# Columbus Day

By Craig Alanson · Expeditionary Force, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/columbus-day-ea4ca5dd/

Joe Bishop leaves Earth with an expeditionary force to help the aliens who drove off humanity's invaders. He learns that those supposed allies pose a threat to Earth.

## What makes it funny?

Skippy has the appearance of a beer can and the self-regard of a god. He would like Joe to address him accordingly. The grand introduction gives this supremely capable intelligence an ego that is hard to take seriously.

### The comedy at work

Joe recounts military danger in a relaxed, straightforward voice. Skippy brings extravagant claims about his own importance and an abrasive manner. Their exchanges give a soldier caught in an interstellar war someone very powerful to argue with.

### Try this if…

For readers who enjoy military space adventures with uneven alliances and a talkative artificial intelligence. Joe and Skippy's partnership makes verbal sparring a substantial part of the appeal.

### Good to know

The book begins closer to conventional military science fiction. The comedy becomes more prominent when Skippy enters; the opening does not yet have the partnership that drives much of the humor.

## What to expect

- Genre: Science fiction
- On the shelf: First contact & aliens · Space opera
- Kind of humor: Banter
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Audience: Adult
- Format: Novel
- Length: 303 pages
- Audiobook: 16 hr 23 min
- Published: 2016

## A few distinguishing details

- Human soldiers serving dangerous alien allies
- A beer-can-shaped intelligence with divine pretensions

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Publisher audiobook record](https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/199894)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://podiumentertainment.com/titles/5560/columbus-day)
- Interview: [Dab of Darkness review and interview](https://dabofdarkness.com/2020/02/26/interview-review-columbus-day-by-craig-alanson)
- Book information: [Paperback catalog record](https://openlibrary.org/books/OL31855576M/Columbus_Day)
- Author commentary: [Author FAQ](https://www.craigalanson.com/faqs)
- Review: [Glen Robinson review](https://glenchen.com/2016/08/21/review-columbus-day-by-craig-alanson)