When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls “an animal rights organization.” Tom’s team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on.
What Tom doesn’t tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm and human-free world. They’re the universe’s largest and most dangerous panda and they’re in trouble.
It’s not just the Kaiju Preservation Society that’s found its way to the alternate world. Others have, too–and their carelessness could cause millions back on our Earth to die.
A quick stop off at Wikipedia reliably informs me the word kaiju literally translates as ‘strange beast’. In a host of genre fiction and blockbuster movies, you’ll often find your common or garden strange beast being viewed as a threat. They stomp around mindlessly destroying entire cities with a breath of nuclear fire or spending their time squaring off against their equally powerful rivals. In every instance, humanity is caught in the firing line. The kaiju are a world-ending menace that must be stopped at all costs. The premise of The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi turns that idea firmly on its head. What if these wonderous creatures existed, in a universe next door to our own. As humans have a want to do, we’ve stumbled across the doorway into their world. Fortunately, rather than exploiting the kaiju, a secret society devotes their vast resources to protecting them.
Jamie Gray is blissfully ignorant of all this when we first meet him. A chance encounter leads him through the giant lizard shaped looking glass and we get to follow him on his journey into the new reality that surrounds him. All of Jamie’s new colleagues are super smart, experts in their respective fields, but Jamie is just a regular guy. Hired as an extra pair of hands, there is a running joke that he is just there to lift things. Jamie happened to be in the right place at the right time. I always find myself fascinated when a story drops ordinary people into the midst of extraordinary events. I’m immediately wondering how I would fare in the same scenario. For the curious amongst you, the answer is likely not well at all. If things did take a turn for the worst, I’d be Donald Gennaro in Jurassic Park within a handful of minutes. No one wants to go out that way, trapped like a startled bunny on a toilet seat starring into the gaping jaws of death.
I’ll happily admit I rattled through the entire novel in a single sitting. It was so easy to get engrossed. I always find myself a little disappointed in this scenario. I had so much fun I didn’t realise I was hurtling towards the story’s end until I arrived. Once there I wanted more. What can I say? I have difficulty letting go. Thinking about it, I guess that’s probably the ultimate compliment to any author’s work.
I feel like The Kaiju Preservation Society gives off the same vibes as a really cool tv pilot you stumble across unexpectedly one evening. Initially you’re not sure, but within five minutes all manner of brilliant stuff has happened and you’re totally invested. Before you know it, you’re online looking for a t-shirt to proclaim your allegiance. Given enough time you’ve started your own podcast and are writing your own fan fiction. Being geeky is the best. The Kaiju Preservation Society certainly gave me the perfect opportunity to geek out about my fondness for giant monsters.
I’m embarrassed to say this, but I’ve never read any of John Scalzi’s other work (and you have the gall to call yourself a book nerd, Cheesecake! – Ed.) Based on how much I enjoyed this standalone novel, I will not let this gross oversight stand for long.
The Kaiju Preservation Society is published by Tor and is available from 17th March.
My musical recommendation to accompany such a monstrous tale* had to be something equally gargantuan. I decided on the soundtrack to Godzilla vs Kong by Junkie XL. If you’re looking for alternate titan based musical mayhem, then you also can’t go far wrong with the Pacific Rim soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi. That may be a bit too giant robot heavy for some listeners’ tastes. The choice is yours. Heck, you could even read in silence if you wanted. It would be weird, but you could do it.
*or should that be tail?.. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t help it. I have a problem.
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