System Failure

September 6, 2019

War is spreading throughout the galaxy after mutual breaches of the Two Hundred Years' (and counting) Peace. Following the incident on the Meridan/Thelicosan border (in Communication Failure), the two sides have come to a tense truce, but it's obvious that someone wants war, and it's not the Free Systems. The galactic convenience store Snaggardirs is the culprit and also happens to be the company that manufactured the droids and most of the technology the Free Systems use in their militaries. Run by Jupiterians determined to get revenge for their ancestors being denied a place in the Fortuna Stultus galaxy, Snaggardirs wants to snag the entire galaxy. Now bumbling, inept Rogers, acting admiral of the Meridan fleet, has to save the galaxy before the Jupiterians destroy it. But he has no idea how. Not that that's stopped him before. The third installment in Zieja's "Epic Failure" series is a laugh-out-loud comedy of errors as we watch the series' hapless hero continue to save the day despite his best efforts not to. VERDICT A great introduction to space opera for novices and a fun time for all. This novel can be read as a stand-alone, but starting with the previous two books in the series will offer the best experience.--Elisabeth Clark, West Florida P.L., Pensacola

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
This conclusion of the Failure trilogy (beginning with Mechanical Failure, 2016) begins with Captain R. Wilson Rogers, in command of the flagship, running a Juperterian blockade. Then he is charged with leading an intergalactic-coalition fleet to use his unorthodox military strategies to gather allies?and former enemies?to repel a Jupiterian takeover of the Fortuna Stultus galaxy, financed and led by the Snaggardir's corporation. Zieja explores the absurdity of a galaxy-spanning government bureaucracy that has a military with corporations as officers in the war rooms, command bridges, and board rooms. The story details epic space battles and documents the fear-inducing qualities of both love and war, using humor and a cast of memorable and familiar characters. Fans of Jim C. Hines' or John Scalzi's irreverent takes on space opera will enjoy the humor and interplay between Captain Rogers and his crew as he navigates a farcical love triangle, discourages his robotic deputy Deet's exploration of the human condition, and does his level best not to be responsible for the destruction of the galaxy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)