Hard Luck Hank: Robot Farts

I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect to love *Hard Luck Hank: Robot Farts* as much as I did. On paper, it’s a grab-bag of tropes—mutant mercenaries, snarky AI, interstellar heists—but Campbell’s writing has a razor-sharp edge that cuts through the clichés. Hank isn’t just a lovable rogue; he’s a *tired* lovable rogue, and that exhaustion makes his snark feel earned. The plot barrels forward like a runaway freight train, but it’s the smaller moments—the way Hank interacts with his long-suffering ship’s AI, or the running gag about a certain robot’s *gastrointestinal issues*—that sold me. This isn’t satire; it’s a celebration of sci-fi’s pulpiest roots, delivered with a wink and a whiskey chaser. Liam Owen’s performance is a masterclass in balancing humor and grit. His Hank sounds like a guy who’s seen too much and still hasn’t learned his lesson, and his delivery of the book’s many one-liners is *flawless*. That said, the pacing occasionally stumbles—some action sequences blur together in a haze of explosions and quips, and a few side characters get lost in the shuffle. The production is clean, though, with no distracting edits or volume issues. My only real critique? At 13+ hours, the middle act drags slightly, as if Campbell couldn’t bear to let go of a good joke. But when the payoff hits—a final act that’s equal parts ridiculous and weirdly heartfelt—you’ll forgive the detours. If you like your sci-fi fast, funny, and unpretentious, this is a no-brainer. Just don’t listen to it on public transit unless you want strange looks for laughing at robot flatulence.