Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar and narrated by Jot Davies. 

Listening time for Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar is 11 hours, 26 minutes.

Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar is a work of absurdist fiction and is a novel that had been on my reading wishlist for quite some time. I was glad to have finally read this novel!

I think Spaceman of Bohemia is well narrated by Jot Davies. The writing, characters, and plot details were engaging enough throughout the novel to keep one interested and wondering what would happen next in the novel. I also liked the pace of this novel as well.

The main character is Jakub Procházka and the novel is told through his point of view. Jakub is a cosmonaut and we read about his journey into space alone, the aftermath of his time in space, as well as his memories of his youth in the Czech Republic.

Overall, I think the Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar was a good read. I thought there was too much philosophizing interspersed in different parts of the novel for my liking. 

Additionally, the giant arachnid like alien named, Hanuš, whom Jakub encounters and interacts with during his solo flight in space was sort of creepy, odd, and weird (???), in my opinion. Was Jakub simply hallucinating Hanuš or was Hanuš really there? It was difficult to determine at times.

Below is the publisher's summary for Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar from Amazon's website:

An intergalactic odyssey of love, ambition, and self-discovery.

Orphaned as a boy, raised in the Czech countryside by his doting grandparents, Jakub Procházka has risen from small-time scientist to become the country's first astronaut. When a dangerous solo mission to Venus offers him both the chance at heroism he's dreamt of, and a way to atone for his father's sins as a Communist informer, he ventures boldly into the vast unknown. But in so doing, he leaves behind his devoted wife, Lenka, whose love, he realizes too late, he has sacrificed on the altar of his ambitions.

Alone in Deep Space, Jakub discovers a possibly imaginary giant alien spider, who becomes his unlikely companion. Over philosophical conversations about the nature of love, life and death, and the deliciousness of bacon, the pair form an intense and emotional bond. Will it be enough to see Jakub through a clash with secret Russian rivals and return him safely to Earth for a second chance with Lenka?

Rich with warmth and suspense and surprise, Spaceman of Bohemia is an exuberant delight from start to finish. Very seldom has a novel this profound taken readers on a journey of such boundless entertainment and sheer fun.

As a side note, Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar has been made into a movie starring, Adam Sandler, as the leading character. I'm not sure if I want to see the movie version after reading the novel.

I am giving Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!