I love the concept for this novel, which is basically Eurovision meets The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In fact, that Douglas Adams series seems to be the exact model for author Catherynne M. Valente, from the zany screwball comedy to the cleverly subversive observational humor underlying it. When humans attract the attention of the federated species of the wider universe, we are invited to participate in their annual music competition -- and so long as we don't decline, forfeit, or come in last place, we'll be welcomed with open tentacles rather than exterminated. As the earth's champion, the aliens have chosen a washed-up Bowie-esque glam rocker whose sensibility they think most matches their own.

That's all a fantastic setup, but unfortunately, the excitement starts dissipating after the musician and his former bandmate are whisked across the stars to compete. Most of the remaining action in the book is just setup for the main event on the final pages, interspersed with Hitchhiker-like travelogue entries about some of the other worlds and peoples in this setting. The writer's imagination is on full display there, but she seems to lose track of the story and undercut the emotional climax of what follows. As a result I like the end of the tale substantially less than its rocketing beginning, and I don't imagine I'll stick around for the forthcoming sequel.

[Content warning for the c-word and discussion of human atrocities.]

--Subscribe at https://patreon.com/lesserjoke to support these reviews and weigh in on what I read next!--

Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter