When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food-delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls “an animal rights organization”. Tom’s team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on.
What Tom doesn’t tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm and human-free world. They’re the universe’s largest and most dangerous panda, and they’re in trouble.
It’s not just the Kaiju Preservation Society who’s found their way to the alternate world. Others have, too. And their carelessness could cause millions back on our Earth to die.
Humour is very personal. It either makes you laugh or it doesn’t. ‘Kaiju Preservation Society’ is full of wild, epic, slapstick humour tailored for Millennial nerds who are into science and movies. I’m not a Millennial but I’m a nerd of longstanding and I’m into science and movies but ‘Kaiju Preservation Society’ doesn’t make me laugh.
I can see that it’s funny. I can imagine other people laughing at it and wanting to share it with their friends. The story is creative, playful and sometimes witty. Wil Wheaton’s narration is zestful and all-in.
I really OUGHT to be laughing. But I’m not.
I’ve only listened to the first 10 chapters (30% or so) so I haven’t even got our hero past his first day working in the field yet, but I’ve had enough.
On to the next book. Which won’t be a comedy.
Mike Finn's Fiction 