Rate this book

Die Mauern Des Universums (2010)

by Paul Melko(Favorite Author)

3.76 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

3453526910 (ISBN13: 9783453526914)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Heyne

series

Universe

review 1: (So as to get the obligatory synopsis out of the way)John Rayburn is a science minded average Ohio farm boy with the same problems as any average young man. His world turns around, literally in the course of a day, when he is approached by his doppelganger, whom John thinks of as "John Prime". The author differentiates between the two by using the names "John Prime" for the doppelganger and just "John" or "John Farm Boy" for our ORIGINAL John Rayburn. Prime explains that he is from an alternate universe and that he has a device that can make him travel through each different world. He eventually tricks John Farm Boy into taking the device "for a test drive". There's only one problem- the device is broken and only travels one way - forward. The Farm Boy is stranded in the ... moreuniverse next door with only the ability to move forward, while John Prime has stolen Farm Boy's universe, family, life, but most importantly his crush, Casey.Both Johns begin to draw attention to themselves in the universes that they're each occupying when they introduce concepts that are foreign to that universe. For example, John Prime intends to "invent" the Rubik's Cube, which was never invented in Farm Boy's universe in an attempt to become a multi-millionaire. While stuck on a random universe, John Prime inadvertently introduces the concept of pinball in a world that has never heard of such a thing.However, in the mean time, Farm Boy is devising a strategy to get back to his home universe to teach Prime a lesson. (End obligatory synopsis).Off the cuff, this book is amazing. Upon initial reaction and based on the official synopsis you may read this book sounds like it could be categorized as a friendly "young adult fiction" classification. However, it is anything BUT that.For anyone to whom it would matter, this story does have it's share of adult themes- murder, more than occasional language, sex (slightly descriptive in just one case), and dark themes. One of the themes in the book deal with a character who is discovered to torture animals in secrecy. Another topic that is grazed, albeit briefly is a principal who is caught sleeping with a minor. My point is that this probably wasn't intentionally aimed at younger kids as much as the synopsis would sound like it. I only feel compelled to even mention it because there really are people in the world who care what the kiddies are reading. Haven gotten THAT out of the way, this is a really fun story. It feels like one of those theoretical conversations you get into with your other nerdy buddies about what it would take to travel to alternate worlds and the physics that would be involved. Except it's mixed with action and a slew of theoretical "would I have done that?" situations. It's not a complicated read at all in respects to there being two main characters who are alternate versions of one another. The author does a great job keeping everything very clear and concise. It really is one of those stories that the typical comic book/time travel/alternate world theory fan would read and hope to see on the silver screen one day.Paul Melko wrote this book and it's sequel, titled The Broken Universe. I see no information indicating a third book or that one is even coming, but I sure hope so. This one is going down as an entry in my "favorite series'" column. Melko earned a new fan with this one.
review 2: A superb introduction to the concept of multiverses or parallel universes for those new to the concept--and a fun ride for those of us familiar with the potential pitfalls when writing such a genre! First, Melko created a comfort zone of familiarity for readers and pulled me right into John (Farmboy)'s life. Then he plunged me into the dizzying reality of multiple and similar dimensions and characters. Once the net was cast, I was snared, as was poor John Farmboy as he faced the very personal inner dilemmas that are what make any novel a good read. So Melko created a strong setting, a character readers really care about and worry over, and then added the fascinating potentials that traveling between parallel universes can create. Probably the most amazing was how easily I found myself able to follow the multiple "Johns" in the story, which reflects great writing skills.I found myself thoroughly invested in John's dilemma, his angst and his desire to do something "good" with the possibilities. Of course, life doesn't go that smoothly even in one dimension, so the last half sets readers on a roller coaster ride of adventure with bad guys to deal. I was very satisfied with the ending (had a bit of a twist and was really fitting for all personalities involved) and anxious for his next book, in which (I assumed correctly) those bad guys were not gone for good. Thankfully Melko has written the sequel, The Broken Universe, which I also recommend. less

Download links for: Die Mauern des Universums

Advertising