What do you think?
The Story Eaters of Yamm
An irreverent, suspenseful, profoundly original novel about a group of science fiction writers hired to gameplan an alien invasion, led by Larry Palczewski, a struggling novelist who can't perceive time.
What starts for Larry as a desperately needed source of free lunches turns sinister and inconvenient when the alien snails the group is fictionalizing actually launch an invasion, and begin taking over humanity's novels. Then it is up to Larry, unlikeliest of protagonists, to author a new ending before humankind is eaten by the ultimate bad story: his own.
“Read this hilarious, profound, outsider sci-fi, where neurodivergence is just one of many alternative worldviews. By the end you’re so enmeshed in Larry’s brain you’re predicting his thoughts.”
What starts for Larry as a desperately needed source of free lunches turns sinister and inconvenient when the alien snails the group is fictionalizing actually launch an invasion, and begin taking over humanity's novels. Then it is up to Larry, unlikeliest of protagonists, to author a new ending before humankind is eaten by the ultimate bad story: his own.
“Read this hilarious, profound, outsider sci-fi, where neurodivergence is just one of many alternative worldviews. By the end you’re so enmeshed in Larry’s brain you’re predicting his thoughts.”
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
322 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 14, 2025
3 ⭐️ I’m 100% the target audience for this book. If you like straight up bizarre, humorous, self referential sci fi this one’s for you! If you want your stories to make sense or have all questions answered by the end, walk away because this one will enrage you.
What worked the best was the author wasn’t afraid to be silly. He took sci fi tropes & exaggerated them to the extreme, then he took all those exaggerated tropes tossed them into the book & imagined them bumping up against each other. It gets weird and varies in how effective it is. There were moments where I was giggling while reading. Any of the sci fi author mob moments really got me. Other times the jokes just didn’t land. I do think parts of it could have easily been cut down but it was only slightly bloated.
Do you ever read a book & think depending on the ending this will be a 1 or a 5 star book? That was me all the way up to the end. I don’t want to spoil things so I’ll try to talk around it. The author chose a middle ground ending & wound up with a middle rating. The rest of the book was pushed to the extreme & I wanted the ending to do that too. Part of the reason why I was disappointed in the ending is it left me feeling like what was the point of reading that…
What worked the best was the author wasn’t afraid to be silly. He took sci fi tropes & exaggerated them to the extreme, then he took all those exaggerated tropes tossed them into the book & imagined them bumping up against each other. It gets weird and varies in how effective it is. There were moments where I was giggling while reading. Any of the sci fi author mob moments really got me. Other times the jokes just didn’t land. I do think parts of it could have easily been cut down but it was only slightly bloated.
Do you ever read a book & think depending on the ending this will be a 1 or a 5 star book? That was me all the way up to the end. I don’t want to spoil things so I’ll try to talk around it. The author chose a middle ground ending & wound up with a middle rating. The rest of the book was pushed to the extreme & I wanted the ending to do that too. Part of the reason why I was disappointed in the ending is it left me feeling like what was the point of reading that…
Did Not Finish
June 17, 2026DNF at 28%
Based on the way this is pitched and the Kirkus review, I assume this is meant to be funny. Perhaps irreverent or satirical. I found it frustrating and mean spirited. I considered pushing through to at least get to the aliens, because who doesn't love aliens?! But I simply cannot.
Based on the way this is pitched and the Kirkus review, I assume this is meant to be funny. Perhaps irreverent or satirical. I found it frustrating and mean spirited. I considered pushing through to at least get to the aliens, because who doesn't love aliens?! But I simply cannot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay, I really, really, really tried so damn hard to finish this. I’m not gonna say that this book is bad, but I would say that it is not up to my preference. I expected a totally different thing. I did expect it to be humorous, but to be totally honest with you, I didn’t find myself invested in any of the characters. In fact, it became a burden for me at some point. I felt like I must finish this book at one point or another.
I really didn’t find the plot that much engaging. I didn’t really feel as though I was, at any point, caring about the characters, and I really tried my best to see whether this book would progress much better, but I’m at a loss. This author really has a nice way of writing, but even that alone wouldn’t make me pick up this book.
This isn’t typically the type of book that I would go for. I have read a couple of books that are totally out of the genre that I normally go for, and I still enjoyed them, but I couldn’t say the same for this book. I guess there will be some readers who will absolutely adore this book, but I won’t be one of them.
I really didn’t find the plot that much engaging. I didn’t really feel as though I was, at any point, caring about the characters, and I really tried my best to see whether this book would progress much better, but I’m at a loss. This author really has a nice way of writing, but even that alone wouldn’t make me pick up this book.
This isn’t typically the type of book that I would go for. I have read a couple of books that are totally out of the genre that I normally go for, and I still enjoyed them, but I couldn’t say the same for this book. I guess there will be some readers who will absolutely adore this book, but I won’t be one of them.
November 23, 2025
A mad-cap, metafictive romp with Douglas Adams-esque phrasing and surreal landscapes and plotting that keep you guessing what’s going on, what happened up until this point, and when on Earth Larry’s going to get his next meal.
I found this an enjoyably bizarre read, peppered with humour and straight-up baffling descriptions that meant I had to actively strap in and pay attention to every word to have any idea how a scene was unfolding and what was happening to any of the characters. I really enjoyed the non-linear chapter numeration and the concept of Larry’s temporal dysphasia - something I’ve yet to come across in any other book, film, or show as explored in some much detail, and something which not only caused a lot of amusement and frustration throughout the story but actually had some plot relevance in the end. The writing reminded me strongly of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in its absurd juxtaposition of aliens, utterly random images, and mundanity. The characters, though occasionally tiresome, were nonetheless distinct from each other and I particularly rooted for Demetrius (grey or otherwise). They each had their own quirks and voices, and Larry himself was a worthy protagonist that - despite his eccentricity - I never really tired of. Honourable mention goes to Dosia, too, who may be the most dangerous woman on the planet but seems (vaguely?) to have a heart and sense of heroism inside her. Perhaps deep, deep down.
