Foster, Alan Dean. Flinx in Flux. 1988. Pip and Flinx No. 5 (Chronological). Gateway, 2013.
Alan Dean Foster waited more than a decade to write a sequel to End of the Matter, which ends with Pip becoming a mother. But time does not move as fast in fiction as in life, which allows for Pip’s kids to still be flying toddlers who need to be repatriated. Flinx is now 19, and finally meets a young woman scientist who needs rescuing. But since Foster writes aliens better than people, he takes her to a planet called Longtunnel, where they meet some loveable aliens who are a lot smarter than they appear to be. The corporate villains don’t stand a chance. And as usual, it may be up to Flinx to save the universe. Old school planetary adventure. 3.5 stars. ( )

High-energy action and adventure in the form of a boy and his dragon meets his biggest nemesis yet. A young girl.

I mean, it's not all as bad as that, of course, and Flinx has had plenty of girls after him but he's never been in quite the right frame of mind since he was being chased by assassins, trying to save the universe, trying to discover who his father is... that kind of thing. And he also has his first love in the form of his minidrag, so there's always that...

But still, these things do finally catch up with a boy. ROMANCE. *gasp* *shock* *swoon*

Well, not so much swoon. I've read better romance... all over the place... but it's decent. I suppose the best parts are where we get to spelunk, meet new alien races, foil eco-gene-terrorists, meet up with uberpowerful friends, and discover that things are going to hell in a handbasket right on the outer reaches.

All in the day, right?

As an adventure, it's still top-notch. I can't even tell that it's YA but it has all the hallmarks and it's always an easy and fun read. In other words, it's good for the whole family and even crusty old SF hounds like me. :) ( )

Another engrossing Flinx adventure. Held me reading all day till I finished.

Flinx and his pet minidrag, Pip, rescue a beautiful young woman in the wilds of Alaspin, a world in whose jungles you don't want to be alone and vulnerable. Helping her evade death, Flinx gets her eggplant but it isn't enough. An appealing story, great lead characters (must include Pip), some good twists and a powerful enemy, all you expect from the series. ( )

Scifi