Customer Reviews

Probability Angels

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I feel fortunate that I am in a position to occasionally read self-published books. Not all of them are worth taking the time to write about; however, this one certainly is. Though it has its weaknesses, Probability Angels has enough going for it to make it worth reading.

The strongest part of the book is the first half, when the reader gets a chance to explore this clever world and learn about its people. Or, rather, its "probability angels"--people who have died after making certain choices, which leave them spirits roaming the earth, "pushing" human beings towards different paths, both good and bad. But in doing so these "angels" experience pain and huge transfers of energy.

It is a real pleasure to learn about the powers of this alternate world and, in particular, to meet its characters. Matthew, the newbie, is in some sense the eyes through which we see this world. Yet it's Epp, the ancient one, and Kyo, the strange one, who are ultimately much more interesting as we slowly learn their history. They are also the driving forces that move the plot forward.

There were a few small problems with the book from the beginning, however. Mainly, a tendency to disguise exposition as dialogue. Still, as I moved through the first half of the book, I thought it might be a real surprise, a genuine triumph. Unfortunately, when the climax of the plot starts to develop in the second half, it doesn't quite live up to the nice groundwork that's been laid.

The second half squanders the ambiguity of the first half by laying out a basic good vs. evil battle between various kinds of spirits. And a lot of the questions that the reader expects to be answered in these pages are left unknowns. In some cases, the characters themselves ask the same questions the reader has and are greeted with another character's "I don't know." I guess it's okay that things are unknown at certain stages for the characters, but the reader--at least this reader--wants a little more fulfillment.

Still, in the end, I have to commend Mr. Devon for coming up with a very clever premise and creating a very interesting world. If I hoped he did a little more with the plot to exploit his premise; well, others may see it differently. But that doesn't change the fact that Probability Angels is a good read.

I'm not quite sure what the title of this book means, but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of it. To begin, I didn't quite understand how folks who are dead could materialize at will, and eat and drink (also drink while not material), and how they could feel pain, etc.. I've always said that I accept the world that the author presents to us, so I just went along for the ride, and what a wild ride it was! There seems to be something happening on every page, and you keep turning pages to find out how everything is going to end.

The idea that dead folks "push" the living into doing things that ultimately help either themselves or mankind as a whole is unique, as far as I know. Of course, there must be tension to keep the plot moving, and the fight between the "live" spirits and the "dead" spirits (I know that sounds strange, but read the book and you'll understand) keeps the reader riveted. The characters are quite well drawn and you want to really get to know them as you go along.

This is not a book for everyone's tastes, but there aren't many like that anyway. If you can keep and open and inquisitive mind, you'll enjoy this book as much as I did.

Probability of Angels is not what I expected however I did enjoy the book. Although at times I found it somewhat confusing, it was mostly due to not knowing where Matthew really was or what was going on. I did find the characters interesting and they all have a little gift like the Fantastic 4 comic series. Epp reminds me of Samuel L. Jackson he is calm and cool even while things are crazy around him. Devon did good placing as much emphasis as he did on Epp and Matthew. You tend to look forward to their characters throughout the book and when Epp is in danger you really feel badly for him. Are their really angels in this adventure? Just as the title suggests it is a probability since the location seems to be some sort of level or plane and not heaven itself. I believe Devon could go far with this series if he adds a little more paranormal or afterlife juice to the mix. Since the 2nd book of the series is due to be released soon I am curious to see if he has picked it up a notch. The narrative of Probability of Angels itself is unique and I like the writing style of Devon. If you like your fiction with a mix of the unknown then you can truly enjoy this book and this series.

Probability Angels by Joseph Devon brings to light the probability of certain situations like life and death. The reader is introduced to interesting 'angels' who are responsible for inspiring and choosing the fate of their charges. What gives us inspiration when we question ourselves? Who determines the outcome of a struggle in the park? The answer of course are people like Matthew Huntington, who has been dead for over two decades.

Mr. Devon has created a complex world that consists mainly of what-ifs. Within this world there are intriguing characters such as Epp the two-thousand year old Roman Slave and Kyo the Japanese Ronin. Backs must be watched because just as in the real world, there are power struggles and enemies pretending to be allies. Gregor, another Probability Angel who pushed Bram Stoker to write Dracula, is leading a cause to overthrow Epp and his followers who strongly believes that Epp has been in power too long.

Each chapter is broken down into smaller sections, each following certain characters and what they are up to at the time. There were some times that I would be into the story and then it would jump to another part and I would have to wait to get back into the story in which I was pulled. Either way, Mr. Devon does a fantastic job and has created a world that is unique and unforgettable.

Matthew Huntington can not seem to catch a break. His mentor, Epp is displeased with Matthew. Epp thinks Matthew has been slacking off too long now and wants him to really get into the game. As if that was not bad enough, Matthew's wife is lying in a pool of blood, dying in a park. Matthew can't do anything as it just so happens that Matthew is an angel.

