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K-Pax (K-Pax #1)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 619 ratings · 40 reviews

Psychiatrist Gene Brewer doesn't have a diagnosis for the mysterious new patient who calls himself "prot" (rhymes with goat). But this strange and likeable man cannot beas he claimsfrom the planet K-PAX.

Or can he? Prot knows facts about space that are confounding the experts. He is soon revealing Dr. Brewer's own deepest pains and most sublime longings. And his tales of

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Paperback, 240 pages

Published July 11th 1996 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (first published 1995)

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Jan 30, 2012 Nenia Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: x-1990s, x-series-bk-1

Attention teachers: why put depressing science-fiction books like Brave New World and 1984 on the curriculum when there are beauties like THIS floating around in existence? The blurb on the back of the book describes this as “a mixture of Starman, Oliver Sacks, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (The Guardian, if you're curious). I can definitely see that, but it's not the BEST comparison. Oliver Sacks definitely is analogous to Gene Brewer (the psychiatrist who narrates K-PAX), but in terms o...more Attention teachers: why put depressing science-fiction books like Brave New World and 1984 on the curriculum when there are beauties like THIS floating around in existence? The blurb on the back of the book describes this as “a mixture of Starman, Oliver Sacks, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (The Guardian, if you're curious). I can definitely see that, but it's not the BEST comparison. Oliver Sacks definitely is analogous to Gene Brewer (the psychiatrist who narrates K-PAX), but in terms of media comparisons, “What About Bob?”, “Pan's Labyrinth”, and “Stranger in a Strange Land” are the best (in my opinion). Pan's Labyrinth is particularly appropriate because the ending of the book is either bittersweet or depressing depending on how you choose to interpret the ending, and the events leading up to it. But wait — I'm getting ahead of myself.

The book is narrated by psychiatrist Gene Brewer, a psychoanalyst who works at the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute (MPI). The star of the show, though, is “prot” (lower case, rhymes with “goat”): the new patient in the ward, who believes that he is an alien from K-PAX. Gene doesn't know what to do with prot. On the one side, he doesn't seem to be hurting anyone, including himself, with these delusions. K-PAX is a kind of communist utopia, where people do things that need to be done, share all their belongings, and are reared by anyone who happens to be around. The K-PAXians are several million years older than us, and have come a lot further in terms of psychological development (according to prot). He thinks we are a very backwards race — at one point, he describes us as “children” — but not entirely beyond salvation. Naturally, Gene finds this incredibly frustrating. Not only is prot resistant to treatment — he sometimes dares to turn the tables on the psychiatrist and evaluates HIM, even taking notes on their meetings (an image that is easily imaginable and quite hilarious).

Prot is definitely having a positive influence on the other patients in the ward, though. He seems to know more than he could possibly know about other people, outer space, and animals. People flock to him like moths to a lamp and — miraculously — seem to be all the better for it instead of getting burned. His K-PAXian ideals are just that — highly idealistic, but not naïve. If anything, prot gives the appearance of being worldly and jaded beyond his years. As frustrated as Gene is by prot's resistance to therapy, prot appears to be much more frustrated by mankind's ability to stop being such… well, douchebags (if you pardon my language). How could you understand a world rife hatreds and passions, when you live in a realm of neutral indulgence?

On the other side, there is more to prot than meets the eye. When the doctor hypnotizes prot, he seems to harbor another consciousness who won't give his name. Prot only refers to him as “a friend” and gives vague clues as to whom this person's identity really is. But Gene learns enough to realize that there is a much darker side to prot than his typical behavior would suggest. And when prot hints that he will be leaving the ward soon, the race is on to discover who this mystery consciousness is…before it's too late.

I loved this book. Really, truly loved it. K-PAX made me want to be a better person, and made me understand the benefits of communism in a way that Karl Marx never could. It also shows how communism could never WORK for humans because of who we are, by nature. That is, selfish, greedy, passionate, violent, sexual beings who need to prove ourselves and require constant acceptance and approval at the risk of severe social dysfunction. I really wish I had read this book in school instead of all those horrible dystopian novels that made me HATE sci-fi for the longest time. Sure, prot condemns public education but he doesn't say that learning is bad. Rather, he says that our school systems suck and make learning an un-fun and unfulfilling task. Having seen teachers forcing second language students to read Shakespeare and Chaucer in ENGLISH (why? Spanish teachers don't make us read El Cid and Don Quixote in medieval Spanish. Not in high school, anyway), I can definitely see why prot would think we are going about learning in the wrong way.

