Losers in Space

Space Cadets #2

by R.L. Stine

Determined to get rid of Hunk and his goofy gang, Commander Dorque is pleased when their new high-tech space vehicle is accidently launched ahead of schedule, until he finds out that his daughter is on board

130 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1991

About the author

Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.

R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.

Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.

http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this the best science fiction book intended for young audiences? Far from it. I found this at a flea market and picked it up on a whim, mostly because I found the cover art fun. But it was an enjoyable book if you go into it not expecting too much. This is not a book to be taken seriously by any stretch of the imagination. Basically all the characters are stupid and probably terrible (as in bad people) and the sooner you accept it the better the book will be. There were so many scenes that I honestly found hilarious. Cadet Beef Hardy was particularly fun from how terrible he was whenever he showed up. Here’s some of my favorite parts.

So after Cadet Hardy noticed a food stain on the back of his hand he naturally had a cadet plebe lick the stain off. Because that’s a normal thing to have done.

Love this moment: Two cadets turned the corner and walked past. Their eyes widened did a split second as they saw Hardy standing in the middle of the hall, a plebe eagerly licking his hand. But they knew better than to say anything.

And after the plebe did so Hardy had him turn himself in for disciplinary action for sticking his tongue out at a superior officer. What did Hardy think after this you may ask?

I shouldn’t have gone so easy on him, Hardy thought, heading toward the Commander’s office. I hope I’m not going soft.

Somehow I don’t think he’s in danger of going soft. This all happened by page 3.

Then this happens on page 4: Cadet Hardy stopped a few yards in front of him and gave an impressive salute, a salute so powerful it sent Hardy sprawling to his knees.

No one salutes the way I do, Hardy thought proudly, his head spinning.

This scene from pages 7 and 8 broke me: “Sir?” Beef Hardy called, stirring the headmaster from his thoughts. “This grease on my finger - where can I wipe it off?” He held up the soiled finger.

“I don’t know,” Dorque said irritably, looking around the room for a towel or a tissue. “Don’t you carry anything on you to wipe your hands?”

“No sir,” Beef replied. “I usually wipe my hands on a plebe or a junior cadet.”

“Okay, fine,” the headmaster said. He leaned over the desk and pushed a button on his intercom. “Miss Moon, please send in a plebe.”

“Yes, sir,” came the voice of his secretary from the outer office.

A few seconds later, a bushy-haired young plebe named Fenster entered the Commander’s office, looking puzzled. He saluted sharply. Beef Hardy strode over and wiped his finger off in the young cadet’s hair. Fenster gave another sharp salute, turned, and walked out of the room.

…

Why couldn’t a tissue have been sent in instead? xD I do love how the plebe doesn’t even question it, like this is a normal occurrence for him. These poor plebes!

This scene from page 17: What a hunk he is, she thought dreamily. She loved the blank look on his face, the empty stare, the way his sensitive mouth hung halfway open.

And finally this from pages 77 and 78: What nerves of steel Hunk has, Debby thought. Making jokes even though he must be as terrified as the rest of us.

Or is he a stupid idiot? she wondered, for the briefest of seconds. But, gazing at his handsome face, his wavy brown hair, his heroic, jutting jaw, his tongue hanging out of his open mouth, she quickly dismissed the idea.

There’s plenty of more dumb moments to choose from but those were some highlights for me. The whole book was all so stupid and bizarre that I couldn’t help but like it. If you want something quick and dumb to laugh over this might be the book for you.

[Briar Harvell · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars I would probably not read again. It was bad though. I was given this book. I didn’t even know Stine had these books. I enjoy his Goosebumps and Fear Street series.