Stumbled across this 'plying' beauty

Having never heard of 'Yahtzee' Croshaw prior to finding this book on Audible, I was, as I always am to unknowns, a little dubious about using my credit on it. I am very glad I did.

The satire and comedy in this book actually made me laugh out loud on occasion and I thought the plot was well thought out. Bringing together futuristic Sci-Fi elements as well as current technology, is no mean feat.
One thing that was especially pleasing to me was the use of mathematical terms for swearwords. I thought this very clever as you are provided with a reference for them at the start (without actually saying the words) and it kept my mind ticking to recall which actual swear word the character was using. I found I was wanting to use the 'plying' words myself!

It is most certainly an adventure book with many action and fast paced scenes paired with dry wit to balance it out. One of those stories, in fact, that I could imagine being turned into a film.The writing is such that you have no problem imagining the events of the book. It is not overly complicated and flows well.

The characters were also well developed and have a clear purpose. I particularly liked our main hero who, at first came across as a bit of a flake, turns out to actually save the day a few times. A sort of anti-hero turns back into hero vibe.

Admittedly, it took me a little while to get into Croshaw's narration. I found it a little slow to begin with but speeding it up via the Audible app quickly negated that and I began to enjoy his intonations and characterisations and really got into the book.

My reasoning for 4 stars overall was because I found the end of the book to be over a little too quickly. There appears to be a build up in the book of a certain 'bad guy'. I was expecting a good old showdown but it didn't quite materialise and ultimately felt a little rushed.
I found myself wanting more at the end however, a sequel perhaps.

I shall definitely peruse other Yahtzee Croshaw titles.

72 people found this helpful

Like Red Dwarf crossed with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

A wonderful blend of humour and adventure that twists and turns in an extremely satisfactory way.
The story develops well and every character's personality is well written and expressed with ease.
If you're a fan of The Guide or Red Dwarf, this will stand out to you especially, if you're not, you'll probably still love this book.

32 people found this helpful

Gripped a non sci-fi fan!

What did you like most about Will Save the Galaxy for Food?

I've long been a fan of Yahtzee's work, but I'd not explored his novels, yet, so I decided to start with his most recent story, and I was pleasantly surprised.

I'm not often a fan of sci-fi; usually it's too tech-heavy and loaded with lingo and confusing descriptive writing, then I lose clarity about every plying event that takes place, but this novel doesn't do that. If it ever needs to explain something, it will, with easily-digestible anecdotes and factoids that are humorous and really get the point across, and Croshaw's narration is graceful and emphatic, and is more importantly very easy to follow. You can easily identify the characters involved, and all the dialogue is easily distinguishable from the rest of the narrative. This was much easier to listen to than a lot of audiobooks and tapes I possess.

The first person perspective really works well with the variety that the story provides, and makes for an emotional rollercoaster as you grow attached to the protagonist and those around him, cringing as plans go awry, or more appropriately, as the same protagonist connives new plans to encourage things going awry. It's a story that keeps moving and pressing on to new environments, never languishing whilst keeping everything it ever brought to the table in previous chapters relevant, and there's a large emphasis on the human element, with characters frequently expressing their doubts, frustration and wit, and it may all bring a big old grin to your face.

I recommend this thoroughly, even if sci-fi isn't quite your cup of tea. I mean, it isn't normally mine, but every now and again something charming has to breeze into you and cause you to take notice.

15 people found this helpful

Galaxy saved - I think food was eaten?

Hardly literary genius, but a huge amount of fun.

I often select something a bit random to clear my head after listening to an epic fantasy - and this was one of those selections. Wasn't expecting to enjoy it quite so much.
Jaunty dialogue, badly behaved but ultimate decent bloke as the lead character - throw in some dodgy kidnapping and random inter-galactic creatures, and you potentially have the makings of a farce, but still good fun. Despite myself, I found myself grinning a few times while I listened.

5 stars for the simple enjoyment factor. 5 stars for a good performance, but 3 stars for the story because it really isn't ground-breaking.

"Will Save Galaxy for Food" - that pretty much sets the tone..... If you're looking for something uncomplicated and fun, this might be it.

12 people found this helpful

An excellent satire

Full of the author's usual hilarious style and highly original use of similes. Worth trying.

8 people found this helpful

Enough twists and turns to make you dizzy!

This is not a laugh out loud book, nor do you find yourself chuckling at a good joke or peiece of wit but you do find yourself enjoying it immensely. The main characters manage to find more scrapes and situations to work their way out of than you'd find in a plot for a whodunit. And they are all well laid out with logic and reasoning as to how they got there but you still can't say why they're there or how they'll get out. I got one escape wrong when our main man was surrounded by Zoobs, one of the villainous races. I was happy to be wrong, the book had a better way out...a much more evil one!

The narration grates a little, you think he's shouting it at you to make it all seem important and hurried, then you get used to his voice and it becomes acceptable. I think others could have narrated better but it's his book so......

I would highly recommend this book to sci-fi fans, to others, I would say it is very enjoyable and entertaining and well worth a read/l listen.

8 people found this helpful

It just wasn't for me.

This isn't a bad book, I laughed at some of the jokes, at points I thought I'd stick it through...but it just couldn't grab me. Big fan of Zero Punctuation, but 8 hours of some of those voices was a little much for me.

4 people found this helpful

Yahtzee strikes again!

Where does Will Save the Galaxy for Food rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Will Save the Galaxy for Food is definitely among the best. A cleverly written story with believable characters and, as typical for Yahtzee, a flawed hero that keeps you interested.

Who was your favorite character and why?

With such an entertaining cast, it's a tricky decision. My own personal favourites would have to be the lead hero - a man caught up in something much bigger than he'd ever wanted, and his tack-sharp foil Miss Warden, whose sarcastic wit provides a barbed quip every time she opens her mouth.

What about Yahtzee Croshaw’s performance did you like?

Yahtzee, as the author of his stories, knows his characters better than anyone. With other successive audiobooks under his belt (Mogworld and Jam, which are also brilliant reads) he's had an opportunity to develop his voice acting skills and find his talents. Every character has their own voice and pattern of speech, and they're all crafted to suit their personalities.

Miss Warden speaks with an edge unlike any other, and young Jemimah has the air of someone utterly dragged along for the ride. Yahtzee brings a passion only a craftsman can.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. The plot has enough twists to keep you entertained and the interaction between the cast make it an engaging listen. Whilst you'll likely have to split it into its respective Parts, it'll keep you interested in each step.

Any additional comments?

Yahtzee brings a fresh perspective to storytelling, and each of his books is a testament to the personality he brings. Will Save the Galaxy for Food is just the newest edition in a library from this author, and each book is worth your time.

8 people found this helpful

BIG YIKES

Sexist, transphobic and fat phobic. Don't bother with it, there's a lot better books out there

3 people found this helpful

Highly entertaining .

Loved it, what an easy listen and entertaining narration. I finished the book in only two days

3 people found this helpful