'The Sky Done Ripped' by Joe R. Lansdale with illustrations by Timothy Truman is the third book of the adventures of Ned the Seal and H.G. Wells, which I didn't know before I read this one.

With plenty of references to pulp fiction, classic fiction and time travel tropes, we find ourselves in an odd world where apes have evolved. Ned lands in a strange valley with his travel companions. They set out separately to find a magic fleece. They meet a sort of Tarzan, here named Tango. They fight a gigantic blob named She Who Must Be Obeyed and Eats Lunch Early.

It's all really bizarre and is best just gulped down without thinking too much about it. I kept thinking of SF author Philip Jose Farmer while I read it, which I guess is praise of a sort. The story is a pleasant, if weird, diversion.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Subterranean Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

In the Sky Done Ripped, Lansdale offers us a tongue-planted-firmly-in-cheek tribute to H.G. Wells, E. R. Burroughs, Dr. Who, Planet of the Apes, Titanic, and Douglas Adams. The story is irreverent, absurd, but the elements move the story along. If you are familiar with Wells' War of the Worlds, you'll recognize the opening invasion, except here it's an Earth civilized by apes, not humans. You'll also recall Wells' Time Machine, but here it's more like Dr. Who's TARDIS since it goes through time and different dimensions. Also, this Time Machine is huge on the inside (like the TARDIS) and inhabited by HG Wells himself and Ned, an intelligent seal, who gets around on an electric sled, writes on a chalkboard, and is obsessed with fish. And, when they get to Burroughs' Pellucidar, they meet dinosaurs and Tarzan (only here he's Tango). And, well, instead of facing off Daleks, they face off against a giant monster blob on an electric machine that runs over everything, " She Who Must Be Obeyed and Eats Lunch Early." It's irreverent. It's crazy. Don't take it too seriously and enjoy.

Lansdale is a master storyteller, which is evident here in this rip-roaring steampunk mash-up of H.G.Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Jules Verne. I loved the first two Ned the Seal books, but this one was the best of the bunch. Lots to enjoy here!

I received a copy of this from Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for my open and honest review.

A wacky and imaginatively crafted tale with a seal named Ned, who has welded on opposable thumbs, and enhanced brain, and drives a flying sled. He hangs out with none other than H.G Wells, intrepid traveler, and explorer.

What is this about? I honestly don't know. It is a rip-roaring book written in an almost stream of consciousness vibe. Jack and Jill play a part, as does Tomi, once a bully of a child, now hulking she-beast that travels on a sled made from the bones of allies and enemies alike. She uses the moniker Tomi who must be obeyed and eats lunch early. There are also two apes who lived in a world where humans were not flourishing. In this world, apes are humans. Their cruise ship that was trying to outsail the end of the world smashed into a flying saucer. They, thrown from the boat, landed on HG Wells ship. He graciously invited them on the boat, they ate fish and dressed up in some odd clown costumes. (just what wells had available) They end up accompanying Ned and Jack on a quest to find the fleece to save a sick Jills life.

It is absurd. It is quirky. It is damn fun.

If you are in to have your mind batted around like a ping pong ball, this book and series will be right up your alley. Check it out.

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A wonderfully crafted memorable likable character in Ned, the plucky seal wearing a fez, travelling on a sled with enhanced brain, ability to write with grafted thumbs, and capable engineering abilities with The Time Machine.

Planet of the Apes and Mad Max converging and into a tale that could convert to an adult rated animated film with its rip-roaring darkly humorous fully loaded fun ride escapade with the unforgettable Ned The Seal and She Who Must Be Obeyed and Eats Lunch Early.

There is a fluidity to his telling with the right word economy and usage, writing memorable characters, good and bad, his forte, a tilted twisted beautiful world he has created in this one that might just brighten up the end of year 2019.

Wonderful artwork by the great artist Timothy Truman will make this a sellout limited edition.

Here you have an example of author writing what he wants, not for the trend or mainstream, like that quote on writing by Dashiell Hammett to Black Mask magazine:
“If I stick to the stuff that I want to write-the stuff I enjoy writing-I can make a go if it, but when I try to grind out a yarn because I think there is a market for it, then I flop.”
-Dashiell Hammett
Letter to the editor, Black Mask, 1924.

