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Comic Steampunk Science-Fiction 2010-07-21

Reviewer: A. Addis

I really liked this book. I've read the first in the series, but not the second, and was pleased that the gap doesn't matter; the books work well as stand-alone novels. I love Captain Smith's repressed British stiff-upper-lip attitude, which sums up the British colonial attitude brilliantly without vilifying it at all - yet it does poke affectionate fun. Smith's desperate attempts to avoid any kind of discussion about his feelings are great. Smith's support cast are also becoming more rounded. My least favourite is Rhianna, but I have to admit she is the perfect foil to Smith. I loved the implied image of Suruk the Slayer's attempts to collect money.

The comedy is always entertaining,and although the action is exciting and engaging, the jokes never get lost. I love this genre that Toby Frost is carving out for himself. But what would you call it? Comic Steampunk Science-Fiction?

I think the best thing for me about finishing this book was the knowledge that there should be a fourth out soon - and until then, I can read the second book - God Emperor of Didcot.

Anthony Addis The Tale of the Birds

The British Empire Never Went Away 2010-07-04

Reviewer: M. G. Chisholm

Toby Frost is a bit of a find, in all honesty. Here we have an author who has wit, writing skill and the knack of creating a great story.

Firstly, the bottom line is that this is a good read. It may be many things but it has a good story, is well written and I found myself really wanting to read it. Regardless of the humour and the irreverence, it stands up for itself as a book to be read from front to back and at times has one turning the pages with excitement.

Secondly, it is really funny. Some more famous humorous authors have diverted from that path, but Mr. Frost has firmly grasped that particular nettle and is solidly at the top of the absurd observational humour pile. Yes, it is a science fiction based universe, but that's not the point - Toby Frost has created some great characters and imbues them with some of the funniest set of one liners without diverting from the plot that I've ever read. Seriously, how many so called funny books can make you laugh out loud? No many I'll bet.

The humour is most certainly British. Its depreciating, ridiculous and bawdy at times. Its a wonderful amalgam of Carry On, Black Adder and Only Fools and Horses. But in space. We have an uptight British hero in the Victorian mold, a psychotic alien friend who is modeled on a Predator/Alien I suspect, a female android sex bot who escaped and is the pilot and an unlikely alien/human hippy. Its brilliantly daft.

Anyway without giving much away this is the third in the series of Space Captain Smith and whilst probably better to read in order is not completely necessary. In this story Captain Smith is trying to defeat an alien hoard of hamster like warriors hell bent on the destruction of the human race. Its all great fun and maintains the excellent standards set by the first two books.

Overall I don't think that there is a better humorous author who works in the sci-fi or fantasy genres right now. If you buy this kind of book then Toby Frost will become your next favourite author.

Don't read if incontinent. 2010-03-06

Reviewer: Bootho

A very funny book with some genuine laugh out loud moments that will have tears running down your thighs. The whelk joke in particular is priceless. Hope there will be a volume four in this series.

Zany dtory 2009-09-13

Reviewer: Mr. David Phillips

This is a fantasy story of what if? What if the Victorians had continued, and Britians Empire ruled the waves. Then would it continue into space? The characters are funny and the story works in a quirky way. I liked it.

Another great space adventure! 2009-08-06

Reviewer: Mark Chitty

Now Smith and his crew must defend the Empire and civilise the stuffing out of a horde of bloodthirsty lemming-men- which would be easy were it not for a sinister robotics company, a Ghast general with a fondness for genetic engineering and an ancient brotherhood of Morris Dancers- who may yet hold the key to victory...

I stumbled across Space Captain Smith and God Emperor of Didcot last year and enjoyed them so much all I can do is recommend them to anyone that will listen, whether they like sci-fi or not. Toby Frost managed to write not only a laugh-out-loud space romp, but one that holds up well enough if you take all the humour away and start looking at the back bone of the stories - the world he has created. It just works so well and because of the fun I had with the first two novels Wrath of the Lemming Men was pretty much my most anticipated book of the year and the sooner I could get it through the letterbox the better. Not only did it meet my expectations, but once again Toby is expanding more and more from the base he set up in Space Captain Smith.

What I enjoyed most about Wrath of the Lemming Men was the fact that we're now on the third novel and following the crew of the John Pym again through their adventures. I know this sounds simple - and it is - but I feel that when I start reading these characters I'm not only whole heartedly enjoying reading about them, but I'm also running through my mind just what they'll say and do in the situation they're in. I feel at home when they come on page - Smith, Carveth, Suruk, Rhianna, they all feel like old friends now.

The bad guys are as bad and awful as ever with Ghast Commander 462 and his evil plots and the Yullian General Vock, one of the Lemming-Men of the title. The bad guys are what brings the novel together and the on page interaction between these two totally different aliens is great. Toby has really hit the nail on the head with the characters and despite the many humorous and tongue-in-cheek moments, he makes them feel like a threat, which is great for our tea-drinking heroes!

The world building this time around seems to have got better, and with two previous books now supporting the universe it's evident that Toby has taken a little extra time to develop it further. Yes, the jokes and parodies are present in droves, but they fit in to this excellent setting and although it can make it feel light hearted, it also brings a little more depth to the novel.

In the story itself we follow Smith and his crew from planet to planet on the hunt for the Vorl before the Ghast find them. Not only that, but the Yull have joined the battle and want nothing more than to kill all humans, at least when not tempted to jump off cliffs. The story flows well and although a little jumpy, it flies by at such a pace that it doesn't leave too much down time. However, the slower sections help to show the strengths that Toby has at creating a fairly believable universe. But ultimately, the fun doesn't stop for too long and we get a great and well rounded tale of adventure.

At the end of the day I could go on about how great Wrath of the Lemming Men is and how much I love the Space Captain Smith books, but I'm sure that would get more than a little annoying no matter how true it is. If you've not yet read any of the Space Captain Smith books then you're not only missing out on a good read, but a great cast of characters and some of the most humorous writing I've come across in quite a while.

Go out, buy the book, kick your feet up with some tea and biscuits and enjoy yourself a damned good read!