However. Reading this book was, in many ways, like stroking a globulous alien snail: oddly satisfying, but almost impossible to hold on to. It leaves your hand coated in a slimy residue that allows you an impression of what the book is about, without ever fully clueing you in. And, most importantly, once you stop stroking the snail - and once you’ve spent a while scrutinising the alien slime, making sensible shapes out of it and feeling almost content with what’s just happened - it’s very hard to galvanise yourself to start stroking the snail again.
In other words, once I put it down, I found it very challenging to find the motivation to want to continue reading it. I think the problem lies in the fact that, despite all its wonderful Hitchhiker’s stylings and novel concepts, the overarching setting and plot (an obscure tech company hiring science fiction writers for a top-secret project) just aren’t that interesting. While I’ve never really connected with the (admittedly very loose) plot of Hitchhiker’s either, the mind-boggling aliens and space travel and everything in between did have a robust charm to them that unfortunately I think Story Eaters of Yamm, for want of a more interesting story arc, lacks. Yes, there are some aliens. But they only really show up towards the very end, during a sequence which is far too exciting to last only 20 pages. All the metafictive stylings between Larry and the AI, all the speculative genre pushings that try to pull everything together just… fell a little flat, for me.
Does it work? In many ways, yes. Is it an enjoyable read? If you’ve had your morning coffee, and maybe a few more just in case. I very much liked the ending, and I thought the concept of the story eaters themselves was excellent. Unfortunately, for me, this falls into the pile of books about books - where the book it’s about (though in this case they are one and the same) is actually a lot more interesting than the one I’m reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the story eaters for the advance copy of this book!
I found this an enjoyably bizarre read, peppered with humour and straight-up baffling descriptions that meant I had to actively strap in and pay attention to every word to have any idea how a scene was unfolding and what was happening to any of the characters. I really enjoyed the non-linear chapter numeration and the concept of Larry’s temporal dysphasia - something I’ve yet to come across in any other book, film, or show as explored in some much detail, and something which not only caused a lot of amusement and frustration throughout the story but actually had some plot relevance in the end. The writing reminded me strongly of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in its absurd juxtaposition of aliens, utterly random images, and mundanity. The characters, though occasionally tiresome, were nonetheless distinct from each other and I particularly rooted for Demetrius (grey or otherwise). They each had their own quirks and voices, and Larry himself was a worthy protagonist that - despite his eccentricity - I never really tired of. Honourable mention goes to Dosia, too, who may be the most dangerous woman on the planet but seems (vaguely?) to have a heart and sense of heroism inside her. Perhaps deep, deep down.
However. Reading this book was, in many ways, like stroking a globulous alien snail: oddly satisfying, but almost impossible to hold on to. It leaves your hand coated in a slimy residue that allows you an impression of what the book is about, without ever fully clueing you in. And, most importantly, once you stop stroking the snail - and once you’ve spent a while scrutinising the alien slime, making sensible shapes out of it and feeling almost content with what’s just happened - it’s very hard to galvanise yourself to start stroking the snail again.
In other words, once I put it down, I found it very challenging to find the motivation to want to continue reading it. I think the problem lies in the fact that, despite all its wonderful Hitchhiker’s stylings and novel concepts, the overarching setting and plot (an obscure tech company hiring science fiction writers for a top-secret project) just aren’t that interesting. While I’ve never really connected with the (admittedly very loose) plot of Hitchhiker’s either, the mind-boggling aliens and space travel and everything in between did have a robust charm to them that unfortunately I think Story Eaters of Yamm, for want of a more interesting story arc, lacks. Yes, there are some aliens. But they only really show up towards the very end, during a sequence which is far too exciting to last only 20 pages. All the metafictive stylings between Larry and the AI, all the speculative genre pushings that try to pull everything together just… fell a little flat, for me.
Does it work? In many ways, yes. Is it an enjoyable read? If you’ve had your morning coffee, and maybe a few more just in case. I very much liked the ending, and I thought the concept of the story eaters themselves was excellent. Unfortunately, for me, this falls into the pile of books about books - where the book it’s about (though in this case they are one and the same) is actually a lot more interesting than the one I’m reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the story eaters for the advance copy of this book!
December 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This was an odd but increasingly interesting story, which I ended up enjoying as it progressed, but I have one big problem with it, and that is Larry.
I don't know, I don't think having the neurodivergent protagonist of the story be obnoxious, still living with his mother well into adulthood (and then being an ass to his mother), basically harrassing his agent, constantly pondering people's ethnicities, and generally being THE worst stereotype of an autistic person was very #woke #representation of Hincker, but what do I know. My first note on the book was literally "also idk how i feel about the neurodiv protagonist being a weirdo who can't take a no and still lives with his mum whom, it seems, he expects to do everything for him", and sadly, it didn't get better during the novel, instead it got even worse (such as him being a grown ass man and having some kind of weird feelings??? for his literary agent (who's no longer his literary agent, but he ignores that and says she is just playing hard to get, basically) whom he then assumes to not even have finished high school yet??? The emails he writes to her are SO uncomfortable to read).
Also, some of the weird quirks of the novel just... made no sense. The chapters were given random numbers, but the story still progressed linearly, which... I don't know, it felt like a choice made to be ~quirky~ without actually having any bearing on the novel.
(Also, I find the example constantly given to illustrate Larry's Temporal Dysphasia kind of nonsensical - he says he has no idea if 10am is later or earlier than 11am, but does not appear to have issues with numbers otherwise, and thus should know that 11 follows 10, and 11am thus logically has to be after 10am, even if he does not understand the concept of "late". It doesn't make sense to have him be alright with numbers in all other contexts but then forget the sequence of numbers here.)
The idea of the story itself was interesting, though, and I ended up enjoying the novel once the plot picked up, but I was very close to just not ever finishing it because of the above-mentioned Larry Issues. Which would have kind of been a shame, as the idea for the story was unique and very interesting, and I am ultimately glad I finished this novel. I'd just advise the author to write less of an autistic caricature next time.
This was an odd but increasingly interesting story, which I ended up enjoying as it progressed, but I have one big problem with it, and that is Larry.
