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An Alternate Perspective: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
A strange machine in the library. Things which are not as they should be, including an exceptionally nice Mr. Darcy. Cast into another reality, Elizabeth is at first perplexed, and then astounded once she learns what has happened. In the reality from which she came, another Elizabeth wants very much to go home. But while she is there, perhaps she might exert a little influence on a Mr. Darcy who seems to be in need of some guidance.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 22, 2019
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
Inspired sci-fi Pride and Prejudice with different planes of reality featuring the same characters, some with very different personalities. Elizabeth and Mr. Hurst from an alternate universe (one where she and Mr. Darcy quickly got past his insult at the Meryton assembly and are already betrothed by the time Jane is ill at Netherfield, and where Mr. Hurst is a brilliant inventor) get sucked from the Netherfield library into the canon P&P world through a portal created by his latest invention. Unfortunately, the canon Elizabeth is in the library where the portal opens, and SHE gets sucked into it, too, and dropped in the library the others just vacated.
The plot mostly centers around the efforts in both realities to get everyone back where they belong. They have numerous setbacks to overcome. In the meantime, the two Elizabeths must try to convincingly blend into someone else's life while the transported Mr. Hurst must hide away while trying to build a duplicate machine. It's an intriguing situation.
I do love how this switcheroo affects things when the book introduces Mr. Wickham into both realities. And how should the betrothed-to-Darcy-in-the-other-universe Elizabeth deal with Mr. Collins? Would her counterpart be receptive to the repellent heir of Longbourn for the sake of her family? The two Caroline Bingleys unknowingly work against each other, each with only her own self-interest at heart.
In addition, I was impressed by the "nature vs nurture" element the author explores. Each character apparently has the same DNA as the ones in alternate worlds. We are able to see what caused alterations in their behaviors. For one, it was an influential friendship at school. For another, a serious illness taught the importance of true kindness and friendship. Another character had a stepfather who was a positive role model, while the counterpart in the other reality did not. These stories-within-the story elevate rather than distract from the book's primary plot.
The betrothed Elizabeth and Darcy are distressed at their separation, and their yearning to be reunited is nicely shown. Don't look for a lot of romance beyond that. I don't think more is necessary for this particular plot, but some readers may be disappointed.
The writing flows nicely. However, even though the chapters reliably alternate between one universe and the other, it IS easy to get confused at times. The reader has to keep track of two very different storylines.
Overall, this is a really fun outside-the-box re-imagining of P&P.
Inspired sci-fi Pride and Prejudice with different planes of reality featuring the same characters, some with very different personalities. Elizabeth and Mr. Hurst from an alternate universe (one where she and Mr. Darcy quickly got past his insult at the Meryton assembly and are already betrothed by the time Jane is ill at Netherfield, and where Mr. Hurst is a brilliant inventor) get sucked from the Netherfield library into the canon P&P world through a portal created by his latest invention. Unfortunately, the canon Elizabeth is in the library where the portal opens, and SHE gets sucked into it, too, and dropped in the library the others just vacated.
The plot mostly centers around the efforts in both realities to get everyone back where they belong. They have numerous setbacks to overcome. In the meantime, the two Elizabeths must try to convincingly blend into someone else's life while the transported Mr. Hurst must hide away while trying to build a duplicate machine. It's an intriguing situation.
I do love how this switcheroo affects things when the book introduces Mr. Wickham into both realities. And how should the betrothed-to-Darcy-in-the-other-universe Elizabeth deal with Mr. Collins? Would her counterpart be receptive to the repellent heir of Longbourn for the sake of her family? The two Caroline Bingleys unknowingly work against each other, each with only her own self-interest at heart.
In addition, I was impressed by the "nature vs nurture" element the author explores. Each character apparently has the same DNA as the ones in alternate worlds. We are able to see what caused alterations in their behaviors. For one, it was an influential friendship at school. For another, a serious illness taught the importance of true kindness and friendship. Another character had a stepfather who was a positive role model, while the counterpart in the other reality did not. These stories-within-the story elevate rather than distract from the book's primary plot.
