Ten Years Later, Book is Still Funny

Fort Lauderdale, March 2005: Chris Pugmire, author of The Sentient Advantage, finished his manuscript a decade ago. He waited ten years before publishing because, as Pugmire writes in the preface, “When I first wrote this book I wanted to enjoy reading it as if someone else had written it. so, I came up with the cunning plan of waiting ten years without thinking about it and then re-reading it. Surprisingly, my plan mostly worked; and even more surprisingly, I found that I really quite liked it and decided to get it published.”

The Sentient Advantage was well worth waiting for. It is pure engaging, entertaining, and stimulating science fiction. In the tradition of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, Pugmire injects an intelligent comedic element into a futuristic science fiction theme that will appeal to both sci-fi enthusiasts and satire lovers alike. Pugmire’s deadpan delivery does not obscure the twinkle in his eye as his story unfolds. It is difficult not to smile along with him as we follow his hero Jaros from a fall from space to a whole other world.

When Jaros wakes up and finds himself falling from space, he is alarmed to realize that he has no memory. Nothing. Yet it seems like he was expected. He takes up residence in Kayla’s haunted house that is run by a house comp that won't take orders. Together they must figure out what’s really going on, save the galaxy, and avoid being killed by large ugly aliens. Every step of their adventure is hilarious. This is the kind of book that people pass on to their friends, but want returned so they can read it again when their friends have finished.

The Sentient Advantage did not lose a bit of its edge in the ten years that Pugmire had it under lock and key. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another decade for its sequel to appear!