6.02.2011

ghosts of a tired universe

I read a lot of books. Really--a lot of books. And even though there are many I enjoy (I'm pretty good at choosing ones I know I'll like), it's rare that you come across a book that challenges your perspective on existence.


Cover Art by Vasily Kafanov - worth enlarging to see the gorgeous detail in the painting


The plot of Ghosts of a Tired Universe revolves, for the most part, around Charles Du Pont, a sculptor of nearly unimaginable skill and passion. However, the story plays with time and separate third-person perspectives, jumping from a frame-story involving a journalist trying to piece together the narrative, to Charles and his journey across and between worlds, to the alternate reality of two men who seem to control it all.

The threads of the story are all introduced in the first few chapters, so if you're not accustomed to dealing with parallel narratives, it might take some getting used to; however, as the story continues, the threads begin to weave and merge together, leading to an end that is as unexpected as it is completely satisfying.

Jonas Samuelle's writing style is unique, both whimsical and philosophically heavy, often throwing multiple concepts together in a single sentence and eschewing the "less is more" approach of writers such as Hemingway. The technique suits his subject matter--everything from mock duels with chisels and cello bows to rape and arson to mimes with their mouths sewn shut and statues that appear to move--and only enhances the intense symbolism underpinning the novel.

If you insist on nothing but bare, strict realism, Ghosts of a Tired Universe is not it--although I'd still recommend trying it to see if your palate has the potential to expand. If, however, your soul yearns for something fantastic and significant, for a book that not only entertains but drags your mind through the depths and heights of the human experience, this book is one you'll come back to time and time again.

It is currently available for download at all the major ebook retailers--Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble--and can be downloaded in pdf or html for those of us without ereaders at Smashwords. A print copy will be available for order through Amazon within the next couple weeks.
Link
Update: it's now available in print on Createspace--will be on Amazon as soon as they update themselves.

2 comments:

  1. What are the chances of finding this at the good ol' library? It sounds fantastic and I would love to read something that isn't so overexposed that everyone and their aunt is reading it too.

    It makes reading on the train or bus difficult as everyone just wants to talk to you about the book, but you haven't even finished it yet. Plus, you kind of just want to read your book in peace...

    (This is Laura by the way. Google seems to be massively stupid at the moment and won't let me stay signed in to comment.)

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  2. Samuelle just independently published it, and as far as I know, none of the libraries have picked it up, yet.

    I suppose you could always request that they order it, though.

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