Editorial review
The Ridiculous: A Sci-Fi Comedy Adventure (Book 1)
By Jeffrey Kippel, Mindy Blackstien
If you’re in the mood for a sci-fi adventure that will make you laugh out loud on one page and feel warm and fuzzy on the next, The Ridiculous: A Sci-Fi Comedy Adventure (Book 1) should be next on your TBR list. This isn...
Reviewed by CANREADS
If you’re in the mood for a sci-fi adventure that will make you laugh out loud on one page and feel warm and fuzzy on the next, The Ridiculous: A Sci-Fi Comedy Adventure (Book 1) should be next on your TBR list. This isn't your typical space opera; it's a full-blown cosmic carnival.
Authors Jeffrey Kippel and Mindy Blackstien do a fantastic job introducing us to a ridiculously ridiculous sci-fi crew: Imagine a spaceship AI that thinks it’s a stand-up comedian, a budgie who believes life is a musical, a curious android, and one human just trying to keep their sanity while trapped in someone else’s body. Together, this motley cast of characters barrels through bizarre dimensions, turning the absurdity level up to an eleven. What seems over-the-top in The Ridiculous, also turns out to be tender at its heart. If you're a fan of the cosmic chaos of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the introspection of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, The Ridiculous is their slightly unhinged cousin, one that will make you feel right at home.
The Ridiculous really sparkles through its characters, featuring an offbeat yet lovable cast that will give readers genuine belly laughs. With quirky banter and heartfelt moments, you’ll feel like you're part of the crew, even in the wildest, most absurd situations. Kippel and Blackstien bravely step outside any safe, predictable box, to show us that ridiculousness is underrated and that even the most “ridiculous” characters, situations, and plots are the ones that feel the most memorable. The Ridiculous brims with jokes and galactic slapstick, yet the story still has depth and heart. The authors do a fine job subtly nudging readers to question the status quo, and find joy in the unexpected. The “found family” theme is one of the book’s strongest threads, reminding readers how relationships and trust grow stronger as you learn more about one another.
The story and jokes are ridiculous, but it’s ridiculous in the best way, while also surprising readers with moments of warmth that sneak up on you and leave you smiling. The sheer ridiculousness of the story captivates, the humour and absurdity come at you quickly and consistently, and any raw unpolished dialogue swiftly becomes part of the book's charm.
If you're in need of a joyous, off-kilter adventure, Kippel and Blackstien’s novel is a riot. The Ridiculous is a perfect read to escape into pure, unadulterated cosmic absurdity, one that also reminds us that maybe, just maybe, being ridiculous is the only way to be truly original.
—CANREADS BOOK REVIEW