Audible Book Review: Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection by Alexander C. Kane

This is a bit zany fun listening.

Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection
By: Alexander C. Kane
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
Release date: 08-22-17
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

About This Audible Original
Think superheroes are tough? Try having one for a boss, or co-worker. That’s the predicament Andrea Vernon finds herself in as the heroine of Alexander C. Kane’s debut audiobook. Drowning in debt, and forced to move back into her parents’ Queens apartment, Andrea starts looking for a job. Luckily for her, she finds herself recruited—well, really kidnapped—by the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection (C.U.P.), an organization that deploys superheroes. Suddenly Andrea must contend with co-workers who can shoot lightning from their fingertips, face the imminent destruction of humanity, and juggle a fledgling romance with a giant lumberjack. It’s all in a day’s work for the would-be novelist turned superstar secretary.
Audible Hall of Fame narrator Bahni Turpin is perfectly cast as a normal person finding herself in abnormal circumstances. Turpin brings to life an entire cast of quirky characters, along with their heroically funny antics in the cubicle next door. If you’ve ever wondered what a genetically altered rhinoceros sounds like, or needed to take a break from your own office drudgery, this is the comedy for you.
© 2017 Alexander C. Kane (P) 2017 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
All her life Andrea has hoped her parents would be proud of her efforts. But Andrea’s European Studies/English degrees aren’t impressive to a family including a “Doctor”, a “Professor”, and a “State Senator”. Andrea hasn’t found the right job to settle into and, having struggled without a job for months, she has applied online for a job as an Administrative Assistant who “Must be willing to never ask questions. Ever.” Suddenly someone cuts a hole in her apartment wall as another man in a gas mask walks through her door to take her to an interview.

Andrea agrees to accept a job at the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection (C.U.P.), Soon she is dealing with all sorts of superheroes and learning how to please her secretive boss, Mrs. Persephone Oh. It turns out that Andrea is an excellent AA and willing to job into action when the need arises.

The surperhero characters are strange and fun with most having quirky abilities. Teleporter Joe can only teleport one way to one place, The Big Axe grows in size with his special, deadly axe, Tiger King uses his speed and claws, Kitchen Sink uses a costume that gives the wearer a deep voice and all sorts of weapons to throw at villains, and Professor Well Actually can’t help correcting facts as he begins each sentence with “Well, actually…”. There are many more and the C.U.P. administrative office has to deal with all normal Human Resource issues, their complaints regarding supplies, uniforms, and salaries, while keeping the teams organized to protect the public at large at a profitable cost while minimizing risks and damages.

When an alien egg spaceship arrives at Yankee Stadium C.U.P. slides in to secure the protection contract and face the enemy. Even with all of the C.U.P. superheroes brought in from all of the states, there is no guarantee they will succeed in keeping the threat within the contracted territory and defeating an alien force to safe the world.

I actually started listening to this book months ago in the car as I don’t always download books on some of the other apps. I found it easy to pick this up on and off without losing the thread of the zany story. There may be some argument that there are political statements being made but I just ignored that aspect while enjoying the entertainment. This did remind me of Douglas Adams’ A Hitchhikers Guide. I recommend it to those who enjoy that sort of entertainment.

Audio Notes: Bahni Turpin does a wonderful job with narration. Her voice for Andrea fits and brings the character to life. She also provides other clear, distinct voices while delivering effective energy to the action. I am glad I was able to enjoy this in audio.

Source: 2018 Audible 7/13/18 Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet (new series or standalone) goals.