Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Review # 234: The Super Spud Trilogy by Michael Diack


Description: (from GoodReads)
     Genetic engineering has accomplished many things, one of which has been to create the Super Spud! The humble potato elevated to new heights, creating the most flavoursome crisps ever known to humankind! But that's not all - A magical transformation occurs to all Super Spud crisps not eaten before their use-by date. They take on a life of their own. And so long as they remain undetected by humans, they enjoy life in their own Super Spud cities, take part in major Super Spud sporting events and even start the odd Super Spud war or two. Join Colin, Cougar, Hannibal Vector, Generals Rock, Jock and Strap and all the others in their rollicking adventures. You'll never look at a packet of crisps in the same way again!

Review:

     Every great once in a while I decide to take on a book that is outside of the "norm" - one that seems unique, crazy, off-kilter, or even a bit impossible - and this month I chose Michael Diack's The Super Spud Trilogy. Why? Well, honestly, the book blurb mentioned a few of my favorite things: genetic engineering, potatoes (yum-yum!), hidden civilizations, and magic! Sounds strange right? But how could anyone pass up such ludicrous pairings? I had to know how all of these parts came together as a whole, and I was certainly not disappointed! Less than twenty-five pages into the book, I was already giggling at the well-written, wit-filled absurdity, and from there I was hooked, (just like a bag of crisps, you can never eat just one...). I was surprised how original the content was, especially the off-the-wall characters/flavors and the balance between rollick and   reality. I never thought that I could sympathize with an inanimate object, but Diack humanized every crispy character down to the last starch-filled bite. I laughed, gasped, and shook-my-head along with my new spud friends, often thinking, "Oh yeah, they're potatoes...", which only made me laugh more. I must commend an author who can make talking potatoes more enjoyable than their giant human counterparts. The well-detailed locale, the hysterical level of comedic violence, the face-palming puns/ movie references, and the quick-paced stories made for an unexpectedly relaxing, yet mirthful read. I could see the crisps' antics in my head - particularly those of Cougar, King Martin, and Colin - and could not help but imagine how great they would look if Disney/DreamWorks/Pixar Animation Studios got a hold of them! The stories were tied together nicely with an enjoyable overall progression, and were very fun and easy-to-read.  I actually liked the length - all three books in one - but I thought that there were a few sections that could have been shortened due to overly-descriptive background details. Thumbs up for originality, character development, and proper editing! I am not going to forget this book, and cannot wait for volume four! Recommended to anyone who has ever wondered about the secret life of the potato crisp, or those who crave a ton of great laughs to get through the day!

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Lightning Book Promotions) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.


About the Author:

     Michael Diack was born in the UK and went to the University of Manchester where he studied geology. He wrote The Super Spud Trilogy during his time at university and it was published by Pen Press in April 2012. Besides writing, his hobbies include sailing, skiing, squash, football and playing board gam.es with his friends. He hopes that lighthearted nature of The Super Spud Trilogy will make readers laugh and relax, and is currently writing The Super Spuds: Book 4 - to be released later this year! Readers can interact with Michael on FacebookTwitter, Goodreads or by leaving a comment on his blogsite, http://www.superspudtrilogy.blogspot.com/

Buy the Book:

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Enter The Super Spud Trilogy Giveaway!!!

Tour dates:

September 2012



2 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the review and taking part in the book tour. I'll let you know as soon as book four comes out. Have a nice week

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  2. Allizabeth, I am so glad you enjoyed the book. Thanks for posting. ~Stormi, Lightning Book Promotions

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