First off, I have to let you know I seriously despise Reality TV. Why? Mostly because it always seems to bring out the most embarrassing representativFirst off, I have to let you know I seriously despise Reality TV. Why? Mostly because it always seems to bring out the most embarrassing representatives of humanity. You can keep your Big Brother mouth breathers and your haughty lion-faced Housewives, because I only care about who's got an alien porn addiction onboard The Orville and which character will next travel through the Craigh na Dun stones to the 1770s on Outlander. (Yes, I like my TV like I like my books: ESCAPIST)
I guess that means I should have hated You're Going to Mars!, because it revolves around a futuristic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-styled reality show, where a randomly selected few compete for a chance to…you guessed it: GO TO MARS.
But you see, this book is written by the hilarious and too-creative-for-his-britches sci-fi author, Rob Dircks. Dircks has found a way to make even back-stabbing and dirty competition seem like an outrageously fun ride, and not just because we sci-fi lovers have the carrot of billionaire-designed tech and space travel dangling in front of us. We also get characters we relate to, and a future we can't abide.
Unlike in true Reality TV, there are solid reasons here to cheer for the underdog, the guileless Paper. She's perhaps the only one in the race who's out for something besides herself, and the world of judges out in social media-land may not recognize it, but we sure do. Our heroine makes a strong play for winning this competition, while also attempting to right more than a few global wrongs. Witty sci-fi competition with a worthy purpose and a whack on the back of a few deserving figureheads -- what's not to love?
Merged review:
First off, I have to let you know I seriously despise Reality TV. Why? Mostly because it always seems to bring out the most embarrassing representatives of humanity. You can keep your Big Brother mouth breathers and your haughty lion-faced Housewives, because I only care about who's got an alien porn addiction onboard The Orville and which character will next travel through the Craigh na Dun stones to the 1770s on Outlander. (Yes, I like my TV like I like my books: ESCAPIST)
I guess that means I should have hated You're Going to Mars!, because it revolves around a futuristic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-styled reality show, where a randomly selected few compete for a chance to…you guessed it: GO TO MARS.
But you see, this book is written by the hilarious and too-creative-for-his-britches sci-fi author, Rob Dircks. Dircks has found a way to make even back-stabbing and dirty competition seem like an outrageously fun ride, and not just because we sci-fi lovers have the carrot of billionaire-designed tech and space travel dangling in front of us. We also get characters we relate to, and a future we can't abide.
Unlike in true Reality TV, there are solid reasons here to cheer for the underdog, the guileless Paper. She's perhaps the only one in the race who's out for something besides herself, and the world of judges out in social media-land may not recognize it, but we sure do. Our heroine makes a strong play for winning this competition, while also attempting to right more than a few global wrongs. Witty sci-fi competition with a worthy purpose and a whack on the back of a few deserving figureheads -- what's not to love?...more
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