Waypoint Kangaroo by Curtis C. Chen

Published by St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books on June 21, 2016

A spy has the code name Kangaroo because has a pouch. After he makes the pouch materialize, he can reach inside and connect to another universe, which gives him a lot of storage space. Not many people have that accessory. Why Kangaroo can open a portal to a pocket universe is something of a mystery to science, to Kangaroo, and to the reader. Probably it is best not to think about it too deeply. Whatever the reason, the ability makes him a good smuggler. It would certainly come in handy to avoid paying fees for checking excess luggage on airplanes. I'm envious.

Kangaroo works for an espionage agency. His smuggling capability makes him a useful courier. He was once in the military, fighting against the Mars uprising, but he was pulled out of harm’s way because his pouch was too valuable to place at risk.

Kangaroo’s boss sends him on a vacation on a cruise ship to Mars, which is promptly hijacked and turned into a weapon that could reignite the Mars-Earth war. What follows is essentially an action novel in which Kangaroo finds ways to use his pouch to save himself and thwart evildoers. Along the way he has some moments of romance which, fortunately, do not overshadow the story as a whole.

Don’t expect deep characterization or intricate plotting from Waypoint Kangaroo. This is an action story with a few clever twists that are dictated by its premise. At the same time, it moves quickly, the prose is polished, and it is fun to read. The ending seems to set up a sequel. While it isn’t the kind of book I would pre-order, I have to think that a sequel to Waypoint Kangaroo might be worth reading.

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