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Gate Crashers

(The Breach)

Patrick S. Tomlinson (Goodreads Author)

3.83 · Rating details · 652 ratings · 119 reviews

On humanity’s first extra-solar mission, the exploration vessel Magellan discovers an alien construction. Deciding that finding advanced alien life is too important to ignore, the ship’s captain chooses to return to Earth while reverse engineering technology far beyond anything back home.

Meanwhile, at mission control, the governments struggle to maintain the existence of a ...more

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Paperback, 416 pages

Published June 26th 2018 by Tor Books

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· 652 ratings · 119 reviews

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Jul 28, 2018 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy, arcs-and-galleys, science-fiction, humor

4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/08/06/...

I loved this book! As someone who has lost track of the number of times I’ve been hoodwinked into reading so-called sci-fi comedy mashups à la Douglas Adams or Star Trek-like spoofs only to have them turn out to be cringeworthy juvenile attempts at humor, all I have to say is Gate Crashers is the real deal. Smart, funny, and creative, it elicited more than a few genuine belly laughs from me, and not a lot of books can do 4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/08/06/...

I loved this book! As someone who has lost track of the number of times I’ve been hoodwinked into reading so-called sci-fi comedy mashups à la Douglas Adams or Star Trek-like spoofs only to have them turn out to be cringeworthy juvenile attempts at humor, all I have to say is Gate Crashers is the real deal. Smart, funny, and creative, it elicited more than a few genuine belly laughs from me, and not a lot of books can do that.

Our story begins with humanity’s first extra-solar mission aboard the space exploration starship Magellan, the most advanced vessel of her kind. Carrying a crew in suspended animation, the ship AI, affectionately nicknamed Maggie, notices an anomaly on her sensors and wakes Captain Ridgeway from her stasis to inform her of the discovery. The anomaly turns out to be of alien origin, and Ridgeway, deeming this evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life too important to ignore, decides to load the artifact on board and report the find to Earth. Meanwhile, back at home, researchers, politicians, and the media are working themselves into a froth trying to understand and reconstruct the alien technology.

Eventually, the mysteries of the alien artifact are unlocked, changing the trajectory of human space travel and exploration forever. Within a relatively short time, a powerful warship, designed and built with a shiny new hyperspace drive, joins the Magellan in deep space, captained by the chauvinistic, cocky, and supremely vain Maximus Tiberius (with the inspiration for his character being immediately obvious). But humankind’s sudden leap forward in technology and knowledge has not gone unnoticed. It appears that Earth has upset the original creators of the alien artifact, who have been tracking Maggie’s movements ever since their property was stolen. The even greater threat, however, is a more aggressive alien species called the Turemok, who sees humanity’s first awkward baby steps at faster-than-light travel as an opportunity to frame Earth and start a galaxy-wide war.

Gate Crashers fully delivers on the promise of an entertaining and adventurous romp through space. My past experiences with books that have touted something similar, such as Steven Erikson’s Willful Child, Joe Zieja’s Mechanical Failure, or Catherynne M. Valente’s Space Opera, have mostly been enjoyable, but in my eyes, they all lacked something important: balance. Humor, especially parody, can be quite tricky. What I’ve learned is that the amount of silliness in a story is usually inversely proportional to the amount of depth you’ll find. Go overboard with the slapstick or toilet humor, and you also run the risk of turning off your readers looking for something less infantile.

Then, there’s personal taste. What one person laughs at might make someone else groan. Some readers prefer in-your-face jokes and gags, while others go for dry and subtle wit. Myself, I tend to gravitate towards the latter, with just a sprinkle of the former. But above all, I just want a worthwhile story. Gate Crashers is proof that a sci-fi comedy novel can be full of warmth, depth, and substance without sacrificing any of it for the humor. Here we have a full-flavored plot, despite many of the book’s elements being homages to popular science fiction motifs. Readers will be able to spot nods to everything from Star Trek to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, though the story of Gate Crashers also has enough originality to stand on its own.

I also loved the characters, even when it is clear some of them are light parodies of the genre. In humor, a lot of first contact stories depict humans as doltish and incompetent idiots who wind up embarrassing themselves on the galactic stage like some drunken uncle at a dinner party. With only a couple exceptions, Tomlinson’s portrayal of Ridgeway and her fellow space explorers aren’t anywhere near so extreme. There’s a difference between stupidity and ignorance; the humans in Gate Crashers might not know what they’re doing, but they have enough common sense to use what knowledge they have to do right by themselves and the aliens. While their bumbling attempts at space diplomacy might look foolish and absurd, the characters are genuinely full of heart and well-intentioned, qualities that make them very likeable. Everyone has a story (even the non-humans), demonstrating the author’s efforts in character development. Most of them are dealing with very relatable problems or internal conflicts. Even James Kirk—I mean, Maximus Tiberius is someone you will want to root for, as much as he makes you want to shake your head.

