Door Number Three [Paperback]

Patrick O'Leary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1996

John Donelly's life is changed forever the day Laura, a young therapy patient, tells him that she has been left for a year on Earth by the Holock, an alien race. If she can convince one person - and she has chosen him - that she is telling the truth, she can stay when they come back for her. And she exposes her breasts as evidence, revealing square nipples. His least profound response is to drop his cigarette into the crease in his chair.

So begins the wildest SF novel since the passing of Philip K. Dick. Patrick O'Leary's Door Number Three is a constant wellspring of surprise and wonder, a novel about a young man of today and a woman from somewhere else who is out to love or kill him - or both. The whole, apparently real, world and everything in it can never be the same again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

O'Leary has filled his intriguing debut with tantalizing inside jokes and asides that are well nigh impossible to understand the first time through; one must really read this novel twice. This isn't a mis-step, however, since the device reflects perfectly the condition of the narrator, therapist John Donelly. Upon meeting Laura, a young woman who claims to be an alien abducted to Earth by other aliens (and who shows him her square nipples to prove it), Donelly begins to blip back and forth in time, rather than pass sequentially through it as the rest of us do. Donelly, who narrates, warns us that his story involves a year in which he "fell in love with an alien, discovered the secret of forgotten dreams, saved the earth... and killed myself." Lighthearted, funny dialogue and apt characterizations spin the story along as Donelly links up with "the most bizarre detour in this convoluted tale," a diminutive renegade theologian, formerly an entrepreneur, who guides the befuddled therapist as he probes not only the mystery of Laura but also the riddles of paranoia, evolution, dreaming and consciousness. A highly appealing mix of skilled writing and zany imaginings, this novel bears positive comparison not only to the work of the late Philip K. Dick but also to the earlier SF of Kurt Vonnegut.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Psychologist John Donnell's life takes a turn for the bizarre when a young woman claiming to be an alien seeks his counsel and more. While presenting a fascinating analysis of his characters' longings and emotions, first novelist O'Leary homes in on "big" issues: the relationship of cause and effect, the phenomenon of time, the importance of dreams. Reminiscent of the speculative fiction of the late Philip K. Dick and full of offbeat humor and a rueful acceptance of humanity's shortcomings, this debut is a good choice for most sf collections.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (November 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312862873
• ISBN-13: 978-0312862879
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,148,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

PATRICK O'LEARY was born in Saginaw, Michigan. His poetry has appeared in Literary Magazines across North America. His first novel DOOR NUMBER THREE (TOR) was chosen by Publisher's Weekly as one of the best novels of the year. His second novel THE GIFT (TOR) was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and The Mythopoeic Award. His first collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry was OTHER VOICES, OTHER DOORS (Fairwood Press). His third novel THE IMPOSSIBLE BIRD (TOR) made the preliminary shortlist for the Nebula Award. His latest collection of stories is THE BLACK HEART (PS Publishing). His short stories have appeared in MARS PROBES and INFINITY PLUS One, SCIFICTION.COM, TALEBONES and THE INFINITE MATRIX. His poetry was chosen for the 17th Annual THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR. His novels have been translated into German, Russian, Japanese, Polish, French and Braille. Until recently he was a Creative Director at an advertising agency. His work has won numerous industry awards. He has traveled extensively, but he makes his home near Detroit, Mich with his wife, artist, Sandra Rice. His homepage: http://web.mac.com/paddybon/ His Blog: http://patrickoleary.wordpress.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original, Suspenseful, AND Humorous, January 31, 2001

By 

Paul "review king" (I travel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Door Number Three (Paperback)

A neurotic psychotherapist and his patient who claims she was abducted by aliens, a time machine, a Mad-Hatter-like inventor who hides out in a Catholic church rectory, a homicidal police detective who gets religion, deadly femme fatales addicted to sugar, an endearing pet bird with genetically engineered super-intelligence. These are some fo the elements of this stunning novel, which is as imaginative as Neil Gaiman's "Nevermore." By turns hilarious and suspenseful, with a surreal sense of humor reminiscent of Douglas Adams ("The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy"), this book is a wild coaster ride, full of surprises and revelations. But it is not purely plot driven. The characters are engaging, original, and come to life. If you're tired of the same old, same old, try this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, January 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Door Number Three (Paperback)

Being a science-fiction buff, I expected to enjoy this book no matter what. But I was really blown away by the richness of the language and the complexity of the plot. It is reminiscent of Slaughterhouse-5, yet very unique in its approach. This book is very wonderful, and I recommend it to anyone who is even slightly interested in science fiction.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very, very good, November 7, 2005

By 

Margaret Dybala "too many books, too little time" (Pearland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Door Number Three (Paperback)

The highest praise in science fiction, it seems to me, is to compare it to the work of Philip K. Dick. This book definitely reminds me of some of Dick's work. The protagonist is a psychotherapist with serious mom/dad-brother issues that he is busy trying to work through in his life. Meanwhile, a patient appears who claims to have been raised by aliens and has one year on earth to convince someone. Suddenly the protagonist finds himself pursued by seriously drug addicted alien women (the drug is sugar; it overwelms them -- they keep purses full of it). He hooks up with some very good people living in a catholic rectory. Turns out that somehow prayer is effective against the aliens (even saying grace stops them at one point!). Also in the rectory is an utterly charming little bird. I don't want to give too much away, but the book is full of time travel, love, hate, and a world where people live in lime jello. What more can a reader want?