Eugene Myers is working on a novel about the end of the world. Meanwhile, he discovers his daughter doing porn online and his marriage is coming to an end. When he begins dreaming about people who turn out to be real, he wonders if his novel is real as well. Eugene Myers may just be the one to stop the apocalypse. This history of the future covers every conspiracy imaginable: UFOs, secret societies, and World War III, as well as theories on life after death and human evolution by a writer whose last novel was called by Dogmatika, "A page-turner and an example of an effective piece of storytelling that should be envied." In the tradition of Philip K. Dick and Robert Anton Wilson, The American Book of the Dead explores the nature of reality and the human race's potential to either disintegrate or evolve.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"If you read Lolita or A Clockwork Orange without drop-kicking the book out into the garden on a rainy day, this novel is for you." Tessa Dick, author of The Owl in Daylight, and widow of Philip K. Dick
"Reminiscent of Philip K. Dick and Haruki Murakami, a book that boldly explores the future and defies genre." Largehearted Boy
"Really great - reminds me of Philip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegut." Scott Booker, Manager of the Flaming Lips
Winner: Best Fiction at the DIY Book Festival
Winner: The Gold IPPY Award for Visionary Fiction
"Reminiscent of Philip K. Dick and Haruki Murakami, a book that boldly explores the future and defies genre." Largehearted Boy
"Really great - reminds me of Philip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegut." Scott Booker, Manager of the Flaming Lips
Winner: Best Fiction at the DIY Book Festival
Winner: The Gold IPPY Award for Visionary Fiction
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More About the Author
Henry Baum is the author of the novels The Golden Calf, North of Sunset, and The American Book of the Dead. He's published work with Identity Theory, Storyglossia, Scarecrow, Dogmatika, Purple Prose, 3:AM, Les Episodes, and others. He also writes and records music under the name Ash Tree. Born in New York City, raised in L.A., with stints in many other places, he now lives in Los Angeles.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Novels tagged as apocalyptic sci-fi are usually not my bag, but I gave this one a chance and I'm glad I did. Part apocalyptic sci-fi and part psychological thriller with elements of more accessible literary novels and even neo-noir, this is a deep story that transcends genres. It feels like others' books, with influences ranging from Pynchon to Delillo to Philip K. Dick and more, but it also felt original -- always a good sign.
It started a little slow for me, as Baum has a lot to set up, but then it really took off as the end of society as we know it looms and chapters alternate between the wary hero, writer Eugene Myers, and a childish and deluded American president, Charles Winchell. Without giving too much away, both men believe -- and fear -- they are transforming into a new type of human that the post-apocalyptic future will depend on. Who wins out (or do they?) will tell the reader a lot about where we might be heading. As a line in the book states (I'm paraphrasing), the best sci-fi takes present themes and exaggerates them almost beyond recognition. I know they got me thinking. Baum also manages to avoid getting hung up on religion and politics, choosing to focus on the human nature that binds us all. The revolution is not just societal but evolutional.
My complaints are few. Some narrative and even dialogue had to be expositional in spots owing to the wide-reaching story and context, but Baum does well to blend it all in. The story could've begun closer to the world war that engulfs the planet and wouldn't have suffered too much. But that's more niggling than it sounds. The quality was there in the beginning to carry us along. Baum creates worlds and lives and psychology with the small details, showing us and not telling us in ways that keep the reader involved -- not something we get enough of in books from any sized publisher. The editing was also first-rate with far fewer typos than I've seen from big publishers charging far more for their books.
A book from an independent writer outshines those from the big establishment publishers. As a fellow independent writer (who doesn't know Baum, by the way) that's definitely a revolution I like to see.
It started a little slow for me, as Baum has a lot to set up, but then it really took off as the end of society as we know it looms and chapters alternate between the wary hero, writer Eugene Myers, and a childish and deluded American president, Charles Winchell. Without giving too much away, both men believe -- and fear -- they are transforming into a new type of human that the post-apocalyptic future will depend on. Who wins out (or do they?) will tell the reader a lot about where we might be heading. As a line in the book states (I'm paraphrasing), the best sci-fi takes present themes and exaggerates them almost beyond recognition. I know they got me thinking. Baum also manages to avoid getting hung up on religion and politics, choosing to focus on the human nature that binds us all. The revolution is not just societal but evolutional.
My complaints are few. Some narrative and even dialogue had to be expositional in spots owing to the wide-reaching story and context, but Baum does well to blend it all in. The story could've begun closer to the world war that engulfs the planet and wouldn't have suffered too much. But that's more niggling than it sounds. The quality was there in the beginning to carry us along. Baum creates worlds and lives and psychology with the small details, showing us and not telling us in ways that keep the reader involved -- not something we get enough of in books from any sized publisher. The editing was also first-rate with far fewer typos than I've seen from big publishers charging far more for their books.
A book from an independent writer outshines those from the big establishment publishers. As a fellow independent writer (who doesn't know Baum, by the way) that's definitely a revolution I like to see.
