Blake Carter, star detective with the Planetary Bureau of Investigation, is having a bad day. First, his boss informs him that he will be working with a cyborg partner. Second, the biggest bad guy in the universe, Bartholomew Badde, has just stolen a device that could disrupt all technology, sending the galaxy into the dark ages, and it gets personal when the elusive Badde gives Carter 24 hours to retrieve the malicious Maria virus from a Fort Knox like facility, or his daughter, Lisa, will suffer a fate worse than death. Though the adult main character might deter some readers, those willing to overlook that point will enjoy a manic caper full of talking cars, espionage blunders, Brady Bunch psychosis, and comedic interjections from the book's fictional editor, as Carter and his partner travel from the depths of the Mariana Trench all the way to Mars (where, spoiler alert, there are no toasters). Packed with references to contemporary culture, this satirical, quirky sci-fi adventure might appeal to fans of Douglas Adams' well-loved Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

This pseudo-science-fiction book provides laughs of all types: readers will progress from snickers to giggles to, finally, belly laughs and shouts of outrage.A mismatched band of two adult humans, a self-activated car, and a golden-skinned cyborg begin a (seemingly) impossible task: capturing the most skillful thief in the planetary system before he destroys electrical service in 26th-century Neo City. In the Planetary Bureau of Investigation's vast building, big-time grouch Blake Carter has his own office. The irascible Blake is the world expert on Bartholomew Badde, but he has been removed from the search for the villain—and saddled with cyborg Nicki Steel as a partner. When Badde abducts Blake's daughter, Lisa, orders no longer count: Blake, Nicki, and Lisa's mother, Astrid—and the car—are off on a chase to save her. The group survives riots, radioactive tunnels, and a sentient, oversized, mutated cheese sandwich. Puns, shaggy dog stories, snarky remarks, and hoaxes are just a few of the humorous elements used expertly here. And the end of the novel promises at least one sequel for readers' delight. Nonhumans and outré skin colors are described, but there is little racial or ethnic detail provided otherwise, implying a mostly white human cast. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Doctor Who fans are a natural audience for this story, but it may well build a broader readership once the word gets out. (Science fiction. 14 & up)

Gr 10 Up-n this mash-up of a funny space tale and a detective story, Blake Carter, an agent with the Planetary Bureau of Investigation, has been assigned a new partner: a cyborg. Bartholomew Badde, an evil genius, has taken the world hostage by threatening electrical extinction via explosive device. Carter and his new partner must track down and stop Badde from destroying Earth. This narrative attempts to be as hilarious as Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. With a zany futuristic world that closely mirrors that of The Jetsons, as well as a host of bizarre alien characters, the author tries to blend wit, mystery, and science fiction. Unfortunately, the humor is delivered in such a heavy-handed way that it often falls flat. The characters feel wooden, and although the novel is filled with interplanetary action sequences, the overall pacing is not compelling. Many of the references to classic television, such as Star Trek and Snakes on a Space Station, would not be understood by average teens. VERDICT Give readers The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or one of Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" novels instead.Jenni Frencham, Columbus Public Library, WI