A Game of Battleships (Space Captain Smith Book 4)

I found it quite funny and enjoyed the author's humorous approach to a scheme involving the Republic of Eden and the Ghast Empire to destroy the British Space Empire, (and coincidentally Earth as well.) Frost's play on the stereotypical mistrust and similar feelings that 'proper British men of stout spine and spirit' feel toward the French 'cowards and backstabbing lot' had me howling with laughter. Especially when Smith declares with deep depression that the ship must seek assistance in 'Europe' to pursue their mission. Overall, I give it 5 stars as good summer reading or for when you truly want to be entertained for the afternoon with a great read.

Awesome book awesome series! I highly recommend this book to any one! One of the best series of books i have read.

After a hiatus of some years, which largely seems to have involved the author being called to the Bar, Toby Frost has produced a fourth volume of Smith, and its like he was never away. In Space Captain Smith, our eponymous hero faced off against the insectile Ghasts, while in volume 2, the fanatically religious Edenites were the primary antogonists. Finally, in volume #3, Wrath of the Lemming-Men, Smith dealt with the deadly rodent followers of peace-loving war-god Popacapinyo.How do you top all that? Well, the answer is to have all three opponents show up, allied together: the Edenites, Ghasts, and Lemming-Men having formed a unholy marriage of convenience, aided by some long-lost super-secret technology (ok, it's a dimension-shifting cloaking device). To counter this new threat, the diplomats of British Space Empire and its allies (various aliens and Europeans) must agree on the terms of a treaty...with Smith & Co the only defence.From the action-packed prologue to the last page, this is an excellent romp. I'd love to see it on the big (or small) screen, but I suspect it would be too much, and too clearly a homage to...well, pretty much everything sci-fi. But its better than a mere rip-off (or even homage), being great fun in its own right, internally consistent, and packed with jokes from the sublime to the ridiculous (such as pretty much anything said by Suruk the Slayer). Its actually proper space opera while simultaneously being laugh out loud funny.Go read the "look inside" bit. It only gets better from there.

Another rollicking romp from Toby Frost with Captain Smith doing his best to keep a stiff upper lip for the empire. Once again it's huge fun and has genuine laugh out loud moments that can be embarrassing if you are on a crowded train.The humour is firmly rooted in old fashioned British comedy (before it became politically correct and boring) and anyone who was a fan of the Two Ronnies, Black Adder, and the Carry On films would instantly feel at home. Matron would approve. I guess one would have to give a nod to Hitch Hikers and Red Dwarf as well.What I really like about the Toby Frost Space Captain Smith books is that he determinedly sticks to the starting theme. It's a book that is supposed to be funny. He doesn't switch halfway through to more serious ideas and tone, not does he try and make some sort of political statement with a bludgeon. He is writing a light hearted comedy and he keeps it that way. Bit like Terry Pratchett used to do when the Discworld books were funny.So, in this installment we have our erstwhile heroes yet again pitted against the Ghast and a bunch of loonies called Edenites who are a cult very much in the mold of the scientologists down here on Earth. This going on whilst the British Space Empire is trying to sort out a bit of an agreement with various other races and of course the dastardly Europeans.All super fun and well recommended if you want a bit of a laugh. Best read the other books first though. Whilst this can be read standalone it's better if you have more of the background of the main characters to reference the jokes back too.

From the opening prologue in the style of a well known film of a book by Alistair McLean, this is Rip roaring stuff, but with lashings of humour. It's been a couple of years since the last full length tale of Space Captain Smith, his crew and a cast of supporting characters, but in my view the wait has been worth it. I laughed a lot and many an incisive barb made me give a wry smile. I would venture to suggest that this is Frost's most convincingly told tale to date and funny to boot. The introductory blurb on Amazon or the book cover tells you all you need to know about the plot line so I will not introduce any spoilers. Just blast off and enjoy the ride. God save the king and confusion to .... well, our enemies and our friends.

I picked up the first Space Captain Smith book (helpfully entitled Space Captain Smith) on a whim. I judged the book by its cover and just look at that cover art! Anyway I like it and it's got nothing to do with him having a better moustache than me and me being really envious and..... Look anyway. Satire done well is a hard art to master and Smiths universe is a perfect example of it done well. Unafraid to slaughter the sacred cows of sci fi and certainly a true Englishman Toby Frost has crafted a unique and laugh out loud funny saga. If you've read the other three, you'll love this. If you haven't read the other three go and do so, it's ok I'll wait......right.... done? Good, now buy this its fantastic.

With every writer it seems they start out writing in a certain style that appeals broadly, creating many books readers love. The problem is that as their writing progresses, their style changes and loses a certain something that their earlier books had. This is my problem with this latest Captain Smith book. It doesn't have the 'something' that the previous 3 have. Don't get me wrong, it is still worth reading but be prepared to be left feeling it needed something.

First thing. If these ever get made into a film please could Rick Mayall play the Hellfire?I've now read three of the series in just over a week. (I would have read the other one (Wrath of the Lemming Men) but it doesn't seem to be available on KindleLove the characters don't have to worry about a plot. Basically it's Red Dwarf meets Hornblower. You start reading you are amused and entertained. What else do you need to know?