Rating: 
Summary: is this supposed to be humorous or simply annoying?
Review: "mad scientist" invents cheap, small hyperdrive. People go out to explore space in septic tanks and pickup trucks. No the plastic septic tank doesn't get brittle in hard vacuum - it works just fine, at least in the author's mind. They meet various races of friendly aliens, go fishing with them, drink beer and establish galactic federation. No, really. And Oltion is serious about this. If this was a satire or comedy or something it could maybe fly. But that would require some humor on the side of the author. As it is it's 2 stars and I'm generous. If you want SF avoid this book.
Rating: 
Summary: a satire on mad scientists and outer space adventure stories
Review: Allen Meisner is a member of the International Network of Scientists Against Nuclear Extermination, better known as INSANE, an acronym that can be easily applied to this maniac. Though he is a walking hard drive error, this Pollyanna-like genius apparently develops an incredibly efficient and effective hyper drive engine that can take anyone on an interstellar journey faster than the speed of light for very low costs.
Allen expects his concept to change the world in a positive manner, but shockingly many fellow earthlings fear his new technology. Governments acting as ever in self-servingl interest battle over whom owns the hyper drive-based power that now is being implemented to propel bombs. Allen and his pilot Judy Gallagher search the heavens for allies to stop Armageddon on earth. They ultimately return to earth accompanied by a brilliant butterfly and other aliens in a quest to save the planet from its most sentient yet stupid habitants.
THE GETAWAY SPECIAL is a satire on mad scientists and outer space adventure stories. The story line is often humorous as the nutty but optimistic Meisner and his heroic pilot hyper-leap from one dangerous scenario to another. However, the plot is a few scenes too many as the basic underlying theme of punishing those who care becomes almost as out of control as the scientist is. Overall, Jerry Oltion has written an amusing novel that those readers who relish a lot of wacky irony jabbing our modern day world will find delightfully engaging. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: a satire on mad scientists and outer space adventure stories
Review: Allen Meisner is a member of the International Network of Scientists Against Nuclear Extermination, better known as INSANE, an acronym that can be easily applied to this maniac. Though he is a walking hard drive error, this Pollyanna-like genius apparently develops an incredibly efficient and effective hyper drive engine that can take anyone on an interstellar journey faster than the speed of light for very low costs.
Allen expects his concept to change the world in a positive manner, but shockingly many fellow earthlings fear his new technology. Governments acting as ever in self-servingl interest battle over whom owns the hyper drive-based power that now is being implemented to propel bombs. Allen and his pilot Judy Gallagher search the heavens for allies to stop Armageddon on earth. They ultimately return to earth accompanied by a brilliant butterfly and other aliens in a quest to save the planet from its most sentient yet stupid habitants.
THE GETAWAY SPECIAL is a satire on mad scientists and outer space adventure stories. The story line is often humorous as the nutty but optimistic Meisner and his heroic pilot hyper-leap from one dangerous scenario to another. However, the plot is a few scenes too many as the basic underlying theme of punishing those who care becomes almost as out of control as the scientist is. Overall, Jerry Oltion has written an amusing novel that those readers who relish a lot of wacky irony jabbing our modern day world will find delightfully engaging. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Original, Fast-Paced Hard SF With a Hint of Nostalgic Yore
Review: An elegant homage to vintage science fiction. Characters are real, though they move through far-fetched scenarios. We want the heros, Judy and Allen, to succeed, because they're 'good people.' Clear, high-crafted writing. The 'science-in-the-fiction' has been thought out, but technical moments don't distract from story. 'TGS' could be a good juvenile read, too, because it's so superbly written -- even though its themes of disarmament and 'Whom Can We Trust?' are executed in a fully mature fashion -- and it's more a tale of adventurous exploration than it is of laser-cannon fire and adolescent angst. The Getaway Special has a fast-paced, movie-like story and asks, "What if we got it all wrong -- what if spaceflight is truly SIMPLE and everyone could go to the stars from their backyards by simply re-building homespun 'Trek' shuttlecrafts?" (It'll make the home-project nuts -- the workshop tinkerers -- start daydreaming about going to Alpah Centauri for less than $200.) As 'TGS' gets underway, we begin to appreciate the invisible premise of the book used deftly by the author. It's a supremely relaxed, very 'There's-good-everywhere-if-you-look-in-the-right-place' philosophy, and I found it credible while refreshing. Characters, though present-day and scientifically trained, don't always have to be working; they enjoy sipping beer and kissing almost as much as exploring or hypothesizing about how best to avert galactic war. Without showing his hand, Mr. Oltion reinvigorates the idea of the 'Compassionate Narrator' -- a soulful way of telling a tale that's concomitant, I'll venture, with the author's own generosity. (I was reminded of a non-religious C.S. Lewis, especially in the inspired sense of wonder; also in the benevolent way the author moves through the character's choices while still keeping each genuine, humane.) Mr. Oltion is a bit hard on the French, but I found myself believing in them as 'bad,' at least for THIS book, and laughing about it, all the while. (If anybody can get an ocean-going sub in orbit around another planet in three days, it's the French.) A definite winner in originality. A book that begs for a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Original, Fast-Paced Hard SF With a Hint of Nostalgia