Still not convinced? Here are some lovely quotes that actually made me pause, contemplate, and admire the prose:

“I've noticed that human beings laugh a lot, even at things that aren't funny. I was puzzled by this at first until I realized how sad your lives really are.” -prot

And this quote really resonated with me because it was just so… so… AMAZING. Particularly since I just watched a documentary on Youtube that discusses how dolphins are far more intelligent than we might have originally supposed:

Gene: Can you communicate with all our beings?
Prot: I have a little difficulty with homo sapiens.
Gene: Can you talk to dolphins and whales?
Prot: They're beings, aren't they?
Gene: How do you do that?
Prot: You humans consider yourselves the smartest of the EARTH beings. Am I right?
Gene: Yes.
Prot: Then obviously the other beings speak much simpler languages than yours, right?
Gene: Well —
Prot: So if you're so smart and their languages are so simple, how come you can't communicate with them?

PWNED!!!!!

Seriously, read this book. And watch the dolphin video, too! :)(less)

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Apr 27, 2011 Ardesia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sp, ste

Sistema solare -> pianeta TERRA -> USA -> ospedale psichiatrico -> trob sostiene di esser un viaggiatore interstellare e per questo viene considerato pazzo -> un medico cerca di curarlo, ma trob deve tornar al suo pianeta -> e ci tornerà, cavalcando un raggio di luce...
Non un mondo immaginario palesemente inverosimile, ma un pianeta concreto, con un nome, un sole, anzi 2, che gli danno energia, forme di vita che lo popolano vivendo in armonia e pace totali; un'intero pianeta su...more

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Aug 16, 2009 Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

His name is prot. Is he mad? Or could his strange story really be true?
Prot claims that he is from the planet K-PAX, a utopia where there is no such thing as murder or crime, government does not exist, everyone lives in harmony and the beings all have the ability of light travel.
The story is told from the point of view of Prot's psychiatrist or doctor 'Gene' while he is staying in the Metropolitan Institude for the clinicall ill. The chapters take the form of sessions in which Gene (the same nam...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Fatstagnation rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Dr. Gene Brewer is an accomplished psychologist at the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute, specializing in multiple personality disorder. Naturally, he sees this disorder, or other psychological maladies, everywhere he looks. As he examines prot, an interstellar traveler from the planet K-PAX, his own obsessions and insecurities reveal themselves.

prot captivates the people who meet him. His lucidity and naïve way of questioning the norms of human society trigger reminiscence and self-reflection in...more

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Oct 19, 2012 The Goon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: enjoyed

Psychiatrist Gene Brewer begins therapy with a new patient named Prot. During therapy, Prot makes a convincing argument that he is an alien from the plant K-PAX. Can it be so simple that Prot is an alien? Or is there something more to the story? What follows is a suspenseful journey to discover Prot's true identity.

This would have been a good book if it had not been for a few strikes that I have against it. The first strike is that I saw the movie based on this book a long time ago, so I alread...more Psychiatrist Gene Brewer begins therapy with a new patient named Prot. During therapy, Prot makes a convincing argument that he is an alien from the plant K-PAX. Can it be so simple that Prot is an alien? Or is there something more to the story? What follows is a suspenseful journey to discover Prot's true identity.

This would have been a good book if it had not been for a few strikes that I have against it. The first strike is that I saw the movie based on this book a long time ago, so I already knew what was going to happen, who Prot really was, and therefore found nary a suspenseful moment in the book.

The second strike against this book is that I have recently read, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," which is a book very similar to "K-PAX" in plot, except that "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," is a superior book in every possible way.

The psychiatrist, Gene, in "K-PAX" is boring, and makes no insightful comments. In fact, Gene's background, family life, and deepest feelings are often related to the reader all throughout the book, even though such information is not in any way interesting. Gene is just not interesting.
The dialogue between therapist and patient is not sharp and clever, filled with occasionally brilliant moments like it was in, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," but instead, it was lumbering and dull.

The mental health details in the book appear to have been hastily researched, and though there was an opportunity for the book's author to get inside of the head of Prot and show the reader the mind of a mental patient (as was so brilliantly done in, "I never Promised You a Rose Garden,") the author dropped the ball. I know nothing about the workings of Prot's mind, even though I did read what was supposedly hours of his therapy.

