Faster Than Light

'A veritable successor to Douglas Adams,John Lucas has demonstrated with his debut novel a capacity to fuse witty satire and the more inventive elements of science fiction. If you liked Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy you will definitely like this imaginative and humorous view of the place our planet has in the universal pecking order.' Buzz Magazine 'Lucas could go far.' David Langford in SFX Magazine 'The novel shows an eager imagination and a keen satirical edge.There are some excellent comic set pieces (such as the time travel paradoxes). SB Kelly in Scotland on Sunday 'Humorous science fiction' are three words to strike terror into the bravest reader's heart. Very, very few people do it well. There's Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, and there's...er...Thank God, then, for a promising newcomer such as John Lucas. His debut novel does smack rather of Adams. However, once one boldly goes a few chapters in, Faster Than Light seems to have more in common with fantastical satire in the mould of Gulliver's Travels. And, somewhat unusually, for science fiction that satire has a strong leftist bent. Jason and Alex are two very ordinary human beings until they are abducted by an alien who bears a distinct resemblance to a second-rate game-show host, but is actually a giant Krullen beetle. The Krullen have been employed by the Total Trading Corporation to save artefacts from this universe, to take to a new one they're creating because they don't like the tax rates in the current time-space continuum. They will then destroy anyone who isn't rich enough to buy their way into their prefab utopia. The earthlings' mission is, of course...' Joe Cushley in What’s on in London 'A clever little adventure with an entertaining, unnerving, satirical take on megabusiness.' Regina Schroeder in Booklist