Book Reviews and More: Mr. Universe

Mr. Universe
Arthur Slade

Orca Books

ISBN 9781459826885

eISBN 9781459826908

I have been a big fan of Arthur Slade’s works for years. This is one of two that are due out in January 2021. It is very different then anything else of his. And I have read all his published novels. Some of his books I have read many times over. And I have got to say I absolutely loved this one! I have now read it 3 times. Well actually, I read it once, I used text to speech to listen to it once, and my son read it to me for his reading challenge time.

My son is a very reluctant reader. He reads below grade level, and he struggles. However, he loves books. He loves being read to in person or using adaptive technology and listening to books while following the text. He could not put this book down. His reading goal is 20 minutes at least 5 days a week. The first day he read this to be he read for just over an hour, and only stopped because of family movie night. And as soon as the movie was over he wanted to read more. He has already asked for more books from Slade to read and next up is, Death by Airship. I too struggled with reading when younger and have a dual form of dyslexia, and I also love Slade’s books. I have read all of them at least once. And I loved this one. I was raving about this book after my second read through, and my son asked if we could skip to it, and am I ever glad I let him put the book he was reading on hold for this volume. The description of this book is:

“Seventeen-year-old Michael goes to visit his eccentric mad-scientist uncle who, busy working on yet another time-travel experiment in his cluttered lab, barely notices him. He keeps muttering things like “quantum multiverse transporter” and Michael has to entertain himself. Which is how Michael accidentally ends up in an alternate universe. Everything looks remarkably similar to his own world but with a few key differences, like lizard men dressed in gray suits and three-wheeled vehicles. And then there's Emily, a sassy, confident girl who needs Michael's help before he can find his way back to his own dimension.”

The characters are awesome. You will instantly love Michael and Emily. And his Aunt\Uncle Henry (depending on which version of earth you are on. And the pace is nonstop breakneck action. The whole story takes place during a single day. A little quantum theory, a strange new earth. Finding some differences and that somethings are the same. And of course, the best turkey sandwich ever. When a scientist only trusts two Doctors, Pepper and Who, you know you are in for some fun.

I got to be honest and state I kind of hope that this books is like C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew, in that it is the beginning of a whole series of adventures involving Henry(s), Michael and Emily. This story was so much fun. Even after reading it three times I keep thinking about it and smiling. And am even debating going back for a fourth serving.

Another amazing read from the masterful pen of Arthur Slade. And what I truly hope is the beginning of a new series.

Note: I have read this book 4 times, I read it, I used adaptive technology to listen to it. And my son read it to me twice back to back. An amazing story!