The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

I had my reservations about this one: it felt like a YA novel at first, and the feeling continued as I went on...and then it dawned on me that I *like* good YA SF, and this was reading more and more like a non-MCP version of Poul Anderson's Trader to the Stars, so I chucked my reservations, and settled right in.

What's not to enjoy? A mixed crew of misanthropists (well, one, anyway), tech folk, a Woman Who Is Hiding Something, a ship's captain who is into cross-species amorous activity (rishathra, anyone?), a chef/doctor from a doomed species with too many legs, and an over-friendly reptilian pilot.

Oh, and murderously misanthropic aliens who like circling the galactic core, tunnelling through hyperspace, food, drink, friendship, an AI who may be getting too close to one of the techs, eating bugs, and - sex.

A seriously good romp. I like the crew. I'm looking forward to the next one B-)

I also think this'd make a really good Firefly-type TV series. Hint, hint...