Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder

Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you’re looking for a genre mashup that actually works, Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder is the offbeat, fast-talking sci-fi crime novel you didn’t know you needed. This book is equal parts space oddity and hard-boiled detective story, with a heavy dose of sarcasm and absurdity that somehow pulls everything together in the most entertaining way possible.

Our protagonist, Galahad, is a grizzled ex-cop turned alien bounty hunter with more baggage than a broken star cruiser. He’s got issues, and they only get weirder as the story spirals into a cosmic caper involving crooked extraterrestrials, murder, double-crosses, and tech that feels both futuristic and oddly noir. Think Blade Runner meets The Big Lebowski, but with more slime and sharper dialogue.

Leder’s writing is crisp, cinematic, and brimming with attitude. His characters leap off the page—even the non-human ones—and his worldbuilding strikes a great balance between gritty and bizarre. You’ll encounter jelly-bodied informants, sultry AI bartenders, and a shady interplanetary underworld that feels oddly familiar (because corruption is universal, apparently).

This is a book for readers who love their detective fiction served with a side of interstellar chaos. It’s unpredictable, a little bonkers, and wildly original. If you're into sci-fi with noir vibes, or if you're just tired of the same old tropes and want something fresh and funny, Extraterrestrial Noir is your next must-read.

Verdict: 5 stars for originality, voice, and sheer entertainment value. Rich Leder has created a one-of-a-kind story that punches through genre boundaries and takes you on a ride that’s equal parts strange and smart.

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