First Chapter Thoughts: Snake Oil by Bruno Lombardi

As I write this, Can*Con is winding down to a peaceful and happy end, and I’m settling quite cheerfully back into a literary existence. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to be around my fellow speclit geeks, and I’m – of course – leaving with a book haul. The first book I’m cracking open is a sci-fi novel by Bruno Lombardi pitched to me as “what if, when aliens arrive, they’re not invaders – but used car salesmen?”

The first chapter of this already delivers BEAUTIFULLY on this promise. The newly inaugurated President of the United States is immediately faced with a “first contact” crisis – and pitched to by an alien going by “Bob”. He’s offered FTL travel, cures for all human diseases – act now, for exclusive rights and the low, low price of being an alien race’s bitch!

Obviously I don’t know where this is going, but that’s part of what makes this such a fun and refreshing read already. It’s bitingly sarcastic, silly, and fantastically written (it’s so nice when my only real visual/grammar complaint is an extra indent). Highly recommended already – and full review to come when I finish.