Perhaps what works most about Gate Crashers is that it could probably be categorized as full-on comedy, but general sci-fi readers can also enjoy it as an adventurous space opera with comedic elements. While books of this genre aren’t all that uncommon, I found the blend of humor and amount of substance behind the story to be just right, and for me to find something that strikes that perfect balance is very special and rare indeed. If you’re looking for a genuinely entertaining and clever sci-fi novel that will also leave you with a big smile on your face, Gate Crashers is your answer. Highly recommended. ...more

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Nov 18, 2018 Manuel Antão rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2018

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.

Quantum Entanglement Radio : "Gate Crashers" by Patrick S. Tomlinson

The Quantum Entanglement Radio is one of the great accomplishments of mankind, although it had so far failed to supplant sliced bread for the top spot in popular colloquialism. The QER operated through the principle of quantum entanglement. At the core of each set of devices sat a pair of neutrons. Once entangled, these neutrons precisely imitated each other’s behavior ...more

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Sep 22, 2017 Patrick Tomlinson rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Okay, sure, I'm biased. But I honestly love this book. It's my first. I started writing it in 2009. The version you'll end up reading next June 18th is the seventh or eighth rewrite. It's been a very long journey, and it almost stayed locked away in my trunk forever.

I'm seriously ecstatic about the opportunity Tor has given me to bring this book to you, and I hope you end up loving it as much as I do. Peace. ...more

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Jun 11, 2018 Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: out-in-2018-and-read, favourites-read-in-2018

Hugely entertaining space romp! Witty with a few laugh outloud moments (and it isn't easy making me laugh with a book) and a great premise and bunch of characters. Clearly going for Becky Chambers' fans, it also has the feel of a homage to Hitchikers Guide. I certainly enjoyed it. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

Incidentally, the Pb has about 400 pages (my proof had 414 pages). ...more

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Oct 19, 2018 Peter Tillman rated it really liked it

Shelves: humor, at-bg-pa, on-reserve, science-fiction, friend-recos

This first novel overcame a slow and uncertain start (to the point where I considered abandoning it), to a not-bad first third.... Then, about the time the human exploration starship Magellan deciphered a warning sign, 30 light-years out, that read “Human Wildlife Preserve. Keep Out!”, I was pretty well won over. Be aware that this one recycles just about every SF and space-opera trope and joke from the past half-century, many very well-worn indeed. And the rubber science strains WSOD to the br ...more

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Sep 28, 2018 Doctor Science rated it it was ok

Shelves: mrdrsci-reviews, dnf

I didn't finish, I found it too relentlessly twee. Also, though the author acknowledges he needed help to become less brocentric, it wasn't enough for me. Frinst, I was 1/3 of the way through and a main POV character's "young wife" still had no name. It's set in the future, yet women in politics change their last names with each marriage.

Mr Dr Science finished it, and found it adequately amusing in a Douglas Adams kind of way--and he doesn't care for Adams all that much. ...more

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Aug 18, 2018 Judy Lesley rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, humor

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It is a science fiction novel with enough humor included to give a lightness to the story for a nice change of pace in the genre. Some of the instant science was a little eyebrow lifting for me and the passage of time was uneven to the extent of making me go back to read some passages over; it wasn't me, it was the author. But, even with some problems I can say I enjoyed the book enough to have had some chuckles along with some hold-my-breath moments when the fat ...more

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Jul 04, 2018 Clay Kallam rated it liked it

Shelves: sf-fantasy

Light enough to float away like a child's birthday balloon, "Gate Crashers" is a pleasant first-contact diversion that tries very hard to be amusing, and succeeds often enough to make for a fun read.

The plot is simple: Spacefaring humans come across an alien artifact, and haul it away to investigate. Complications ensue (the aliens notice that the artifact is missing, to begin with), and various feats of good old fashioned ingenuity and bravado keep the bad guys at bay.