The quality of the book's writing is grade B, the dialogue is dull and the characters are not well rounded or interesting. This book is a quick read, and what keeps the pages turning is the question of who Prot really is--which is why once you do know who Prot is the book ceases to be interesting. It was still a fun read though. Although if I had to recommend a book about mentally ill patients working with their therapists to resolve mental health issues, I would totally suggest, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." (less)

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May 24, 2012 Michele rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'd seen the movie, so I knew what was about to happen, which really did affect my feelings about the book. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't, but this time it did.

I found myself really bothered by some of the responses of the psychiatrist. Some of them were absolutely sophomoric, spelling out things that could only be meant for the lowest common denominator.

The female character, Giselle, is absolutely unnecessary. I'm unsure of what her purpose is. I don't remember that character be...more

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Jan 27, 2012 W.H. Fordham rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. Very original and 'out of the box.' An unknown man, with no traceable background, is brought into the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute. After many yests, he shows no sign of any mental/psychiatric problems. To all intents and purposes he is sane.
But..... he calls himself prot and insists he is from the planet K-Pax, an idyllic world with no war, famine or disease. Everybody lives in harmony. He sets a departure date weeks ahead when he is going to return 'home' on a beam of lig...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At the Manhattan Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Gene Brewer eagerly holds sessions with his new patient prot (no capitals, rhymes with goat). prot is a while male in his early thirties. He appears to be very normal, friendly and very pleasant. However, he also claims to be from the planet K-PAX. Fact or fantasy?

prot loves traveling in space (faster than the speed of light), has a great sense of humor and feels that Earth's produce alone is "worth the trip." On K-PAX there's no crime, no laws and no l...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Iris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Read the whole review here: http://paperbookworm.blogspot.com/200...

This book was brimming of information - from psychology to reality. It was a masterpiece brought by Gene Brewer. The story moved me to inspiration and it gave me a better look at the world.

The plot revolved around 'prot' - a patient of Manhattan Psychiatric Institute who claims that he was an extra-terrestrial being from the planet he calls K-PAX. He was found in a bus terminal in New York and thus confined to MPI because of thi...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Steve rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: storyline-tale

I've read this book at least twice, a thoroughly enjoyable and unique read. There are so many hidden and un-hidden truths in this book. It's based on the film of the same name, but to be honest I prefered the book.

It's an inspiring, yet kind of sad, read, that takes on the whole complexity of our belief system, society, and laws, and challenges them with simple truths.

A truly inspiring read that may leave you with the wish to find and visit K-Pax *smiling*. Or, it may just help you to question...more

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Oct 18, 2009 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars

I saw this movie prior to purchasing the book and - as usual with anything Kevin Spacey is involved in - it was pretty damn good. Reading the book it is impossible to seperate it from the movie. The narrative style is almost a screenplay in itself, and whilst it's been a year or so since I saw the movie and therefore all the details aren't in my memory, both movie and film seem more or less identical. This isn't a criticism, of course, only that trying to extrapolate the book from within the fil...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the few books I've read after seeing the film, and for once I wasn't disappointed. It is a beautiful reflective tale of the nature of difference, the persistence of some beliefs in the face of opposition, and above all for me, compassion.

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Oct 26, 2009 Clare rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: unusual-fiction

This is a most unusual book. It blurs the line between science fiction and reality in a unique way. Prot claims to be from another planet and his descriptions of his "home" are highly detailed. However, he is a psychiatric patient and his doctor is trying to find out what really happened to this man who claims to be from another star system. Along the way, Prot starts to help some the other patients deal with their own problems, and some of the details of where he says he is from are correlated...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Mark Birbeck rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I remember enjoying this years ago, and dusted it off recently when looking for interesting books for my 11 year-old son. He's really enjoying it, too!

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Jul 16, 2012 Hope rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-sci-fi-fantasy-collection

Alien visitor or mental patient? You won't find out until the end. Mainly, this is a story about the relationship between doctor and patient on present-day Earth. The main character Prot is brilliant, funny, and innocent...you root for him no matter the outcome. The author does a great job posing social questions, and commenting on the general state of man.

