![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Quantum Coin
Author: E.C. Myers
Genre: World-hopping YA SF (second of two)
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: Note: there's no way to write of a synopsis without spoiling the previous book. When Zoe shows up at Ephraim's prom, he's dragged back into alternate-universe hopping adventures, with the fate of the multiverse--and his love life--at stake.
Thoughts: This triumphant follow-up to Fair Coin has the advantage of having a clear genre from the get-go. While the previous book suddenly revealed a hidden premise, this one can skip some of that world-building and head straight to the good stuff. It makes for a more even read overall.
The logistics involved get pretty complex, as might be expected from a book featuring alternate universes. I suspect I might be able to poke some holes if I tried--but there's never any point at which I wished to try. Excellent pacing sweeps the story along, even if some of the explanations get a little complex.
The real joy here is the characters. Given that there are multiple versions of almost everyone running around, Myers makes the most of the opportunity to play with the idea of might-have-been and whether any individual is actually replaceable. YA often features the endless love triangle--here, the concept is freshened up by the fact that the two people Ephraim must choose between are essentially different versions of the same person. Even more entertaining, the different time speeds between some of the universes means that there are also older versions of each of them running around, with their own attractions and loves. Love decahedrons are completely plausible when people find they have a chance to start over on failed romances with other versions of their old flames. Watching the shifting alliances, crushes, and rivalries between several versions each of Ephraim and his friends is one of the best parts of the book.
The tiny twists of humor scattered throughout, mostly in dialogue, also keep the prose crackling. Each character has his or her own unique sense of humor, so there's probably something here that will appeal to nearly everyone, whether your taste runs to geeky references, double-entendres, self-deprecation, or bad puns.
Fair Coin ended fairly, but in a way I found somewhat unsatisfying. The developments in Quantum Coin fully lay my initial objections to rest--enough of the questions are answered and emotions are sorted out that the ending is thoroughly satisfying, even if not every single thread is tied up. It's well worth the read.
Disclaimer: the author is a friend of mine.
Author: E.C. Myers
Genre: World-hopping YA SF (second of two)
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: Note: there's no way to write of a synopsis without spoiling the previous book. When Zoe shows up at Ephraim's prom, he's dragged back into alternate-universe hopping adventures, with the fate of the multiverse--and his love life--at stake.
Thoughts: This triumphant follow-up to Fair Coin has the advantage of having a clear genre from the get-go. While the previous book suddenly revealed a hidden premise, this one can skip some of that world-building and head straight to the good stuff. It makes for a more even read overall.
The logistics involved get pretty complex, as might be expected from a book featuring alternate universes. I suspect I might be able to poke some holes if I tried--but there's never any point at which I wished to try. Excellent pacing sweeps the story along, even if some of the explanations get a little complex.
The real joy here is the characters. Given that there are multiple versions of almost everyone running around, Myers makes the most of the opportunity to play with the idea of might-have-been and whether any individual is actually replaceable. YA often features the endless love triangle--here, the concept is freshened up by the fact that the two people Ephraim must choose between are essentially different versions of the same person. Even more entertaining, the different time speeds between some of the universes means that there are also older versions of each of them running around, with their own attractions and loves. Love decahedrons are completely plausible when people find they have a chance to start over on failed romances with other versions of their old flames. Watching the shifting alliances, crushes, and rivalries between several versions each of Ephraim and his friends is one of the best parts of the book.
The tiny twists of humor scattered throughout, mostly in dialogue, also keep the prose crackling. Each character has his or her own unique sense of humor, so there's probably something here that will appeal to nearly everyone, whether your taste runs to geeky references, double-entendres, self-deprecation, or bad puns.
Fair Coin ended fairly, but in a way I found somewhat unsatisfying. The developments in Quantum Coin fully lay my initial objections to rest--enough of the questions are answered and emotions are sorted out that the ending is thoroughly satisfying, even if not every single thread is tied up. It's well worth the read.
Disclaimer: the author is a friend of mine.