What that means is the suc ...more

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Aug 09, 2018 Michael Hicks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, sci-fi-fantasy, audio-review-copy

My original GATE CRASHERS audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

First contact scenarios are a common enough trope in science fiction, but Patrick S. Tomlinson manages to inject a bit of freshness and fun, and more than a few dashes of silliness, into mankind’s discovery of intelligent life out amongst the stars.

Gate Crashers feels at times like an ode to Star Trek (Tomlinson’s Captain Ridgeway of the Magellan being only a hairsbreadth away from Voyager’s Janeway, wh ...more

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Oct 20, 2018 Tom rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: aliens, science-fiction, first-contact

An enjoyable read but let down by the sillyness of the humour and basic scientific innacuracies. The humour doesn't really work well when it's not from the characters and jars you out of the story.
The characters themselves never really get fleshed out as more are added to the main cast. There's even a walking stereotype/trope. ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Si Clarke rated it really liked it

Shelves: witty-science-fiction, science-fiction, funny-sff

I have mixed feelings about this one.

It was billed as funny science fiction. It has funny moments and it has warmth and wit, but I wouldn't call it a comedy.

It has frequently been compared to Hitchhiker (including by the author); however, I don't see that at all.

It was written more than a decade ago and published two years ago. I suspect the author's worldview has shifted dramatically in that time. Some of the book seemed to reflect the outlook I see in his twitter feed, but it carries the ghost ...more

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Aug 06, 2018 Alan rated it liked it

Recommends it for: Gate-crashers, obviously. Upstart hoomans in general. And Peter T.

Recommended to Alan by: Mogsy (MMOGC)

"It's okay, Charlie... I got an angle."
—Captain Lincoln F. Sternn, in a scene from the animated film Heavy Metal (1981) that was viewable as an excerpt, at least when this was posted, on YouTube...

The exploratory STL (slower-than-light) Earth vessel Magellan, her crew in cryogenic suspension, is six decades away from Earth when she (Maggie, that is—the ship's AI) runs across an alien artifact, stationary and all alone in interstellar space. Once awakened and consulted, Captain Allison Ridgeway o ...more

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Aug 14, 2018 Kara Babcock rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-read, science-fiction, own, humour, space-opera

Space … the final frontier. Our mission … to boldly go … and steal aliens’ shit…. Gate Crashers is a fun romp, as you might say. Patrick S. Tomlinson writes characters with a combination of humility and hilarity, people who might seem a little larger than life but still all-too-human. This is the Brooklyn Nine-Nine of space opera comedies.

The human exploration vessel Magellan suspends its thirty light-year voyage when it encounters a mysterious device of alien origin. As its crew tries to unlock Space … the final frontier. Our mission … to boldly go … and steal aliens’ shit…. Gate Crashers is a fun romp, as you might say. Patrick S. Tomlinson writes characters with a combination of humility and hilarity, people who might seem a little larger than life but still all-too-human. This is the Brooklyn Nine-Nine of space opera comedies.

The human exploration vessel Magellan suspends its thirty light-year voyage when it encounters a mysterious device of alien origin. As its crew tries to unlock its secrets, they remain in instantaneous contact with people back on Earth—people who weren’t even born when they set out. Meanwhile, members of the coalition of alien species who left that device out there have noticed its absence and the human spaceship. And that might not be so good for humanity. But if you were expecting a dramatic, high-stakes thriller, you might need to re-calibrate. There are high stakes here, up to and including the survival of humanity—but there is also a lot of humour.

Tomlinson explicitly acknowledges the influence of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in his acknowledgements, and that’s very clear. I was also reminded a lot of John Scalzi’s writing, where the stakes are quite high, but the interactions among humans and aliens are also a little silly. If you’re a fan of some of Scalzi’s SF, you would probably enjoy the dynamic here in Gate Crashers.

The main plot takes a while to get started, in my opinion. It’s a while before the humans actually get to confront the aliens, and while there are some good moments beforehand as the tension builds, the book gets really good once the humans are in the thick of an intergalactic power gambit. There’s a great mixture of types of people on the human crew. From the over-the-top womanizer with a tactical mind to the female captain with a lot of gumption to the physicist-turned-hyperspace-tech from Luna with no practical experience, there is plenty of disagreement and reluctant compromises. This keeps things interesting even as we learn about the alien species humanity has come into contact/conflict with.

