It's an intriguing concept: people can actually step into films as they are being shown at the local cinema. The only trouble is, while you're inside the film everything is completely real, including the danger. And if you don't get out before the final credits roll, well, too bad. You're stuck there forever, doomed to live through the same story over and over and over again. Unless you get killed, that is!
| Space Blasters by Philip Caveney | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Linda Lawlor
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| Summary: Kip has decided he will never let Mr Lazarus, the mysterious projectionist, send him into another film: it's way too dangerous. But then circumstances force him to go on a rescue mission to a galaxy far, far away . . . | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 314 | Date: May 2013 |
| Publisher: Andersen Press | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781849395724 | |
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Kip has already been on a couple of rip-roaring adventures in the first two books in the Movie Maniacs series, but this time things are even more complicated. For a start, if he's sent into the wrong section of the film he could end up floating in outer space, which would be seriously inconvenient — not to mention seriously fatal. Secondly, the dastardly (aren't they always?) villain Zarkan manages to imprison him, which is bit of a problem when you're the one who's supposed to be rescuing everyone else. And worst of all, in the real world a sneaky reporter has got wind of the fact that something strange is going on down at the Paramount, and she's not giving up until she gets her story. Add to that a nosy younger sister, and Kip and his girlfriend Beth definitely have their hands full this time.
There's a lot of fun to be had in parodying famous film genres. We've already had a dramatic rescue from an island full of flesh-eating (yes, really) Neanderthals, and another one from a Bond-style spy movie. Lovers of science fiction will quickly recognise where they are with this book: a princess to rescue, laser swords, an inter-stellar rebellion and a huge furry co-pilot on the little spaceship called the Trillenium Hawk . . . yup, it's Star Wars come to life in all its glorious drama and (dare one say it?) silliness. Where else could you find an evil overlord determined to be Emperor of the Universe, those sinister white-suited space troopers and a cute but cowardly robot?
The combination of cinema clichés, space drama, terrible peril and utterly hilarious misunderstandings is a winning combination and these books are certain to be popular with anyone (even people a wee bit more grown-up than the target audience) who enjoys a good blockbuster film. It's lively and funny, and the adventure zaps along at breakneck speed — highly recommended!
Once you've finished giggling you way through this, you'll want to go back and read the other two books in the series, Night on Terror Island and Spy Another Day. Read them once for the story, then go through them again to see if you can spot all the film references!
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