I don't know, I don't think having the neurodivergent protagonist of the story be obnoxious, still living with his mother well into adulthood (and then being an ass to his mother), basically harrassing his agent, constantly pondering people's ethnicities, and generally being THE worst stereotype of an autistic person was very #woke #representation of Hincker, but what do I know. My first note on the book was literally "also idk how i feel about the neurodiv protagonist being a weirdo who can't take a no and still lives with his mum whom, it seems, he expects to do everything for him", and sadly, it didn't get better during the novel, instead it got even worse (such as him being a grown ass man and having some kind of weird feelings??? for his literary agent (who's no longer his literary agent, but he ignores that and says she is just playing hard to get, basically) whom he then assumes to not even have finished high school yet??? The emails he writes to her are SO uncomfortable to read).
Also, some of the weird quirks of the novel just... made no sense. The chapters were given random numbers, but the story still progressed linearly, which... I don't know, it felt like a choice made to be ~quirky~ without actually having any bearing on the novel.
(Also, I find the example constantly given to illustrate Larry's Temporal Dysphasia kind of nonsensical - he says he has no idea if 10am is later or earlier than 11am, but does not appear to have issues with numbers otherwise, and thus should know that 11 follows 10, and 11am thus logically has to be after 10am, even if he does not understand the concept of "late". It doesn't make sense to have him be alright with numbers in all other contexts but then forget the sequence of numbers here.)
The idea of the story itself was interesting, though, and I ended up enjoying the novel once the plot picked up, but I was very close to just not ever finishing it because of the above-mentioned Larry Issues. Which would have kind of been a shame, as the idea for the story was unique and very interesting, and I am ultimately glad I finished this novel. I'd just advise the author to write less of an autistic caricature next time.
February 5, 2026
Extremely weird, and in a way that shows you that it wants to be weird. Sometimes funny, but not really my cup of tea. A bit childish, and also, mostly, weird. I have no other words for it.
October 22, 2025
~ Vielen Dank an den Autor für das Netgalley-Rezensionsexemplar. Alle Meinungen meine eigenen. ~
Also, versuchen wir, das zusammenzufassen: Larry, seines Zeichens SciFi-Autor (er überarbeitet seinen Roman gerade zum 28. Mal und da er seit der 4. Revision nichts geändert hat, muss er nun perfekt sein), wird von seiner Mutter gezwungen, sich einen Job zu suchen. Welcher wäre da perfekter als der eines ominösen Konzerns, der SciFi-Autorys sucht, damit sie sich für die Kundschaft eine kreative Zukunft für den Fall einer Alieninvasion ausdenken? Das Problem dabei ist: Larry kann keine Zeit wahrnehmen, er organisiert sein Leben in Küchenweckern - das treibt seine Chefin natürlich in den Wahnsinn und auch seine Mitstreitenden bei dem Projekt sind reichlich ... fasziniert. Dass seine Schreibgruppe am Ende von einer AI kontrolliert wird, stößt nicht nur mir sauer auf.
"I am a Protagonist now. Do you understand? A motley crew of idiots depends on me for guidance."
Okay, dafuq did I just read? Auf der Suche nach anderen abgedrehten Büchern, die das Loch, das "Running close to the Wind" hinterlassen hat, stopfen könnten, bin ich auf dieses Werk gestoßen. Beworben wurde es als laugh-out-loud funny mit neurodivergenten Charakteren und ja, das kann ich so unterschreiben. Die völlig abstrusen Plotlines, die da reinspielen, sind jedoch ein ganz anderes Kaliber. Ein Beispiel? Larry ist der festen Überzeugung, dass eine Literaturagentin, die sein Manuskript diverse Male abgelehnt hat, nur die scheue Schönheit spielt und schreibt ihr jeden Abend E-Mails. Ich konnte mir nicht helfen, als das von ihrer Perspektive aus zu sehen - also entweder hat sie ihn blockiert oder sie ruft bald die Polizei. Außerdem wird er in seiner Schreibgruppe dann zum Anführer erwählt - nennt sich aber nicht Moderator o.ä. sondern Protagonist. Klar soweit. Oder dieser Plot: Seine Mutter ist eine Hoarderin, das ganze Haus ist voller Kram, den Larry nicht anfassen darf. Um sie davon abzuhalten, weitere dubiose Tauschgeschäfte einzugehen, engagiert er zwei Eskorts, die seine Mutter kontrollieren sollen - doch die machen lieber Party mit der Alten. Und dann taucht das FBI auf ...
Ein spannender Hinweis war, dass Larrys Hirnströmungen ausschließlich Delta-Wellen sind, also Traumwellen, obwohl er wach ist. War für mich total plausibel - Mann kommt von Arbeit nach Hause und seine Mutter hat das ganze Haus voller Aquarien gestellt. Eindeutig ein Traum, nur dass es für Larry Realität ist. Was das wohl bedeuten könnte...? Gegen Ende sind alle zeitlich verwirrt, könnte Larry mit seiner temporalen Dysphasie also Recht gehabt haben?!
Nicht nur die Story ist komplett abgedreht, auch das Buch selbst ist ... sagen wir individuell: Es beginnt mit dem Inhaltsverzeichnis. Jawohl, da startet der Wahnsinn mit Kapiteln wie "16.5" oder "319" (zwischen Kapitel 56 und Kapitel 1). Zudem endet jedes Kapitel (von dem ihr nicht wisst, ob es 3 Minuten oder 47 Minuten dauern wird) mit einem unvollständigen Satz (weil Larry abdriftet) sowie einer absichtlich leeren Seite (Sinn wird sich noch erschließen).
Falls ihr ein Buch wollt, das euch genau sagt, wo ihr gerade steht ("you're officially in the soggy middle here") oder dringend Tipps braucht, welche SciFi-Autor*innen ihr gelesen haben müsst (Heinlein), dann ist das euer Buch. Ich habe es innerhalb von 24 Stunden weggelesen. Kevin Hincker muss komplett gaga sein - das ganze Buch strotzt vor Szenen, in denen ich das Gefühl hatte, er hat sein Ideen-Notizbuch einfach auf die Seiten gekippt. Es gibt diverse Szenen, in denen Larry, auf der Suche nach Inspiration, durch seine Kreativlandschaft wandert und die sind einfach eine durchgedrehte Idee nach der nächsten.
Besonders schön fand ich die rigorose Verteidigung von Autorenschaft gegenüber der künstlichen Intelligenz:
"Storytelling is exclusively a human gift. A story is an experience - can an AI have an experience that it can impart to anyone?"