Probability Angels is one of those books that you are glad you picked it up and gave it a chance. I thought this book was unique and a nice change from all the vampires, werewolves, wizards and other creatures of the night. Though, if you are expecting a mushy story and weak characters than you will be in for a surprise. In fact, as I was reading this book, there were a few times that the movie; City of Angels would flash into my head.

What I most liked about this book was that Matthew was not your typical angel. He had a cynical attitude about him but at the same time it showed that he may be an angel but he is just a normal guy trying to do good for others. The second half of this book was a battle of good vs. evil. While I found it interesting, I sort of lost some interest. Overall, Mr. Devon deserves kudos for Probability Angels.

In my experience, it's rare that a novel transcends words on an otherwise blank page and becomes art. Probability Angels by Joseph Devon is such a book. The story itself is brilliant, about Matthew Huntington, a probability angel in training, and his experiences at slowly and painfully breaking away from all the emotional links he once had with other living people. His conscious choices to make these breaks, especially from his wife and daughter, are heartrending. The insights the author has into human nature reminded me somewhat of the works of C.S. Lewis, as profound but more down-to-earth and profane at times. It's a novel that I believe rises easily to the level of some of the best classics of literature ever written. This is no hyperbole on my part; and, on top of everything else, it's a self published book. I wish it the success (except more so) of another famous self published book, Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass."

Much of the first part of the novel focuses on the probability angel Epp (Epictetus) and his latest trainee, a Matthew Huntington. The trainees or newbies are called "testers," and, at first blush, seem more like devils, in that their job is to test people and push them to their limits, to see if the people will make the moral choice or succumb to temptation. But, the only way for people to grow is to be faced with tough choices, and to chose not always what might be the most comfortable or expedient choice. Sometimes the choices that cause us the most pain are the better ones in the long run.

Don't get the idea that Probability Angels is preachy, though, or that the author is stuffy or always tries to take the moral high ground. Rather, there are some very humorous parts in the book, the characters - including the angels - often use swear words, and sometimes drink beer - and, for everyone out there who loves `em a good book about zombies, there are zombies aplenty in Probability Angels.

Some angels who believe that Epp, the Greek ex-slave probability angel whose life ended before Christ's began, has been a powerful force long enough, and that he and his supporters should be overthrown. They lure other probability angels to graveyards, subdue them, and feed them to zombies, who - in turn - become stronger, heal most of their defects and deformities, and become ruthless stalkers of probability angels while masquerading as them. Epp, Matthew, Kyo (a Japanese Ronin), and other probability angels need to find a way to stop the opposition -led by the probability angel Gregor (who "pushed" Bram Stoker to write Dracula, and who resembles Stoker's description of Dracula) and his followers, like Hector and Nyx, from destroying them.

It's true that zombies have not traditionally been a subject of works of highbrow literature, but with the popularity of books like Pride & Prejudice and Zombies, the entertaining tongue-in- cheek retelling of one of Jane Austen's most famous novels, who knows what might be next - perhaps Moby Dick and the Great White Zombie, or Zorba the Zombie, or a remake of the Dr. Seuss childrens' classic, Green Eggs, Ham, & Zombies.

Joseph Devon has invested a lot of time, philosophical thinking, and effort into this book, and it shows. I would say he has put some of his soul into writing Probability Angels, and that it transcends the printed page and, at its best, enters into the world of Art, like the best paintings and sculptures do. Besides the humorous moments, and the tendency of Epp and the other probability angels of calling humans "meat bags," there are ones of intense sadness, like when Matthew is faced with the choice between life for himself, or life for his pregnant wife, and he chooses life for his wife.

Another example is when he is given the choice of following his daughter around as an angel, being with her without her ever knowing it, not being able to help when she might need it, or to cut all ties with her and his wife and to push other people to greatness, like Shakespeare was pushed, as Epp tells him:

"The upside is that you can be greatness itself. You could
be Shakespeare's broken heart, Beethoven's deaf ears, Van
Gogh's madness. You could be Kellar's scarlet fever,
Roebling's crushed left foot, the color of Dr. King's skin.
You could be the entry for light to pass into the soul. You
could be the reason that everything worth doing on this rock
ever gets done."

Reading writing as good as this made me feel, as I was reading, that if probability angels actually exist, one of them must have pushed and touched Joseph Devon's soul, as well. He is one of the most talented and interesting authors around, and deserves to gain a larger reading audience for his work. I would highly recommend Probability Angels to everyone.

[...]

Because of Amazon and its review system, I'm regularly offered books to review by eager authors. (They have to be really eager to be willing to ship books to Europe, actually.) Very early on I developed a rule about not accepting self-published or vanity press books. This is for the simple reason that I didn't feel as able to be honest about the review in the same way that I would a book with a publishing house.

