Marooned

I love a good space opera. I’m thinking that’s probably obvious.

Michael Rubens is an author that is new to the science fiction scene. He is a television writer and producer whose credits include CNN, the Travel Channel, Oxygen, and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he was a field producer. Clearly, the man has talent!

So when I found out about Michael Rubens’ first novel The Sheriff of Yrnameer was a new science fiction space opera in the mold of Douglas Adams, I got pretty excited. I don’t buy many hardcover books new (I usually wait for paperbacks or buy used) but after reading a sample chapter (you can read the beginning in the PDF preview at the Amazon link at the bottom of the page) I knew I was going to get this one right away.

There are those who feel that The Sheriff of Yrnameer is a Douglas Adams clone (or worse), but I don’t know how you can fault a person for writing in a certain style. It doesn’t make any sense. We can thank J.R.R Tolkien for spawning the “high fantasy” genre. When authors come out with a book that is “Tolkien-esque” it supposed to be a great compliment. I feel the same way in this case. Michael Rubens’ book is “Adams-esque” and yes, I believe it should be a great compliment.

So if you liked Douglas Adams Hitchhiker Series or Dirk Gently books, you will greatly enjoy The Sheriff of Yrnameer.

But what is it about? Well my friends, this book is high space opera! We have our protagonist:

You had me at “hapless space rogue” Michael. But that is only the beginning.

I’m certain that the idea of a hideous and fearsome bounty hunter who lays eggs in others brains is an idea that is pure genius. That bounty hunter is one Kenneth, one of many wonderfully sculpted and enjoyable characters in the book. I don’t recall ever reading a character quite like him. I mean the guy has a soft spot for true love! Let’s get to the rest of the synopsis (from Michael’s site):

Many books are called “page-turners” but few live up to the hype. The Sheriff of Yrnameer delivers. From the beginning drama of the “I’m going to lay my eggs in your brain” incident to Cole stealing Teg’s (a famous and amazingly handsome and successful space rogue himself) space yacht, the story is a delight. It’s filled with hilarious moments – some even laugh out loud funny. Cole suffers from his own stupidity and poor choice making. He obsesses about Teg’s good looks. He only cares about himself. But slowly through the course of the book, he is forced to change. And when through a strange and fortuitous event he becomes sheriff of Yrnameer he will end up having to make the ultimate choice between his own self preservation and that of those who are truly counting on him.

The story is inventive and unique. One highlight is their stopover at the corporate seminar satellite, Success!Sat 1, which unfortunately has been taken over by zombies. Yrnameer is not a zombie story. But these couple of chapters are hilarious and tension filled. The reason these folks became zombies – and their apparent self denial about the situation – is really fun.

The supporting characters in the book are great. We’ve already discussed Kenneth. You have Nora and Philip, the keeper of the freeze-dried orphans on the ship Cole hijacked. There’s some great tension between Nora and Cole and it makes for some great moments in the book. You have Bacchi, another rogue (an alien too) who also stows away on ship. Bacchi and Cole know each other and had a previous encounter. Bacchi is even less trustworthy than Cole. Add in a computer whose consciousness ends up being housed in two robotic bodies – a computer who should have never survived gaining sentience in the first place – and you’ve got a great cast.

Rubens’ solution to interstellar travel is a concept called “bending” where by some manner a ship “bends” space and is able to travel great distances. However entering into bendspace is something of a mind trip. It’s tough to come up with new ideas around the idea of faster-than-light travel, but I think the bending solution is another stroke of genius and again adds to the fun of the book. Because when you enter bendspace, you don’t just sit in a chair comfortably. Things get… weird.

Amongst all the humor and excitement runs the thread of a compelling story. Can Cole save himself from Kenneth? Will he win the love back of the only woman that he really, truly loved? (What’s more, his life may depend on it!) Can he protect the townspeople from horrible outlaws when he has no real weapons and the people are hopeless allies? Or will he just betray them in the end and save himself?

Rubens suggests on his site that we’ll get more of Cole. I can only hope so, because he’s a great character in an exciting and fun universe and I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time. The Sheriff of Yrnameer is a permanent fixture on my shelves, a book that will be read and reread over the years for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Not only is Michael Rubens a great writer, he’s a super nice guy to boot. He agreed to let me interview him. I’ve sent off my questions and I will post the interview on my next blog post. Until then, get yourself a copy of The Sheriff of Yrnameer!