DEBRAND'S INVITE

An office worker enjoys a surprisingly laid-back alien abduction in Terrick’s SF comedy.

It’s a typical day for DeBrand O’Donnell of Fort Wayne, Indiana, before his girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him via email. Things immediately go from bad to worse when a strange British woman knocks him out with a Diazepam-laced cup of coffee, and he regains consciousness on a medical examination table. He’s onboard a spaceship that’s orbiting Earth and that belongs to Bruno—an alien being who’s essentially a giant praying mantis. This playful, amiable extraterrestrial, who hails from a species of “chroniclers,” invites DeBrand to be his new emissary to Earth. DeBrand would replace Liza, the British expatriate who drugged him; she’s been Bruno’s emissary for centuries, courtesy of the “Rejuvenator,” which has allowed her to live multiple lives over 700 years or so. Although DeBrand is reluctant to take over this job, Bruno asks him to be a witness at his wedding. Currently, the alien’s betrothed is on another ship and unexpectedly delayed, which allows DeBrand to revel in the perks of Bruno’s spacecraft. They include an A/V lounge with an endless supply of music, and whatever foods or alcoholic beverages the Earthling can imagine. In the meantime, the abductee bonds with Bruno, as the two enjoy the same movies and TV shows—including, most notably, SpongeBob SquarePants. DeBrand is thrown for a loop, however, when Bruno’s future spouse isn’t the only being arriving for the ceremony; there’s also someone whom DeBrand knows quite well and doesn’t necessarily want to see again.

Terrick’s easygoing tale focuses on humor above all else. Accordingly, there’s minimal conflict, as DeBrand, who narrates, excessively details his time on the spaceship’s toilet, for instance, or details mundane scenes of the ship’s passengers playing cards. The SF elements, however, are entertaining throughout; along with the Rejuvenator, Bruno checks out something called a “materializer,” while the communicator on his arm inconveniently transmits his thoughts and dreams. Pop-culture references are abundant, as DeBrand namedrops albums and songs and quotes films and TV shows. There are serene moments, too, as when DeBrand, Bruno, and Bruno’s betrothed talk about their pasts (although Liza sadly provides next to nothing about the many countries in which she spent lifetimes). Much of the comedy comes through characters’ banter, which features copious riffs on DeBrand’s name; some are clever (as when he's called “Mr. Brand Flakes” during breakfast), and a few aren’t (such as “Brandkenstein”). Although the narrative is generally quite simple, some parts are confusing or otherwise lacking. Bruno, for instance, states that he’s been orbiting Earth for 20 cycles, with each roughly equivalent to 38 Earth years; that’s about 760 years total, and a far cry from Bruno’s later estimate of 1,500 years. Similarly, readers learn disappointingly little about the protagonist’s workplace or the Fellowship of Interstellar Worlds for which the alien gathers information. Still, DeBrand’s relatively quiet adventure takes some fun turns, leading to a fine ending that befits the overall tone.

An uneven but colorful and whimsical outer-space tale.