First Publication: November 2014
Source: NetGalley
Steven Erickson has made a name for himself in the fantasy field in recent years with his “Malazan” series. “Willful Child” is his first attempt at writing a science fiction novel. According to comments the author has made, it is a loving spoof that is his tribute to “Star Trek”. I understand where the author is coming from. You can tell that he is a fan of “Star Trek”. Unfortunately this falls under the category of too much of a good thing for me. I would have enjoyed it more if this was a shorter work. The only author I have read who could write comedy that would keep my attention for a whole novel is Terry Pratchett. If this had been a shorter work, I would have liked it. As it is I can see that it is well written and would appeal to many readers. At some point, I would like to see Erickson tackle a serious science fiction novel.
So if you are a fan of spoofs, I would recommend this one to you. Otherwise, it can be skipped.