ALIENS FOR LUNCH

In a delightful sequel to Aliens for Breakfast (1988), tiny Aric, Commander of the Interspace Brigade, again needs Richard's help: The greedy Graxians have hijacked his ship and its supply of XTC-1000 (a commodity that keeps a planet's desserts tasty for 11,976 years); if the Threllians don't get their shipment, they'll attack Earth to try to get its XTC-1000. Arming themselves with a spray can of soy sauce and an eggbeater, the intrepid adventurers set out. Their weapons prove ineffective— but the Graxians faint away when confronted by the celery sticks that Richard (a fan of veggies) has in his pocket. Brisk, imaginatively conceived action, rib-tickling dialogue, and comical—the phenomenal significance of food; Aric's parsimony (he knows how to make them all invisible, but holds back despite their danger: ``The Brigade works on a very tight budget...Every ten minutes of vanishing costs...$183.15'')- -all combine to make this tops in enjoyable sf for beginners. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 7-10)