Sometimes Tomlinson’s exposition is too infodumpy for my tastes. In this he emulates Adams quite a bit, but where Adams writes with years of experience parodying bureaucracy in British sketch and television comedy, Tomlinson brings a history of stand-up to the table. This results in a slightly different style and tone, and that is by no means bad, but it doesn’t appeal to me quite as much. Or maybe it’s just that, after years of read and re-reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy so much my Trilogy in Four Parts omnibus’ dog ears have dog ears, nothing is as good as the original flavour. (I wholeheartedly agree with Tomlinson’s dismal opinion of the “sixth” book, may we never speak of it again.)

So I could do less with the descriptions of the Lividites’ emotional shortcomings and pharmacological solutions. Less with the discussions of the AESA administrator’s political misgivings. Still, these digressions aside, Gate Crashers is a remarkably straightforward and enjoyable story. The antagonists have clear motives beyond “humans must die”. The humans have a diverse range of viewpoints, from xenophobia to territorialism to curiosity and a spirit of exploration. The resolution to the plot is a little rushed, but on the whole, it’s an exciting enough book that I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.

So if you want science fiction that is funny, and original, then you can’t really go wrong with this.

...more

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May 28, 2018 Kiran rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nerd-fodder

**Advanced Reader Copy**

Science Fiction isn’t in the recluse section of the bookstore, anymore. It’s mainstream enough that we can pick and choose the stories, the sagas, with which to go on a journey while having endless options. Unfortunately, because of this popularity mediocrity has birthed too many books leading to the misrepresentation of the genre.

Cue Patrick S. Tomlinson. A noteworthy wise-cracker, he’s armed to the teeth with hearty quips, evergreen references, and just the right amoun ...more

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Nov 13, 2018 Quiller Caudill rated it it was ok

I liked a lot of the sci-fi concepts, and some of the throwaway lines got a solid chuckle. The main issue with this book is that it's not even trying to hide that it's an imitation of the Hitchhiker's Guide series, yet for large stretches that goal seems to be forgotten entirely. The humor is mostly limited to the occasional pop culture reference, most of which feel dated but not in that warm-and-fuzzy way that Adams was able to hit so consistently. The science fiction concepts are actually pret ...more

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Jun 20, 2019 Charles Dion rated it it was ok

I did not finish this book, it was far too painful. But i'm sure someone who does not enjoy serious Scifi would. In only the first 5 pages one can see how little Tomlinson respects the scifi genre as he takes every opportunity he can to crack a joke. Not to say humor should not be mixed with scifi. Humor is great in every genre, but for the love of all that is holy stop with the Puns! Tomlinson enjoys the use of puns allot too much and often bastardizes English in order to get a laugh (ie, Peopl ...more

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Apr 17, 2018 Charlene rated it it was ok

Shelves: science-fiction

Very plot-driven, with bland, predictable characters and aliens that aren't particularly alien. ...more

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Aug 20, 2018 Fred rated it it was ok

I liked parts of it. Didn’t like the mixture of seriousness and humor. It’s like the author couldn’t decide if the was writing comedy or a serious Space Opera.

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May 27, 2019 Joe rated it did not like it

Hated it. Felt like a chore reading the last 100 pages

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Jul 25, 2019 Michelle Gipyese rated it did not like it

In space, you can punch your wives face

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May 25, 2019 Mack rated it it was amazing

I loved this book. It pretty much hits everything that I enjoy in SF: good story, interesting characters, well done hard science and military action, and wonderful humor.

Here is my full review:

It's 2345 and the American/European Union Starship Magellan has just passed the 30 light year mark on it's way to explore Solonis B. This is the fathest from earth mankind has travelled. While the crew are in their peoplecicle state for the long journey, the ship's AI, known as Maggie, monitors the ship an I loved this book. It pretty much hits everything that I enjoy in SF: good story, interesting characters, well done hard science and military action, and wonderful humor.

Here is my full review:

It's 2345 and the American/European Union Starship Magellan has just passed the 30 light year mark on it's way to explore Solonis B. This is the fathest from earth mankind has travelled. While the crew are in their peoplecicle state for the long journey, the ship's AI, known as Maggie, monitors the ship and surrounding space. Maggie detects an anomalous object that gnaws at her processors. What makes the object unusual is that it is completely at rest, something that should be impossible what with Newton's laws of motion and all. She awakens Capt. Allison Ridgway to authorize a flyby but when Maggie detects radio emissions from the object, Ridgeway knows they need to get their hands on the object and the entire crew is awakened. With the object in the shuttle bay and authorities alerted by the instantaneous QER (quantum entanglement radio), the Magellan heads back to earth. And then things go from weird to dangerous to life-threatening.

