The opening chapter set the mood instantly, putting Milo's thoughts right into your head, with a few laughs as well. Quickly paced with a balance of wit and wonder, after reading the first chapter you will be ready to fight alien monsters. On a far-away planet. In order to save earth. This idea hits the very definition of space opera in every regard. 

The opening chapter set the mood instantly, putting Milo's thoughts right into your head, with a few laughs as well. Quickly paced with a balance of wit and wonder, after reading the first chapter you will be ready to fight alien monsters. On a far-away planet. In order to save earth. This idea hits the very definition of space opera in every regard. 

For what promises to be a thrilling adventure mystery, Champions of the Third Planet gives you precious little to draw you in, but will do so anyway. Rather than directly spelling out powers and abilities, the protagonist experiences the mystery along with the reader so that both are on the same journey.

For what promises to be a thrilling adventure mystery, Champions of the Third Planet gives you precious little to draw you in, but will do so anyway. Rather than directly spelling out powers and abilities, the protagonist experiences the mystery along with the reader so that both are on the same journey.

Just from reading the first few chapters alone, Leone's descriptive writing style leaves that childhood smell of exploration and wonder clinging on the clothes of his characters, just as strongly as those characters and the true-to-life situations that surround  them clings to the reader's mind. This is a marvelous start to a marvelous book. And that leaves me to wonder: if only this little bit of "Champions of the Third Planet" can stay with me this strongly, what will stay with me when these kid and their story  are shot across the farthest reaches of outer space? How will the troubles they encounter on this little blue marble transform when they reach a whole new world? I can't wait to find out.

Just from reading the first few chapters alone, Leone's descriptive writing style leaves that childhood smell of exploration and wonder clinging on the clothes of his characters, just as strongly as those characters and the true-to-life situations that surround  them clings to the reader's mind. This is a marvelous start to a marvelous book. And that leaves me to wonder: if only this little bit of "Champions of the Third Planet" can stay with me this strongly, what will stay with me when these kid and their story  are shot across the farthest reaches of outer space? How will the troubles they encounter on this little blue marble transform when they reach a whole new world? I can't wait to find out.

The easy familiarity of the opening chapters combined with engaging writing and original twists dragged me in and kept me glued to my computer. It all brought me back to my childhood and inspired the kind of wonder that is all too rare in most of today’s offerings. This is a great story for younger readers and an equally great story for those of us who grew up on Back to the Future, Goonies and Star Wars!