The Dent in the Universe

Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review - excellent for those who like sci-fi - releasing May 29th

Let me start this review out by saying, sci-fi is definitely not my favorite genre. When I say I couldn’t put this book down, I mean it! This book spans so many different creepy and eerie potential total world collapse scenarios that are intricately woven throughout the plot and wrapped up perfectly. This book is giving the butterfly effect, the mandala effect, and the day after tomorrow on crack! It really made me think and there was a lot of scientific and intellectual speak that took a second to wrap your head around but this author does great at helping you to understand while also addressing doubt and skepticism that this could actually be happening. By the end of this book, my skepticism in technology has grown and I definitely hope we aren’t in this dimension by 2036. Great read, definitely recommend even if it’s not your genre. It’s got something for all: time travel, a serial killer, a strange death, zombies, technology (kind of) taking over and much more but it was written in a way that all this themes make sense and fit together like a puzzle. Can’t wait for the second book in the series!

A roller-coaster ride through a future world on the brink of collapse……

Book Information

"The Dent in the Universe" was written by E.W. Doc Parris. Spanning 346 pages, the book was published on May 29, 2023. This is Parris’ debut novel and the first of his ‘WalrusTech’ series. Thanks to Magic Genius Books for providing me with an advance copy of the book for review.

Summary

To resurrect his fading fame, tech CEO Stephen Lucas is willing to sacrifice everything. When his gaming subspace network crashes, his partner makes a mind-bending discovery: sending information back in time is possible.

Lucas envisions a product that grants instant gratification and will become a hit on Wall Street. What he doesn’t predict is that not everyone will use it to preorder pizza or get instant Uber pickups. Some people’s imaginations are darker, and this amazing creation can turn dreams into nightmares.

My Thoughts

"The Dent in the Universe" by E.W. Doc Parris takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of technology, murder, missing persons, and chaos. The fast-paced and action-packed narrative immediately engrosses readers, delivering multiple storylines which are connected. Parris's unique and creative approach in bringing them together is commendable. The level of chaos and destruction throughout the book is spectacular making me wonder just how many ways Parris can end civilization. Mystery, mayhem, and twisted technology collide in this captivating page-turner.

One standout aspect is the fresh perspective on "time travel" presented in the book. It introduces numerous possibilities that are thoroughly explored, albeit accompanied by complex and occasionally flexible rules depending on the situation. Parris adeptly crafts a futuristic world that not only reflects current challenges but also demonstrates their potential escalation and transformation. Add the ability to influence these challenges, either for good or bad, and things can spiral out of control rapidly.

Parris blends elements of science fiction, mystery, and a touch of horror, offering a twisted, captivating, and thrilling reading experience. The prose and descriptions are vivid, immersing readers in the story's atmosphere.

While the book is fantastic and inventive, it should be noted that it serves as an introduction to an anticipated series rather than providing a complete resolution to the chaos it creates. It primarily serves as a backstory and preamble, setting the stage for future installments. Nevertheless, the engaging storytelling ensures readers, or at least I, will eagerly anticipate the sequel.

Recommendation

I wholeheartedly recommend "The Dent in the Universe" by E.W. Doc Parris for fans of thrilling science fiction and mystery. With its fast-paced narrative, intricate plot connections, and vivid descriptions, this book is an absolute must-read.

Rating

4 Timeless Stars

The Dent in the Universe is the spectacular scifi thriller and debut novel from EW Doc Parris. With the scientific complexity of Blake Crouch or Michael Crichton and the mythology of a Robert McCammon story, this blend of genres has something to satisfy almost everyone. Gamers won't find a more compelling fictional universe than the one created for the Walrustech series.

Generally, I avoid series books because the author metes out the best content gradually while building to a series of meaningless cliffhangers to keep you locked in for another installment. In this case, Parris has fully realized a vision with imaginative concepts to spare, making the first entry of the series completely satisfying as a standalone novel. The reader is carried along almost helplessly as the action unfolds through the eyes of dynamic characters rendered with cleverly crafted humor and authenticity. So much so that the next book in the series can't come soon enough.

For a completely new vision of the future that addresses all our modern phobias of artificial intelligence, government-created pathogens, war mongering politicians and unstoppable technology, there's only one place to look, and that's the Walrustech Universe. Fans of Batman and Hannibal Lecter, 007 and Isaac Asimov will be equally at home there. Once you pick this one up, you won't want to read anything else.

A huge thank you, past-present-and-future to NetGalley and Magic Genius books for the ARC.

Don't get fooled by the old-timey name of the author. E. W. "Doc" Parris brings to mind the old Lensman series, does it not? And while that's a deliberate choice on the part of the author this is not your mother's science fiction. (my Mom was a great fan of E. E. "Doc" Smith) This is a thoroughly modern tale. And while I am not a practicing quantum mechanic the explanations work well enough for me.

This is a good book full of interesting and unexpected twists and turns. Yeah, it involves time travel but not like any time travel I've encountered in the past. No grandfather paradox here! (the reason why is one of my minor irritations. But I"ll let you decide how you feel about that) Instead we get very clever uses of the technology, far beyond simply ordering a pizza for instant delivery. What starts out as a somewhat innocuous and useful vision of its use turns into a nightmare beyond anyone's dreams. Well, anyone but the person who dreams it and makes it real.

And that's enough of that.

I would describe this as action-packed police procedural time travel horror geek SF. And if that doesn't satisfy you then I don't know what will!

A great blend of sci-fi and horror, this book takes some of the best of both genres and combines them in a truly fascinating way. I found myself surprised by how far it was willing to go with some of its plot elements, yet also by how well it brought things back to a sort of reality – it turned things on their heads left and right, but managed to stay on track and give satisfying explanations for even the most outlandish sections.
Sci-fi hasn’t often been my favorite genre, especially when time travel/manipulation is the focal point. I just find a lot of books I’ve read that have attempted to use it as a plot device often leave a lot unaccounted for – or they spend a lot more time than necessary on technical aspects and hypotheticals. However, this book somehow managed to address almost all of my major issues and make something theoretically fantastic more tenable and fun to read about.