Maxwell's Demon

De: Steven Hall

Narrado por: Piers Hampton

Fourteen years after the monumental publication of the international best seller The Raw Shark Texts, Maxwell's Demon heralds the triumphant return of Granta Best Young British Novelist Steven Hall

Thomas Quinn is having a hard time. A failed novelist, he's stuck writing short stories and audio scripts for other people's characters. His wife, Imogen, is working on a remote island halfway around the world, and talking to her over the webcam isn't the same. The bills are piling up, the dirty dishes are stacking in the sink, and the whole world seems to be hurtling toward entropic collapse. Then he gets a voicemail from his father, who has been dead for seven years.

Thomas' relationship with Stanley Quinn - a world-famous writer and erstwhile absent father - was always shaky, not least because Stanley always seemed to prefer his enigmatic assistant and protégé Andrew Black to his own son. Yet after Black published his first book, Cupid's Engine, which went on to sell over a million copies, he disappeared completely. Now strange things are happening to Thomas, and he can't help but wonder if Black is tugging at the seams of his world behind the scenes.

Absurdly brilliant, wildly entertaining, and utterly mind-bending, Maxwell's Demon triumphantly excavates the ways we construct meaning in a world where chaotic collapse looms closer every day.

Plaque, by Alexander Fisher. England, c.1865 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

©2021 Steven Hall (P)2021 Random House Audio

the ending is a miss (no spoilers)

the story starts as a very powerful one, filled with fascinating ideas. a real remarkable labyrinth i enjoyed getting lost in. however, their development and conclusion were, i'm sorry to write, disappointing. a lot is left hanging, including some main themes.

the performance is incredible. intelligent, accurate and absorbing.

Daytona Beach Sling Shotted

Entertaining until things got gratuitously weird in the end as if it meant it was intellectual. Mostly it was Daytona Beach Sling Shotted beside a college girl named Sarina that screamed, “Oh my god, oh my god,” the entire ride. And then asked if I would ride again with her.

Great Follow Up For Steven Hall

Fun and interesting story from Steven Hall. I (like many) have been waiting to see what he would come up with after The Raw Shark Texts, and this was much appreciated. Also, Piers Hampton should narrator EVERYTHING. Tremendous performance.

Be ready for a wild ride!

Esoteric, intellectual, and mysterious. If those words appeal to you in a book, don't hesitate to give this a listen. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil it, but it was both enjoyable, riveting and edifying at the same time. Don't love how the narrator does the sound effects such as the ringing phone- but it didn't detract too much from tht story and many love him!

Circuitous and Compelling

There is no way to delineate every twist and turn in this book; trite as it may be, words will just not do it justice. Although it is a work of fiction (and a very entertaining one at that), it is also one of the best books I have ever read about the craft of writing. Outstanding.