The Getaway Special

Warning: If you are the guy who always complains about how "unrealistic" Star Trek is, you will hate this book! However, if you're a normal person you will really enjoy Getaway Special. It's filled with not-so-veiled pokes at today's society, governments, etc. Here's to hoping this becomes a series!

The premise behind the book is pretty much: I invented hyperdrive in my basement, and it only costs about $10. The science (and aliens!) aren't very realistic, but the author doesn't try to persuade you they are, and it doesn't matter. They're just fun. Think of Heinlein's The Rolling Stones. You're not really expected to believe the flat cats, either. Warning - people with allergies to libertarian philosophy might want to avoid this book. It doesn't preach, but governments in general are clearly the bad guys here.

Jim Oltion takes us on the trip we all wanted to go on when we were kids: through space, using old backyard junk as our spaceship. On the trip, we also meet alien intelligence and, strangely, alien beings seem to think and operate similarly to humans. Oltion revives those fantastical, six-year-old, "I Want To Be an Astronaut" feelings.

What if someone came up with a cheap and relatively simple hyperspace device that you could use to transport yourself to distant stars-and all without the support of the traditional military/political/industrial complex? If you are Allen Meisner, a card carrying mad scientist, you make your trials aboard one of the highly visible US space shuttles, then disburse plans and information for free through the Internet, and wait for the thanks of a grateful planet.Is it no surprise that instead of accolades, the human race goes nuts-governments in chaos, nuclear doom imminent, the whole thing put down as a hoax-and Meisner becoming a fugitive from the law.Jerry Oltion has created something magnificent in this humorously sarcastic novel of personal fulfillment and interstellar exploration. There is a Spider Robinson-like quality to the dark humor and sometime slapstick adventure, but it is infused with a warped wisdom and very solid writing that makes a true SF adventure. The main characters and the aliens they encounter are funny and clever, stopping just short of becoming caricatures. There is vision mixed with the humor making this an irresistible read. Highly Recommended.

Allen Meisner is a member of the International Network of Scientists Against Nuclear Extermination, better known as INSANE, an acronym that can be easily applied to this maniac. Though he is a walking hard drive error, this Pollyanna-like genius apparently develops an incredibly efficient and effective hyper drive engine that can take anyone on an interstellar journey faster than the speed of light for very low costs. Allen expects his concept to change the world in a positive manner, but shockingly many fellow earthlings fear his new technology. Governments acting as ever in self-servingl interest battle over whom owns the hyper drive-based power that now is being implemented to propel bombs. Allen and his pilot Judy Gallagher search the heavens for allies to stop Armageddon on earth. They ultimately return to earth accompanied by a brilliant butterfly and other aliens in a quest to save the planet from its most sentient yet stupid habitants. THE GETAWAY SPECIAL is a satire on mad scientists and outer space adventure stories. The story line is often humorous as the nutty but optimistic Meisner and his heroic pilot hyper-leap from one dangerous scenario to another. However, the plot is a few scenes too many as the basic underlying theme of punishing those who care becomes almost as out of control as the scientist is. Overall, Jerry Oltion has written an amusing novel that those readers who relish a lot of wacky irony jabbing our modern day world will find delightfully engaging.Harriet Klausner