Phule’s Company (Phule’s Company #1) by Robert Asprin
Narrator: Noah Michael Levine
My Rating: 4/5?
Goodreads Rating: 4.00?
Storygraph Rating: 3.79?
Length: 7hrs 10mins / 232pgs
Fiction | Science Fiction | Comedy | Military Fiction
Pacing: Fast
Spice: None
Gore: None
This was funny and heartwarming and I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. It gave me Police Academy vibes (showing my age here). Being published back in 1990 it did show its age in certain areas like the need to describe every female character’s level of attractiveness immediately upon introduction but other than that it wasn’t so bad.
As part of disciplinary action due to an error of judgement in a previous posting, Willard Phule, a megamillionaire, sole heir to Phule-Proof Munitions, with a heart of gold has been promoted to Captain and assigned to an ‘Omega’ troop of losers and misfits – anybody that doesn’t fit into the Space Legion. He along with his long-term butler and friend Beaker are dedicated to turning this unit around.
You get to know many members of this motley crew and it’s interesting to see how Captain Phule aka Captain Jester, troubleshoots all the professional, political and personal problems that come with this post. The story itself is pretty low-stakes but I get the feeling as the series progresses the tensions increase while keeping its lighthearted humour.
I can recommend this one to somebody looking for something with a little more of a classic feel, with a lighthearted vibe and lower stakes.
Julia Kitvaria Sarene