On Reality Skimming, a blog hosted by author Lynda Williams, Ira Nayman was interviewed by Christel Bodenbender. He talks about writing, inspiration, and his comic influences. He talks about submitting Welcome to the Multiverse (Sorry for the Inconvenience) to us. He identifies the differences between self-publishing and being published, and the advantages of being part of a community of writers. He also talks a little bit about his forthcoming books. His answers are mostly quite serious too – which may be a first for Ira! If you want an insight into the mind of the man who brought you sentient kitchen appliances, not to mention the Home Universe Generator™ (ED: I said not to mention the Home Universe Generator™), then click here to read the interview 😉
On the Upcoming4.me website, in their Story behind the Story feature, Ira Nayman has written a guest article about the genesis of You Can’t Kill the Multiverse (But You Can Mess With its Head), the second novel in the Transdimensional Authority series, and more especially about his trajectory from aspiring author to self-published author to other-published author. His article is not only an interesting perspective for both readers and other aspiring authors, but an insight into the motivation behind this very funny writer. And although he’s writing a serious piece, it is still written with his characteristic wit and humour.
The review describes the book as “hilarious” and says that Ira’s “rare talent for writing humour” should be applauded. Continuing that the “dialogue is witty, the situations funny and the narration hysterical” it says that Ira “packs humour into every paragraph, making it slightly dizzying at times” while having an “unpredictability necessary to keep comic work such as this fresh”. As part of the humour “comes from lampooning science fiction tropes” the reviewer suggests that it will appeal to anyone who has read a lot of sci-fi.
The review finishes with a suggestion that fans of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett will enjoy Ira’s writing as he “has a similar sense of mischief and mayhem as these two writers”.
He commends Ira on doing “a great job of sharing the absurd possibilities of a multiverse filled with infinite possibilities” and concludes by saying it was a “really fun read” and that he would definitely recommend it to anyone.
After amusingly bemoaning the paucity of humorous SF/F (an opinion with which we feel forced to agree, although at the same time pointing out that by publishing by Ira’s great books we are trying to do something about it) David launches into a tantalising canter through the different threads in Ira’s novel that all lead inexorably to the concluding chapter. Some of these, he suggests, stand on their own: “The second chapter, ‘The Rhododendron Who Cried Foul at Teatime’ is simply brilliant. Were it broken out as a novella, I would consider it the funniest new SF/F novella I’ve read in the last ten years. It’s that good.” He goes on to add “I give it the ‘worth the price of admission’ tag.”
David describes Ira’s humour as “something of a kitchen sink style”, in that he throws everything, including the kitchen sink, at the reader in quick-fire humour. David writes that he “thoroughly enjoyed the book”, although he does point out that “if you prefer subtle humor, this is not the novel you were looking for”. He concludes by saying that he highly recommends that you give it a try.
You should read the full review yourself here, to enjoy David’s own humorous style.
As a fellow author of satirical speculative fiction, Ann appreciates Ira’s writing skill and “flagrant disregard for traditional formatting” and “the common ‘musts’ of writing”. She starts by describing the book as “definitely unique. It is certainly a satire. Considerable fun is poked at traditional macho cops shows, modern big business especially marketing practices, the policies of large, stolid organizations and the stereotypical treatment of women in male dominated fields.”
She writes that she particularly enjoyed the pacing, that the characters are well drawn and credible and that the world building is professional. In summing up she describes Ira as someone with a “delightful sense of humour and keen understanding of science and human nature”.
It’s just another day in the Transdimensional Authority, with teams of investigators doing what they do best (well, after breakdancing) – investigating. Bob Blunt is en route through a Dimensional Portal™ to Earth prime 4-7-5-0-0-7 dash iota to investigate cars exhibiting most uncarlike behaviours – ribbit! (Breaking all of the Transdimensional Authority rules…number 127, he is without his partner, ‘Breakfront’ Balboa, who is on leave after an unfortunate incident with the Vulvar Ambassador to Earth Prime and a staple gun). Beau Beaumont and Biff Buckley have already arrived on Earth Prime 5-9-2-7-7-1 dash theta to find themselves surrounded by machines whose only intention is to serve human masters – even if it kills them! Recently recruited TA investigator Noomi Rapier, with her partner ‘Crash’ Chumley, is on Earth Prime 6-4-7-5-0-6 dash theta where all matter at all levels of organisation (from sub-atomic particles to the universe itself) has become conscious. Meanwhile Barack Bowens and Blabber Begbie, taking the Dimensional DeLorean™ to Earth prime 4-6-3-0-2-9 dash omicron, face multiple apocalypses (already in progress), and Bertrand Blailock and Bao Bai-Leung are having trouble travelling to their intended destination: the home of the digital gods. At first, they all appear to be looking for unauthorised and probably counterfeit Home Universe Generator™s, but could what’s really happening be more sinister? (Yes. Yes, it could. We wouldn’t want to leave you in suspense…)
Cover image original artwork by Hannah B. Farrell, background photo by Bart_J/shutterstock.comOver on Goodreads, the author Paul Levinson has rated Ira Nayman’s satirical novel Welcome to the Multiverse (Sorry for the inconvenience) with 5 stars. Paul knows what he’s talking about as he’s not only a best-selling science fiction writer, but also a professor of Communication and Media Studies in New York and has been president of SFWA, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Eric points out the absurdity in the world today and invites his reader to “imagine all of that absurdity multiplied by an infinite number of universes”. Fortunately, he says, Ira has managed to contain the absurdity in Welcome to the Multiverse*. He describes the writing as clever and the humour as able to “bring a smile to anyone’s face”. Having started his review with an extract (when Noomi is given a yellow vest on her first day at the Transdimensional Authority, instead of the green vest she was expecting), he finishes up by saying that Noomi and her partner Crash, featured on the book’s cover, are “the two points of consistency in a topsy-turvy multiverse and you can’t help but root for Noomi”. I’m sure Noomi will be glad to hear that, Eric!
Eric really liked the book. In fact he really, really… Actually, read the full review for yourself here to find out exactly how much.
Ira Nayman, author Welcome to the Multiverse (Sorry for the inconvenience), was recently interviewed by Katie Uhlmann for Katie Chats on Smithee TV. Ira is on form (as usual), with anecdotes about the launch of Welcome to the Multiverse at Eastercon, information about his latest Alternate Reality News Service books, including his agony column competition (which we’ve mentioned before here), and advice to new writers.
On Reality Skimming, a blog hosted by author Lynda Williams, Ira Nayman was interviewed by Christel Bodenbender. He talks about writing, inspiration, and his comic influences. He talks about submitting Welcome to the Multiverse (Sorry for the Inconvenience) to us. He identifies the differences between self-publishing and being published, and the advantages of being part of a community of writers. He also talks a little bit about his forthcoming books. His answers are mostly quite serious too – which may be a first for Ira! If you want an insight into the mind of the man who brought you sentient kitchen appliances, not to mention the Home Universe Generator™ (ED: I said not to mention the Home Universe Generator™), then click here to read the interview 😉