17 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a difficult book to write a review about. It fits no genre description cleanly. This is also part of why it is such a good book. The reviews of this book do not really describe the book I read. They are accurate, but I found a lot more depth to the story than what I expected. I would also like to mention that the daughter and the porn part of the book is really just a sidebar that does not make it past the first half of the book. I was, at least at first, put off by that. The author did not dwell on it, and used it really as a plot device to make a larger point. That point being how much casual violence and sex has consumed us, and cheapened life in America.
I thought this book had multiple story lines happening at different levels. The first one is what the other reviewers have written about. The second reads as the story of a man trying to make it as a writer in a world that has as much use for a writer as it does for poets. I do not know the author personally, but I wondered if I was reading an autobiography about his life as a writer.
Would I recommend this book to a friend? Certainly. The author can write. Some of the sentences and paragraphs were so good that I stopped reading, said to myself "Damn" and reread them again. The story line about the destruction of most of the human race in order to bring about the second coming of Christ is not that farfetched. Especially considering possible GOP candidates in 2012. The idea that the world needs a change and the only way maybe a total reboot is unfortunately one that may happen. In that regard this is a apocalyptic novel.
I thought this book had multiple story lines happening at different levels. The first one is what the other reviewers have written about. The second reads as the story of a man trying to make it as a writer in a world that has as much use for a writer as it does for poets. I do not know the author personally, but I wondered if I was reading an autobiography about his life as a writer.
Would I recommend this book to a friend? Certainly. The author can write. Some of the sentences and paragraphs were so good that I stopped reading, said to myself "Damn" and reread them again. The story line about the destruction of most of the human race in order to bring about the second coming of Christ is not that farfetched. Especially considering possible GOP candidates in 2012. The idea that the world needs a change and the only way maybe a total reboot is unfortunately one that may happen. In that regard this is a apocalyptic novel.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By David Lynch
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I must begin with a cautionary note: My rating reflects what I perceive as Mr. Baum's ability to challenge human beliefs at the core, perhaps those that many imagined they'd settled for themselves many years before, buried deeply, where they were presumed safe and secure.
If you don't want to be shaken up a bit, or disturbed to the point where you at least pause and reflect on your own core beliefs about what it is to be human, to live, to suffer, to die, and to ponder what comes after, then this might not be a good read for you. I imagine that many will proclaim the work as profane, but that kind of thing has been going on for centuries.
The narrative has twists and turns, and at times you will be as perplexed as it appears the story's protagonist is! However, don't give up on it - persevere to the end. After all, you'll need the exit that the author carefully crafted, to make your way from this crazy little ride!
If you don't want to be shaken up a bit, or disturbed to the point where you at least pause and reflect on your own core beliefs about what it is to be human, to live, to suffer, to die, and to ponder what comes after, then this might not be a good read for you. I imagine that many will proclaim the work as profane, but that kind of thing has been going on for centuries.
The narrative has twists and turns, and at times you will be as perplexed as it appears the story's protagonist is! However, don't give up on it - persevere to the end. After all, you'll need the exit that the author carefully crafted, to make your way from this crazy little ride!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Troubling and Interesting
Not the world's best read but a great premise about evolution and quantum physics. I'm glad the writer is working on a continuation of the story. Read more
Published 1 day ago by S. V. Leer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting concept.
Loved the time horizon folding concept. However, the gathering of dreamers was somewhat tedious. Loved the intro then wandered around until the climax which was satisfying.
Published 2 months ago by D. Zwiener
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
Could not book the book down. Another end of the world type of books. Would recommend to anyone. Would like to read more from this author.
Published 5 months ago by Kjs
2.0 out of 5 stars
very confusing book
This book really is confusing and not well written. the begneing of this book is so convulted that i just had to stop reading it
Published 7 months ago by Deleon Shelley
5.0 out of 5 stars
How fast I read is a thing...
I mean, a good book is one thing. I got through the Lord of the Rings trilogy in a fair bit of time. That's some dense writing, a lot of exposition, description, elaboration. Read more
Published 7 months ago by M. Rowland
1.0 out of 5 stars
I'm Confused.
It's a book about writing a book about the past, or is it the present, or is it the future. I can't tell. It's hard to read and hard to understand. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Paul N
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible
It was at least an interesting concept. Until I got to the end. It had a lot of build up with the main bad guy and it was an extremely anticlimactic finish. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Zealous
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Brilliant
I admit, I only downloaded this book because I had just purchased my Kindle and it was free on Amazon. How fortunate for me, because it was brilliant. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Remington Whitcomb
5.0 out of 5 stars
I liked it a lot.
I got this book for FREE. I'm amazed at the quality of writing, and at how interesting the plot was, for a free book. Ok, it wasn't just good for a free book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Michael J. Gauthier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read this book
I haven't read a book of fiction for 10 years because I had given up digging through the trash to find the real literature. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Chasifer