I saw the movie first, so was excited to learn the books are a series! I think the ideas are brilliant, but the execution is a bit lacking....more

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Apr 09, 2013 Isa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Un libro increíble. Una historia conmovedora, diálogos profundos cargados de enseñanzas y grandes párrafos sobre los que es digno reflexionar. Lectura más que recomendada.

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Dec 24, 2012 JM rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was an interesting and quick read. Never saw the movie, so I don't know how it compares, though some things were weird, such as the psychiatrist allowing prot to give the other patients "tasks" to help rehabilitate them. It seemed a bit sappy at times, but I guess it did a good job leaving the ending open. Was prot an alien or merely an alternate personality of Robert Porter? That's for you to decide because there are enough clues to arrive to either conclusion. I just found out by browsing g...more

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Aug 19, 2012 JDK1962 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 12, 2007 Matt rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Never saw the movie (so I'm not sure which version is better), but Brewer's novel here is a mildly interesting yet thinly veiled critique of our modern civilization. "Prot," an alien (?) Christ-figure explains to a psychologist why life on his planet K-Pax is infinitely better than life here on earth. Brewer's writing style is pretty simplistic, and the message is sort of obvious, but I don't regret reading it. I'm shocked to see he that he actually wrote a bunch of sequels... guess he's doing s...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Simon rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

dumb

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Nov 21, 2011 Dudley Danes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow, what a book.

I don't know if I'm biased because I LOVE the movie with Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges or what, but I thought it was an excellent read--both fun and tragic (though usually not at the same time). The characters were believable to me and each time I pulled back the cover to start reading, i fell right in. This was one of those books I thought about and talked about when I wasn't reading it.

I don't keep used books. But I'll hang onto this one for some time.

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Feb 06, 2013 Roddy Williams rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

There have been far far better treatments of the 'Is he an alien or not?' concept, and in this the suspense is... non-existent. How it got picked up for a movie is a more intriguing mystery. Derivative pap.

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Aug 11, 2007 David added it · review of another edition

I read this book after seeing and loving the movie. It was pretty good, and it fleshes out many of the details untouched by the movie, but overall I lked the movie better. The book focuses on the split evidence concerning Prot's origin and his revolutionary ideas about society (you get the feeling Brewer is sneaking in his own opinions--see his website for more info), while the movie concentrates more on the doctor's relationship with his wife and family.

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Jan 07, 2010 Ricky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I loved this very creative and brilliant story that keeps you guessing throughout. There are great characters and there are wonderful dialogue therapy sessions in an imaginative beautiful novel. This novel is totally unique and surprising in its different directions, the main character Prot is an amazing character that will have you wondering and guessing about and is someone you won’t easily forget.

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Dec 22, 2012 Giacomo Casanova rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a beautiful story. This book kept me up for days thinking about what life would be like if we, humans, could simply get our shit together. I spent months wondering what type of changes we could employ to develop an egalitarian society. I partly blame this book for motivating me to become a mathematician and an economist.

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Oct 12, 2011 Dale rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brewer has created an unfortgetable character in prot, and a novel that while Science Fiction, excels beyond the genre (not that there's a thing wrong with the genre). prot's tale is tragic, and though he be from K-Pax, so very human.

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Sep 08, 2010 Dan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The movie really did justice to the book, I don't feel like it really added to the experience to read the book, which for me is a first, but I like the store and the characters and it was an enjoyable read.

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Jul 20, 2010 Ian Fiddes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, sci-fi, recommended-reads

9/10. What a great book! Very, very funny. If you've only seen the film they made based on this book then you've missed out. Nearly all the humour is lost in the film. Very highly recommended book.

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Dec 28, 2012 Bill rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One time I have to say that the screen play was just better, and if you liked the film, or the book, then do not read the second in the series... it works hard to strip all the magic from the story.

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Jul 19, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

How far can/will your brain go to protect you?

Can a really good psychiatrist help you separate delusional from reality?

What is real?

This is one of my favorite stories.

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About Gene Brewer

Gene Brewer was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana and educated at DePauw University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before becoming a novelist Dr. Brewer studied DNA replication and cell division at several major research institutions, including St. Jude Children's REsearch Hospital (Memphis) and Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland). He is the author of the acclaimed K-PAX trilogy...more

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Books by Gene Brewer

K-Pax III: The Worlds of Prot (K-Pax #3)

K-Pax IV: A New Visitor from the Constellation Lyra

K-Pax The trilogy: Featuring prot's report

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