Editorial Review For NICK and the 996: A Porsche 911 Novel
Also available as an audiobook
This book throws an alien into the middle of Earth’s car culture and
somehow makes it work. NICK and the 996 follows Nick R. Bates, an
ex-racer from another planet who’s trying to fix both his image and a Porsche
996. His plan? Turn the car into a racing machine worthy of a galaxy-wide
competition. There are themes of identity, friendship, and purpose layered between
car parts, turbo upgrades, and some surprisingly human moments.
The author knows Porsches. Every technical detail is handled with care.
The scenes involving the restoration of the 996 are written with the kind of
attention that shows real love for the subject. What’s more surprising is how
the book manages to blend gearhead content with character growth. Nick isn’t
just bolting on spoilers; he’s figuring himself out too. The friendships he
builds are more than just plot devices—they add some weight to the story. The
pacing moves fast, but not so fast that it skips over the emotional core.
As a genre piece, it fits somewhere between sci-fi parody and car
enthusiast fiction. There’s a little bit of Top Gear, some Guardians
of the Galaxy attitude, and a lot of automotive fandom. It's weird. And
somehow that’s the point. You won’t find another spacefaring car club president
wrenching on a 996 in most sci-fi books.
This one's for readers who like their fiction with fuel injection. If
you’ve ever lost a weekend on a forum about headlight conversions or argued
about air-cooled engines, this book gets you. If you also like sarcastic
aliens, even better.
Is it a serious novel? Not really. Is it trying to be? Thankfully, no.
But it does manage to say something about connection and reinvention without
feeling like a lecture. If you're into cars and want something different, give NICK
and the 996 a shot. Just don’t expect a Hallmark ending.