The Book That Wouldn’t Burn
by Mark Lawrence (Ace, 2023); audiobook read by Jessica Whittaker (Bolinda, 2023)
An infinite library given epic treatment. As stirring as the story becomes, its unfolding cleverness relies upon (and is disguised for much of the book by) meandering, almost ponderous character explorations. Given such build-up, the lack of closure is reprehensible. Trilogy schmilogy.
Dispel Illusion
by Mark Lawrence (47North, 2019); audiobook read by Matthew Frow (Brilliance Audio, 2019)
A satisfying conclusion to Lawrence’s 1980s time travel paradox trilogy. The narrative voice remains appealing, and Lawrence makes good use of present/future and present/past story developments unfolding in parallel. Pleasingly, certain key events from the first book are reincorporated into the weave.
Limited Wish
by Mark Lawrence (47North, 2019); audiobook read by Matthew Frow (Brilliance, 2019)
Lawrence restarts the time-travel story of One Word Kill, thus bringing to life a new iteration of twisty paradoxes. The narrative voice is just as engaging and the plot is cleverly stitched but it’s still more a reimagining than a new work.
One Word Kill
by Mark Lawrence (47North, 2019)
audiobook read by Matthew Frow (Brilliance, 2019)
Lawrence makes good use of the 1980s setting and constructs a well-paced, not-too-unbelievable plot around the speculative element (time travel). The book’s main appeal, though, is its quintet of idiosyncratic but down-to-earth characters. These are particularly well-served by Matthew Frow’s audiobook reading.