I made an exception for Probability Angels and I must say that I am glad that I did. It is one of the better speculative fiction review copies that I have been sent, and it seems to me that Devon should stand a strong chance of getting a publishing contract based on this book. It develops an interesting world view and the plot is well done. It reminds me a lot of Stephen Brust's To Reign in Hell in terms of some of the story elements and character interactions. (I should confess that I'm not at all a fan of To Reign in Hell, but that didn't influence my reading of this novel.)

Is it perfect? No. In places it has the earmarks of a book that has been baked a little too long, with the world-building just a bit too insular. The prose is a bit clunky towards the beginning, and I wasn't always wild about the way that dialogue was handled. Still, interesting enough. I have high hopes for Devon based on this work.

a stimulating and engaging story that interestingly dabbles in the realms of metaphysics and the thin lines between this life and the afterlife. The characters are well-developed, and endearing, and the story moves along at a nice pace.

The author is adept at painting vivid pictures. Kudos to him for originating and developing the fascinating concept of "pushing meat bags." Supernatural NYC is rendered a captivating, vivacious set in which fate and free will play out in illuminating and sometimes very humorous ways. If you've ever been in an altered state in New York, then perhaps your mind has wandered into the possibilities of this story. It taps into that distinct surreal and magical milieu that is Manhattan.

We are drawn into the dynamic play of beings that seem to toy with the hands of time and experience varying degrees of optimism and regret over the destinies of the humans whose lives they influence. Though the story revels in fantasy, it unfurls very real human experiences, thoughts and emotions that will resonate with the reader.

The dialogue is lively, enriched and interspersed with fantastic forays into subjects ranging from poetry to philosophy, sociology to science.

It's nice to see someone within the realm of literature pushing forward with his ideas and creating unique and well-nourished stories that are truly outside the norm.

Who knew the afterlife could be this complicated? Most people, when they die, move on to...whatever comes next. Some people are chosen for a different kind of existence. These people - call them probability angels - exist both in and out of the material world and are tasked with "pushing" mortals into reaching their full potential. Nearly every significant development humankind has made was the result of this pushing. New to his role as a tester, Matthew is just getting used to the idea of "pushing" when a group of testers with a very morbid streak shatter the status quo, putting all of humanity at risk with their monstrous hunger.

Don't let the fact that this is a self-published book throw you. Probability Angels is an extremely well written novel that deserves a much wider audience. Author Joseph Devon has presented a fascinating concept, compelling characters, crisp dialogue, and an overall story that is just crying to be made into a movie. Probability Angels recalls bits of Stephen King (think short stories like "The Ten o Clock People" and "Low Men in Yellow Coats", Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, and some of Warren Ellis's stranger Planetary work. In very short order, the reader is presented with exciting concepts, fast paced action, and enough mortal peril to keep you glued to your seat, so to speak.

Devon's style is as unconventional at times as his story is, and I sometimes found myself going back to reread a page in order to make sure I really grasped what was going on. Oddly enough, that made the story all the more rewarding. Matthew is ostensibly the main character, but I found myself gravitating towards the fascinating supporting cast, particularly the powerful mentor figure Epp, unpredictable tester Bartleby and the restless ancient ronin Kyo.

I'm still not sure how to classify this one, but it should appeal to fans of urban fantasy, horror and to some extent science fiction. Genres aside, Probability Angels is the kind of novel that anyone who appreciates a good unusual story should love. I know it won't be too long before I go back for another read.

The premise of Probability Angels sort of reminded me of City of Angels where there are angels walking around everywhere. You know, the scene where all the angels are in black trench coats at the beach at sunrise? That's how I imagine these characters, except more mischievous and not in a good way really. I can't say I warmed up to them immediately because they were tough to like. They definitely didn't become probability angels because of their sainthood. However they did make an important selfless decision to become what they are. Matthew Huntington is still considered a noob in the angel world doing minor mischief like making foreigners fight over directions and encouraging a heart-broken man to go after his just married love. You know, that sort of thing.

We soon find that Matthew has to make an important decision to either shadow the life of a loved one and eventually fade, or move on to the next step and become a tester. A tester being someone who pushes a person to their moral breaking point. Which isn't fun at all, but challenges reveal the man and eventually sharpen them. However if he chooses this route he is told what will happen once the tether snaps,

"You will know for certain that you are entirely alone on this earth, and that you are loved by no one. You will be cast adrift with no compass and no oar. Your brain will expand in ways you never thought possible, but your heart will remain frozen in the same place forever containing nothing but the memories of your two choices."

Pretty harsh, right? Well he becomes a tester and meets some others like him Kyo, Mary, and Bartleby along with their trainer and strongest of them all Epp (Epictetus). Of course it's at this point where they meet with some trouble. Hey even probability angels need some opposition as well. Another type of undead trouble is waiting for them.

My review really doesn't go into the complexities of the book, but I will say things get pretty interesting. Most importantly for those of you who like zombies you might like this book. There's an army of zombies. If you like to read about a group of paranormal misfits sort of like Dead Like Me, then you might like this. It took me a while to get into this book, but it was an interesting premise and pretty creative.