Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Doall's Do-Over - Karina Lumbert Fabian - A Space Traipse Story

Doall's Do-Over
A Space Traipse Story
Karina Fabian
Laser Cow Press
ISBN 9781733447188
ASIN B08VM7NKFQ


I read this shortly after reading an advanced copy of Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 4. I had already picked it up and wanted another Space Traipse story. I believe this is the only stand-alone story set it this universe. At least yet. And it is a wonderful story, or maybe we should call it a double episode. Last year I read 3 novels, and 2 collections of short stories edited by Karina Fabian. Prior to that there had been a n 8-year gap in my reading one of her offerings. That was truly my loss. And I am so making up for lost time. I cannot seem to put her books down. I have loved all the Space Traipse stories to date and only have Volume 3 to go. If she does not come out with more soon I will likely go into withdrawal. I have also read some of Fabian’s contributions in anthologies and love her short form fiction. I love her religious themed fiction. But the Space Traipse offerings are something completely different. Now I should state I grew up watching reruns of Star Trek the Original Series, and the animated series during its original run. I have long been a fan of the shows (except TNG) and when much younger read many novelizations. I loved reading the old James Blish Star Trek stories. Reading the stories in this series take me back to that early reading, but with a much more humorous slant. These stories are part homage, part satire, part commentary, part parody, and they are a whole lot of fun! And this one focused primarily on Doall is masterfully written.

For the main series the stories follow the further adventures of the captain and the crew of the HMB Impulsive. The descriptions of the main crew members in the series are: 

• Capt Jeb Tiberius: A good ol’ boy from Texas whose religion requires firm buttocks.
• First Officer Commander Phineas Smythe: His uncanny ability to win Rock-Paper-Scissors-Redshirt-Alien means he can pick his away missions.
• Chief Engineer Commander Angus Deary: The first person to reverse the polarity by 90 degrees.
• Xenologist and Ship’s Sexy, Loreli: A plant-based life form with a perfect figure, she keeps up ship morale – and ratings.
• Chief of Security, Enigo Guillermo Ricardo Montoya Guiterrez LaFuentes: Raised on the UGS The Hood, where gang war is a cultural right, he’s not afraid to shoot a fellow crewman. That’s what stun is for!
• Ops Officer Ensign Ellie Doall: Fresh from the HMB Mary Sue, she can so just about anything all on her own – and often does.
• Transporter Chief, Dolfrick Dour: By the manipulations of technology, he reduces people to their most basic elements and rematerializes them elsewhere. Is it any wonder he’s 23rd Century Goth?

But as mentioned this one focuses on Doall and a much younger non HuFleet Doall. Most of the books have a number of stories or episodes, but because this is a single story it has more traditional chapters. Those chapters are:

The Big Rock Donut of Time 
The Need for Better Operating Instructions 
Never Go Up Against a Hoodian When Death is on the Line 
Should Have Stayed Home 
Wrath of LaFuentes 
Ellie Hits Herself with a Car 
On Wigs and Seeing Yourself with New Eyes 
Kera Tarts and the Joy of Enhanced Senses 
Kera Cream and the Peril of Enhanced Senses 
Pomp and Circumstances 
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Ellie? 
Taking Care of Yourself When Yourself Can’t Take Care of You 
Best Laid Plans of Ensigns and Teenage Girls 
CinderEllie at the Ball 
Headaches Save Lives 
Timeline, Sweet Home 

Before the table of contents we are informed:

“To anyone who missed their chance at young love…
…and are forever grateful.

Space: By Keptar, there’s a lot of it. And it’s chock-full of stuff to do and people to meet. These are the adventures of the HMB Impulsive. Its mission: to explore worlds, to seek out anomalies, and to boldly do what no one else has the guts to do! And you know that we’re the ship to do it. Don’t believe me? Hold my beer!”

That last part appears in all the stories so far. And it really does a great job of summing up the series. The description of this story is:

“Space Traipse strikes again with this parody of ST: TAS “Yesteryear.” An away mission in time erases Ensign Ellie Doall, replacing her with a busybody alternate self that wreaks havoc across the Union. Now a vengeful warlord razes the galaxy on a mission to kill her, and her former friends are glad to help. Can Ellie stop her younger self from ruining their life?Cringe at the improbable character ‘shipping. Learn the secret to the Impulsive’s Miracle Ensign. Watch Warlord Enigo LaFuentes put Khan to shame. Snag this Space Traipse adventure and let’s do the time plot as only the HMB Impulsive can!A laugh-out-loud parody that fondly skewers the tropes of the world’s most beloved science fiction show, and of sci-fi in general. Space Traipse: Hold My Beer is highly recommended for people who love science fiction, parody, and just good fun.”

And it is very well written. I could hardly put this story down. I read much later than I should so that I could finish the book. I really enjoy many of the characters in the series. But have a soft sport for Doall. And this book highlights her skills and talents. And helps us and herself to understand why she is the way she is. And what really drives her. Great characters, fun story. And an excellent addition to the canon of the Space Traipse Hold My Beer Stories. The story is a little more serious than most of the other stories. But it stays true to the source and the tone of the series. Excellently written. 

A great read for fans of the series. A fun read for fans of Star Trek The Original Series. And a great story for someone looking to dip their toes in the universe of the HuFleet.   

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!


Dex Hollister Series:
The Old Man and the Void
Dex's Way
...

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Series :
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
I Left My Brains in San Francisco
Shambling in a Winter Wonderland
…

DragonEye PI Series:
DragonEye PI Novels:
9.0 Gapman
10.0 Magic, Mensa and Mayhem (Revised edition forthcoming)
11.0 Live and Let Fly (Revised edition forthcoming)
...  

DragonEye PI Short Stories:

DragonEye PI Original First Editions:
Live and Let Fly
....

Space Traipse Series:
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 2
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Space Traipse Stories
…

Mind Over Series:
Mind Over Mind
Mind Over Psyche
Mind Over All
Hearts Over Mind
…

Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...


Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity
...







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1 comment:

Jacqueline Vick said...

I just started my first Space Traipse. Looking forward to it.

28 April 2021 at 15:59

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