Review: Elegant homage to vintage sci fi. Characters are real (though they move through far-fetched scenarios). We want the heros, Judy and Allen, to succeed, because they're 'good people.' The novel contains clear, highly crafted prose. The 'science-in-the-fiction' is thoroughly rendered, but technical moments do not distract from story. The book is an excellent juvenile read, too, because it's superbly written -- themes of disarmament and conspiracy are executed in a mature fashion yet accessible to everyone. It's a tale of adventurous scientific exploration more than laser cannon fire and adolescent angst. It has a fast-paced, movie-like plot which asks, "What if we have it all wrong -- what if space travel is truly SIMPLE and everyone could go to the stars from their backyards by simply re-building homespun shuttlecrafts?" (It'll make the home-project nuts -- the workshop tinkerers -- daydream about going to Alpha Centauri for under $200.) As 'TGS' gets going, we appreciate the overall effect of the book, used subtly by the author. It's a supremely relaxed, 'There's-good-everywhere-if-you-look-in-the-right-place' point of view, and I found it credible, refreshing. Characters, though present-day and scientifically trained, don't always have to be working; they enjoy sipping beer and kissing as much as exploring or hypothesizing about how best to avert galactic war. Mr. Oltion reinvigorates the idea of the 'Compassionate Narrator' -- a soulful way of telling a tale that's concomitant, I'll guess, with his own identity. (I was reminded of a non-religious C.S. Lewis, especially in the inspired sense of wonder; also in the benevolent way the author moves through the character's choices while keeping each genuine and humane.) The author is a bit hard on the French, but I found myself believing in them as 'bad,' at least for THIS book, and laughing about it all the while. (If anybody will get an ocean-going sub into orbit in three days, it's the French.) A definite winner in originality! K.M. McKay
Rating: 
Summary: Lighten Up!
Review: Is it realistic? Is it hard science? Does it make sense? Probably not. But is it fun? You bet. How cool to think space travel could be for anyone. How cool to think that with a star chart and some nerve you could go anywhere in the universe before lunch. And why shouldn't trees move around? I loved it. I have always wanted to go into space just for the view. The idea I could go in the confort of my minivan is a fun thought. The book did read like a short story, but I am a working wife and mother. I need a quick read sometimes. I need one dimensional characters who are too good to be true, and I need intelligent, beautiful butterflies with timy cameras. I thought this was a great rainy day book and would highly recommend it if you feel like you will keel over from one more super-serious scifi melodrama.
Rating:
Summary: Lighten Up!
Review: Is it realistic? Is it hard science? Does it make sense? Probably not. But is it fun? You bet. How cool to think space travel could be for anyone. How cool to think that with a star chart and some nerve you could go anywhere in the universe before lunch. And why shouldn't trees move around? I loved it. I have always wanted to go into space just for the view. The idea I could go in the confort of my minivan is a fun thought. The book did read like a short story, but I am a working wife and mother. I need a quick read sometimes. I need one dimensional characters who are too good to be true, and I need intelligent, beautiful butterflies with timy cameras. I thought this was a great rainy day book and would highly recommend it if you feel like you will keel over from one more super-serious scifi melodrama.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Trip Through Space
Review: Jim Oltion takes us on the trip we all wanted to go on when we were kids: through space, using old backyard junk as our spaceship. On the trip, we also meet alien intelligence and, strangely, alien beings seem to think and operate similarly to humans. Oltion revives those fantastical, six-year-old, "I Want To Be an Astronaut" feelings.
Rating:
Summary: Silly. Fun.
Review: The premise behind the book is pretty much: I invented hyperdrive in my basement, and it only costs about $10.
The science (and aliens!) aren't very realistic, but the author doesn't try to persuade you they are, and it doesn't matter. They're just fun. Think of Heinlein's The Rolling Stones. You're not really expected to believe the flat cats, either.
Warning - people with allergies to libertarian philosophy might want to avoid this book. It doesn't preach, but governments in general are clearly the bad guys here.
Rating:
Summary: simple but very entertaining
Review: Warning: If you are the guy who always complains about how "unrealistic" Star Trek is, you will hate this book!
However, if you're a normal person you will really enjoy Getaway Special. It's filled with not-so-veiled pokes at today's society, governments, etc. Here's to hoping this becomes a series!
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