The Sky Done Ripped pairs strong satire with absurdist elements to create a fascinatingly strange trek into worlds unknown. The writing style doesn’t spare unnecessary words, leaving us with a tightly drawn trail of witty dialogue and continuous action that doesn’t tire. I found myself constantly surprised, marveling at the originality and unabashed journeys of this unusual group of characters. I’ve never read anything quite like it and I’m disappointed in myself for overlooking such a hilarious writer until now. If you’re looking for funny science fiction that bends the rules a bit (and does so with flair), The Sky Done Ripped is a great bet.

NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

I read a lot. I have a tendency to not send in reviews for books that don't resonate is some way, intellectually, emotionally, or somehow miss their stated purpose.

I have zero reservations with recommending Lansdale's latest title. I was introduced to him in the early 90s with Bizarre Hands. Not for the squeamish, but certainly contributed to the development of a unique genre. Yet, it's still another genre found in The Sky Done Ripped. And Lansdale masters it.

The author creates a wonderfully twisted world where normal rules do NOT apply. There is Ned, a seal who wears a fez, but of course he can't talk, right? Eh, not necessarily. The characters are diverse, the situations are exciting and entertaining, and the story is smoothly told. There is warfare, love, jealousy, and survival. The chief antagonist is beyond horrific; Lansdale spares no description. It's an adventure. It's other-worldly. And I can't help myself, but I'm going to go out on a limb (!) and say that you have never read a story like this. And most of all, it's bizarre. Add all that together, and this book is so. incredibly. fun.

I say thank you to the publisher for allowing me to review the title. It was an absolute treat. I didn't want it to end. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys author others who write similar stories, which is., yeah, there aren't other authors who have written stories like this. So then I recommend this to anyone who enjoys creative characters, trope-free fiction, and absolutely bizarre story. It all fits together so smoothly, is told beautifully, and is simply one of my favorite books from 40 years of reading. I love what it did to my brain. Thank you to the author for such an enjoyable ride.

A rip-roarin pastiche of various 19th century authors and genres: talking animals, time travel, ape people, Tarzan, H. G. Wells....not bad, but not really good either. A fair bit of women who are monstrous or need saving, heroic men, and a bit too much over-the-topness.

Abstract: If you're looking for an absurdist mash-up of H.G.Wells, Jules Verne, Authur Conan Doyle, and pretty much every other proto-steampunk adventure you can image, you've come to the right place. If you're looking for the futher adventures of Ned, the steampunk/cybernetically uplifted seal, ditto, and it's a fine place to be. But if you're looking for serious science fiction, don't stop here. But if you're up for some pulpy-steampunky-timey-whimy fun, by all means, pull up a chair.

Review:
H.G. Wells (the author is a character here) and Ned the seal, travel in time, space, and across parallel worlds in what can only be thought of as Verne's Nautilis crossed with a Tardis. Stopping off on a planet of the apes alternate Earth just after the alien invasion and subsequent panic, Ned and Wells pick up young Bill and his sister Suzy Q., survivors of a shipwreck caused when the cruise ship carrying the president fleeing to safe-haven ran into a flying saucer. More of a floating saucer.

Then things get weird. Tarzan (Tongo in this world), a Vernian underground world, Airships, Giant stone juggernauts, and the evil Toni, the unloved daughter of the Ape-American president, now a strange hybrid filled with knowledge from the aliens and mutating into something remarkably revolting.

It all comes down to a race to grab the golden fleece and maybe get everyone somewhere they can call home.

Fortunately, we've got Ned our side.

W.C. Fields once remarked that you should never work with animals or children, as they'll both upstage you. Ned proves the truth of that, red fez and all.

The Sky Done Ripped by Joe R. Lansdale- A third entry into the Ned The Seal stories, after Zeppelins West and Flaming London, find Ned and H.G. Wells aboard the Time Machine trying to mend the fractures in time that have occurred. They rescue two young apes from an Earth where humans never prospered, when their cruise ship hits an alien saucer and they are about to drown. Then the apes go with Wells and his smart-ass seal to an underground world with a stationary sun, to help a famous monkey man, Tango, on a quest to find the golden fleece. And that's just the beginning- then things start to get weird! The story is narrated by one of the young apes, an eighteen-year-old Bongo Bill, and is filled with all the wonder and humor of the first two books. If you're a Lansdale fan or perhaps a Ned the Seal fan, this story won't disappoint.