Soviel kann ich sagen: Dieses Buch war eine Erfahrung.
Achtung, Verwechslungsgefahr:
Titel nicht verwechseln mit "The Book Eaters", eine komplett andere, komplett abgedrehte Story.
Außerdem: Cover nicht verwechseln mit "Of Monsters and Mainframes", das auch noch auf meiner Liste steht.
Das Buch erscheint im Juni 26 im Selfpublishing.
"Story, the highest expression of human spirit, was the sole domain of human intelligence."
~ 22.10.2025
Also, versuchen wir, das zusammenzufassen: Larry, seines Zeichens SciFi-Autor (er überarbeitet seinen Roman gerade zum 28. Mal und da er seit der 4. Revision nichts geändert hat, muss er nun perfekt sein), wird von seiner Mutter gezwungen, sich einen Job zu suchen. Welcher wäre da perfekter als der eines ominösen Konzerns, der SciFi-Autorys sucht, damit sie sich für die Kundschaft eine kreative Zukunft für den Fall einer Alieninvasion ausdenken? Das Problem dabei ist: Larry kann keine Zeit wahrnehmen, er organisiert sein Leben in Küchenweckern - das treibt seine Chefin natürlich in den Wahnsinn und auch seine Mitstreitenden bei dem Projekt sind reichlich ... fasziniert. Dass seine Schreibgruppe am Ende von einer AI kontrolliert wird, stößt nicht nur mir sauer auf.
"I am a Protagonist now. Do you understand? A motley crew of idiots depends on me for guidance."
Okay, dafuq did I just read? Auf der Suche nach anderen abgedrehten Büchern, die das Loch, das "Running close to the Wind" hinterlassen hat, stopfen könnten, bin ich auf dieses Werk gestoßen. Beworben wurde es als laugh-out-loud funny mit neurodivergenten Charakteren und ja, das kann ich so unterschreiben. Die völlig abstrusen Plotlines, die da reinspielen, sind jedoch ein ganz anderes Kaliber. Ein Beispiel? Larry ist der festen Überzeugung, dass eine Literaturagentin, die sein Manuskript diverse Male abgelehnt hat, nur die scheue Schönheit spielt und schreibt ihr jeden Abend E-Mails. Ich konnte mir nicht helfen, als das von ihrer Perspektive aus zu sehen - also entweder hat sie ihn blockiert oder sie ruft bald die Polizei. Außerdem wird er in seiner Schreibgruppe dann zum Anführer erwählt - nennt sich aber nicht Moderator o.ä. sondern Protagonist. Klar soweit. Oder dieser Plot: Seine Mutter ist eine Hoarderin, das ganze Haus ist voller Kram, den Larry nicht anfassen darf. Um sie davon abzuhalten, weitere dubiose Tauschgeschäfte einzugehen, engagiert er zwei Eskorts, die seine Mutter kontrollieren sollen - doch die machen lieber Party mit der Alten. Und dann taucht das FBI auf ...
Ein spannender Hinweis war, dass Larrys Hirnströmungen ausschließlich Delta-Wellen sind, also Traumwellen, obwohl er wach ist. War für mich total plausibel - Mann kommt von Arbeit nach Hause und seine Mutter hat das ganze Haus voller Aquarien gestellt. Eindeutig ein Traum, nur dass es für Larry Realität ist. Was das wohl bedeuten könnte...? Gegen Ende sind alle zeitlich verwirrt, könnte Larry mit seiner temporalen Dysphasie also Recht gehabt haben?!
Nicht nur die Story ist komplett abgedreht, auch das Buch selbst ist ... sagen wir individuell: Es beginnt mit dem Inhaltsverzeichnis. Jawohl, da startet der Wahnsinn mit Kapiteln wie "16.5" oder "319" (zwischen Kapitel 56 und Kapitel 1). Zudem endet jedes Kapitel (von dem ihr nicht wisst, ob es 3 Minuten oder 47 Minuten dauern wird) mit einem unvollständigen Satz (weil Larry abdriftet) sowie einer absichtlich leeren Seite (Sinn wird sich noch erschließen).
Falls ihr ein Buch wollt, das euch genau sagt, wo ihr gerade steht ("you're officially in the soggy middle here") oder dringend Tipps braucht, welche SciFi-Autor*innen ihr gelesen haben müsst (Heinlein), dann ist das euer Buch. Ich habe es innerhalb von 24 Stunden weggelesen. Kevin Hincker muss komplett gaga sein - das ganze Buch strotzt vor Szenen, in denen ich das Gefühl hatte, er hat sein Ideen-Notizbuch einfach auf die Seiten gekippt. Es gibt diverse Szenen, in denen Larry, auf der Suche nach Inspiration, durch seine Kreativlandschaft wandert und die sind einfach eine durchgedrehte Idee nach der nächsten.
Besonders schön fand ich die rigorose Verteidigung von Autorenschaft gegenüber der künstlichen Intelligenz:
"Storytelling is exclusively a human gift. A story is an experience - can an AI have an experience that it can impart to anyone?"
Soviel kann ich sagen: Dieses Buch war eine Erfahrung.
Achtung, Verwechslungsgefahr:
Titel nicht verwechseln mit "The Book Eaters", eine komplett andere, komplett abgedrehte Story.
Außerdem: Cover nicht verwechseln mit "Of Monsters and Mainframes", das auch noch auf meiner Liste steht.
Das Buch erscheint im Juni 26 im Selfpublishing.
"Story, the highest expression of human spirit, was the sole domain of human intelligence."
~ 22.10.2025
March 8, 2026
3.75⭐️
Honestly the book made me think that the ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ universe needed these war games. This is a ‘War Games’ situation with weird science fiction authors.
I was really enjoying the beginning - learning about Larry’s neurodivergent quirks and how people react to them, trying to figure out what Dosia, his mom’s whole deal was.
Then in the middle it drags and by then it got too meta and self referential: ‘… how the best novels never call attention to the sadness, but just let it roll over, vast as Nile flooding, quiet and relentless and everywhere, as things ended forever.’ It reads as smug and kinda annoying to read.
