Review by SunVixen -- Worldlines by Adam Guest
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Review by SunVixen -- Worldlines by Adam Guest
[Following is a volunteer review of "Worldlines" by Adam Guest.]
The subject of parallel worlds has been popular in the sci-fi and fantasy genres for a very long time. However, in the book Worldlines by Adam Guest, this old idea is unexpectedly developed.
In this novel, parallel worlds don't just coexist side by side. People from different worlds can see each other in their dreams. At times, if a person from one world acts in his sleep, his double from another world acts ditto in waking life. He may even commit a crime and not remember it. This is how Worldlines' protagonist, Gary Jackson, found himself accused of a heinous murder he hadn’t committed. His only chance to avoid confinement is to prove that parallel worlds do exist.
This book is written in good literary language. It is also very well edited. There are no typos or errors in it. At first, some readers may be discouraged by the specifics and scrupulousness with which the author describes the habits of his characters or lists their social ties. Later, when the plot starts jumping from one world to another, all these ties and habits suddenly become very important and meaningful to the plot. Indeed, in different worlds they sometimes are in accord, sometimes differ with the same characters. Keeping track of these details is no longer tedious, but very exciting.
The Worldlines pages are very hard to get away from. After all, this unusual book is narrated on behalf of several Gary Jacksons living in various parallel worlds. This allows the author to interrupt the story of one Gary Jackson at the most interesting place and suddenly start talking about his double from another world. As a result, he always manages to keep his readers on their toes.
Like the rest of the characters, the main character in this amazing novel appears in several capacities. At the same time, Gary Jacksons from different worlds vary very widely. For example, the first Gary Jackson to start telling his story, is a happy and successful young man who is attending university and preparing for a brilliant future. Nevertheless, one of his doubles is an unemployed cripple who harbors a grudge against the whole universe and does not get along even with his family members. But still, this is the same person. Just influenced by circumstances, his personality acquires distinctly differing traits in two parallel worlds. He looks like a crystal with many facets.
Thus, Worldlines has everything a good science fiction novel should have - a fresh, unbroken idea, a gripping plot, and a sympathetic character. So I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. Although it talks about murder, there is no overly graphic description of this murder. There are no obscene scenes either. So it can be safely recommended to all readers.
******
Worldlines
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The subject of parallel worlds has been popular in the sci-fi and fantasy genres for a very long time. However, in the book Worldlines by Adam Guest, this old idea is unexpectedly developed.
In this novel, parallel worlds don't just coexist side by side. People from different worlds can see each other in their dreams. At times, if a person from one world acts in his sleep, his double from another world acts ditto in waking life. He may even commit a crime and not remember it. This is how Worldlines' protagonist, Gary Jackson, found himself accused of a heinous murder he hadn’t committed. His only chance to avoid confinement is to prove that parallel worlds do exist.
This book is written in good literary language. It is also very well edited. There are no typos or errors in it. At first, some readers may be discouraged by the specifics and scrupulousness with which the author describes the habits of his characters or lists their social ties. Later, when the plot starts jumping from one world to another, all these ties and habits suddenly become very important and meaningful to the plot. Indeed, in different worlds they sometimes are in accord, sometimes differ with the same characters. Keeping track of these details is no longer tedious, but very exciting.
The Worldlines pages are very hard to get away from. After all, this unusual book is narrated on behalf of several Gary Jacksons living in various parallel worlds. This allows the author to interrupt the story of one Gary Jackson at the most interesting place and suddenly start talking about his double from another world. As a result, he always manages to keep his readers on their toes.
Like the rest of the characters, the main character in this amazing novel appears in several capacities. At the same time, Gary Jacksons from different worlds vary very widely. For example, the first Gary Jackson to start telling his story, is a happy and successful young man who is attending university and preparing for a brilliant future. Nevertheless, one of his doubles is an unemployed cripple who harbors a grudge against the whole universe and does not get along even with his family members. But still, this is the same person. Just influenced by circumstances, his personality acquires distinctly differing traits in two parallel worlds. He looks like a crystal with many facets.
Thus, Worldlines has everything a good science fiction novel should have - a fresh, unbroken idea, a gripping plot, and a sympathetic character. So I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. Although it talks about murder, there is no overly graphic description of this murder. There are no obscene scenes either. So it can be safely recommended to all readers.
******
Worldlines
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Tau Ceti: A Ship from Earth by George T. Hahn
