Review: It's a Groovy Hoot - But It's Complicated
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 10, 2012
John Carroll's other Amazon freebies, among others, are about an Unholy Cow and about a guerrila attack at the North Pole by Sugar Plum Faeries, so I'm not quite sure why anyone would expect this short story to be a straight sci-fi adventure.The Test Pilot is a deadpan goof on the guys with the "right stuff", describing a fellow who has no interest in anything technical, ("it's complicated"), except flying. He will take any drug, endure any enhancement, suffer any indignity, in order to test the latest gizmos. Why? Who knows. He is tone deaf, oblivious and anti-social. He is a unique and fascinating character. Carroll has a good time skewering the test pilot mentality, while still paying it some respect.A whole novel's worth? Not a chance. But a very interesting, deadpan and audacious short story.