Mobius Dick. Andrew Crumey

If you're presumptuous enough to think you might understand something, post-modernist deconstruction will relieve you of that conceit. John Ringer, like many of us, had some comprehension of Herman Melville's "Moby Dick". Confused by an enigmatic message on his cell 'phone, he attends a "deconstructionist" lecture on the novel. He comes away with insights neither he, nor anyone sane, could devise. The message's originator, "H", puts him in mind of a past love. As the memories emerge, John finds himself caught up in a bizarre concept. A mighty computer, using ultra-accurate mirrors, is being considered, and he may be instrumental in its development. He's also aware of its inherent dangers. It could demolish the universe. Crumey's background in theoretical physics makes him well-placed to launch this tale of alternative universes. He is also a captivating and imaginative writer, versed in history, philosophy and human motivations. It is sometimes difficult to track how many universes might compose this story. Two is more than enough, but Crumey takes us through them with skill and finesse. We meet Erwin Schroedinger, heading for an assignation at an asylum. Thomas Mann's alternative writing career is considered. As is almost inevitable from a UK writer, the British Isles are conquered by Nazi Germany, but liberated by an unexpected ally. John Ringer's message might be from one Harry Dick, lying on a hospital bed after being struck by an auto. Harry is told he's suffering from AMD - a syndrome of "false memories". Are they truly "false", or is this a symptom of flitting between those alternative universes? Crumey takes us through thickets of intrigue and deception with poise. You may wonder which life is "real", but he demonstrates how reality isn't an easily defined condition. In the process we are led away from the constraints critics have put on "science fiction". Crumey's writing fits no pigeonholes - his style and careful plotting and characterisation prevent such narrowness. Although it jumps between Harry's and John's world, as it must, it builds the backgrounds of those worlds seamlessly. Through it all, Crumey carefully explains how such conditions are found in quantum physics. It's not a classroom lecture, but a well-developed set of plausible scenarios. All the while, the author's keen sense of irony and humour helps make this book a flawless page-turner. It's difficult to know if we are to suspend belief in reading this book - fantastic as it may seem at the beginning. Crumey's careful explanations of two alternative(s), even opposite, things occuring simultaneously makes the entire book acceptable. After all, there are many anomalous events reported in our world. Does that mean alternative universes are impinging on ours? It would explain many things. None of this is supernatural, but solidly grounded in today's physics. That knowledge makes this book a delicious and invigourating repast. Sit down to th

composed in a sort of narrative mobius strip this novel balances several intersecting alternative worlds in an ingenious fictional exploration of the weird implications of quantum theory. that makes it sound unreadable but it's actually lively, entertaining, and easy enough to follow. technically it's deeply enjoyable: the basic idea is witty and subtle and flexible enough to allow crumey to manuver deftly through his ideas, and he layers his stories beautifully. it reminded me of pynchon without the ego, and delillo without the anguish. if you liked white noise and gravity's rainbow this is your kind of book.

It is so difficult to explain what this book is about. Mobius Dick is very far from being a conventional model. It is true that the book starts off with a seemingly easy-to-understand concept: a Physics professor is led by a phone message to believe that he's being contacted by a former lover. It gets more chaotic from there. Readers are confronted with several interwoven stories, which tell the tales of various German geniuses and madmen, ranging from Schumann to Schrodinger, all connected by a number of uncanny 'coincidences'. As the novel unravels (or ravels?, readers are confronted with ideas of what is reality as Crumey asks difficult questions such as this without necessarily providing answers. I read this novel during the summer, and even now, words such as "strange", "unique", "supernatural", "heavy" still pop into my head whenever I think of it. I was most impressed by the author's attempt to make connections between so many concepts presented in the book, ranging from musical to literary to scientific. If you're looking for a book to make you think, Mobiud Dick is for you, if you're looking for an effortless read, you might want to turn some where else.

this book was, for a me, a perfect blend of pretty much everything. i particularly enjoyed how Crumey narrated the historical-fiction element of the book which ties in amazingly with the main story-line, with each subplot being enriched by the others. the dabbling of quantum physics piqued my interest in the subject, and had me thinking in ways that made me analyze reality itself. a fair bit of concentration is necessary in order to keep all the events in the book straight. this was a good thing though, and the text itself is very readable. i heartily recommend it and look forward to reading some of Crumey's past works