August Kitko and the Mechas from Space
Alex White
Publisher: Orbit Genre: sci fi Year: 2022
*I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I just finished August Kitko and the Mechas From Space and it was a very surprising read. It combines two distinct and opposing genres. Giant warrior robots fighting for the fate of the universe, combined with a queer romcom following two musicians, a jazz pianist and a non-binary pop star. The book has echoes of the Becky Chambers style light SciFi and, like actual hard SciFi. It’s right in the middle. It lacked some of the charm of the Becky Chambers variety, but I feel that’s an exceedingly high bar for charm.
Gus by far was my favorite character. He’s genuine, down-to-earth. He describes himself as a musician’s musician—lots of famous people listen to his music and appreciate his musicality but the public is indifferent. The book opens on earth’s last day: a giant world killing robot is going to arrive. Gus has accepted this fate: everyone he ever loved is dead. No friends, no family. He considered suicide but he decides he wants to die playing piano. The mecha, nicknamed Juliette, lands and the carnage begins. And then, another robot starts fighting Juliette. The robot punches through the wall, grabs Gus and eats him, connecting Gus to the Traitor Vanguard named Greymalkin. This launches the story.
All in all I really liked it. But the only thing that drove me up the wall is the FOLKS IS ALREADY GENDER NEUTRAL THE X IS ARBITRARY!!! storygraph | bookshop.org | local houston
★★★★ ½ gay mecha stars