My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Columbus Day by Craig Alanson is a sci-fi novel that explores a sudden alien invasion and the subsequent alliance between humans and aliens. While the concept is intriguing, my feelings about the book are mixed.
The story revolves around an unexpected alien invasion and humanity's efforts to ally with the aliens. This premise, as revealed in the book's synopsis, initially drew me in. However, certain parts, especially the detailed military descriptions, felt tedious and detracted from my overall enjoyment. These sections about procedures and preparations were uninteresting to me, perhaps because I don't have a particular interest in military topics.
The characters are where I have the most mixed feelings. The protagonist, Joe, is an average American with a strong moral compass but otherwise quite ordinary. His nonchalant attitude towards many situations felt off and difficult to relate to. Additionally, there's a character named Skippy who, while a significant twist, seemed to simplify the plot too much, feeling like a "get out of jail free" card. The side characters were underdeveloped and didn't contribute much to the story, making it hard to be invested in them.
The action scenes were well written and easy to follow, which I appreciated. However, the military descriptions were exhaustive and led me to skip several parts. The book's tone felt very "male," with a cocky attitude towards the events and situations. This might appeal to some readers, but it felt out of place to me.
This book was recommended to me as being similar to the Murderbot series, but I found them quite different. While both are sci-fi, the Murderbot series delves into what it means to be a sentient being and is packed with action. In contrast, this book is slower-paced, with sporadic action scenes and little philosophical depth. It also includes numerous pop culture references, which I found distracting and unenjoyable.
Overall, Columbus Day has an interesting concept, but the execution left much to be desired. The characters felt like archetypes or empty shells, and the writing style did not engage me as much as I had hoped. I recommend this book mainly for readers who enjoy military sci-fi and don't mind a cocky tone. However, if you're seeking something akin to the Murderbot series, you might want to look elsewhere.
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