Buck Godot - Zap Gun For Hire : Volume 1: Four Short Stories

The sheer audacity and creativity displayed in manufacturing a science fiction future and sticking to it, building and shaping, makes this volume worthy reading for any science fiction fan. The opening two pages read like an 18-year-old dungeon master's background material. And then you read detailed, amusing stories that occur in the context of that background material. Is it choppy? Sure. Does it lean on cliches? Sometimes. But I have to laud this book for what it does. There is a tremendous amount of meat on the bone.

Fun, as always. The first, very short, story does a lovely job of introducing Buck (and Al, a bit) - it's only 6 pages, but displays a bit of New Hong Kong, a bit of Buck's style (anything for pay, but if his employer won't listen he's not obligated to do more). Oh, the text intro is very useful - I'd somehow never read it before. but it explains the general social setup both for humanity in general and on NHK. Second story - again, an amusing twist. She really doesn't want the 'honor', but it takes Buck to see the way out. The hint as to Lou's past is also highly amusing! Third story - it looks like it's going to be another standalone, with an interesting if minor villain and a neat punchline - but it also sets up the fourth, major show more story. In the fourth, Buck (yet again) displays his lateral thinking - he can even get into the head of a highly alien alien. Who is, in fact, other than its possession of an interesting technology, not all that alien. And if teleportation is a necessity for civilization, I'm surprised the Teleporter bothers to follow library rules - but then, it may feel that a civilized being behaves itself under all circumstances. Overall - fun! show less

Relatively early entry in Foglio's career, but already the intelligent zaniness busts out.