The Getaway Special, [Paperback]

Jerry Oltion (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tor Books (2001)
• ASIN: B000OU2UNG
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous novel of personal fulfillment & intersellar travel, December 12, 2001

By 

Edward Alexander Gerster "miamibooks" (South Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Getaway Special (Hardcover)

What if someone came up with a cheap and relatively simple hyperspace device that you could use to transport yourself to distant stars-and all without the support of the traditional military/political/industrial complex? If you are Allen Meisner, a card carrying mad scientist, you make your trials aboard one of the highly visible US space shuttles, then disburse plans and information for free through the Internet, and wait for the thanks of a grateful planet.

Is it no surprise that instead of accolades, the human race goes nuts-governments in chaos, nuclear doom imminent, the whole thing put down as a hoax-and Meisner becoming a fugitive from the law.

Jerry Oltion has created something magnificent in this humorously sarcastic novel of personal fulfillment and interstellar exploration. There is a Spider Robinson-like quality to the dark humor and sometime slapstick adventure, but it is infused with a warped wisdom and very solid writing that makes a true SF adventure. The main characters and the aliens they encounter are funny and clever, stopping just short of becoming caricatures. There is vision mixed with the humor making this an irresistible read. Highly Recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Trip Through Space, September 22, 2003

By 

Patrick Koske-McBride (Brattleboro, VT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Getaway Special (Hardcover)

Jim Oltion takes us on the trip we all wanted to go on when we were kids: through space, using old backyard junk as our spaceship. On the trip, we also meet alien intelligence and, strangely, alien beings seem to think and operate similarly to humans. Oltion revives those fantastical, six-year-old, "I Want To Be an Astronaut" feelings.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lighten Up!, March 24, 2002

By 

C. Glover (Langhorne, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Getaway Special (Hardcover)

Is it realistic? Is it hard science? Does it make sense? Probably not. But is it fun? You bet. How cool to think space travel could be for anyone. How cool to think that with a star chart and some nerve you could go anywhere in the universe before lunch. And why shouldn't trees move around? I loved it. I have always wanted to go into space just for the view. The idea I could go in the confort of my minivan is a fun thought. The book did read like a short story, but I am a working wife and mother. I need a quick read sometimes. I need one dimensional characters who are too good to be true, and I need intelligent, beautiful butterflies with timy cameras. I thought this was a great rainy day book and would highly recommend it if you feel like you will keel over from one more super-serious scifi melodrama.