Review: The Kaiju Preservation Society

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was so much fun!

The author's note at the end of the book likens this story to a pop song - a catchy, fun thing that wants you to sing along to the chorus - and I think that's such a fantastic way to describe this book.

It's relatively basic in it's objective: Jamie is the newest recruit to the KPS - the Kaiju Preservation Society. The sole goal of this organisation is to preserve the lives of Kaijus in a parallel world that few people know exists. Naturally, Jamie and his team are going to encounter some difficulties. Wouldn't make much of a story otherwise, would it?

That being said, so much of the fun of this book is just exploring 'Kaiju Earth'. There's all manner of science being explained and there is a depth to the creation of this world that allows you to easily believe it. I loved hearing about the ecosystem, the biology, and how they function as keepers for these incredible creatures.

It's fairly obvious where things are going to go awry, but the spirit of the book is so good-natured that you can't be mad at any predictable moments. It's such a great, enthusiastic story and the banter of the main characters allows for a rather relaxed approach to everything. Everyone is cracking jokes and generally having a grand time, and even when things go south there is never a sense that things are truly dire.

Mostly, I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other and with this new world. There is a lot of fun to be had, but there is camaraderie and loyalty that adds depth to these relationships and it just becomes a pleasure to see how they grow.

A fun, fast read with plenty of Godzilla and other such references to keep us nerds happy. An absolute pleasure to read, and a wonderful diversion if you've hit a bit of a reading slump and you're looking for some light action to bring you back.

With thanks to Macmillan for a copy

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