Arlo and Jake Enlist: The adventure begins!

by Gary Henson

Jake's retirement consists of beer, brats, watching beach bunnies pass by his patio deck and trading wisecracks with Arlo, his pet chameleon. OK, so it's a one-sided exchange, Jake doesn't mind. That all changes when they are conscripted into service for the Federation of Thirteen Galaxies. (Twelve actually. They lost one of the Galaxies but it's too expensive to change all the letterhead, so there you go.) Book One, 'Arlo and Jake Enlist', follows the adventures of our dippy duo as they are snapped off the beach and into service as ABSs (Able Bodied Spacemen).

110 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2012

About the author

I was born in Levelland, Texas, moved to Boulder, Colorado and joined the US Nuclear Submarine force at 17.

After 9 years cruising the oceans, I returned to Colorado and eventually became a software developer.

I've always loved creating something from my imagination. In 2006 I wrote a screenplay, 'Genome'. After years of 'no thanks' or no response I decided to adapt it to a novel and try ePub.

I've since written the first book of a humorous SciFi series, 'Arlo and Jake Enlist' which is also published. I'm working more books in that series as well as stories for magazines.

My interests include playing PC RTS and FPS games like Quake, Serious Sam, Duke Nukem, Command and Conquer. Also music: Chet Atkins, Ventures, Bach, Mozart, Boogie piano.

I love reading, writing out on my patio, preferably with a glass of Sweet Rodeo Red and a plate of nachoes.

Reviews

[James Paddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was full-bore entertainment and I loved it. Being about the same age as Jake, one of the two main characters--the other being, Arlo, a telepathic Panther Chameleon--it was fun to imagine being conscripted into a galactic federation and then put through a medical procedure in which nearly 40 years are taken off my aging body. Another reviewer mentioned that the only thing that was lacking was a villain. I must disagree. The villain is alive and well in one evil galactic federation, the Galactic Houses of Aquinoxous, led by the warrior 'Octozoid' species. Their intent is to wipe out all terran life forms throughout the galaxies, and then 'aquaform' the planets for colonization. Oh, I hope that Earth is never in their focus... Hmmmm. I can hear Mister Henson's evil laugh already.

And of course, what is a great story without a little romance? As this is book 1 of Gary Henson's Arlo and Jake series, we can expect some fun romance in coming issues. Meanwhile, we were introduced to a cute little Spritezoid by the name of Pixie, or at least that's what Jake calls her, and they've eyes for each other. We can't forget Leeta, Arlo's pretty chameleon heart-throb with eyes like his that rotate about independently of each other. We don't know what it is they see in each other or what they do when they disappear together. Maybe we don't want to know.

Thanks, Gary, for a great piece of entertainment. I'll be looking forward to what else you have in store for Arlo and Jake.

[Pete Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a sci-fi book quite like this, and it's fun and refreshing! So much so that I'm currently reading book 2 in the series.

Jake is a little obsessed with female company, and feminists may not like this. But Jake is a retired submariner who spent years looking at nothing but the inside of a cigar tube, so his appetite for eye candy is understandable. Arlo is his pet chameleon, and one day as the pair sit watching life go by, Jake sozzled to the eyeballs, he is visited by recruitment officers and wakes to find he has volunteered to enlist in a space war against a pretty nasty bunch of aliens. So has Arlo, as his new partner. They wise-crack their way through one scrape after another.

Jake doesn't do respect for authority very well, but manages to hold his own as a recruit in the spaceship 'Triumph', despite the distractions, and the story finishes on a high, for which Arlo usually tries to take the credit. The technology Gary has constructed for his fleet, his aliens and the near-humans, as well as the completely human are credible and instantly absorbable. I liked his 'take it or leave it' attitude to the technology. No rambling explanations or theory - it just is, but it's immediately credible nevertheless.

If you like humour, and sci-fi from a different angle, you really will enjoy this book.

[Vanessa Wester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a book like this before and so it took me a while to get to it. Even then, it was written more for (I think) a male audience, but it did make me smile a lot - It was an insight into the male mind.

