Charlie is a cracker of a character, but he is one of THE most unluckiest people in the universe. It all begins with a crash on an unknown planet. Could this be the worst thing to happen to Charlie? Not a chance.
The reader can really get to grips with Charlie's character and personality. He's a good-hearted soul and always thinks of others (despite all that happens to him), but the consequences of his actions are not always what he hopes for. The follow-on books, Space Pirate Charlie and Dragon King Charlie (in this box set), are even more enjoyable than book one. If you're actively thinking of doing some housework, do it before you start reading or you'll never get it done. Trust me, I know from experience.
I was completely engrossed in this storyline, so much so that when the author's TwistyTwists™ happened, I didn't see them coming. I don't want to say too much and spoil things for a new reader, so I'll just say that this box set (and this series) is fantastic reading, well-structured and well thought-out plots, with intelligent, full and believable characters. The more you get to know the people, the more emotive it gets, IMHO. A heady mix of all possible magic genres and full of action. I adore this series.