My Life as an Afterthought Astronaut

The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle #8

by Bill Myers

Just 'cause I didn't follow the rules doesn't make it my fault that the Space Shuttle almost crashed. Well, okay, maybe it was sort of my fault. But not the part when Pilot O'Brien was spacewalking and I accidentally knocked him halfway to Jupiter, or when I wound up in a space suit and nearly became the first human satellite to orbit the Earth; you can't blame that on me. Well, okay, maybe that was sort of my fault, too. So begins another hilarious Wally McDoogle misadventure as our boy blunder stows aboard the Space Shuttle and learns the importance of OBEYING THE RULES!

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Christian Fiction, Christian, Childrens, Middle Grade, Juvenile

Hardcover

First published March 9, 1995

About the author

Bill Myers was born into a Christian home, and although as a child he became bored with Christianity, he decided at the University of Washington quote, to "make God my boss." Ironically, at the University his worst subject was writing. He claims to have prayed, and said that he would be able to do anything for God, except write. Even so, he has become a prominent Christian writer, and has a large amount of successful books and films to his credit.

Reviews

[Jeffrey McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this series is not a deeply intellectual read (although the imagination and witticism portrayed in the writing is brilliant), it does serve as a nice diversion from stress and a reminder to not take yourself too seriously.

[Kaley Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading this as an adult is amazing. I'm pretty sure Wally McDoogle had a not-insignificant (clumsy, disaster-prone) hand in my authorial dreams since way back around 1998. It's wonderful to pick out places of writerly influence among these pages.

And I'm realizing this book in particular probably shaped my whole perception of NASA and the space program as a whole? Was that on purpose?

Anyway, Wally McDoogle is iconic.

[Carolyn Jeziorski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a free audiobook of this from libro.fm. It was a fine book. There were silly jokes, and the author did a great job reading it with expression and different voices. But the story was predictable. I can see it as popular with reluctant readers.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging, read with my kids. Bill always has a moral to weave in, but after many gut-buckling stints of laughter.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Amy Sjoquist · Rating 2 out of 5]

annoying kid