A secret agent with unique abilities is tasked with infiltrating a government-controlled secret prison on Venus to rescue a missing spy or extract a wrongly imprisoned asset, leading to unexpected twists and challenges. Set in a spacefaring future, this high-octane science-fiction spy thriller is filled with adrenaline, intrigue, and witty humor.

Reader Review Summary

"True Blue Kangaroo" is a wildly entertaining and mind-bending addition to Chen's acclaimed Kangaroo sci-fi spy thriller series. Set in a richly imagined future where humanity has colonized the cosmos, this book thrusts readers headfirst into a high-stakes mission on the hellish, acid-shrouded planet of Venus.

What makes this novel truly shine is Chen's masterful world-building and creativity. The concept of "blue sites" - secret prisons hidden within the toxic Venusian atmosphere - is ingenious and ripe for thrilling exploits. Chen leans into classic sci-fi tropes in clever ways, with the prison facility bearing a cheeky resemblance to a famous British TV village that fans will delight in recognizing.

At the center of it all is the ever-charming and snarky protagonist known as Kangaroo, a secret agent with the uncanny ability to access a mysterious cosmic "pocket" that defies physics. Kangaroo is the perfect anti-hero - irreverent, flawed, but highly skilled and always entertaining with his steady stream of quips and wisecracks. His evolving relationship with his enigmatic pocket power adds intriguing layers of sci-fi wonder.

Chen's prose crackles with wit and rollicking energy, making for a true page-turner. The story moves at a blistering pace from harrowing sci-fi action set pieces to captivating bouts of subterfuge and intrigue. Kangaroo's desperate struggle to escape the Venusian prison and complete his mission is gripping and filled with constant surprises.

Perhaps the book's biggest strength though is how much pure fun it injects into speculative fiction. "True Blue Kangaroo" is an outrageously imaginative and endlessly delightful romp full of adrenaline, humor, and mind-bending sci-fi concepts. It's an absolute must-read for fans of the series and a spectacular entry point for new readers looking for a rollicking good time amongst the stars. Curtis C. Chen has delivered science fiction fireworks with this one.