Paradox
Resolution is K.A
Bedford's eagerly awaited sequel to his 2008 Aurealis winning novel Time
Machines Repaired While U Wait. The novel continues the adventures of
time machine repairer Spider Webb in a near future where time machines are the
new luxury car.
Spider is an ex-policeman, a man who
quit the force after blowing the whistle on police corruption. He lives in a
cheap motel while his wife Molly waits for him to sign divorce papers. He still
hopes they will get back together, while she continues to use him as a cheap handyman.
Spider’s mundane existence changes
one day when he opens the fridge at work and discovers a head. A head that asks
to be saved. Spider is then reunited with a loyal police colleague, Iris, as
they investigate the murder.
Life becomes more complicated for
Spider when his new boss asks him to investigate the disappearance of his young
son and friend in the employer’s supped-up time machine. And thus an adventure
begins that takes Spider millions of years into the future.
Like the previous novel, readers
will be struck by the Australian-ness of Paradox
Resolutions. Anyone who was not aware of the Australian vernacular before
reading the novel will be afterwards. This is such a change from the pseudo
American English that seems to be the universal language of science fiction.
The novel is written with underlying
amusement as its reluctant hero fails to see the truth behind many of his relationships.
The story flows between action sequences and a physically and emotionally
bruised Spider trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
Paradox
Resolutions is for readers who like time-travel novels where a character’s
ethics and motives change with each future version of themselves. The sequel is
every bit as enjoyable as the original.
6 comments:
Thanks Graham. It sounds like fun. I'd noticed the first book but always thought the title sounded a bit too silly. (It also makes me think of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe - which I read and hated. I don't know why the link is there - both time travel stories? both came out at the same time?) Maybe I'll have to get both of Bedford's books now. (Also, he's represented by the same agent as me, so I feel like I should read his stuff for some weird reason...)
Sounds like quite a good read. Making it Australian-centric with language is a good idea. Not sure I like the character's name though.
Cheers
Hi Graham,
I've read How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe too, and I did not think much of it. Too abstract? The author was definitely trying to be too clever. The two KA Bedford novels are vastly more entertaining. And I am now reading, and so far enjoying, your novel True Path, which I won a copy of.
Hi Anthony,
The character's real name is Aloysius Webb, hence the nickname.
Hmmm. My reaction to HtLSiaSFU was more visceral than that. I'd been sent it to review by the publisher but couldn't do it. I was so angry about it that any review would have been a mere rant. I felt insulted by the book - perhaps on behalf of the SF genre. I thought, "This guy must really hate SF to trash it the way he does in this book." I don't mind people poking fun at the tropes (many such books - Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers, The Hitchhiker's Guide, etc. - are brilliant) but this just seemed nasty. And the reviews I read of it seemed also to be by literary types who'd found a new friend to snigger with.
Probably completely unjustified paranoia, of course :-)
As for winning a copy of True Path, good onya, mate!
I read a review of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe in The Age before I bought it. Your reaction is interesting, perhaps I missed his sarcasm towards the genre. Great title, not so great book. Definitely the best thing about it. If only I could come up with a title like that.
Post a Comment