Note: clearly I didn’t read the book description properly cause I can’t believe the alien snails were mentioned in there - way to give away the twist! Which I guess that would be clear if you’ve ever read a book, HOWEVER that happens with 50 pages left so it’s 200 pages of waiting.
Then there’s another big swing at the end that kinda got me, hence the 3.75⭐️ rating.
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
Publication Date: June 16, 2026
‘Only lowercase “r” stood between Larry Palczewski and completing perhaps the greatest time travel science fiction novel the world had ever seen: How Many Times, Times Twenty Eight.’
‘He was out of churros anyway. There would be no more writing today.’
‘Larry recognize only one truth – that everything perceived by mind is story.‘
‘Since his introduction to the concept of time zones, Larry had feared the associated concept of travelling anywhere.’
‘Early in his life, during one of his infrequent bouts of talking to doctors, they had discovered that Larry had ethnic blindness, a chemical imbalance that made it impossible for him to determine the ethnicity or nationality of a person, two things he got confused about in any case.
“I just said… it’s the Calibration Laboratory. I’ve been telling you about it. What part did you miss?
“The entire part from when you began speaking until this moment. I have a touch of Audio Processing Disorder.’
“What’s your condition?”
“I have Temporal Dysphasia,” Larry said
“Temporal Dysphasia? Huh. What is that?”
“I am unable to tell or experience time, whatever that is.”
“Storytelling is exclusively a human gift. The story is an experience – can an AI have an experience that it can compare to anyone?”
“The assignment you are being given is this: create a fiction where Earth is invaded by a hostile alien species entitled, as you see, The Story Eaters of Yamm. Please do not ask how or why the project came to have that name. It was provided by the client. That’s all you need to know.’
“People, please welcome Larry, your new Alien Invasion Cohort moderator, a position the AI just created last night to keep your team safe from barbarism and psychosis. Let’s give him a hand.”
“Is this brainstorming for Phase One: Target Identification?” Julianne asked. “You think the aliens might target humanity through our hookers?”
“What do you mean, where is it going?”
“I mean, you’re officially in the soggy middle here. You’re really going to have to pick up the pace. You know the soggy middle?”
“Yes,” Larry snapped. “Of course I do. Cease lecturing me on narrative conventions.”
‘The wonderful thing about being a little numb is how you are a little numb.’
“I am suspicious of your compliments end of feeling good because of them. Please stop.”
‘Every night I listen for your voice, but I only hear the wind, carrying other people‘s words, other people songs. Maybe one of them is you. I don’t even know if I’d recognize your voice now. Do you think of me when you sing?’
“Your story is powerful and complex. In fact, your story is the story of what actually is happening! The story you are writing, which will facilitate our mind control, is the story of us mind controlling you. It is confusing.”
‘You are the protagonist if you are the one who lived through it all…’
Honestly the book made me think that the ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ universe needed these war games. This is a ‘War Games’ situation with weird science fiction authors.
I was really enjoying the beginning - learning about Larry’s neurodivergent quirks and how people react to them, trying to figure out what Dosia, his mom’s whole deal was.
Then in the middle it drags and by then it got too meta and self referential: ‘… how the best novels never call attention to the sadness, but just let it roll over, vast as Nile flooding, quiet and relentless and everywhere, as things ended forever.’ It reads as smug and kinda annoying to read.
Note: clearly I didn’t read the book description properly cause I can’t believe the alien snails were mentioned in there - way to give away the twist! Which I guess that would be clear if you’ve ever read a book, HOWEVER that happens with 50 pages left so it’s 200 pages of waiting.
Then there’s another big swing at the end that kinda got me, hence the 3.75⭐️ rating.
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
Publication Date: June 16, 2026
‘Only lowercase “r” stood between Larry Palczewski and completing perhaps the greatest time travel science fiction novel the world had ever seen: How Many Times, Times Twenty Eight.’
‘He was out of churros anyway. There would be no more writing today.’
‘Larry recognize only one truth – that everything perceived by mind is story.‘
‘Since his introduction to the concept of time zones, Larry had feared the associated concept of travelling anywhere.’
‘Early in his life, during one of his infrequent bouts of talking to doctors, they had discovered that Larry had ethnic blindness, a chemical imbalance that made it impossible for him to determine the ethnicity or nationality of a person, two things he got confused about in any case.
“I just said… it’s the Calibration Laboratory. I’ve been telling you about it. What part did you miss?
“The entire part from when you began speaking until this moment. I have a touch of Audio Processing Disorder.’
“What’s your condition?”
“I have Temporal Dysphasia,” Larry said
“Temporal Dysphasia? Huh. What is that?”
“I am unable to tell or experience time, whatever that is.”
“Storytelling is exclusively a human gift. The story is an experience – can an AI have an experience that it can compare to anyone?”
“The assignment you are being given is this: create a fiction where Earth is invaded by a hostile alien species entitled, as you see, The Story Eaters of Yamm. Please do not ask how or why the project came to have that name. It was provided by the client. That’s all you need to know.’
“People, please welcome Larry, your new Alien Invasion Cohort moderator, a position the AI just created last night to keep your team safe from barbarism and psychosis. Let’s give him a hand.”
“Is this brainstorming for Phase One: Target Identification?” Julianne asked. “You think the aliens might target humanity through our hookers?”
“What do you mean, where is it going?”
“I mean, you’re officially in the soggy middle here. You’re really going to have to pick up the pace. You know the soggy middle?”
“Yes,” Larry snapped. “Of course I do. Cease lecturing me on narrative conventions.”
‘The wonderful thing about being a little numb is how you are a little numb.’
“I am suspicious of your compliments end of feeling good because of them. Please stop.”
‘Every night I listen for your voice, but I only hear the wind, carrying other people‘s words, other people songs. Maybe one of them is you. I don’t even know if I’d recognize your voice now. Do you think of me when you sing?’
“Your story is powerful and complex. In fact, your story is the story of what actually is happening! The story you are writing, which will facilitate our mind control, is the story of us mind controlling you. It is confusing.”
‘You are the protagonist if you are the one who lived through it all…’
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It is rare to find a story that feels chaotic but meaningfully constructed. The Story Eaters of Yamm manages to toe that line from the outset. Immediately the book is strange, playful, and unafraid to take risks. It commits fully to a wonderful chaos. The first emails Larry sends had me truly laughing out loud. As this is a novel that embraces absurdity while still asking its reader to stay emotionally engaged. Although this balance does fall short on occasion.
