layawaydragon
Written on Nov 7, 2022
Shortlisted for the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi is a thrilling, fast-paced adventure set on an alternate Earth – perfect for fans of Adrian Tchaikovsky and Michel Crichton's Jurassic Park.
‘John Scalzi is the most entertaining, accessible writer working in SF today’ – Joe Hill, author of The Fireman
They're big, they're bad and they're about to become extinct . . .
Jamie’s dream was to hit the big time at a New York tech start-up. Jamie’s reality was a humiliating lay-off, then a lowwage job as a takeaway delivery driver. During a pandemic too. Things look beyond grim, until a chance delivery to an old acquaintance. Tom has an urgent vacancy on his team: the pay is great and Jamie has debts – it’s a no-brainer choice. Yet, once again, reality fails to match expectations. Only this time it could be fatal.
It seems Tom’s ‘animal rights organization’ is way more than it appears. The animals aren’t even on Earth – or not our Earth, anyway. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures roam a tropical, human-free world. And although Kaiju are their universe’s largest and most dangerous animal, they need support to survive.
Tom’s ‘Kaiju Preservation Society’ wants to help. However, others want to profit. Unless they’re stopped, the walls between our worlds could fall – and the consequences would be devastating.
- ISBN10 1529082889
- ISBN13 9781529082883
- Publish Date 17 March 2022 (first published 15 March 2022)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 5 March 2024
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Pan Macmillan
- Imprint Tor
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 272
- Language English
Reviews
ayla_abbott
Written on Jun 13, 2022
Quirky Cat
Written on Apr 28, 2022
Is anybody else absolutely delighted with the title of this book? The Kaiju Preservation Society is one of those books that immediately demands attention, especially for readers who enjoyed Pacific Rim and other monstrous tales.
Jamie Gray is admittedly not doing a great job of coping in a world rocked by a pandemic. Perhaps this is why he jumped at an opportunity presented by a friend, Tom. Tom asked for his help with an animal rights organization, and it sounded like the perfect escape.
Little did Jamie realize how literal that escape would be. You see, the animals this organization is concerned with are not on earth. Meaning that to help, Jamie himself must vacate the planet. Not exactly what he had in mind when he signed up.
“It was a very cozy meeting. In addition to my role as visitor liaison, I was also, once again, supervising snacks.”
I mean, seriously, who can pass up a book titled The Kaiju Preservation Society? I know I can't! And trust me, this one is well worth the read. Every inch of this book is as amusing and entertaining as that title promises.
I read many nerdy books – I'll admit it (and I am proud of it). But I honestly think that The Kaiju Preservation Society is perhaps the nerdiest book I've read. This year, at least. It's full of references and nerd humor and really feels like Scalzi was writing a love letter for fellow nerds. It's actually quite sweet.
Everything about this book screams a good sense of humor. While it is very well written, it also knows better than to take itself too seriously. At points, the entire thing almost feels tongue-in-cheek. And before you worry, the current setting of The Kaiju Preservation Society doesn't hold the tone down for long, I promise.
Long story short, The Kaiju Preservation Society was a blast to read. I highly recommend it to any fellow nerds, especially those that appreciate a monster book with a solid sense of humor.
Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks