Space Taxis

i always enjoy alternative history stories and with this one I enjoyed that horror element with this book. I loved the characters and the storyline.

Mike Redolfo is very good at his job. He's saved lives, chased down bad guys, and yet.... he still gets fired. Turns out that isn't exactly what a Brooklyn cab driver is supposed to be doing. But even after being fired, the night somehow manages to get worse. Redolfo is abducted by aliens who think he's an intergalactic fugitive, and after realizing their mistake Redolfo is stuck on planet Vost. I absolutely loved Redolfo's story and the weird and interesting characters he meets on Vost, but even more I loved the way the narrative moved back and forth between Redolfo's space adventures and Dominik and Marianna in 1944 Prague. The story is sometimes heartwrenching and sometimes confusing, but sticking with it did not disappoint. The ending was AMAZING!

PS: there's a History Note, Species on Vost list, and character list divided by location and year for easy navigation. What more could you ask for?!

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun scifi read about an earthling kidnapped to another world. I enjoyed all the species of creatures and the development of the main characters. The plot was brisk and kept the reader engaged throughout the book.

This really is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. Funny, witty, at times incredibly sad and poignant, with brilliant characterizations.

Mike Redolfo, a new York cab driver in 1977 thinks he's having a bad day, losing his job and then finding out Elvis Presley has died. Things take a further turn for the worse when he gets abducted by aliens and taken to a crime-ridden planet.

There's another timeline also unfolding, set in Nazi-occupied Prague, Second World War. A likeable couple are hiding from the occupiers, under threat of death or slow death by concentration camp. Again, this story unfolds in an unexpected way, but mindful of the history. The authors even go on to explain a bit of a mystery from the time that has always confused historians and commentators.

Needless to say, the two timelines come together. There are great characters, both alien and human, twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing, and brilliant world building.

I don't often read books, or watch TV programmes or films where I really feel immersed and engaged with the world. This is one of those brilliant, rare, exceptions - an exceptional read. Thoroughly recommended!

This was a WILD ride!

I loved every minutes of this book, It's just the sort of sci-fi I really enjoy, good story line, quirk characters and so much humour. If your a fan of Hitchhikers, Chronicles of St Mary's and Red Dwarf this will definitely be right up your alley!

An absolutely amazing book. I loved the unfolding mystery, the two timelines coming together and the brilliantly portrayed characters, especially the main protagonist, Mike Redolfo.
This book excels in transporting you to the worlds portrayed, the mystery keeps you guessing, and you feel emotionally involved in the characters' lives.
The 1970s scenes gave me a real sense of place, evoking a nostalgia for the period. I felt at times like I was in an episode of Starsky and Hutch, or Taxi - and the book has comedic scenes that I'm sure Danny DeVito would approve of! The scenes on Planet Vost were also great fun but also engaging, fast paced and dramatic.
The 1940s/WW2 scenes were beautifully done, again with a great sense of place and also a sense of the dilemmas and challenges living under Nazi occupation.
What I also liked about Space Taxis was the spirituality in one of the aspects of the story - reflected very strongly in one of the cultures, giving a sense of ancient Earth.
Although this sounds like a lot is going on, it really fits together really well and you end up feeling really satisfied at the end. I'm sure I'll read it again some time too!
I hope this writing duo write a sequel, as I'd like to see more of this world.

A surprisingly entertaining alternate history book that combines space, aliens, Celtic history, and Hitler occupied Germany. The story line goes allover the place but somehow meshes together and works. You start out with a New York City cab driver getting fired to alien abduction and waking up on a different planet AND THEN you are a pregnant jewish woman working in a beauty shop under a new name that hopes she wont get sent to a concentration camp. There is also mind powers. And a reborn Celtic god. You are a small being with a speech impairment and a drinking problem. Centaurs. Himmler. Alien love triangle because reasons. You feel for the jews and then laugh at something that’s happening on a different planet then get sad again. I might have to read this again.

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