The Everything in Sci-Fi, fantasy and speculative Indie Authors Review

Mar 20, 2015 Christina McMullen rated it it was amazing

I picked up this book specifically because I have met the author through Goodreads and was quite curious to know what his writing was like. On several occasions, we have differed on what is considered acceptable deviations from the standard rules of writing and grammar. As such, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was an eccentric and avant garde storytelling structure, certainly, but there was nothing so out there that I couldn't follow along. Mr. Cox has grammar and syntax firmly in his I picked up this book specifically because I have met the author through Goodreads and was quite curious to know what his writing was like. On several occasions, we have differed on what is considered acceptable deviations from the standard rules of writing and grammar. As such, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was an eccentric and avant garde storytelling structure, certainly, but there was nothing so out there that I couldn't follow along. Mr. Cox has grammar and syntax firmly in his grasp and thus is 'allowed' to break the rules.

The only way I can describe this book is to say that it reads something like the Hitchhiker's guide. Not the *story* but the guide itself. Imagine an interactive wiki about a place you have never been and concepts you have never considered. And much like a trip down the Wikipedia rabbit hole, the story meanders and turns in on itself with so many tangents and anecdotes. I think this is where the true genius lies.

So often, science fiction authors strive for realism and believability. While I would maintain that this is very loosely science fiction, the brilliance is that rather than realism, the concepts in this book are as far from what we would consider normal that I would not be surprised to find that the author has visited the planets that he has written about. Yet at the same time, these alien concepts have an undeniable logic to them that makes our word look bizarre and unstructured by comparison. Either way, I can say with all honesty that I have never considered house paint and concrete to be quite as fascinating and likely never will again.

I must, however warn that within the whimsical and odd there are deep philosophical questions explored in great detail. So much detail and so deeply explored in part 2 that I may have had both a panic attack and an existential crisis or two. For some of us, gazing out into the abyss (or Everything in this case) is pretty frightening. Fortunately, our narrator soon goes out on yet another tangent and the uncomfortable feelings subside.

My only nitpick is the use of graphics. Many of these, due to the formatting required for an eBook, were difficult if not impossible to read. Beyond that, this was an incredibly enjoyable and unique read. In fact, were I the narrator's parent, I would say it was as unique as a unique pencil. ...more

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Feb 07, 2015 Sue Perry rated it it was amazing

I so loved the world of this book that here I am, months later, still wanting to visit this vivid, remarkable place, where naturally occurring fireworks make for spectacular weather and the perfect form is not the sphere, but the potato. (I'm also wishing for a travelog companion volume, with large glossy illustrations on every page.) In fact, "the world of this book" IS this book, which reveals the geology, physics, and chemistry of its universe, along with the philosophy, history, and pop cult ...more

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Dec 05, 2014 Sora rated it it was ok

So reading this review instead of just looking at the rating is a good idea.

First off, two of my favorite authors are Thomas Pynchon and Philip K. Dick, so be warned that I already have a bias towards the strange and unusual.

Secondly, The Everything is an alternately silly and fascinating thought experiment more than a coherent narrative. A different world, a different universe, as told by a fifteen year old, among other things.

And as a thought experiment it hits among the highest highs I've eve ...more

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