get stranded on the planet and end up with major roles in the fight back. The usual humour, if you enjoyed the 1st book you shouldn't any problems with Smith seems to be getting his act together on several fronts. The usual humour, if you enjoyed the 1st book you shouldn't any problems with this one. PS Is there a list of all the references?

I know my daughter missed one because she still hasn't read The Caves of Steel; leads me to wonder how many I missed.

Dec 28, Alan rated it liked it Recommends it for: If you liked Space Captain Smith , you'll like this one too—it's more of the same. I kept wanting to Frenchify it "did-COE" but of course that would not do for this British novel my, that parenthetical went on rather long, didn't it? I'd better start again.

God Emperor of Didcot 's title is lifted from one of the later and therefore lesser, though not yet ghastly If you liked Space Captain Smith , you'll like this one too—it's more of the same.

God Emperor of Didcot 's title is lifted from one of the later and therefore lesser, though not yet ghastly novels in Frank Herbert 's Dune series, and much of its plot is from Dune as well, filtered see what I did there? Or maybe I have these swapped around a bit; Isambard Smith's enemies tend not to have very distinctive personalities, with one or two exceptions. This is by no means a standalone work, I'm afraid—not only does it help to have already been introduced to Isambard Smith and his jolly crew, but also many of the jokes depend on having seen or read lots and lots of science fiction in general.

You must also be oblivious to, or at least willing to ignore, the novel's sometimes wistful subtext—while it may seem at first glance to wish for the return of British colonialism, that's not at all the right reading. Through foils like the winsome Rhianna Mitchell half-human, half As Rhianna and Isambard grow closer much closer , their disparate viewpoints seem destined to meet in some middle ground, a synthesis which could be better and stronger than either of its parts.

Or I could be reading way too much into it. In the end, God Emperor of Didcot isn't great literature, and its apparent themes may be no more than accidental echoes of its source material And, don't forget, coming up next is Wrath of the Lemming-Men! Aug 18, Lori S. 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 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.

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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.

A member of the Spacing Guild: Jan 25, Tom Loock rated it really liked it.

This 2nd volume of the "Chronicles of Isambart Smith" is - what a pleasant surprise - even better than the first one. Genuinely funny, smart, several laugh-out-loud scenes and comments my favourite: I only wish Gerald Good Heavens! I only wish Gerald would play a bigger role. Oct 31, Francis rated it did not like it.

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Reads a lot darker in a post-Brexit world where, as ridiculous as it sounds, we literally do now have as a dominant element in the political culture a chauvinistic form of English nationalism that combines a foundation myth of Empire And Tea with racist hate crimes and economic suicide pacts. Frost's satire is far too affectionate and gentle for the occasion, and the results can sometimes be grotesque to read only seven years after its publication.

It is perhaps unfortunate for the author that th Reads a lot darker in a post-Brexit world where, as ridiculous as it sounds, we literally do now have as a dominant element in the political culture a chauvinistic form of English nationalism that combines a foundation myth of Empire And Tea with racist hate crimes and economic suicide pacts.

It is perhaps unfortunate for the author that the possibility for parody is currently dying around us, but we do live in stirring times; tea-stirring times. Jan 11, Steph Bennion rated it really liked it Shelves: A fun, light-hearted space adventure with wit, parodies aplenty and gratuitous violence against nasty alien bugs. What's not to like?

God Emperor of Didcot

As other reviewers have noted, this isn't the all-out comedy of Space Captain Smith , but it had a better story. My one complaint is that I bought the Kobo ebook version, which isn't formatted very well at all and had numerous random line breaks in the middle of dialogue. I look forward to Wrath of the Lemming Men - and I heard a rumour that the author is finally w A fun, light-hearted space adventure with wit, parodies aplenty and gratuitous violence against nasty alien bugs.

I look forward to Wrath of the Lemming Men - and I heard a rumour that the author is finally writing book four! Aug 30, J. Paradise rated it really liked it. A splendid steampunk space romp that licks along at a fair pace with its tongue wedged firmly in its cheek. If you enjoy sci-fi, comedy, silliness and tea then read this book whilst lying back and thinking of England. Apr 22, Ginger rated it liked it. Isambard Smith and his crew once again are up against the Ghast, the Edenites and a few fanatical Zealots who take over the world of Urn, the empire's greatest source of Tea, yes Tea, the direct reason for the Empire's Moral Fiber.

I cannot begin to tell you how bizarre this series is. I recommend it to any person who finds british imperialism even remotely funny, let alone giant ants, over the top religious nuts and hippy tree hugging pacifists. Need I say more? Dec 30, Ben rated it it was amazing. Potshots at religious maniacs, crazy Brits, and tea as well as just about anything else you can imagine from Blade Runner to as the title suggests , Dune. Nov 29, Simon rated it it was amazing. If you have read the first of Isambard smith's adventures you will definitely enjoy this latest installment as Smith's crew bravely defend the planet the Urn home of the British Space Empire's tea plantations from the Ghast hordes.

Jan 15, Mike Franklin rated it liked it Shelves: Another very good book. Still a little uneven quality wise. But I think this is often a problem for comedy - not every joke works for every person. However there were a lot of really great scenes and Frost does write good action. Sep 11, Richard Denning rated it liked it. I enjoy this authors mix of humour and sci fi. I like the premise of a future British Empire in space. The characters work together well and there are some amusing conversations and interactions.

God Emperor of Didcot by Toby Frost book review

If you want a light hearted space romp of British stiff upper lips in the far future this will be an entertaining, undemanding read that worked well for me during the summer hols. Oct 18, Kate Schindler rated it liked it Shelves: So there were a few moments where I actually laughed aloud at the absurdity and stiff-upper-lip-ness, but a lot more WTF moments. Mar 22, Eugene rated it it was amazing.

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