Customer Reviews

The Getaway Special,

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The premise behind the book is pretty much: I invented hyperdrive in my basement, and it only costs about $10.

The science (and aliens!) aren't very realistic, but the author doesn't try to persuade you they are, and it doesn't matter. They're just fun. Think of Heinlein's The Rolling Stones. You're not really expected to believe the flat cats, either.

Warning - people with allergies to libertarian philosophy might want to avoid this book. It doesn't preach, but governments in general are clearly the bad guys here.

Allen Meisner is a member of the International Network of Scientists Against Nuclear Extermination, better known as INSANE, an acronym that can be easily applied to this maniac. Though he is a walking hard drive error, this Pollyanna-like genius apparently develops an incredibly efficient and effective hyper drive engine that can take anyone on an interstellar journey faster than the speed of light for very low costs.

Allen expects his concept to change the world in a positive manner, but shockingly many fellow earthlings fear his new technology. Governments acting as ever in self-servingl interest battle over whom owns the hyper drive-based power that now is being implemented to propel bombs. Allen and his pilot Judy Gallagher search the heavens for allies to stop Armageddon on earth. They ultimately return to earth accompanied by a brilliant butterfly and other aliens in a quest to save the planet from its most sentient yet stupid habitants.

THE GETAWAY SPECIAL is a satire on mad scientists and outer space adventure stories. The story line is often humorous as the nutty but optimistic Meisner and his heroic pilot hyper-leap from one dangerous scenario to another. However, the plot is a few scenes too many as the basic underlying theme of punishing those who care becomes almost as out of control as the scientist is. Overall, Jerry Oltion has written an amusing novel that those readers who relish a lot of wacky irony jabbing our modern day world will find delightfully engaging.

Harriet Klausner

Warning: If you are the guy who always complains about how "unrealistic" Star Trek is, you will hate this book!

However, if you're a normal person you will really enjoy Getaway Special. It's filled with not-so-veiled pokes at today's society, governments, etc. Here's to hoping this becomes a series!

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry or scream. Take the most preposterous idea (building a faster-than-light machine in your spare time), combine it with entirely forgettable characters (judy & whats-his-name) and add dumb international politics, cartoonish aliens and a total disregard for the science aspect of science fiction and the result is THE GETAWAY SPECIAL.

Maybe it's supposed to be a joke or a satire or perhaps a movie script for the youthful inhabitants of our malls - the educated childfolk who think Condaleeza Rice is a South American vegetable. I'm not sure. We open with an entirely idiotic (but utterly predictable) flight in space complete with gun, spy and landing in parts unknown, rescued by Mr & Mrs Hickville. Between getting drunk and partying, our hero and his new gal pal build a spaceship from a sewer tank (yes - you read correctly) using parts from Radio Shack. They then take off on a tour of the "known" galaxy, determining the planets in each solar system in a couple of minutes. And to think it took us poor idiots on Earth thousands of years to found our own planetary neighbors!

Well Astrogal Judy & loverboy/inventor Mike land some 50 light years from Earth and meet a member of a race of intelligent butterflies whose social organization resembles a nice group of Borgs. They have also built an interstellar spacecraft and spend their lives moving through space - no reason given. But things are so bad back on evil Earth that they set up a hokey ploy along the lines of "This is Qutrar from Kijuku and you must stop your atomic testing and live in peace". Nobody believes them (of course) and after a few more ridiculous episodes our hero rescues Mr & Mrs Hickville who has escaped terrestrial bounds in his pickup. Just when you think nothing more can happen, our hero gets the idea of a Galactic United Nations. H-E-L-P!!! This makes Galaxy Quest look like a Stephen Hawking Documentary.

"mad scientist" invents cheap, small hyperdrive. People go out to explore space in septic tanks and pickup trucks. No the plastic septic tank doesn't get brittle in hard vacuum - it works just fine, at least in the author's mind. They meet various races of friendly aliens, go fishing with them, drink beer and establish galactic federation. No, really. And Oltion is serious about this. If this was a satire or comedy or something it could maybe fly. But that would require some humor on the side of the author. As it is it's 2 stars and I'm generous. If you want SF avoid this book.