The betrothed Elizabeth and Darcy are distressed at their separation, and their yearning to be reunited is nicely shown. Don't look for a lot of romance beyond that. I don't think more is necessary for this particular plot, but some readers may be disappointed.
The writing flows nicely. However, even though the chapters reliably alternate between one universe and the other, it IS easy to get confused at times. The reader has to keep track of two very different storylines.
Overall, this is a really fun outside-the-box re-imagining of P&P.
February 11, 2019
ERmygerd!!!! P&P Science fiction mash up!! Nerd paradise!!
Weirdly this is the second P&P what if where Mr. Hurst is a deus ex machina however in this on he also has a deus ex machina. This is a P&P what if the imagines that there are multiple versions of the same universe this is called the multiverse. I thought this was brilliant and it also conveniently explains the 1000s of P&P variations.
For some readers who don't read descriptions or reviews (ME) the start may be a bit confusing because we are at Netherfield during Jane's illness and it is a very VERY different cast of the same characters; Darcy and Lizzy are engaged, as are Jane and Bingley, Mrs. Hurst is funny, charming and openly critical of nasty Miss Bingley and Mr. Hurst is a brilliant scholar and inventor who rarely drinks and often skips meals to work on his ideas.
In the Next chapter we are at the Netherfield of JA's classic P&P where everything above is a lie except nasty Miss Bingley.
These two universes are going to collide in an weird and wonderful way. The author does a great job at keeping track if who is who and where is where and everyone benefits.
If I had a criticism I wish that it was made easier to keep the universes identified. The author alternated but I think I would have liked some kind of lazy reader indicator like a font change another clue. Because it took me several chapters for my slow brain to catch up to the new location every time we switched.
I caught one glaring error "“I am fond of reading, but to be honest I would myself a great reader.” but I enjoyed this unusual story so much that I decided to be forgiving and not vile.
This might not be a book for everyone but if you are open to a little sci-fi with your P&P you will love it.
Weirdly this is the second P&P what if where Mr. Hurst is a deus ex machina however in this on he also has a deus ex machina. This is a P&P what if the imagines that there are multiple versions of the same universe this is called the multiverse. I thought this was brilliant and it also conveniently explains the 1000s of P&P variations.
For some readers who don't read descriptions or reviews (ME) the start may be a bit confusing because we are at Netherfield during Jane's illness and it is a very VERY different cast of the same characters; Darcy and Lizzy are engaged, as are Jane and Bingley, Mrs. Hurst is funny, charming and openly critical of nasty Miss Bingley and Mr. Hurst is a brilliant scholar and inventor who rarely drinks and often skips meals to work on his ideas.
In the Next chapter we are at the Netherfield of JA's classic P&P where everything above is a lie except nasty Miss Bingley.
These two universes are going to collide in an weird and wonderful way. The author does a great job at keeping track if who is who and where is where and everyone benefits.
If I had a criticism I wish that it was made easier to keep the universes identified. The author alternated but I think I would have liked some kind of lazy reader indicator like a font change another clue. Because it took me several chapters for my slow brain to catch up to the new location every time we switched.
I caught one glaring error "“I am fond of reading, but to be honest I would myself a great reader.” but I enjoyed this unusual story so much that I decided to be forgiving and not vile.
This might not be a book for everyone but if you are open to a little sci-fi with your P&P you will love it.
February 24, 2019
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars: You must know the story of P&P that Jane Austen wrote in order to understand relationships and events in this variation.
This story is more a sci-fi story than a romance, per say, IMHO. The chapters switch from one world to the other with no warning. At times I found it difficult to realize just which Elizabeth or Darcy was speaking or of whom we were reading.
We first enter a universe in which almost everything is honky-dory. Jane and Bingley are engaged. Elizabeth and Darcy are engaged. Mr. Hurst is a scientific genius who has a loving relationship with his wife who is also friends with Elizabeth. Caroline is Caroline and bent on getting Mr. Darcy by hook or crook.
