jethrien

Title: Resonance
Author: Chris Dolley
Genre: Science fiction
Thingummies: 3.5

Synopsis: Graham is a reclusive OCD sufferer whose endless rituals are designed to prevent the fabric of reality from unraveling. So it's somewhat of a relief when someone else confirms that the world is unraveling, and he's at the center of it.

Thoughts: It's somewhat unfortunate that I recently read a book that has a very similar "surprise" premise. I caught on to what was happening by the second chapter. Which was unfortunate, because the characters blundered through half a dozen alternate explanations over the next half a book before discovering that I was right. Maybe if I'd read this first, I would have been more surprised, but I don't think so.

So the pacing really lagged for me for the first half. Fortunately, I found Graham an engaging enough character that I was willing to hang on until they got past the figuring-out stage and into the real action. He's an unusual protagonist. At first, he's so withdrawn (for very good reasons, it turns out) that he appears mentally damaged. He's emotionally damaged, but as he realizes that the the world really is broken and it's not just him, he starts to come out of his shell in a well-written arc that's a joy to read. I loved watching him slowly gain courage and initiative and wake up to the world as he finally gains control over a life that had previously been baffling and horrifying.

I'm not sure all the mechanics actually make sense--I'd have to go back and re-read, and I didn't like it so much that I want to. But the fact that ParaDim grows systematically with each rewriting, and the fact that a useful Annalise appears in each version doesn't make sense with the information we were given. And I'm not sure I totally buy the catalyst that causes each change. Worst of all, the villain is more of a cardboard cut-out than anything else. It's disappointing.

So it's flawed. But I do really like the main character, and once things get rolling, they roll along well. I particularly liked Graham's solution to the entire mess--it ties both the personal and global problems together neatly in a way that's genuinely touching. So it's worth considering despite some structural issues.