Customer Reviews

The Worlds of Prot (K-Pax)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't read this book prior to reading K-PAX and On a Beam of Light.

Gene Brewer did a fantastic job of finishing off the K-PAX series. The book, as with the previous two, was very well thought out and masterfully written. The character of prot never looses his playful yet rather cynical nature and continues to surprise the reader right up to the end of the book. Several of the other characters from the pervious books also make appearances and add to the magic of this book. I must say I'm sorry to see the series end.

+++++

This book, by Gene Brewer, is the final installment of the K-PAX trilogy. In this book, there is, as in the previous two novels, a prologue and epilogue. Between are 15 chapters or "sessions" (as opposed to 16 each in the previous two novels). Unique to this book is a "Suggested Additional Reading" list or bibliography.

The prologue is excellent. What it does is cover the highlights of the first two novels then tells us why this third novel was written:

"All...of my thirty-two sessions with Robert/[P]rot [recall that Robert Porter was thought to be the main personality hidden within Prot] are described more fully in K-PAX and K-PAX II [subtitled "On A Beam of Light"] which ended with the birth of [Prot's]...[Earthling] son...in the summer of 1997. At that time it appeared the family...might, at last, live happily ever after.
Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case..."

Thus this novel is not simply a rehash of the two previous novels.

Prot (pronounced "Pr-OAT") is treated by the same psychiatrist of the previous two novels, Dr. Gene Brewer. (Note that the doctor has the same name as the author.) In this third novel, there seems to be more interaction between other characters and Dr. Brewer, not just with Prot exclusively.

Prot's wit, wisdom, and humor shines through in this novel. Recall that he had this in the first novel also but seemed to have lost some of this in the second novel. It was good to see him in top-form again.

Prot still demonstrates certain otherworldly abilities and even his medical tests are strange. Both Dr. Brewer and the reader are still not sure whether Prot is indeed an extraterrestrial or a traumatized human suffering from "multiple personality disorder."

In this novel, there is more interest in finding out what happened to Robert. As well, the reader is introduced to many new and interesting patients such as "Alex Trebeck" and "Albert Einstein." Prot, as before, has a positive influence on all patients.

Suspense is created when Prot reveals that he is going back to K-PAX for good and will bring 100 of his fellow patients with him. (Why not 200 or 1000? You'll have to read this novel to find out.)

The epilogue as with the prologue is also excellent. We get two possible explanations as to whom Prot is. As well, we are told that "a great many questions" still remain. The last paragraph of the epilogue has Dr. Brewer "look[ing] toward the constellation Lyra" (where Prot's home planet of K-PAX is located) and wondering...

Can this concluding sequel be read without reading the previous two novels? Yes, I think so. This is because the prologue to this novel is so well written. Besides, the author includes in his "suggested additional reading" list the prior two novels, K-PAX and K-PAX II. Why would he list these if he assumed that the reader had already read these novels?

In conclusion, this is a good novel that will hold your attention to the end. As well, it is a good conclusion to the K-PAX trilogy!!!

(first published 2002; prologue; 15 chapters covering sessions 33 to 47; epilogue; main narrative 265 pages; suggested additional reading list; acknowledgements)

+++++

This book is what looks like the end of the K-PAX series. It goes out on a good note. I am not upset that I read past the first, but the first was the best. The prot character has returned from the dark recesses of the mind of Robert Porter, or so we believe. Prot's arrogance toward the human race, and our self-destructive nature, wore on me a bit in this book.

The hidden personalities of Robert Porter make appearances again. Giselle, Robert's wife, and recurrent character, is again, a high point. It was interesting to read about Dr. Brewer's internal conflict with retiring. Dr. Brewer's children were very good secondary characters.

Well, this book will make little sense if you do not read the second one in the series, so read it. I liked all three books and I have passed them off to friends three times over already.

epc

An interesting and exciting culmination to the trilogy. Gene Brewer the author and gene brewer the psychiatrist bring together a myriad of thoughts, conferences, discussions, analyses, and sidelights that holds the reader's interest throughout. The main character, prot, seems to continuously amaze everyone with his ability to solve problems in which the professionals have not been successful. I am eagerly awaiting the next piece of work from Gene Brewer the author.

The last in the three part series featuring prot (that's how he spells it), a part of the personality of one Robert Porter, who, as a result of an abusive childhood has developed three personalities.
But is prot merely part of Robert and his multiple personality disorder, or is he the real thing, that is, from KPAX, where everything is idyllic and void of any semblance to the life Robert lived, particularly the bad parts.
Without spilling the beans, those who find the movie KPAX intriguing and, as I do, find a fascination with mental illnesses and the mystery that surrounds those unfortunate victims, will want to purchase the entire trilogy, "KPAX", "On A Beam Of Light" and "KPAX III". None of the books are very long but they do present some interesting takes on humans and how we behave, be it politics, religion, etc.
Gene Brewer crafts an interesting tale and doesn't drown the reader in psychiatric technicalities, yet opens the door into a compelling world where medicine is in the Stone Age, treatment wise. There is the addition of obvious fiction (you'll know it when you read it) but all in all, it's a very enjoyable read.

K-PAX 3 was as much of a new book then a sequel. Prot returns as Robert Porter is thrown back into his catatonic state. This is one of those books that will make you want to read further into the subjects of the material such as psychology and cosmology. This is one of the few pieces of fiction that takes you on a real mind trip (Literally). Is Prot really who is says he is? Or is he just another figment of Robert Porter's imagination? Although it should be said that the final installment might leave you with more questions then answers, it was still a good and dignified end in the trilogy.

O.K., this novel is nice to read. But is there anything that has not already been said in the first two novels? Prot's view of the world does not change, the narrator's view of prot and doubts about him either. So Gene Brewer concentrates on Robert's secret and the reader is interested only in the question whether prot is an alien or whether all this might be a case of multiple personality as suggested in the first two novels. It would have been a good idea to solve the problem at the end of book II.
This is a good example that it is not always worth while squeezing another book out of a good idea. Of, course, all those who liked the first two sequels buy the third book, but the question is whether they are satisfied after reading it. I admit, it is still amusing and reflective at the same time, so buying the book was no waste of money. But as you know: sometimes less is more.

K-PAX III: The Worlds of Prot is disappointing for those readers who came to the series with an interest in psychology or, indeed, in logical human motivations. Unlike the first book (and the second to an extent), this one completely ignores any of the interesting and realistic psychological aspects of patients at MPI that were before present. Also, disregarding the fantasy aspects of the work, the plot simply does not make sense; everyone (except Dr. Brewer) automatically assumes that a patient in a mental hospital is, in fact, a visitor from outer space. While this made sense for the inmates in book one, it does not at all strike one as realistic for the general population. prot is proven to be an alien and becomes even more arrogant and irritating (if that was possible), and preaches to his followers--and hence, to us--on how to change the world, conveniently ignoring biological motivations and the depths of human emotion.
To top it all off, the book ends with a jarring and unneeded sermon on the wonders of life and God, despite the fact that prot spends much of his time denouncing religion. The narrator's point of view in this book is continually inconsistent; the only thing one can be certain about is that he wants to retire.
K-PAX I recommend without question, but K-PAX III: The Worlds of Prot does not live up to its predecessors' standards.

This is the third book in this trilogy and it's simply awesome... It is really cool to read about if their are alien species who are millions of years ahead of us might think about our culture, tradition and planet as in whole... Prot is simply awesome... This trilogy is a must read for any sci-fi fan!!