The Audacity

By: Carmen Loup

Narrated by: Carmen Loup

Rocket racing can be deadly, but working in food service is worse.

May’s humdrum life is flung into hyperdrive when she’s abducted, but not all aliens are out to probe her. She’s inadvertently rescued by Xan, an I Love Lucy obsessed alien with the orangest rocket ship in the universe. But you still have to eat in space, and rocket racing is a quick, if life-threatening, way to make a living.

Finally, May has a career she loves and a friend to share her winnings with. Until a Chaos goddess possessing Xan’s ex decides to start a cult on Earth and threatens to turn the planet into her den of destruction. The Audacity is the only ship fast enough to stop her, but May’s no hero. She doesn’t even particularly like Earth. Are we screwed?

Witty, hilarious, and current, The Audacity is Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the next generation.

©2019 Laura Loup (P)2020 Carmen Loup

The subtle bits of humor here and there.

I enjoyed the overall feel of the book and the creative worldbuilding that went into these different alien concepts.

Fun

Ever wished A Terry Pratchett novel and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy had a queer child? If so this book is for you. If not, maybe you need to search your heart because I assure you this is something everyone needs in their lives.

The premise is fun but my favorite aspect of the book was the characters: May was fun and relatable, Xan is my favorite kind of weird little guy. Funny but with enough plot and character to not get too crazy.

Even more fun in Audio!

I read the original publication of The Audacity in 2019, and was asked to give an honest review of the audio version which follows this colon:

If you’re craving a sci-fi comedy that feels like a beautiful love child between Discworld and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy but with a snarkier, more American flavor, The Audacity delivers in spades and the audiobook version takes it to another level entirely. Carmen Loup’s absurd, whip-smart storytelling is brought vividly to life through their narration that nails the comedic timing with effortless charm.

Loup’s performance is a standout with May’s dry wit and Xan’s eccentric enthusiasm are pitch-perfect, and the supporting cast gets equally thoughtful treatment. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud one moment and emotionally invested the next, thanks to the chemistry between the leads and the narrator’s ability to make their quirks feel authentic and endearing.

The story itself is a wild ride of alien abductions, chaos goddesses, space-faring food service, and an AMC Gremlin, but they all somehow make sense in this universe. The humor is sharp, self-aware, and often fourth-wall-breaking (which always gave me a chuckle), but never at the expense of heart. Loup balances irreverence with real emotional stakes, and the audiobook’s pacing and editing keep the momentum strong even during the story’s more meandering moments.

Whether you’re a fan of Sir Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, or just looking for something wildly imaginative and genuinely funny, The Audacity is a must-listen. It’s clever, chaotic, and completely delightful. Easily five stars, and I hope more audiobooks in this universe are in the pipeline.

A super cute listen

A cozy comedic listen with a sci-fi back drop. The Audacity's heroine is a sarcastic down-to-earth character with a relatable internal monologue. Loup's writing reminds me of Christopher Moore, and I can't wait to read more of their books!

Great comedy sci-fi

This was a fun comedy sci-fi tale that feels like a modern-day take on Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. There's aliens, language translation shenanigans, and queer rep all around.