BOMB now in retro print version

My good pal Brian Richardson’s novel The Imaginary Bomb, which was podcast a couple of years ago courtesy of our mutual old friend Warren Bluhm, is now available in my (still) favorite format — as a real, hold-in-your-hands printed book. And I had a great time with it yesterday. As much as I enjoy Warren’s vocal stylings, there’s still nothing quite like characters talking in your own head via paper and type. And Bomb is filled with fun characters.

What’s this science fiction novel — at just 24,000 words, it may be more of a novella — all about? Well, it’s a comedic romp posing as an intergalactic political thriller. It’s an apocalyptic space opera told with a grin and a wink. Which isn’t to say that The Imaginary Bomb doesn’t have its share of edge-of-your-seat moments. It certainly does. But all the time I was caught up in its twists and cliffhangers, I pictured Brian chortling to himself and bursting out with a frequent “Gotcha!” And heck, the book's politics are libertarian, and that's always (well, usually) a good thing.

Bomb is a keeper, and short as it is, it’s been added to the small stack of books I return to regularly. See ya later, Mr. Whelan.