Customer Reviews

McLendon's Syndrome

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

 

 

This is the first of two brilliantly funny science fiction adventures set in a universe where incompetence has been elevated to an art form.

Ken MacKay is an ensign on a decrepit space freighter called the Rustam's Slipper. She's shorthanded, so the skipper takes on a new crewmember called Caterina Lindquist

Caterina is beautiful and smart, but suffers from a rare disease now classified as "McLendon's Syndrome" - the symptoms of which include very pale alabaster coloured skin, inability to tolerate direct sunlight, etc - yes, most of the disadvantages associated in medieval times with vampires. And some of the advantages as well.

Then a series of highly suspiscious events start occurring, including murder. Some crew members are convinced that Caterina must be behind them - but Ken is not so sure.

If you enjoyed Keith Laumer's "Reteif" comedy science fiction stories you will love "McLendon's Syndrome" and the sequel, "The VMR Theory."

This book is hilarious! The first person account leaves you feeling very much in the shoes of our hero (Ken McKay), who is a sane person stuck in a universe going crazy around him. A farce similar to Asprin's work (Phule's Company, M.Y.T.H. Inc.), this book and its sequel (The VMR Theory) are superior to Asprin's excellent work. If you've read any of Frezza's A Small Colonial War / Fire in a Faraway Place / Cain's Land series, don't judge by these. That series was a very serious dark-toned tragedy. McLendon's Sydrome is the exact opposite, pure comedy with a cynical tone.

After reading a couple of good reviews for this book, I found a used copy and plunged in. After I was done, I wasn't really satisified with the book. While some ideas were good, others were flawed or good but weren't taken to their fullest.

The general plot is ok in the beginning of the book, but about halfway through it just begins to take some strange twists and turns. And after awhile it just gets wierd. Another reviewer complained that the book is a combination of several different styles, and I have to agree.

While this isn't a bad book, it also is not a great book. This is the kind of book that you can read and get some laughs. Avid Sci-Fi readers will get some chuckles from some in-jokes or references to other book series by other authors. It's decent, but really can't hold it's own against others in the genre.

I thought I knew what I was getting into when I got this book. I can usually guess plot lines, but not here! Excellent writing with satirical wit.