The story itself is well crafted, highly imaginative, and it reminded me of Star Trek and Star Wars with a James Bond Twist - there were a lot of perfect women around! Personally, what was missing was a villain - maybe we'll meet one in the second book?

Follow the wacky adventures of Arlo & Jake Into space & battles - escape reality!

[Carrie Slager · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Full disclosure: Gary Henson sent me a free print copy in exchange for an honest review.]

Arlo and Jake Enlist is the sort of novella you can curl up in your favourite chair for an hour or so on a dreary day and laugh out loud over. It’s both a spoof of science fiction and a good read all rolled into one 89 page book.

Now, just because this is a spoof doesn’t mean the characters aren’t interesting or well developed. They definitely are. Jake is kind of a lonely old man who fills his days drinking on the beach and watching girls with his pet chameleon, Arlo. But watch out once they get in space! Arlo develops a great personality for comedic effect and has that kind of biting sarcasm that I love. And Jake, well, what’s not to like about him? He’s snarky, curious and, at times, quite philosophical.

The plot moves along very quickly since this is a novella, so you definitely won’t experience the usual plot slump in the middle. There’s also plenty of hilarious situations that made me quite literally laugh out loud, but there are times when Arlo and Jake Enlist is serious. Gary Alan Henson found a balance between writing a great spoof and writing a good novella—a difficult achievement in my opinion.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

[Robbie Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Jake Jaspar, one minute you are on a beach relaxing, the next you've been conscripted into a space navy you didn't even know existed. However, he does make the best of it as the crew of the Triumph tries to convince him to sign up for a tour of space duty. He even gets to keep his pet, Arlo, who becomes his partner in this space adventure.

Gary did a great job of writing and creating believable characters as well as a great plot. I love where pokes fun at the typical genre and adds a bit of spice here and there. I'm looking forward to the next, which I hear is already out.

[Matt Dillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun. There's a ton of creativity, and I liked the pacing. The story revolves around a retired Navy engineer who is recruited into an intergalactic Navy. It looks to be a light and humorous space opera - sign me up!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want some humor with your SciFi? These are smart, funny books worth checking out. My full review can be read here:
http://bit.ly/ArloJake

[Lee Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

From retirement to an unexpected space sci-fi adventure…

This was a fun and easy-to-read tale of a retiree who swaps life by the beach for something way more adventurous and it involves space sci-fi. Alongside his pet Chameleon, ‘Jake’ finds himself whisked away from a comfortable world to the unexpected setting of space. What follows is a choice to ultimately leave his former life behind and try his best to help defend the galaxy.

The dynamic between main character and his pet ‘Arlo’ makes for some entertaining reading and their witty dialogue is a fun pillar that holds up this story. Packed with humour, action and some original concepts, this book is just the beginning of an adventure and makes for some great escapism.

“Great. My pet lizard is now sprouting John Denver song lyrics. I’m almost afraid to say this, but could this get any weirder?”

[Lee Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read, and the writer was certainly writing about something he knows about, having been a Naval submariner as well as working with computers for a long career. I was pleasantly biased, because one of the main characters is named Jake, which was a nickname of my grandfather's. He has an interesting pet as a sidekick and gets into some interesting galactic adventures after being enlisted into the galactic defense forces. I was especially entertained, because the read made me feel like I might be reading Heinlein again (!) which has been of long-time interest. Because of these halo type feelings, and because this is such a fun read, I can't help but rate it highly!

[M Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious story! I laughed hard in many parts of this book. The story is very entertaining. Jake is out of his league in more ways than one. Pretty much every situation Jake finds himself in requires medical attention of one kind or another. For an old submariner, he pulls it together at crunch time.
I love science fiction; it's my top favorite genre, and this story does everything right to keep the pole position.
I can't say more without revealing spoilers. Read this book!
I award 4.8 stars because I am picky about certain things.

[Rnolter Nolter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man Battlestations

Whenever a book makes you laugh out loud all of a sudden or otherwise gets an emotional response from a reader it is in my opinion fantastic! Hilarious and a really cool sci-fi book at the same time.

Going to get book 2 now.

[James D. Slagowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

The storyline grabs you and doesn't let go. I could not set it down once I started. Cannot wait to read the rest of the series.