But Capo still thinks and acts pretty much like most cats do. The roadrunner alien gives Capo the power of speech (“Just a little strobe lighting in the hippocampus”) to prove to the humans that speech isn’t the determining factor in proving sentience. I think my favorite bits were about Capo, Oort’s cat who for no particular reason (the way most events in this novel occur) accompanies the two humans on their trip through space on an interstellar ship called Cake in the Rain, to the planet where the Grand Prix event will be held. Valente slings a lot of humor around, and some of it is bound to stick. Space Opera had its moments, and parts of it really did tickle my funny bone.
Still, there’s nothing for Decibel to do but try to write a new song, and perhaps enjoy a little partying and alien strange along the way. Jungle rules apply to the Grand Prix contest and, frankly, the Absolute Zeroes are out of practice, out of inspiration, and missing the third member of their group, Mira Wonderful Star, who was the glue that held the group together and made it function. If they come in last place in the contest, the entire race will be promptly and summarily executed, perhaps by a passing Vogon ship.Įven though all they have to do is not come in last, the odds are against humanity and the Absolute Zeroes. Newly space-faring races ― like humanity ― are required to participate in the Grand Prix to prove their sentience. Ultraviolet and his old bandmate Decibel Jones, the two remaining members of a defunct glam rock band called Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes, are tapped on the shoulders by a seven-foot-tall ultramarine roadrunner-type alien to represent humanity in the periodic Metagalactic Grand Prix, a musical contest that the various races of the galaxy have settled on as an alternative to their massively destructive Sentience Wars.
My journey began with Anticipation, shifted to Befuddlement and Boredom, passed through Dismay, flirted with DNF, picked up again a few weeks later with Resolution, and ended with an overdose of Whimsy and Zaniness. It took me nearly two months to read this Eurovision in space/ Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy mashup, start to finish. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature (along with my co-reviewer Jana's review). Ultraviolet and his old bandmate Decibel Jones, the two rema 2.5 stars. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.moreĢ.5 stars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny - they must sing.Ī one-hit-wonder band of human musicians, dancers and roadies from London - Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes - have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick and electric guitars.
This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix - part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented-something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding. Once every cycle, the civiliza IN SPACE EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SINGĪ century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. IN SPACE EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SING A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life.
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