Scan barcode
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
What if your double from a parallel universe showed up on your doorstep one day? What if said double turned out to be an asshole of epic proportions who shunted you into another universe while he usurped your life?
That's the problem John Rayburn is facing in The Walls of the Universe. His double, John Prime for clarity, tricked him into using his malfunctioning transporter device. Will John be able to fix the wreck Prime has made of his life when or if he can fix the device and make it back home?
The Walls of the Universe was a lot better than I anticipated. Prime and Rayburn contrast in interesting ways. While Prime tries to make money right away by "inventing" the Rubik's Cube in Rayburn's home universe, Rayburn tries to stay out of the way of things in the universe next door while he studies the device... until he accidentally invents pinball.
The villains are invisible for most of the novel and seemed a little tacked on, though the idea of sinister Germans always appeals to me. The supporting cast was fairly well although I can't really see both Johns being so enamored with Casey. Grace was easily my favorite of the supporting cast.
The ending leaves things open for a sequel. It was hinted that John's device isn't related to those of those the enemy use, and the are hints of universe-hopping civilizations that could be used for further stories.
The Walls of the Universe was a fun read and should appeal to fans of dimension jumping, parallel universes, and the like. If you tried Neil Gaimain's Interworld and found it lacking, this might be what you need to soothe your wounds.
That's the problem John Rayburn is facing in The Walls of the Universe. His double, John Prime for clarity, tricked him into using his malfunctioning transporter device. Will John be able to fix the wreck Prime has made of his life when or if he can fix the device and make it back home?
The Walls of the Universe was a lot better than I anticipated. Prime and Rayburn contrast in interesting ways. While Prime tries to make money right away by "inventing" the Rubik's Cube in Rayburn's home universe, Rayburn tries to stay out of the way of things in the universe next door while he studies the device... until he accidentally invents pinball.
The villains are invisible for most of the novel and seemed a little tacked on, though the idea of sinister Germans always appeals to me. The supporting cast was fairly well although I can't really see both Johns being so enamored with Casey. Grace was easily my favorite of the supporting cast.
The ending leaves things open for a sequel. It was hinted that John's device isn't related to those of those the enemy use, and the are hints of universe-hopping civilizations that could be used for further stories.
The Walls of the Universe was a fun read and should appeal to fans of dimension jumping, parallel universes, and the like. If you tried Neil Gaimain's Interworld and found it lacking, this might be what you need to soothe your wounds.
raechsreads's review against another edition
5.0
The Walls of the Universe is an amazing book about traveling the universe, well universes. The story is about John and John, actually John Prime. John is your average high school student and farm boy until suddenly he's confronted with himself - John Prime. Prime lets John in on a little secret - there are more universes than just our own, more than one of you (well John in this instance). Prime coaxes John into trying out the universe traveling device, so that he can visit the other universe's, just like Prime has been doing for about a year. There's a misunderstanding between the two that John realizes as soon as he's left, thus the book takes on the telling of John and Prime.
Paul Melko wrote an amazing story about the possibility that for every choice you make in this universe, there's universe where you made the other choice. It's that thought that makes the book so appealing. With this novel, there are thousands of other Earth's, each unique, each depicting a different outcome than our own. I definitely recommend this book for any reader who enjoys thought provoking stories and those who enjoy adventure in the unknown.
Paul Melko wrote an amazing story about the possibility that for every choice you make in this universe, there's universe where you made the other choice. It's that thought that makes the book so appealing. With this novel, there are thousands of other Earth's, each unique, each depicting a different outcome than our own. I definitely recommend this book for any reader who enjoys thought provoking stories and those who enjoy adventure in the unknown.
grandgranini's review against another edition
5.0
Reminded me a bit of my favorite Diana Wynne Jones book, "The Homeward Bounders". Hero gets forcibly removed from his own universe and has to travel a series of parallel worlds to find his way home. It's a very nice genre piece with a distinct young adult vibe, and it gets top marks for plot alone, and the fact that I read the whole thing in one sitting.
michalski19's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really outstanding novel. It got a little more complex in the last half or last third, but that helped build the world out more. It was a very straightforward sci-fi story and good characters overall. I’m gonna have to pick up the second novel very soon.
luffy79's review against another edition
1.0
one of those books which taught me patience. Patience to finish most books that I found tedious and patience to curb my irritation when an expectation of mine is not met. By that I mean that the start of this book was very firmly science fictiony. But as the story unfolded it became entangled in a sort of thriller. And I couldn't deal with the fact that the author had changed direction for his story. I thought, and I do think, that the author had a bright idea for his book but ran out of ideas quickly. 1 star.
loonyboi's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Light, very clever and enjoyable. It takes the concept of dimension hopping and does some pretty original things with it.
