Book review by Award Winning New Zealand journalist:

Bentley Bookreview

Letters from Another Galaxy - review Last year on social media I stumbled across an author I hadn’t seen for 20 years. Back then I interviewed him about his book on fishing and diving, but in contrast his latest effort was science fiction – a surprise, and a genre I don’t usually enjoy. I contacted him to rib him about that, and laughed away his challenge to actually read the book. Then he told me how much he admired my work and that it would be so great if someone as clever as me were to write something about it – well, I couldn’t refuse, could I! The size of the file that arrived from Kobo was formidable, and it took some willpower to start reading. But the second surprise was that I got hooked. The book begins with this Aussie guy Bill who was abducted (along with others) from a Melbourne jail and transported by Extra-Terrestrials to a distant galaxy where he becomes the loved plaything of a strange bear-like species. He discovers that in this galaxy there are other unusual beings interested in the Earth and its resources, including humans. Apparently, previous attempts at intergalactic transport of human abductees had all but failed, but with advanced technologies the ETs were able to recreate both male and female humanoids from the remnants. Unfortunately they over-emphasised the reproductive capacities of both genders, and the result can only be described as a copulation explosion. This created havoc when advance parties of the humanoids, along with their ET masters, arrived at various places on Earth. One lot landed in outback Australia where the mission leader demanded animals and a young woman. He was able to control humans with some sort of remote paralysing device, but met his match when the Aussie battler Mum unexpectedly shot him. That put the mission into recess while he recovered because he was the only one who could get them home. Unfortunately Mum’s protective efforts backfired – the young woman cared for him and fell in love, and in the end went back with him to his galaxy. Another mission from a different ET planet landed in China where they set about converting the population to their religious beliefs. The Chinese leadership reacted with military force, with sometimes amusing but catastrophic results. Similar fates awaited other attempts at resistance when other ET groups landed elsewhere on Earth. Meanwhile back in the distant galaxy Bill falls in love with his Bruin care-giver, much to the shock and displeasure of her family. For their breach of breeding etiquette they are banished to a remote planet where they discover other abandoned humans and humanoids living in fear of predators and the ET mafia equivalent. Working hard to make sure their species does not become extinct they start to discover what it means to be truly human. It’s intriguing and convincing. The story is told through a series of journal and diary entries by Bill and Julie, his former humanoid girlfriend (he gets around does Bill!), plus reports home from the ET explorers. Through the sequence of diary entries and reports, Steve Radich (the author, probably not an ET) keeps us up with events on Earth while the adventures on distant galaxy planets play out. There are lots of beings involved so it’s helpful that his Foreword sets the scene and his Glossary reminds us who the numerous characters are and how they fit into the narrative. OK, what happens to them all? Will Bill and his cohorts survive? Can humans on Earth outfox the ETs? And what transpires from the top secret meeting in the Auckland Islands south of New Zealand? The book reveals all. What did I think of the book? Well, being obsessively pedantic I think it could have done with a bit more editing to weed out some typos and confusing phrases. Otherwise it’s an amazing, thought provoking yarn, intelligently put together with a lot of credible detail and a few belly laughs – and, yes, a lot of copulation.

by Richard Bentley on January 31, 2024

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