He himself is barely developed, and exists primarily as a shell through which the reader can enter the story. Rod is primarily a viewpoint character, though. It’s a conceit that easily could have fallen flat, but Coville uses it as the engine that drives Rod’s character, and does so admirably. This becomes particularly pronounced at the climax, at which point Rod has to learn to lie in order to save the day.

Rod’s honesty becomes a driving factor in the plot, frequently creating narrative tension when he can’t comfortably lie about the bizarre circumstances he finds himself in. This is kind of a strange choice for a character quirk, but Coville manages it quite skillfully. Rod’s primary character trait is pathological honesty: he always tells the truth, no matter what. Along for the ride is our hapless protagonist, Rod Allbright, a middle-school-aged kid who narrates the adventures in first-person.

The Aliens series follows a small cast of alien characters perennially in pursuit of the evil intergalactic criminal BKR. He wrote numerous different series (some of which we may cover in the future) but my favorite by far was the “Alien Adventures,” beginning with Aliens Ate My Homework. Coville’s specialty was works of science fiction and fantasy, usually with a dash of humor. If you’d asked me who my favorite author was at the age of eight or nine, I’d have replied without hesitation: “Bruce Coville!” Mr. In this featurette, the intrepid crew of the Starship Ferkel will reveal details on their current mission and will inform viewers on what it takes to become a member of the Galactic Patrol.Books of My Childhood Aliens Ate My Homework The Galactic Patrol Wants You! – A closer look at the members of the Galactic Patrol featuring Grakker, Madame Pong, Rod Allbright, Elspeth, and Phillogenous Esk Piemondum, aka Phil.On the Set with Bruce Coville – The beloved author gives viewers a peek at life on the set of Aliens Ate My Homework while providing details on the origins of the Galactic Patrol book series.Featuring behind the scenes footage plus interviews with the cast, filmmakers, and author Bruce Coville. Aliens Ate My Homework: From Page to Screen – This piece will give viewers a peek at the process of turning the novel into a film – from concept to production and visual effects.Viewers will get a peek at what it takes to bring the creatures to life on-set through the magic of prosthetic make-up, as well as practical effects techniques like oversized sets and puppetry.

Not of This World: Creating Alien Life Forms – A look at creating some of the film's Alien characters, showcasing the work of Emmy-winning visual effects maestro Todd Masters and his creature effects team.

Aliens Ate My Homework by Bruce Coville