Not the most complex novel you'll ever read, but definitely clever and worth reading. Makes for great travel/vacation reading.
Not the most complex novel you'll ever read, but definitely clever and worth reading. Makes for great travel/vacation reading.
gmacken's review against another edition
4.0
Fast, frantic fun.
This book reminds me a bit of Stephen Gould's "Jumper". Melko takes a simple, classic SciFi idea (travel between parallel realities in this case) and drops it on the head of his young protagonist. This kick-starts a world-hopping adventure that's hard to put down.
"Walls of the Universe", however, is not completely successful. There are a few false notes to be found. In particular, Melko seems to lose his way about three quarters of the way through the story. The ending wraps everything up a little too quickly, and the climax appears to have been stolen from an action movie from the 1980's.
But this is still a ride worth taking, and I look forward to Melko's future outings.
This book reminds me a bit of Stephen Gould's "Jumper". Melko takes a simple, classic SciFi idea (travel between parallel realities in this case) and drops it on the head of his young protagonist. This kick-starts a world-hopping adventure that's hard to put down.
"Walls of the Universe", however, is not completely successful. There are a few false notes to be found. In particular, Melko seems to lose his way about three quarters of the way through the story. The ending wraps everything up a little too quickly, and the climax appears to have been stolen from an action movie from the 1980's.
But this is still a ride worth taking, and I look forward to Melko's future outings.
hominid's review against another edition
3.0
this book was really a 4, but i can't list it with the other books i've rated as a 4 because, despite a couple frank references to sex, it's basically a juvenile. juvenile as in Heinlein's juveniles (good, by a good author), but also limited in scope.
iguana_mama's review against another edition
4.0
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
I love well-written time-travel and alternate world stories, and Dan said it was fun, so I knew it would be the perfect vacation read.
I was not disappointed at all. This was a very entertaining story about parallel universes, stolen lives, first love, and bullies.
John Rayburn is in his senior year in high school, living a rather uneventful life on an Ohio farm with his parents. A young man (known as John Prime) who looks just like him appears with a device that allows him to travel to other worlds. John thinks he’s full of crap, until he discovers the stranger knows quite a lot about him. Tempted by a desire for adventure, a pocket full of spending money, and Prime’s promise that he would return in 12 hours, John Rayburn toggles the switch forward and embarks on his first adventure.
Meanwhile, John Prime is glad to be rid of the device and ready to settle into his new life. While he’s getting acclimated to classes, moving in on John Rayburn’s crush, Casey, and trying to make money on technology he’s stolen from another universe, John Rayburn finds the device is broken and he’s unable to come home. So he travels a bit, eventually settling into a world where he can blend in and attempt to fix the device. While he’s there, he makes friends, falls in love with an “alternate” Casey, and “invents” pinball.
The best part of the story for me was early on, when John Rayburn discovered various universes, some frightening, and others just…wrong. I enjoyed how both boys led very different lives, yet had to work together towards the end when they encountered travelers from other universes and had to deal with a bully neither could escape from. This part could have been a lot more interesting if the bad guys were not so one-dimensional.
Still, it was a lot of fun and I’m eager to find similar stories.
I love well-written time-travel and alternate world stories, and Dan said it was fun, so I knew it would be the perfect vacation read.
I was not disappointed at all. This was a very entertaining story about parallel universes, stolen lives, first love, and bullies.
John Rayburn is in his senior year in high school, living a rather uneventful life on an Ohio farm with his parents. A young man (known as John Prime) who looks just like him appears with a device that allows him to travel to other worlds. John thinks he’s full of crap, until he discovers the stranger knows quite a lot about him. Tempted by a desire for adventure, a pocket full of spending money, and Prime’s promise that he would return in 12 hours, John Rayburn toggles the switch forward and embarks on his first adventure.
Meanwhile, John Prime is glad to be rid of the device and ready to settle into his new life. While he’s getting acclimated to classes, moving in on John Rayburn’s crush, Casey, and trying to make money on technology he’s stolen from another universe, John Rayburn finds the device is broken and he’s unable to come home. So he travels a bit, eventually settling into a world where he can blend in and attempt to fix the device. While he’s there, he makes friends, falls in love with an “alternate” Casey, and “invents” pinball.
The best part of the story for me was early on, when John Rayburn discovered various universes, some frightening, and others just…wrong. I enjoyed how both boys led very different lives, yet had to work together towards the end when they encountered travelers from other universes and had to deal with a bully neither could escape from. This part could have been a lot more interesting if the bad guys were not so one-dimensional.
Still, it was a lot of fun and I’m eager to find similar stories.