Both worlds are set at Netherfield where Jane is ill and Elizabeth has come to nurse her. Mr. Hurst invents a machine which opens a window, a vortex, into a parallel world. But while he and Elizabeth are meaning only to observe through the window, they are sucked in and deposited in that other world while the other Elizabeth on whom they are looking is drawn to their world. That Elizabeth's world is the one we know from canon. It takes the visitors a short time to realize what has happened: one world has the machine but NO Mr. Hurst to operate it. The other world has two Mr. Hurst but no machine. Remember in one world he is as described in canon: a glutton who drinks and naps regularly.
So the tale is about how they solve this problem and how various people react to or act upon learning about the situation. But we also read about how each Elizabeth reacts to a different Mr. Darcy. Each man comes to realize that this Elizabeth is not "his Elizabeth" and the one from canon holds suspicions as to the motives that visiting Elizabeth has: is she trying to convince him to look at "his Elizabeth" differently?
While this was an interesting story I really wanted more romance - I was not prepared for the story to revolve around all the problems traveling between dimensions created. Several situations with eavesdropping influence the straight forward efforts by "the good guys" to unravel the mix-up of worlds. It did keep my attention.
This story is more a sci-fi story than a romance, per say, IMHO. The chapters switch from one world to the other with no warning. At times I found it difficult to realize just which Elizabeth or Darcy was speaking or of whom we were reading.
We first enter a universe in which almost everything is honky-dory. Jane and Bingley are engaged. Elizabeth and Darcy are engaged. Mr. Hurst is a scientific genius who has a loving relationship with his wife who is also friends with Elizabeth. Caroline is Caroline and bent on getting Mr. Darcy by hook or crook.
Both worlds are set at Netherfield where Jane is ill and Elizabeth has come to nurse her. Mr. Hurst invents a machine which opens a window, a vortex, into a parallel world. But while he and Elizabeth are meaning only to observe through the window, they are sucked in and deposited in that other world while the other Elizabeth on whom they are looking is drawn to their world. That Elizabeth's world is the one we know from canon. It takes the visitors a short time to realize what has happened: one world has the machine but NO Mr. Hurst to operate it. The other world has two Mr. Hurst but no machine. Remember in one world he is as described in canon: a glutton who drinks and naps regularly.
So the tale is about how they solve this problem and how various people react to or act upon learning about the situation. But we also read about how each Elizabeth reacts to a different Mr. Darcy. Each man comes to realize that this Elizabeth is not "his Elizabeth" and the one from canon holds suspicions as to the motives that visiting Elizabeth has: is she trying to convince him to look at "his Elizabeth" differently?
While this was an interesting story I really wanted more romance - I was not prepared for the story to revolve around all the problems traveling between dimensions created. Several situations with eavesdropping influence the straight forward efforts by "the good guys" to unravel the mix-up of worlds. It did keep my attention.
January 31, 2019
This is a Pride and Prejudice variation with a difference... a portal to a parallel universe! It starts with an Elizabeth and Darcy who have had no misunderstandings and are in love and engaged, as are Jane and Bingley. The Hursts are a delightful couple with Mr Hurst having a bright scientific mind. He creates a machine that creates a portal to a parallel universe - Hurst and Elizabeth being sucked through one way, other Elizabeth sucked in the other - and taken to a time where Pride and Prejudice as we know it is underway.
This is a clever idea and it wasn't difficult to keep track of which plane we were on with each chapter. However, i felt that the issue with the portal happened right at the beginning and the rest of the book is about trying to get everyone back onto the correct plane. I'm not sure why but it just didn't hold my interest. Miss Bingley is quite awful in both realities and it was interesting to see Other Elizabeth coming to appreciate Mr Darcy in the world where she dislikes him and thinks he dislikes her.
