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Luminarium (2011)

by Alex Shakar(Favorite Author)

3.54 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1569479755 (ISBN13: 9781569479759)

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

Soho Press

review 1: Absolutely fantastic!!! This book weaves together a tapestry of compelling themes facing my generation (mid 30 somethings) in an America still reeling from the aftereffects of the stock market crash, our continued "war" in the middle east, and the technology bubble bursting amidst constant technological advancement/improvement. The narrator and main character is trying to deal with a complete crisis as his twin brother is in a prolonged coma from end stage cancer; the company they started together (a SIMS/HALO type virtual reality video game of sorts) has been bought out and totally reappropriated by the military entertainment complex, for use simulating disasters such as terrorist bombing & nuclear war in major US cities, and battle training modules in the middle east. I ... moreknow this doesnt sound exciting or funny, but the book is written with a wry, endearing humor; even as the main character endures failure & major life challenges at every turn. The peripheral figures in the book are finely drawn, realistic, and also dealing with their own issues. There is a love interest in the form of the neuropsychologist who is conducting a study (for which our narrator has volunteered) whereby she stimulates different areas of the brain in order to induce near death experiences of angels, or benevolent presences, and positively impact the lives of the patients. Whether this is successful or just artificial remains to be discovered as the book continues. The major complication is that Fred, the narrator, begins receiving cryptic, mysterious, and uncannily personal emails, texts, and other communiques from his twin brother who is still in the hospital in a coma from which he hasnt awoken in over 6 months. He embarks on a spiritual journey of self discover as a doubter who cannot buy any of the prevailing religious myths on offer; or quite determine the scientific merit of competing fringe theories in physics, neuroscience, psychology, or biology. His POV is totally consistent with the loss of faith most of us in this modern world struggle with, and yet the reader is never stiff armed into any particular world view or belief; it remains up to the reader the whole time to ponder his/her own opinions/beliefs on these incredibly provacative issues of what it is to be a person, in this world, in this universe, at this time. One of the best books Ive read all year. Dont be put off by the seemingly depressing or overly scientific subjects, it is moving and you will find yourself confronting lots of common themes in a gentle and open ended way that is never preachy or even trying to argue for or against anything.
review 2: A really excellent book. I can clearly see why this book was nominated for and received so many awards. It reminded me of early Neal Stephenson. Taking very complex ideas, neurophysiology, metaphysics, quantum mechanics, virtual reality and combining them into a page turner of a book. It is difficult to go into too much more detail without spoiling the book for other readers, but the characters, the main one Fred in particular was well realized and compelling, but none of the supporting cast were cliched at all. For lovers of true science fiction then this is a definite must read. less

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