Customer Reviews

Hokas Pokas!

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With the earlier publication of "Hokas, Hokas, Hokas" by Baen, all of Anderson and Dickson's wonderful "Hoka" stories are back in print. This volume includes "Full Pack", "The Napoleon Crime", and the novel "Star Prince Charlie." There's an awful lot of humor and joy in these books, along with the usual taps on my "think" button that these authors can't help but hit. If I'm very very good in *this* incarnation, I hope to reincarnate as a Hoka.

Orbiting the G2 star, Brackney's Star III, is the earthlike planet Toka. And, inhabiting the world of Toka are the Hoka, a small, teddy bear-looking race, who are surprisingly strong for their size. Unfortunately their longsuffering human plenipotentiary, Alexander Jones, the Hoka are the most imaginative race in the galaxy, as soon as they discover a new book of fiction, they adopt the roles and live the story...invariably with comedic results!

This book is a collection of three Hoka novellas. The first story is "Full Pack (Hokas Wild)", which was first presented in the book Hoka!, and describes what happens when the Hokas discover the Jungle Books, and meet up with a group of aliens that look like a tiger, a gorilla and a snake (or should I say Shere Khan, the Banderlog, and Kaa?). In the second story, The Napoleon of Crime, also from Hoka!, Hokas across the planet are suddenly introduced to military history with potentially disastrous consequences; can Jones save the day yet again?

The third story, Star Prince Charlie, which is longer that the other two combined, takes the action off planet. When young Charles Stuart and his Hoka tutor visit the planet New Lemuria, he finds it a world on the edge, waiting only the prince of prophecy who will overthrow the hated tyrannical king. And then, Charlie's Hoka notices how close everything is to the story of Scotland's Bonnie Prince Charlie. Once this ride begins, all Charlie can do is hang on to his hat...and his head!

Each of these stories is literally laugh out loud funny, with lots of action thrown in. Most story collection out there are a mix good and not-so-good stories, but that is not the case with this book, all three are hilarious! This is a great book, one that I highly recommend to everyone! (If you like this book, and you will, check out the books Hoka! and Hoka Hoka Hoka.)

If you don't mind having to put it down regularly because you are laughing too hard to hold it, then this is the book for you. This, along with the earlier book Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! are must reads for anyone who likes to just get down and laugh. My only other recommendation would be to pick up a copy of The Sound and the Furry, which brings the entire collection of Hoka stories together.

The first Hoka book (Earthman's Burden) is a classic, funny and original. This isn't quite the same. The first story is 'solved' without many fun Hoka antics, instead it all comes down to another type of alien, in the second story the same thing happens, nothing new as far as the Hokas are concerned, in the third there is only one Hoka in the whole story (who speaks in a painful, undecipherable Scottish accent, and who doesn't do anything remarkable), and it takes place on another alien planet, not Hoka at all! I absolutely love the Hokas, they are a great idea, but this book was unfortunately disapointing. I strongly recommend Earthman's Burden, if you love that book then you will probably buy this book, but don't start with this one. The funniest line in the book makes fun of the writers themselves, calling them hacks. Here's the line: "....or else believe we're only characters in a series of stories being written by a couple of hacks who need the money." They could make a lot more money with the Hokas with a little effort, maybe some up to date stories. For instance, there are a few references to Lord of The Rings, which is much more popular these days then the Jungle Books (which I haven't read). The only really fun part in the whole book is in the first story, where the Hoka Captain transforms in front of Tanni's eyes into another character; great, classic Hoka'ism, but not worth reading the whole thing for. Looking at Earthman's Burden I see that it is out of print, Oh nevermind, get Hoka! Hoka! Hoka!, it has the original stories from Earthman's Burden. I think its the same stories and no more, I don't remember exactly my copy is at my other house. Confusing but Oh, well, just get it. Do it now. Trust me, if you have kids or are a kid at heart, then the original Hoka stories are a must have.

That's right, the Hokas are back. This is the second book with the teddy bears running awok. Watch them act out both childern's books and history, come right to the edge of doom and than pull back with little or no help from humans. Funny AND a delight to read.