At the heart of the story is Larry, whose temporal dysplasia shapes his character, and the entire reading experience. His fractured relationship with time is often hilarious, offering moments of sharp, unexpected comedy. However, it is also deliberately frustrating. Conversations loop, events interrupt themselves, and arrive out of order, mirroring Larry’s own disorientation. This choice is bold though intermittently effective, it will test some readers’ patience. At times, the confusion feels purposeful and playful but it borders on overwhelming. This discomfort feels intentional, as the reader’s rising tension and frustration come to mirror Larry’s own. Whether or not readers will enjoy this narrative style will boil down to personal preference. Personally, I yo-yoed between loving and loathing it.
The use of AI, while unnerving at times, comes off as stale in the beginning but unfurles as the tale carries on. The idea of stories as sustenance is explored in inventive ways, allowing the author to comment on memory, time, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. When the book slows down enough to let these ideas breathe, it really shines. There are moments of genuine poignancy hidden beneath the humour and chaos, rewarding readers who are willing to ride the rollercoaster to the end.
Uneven pacing does lower the book's rating. The narrative momentum surges and stalls in unexpected places, which can make it difficult to fully immerself yourself in the emotional arcs of the supporting cast. Most characters feel more like ideas than people, painted vividly on the page but left just out of reach. A little more time spent developing these relationships would have strengthened the story’s impact. Although, Dosia may be one of the most outlandish characters I've ever read, this developement alone is worth reading for.
Despite these issues, The Story Eaters of Yamm is undeniably memorable. It is inventive, funny, and unapologetically bizarre, offering something genuinely different in a market often crowded with familiar structures. Readers who enjoy experimental storytelling and don’t mind feeling slightly unmoored will find a lot to love here. When the book works, it works brilliantly. Embracing the messy, clever, and full of heart beneath the madness is the only way to enjoy this tale.
At the heart of the story is Larry, whose temporal dysplasia shapes his character, and the entire reading experience. His fractured relationship with time is often hilarious, offering moments of sharp, unexpected comedy. However, it is also deliberately frustrating. Conversations loop, events interrupt themselves, and arrive out of order, mirroring Larry’s own disorientation. This choice is bold though intermittently effective, it will test some readers’ patience. At times, the confusion feels purposeful and playful but it borders on overwhelming. This discomfort feels intentional, as the reader’s rising tension and frustration come to mirror Larry’s own. Whether or not readers will enjoy this narrative style will boil down to personal preference. Personally, I yo-yoed between loving and loathing it.
The use of AI, while unnerving at times, comes off as stale in the beginning but unfurles as the tale carries on. The idea of stories as sustenance is explored in inventive ways, allowing the author to comment on memory, time, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. When the book slows down enough to let these ideas breathe, it really shines. There are moments of genuine poignancy hidden beneath the humour and chaos, rewarding readers who are willing to ride the rollercoaster to the end.
Uneven pacing does lower the book's rating. The narrative momentum surges and stalls in unexpected places, which can make it difficult to fully immerself yourself in the emotional arcs of the supporting cast. Most characters feel more like ideas than people, painted vividly on the page but left just out of reach. A little more time spent developing these relationships would have strengthened the story’s impact. Although, Dosia may be one of the most outlandish characters I've ever read, this developement alone is worth reading for.
Despite these issues, The Story Eaters of Yamm is undeniably memorable. It is inventive, funny, and unapologetically bizarre, offering something genuinely different in a market often crowded with familiar structures. Readers who enjoy experimental storytelling and don’t mind feeling slightly unmoored will find a lot to love here. When the book works, it works brilliantly. Embracing the messy, clever, and full of heart beneath the madness is the only way to enjoy this tale.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is one odd book(s?). The Story Eaters of Yamm is a *deeply* meta story, centering around a figurative and literal Protagonist who has a wide variety of disorders...from real ones like sensory processing disorder (and what is clearly intended to be some sort of ASD) to fictional ones like a temporal disorder where he cannot conceptualize time. The author is clearly structuring both story and physical book around this lack of concept of time. It is a deeply strange artistic exercise in meta fiction, and in that sense its quite successful. There are only seven chapters, repeated three times (once per act), while the table of contents lists them only once each (with page numbers that say 'Infinity'). Our characters, and us as readers, all experience significant gaps in time, some of which are explained via the meta-narrative (eventually introduced by the AI), and ultimately our characters overall are writing, experiencing, and creating an alien invasion narrative. All our other author characters also seem to be neurodivergent in wildly different ways...honestly they remind me of the collective of genetically engineered people from Deep Space Nine that Bashir tries to work with. I would say the world is clearly a near future version of our own world, but our narrator and the story itself are so deeply unreliable its hard to be sure. There is also a B plot involving the protagonist's mother who seems abusive, also deeply unwell, maybe neurodivergent herself, and a terrorist? Which seems ultimately unimportant overall...though a separate story about Dosia's life might be interesting.
The book is overall, uneven. As a strange exercise in creative meta-fiction which comments on the nature and creation of story, while also creating it, I think this is a wildly successful project. But as an actual story, I think it suffers from a few things. The story itself feels pretty uneven...there were parts that were really engaging, but others that felt too disjointed due to the nature of the project. Also, all of the characters, with the exception of a couple of more minor characters (Demetrius, Tanya) are *deeply* unlikable and irritating. I know to a degree that's part of the point, but it does make it hard to stay engaged. I do enjoy the evolution we get in the protagonist, but by virtue of the project its somewhat limited. The beginning itself was pretty rough to get through, and it really takes almost to the 'saggy middle' before I care a ton about him. There's also a running offputting, one sided communication with a publisher going on.
The author also sunk a lot of time and effort into really cool marketing materials and expanded universe stuff, which I very much appreciate the creativity on.
