Reviewing: Randoms and Rebels by David Liss
- Shelby Vice
- Feb 7, 2017
- 3 min read
I have so much catching up to do. I have been reading, but I haven't been updating. Sorry! Today I am going to review two new books that are part of a series. They are the first two in the series and the latest one came out in late 2016. I have Randoms listed as one of my top ten favorite books, but I haven't done a review to talk about why. I thought since the latest book in the series is now available that it would be a good time to talk about this fantastic series.
The first in the series is pictured below:
As you can probably tell, this book is definitely Science Fiction. I love science fiction but I am really picky about it and I don't read it all the time because...I get sucked in and lose touch with reality. Which I don't have time for anymore. I have to take care of my family. But Juvenile sci-fi is usually a little less taxing than adult sci-fi, so I still indulge every now and then.
Reasons I love this book (and series):
- It has SO MANY modern science fiction references, for example: Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel and DC comics, Battlestar Galactica, etc. But the references are on purpose and are so clever I laughed out loud several times reading this book. The main character, Zeke, is a huge Sci-Fi nerd and when he's whisked away by a group of aliens to try and make a good name for Earth and thus allow Earth to enter into a kind of Galactic Alliance, he compares everything he sees and experiences to what he knows from Sci-Fi movies, books and comics. It may sound like a copout but believe me, it's incredibly well done and hilarious. And it's totally what anyone would do if they were whisked away by aliens. We wouldn't be able to help ourselves. (BTW I don't believe there are aliens. I am just imagining if there were how we'd react).
- The story is original while also drawing inspiration from all of the Science Fiction/Superhero sources we know so well (or...nerdy people know well). For example, there's a weapon that resembles a lightsaber, which of course the main character compares to a lightsaber. But again, the comparison doesn't sound like plagiarism or like the author doesn't have an imagination. The main character is only 11 or 12...he can't help but make comparisons.
- I couldn't put it down. It had just the right mix of humor, intelligence, originality, adventure and suspense.
Things don't go so well for the main character. He has bad aliens to contend with (think Romulin like bad guys...not that they look like them, but they reminded me of them), bullies within the delegation that he's a part of as well as the other species who are vying for a chance to be a part of the alliance, and a lot of pressure to get things right so he can help Earth and his mother (who is sick with an incurable disease...at least incurable for Earth, not for the good aliens). There's a surprising amount of politics in this...back handed deals and hypocritical, nasty leaders. So it's not all gun fights or sneaking around. Anyway...you get the picture.
The second book in the series is:
I bought the kindle version of this because I couldn't wait for it to come out at the library. I like it for all the same reasons, though this one was a little more serious and didn't have as many funny parts. The stakes are even higher and with the way it ended...the third book is sure to be quite action packed, fast paced and climactic.
I can't really tell you anything about this one without giving a lot away about the ending of the first one. It was a great follow up, though some of my favorite characters weren't in it quite as much.
To sum it up, if you have a kid who likes Science Fiction at all, then they would like this book. And if you as a parent are a fan of any Sci-Fi then you would like it too!
Happy Reading!
Shelby
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