I usually enjoy books by this author - her books are best enjoyed not taken too seriously and are good fun. This one I'm not sure about. It's a brilliant idea but maybe a bit too long in the middle.
This is a clever idea and it wasn't difficult to keep track of which plane we were on with each chapter. However, i felt that the issue with the portal happened right at the beginning and the rest of the book is about trying to get everyone back onto the correct plane. I'm not sure why but it just didn't hold my interest. Miss Bingley is quite awful in both realities and it was interesting to see Other Elizabeth coming to appreciate Mr Darcy in the world where she dislikes him and thinks he dislikes her.
I usually enjoy books by this author - her books are best enjoyed not taken too seriously and are good fun. This one I'm not sure about. It's a brilliant idea but maybe a bit too long in the middle.
February 10, 2019
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. ~ Albert Einstein
Ah – Mr. Hurst: a Man Ahead of His Time!
Scientist, Researcher, Inventor Hurst has created a machine currently residing in the library at Netherfield Park, a room filled with books of all sorts! What is the purpose of such a machine? What happens with the swirling lights?
How can Elizabeth and Mr. Hurst change reality? Their situation seems so similar and yet such important differences! For one thing, the library contains empty shelves! For another, Mr. Hurst is already present! Where are they – really?
And Elizabeth enters another reality where she is betrothed to a man she believes shares a mutual dislike! How has such a thing happened? Where is she?
Everything you can imagine is real. ~ Pablo Picasso
Chapter by chapter, the reality switches and occasionally I was confused and had to remember who was who. For the most part, the scene switches worked, however, and I found the story enjoyable. It is certainly unique in the world of JAFF.
Miss Bingley continues to be unpleasant. In one world, she receives a comeuppance that would surprise the Bingleys of the other world. I had imagined a different ultimate fate for Caroline – something resembling “The Trouble with Tribbles” for example. Alas, the epilogue restores her a little.
I don’t read much science fiction and I almost skipped this one. If the author was unknown to me, I’m sure I wouldn’t have read it but I have enjoyed other stories by Wynne Mabry so I took a chance. I’m glad I did.
There is no way you can use the word "reality" without quotation marks around it. ~ Joseph Campbell (1904–1987)
Ah – Mr. Hurst: a Man Ahead of His Time!
Scientist, Researcher, Inventor Hurst has created a machine currently residing in the library at Netherfield Park, a room filled with books of all sorts! What is the purpose of such a machine? What happens with the swirling lights?
How can Elizabeth and Mr. Hurst change reality? Their situation seems so similar and yet such important differences! For one thing, the library contains empty shelves! For another, Mr. Hurst is already present! Where are they – really?
And Elizabeth enters another reality where she is betrothed to a man she believes shares a mutual dislike! How has such a thing happened? Where is she?
Everything you can imagine is real. ~ Pablo Picasso
Chapter by chapter, the reality switches and occasionally I was confused and had to remember who was who. For the most part, the scene switches worked, however, and I found the story enjoyable. It is certainly unique in the world of JAFF.
Miss Bingley continues to be unpleasant. In one world, she receives a comeuppance that would surprise the Bingleys of the other world. I had imagined a different ultimate fate for Caroline – something resembling “The Trouble with Tribbles” for example. Alas, the epilogue restores her a little.
I don’t read much science fiction and I almost skipped this one. If the author was unknown to me, I’m sure I wouldn’t have read it but I have enjoyed other stories by Wynne Mabry so I took a chance. I’m glad I did.
There is no way you can use the word "reality" without quotation marks around it. ~ Joseph Campbell (1904–1987)
February 17, 2019
Mirror, Mirror ...
Alternate and somewhat interesting perspective but excessively confusing. I've enjoyed some paranormal P&P variations but this one did not reach any real emotions though it was creative. Considering the alternating plot, it was well written but I was rarely confident which "universe" was being presented.
Alternate and somewhat interesting perspective but excessively confusing. I've enjoyed some paranormal P&P variations but this one did not reach any real emotions though it was creative. Considering the alternating plot, it was well written but I was rarely confident which "universe" was being presented.
June 2, 2022
I will be reading this again soon. It’s a little confusing but stick with it.
This has a unique premise of alternate realities which is handled well. It would have benefited from some sort of label so the reader could tell which reality was happening.
It also needed a lot of editing. The second page had a missing ‘not’ which of course completely changed the meaning. The author also used diffused when she meant defused. There were several missing question marks at the end of questions.
To end on a positive note- someone says of Mr Bingley that there were times he barely comprehended his own reality.
This has a unique premise of alternate realities which is handled well. It would have benefited from some sort of label so the reader could tell which reality was happening.
It also needed a lot of editing. The second page had a missing ‘not’ which of course completely changed the meaning. The author also used diffused when she meant defused. There were several missing question marks at the end of questions.
To end on a positive note- someone says of Mr Bingley that there were times he barely comprehended his own reality.
April 8, 2019
An Alternative Perspective: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
What a concept! Two sets of characters from Pride and Prejudice in two different planes of the universe. In one universe: an engaged Darcy and Elizabeth, engaged Bingley and Jane, Mr. Hurst with a brilliant scientific mind with a very happy, loving Louisa Hurst, a hateful Caroline Bingley, a wicked Wickham, and a toad-like Collins. In the other universe: a proud Darcy and prejudiced Elizabeth, not yet engaged Bingley and Jane, a sloth-like Hurst and a very discussed Louisa Hurst, a spiteful Caroline Bingley, a wicked Wickham, and a toad-like Collins. Most of the other characters are much like themselves in Jane Austen's world and the two universes. In the first universe, Hurst has developed a machine that allows him to look between alternate universes. While in Netherfield's library, he is explaining to Elizabeth how the machine works. Gazing through the window caused by the spinning vortex, he and Elizabeth in the happy universe gets sucked into the alternate Netherfield library universe while Elizabeth Bennet is sucked back into theirs. In both universes, Darcy is a brilliant scholar and is able to help Hurst in the un-friendly universe rebuild his machine to transport them three travelers back. In the friendly universe, Darcy and the counterpart Elizabeth get the machine to work, but Caroline destroys it before they recover Hurst and his fiance. Evil Caroline tries to force Darcy to marry her, but she's thwarted and placed in an asylum. When the three travelers return to their own universe at Netherfield, the both of ODCs have their HEA since both of Elizabeths seeming were of one mind and the pride and prejudice in the one universe was corrected well before the switch of travelers. A couple of times I had to go back to make sure while universe I was in, because the proud Darcy and prejudiced Elizabeth became not so proud nor so prejudice!
What a concept! Two sets of characters from Pride and Prejudice in two different planes of the universe. In one universe: an engaged Darcy and Elizabeth, engaged Bingley and Jane, Mr. Hurst with a brilliant scientific mind with a very happy, loving Louisa Hurst, a hateful Caroline Bingley, a wicked Wickham, and a toad-like Collins. In the other universe: a proud Darcy and prejudiced Elizabeth, not yet engaged Bingley and Jane, a sloth-like Hurst and a very discussed Louisa Hurst, a spiteful Caroline Bingley, a wicked Wickham, and a toad-like Collins. Most of the other characters are much like themselves in Jane Austen's world and the two universes. In the first universe, Hurst has developed a machine that allows him to look between alternate universes. While in Netherfield's library, he is explaining to Elizabeth how the machine works. Gazing through the window caused by the spinning vortex, he and Elizabeth in the happy universe gets sucked into the alternate Netherfield library universe while Elizabeth Bennet is sucked back into theirs. In both universes, Darcy is a brilliant scholar and is able to help Hurst in the un-friendly universe rebuild his machine to transport them three travelers back. In the friendly universe, Darcy and the counterpart Elizabeth get the machine to work, but Caroline destroys it before they recover Hurst and his fiance. Evil Caroline tries to force Darcy to marry her, but she's thwarted and placed in an asylum. When the three travelers return to their own universe at Netherfield, the both of ODCs have their HEA since both of Elizabeths seeming were of one mind and the pride and prejudice in the one universe was corrected well before the switch of travelers. A couple of times I had to go back to make sure while universe I was in, because the proud Darcy and prejudiced Elizabeth became not so proud nor so prejudice!
July 16, 2019
Interesting
This was a clever idea for a story, exploring alternate planes of reality in which a small alteration in one's life is seen to have profound ripple effects on the outcome. In this story, the people in the alternate worlds can see each other, even their own alternate selves, and in small ways can even influence others to more beneficial results.
Mr. Hurst, in one plane of existence, is a brilliant scientist and inventor. He's close to Darcy, who's engaged to Elizabeth, Jane is engaged to Bingley, Mrs. Hurst is friends with them all, and Caroline is still her sour self. Hurst builds the machine through which another existence is observed, and then calamity happens. What follows is back and forth visits from one reality to another, as certain characters are transported unwillingly to a reality very foreign to them. In this way, parallel characters in differing planes of existence learn about their similarities and differences, and even how this knowledge can create insight and change.
Although the concept is original, the back and forth became tedious, and there was a lot of repetition of sentiments and thoughts. Also, there were enough errors of editing to cause a distraction. I thought the characters were pretty amazingly insightful about what was probably happening in their parallel universe, at times when they could only guess about it. And there was the issue of what to do about the evil Caroline Bingley. Her punishment seemed excessive, even if she was a pill.
However, it's a nice story and an original idea. I recommend it.
This was a clever idea for a story, exploring alternate planes of reality in which a small alteration in one's life is seen to have profound ripple effects on the outcome. In this story, the people in the alternate worlds can see each other, even their own alternate selves, and in small ways can even influence others to more beneficial results.
Mr. Hurst, in one plane of existence, is a brilliant scientist and inventor. He's close to Darcy, who's engaged to Elizabeth, Jane is engaged to Bingley, Mrs. Hurst is friends with them all, and Caroline is still her sour self. Hurst builds the machine through which another existence is observed, and then calamity happens. What follows is back and forth visits from one reality to another, as certain characters are transported unwillingly to a reality very foreign to them. In this way, parallel characters in differing planes of existence learn about their similarities and differences, and even how this knowledge can create insight and change.
Although the concept is original, the back and forth became tedious, and there was a lot of repetition of sentiments and thoughts. Also, there were enough errors of editing to cause a distraction. I thought the characters were pretty amazingly insightful about what was probably happening in their parallel universe, at times when they could only guess about it. And there was the issue of what to do about the evil Caroline Bingley. Her punishment seemed excessive, even if she was a pill.
However, it's a nice story and an original idea. I recommend it.
February 4, 2019
Really interesting idea, not quite as interesting execution.
February 5, 2019
Time travel + P&P= 😔
Kind of unfair rating. Just not my cup of tea.
I thought it was an alternate POV.
Kind of unfair rating. Just not my cup of tea.
I thought it was an alternate POV.
April 14, 2019
I loved this concept. Was ingenious. My only issue was that I had difficulty distinguishing between the two planes. I’m not saying I didn’t figure it out. But sometimes I would have to read several sentences before I realized that the story switched to the other plane. It would of been nice if one plane was in italics and the other was regular. Other than that I really enjoyed the story!
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November 3, 2019Enjoyable perspective
I really like this story, it is just a pity so many words disappeared through the portal. Does Amazon try to decrease the number of words in some books by randomly deleting them? Nonetheless, I remembered this as one of my favorites from my time of reading mostly just P&P variations so I bought it. I love a happy ending and this book has two!
I really like this story, it is just a pity so many words disappeared through the portal. Does Amazon try to decrease the number of words in some books by randomly deleting them? Nonetheless, I remembered this as one of my favorites from my time of reading mostly just P&P variations so I bought it. I love a happy ending and this book has two!
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