Tomlinson pretty much hits all the major SF tropes. We get: first contact, space opera, space marines, space combat, space poop, girl shy nerd, mad scientists, enterprising scientists and engineers, hard science, galactic politics, aliens with an unsettling knowledge of English (it's easy to learn) and Earth TV shows, a effective and stable civilian captain, an infuriatingly capable navy captain named Maximus Tiberius who falls somewhere between Star Trek's James Tiberius Kirk and Blackadder's Lord Flashheart, a snarky ship's AI who decides she must be female because she has to nurture so many helpless children, and lots of humor. You might also note some Star Trek and maybe Heinlein here.

Military action isn't a major theme of Gate Crashers but Tomlinson handles it realistically and very well. Likewise, the hard science is handled nicely so that you can read it thinking, okay, that works.

The humor is decidedly Douglas Adams-esque which is a major plus for me. In fact, alert readers will notice a direct homage to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The humor ranges from clever wordplay to downright silly. Kind of like throwing pasta at the wall, some stick, some don't. I could quote something that made me chuckle from most pages but here are two examples:

It was a cold, dark night in deep space. Of course, that's the sort of night experienced spacers preferred. A hot, bright night meant you'd flown into an uncharted star. Such nights were known for their brevity.

And then the silly

The Teskin are one of the most specialized carnivores in the known galaxy. They evolved over the millennia to infiltrate cocktail parties, wedding receptions, and class reunions. Once inside, they corner their unsuspecting prey and regale them with hours of banal anecdotes about office politics, family vacations, and medical issues. A successful hunt ends when the target kills itself out of desperation.

Gate Crashers is a fun and satisfying SF that I enjoyed so much I read all 414 pages in one sitting.

Fortunately, there is a sequel titled Starship Repo so I don't have to wait for more of this universe. It features features a female protagonist named Firstname Lastname due to a clerical error so I anticipate the same level of humor. ...more

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Jul 11, 2018 Nicholas Smeaton rated it it was amazing

Science Fiction comedy is easy to do, good Science Fiction comedy on the other hand is very difficult to do, however in his debut novel Patrick S. Tomlinson succeeds in writing one of the funniest books I've read in years. The trick seems to be in delivering the humour deadpan and in knowing the genre you're sending up and this book does both very well. The plot revolves around the 'Magellan' (or Maggie as she prefers to be called) stumbling across an alien artifact. Examination of this artifact ...more

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Oct 24, 2018 Dave McGraw rated it it was amazing

It has been quite some time since I've struggled to put a book down. Gate Crashers was not just an entertaining, page-turning sci-fi adventure romp through the unknown, but it was quite literally, enchanting. The "science" part of the fiction was grounded in real-world theory, and the solutions to getting around the lightspeed barrier and all that other impossible-as-we-know-it-today stuff was clever and well done.

Patrick Tomlinson not only averted my "this is bullshit" sensors quite well, but ...more

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Jun 14, 2020 Fred Hughes rated it really liked it

A sarcastic ramp through space with multiple aliens and lots of space battles. Relatable characters and a pedal to the metal story line there is adventure after adventure.

Lots of weird alien stuff and always the egotistical Captain at the helm.

Highly recommended. I'm going to see what else the Author has written ...more

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Oct 18, 2018 Nellie rated it really liked it

Definitely hard scifi. But I found it enjoyable. The way it's written reminded me a lot of Douglas Adams's writing. Could it have been shorter? Yeah probably. But I still had a good time reading it and would recommend it to fans of Douglas Adams. ...more

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Mar 23, 2021 Chris Panatier rated it it was amazing

I loved this book and I had a very lol-y time lolling it up. The Great Nerd War? Come on. I squirted pee at that one. Will read Tomlinson’s other stuff because I want to pee more. But seriously. Read this book.

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Jun 28, 2018 Sontaranpr rated it it was amazing

Come on, you'd read the book merely to hear more about Captain Maximus Tiberius as we all would.

Gate Crashers, humanity hasn't managed FTL for more than communications. We're toodle pipping about the galaxy using 0.5 C drives so you're looking at decades to centuries for round trips. Crews go into cyro while an AI generally keeps an eye on things. Till one day a particularly snarky AI finds an object sitting there in the middle of nowhere. In space things are always moving. This one wasn't. Look ...more

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Nov 20, 2018 John rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: children-ya, sf-fantasy

Wonderful space opera, with plenty of hard, real science and credible techno-wonders, characters of several species who range from really bright (Ridgeway is my favorite) to dumb as--I was going to say "rocks," but one of the alien species is actually silicon based--a bag of hammers, and a plot with plenty of suspense. Not to mention hilarious banter, some weird twists, and a LOT of 'Star Trek' in its DNA. There are some pretty big holes in said plot, but it's all so much fun that I didn't mind. ...more

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Feb 10, 2019 Peter rated it liked it

Humanity's slowly been moving out into the nearby stars, but when one of their ships stumbles upon an artifact, out in deep space, of clearly alien manufacture, it changes everything, leapfrogging their development quickly and getting the attention of the galactic community. Mostly, the best of the best are out there... but everybody can make mistakes.