The book is overall, uneven. As a strange exercise in creative meta-fiction which comments on the nature and creation of story, while also creating it, I think this is a wildly successful project. But as an actual story, I think it suffers from a few things. The story itself feels pretty uneven...there were parts that were really engaging, but others that felt too disjointed due to the nature of the project. Also, all of the characters, with the exception of a couple of more minor characters (Demetrius, Tanya) are *deeply* unlikable and irritating. I know to a degree that's part of the point, but it does make it hard to stay engaged. I do enjoy the evolution we get in the protagonist, but by virtue of the project its somewhat limited. The beginning itself was pretty rough to get through, and it really takes almost to the 'saggy middle' before I care a ton about him. There's also a running offputting, one sided communication with a publisher going on.
The author also sunk a lot of time and effort into really cool marketing materials and expanded universe stuff, which I very much appreciate the creativity on.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.
I’m really unsure where to begin with this one. I will start out by saying that I enjoy “weird” books. Do you want to stand out and be like no other book? Yeah, I’m your girl. This book seemed to fit the bill – and, for sure, it should be categorized in that fashion. Taking the most extreme Science Fiction tropes along with the current heightened concern about AI in every aspect of our lives, throwing them together with a main character who is completely unhooked from any reality and you have the setting for The Story Eaters of Yamm.
The Story Eaters of Yamm reads like a cross between The Confederacy of Dunces and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. With a nod to Confederacy on initial plot line and character relationship, the story quickly devolves (intentionally) as our …ahem…. protagonist… navigates his somewhat delusional and maladjusted life. However, the reader is left a little behind in the stream of consciousness that is Larry Palczewski, with no oar to help navigate for many chapters (which are not in order, by design?). Whether it’s his obsession with his never-was agent, Rebecca, or his codependent and dysfunctional relationship with his mother, Dosia, or his new-found friendship(?) with a effusive madam on the city bus, you are swept from shore to shore of his reality before you can truly get a sense of any of it.
Without giving too much of the core part of the book away, it’s safe to say that this book will likely have a cult-like following upon release. However, the ability to ride the wave of cohesion is inherently imperative to any reading and it was lacking in most of the prose. Larry’s dysfunctional persona was on full display, as were the members of his cohort.
Each of his cohort, however, were uniquely written without any overlapping characteristics, other than they were all science fiction writers. With an intentional over-the-top dramatic flair, they cavorted through the narrative, each with their own brand of crazy. The attention paid to the details of each personality as it affected the story is praiseworthy. Similarly, while disjointed from a plot perspective, the colorful, vibrant and specific details in each scene made pieces of each scene jump off the page to be seen in the reader’s mind.
Lastly, my version appears to still need some editing from a missed-word and grammar/spelling perspective, but it’s quite possible that this would be complete before the final version is available to the general public. I was not the biggest fan, but I can see where it will have a niche following.
I’m really unsure where to begin with this one. I will start out by saying that I enjoy “weird” books. Do you want to stand out and be like no other book? Yeah, I’m your girl. This book seemed to fit the bill – and, for sure, it should be categorized in that fashion. Taking the most extreme Science Fiction tropes along with the current heightened concern about AI in every aspect of our lives, throwing them together with a main character who is completely unhooked from any reality and you have the setting for The Story Eaters of Yamm.
The Story Eaters of Yamm reads like a cross between The Confederacy of Dunces and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. With a nod to Confederacy on initial plot line and character relationship, the story quickly devolves (intentionally) as our …ahem…. protagonist… navigates his somewhat delusional and maladjusted life. However, the reader is left a little behind in the stream of consciousness that is Larry Palczewski, with no oar to help navigate for many chapters (which are not in order, by design?). Whether it’s his obsession with his never-was agent, Rebecca, or his codependent and dysfunctional relationship with his mother, Dosia, or his new-found friendship(?) with a effusive madam on the city bus, you are swept from shore to shore of his reality before you can truly get a sense of any of it.
Without giving too much of the core part of the book away, it’s safe to say that this book will likely have a cult-like following upon release. However, the ability to ride the wave of cohesion is inherently imperative to any reading and it was lacking in most of the prose. Larry’s dysfunctional persona was on full display, as were the members of his cohort.
Each of his cohort, however, were uniquely written without any overlapping characteristics, other than they were all science fiction writers. With an intentional over-the-top dramatic flair, they cavorted through the narrative, each with their own brand of crazy. The attention paid to the details of each personality as it affected the story is praiseworthy. Similarly, while disjointed from a plot perspective, the colorful, vibrant and specific details in each scene made pieces of each scene jump off the page to be seen in the reader’s mind.
Lastly, my version appears to still need some editing from a missed-word and grammar/spelling perspective, but it’s quite possible that this would be complete before the final version is available to the general public. I was not the biggest fan, but I can see where it will have a niche following.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
=====================================
The Story Eaters of Yamm is a ridiculously absurd tale about a neurodivergent, wannabe science fiction writer with "Temporal Dysphasia" who leads a ragtag group of equally eccentric struggling authors in crafting a story about an alien invasion. Imagine John Scalzi colliding with Douglas Adams, and you’ll have a sense of just how wildly bizarre this book can be.
Where do I even begin with Larry Palczweski, the self-proclaimed “Protagonist”? He evokes the same unsettling ambiguity as Ted from Catriona Ward’s "The Last House on Needless Street", in that you’re never quite sure what’s real and what’s a product of his warped imagination. At least Larry isn’t suspected of being a serial killer, but his 90-year-old mother, Dosia… well, that’s another story entirely!
Larry is currently on version 28 of his debut novel, "How Many Times, Times Twenty Eight" . He’s convinced that his latest rejection is not a failure but a test of his resolve—a secret vote of confidence in his talent. His rewriting spree comes to an abrupt halt when his mother locks up the food and forces him to find a job. A Craigslist ad lands him in a cohort of science fiction writers at Sky Company Consulting, overseen by an AI who has an expressed interest in Larry. Their assignment? Create a story where Earth is invaded by a hostile alien species called "The Story Eaters of Yamm."
What follows is a surreal mash-up of escorts, snails, psychoactive spores, ninjas, pirates, and laser battles. Yes, it’s ridiculous, but that’s the point.
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a science fiction writer but struggled to figure out where to start, you’ll feel right at home here. You might even question why you’d want to join the ranks at all—because if this book is to be believed, they’re all quite mad.
