- Paperback: 544 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; paperback / softback edition (21 May 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575089768
- ISBN-13: 978-0575089761
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 662,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Exuberant inventiveness." (Stephen Jewell SFX )
"A delightfully imaginative, playful novel shot through with wry philosophy and wonders both pleasant and horrific, The Stranger is a compelling and accomplished introduction to the Labyrinths of Echo series." (Jamie Boardman DREAMWATCH TOTAL SCI FI )
"A delightfully imaginative, playful novel shot through with wry philosophy and wonders both pleasant and horrific, The Stranger is a compelling and accomplished introduction to the Labyrinths of Echo series." (Jamie Boardman DREAMWATCH TOTAL SCI FI )
Product Description
Max Frei, and the Labyrinth of Echo series, is a multi-million copy selling Russian literary sensation appearing in English for the first time in 2009. Intriguing, original, remarkable and wry . . . The Stranger is a piece of absolute enchantment. "Splash a bit of enchantment into my glass" . . . there is no better phrase to describe the state that a reader may find themselves in when exposed to this strong, absolutely legal, literary narcotic which goes by the name of Max Frei.' - Stolichniye Novosti If it weren't for bad luck, Max Frei wouldn't have any luck at all. A self-described twenty-something classic loser', an insomniac, hardened smoker, a glutton and a loafer, there's nothing much going for Max Frei . . . at least not until he arrives in the magical city of Echo. Summoned to the city by the head of the Department of Absolute Order, Sir Juffin Halli, Max's dreams are becoming a reality. But as with all dreams-come-true its not quite the reality Max expected; he's about to become a secret agent, tasked to solve extravagant, impossible crimes with nothing but his wits and a handful of unexplained magical abilities to recommend him. Max is going to be thrown into the fray - and he can't even have a cigarette first . . .
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To be honest I found this to be a bit of a strange book, part Alice through the Looking Glass, part pulp noir yet add to the mix a healthy touch of the fantastical and you've got a novel that will take more than one reread to pick up on all the nuances within.
Part of the problem with certain texts is that the language doesn't translate too well from its original, yet here, in this lovingly put together English edition the novel is really fascinating, the protagonist guiding the reader through this strange world by the hand as he tries to find his own place within. Its fun, its quirky and it clearly has a lot of world building added. Definitely an author to watch and with other books in the series to come (already released in Russia) I get the feeling that the underlying arc is going to present something spectacular by the series end.
Part of the problem with certain texts is that the language doesn't translate too well from its original, yet here, in this lovingly put together English edition the novel is really fascinating, the protagonist guiding the reader through this strange world by the hand as he tries to find his own place within. Its fun, its quirky and it clearly has a lot of world building added. Definitely an author to watch and with other books in the series to come (already released in Russia) I get the feeling that the underlying arc is going to present something spectacular by the series end.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a book to luxuriate in and enjoy the wry and at times gothically overblown but consistent take on an imagined world. In potential, it is Gormenghast with sly jokes and magic. I find it a little hard to believe that this is actually a translation, since the humour is often particular to the English language or idiom, and, blink, you'll miss it. At first, after a briefly engaging start, I found the book annoying and unsatisfactory and tossed it in a corner. But, it haunted and had to be surreptitiously retrieved. Accustomed as we all may be to functional showering, this book is the equivalent of a luxuriant bath. Once on the wavelength, and accustomed to the pace (akin to riding a nodding donkey wearing turkish slippers with bells on), all is forgiven. And I thank the writer for making the effort to write this book. It is a treat to the jaded palate, but also an aquired taste, like olives, or Russian Rabbit Pie.
Format:Paperback
To tell the truth, it was really strange to read this book in English. The translation has successfully killed nearly 50% of sarcastic humour of the novels, gathered in this book, and made "The Stranger" completely different from its Russian, original version. Yet the trick is that the whole book, in spite of its being rather odd and really strange for an unprepared reader, remains being a weird, but clearly wonderful piece of literature. Mistyped words and small mistakes spoil it a bit, but still - in general it is a lovely thing to read.
All I can say to conclude this is that "The Stranger" is a fine start. I can only hope there's a chance to get the other volumes of this sequence translated; the final chapters, which can be in some way compared to the 3rd season of "Ashes to Ashes" in its mood of grim mystery, are genuinely excellent.
All I can say to conclude this is that "The Stranger" is a fine start. I can only hope there's a chance to get the other volumes of this sequence translated; the final chapters, which can be in some way compared to the 3rd season of "Ashes to Ashes" in its mood of grim mystery, are genuinely excellent.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Passes the time, but little merit
Something of a curio, this is a pleasant read in its way but has no substance, no plot, no characterisation and little description. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jon Turner
What a shame
There is no significant plot, things just happen, and the characters are not really developed. It tries to be humorous but fails. Read more
Published 13 months ago by R. Harper
Complete Garbage
The first book I have ever given up on. I gave it 150 pages but just couldn't read any more. There was no development of plot or character. Read more
Published 21 months ago by NL Simpson
A Children's Book
The cover of The Stranger gives the impression of grittiness, and realism. But I did not find that. To me this book has simple words and little depth. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2009 by Robert
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