I quite enjoyed the author's debut trilogy, and the description of this one interested me as well. Unfortunately, all in all, this one left me a Humanity's slowly been moving out into the nearby stars, but when one of their ships stumbles upon an artifact, out in deep space, of clearly alien manufacture, it changes everything, leapfrogging their development quickly and getting the attention of the galactic community. Mostly, the best of the best are out there... but everybody can make mistakes.

I quite enjoyed the author's debut trilogy, and the description of this one interested me as well. Unfortunately, all in all, this one left me a little colder, and I just found it to be okay.

There's no huge catalogue of sins, just things that didn't really work for me. First, the overall tone is meant to be semi-comedic, with several over-the-top characters and ridiculous situations, yet not completely, in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide where there are jokes every few pages. Here it's just the occasional thing that reminds me "Right, the author's going for laughs." It's a bit of an odd mix, especially since some fairly horrifying things happen and the book isn't quite enough to make that into black humor on top of humor, but rather just makes the turns to comedy feel inappropriate. Leaving that aside, the humor itself... well, when the humor comes from the character interactions, it generally works (maybe not provoking laughs, but at least a mental smile). When the omniscient narrator reveals some wacky consequence of space travel or whatnot, it didn't for me, sometimes shattering my suspension of disbelief. However, I should point out that I was reading this in winter, the most depressing part of the year (in fact, specifically was reading it on the day that the media hypes up as the most depressing even if that's mostly garbage). So I'll allow that maybe my mood just wasn't condusive to it. It didn't anger me, just sort of slid off me.

That aside, it's a book that has a lot of characters and often jumps ahead in time a lot, to allow for the development and deployment of new technology, and so it's hard to get fully engaged with them. I do, sometimes, in pieces, but they felt a little flat.

There is some good here, SF worldbuilding and a few interesting aliens, and some details about realities of space travel often feel genuine (even when they're about made up stuff) except when the author decided to go for a laugh (or you can tell the plot required them to, say, be able to translate an alien language). Unfortunately, some of the 'go for a laugh' tendency also applied to the conclusion of many of the major plot points.

As I said, overall, okay. You might even say I mildly liked it (it's probably between 2 and 3 stars on Goodreads, I'll bump it up to three). I'm not sure I'd run out and read any sequels, but it was a pleasant enough time going through it, I just don't expect it to stick with me much. ...more

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Jan 18, 2019 Tim Hicks rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, humour

Read Peter Tillman's review. What he said.
Plus:

Tomlinson says he was motivated to write this after being disappointed in the ending of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. You can see traces of HHGG, and a tribute to Larry Niven, and some Pratchettian stuff, maybe some Harry Harrison, and many others.

The humour is woven in almost as a separate strand; if it were removed, the rest would be a mostly coherent story.

The Kzin-only-stupid Turemok are almost annoying, but D'Armic makes up for them.
Fel ...more

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About Patrick S. Tomlinson

Patrick S. Tomlinson

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Patrick S. Tomlinson lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, a menagerie of houseplants in varying levels of health, a Mustang, and a Triumph motorcycle bought specifically to embarrass and infuriate Harley riders. When not writing sci-fi and fantasy novels and short stories, Patrick is busy developing his other passion for writing and performing stand-up comedy in the Madison, Milwaukee, and ...more

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Quotes from Gate Crashers

“You're just going to have to accept that people are *never* ready in times like these. Page-turners and bolt-tighteners always demand more time than external forces permit. That's your job. My job is to remind you the real world and the people cutting our checks don't care. So get us as ready as you can in a week, and maybe find yourself a little helping of faith.” — 1 likes

“So far, everthin’ I’ve used to try to open her’s been about as effective as giving a frog a haircut with a harmonica.” — 1 likes

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Preview — Gate Crashers by Patrick S. Tomlinson

Gate Crashers

(The Breach)

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Quotes from Gate Crashers