Grease Monkey

by Tim Eldred

Overview

Caught in the crossfire of an interstellar war, our Earth was bombed to flinders—and then repaired. The mysterious alien Benefactors who healed the planet also offered "uplift" to our dolphins and gorillas. The dolphins turned them down. The gorillas said yes. As a result, we're now sharing our world with language-using, tool-making simians. Tensions are inevitable, in both directions, but it's gradually working out.

Decades later, teenage cadet Robin Plotnik has been assigned to Fist of Earth, a defense station high above Earth, keeping watch against further attacks by the interstellar Horde. Robin's a spacecraft mechanic-in-training, apprenticed to Chief "Mac" Gimbensky, a cranky but basically benign gorilla with issues of his own.

Fist of Earth is a challenging place to grow up. Robin and Mac maintain fighter craft for the all-woman "Barbarian Squadron", which constantly competes for prestige with the other squadrons based on Fist of Earth. Robin's trying to romance a young librarian, and he's far from sure he knows what he's doing. Most of all, he's constantly struggling to figure out his moody, mercurial boss.

Then he and his best friend become entangled in a burgeoning scandal over betting on the squadrons' standings. And just when things look like they've hit rock bottom, the worst thing imaginable arrives at Fist of Earth: an efficiency expert from Earth, determined to reorganize Robin's hard-won life, and the whole squadron system, out of existence.

Fresh and engaging, crammed with likeable characters and science-fictional inventiveness, Grease Monkey is like a classic "Heinlein juvenile" in sequential-art mode.

Introduction by Kurt Busiek, author of Astro City

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765313263
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/19/2008
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.73(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Author and artist Tim Eldred lives in San Diego, California. His books include Grease Monkey.

Editorial Reviews

Believable characters, good writing, humor and excitement. Who could ask for more?” —Trina Robbins on Grease Monkey

“Delightful science fiction with a sense of humor, Grease Monkey is an all-ages series that doesn’t write down to its readership—and that’s much more rare than it should be.” —Comic Shop News

“What snuck up on me over the years was just how much is actually going on in this series. What I thought of as a loose string of stories—almost a sitcom set on a space station—was turning out more and more to be a single work, more ambitious, more structured and deeper than I'd realized. This wasn't a series, it was a novel—an episodic novel, to be sure, but a novel nonetheless.” —Kurt Busiek, author of Astro City on Grease Monkey

“A good, good read!” —Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit, on Grease Monkey

From the Publisher

First impressions can be deceiving. This tale, set in a postapocalyptic future, starts out by introducing young space cadet (and science fiction buff) Robin Plotnik as he reports for duty as a mechanic aboard the spaceship Fist of Duty. There he meets his superior, Mac Gimbensky, a talking gorilla who is rumored to eat people, and the Barbarians, a squadron of gorgeous female fighter pilots. It would seem that we are in the realm of juvenile sci-fi, bursting with undiluted adolescent male fantasies. But beneath the fantastic trappings, this is really a coming-of-age story that takes the form of a charming romantic comedy. While learning how to fit into shipboard society, Robin cautiously seeks to court a young librarian named Kara. As for the allegedly fearsome Mac, the gorilla not only becomes Robin's mentor and protector, but is something of an overgrown kid, who has a surprisingly touching romance with a female gorilla space fleet admiral. Eldred's writing is filled with gentle comedy and wise personal insights. His artwork is traditional in the best sense: not flashy but clear, efficient and handsome, and particularly good at conveying his cast's personalities. While swimming in some time-tested waters, this work should appeal to readers who appreciate a universal story and nuanced characterization with their space battles. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

When alien invaders attacked in 2019, Earth's civilization was virtually destroyed. But then came another group of aliens, the Benefactors, who shared their technology and "uplifted" another Earth species in intelligence-apes, in this case-to help in the rebuilding and protection of the planet. As this book opens, young maintenance engineer Robin Plotnick arrives at the Fist of Earth, a space station where fighter pilots train for the day the invaders return. Robin is assigned to assist the belligerent and reclusive intelligent ape Mac, mechanic for the top-ranked, all-female Barbarian squadron, and once Robin proves himself, Mac recognizes him as a kindred spirit and takes him under his wing. This episodic book starts off as a straightforward, enjoyable sf situation comedy. But it acquires both depth and heart as readers learn the compelling backstory of the uplift and glimpse the apes' reactions to it and Mac and Robin both encounter trouble in pursuit of romance. Eldred has drawn American comics based on sf anime such as Star Blazers and Captain Harlock, and his black-and-white art combines American and Japanese elements. There's more to be explored here, and a sequel would be welcome. Recommended for all teen and adult fans of sf adventure. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal