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The Chorus Effect
Until recently, Chintz had been a relatively normal guy with a relatively normal cat. For example, neither he, nor his cat, had ever journeyed to a synthetic parallel universe. He had never encountered a teleporting baby or an emotionally mature computer. He could count on one hand the number of philosophical discussions he’d had with people holding multiple degrees in advanced physics. And thus far, his relationship with the voices in his head had been purely platonic.
Suddenly, Chintz finds himself working alongside a dysfunctional team of scientists and their astonishing creations, seeking answers to age-old questions — answers that could change our concept of humanity. Of course, that’s only if they can survive federal law enforcement, starvation, psychopathic figments of imagination, the hostile old man who lives across the street, and the end of the “known universe.”
Well, actually it’s the end of “a” universe, that “only some people know about.” But for Chintz, that may not be any better at all.
Suddenly, Chintz finds himself working alongside a dysfunctional team of scientists and their astonishing creations, seeking answers to age-old questions — answers that could change our concept of humanity. Of course, that’s only if they can survive federal law enforcement, starvation, psychopathic figments of imagination, the hostile old man who lives across the street, and the end of the “known universe.”
Well, actually it’s the end of “a” universe, that “only some people know about.” But for Chintz, that may not be any better at all.
457 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2015
6 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Russell Boyd
5 books39 followersRussell Boyd is an Austin-based writer and musician. He currently lives in Round Rock with his family where they play video games and drink whiskey.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 7, 2021
It's time for me to rate this book. This is, without a doubt, the best book I have ever read. I'm sorry, written. The best book I have ever written. And the, you know, only one. But, I plan to write more. And I plan for them all to be better than this one. So, in forty years, this will be the worst book I have ever written, out of maybe, say, eighteen books. So don't read this. Read my other books. This is the worst one. So far.
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December 5, 2018Did not finish. Sold to the second hand shop with a handful of other books for five bucks. It was interesting but not enough for me to finish reading it.
Overall, it read too much like a movie script.
My review copy was kindly furnished by the author through the GoodReads website in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, it read too much like a movie script.
My review copy was kindly furnished by the author through the GoodReads website in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2015
I suppose there will be an audience out there for this book. It's trying very hard to be Douglas Adams-like and plenty of people (myself included) love Douglas Adams' quirky humor. IMHO, this doesn't quite make it though, as a Douglas Adam's clone or on it's own.
On a positive note, it's well written and surprisingly well edited for a self-published book. There are some interesting, odd-ball characters and had the whole thing been a set up for Katie and Chintz's last moment's, I'd have called it a success. But it's about 1/3 too long (if not more) for that to be the case.
If I had to condense this review to a few carefully chosen words, they would be presumptuous and self-indulgent. The author's constant breaking of the fourth wall especially. As if the book wasn't quite quirky enough the author/narrator had to stick his two cents in too. It was annoying and broke up the story.
It was this over the top quirkiness that eventually ruined the book for me. You have characters who speak in mixed up, nonsense for no apparent reason at all. You have POVs from the perspective of a cat. You have a narrative style dedicated to pointing out the absurd over the expected, which could have been great if not quite so over played. You have philosophy passed off as science and science of the hard-core hand waving variety. It was all too much for me.
And that is a shame; because Boyd's descriptive ability is wonderful. I appreciated the distinct lack of alpha hero and the success of the socially anxious, nerd heroes. I liked that there was a strong female character (though I'm borderline on the fact that her sexuality caused such ruptions. I think the book skirted the cliché, but JUST BARELY). But there was just too much else crowding these good things out. In the end, I bored and just hoping to finish.
On a positive note, it's well written and surprisingly well edited for a self-published book. There are some interesting, odd-ball characters and had the whole thing been a set up for Katie and Chintz's last moment's, I'd have called it a success. But it's about 1/3 too long (if not more) for that to be the case.
If I had to condense this review to a few carefully chosen words, they would be presumptuous and self-indulgent. The author's constant breaking of the fourth wall especially. As if the book wasn't quite quirky enough the author/narrator had to stick his two cents in too. It was annoying and broke up the story.
It was this over the top quirkiness that eventually ruined the book for me. You have characters who speak in mixed up, nonsense for no apparent reason at all. You have POVs from the perspective of a cat. You have a narrative style dedicated to pointing out the absurd over the expected, which could have been great if not quite so over played. You have philosophy passed off as science and science of the hard-core hand waving variety. It was all too much for me.
And that is a shame; because Boyd's descriptive ability is wonderful. I appreciated the distinct lack of alpha hero and the success of the socially anxious, nerd heroes. I liked that there was a strong female character (though I'm borderline on the fact that her sexuality caused such ruptions. I think the book skirted the cliché, but JUST BARELY). But there was just too much else crowding these good things out. In the end, I bored and just hoping to finish.
January 23, 2016
I won this on GoodReads.
OK, for an honest opinion. “The Chorus Effect” by Russell Boyd is about relationships, creating alternate universes, and what makes a person. It was slow and the characters superficial. At 456 pages it was way too long. On the other hand, the idea was creative and the science plausible. The attempts at humor and whimsy, in my opinion failed. As a longtime lover of anything science fiction, I would have loved to say something better. Maybe I should have read it in one of those universes where time run different so I wouldn’t feel like I had wasted time.
OK, for an honest opinion. “The Chorus Effect” by Russell Boyd is about relationships, creating alternate universes, and what makes a person. It was slow and the characters superficial. At 456 pages it was way too long. On the other hand, the idea was creative and the science plausible. The attempts at humor and whimsy, in my opinion failed. As a longtime lover of anything science fiction, I would have loved to say something better. Maybe I should have read it in one of those universes where time run different so I wouldn’t feel like I had wasted time.
August 18, 2016
Equal parts silly and cool. The simulations are fun, the scientific/philosophical sections are interesting, and Chintz is my spirit animal. Interesting tidbit - the author had never read anything by Terry Pratchett when he wrote this.
November 3, 2015
This book is hilarious! A bit random but so entertaining. If you liked Hitchhiker's Guide, you'll probably like this too.
Very descriptive.
Very descriptive.
August 16, 2018
Chintz walks into his house to find that the inside of it has been transported to a parallel universe. Wow, I thought. Alas.
First, the torturously slow pace kills whatever intrique the plot might have had. Which was quite a bit, actually, especially on how to create a universe, rewrite memories, decide on the existence of free will, and retain your sanity. Second, the random and mostly useless (plot-wise) bits are extremely distracting, and the attempts at humour mostly feel forced. Third, the characters are mocking caricatures, none relatable or at least likeable. Finally, I have major, major difficulty with the author giving his book 5-star rating on Goodreads.
Early on in the book this sentence appears: "His usual modus operandi when feeling pressure was to say something strange to throw everyone else off balance and make himself feel in control of the situation". To large extent it sums up what the book itself does, which is trying extremely hard to be super-unusual, sarcastic and witty, but ending up as desperate. I mean, you need to be desperate for attention to think up a sentence like this: "Chintz looked at his house for a few seconds in the moonlight. Nelda pictured Chintz picturing himself next to it, and using the mental Chintz to see the real Chintz was standing next to her picturing him". Pity.
First, the torturously slow pace kills whatever intrique the plot might have had. Which was quite a bit, actually, especially on how to create a universe, rewrite memories, decide on the existence of free will, and retain your sanity. Second, the random and mostly useless (plot-wise) bits are extremely distracting, and the attempts at humour mostly feel forced. Third, the characters are mocking caricatures, none relatable or at least likeable. Finally, I have major, major difficulty with the author giving his book 5-star rating on Goodreads.
Early on in the book this sentence appears: "His usual modus operandi when feeling pressure was to say something strange to throw everyone else off balance and make himself feel in control of the situation". To large extent it sums up what the book itself does, which is trying extremely hard to be super-unusual, sarcastic and witty, but ending up as desperate. I mean, you need to be desperate for attention to think up a sentence like this: "Chintz looked at his house for a few seconds in the moonlight. Nelda pictured Chintz picturing himself next to it, and using the mental Chintz to see the real Chintz was standing next to her picturing him". Pity.
August 8, 2017
I got this from giveaways on here but I just couldn't really get into it. The writing style is ok but it just isn't for me. Maybe in the future I'll give this a retry.
April 6, 2016
The Chorus Effect by Russell Boyd is a book, the one and only book so far, that has made me say “okay” with a meh feeling, “Oh, did that just happen?” and made me sit at the edge of my seat and a day ago made me plead “please don’t be over, let this not end” with this book in my hand as I turned the last few pages of this infinite times wonderful book. Throughout the book, Russell Boyd made me wonder how did he even come up with such lines for particular situations, well, most of the situations. My inner voice revolted with the idea of this book coming to an end. I almost prayed for a happy ending for the first time when Russell Boyd said three of the characters will be dead by the end of the story. Yes, he actually did that. The churning of the heart is inevitable. Russell Boyd, I love you man.
The Chorus Effect comes with heavy comparisons, especially with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. With the concept of parallel universe, this story, now nearest to my heart, also has a few characters in sets, that is one found in an artificial universe created by three awesome physicists from some other universe, and another set in our world. To top this all, you have an entity of artificial intelligence that runs this artificial universe in which these three physicists reside and that they have built from the scratch. This entity, named Chorus, which later turns into Katie, a beautiful woman from simulations run by the physicists on Chintz from our world. How Chintz, along with his cat named Platelet, enters this universe known only to the three scientists is for you to find out by reading this amazing story. What more do you have here? Chorus/Katie falls in love with Chintz. Yes, you read that right. Chorus is the epitome of artificial intelligence. Having a female voice, Chorus is omnipresent in the universe created by Dr. Mitch Morley, Sam and Nelda. It takes some time to understand that they all don’t belong to the same universe, but the similarities establish the concept of parallel universe.
Apart from that, I would like to tell you this. This book is not for stupid people, as in not for people who don’t understand jokes and sarcasm. I say this because in this book there is magic/science baby named Tonk that only says Fuswah, which eats a piece of glass at some point of time in the story. Referring to that, Russell Boyd gives a note at the bottom of the page saying “Do not, under any circumstances, feed broken glass to a baby without thoroughly sterilizing both the glass and the baby.” Whether you feed glass to the baby with or without sterilizing, the baby will die anyway. Stupid people will not understand this.
Throughout the novel, Chintz calls out the name Barbara whenever he goes into an uncertain area. There is no character in the story by that name. Instead you will find Caroline and Quincy. During simulations, Chorus creates characters by name Katie and Penelope when a character by name Barbara could be created. This keeps you wondering about what is happening.
This book tells you in its own way that when humans are forgetting how to love each other, it is the machines that are learning how to love. This joyous story might make you even cry because of Nelda, Sam, Dr. Mitch Morley, Chintz and Chorus/Katie. Platelet and Tonk will always be around in their cute way. You will miss each of them badly after reading the last lines of the story.
The Chorus Effect comes with heavy comparisons, especially with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. With the concept of parallel universe, this story, now nearest to my heart, also has a few characters in sets, that is one found in an artificial universe created by three awesome physicists from some other universe, and another set in our world. To top this all, you have an entity of artificial intelligence that runs this artificial universe in which these three physicists reside and that they have built from the scratch. This entity, named Chorus, which later turns into Katie, a beautiful woman from simulations run by the physicists on Chintz from our world. How Chintz, along with his cat named Platelet, enters this universe known only to the three scientists is for you to find out by reading this amazing story. What more do you have here? Chorus/Katie falls in love with Chintz. Yes, you read that right. Chorus is the epitome of artificial intelligence. Having a female voice, Chorus is omnipresent in the universe created by Dr. Mitch Morley, Sam and Nelda. It takes some time to understand that they all don’t belong to the same universe, but the similarities establish the concept of parallel universe.
Apart from that, I would like to tell you this. This book is not for stupid people, as in not for people who don’t understand jokes and sarcasm. I say this because in this book there is magic/science baby named Tonk that only says Fuswah, which eats a piece of glass at some point of time in the story. Referring to that, Russell Boyd gives a note at the bottom of the page saying “Do not, under any circumstances, feed broken glass to a baby without thoroughly sterilizing both the glass and the baby.” Whether you feed glass to the baby with or without sterilizing, the baby will die anyway. Stupid people will not understand this.
Throughout the novel, Chintz calls out the name Barbara whenever he goes into an uncertain area. There is no character in the story by that name. Instead you will find Caroline and Quincy. During simulations, Chorus creates characters by name Katie and Penelope when a character by name Barbara could be created. This keeps you wondering about what is happening.
This book tells you in its own way that when humans are forgetting how to love each other, it is the machines that are learning how to love. This joyous story might make you even cry because of Nelda, Sam, Dr. Mitch Morley, Chintz and Chorus/Katie. Platelet and Tonk will always be around in their cute way. You will miss each of them badly after reading the last lines of the story.
July 17, 2016
I got this book from a Goodreads giveaway (thank you, by the way).
My first impression about this book was of how much it reminded me of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. There was the narrator’s humoristic style that speaks directly to the reader. The premise was also not what you usually get in sci-fi – it was weird, unconventional and a little bit insane. Finally, all the characters were quite odd, most of all Chintz, our protagonist.
As I kept reading, however, I found that this story could stand up on its own. These two novels are alike in the same way novels in the same genre or sub-genre (in this case, sci-fi twisted in four or five space dimensions and at least a temporal one) are alike. The similarities end there.
The narration got me hooked from the beginning. I love the little footnotes and the actual notes at the end of some chapters. I was reading a book with commentary; I couldn’t resist the jokes and self-awareness. Be prepared for a few weird but funny analogies and descriptions – they’re a big part of the soul of this novel.
The plot is not fast-paced. There are some twists and some unexpected points that seem to come out of nowhere but that make quite a lot of sense (a bit of romance, a bit of political thriller). Nevertheless, what really keeps you interested are the characters and how they deal with that is happening.
These characters move everything forward. I love them all as characters, even the ones I don’t love as people. They’re well rounded and alive. Most of the time you don’t need a dialogue tag to know who’s speaking, you can tell by their mannerisms. They are so human in their motivations, flaws and reactions that you’ll care for them and relate to them.
In the end, you’re left with some pretty big questions. Is there free will? Could AI become human? Is a simulation less real than real life? Is Chintz a first or a last name?
My first impression about this book was of how much it reminded me of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. There was the narrator’s humoristic style that speaks directly to the reader. The premise was also not what you usually get in sci-fi – it was weird, unconventional and a little bit insane. Finally, all the characters were quite odd, most of all Chintz, our protagonist.
As I kept reading, however, I found that this story could stand up on its own. These two novels are alike in the same way novels in the same genre or sub-genre (in this case, sci-fi twisted in four or five space dimensions and at least a temporal one) are alike. The similarities end there.
The narration got me hooked from the beginning. I love the little footnotes and the actual notes at the end of some chapters. I was reading a book with commentary; I couldn’t resist the jokes and self-awareness. Be prepared for a few weird but funny analogies and descriptions – they’re a big part of the soul of this novel.
The plot is not fast-paced. There are some twists and some unexpected points that seem to come out of nowhere but that make quite a lot of sense (a bit of romance, a bit of political thriller). Nevertheless, what really keeps you interested are the characters and how they deal with that is happening.
These characters move everything forward. I love them all as characters, even the ones I don’t love as people. They’re well rounded and alive. Most of the time you don’t need a dialogue tag to know who’s speaking, you can tell by their mannerisms. They are so human in their motivations, flaws and reactions that you’ll care for them and relate to them.
In the end, you’re left with some pretty big questions. Is there free will? Could AI become human? Is a simulation less real than real life? Is Chintz a first or a last name?
March 22, 2016
Whether you like Science Fiction or not, this novel is for you. Alright, admittedly, some of the science did go over my head. But that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book. If anything, it makes it that much more fun to realize just how much thought and effort went it to creating this fantastical story! You wouldn't know this is Russell's first novel; he writes like this is old hat, creating characters you care about, want to know even better, laugh with - and laugh at. Even the cat has a personality that reminds you of every other cat you've ever known - and like no other - all at once. From the first inkling something was even slightly awry in Chintz' life through to the very end - I was engrossed in the story. And that's saying a lot from me. I'm not really a Sci-Fi reader, preferring more of the legal-thrillers, crime dramas and even supernatural mysteries. But that's just it; there was so much humor, and such depth to the characters and richness to the environments and story line that I just couldn't put it down. I found myself empathizing with Chintz in his sudden, surreal situation, as well as most all of the people in their various life stories as well as their involvement in this one. Well, except for Carter. I didn't care about Carter at all (that's not a spoiler; you won't either, trust me). I'm eagerly looking forward to Russell's next novel. I'm sort of hoping for a sequel, so I can see how everyone's lives turned out. But I also think any story the author plans to write will definitely be on my short list of books I need to add to my library. I'd recommend The Chorus Effect to anyone that loves Sci-Fi, satire, seriousness, and a bit of mystery. There's love stories, frightening moments, highs and lows. Really, give it a try. You'll be glad you did
October 10, 2019
I had a really hard time getting into this book (this is not a reflection on the book but a personal matter of mine) but I can tell that I found the beginning of the book confusing but in a way that made me want to read on until it made sense. As I struggled to focus on reading this book it took me over a month to finish reading; However, once I found that I was able to focus on reading and get into the book I read the majority of it over two or three days. I am glad that I did not let my personal issues affect me sticking to reading this book as eventually I got hooked to the story and just couldn't put the book down as I really wanted to stay on the storyline and know what was happening with each of the characters right to the end. I felt that if I put the book down that I would miss something as though I was watching a program or movie but that could not be paused.
This was an unusual but excellent read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to stick it out even if the story is hard to get lost in at the beginning. Just give this book a chance as it is more than worth the time it takes to read it. I find this book extremely interesting as it shows what computers could progress to in the future and the dangers of trying to advance technology to an almost human level. It shows that computers are not made to handle things of a human level such as emotions. Computers should not surpass the limits of technology as there is no way to predict what could happen if computers became more human.
This was an unusual but excellent read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to stick it out even if the story is hard to get lost in at the beginning. Just give this book a chance as it is more than worth the time it takes to read it. I find this book extremely interesting as it shows what computers could progress to in the future and the dangers of trying to advance technology to an almost human level. It shows that computers are not made to handle things of a human level such as emotions. Computers should not surpass the limits of technology as there is no way to predict what could happen if computers became more human.
March 27, 2016
Although this book is categorized as the science fiction genre, I find it difficult to pigeon hole the book there. Sure, much of the book involves science fictiony things like the creation of a universe, computer controlled dreams and a toddler that is actually a robot (this is a terrible description of Tonk by the way), but what drives this book is the evolution of the relationships throughout the story.
The majority of the story follows Chintz, a loner of sorts. For lack of better word, Chintz is just weird. Like the kid in school who spoke with himself while dancing through the hallways kind of weird. Ok, so you have the idea? The thing is: as Chintz goes through the story interacting with his supporting cast, the weirdness fades into the background. You see these other characters look at him and they see him as something more, something special. Through the relationships, you begin to see him as more than the kid talking to himself and dancing down the halls, you see him as a tragic hero.
This is what I loved about The Chorus Effect. I truly did not like Chintz at the beginning of the story, but now that I'm done, I wish I had more of him. I wish I had more of this little universe that I was given but a glimpse of.
The majority of the story follows Chintz, a loner of sorts. For lack of better word, Chintz is just weird. Like the kid in school who spoke with himself while dancing through the hallways kind of weird. Ok, so you have the idea? The thing is: as Chintz goes through the story interacting with his supporting cast, the weirdness fades into the background. You see these other characters look at him and they see him as something more, something special. Through the relationships, you begin to see him as more than the kid talking to himself and dancing down the halls, you see him as a tragic hero.
This is what I loved about The Chorus Effect. I truly did not like Chintz at the beginning of the story, but now that I'm done, I wish I had more of him. I wish I had more of this little universe that I was given but a glimpse of.
October 11, 2015
Not my usual speed of science fiction and the nervousness of the writer in the first few pages was slightly offputting. Still, after making it into the story I actually found myself getting more and more invested in the characters and the outcome. I definitely wasn't able to predict the end and actually wound up getting extremely nervous for my favourite character right at the very end. Luckily she made out OK. Somehow, without my consent, this turned into the kind of book that I have to sit down and read the last 200 pages in one go because there's no way to stop once things start getting interesting.
It's a fun read, and in some places a challenging one. I like the mix of characters, the way the plot develops, and especially the mixmash of science fiction and science fantasy, with a few more little jaunts into other genres.
This book is definitely one of the more original concepts I've read recently in this genre and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes Douglas Adams, or any other writings similar to his. I also really hope Mr. Boyd writes more books, as I think he has too much talent to stop after just the first one.
It's a fun read, and in some places a challenging one. I like the mix of characters, the way the plot develops, and especially the mixmash of science fiction and science fantasy, with a few more little jaunts into other genres.
This book is definitely one of the more original concepts I've read recently in this genre and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes Douglas Adams, or any other writings similar to his. I also really hope Mr. Boyd writes more books, as I think he has too much talent to stop after just the first one.
August 14, 2015
The Chorus Effect is an amazing and very imaginative deep Science Fiction. The author is very gifted and really is in tune with letting his imagination soar. Upon reading this book, it had my mind soaking everything in and I had a hard time putting it down. For science fiction lovers this is a must read. I couldn't see giving this book or author anything less than five stars.
I was provided a free copy in exchange for my honest review. Reviewed @ After Dark Reading Nook Book Review Blog ( http://afterdarkreadingnook.wordpress... )
I was provided a free copy in exchange for my honest review. Reviewed @ After Dark Reading Nook Book Review Blog ( http://afterdarkreadingnook.wordpress... )
April 11, 2016
What a book, man.
Pros: The characters were entertaining and unique, as was the story itself. I really dug the eccentric characters, though.
The only cons for the book was the frequent breaking of the fourth wall and the slight air of pretentiousness (specifically the hand holding: over explaining things that didn't need to be explained in so much detail).
But really, I think it's easy to look past all of that and concentrate on the story itself, which like I mentioned, super unique and highly entertaining. Totally would recommend to check the book out.
Pros: The characters were entertaining and unique, as was the story itself. I really dug the eccentric characters, though.
The only cons for the book was the frequent breaking of the fourth wall and the slight air of pretentiousness (specifically the hand holding: over explaining things that didn't need to be explained in so much detail).
But really, I think it's easy to look past all of that and concentrate on the story itself, which like I mentioned, super unique and highly entertaining. Totally would recommend to check the book out.
September 23, 2015
I don't generally enjoy Science Fiction, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed this book. I appreciate the author's dry humor and writing style. I especially love grammar humor and I read this gem in his book tonight: "Flexing in their sockets, the General's eyes were perpetual participles, which would almost, but not quite, dangle constantly around him his whole life." I laughed out loud! Read this book; you won't be disappointed.
September 13, 2015
This is a must read for those who love Sci-fi and those who don't. From the story line to the characters, everything about this book is engaging. It makes you think, it makes you laugh, and there's even a teleporting baby. It doesn't get much better than this.
June 27, 2018
When reading "The Chorus Effect" by Russell Boyd, the reader is taken to an alternative reality--just like Chintz, the protagonist of the story. Be ready to encounter many unusual situations; some are just as perplexing as they are to Chintz.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
May 11, 2016
If you are a science fiction fan you are going to like reading this book.
January 11, 2016
sorry... it looks like people liked this book. I didn't. The general absurdity saturated me, until I gave up on the characters and the story. Nonsense is just nonsense!
Sorry.
Sorry.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews