The Split Second

I loved everything about this book! The Split Second is a masterful sequel to The Glitch in Sleep. The hero, Becker Drane, now 13 is called to another important mission when the Department of Time in the Seems is threatened. The reader becomes thoroughly immersed in the imaginary world of the Seems where the "Plan" for our own world unfolds moment by moment. The cast of characters comes from all over the globe and take the reader through a rollicking adventure. The action is fast --- the word play is brilliant -- and my favorite part are the creative illustrations which give you the visual sense of everything that is happening. Add to this a deeper dimension of hope for the world and you have a wonderful book for kids and their parents.

I started out reading this book to see if I would want to pass it along to my soon-to-be teenaged daughter. Well, I am impressed! The story line is full of romance, intrigue and just plain enjoyment. My favorite part has to be the use of common phrases such as "Water Wings" and "Split Seconds" to weave an ingenious story about times and places that are inter-dimensionally connected and how a whole culture has grown up around the idea of "Fixing" things that go wrong. I enjoyed this book for its witty use of wordage (complete with a Glossary) to clarify the use of phrases common to my generation and perhaps a little antiquated in the modern language. It was refreshing to see a young man that was very efficient in his own trained task, show empathy and sympathy in a world setting that had become cold and clinical. This is an excellent and enjoyable read. By being what seemed to be the second book in a series, it takes a chapter or two to get into the swing of the story, but it is smooth sailing after that. It is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. It is a small book, but flipping back and forth soon becomes part of the enjoyment while following the trail of words and phrases you thought you already knew. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

The Seems, Book II This is a book that rewards kids who love to read with a rich, fast moving, funny, intricate, and ultimately inspiring tale set in an imaginary world. Becker Drane, a thirteen year old boy very much like your own son, or the kid who lives down the block, is a "Fixer" in the "Seems," an imaginary world in which Fixers and Briefers (helpers) make sure our world keeps running according to the "Plan." Even though the "Plan" is good, things keep going wrong, and bad things do happen to good people - Does this remind you of the "real" world? -- Fortunately for us, alert, creative, brave, though sometimes frightened and sometimes mistaken 13 year olds like Becker Drane are on the job and - luckily - at the last tension-filled minute they pull our chestnuts out of the fire. This book is designed for the kind of reader who, a generation or two ago, immersed him or her self in the imaginary worlds of C.S. Lewis's Narnia, and J.R. Tolkien's Hobbits. It is not a simple tale in which the hero, in the end, vaporizes the evil empire with breathtaking acts of daring do and technological pyrotechnics. Rather, it presents a rich cast of varied characters coming from every part of the globe - women, men, and kids -- with real-life strengths and real-life foibles - struggling with complex issues of good and evil, right and wrong. It would be a sad thing if a book which celebrates decency, kindness, courage- all while not taking itself too seriously - did not find a wide and enthusiastic audience.

I hate jumping into a series midway, so I read the first book, The Glitch in Sleep, prior to reading this one. I enjoyed reading both books immensely. The main character, Becker Drane, is a young man who whimsically answers a vague coffee shop ad for "the Best Job in the World" expecting it to be a joke or some college research project. He eventually gets an unexpected response and makes a harrowing trip (I don't know why, but I imagined some scene from Dr Who...) from the World to the Seems. Once there he is learns that the World is a creation of the Seems with the goal of making it The Best Place Ever, and there are all kinds of folks working to create the reality of the "real world." He is subsequently presented with the opportunity to become a Fixer, which entails finding solutions to issues that arise in the Seems that cannot be fixed by normal means or normal Seems workers. Each book so far covers one "mission" that Becker Drane has completed. The writing style is very approachable for younger readers and engaging enough for older readers as well. Each of the books has a deal of toungue-in-cheek puns playing off of the Seems world definition or use of common terms and metaphors we use every day - I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. I had to pronounce some of the gadget names phonetically out loud as they were spelled very strangely. Once I actually said them, however, it usually made perfect sense and gave me a laugh. The supporting characters were well developed too. Other "Fixers," Becker's mother, father and little brother were all interesting and added to the story. Overall it was a great reading adventure and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I cannot recommend this series enough. It's ingenious, wildly inventive, laugh out loud funny, touching and poignant at times. Within the first 50 pages, I laughed out loud dozens of times and actually had tears in my eyes on one occasion. For you parents out there (and I am one): There are a number of important themes running through the book - the Seemsians, especially our protagonist Becker Drane, have strong ethics, remain true to their goals and doing the right thing, and they understand and buy into doing your part for society and following the rules that accompany life. For you "kids" out there (I still consider myself one, too) - ignore the parent-ish stuff I said above. Yes, the goal of the Seems is to Fix(tm) problems in the World, and to ensure that people and the planet not only survive but prosper. And yes, this requires a lot of people who work at the Seems to do their jobs with a dedication and love rarely seen in the world today. Regardless, this is NOT a mind-your-manners-and-study book! The Seems is a world beyond our World, an organization dedicated to Fixing(tm) problems that arise in the world you and I think of as "real." The Tools(tm) used by the Fixers and other Seemsians are some of the most inventive and exciting fastasy concepts I've ever encountered, particularly in one book. The witty turns of phrase, the connections between real science and fantasy, make this book unbelieveably fun to read. As an aside, I am surprised the book is only recommended for eight to twelve year olds, since I feel that (1) adults who enjoy fantasy and science fiction will love this series, and (2) the writing style might be a little complex for an average eight year old to follow, in my opinion. All of the capitals and trademark symbols(tm) that I've used in this review are simply copied over from the series, which relies on this type of language/device heavily (and very successfully). While I found these devices hysterically funny (especially since I'm an attorney - the trademarked names and footnotes kept me in stitches), they might slow down the youngest kids who aren't used to reading jargon filled books. After my own eight year old reads the series, I'll report back with my conclusions. Also, there is a very funny glossary and other exhibits attached to the novel. Don't forget to use these references while you read about the Seems: The Split Second. In conclusion: Buy this book! You will love it. RECOMMENDED.