Space Taxis
“A perfect blend of science fiction and alternate history”
He’s abducted by aliens to the planet Vost.
He’s saving up for his fare home.
But he’s got the small matter of a planetary apocalypse to deal with first…
In 1977 a New York Cab driver Mike Redolfo is abducted by aliens after being mistaken for a renegade scientist. Meanwhile, back in 1944 a mysterious man and his Jewish fiancée are fleeing across Nazi-occupied Europe.
Redolfo tries to keep a low profile on his new world whilst earning his fare home, but unwittingly gets involved with a shady gang of alien criminals, inadvertently bringing the planet to the brink of catastrophe.
As the link between the timelines becomes clear, Redolfo must discover secrets from the past that may hold the key to saving the planet.
If you like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse 5, and Frank Herbert’s Dune, you’ll love this gripping and entertaining sci-fi mystery thriller.
Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Space-Taxis-Adam-Frosh-ebook/dp/B08H19CCWR
US – https://www.amazon.com/Space-Taxis-Adam-Frosh-ebook/dp/B08H19CCWR
My Review
Thanks to the author and publishers for sending me a copy of this book and to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources for organising this blog tour.
The Rosie Synopsis
Michael Rodolfo is a Brooklyn taxi driver. Then he’s picked up by aliens who think he’s a criminal. He arrives on the planet of Vost, where the world government is paralysed by bureaucracy, confused by events. The aliens realise he isn’t who they thought he was and turn him out to survive. He gets a job with a taxi company and meets a few friends, including another human, John Moorhead.
Things start to go wrong when Mike is dragged into criminal activities and then a battle as the original inhabitants of Vost decide to take on the newer inhabitants.
Meanwhile, the story of Mike’s parents meeting and birth during and after World War Two is told between chapters of Mike’s adventures in Vost.
The Good
The authors weave historical events into the background of this alien adventure story very well. The chapters about Marianne are very painful, accurate and touching. Her pain at the loss of her family and later her partner Dominik are heart wrenching to read.
The character of Michael goes on a personal journey of discovery and self-understanding, finally finding himself in a place where he feels ‘right’, and finding love with someone who complements him. His moral ambiguity about the war with the tarannians and the choices they’re forced to make adds nuance to the story. I’d have joined the tarannians, personally.
The world of Vost is colourful and lively, with so many different, imaginative species and technology. The bureaucratic nature of VIAS and the pomposity of Spaan are irritatingly realistic, if you’ve ever had to deal with faceless processes and religious bigots.
The story draws on ancient Celtic mythology to populate the world of Vost and explain the actions of the tarannians. I also found the message of caring for the Earth engaging and affecting.
The Not-So-Good
The writing was at times not as good as it could be, and some of the characters had weird sudden changes of attitudes that didn’t really work with the previous ways they had behaved. Or if they were dissembling in earlier actions, things could have gone in different ways than they did. It felt like there were a couple of wasted opportunities for character and plot development that didn’t happen. I don’t know, I’m ambivalent about it all.
The Verdict
The story is fast-paced, fun and colourful, with memorable characters, historical context and a powerful message.
Author Bio – Adam wasted much of his youth watching Star Trek on the TV and films like Planet of the Apes and Alien on the big screen. He redeemed himself by becoming a surgeon but has since graduated from writing articles for science journals into writing his own Sci Fi and Alternate History stories. As a writer he is dedicated to giving his readers a great story laced with strong, fun and scary characters. Descended from Jewish refugees who escaped from the pogroms, he is haunted by the stories of the Holocaust but inspired by heroes who put themselves at risk to save others. Adam likes to hear from his readers. You can find him at http://adamfroshauthor.com or on his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AdamFroshAuthor
Harriet will never be able to let go of Greek gods. No, not the sculpted Adonis-like figures on the beach, but the ancient ones.
Loving all things mythological, her writing incorporates myths and legends from around the world. Her other fascination is with the criminal mind, and you can expect to see a blend of these two interests in her writing.
As a student of English, she spends her day critiquing literature and her evenings creating exciting characters and fun stories.
Harriet is also an artist, and she would like to hear from her readers and those interested in her art. You can get in contact at http://harrietfrosh.com/
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/AdamFroshAuthor
Everything Is Better With Dragons 