The Alejandra Variations

by Paul Cook

Paul Cook's fascination with the human dream state is manifested in this novel of a man who is a professional dreamer. Nicholas Tejada is directly interfaced with the super-computer Mnemos Nine, extracting useful data and images from his vivid mindscapes as part of the top-secret government Project Foresee. Tejada experiences his dreams as reality, awakening in the midst of the inception of World War III. When he next arrives, there has been a nuclear holocaust and he is forced to live underground, on the lookout for leftover bombs. As he continues to awaken in the far future he is pursued by a woman whose advances he resists. Paul Cook's scenarios of the future have been called "intriguing" by Publishers Weekly, and his storytelling ability keeps the reader gripped, making The Alejandra Variations an utterly involving, imaginative thriller.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[BWEfwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun page turner that felt like a mix of HG Wells Time Machine and the movies Minority Report and The Matrix. I enjoyed the historical perspective--a future where the cold war is still on and the anti nuke theme is powerful and clear.

[James]

Mnemos Nine, a complex computer used by the State Department for predicting catastrophes that is also an intelligent being with human emotions, shares an extraordinary relationship with nuclear strategist Nicholas Tejada

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ A Good Book/Unexceptional

I wish it had more depth and better character growth. Still, it was a fun read.

[Eddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure exactly what I thought of the book. The story is interesting, but it felt that it wandered pretty deep into several of the variations and that the depth didn't necessarily add to the story in the end. By the last, I kind of felt tired of the various variations and was looking forward to the resolution. Interesting views of the post-apocolyptic world, and what happens when the world is covered in toxic radiation, but it couldn't overcome the slow movement of the story.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first three variations are well written and intriguing. The plot takes a shift to a somewhat tired path (to be fair the idea would have been fresher when the book was written) but although disappointing plot wise the last variation is tense and climatic.

[Gobasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of being trapped in a machine that is creating alternate realities is a standard SF trope. I felt Cook did a good job with this one. Keeping the reader interested without giving out too much too soon. A fun read.

[Lisa]

Didn't read this yet...just downloaded it as the January 2013 monthly PhoenixPick.