The Simpleton

By: Mark Wayne McGinnis

Narrated by: L.J. Ganser

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

First contact: assess human with the flawed, rudimentary, mind....

Unbeknownst to simpleton Cuddy Perkins, his dependable, uneventful, life was about to be turned completely upside down.

It's a moonless summer night when a severely damaged intergalactic spacecraft enters Earth's upper orbit. The alien pilot is desperate. He needs to hold up long enough to make repairs - before his pursuers find him.

Cuddy Perkins lives a simple life with his mother, his dog Rufus, and a scattering of farm animals that still inhabit their old, dilapidated, Woodbury Tennessee ranch. He was used to the insults: retard...simpleton...village idiot. Momma says to just ignore them...people can be heartless. But Cuddy already knew he had been different, ever since the accident back when he was seven. He didn't know how long ago that was, exactly, but he did know he was pretty big now - taller than his older brother, Kyle...who was in prison, and the Woodbury Sherriff - the man who put him there.

©2016 Mark Wayne McGinnis (P)2017 Mark Wayne McGinnis

Say What?

Excellent narration. 3rd person POV. Set in present-day small town Tennessee and aboard a spaceship heading for a distant planet.

I feel betrayed by the rave reviews. I had my hopes up, but this was a waste of money and time. Not heartwarming or poignant. Not suspenseful or scary. Not witty or even mildly funny. Just a bizarre mix of characters and relationships, plus unrealistic plot lines, an unresolved ending, and a nauseatingly vapid romance.

One of the decisions the author made was to try to "make nice" with a hateful thug: The sheriff's disgusting son Tony beats a harmless pedestrian to a bloody pulp, leaving him unconscious at side of road, shoots the windows out of a humble home, steals a car, and tries to frame an innocent man. But we should forget all that? Tony should become a hero, and a friend? No. Without extensive rehabiliation, one simply can't make a silk purse out of that sow's ear. That's just one example of the characterization and relationship issues I struggled with in this book.

Contents might be acceptable for younger readers. No sex. Some random swearing, I think. Some disgusting scenes involving torture, etc.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

Really bad

I can't believe I forced myself to listen to this 'book'. It was stupid and the narrator wasn't much better.

Not recommended.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Good SF Book - Could Be Good Adolescent SF Read

Very “real” and believable characters in this southern US passion of science fiction. Bad aliens chase good aliens, humans take up cause, special needs 19 year old becomes above “normal” and former childhood “girlfriend” becomes real GF - he has male competition, all the while deciding to enlarge his local, limited world to that of the needs of others, in spite of chasing aliens, but being aided by several A.I. Orbs. Good listen - read instead, if you “have to!”

Simple and Good

Overall, I enjoyed the story. The heroes act human and are mostly understandable. Some of the bad guys are BAD and some are a bit grey. There were a few times when it seemed a bit too simple; almost immature. That was likely the authors intent and maybe he overdid it a bit. Mostly positive in nature. There was a short part where one of the bad boys was a bit TOO bad for my taste. Only human, I guess (sigh!). Otherwise, a simple straightforward story which I enjoyed. The narrator, as always, did a great job. He is easy to listen to and kept me engaged. I've already bought the 2nd book.

Great story and interesting characters

Another book by this author that always delivers a rich story and interesting characters. An adventure that pulls you into the story. I definitely felt like I was living the adventure too. On to book 2.

Pretty Good

For a younger age, 3rd to 7th grade. A little corni in places. A little lacking in hard science.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good start, weak finish

I enjoyed the beginning of the book, which I thought handled pretty well the back story of the simpleton and the events leading up to his transformation. The latter half of the book seemed rushed and poorly developed, as if the author was just trying to wrap it up and get it delivered. That said, I enjoyed the consistent theme of redemption, even it it was handled weakly at times.

A Lovely story, full of heart, rich in character!

Not a warriors in space novel, but just folks who have been blessed with brilliance being on the side of the Angels. Uplifting story as terrains reach out to help an evolved alien species.
A young man brain damaged as a whole soul boy is healed by a starship auto doctor. His mind is healed to the next level of the human mind. Starting slow, but grows rich soon.
A peter pan space SciFi.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ignore the Hokey

The beginning seemed so hokey I almost quit; But glad I didn't. Great little story. Characters flesh out.

It was OK.

Not really what I was hoping for. it's almost the same as the scrapyard ship series. I figured it would have been something totally original. Maybe the next book will be better. I'm an optimist.