"Kidnappngs, car chases, stunguns, the SWAT team, hostage negotiations - 100 years of exitement in just one night. And it wasn't over yet."
So begins the tale of Roger Denton, a college professor who teaches classes in the cultures of alien races at the Pacific Institute of Technology. Sounds like the typical adventure story, right? Hardly!
Roger meets an alien citzen, Steve, of Pode, a culture that has arrived to import Earth's culture and technology. Steve's physique is characterized by a two-inch-wide strip of gray, known as his skunk stripe, and a tail that serves both as a lethal 80 pound whipping weapon and "meat" that is worth 64,000 credits when removed from his body. While all Podoks can regenerate another tail when their own is removed, there is a particular reason why Steve's present and original tale must be preserved. After a pleasant conversation and snack, Roger and Steve proceed to take a walk in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, when they are suddenly attack by three vicious, determined Earthlings. They don't seem particularly interested in Roger, except to get him out of the way, but definitely want Steve, alive!
The rest of this novel is a series of playful, action-packed scenes of Steve getting kidnapped, freed, re-kidnapped.... The plot reminded this reader of the Monty Python series of absurd, yet intense adventures that wove an endearing spell in Britain and America for years. Roger feels compelled to free Steve but isn't your ordinary private detective. He manages to get shot several times, to shoot those who are trying to assist him, and generally speaking, to misunderstand and miscommunicate every encounter possible that makes one hoot and howl at his crazy antics. A hot romance in the making adds unexpected charm to the plot!
Steve, on the other hand, wants to be freed not only from his captors but also from his fellow Podoks. So he becomes the most unusual prisoner who comically antagonizes his captors, Brian Talley, Junior Pauhana, and Croben Kong.
Prepare to have fun with this one, readers!
Enjoy the romp!