Alien invasions have never been funnier than Jack Cullen’s laugh-out-loud sci-fi novel, Lock’s Galactic Mess. Even though nobody in their right mind would believe him, Lock Ferguson isn’t a stranger to aliens. His first encounter with extraterrestrials came when he was a teen. That fateful night left him not only grieving the loss of his parents but also with the onerous nickname 'Probed.' Though he’s pretty sure there was no probing on the spacecraft, Lock has been marginalized ever since and he’d like to put it all behind him, dutifully perform his janitorial assignments, and avoid drawing too much attention to himself. However, the alien that abducted him has some unfinished business on Earth and Lock finds himself at the center of a mess of epic proportions.

Jack Cullen’s wit shines throughout the narrative as Lock and his unlikely allies race to save Earth. The storyline rips off popular alien abduction concepts and is enhanced with clever observational humor. Rayguns, starcrafts, and body-swapping aliens are only the beginning of the fun. My favorite moment comes when Lock is just getting to know one of the aliens, KayCee, who explains many questions humans have about the unexplained, including how crop circles are nothing more than alien graffiti. There is plenty of cosmic action, but the well-defined characters really shape this story. If you enjoy reading humorous science fiction, Lock’s Galactic Mess is an exciting adventure that is not to be missed. In fact, it should be next on your reading list!

In Lock's Galactic Mess by Jack Cullen, Lock Ferguson is a seemingly regular janitor who lives in a small town in New Hampshire, of which his cousin, Tavish, is the mayor. Lock was abducted by an alien as a teenager, but after speaking up about this ordeal, he was ridiculed, bullied, teased, and given the nickname Probed, as his peers were under the impression that aliens, if they were to abduct people, would sexually probe their victims. When Tavish, as a gimmick to lure more tourists to their small town, organizes an alien workshop where Lock is one of the speakers, all hell breaks loose, as the alien who abducted Lock is drawn to him again. Lock goes from being a run-of-the-mill citizen with little to no ambition or aspirations to having to become the savior of not only his close friends but also the whole of humankind.
 
Although there is a strong emphasis on humor in Lock's Galactic Mess, it is still a proper science-fiction novel and is extremely action-packed. I enjoyed the numerous plot twists, and it kept me guessing until the last page. The development of the lead character, Lock, is on point, starting with his abduction as a teenager, after which he withdraws from society and becomes an underachiever, through to his metamorphosis into a courageous hero figure. I considered certain times in Lock's life story to be defining moments and even took some time out to look at those in my own life. The chuckles I had from Jack Cullen's humor, especially in the characters' often geeky referencing to movies in popular culture, the hyperbole action scenes, and all-round great story-telling technique, made for an enjoyable and relaxing read.