Hincker peppers the narrative with nods to genre giants like Robert Heinlein, Ursula K. Le Guin, Orson Scott Card, Neal Stephenson, and William Gibson. There’s even a four-legged sidekick named Anne McCaffrey. Fans of John Scalzi will likely appreciate the humor. Personally, I found the"soggy middle " bogged down the story before it eventually sprinted toward its predictable climax. But never fear, the writer was able to pull out a final twist that delivered a satisfying end.
=====================================
The Story Eaters of Yamm is a ridiculously absurd tale about a neurodivergent, wannabe science fiction writer with "Temporal Dysphasia" who leads a ragtag group of equally eccentric struggling authors in crafting a story about an alien invasion. Imagine John Scalzi colliding with Douglas Adams, and you’ll have a sense of just how wildly bizarre this book can be.
Where do I even begin with Larry Palczweski, the self-proclaimed “Protagonist”? He evokes the same unsettling ambiguity as Ted from Catriona Ward’s "The Last House on Needless Street", in that you’re never quite sure what’s real and what’s a product of his warped imagination. At least Larry isn’t suspected of being a serial killer, but his 90-year-old mother, Dosia… well, that’s another story entirely!
Larry is currently on version 28 of his debut novel, "How Many Times, Times Twenty Eight" . He’s convinced that his latest rejection is not a failure but a test of his resolve—a secret vote of confidence in his talent. His rewriting spree comes to an abrupt halt when his mother locks up the food and forces him to find a job. A Craigslist ad lands him in a cohort of science fiction writers at Sky Company Consulting, overseen by an AI who has an expressed interest in Larry. Their assignment? Create a story where Earth is invaded by a hostile alien species called "The Story Eaters of Yamm."
What follows is a surreal mash-up of escorts, snails, psychoactive spores, ninjas, pirates, and laser battles. Yes, it’s ridiculous, but that’s the point.
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a science fiction writer but struggled to figure out where to start, you’ll feel right at home here. You might even question why you’d want to join the ranks at all—because if this book is to be believed, they’re all quite mad.
Hincker peppers the narrative with nods to genre giants like Robert Heinlein, Ursula K. Le Guin, Orson Scott Card, Neal Stephenson, and William Gibson. There’s even a four-legged sidekick named Anne McCaffrey. Fans of John Scalzi will likely appreciate the humor. Personally, I found the"soggy middle " bogged down the story before it eventually sprinted toward its predictable climax. But never fear, the writer was able to pull out a final twist that delivered a satisfying end.
June 23, 2026
✨👾𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝑬𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒀𝒂𝒎𝒎 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿| ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (3.5/5) | Physical Book👾✨
If you've ever thought, "𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥" this one is for you!
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘢𝘮𝘮 follows Larry Palczewski — neurodivergent, perpetually broke, and on revision #28 of a novel — who gets dragged into a mysterious consulting job after his mother, Dosia, locks up all the food and refuses to let him back in until he finds employment. From there, things escalate rapidly and logically (if your logic resembles Larry's, which it probably does not).
Larry and Dosia are the chaotic heart of this book, and I could not get enough of them! Dosia is somehow both a hero and a complete menace, and the fact that she 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 be a terrorist is never not funny. Larry, meanwhile, operates with what the book calls "𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝘆𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗮"— a condition that leaves him genuinely unable to perceive time. Not in the "I lose track of the hours" way, but in the "he has no idea if 10am comes before or after 11am" way. His solution? Kitchen timers. Everywhere. For every. Single. Thing.
The format of the book itself is part of the joke. Chapters are numbered out of sequence, many end mid-sentence, and "this page intentionally left blank" makes more than one appearance — all a reflection of Larry's fractured relationship with time and narrative. It takes a second to settle into, but once you do, it feels like the only way this story 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be told.
The ragtag writing cohort Larry ends up leading is tasked with brainstorming an alien invasion scenario for a shadowy tech company — only to discover the snails they're fictionalizing have launched a 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 invasion and are actively consuming humanity's stories. The AI overseeing the whole operation? Deeply suspect. The snails? Way more sinister than expected.
If you love off-the-wall humor, experimental structure, and a protagonist who insists he's the hero of a story that seems determined to eat him alive, this is your perfect palette cleanser between those heavier reads.
Thank you to Love Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this novel
If you've ever thought, "𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥" this one is for you!
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘢𝘮𝘮 follows Larry Palczewski — neurodivergent, perpetually broke, and on revision #28 of a novel — who gets dragged into a mysterious consulting job after his mother, Dosia, locks up all the food and refuses to let him back in until he finds employment. From there, things escalate rapidly and logically (if your logic resembles Larry's, which it probably does not).
Larry and Dosia are the chaotic heart of this book, and I could not get enough of them! Dosia is somehow both a hero and a complete menace, and the fact that she 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 be a terrorist is never not funny. Larry, meanwhile, operates with what the book calls "𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝘆𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗮"— a condition that leaves him genuinely unable to perceive time. Not in the "I lose track of the hours" way, but in the "he has no idea if 10am comes before or after 11am" way. His solution? Kitchen timers. Everywhere. For every. Single. Thing.
The format of the book itself is part of the joke. Chapters are numbered out of sequence, many end mid-sentence, and "this page intentionally left blank" makes more than one appearance — all a reflection of Larry's fractured relationship with time and narrative. It takes a second to settle into, but once you do, it feels like the only way this story 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be told.
The ragtag writing cohort Larry ends up leading is tasked with brainstorming an alien invasion scenario for a shadowy tech company — only to discover the snails they're fictionalizing have launched a 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 invasion and are actively consuming humanity's stories. The AI overseeing the whole operation? Deeply suspect. The snails? Way more sinister than expected.
If you love off-the-wall humor, experimental structure, and a protagonist who insists he's the hero of a story that seems determined to eat him alive, this is your perfect palette cleanser between those heavier reads.
Thank you to Love Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this novel
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's difficult for me to rate books this low, but this was such a wildly negative reading experience.
Since I normally like to give the good with the bad, I will say that I really enjoy the cover and the book's premise.
However, this book is a mess. These characters are incredibly unlikable. The tension and behavior between Larry and Dosia (a son and mother) are so unbelievably unpleasant. Who talks and acts like that with one another? It made me hate both of them almost immediately. Unfortunately, this is not in a fun, "look at this trainwreck” kind of way, but rather in a "wow, I never want to read about these two humans ever again" kind of way.
The “Temporal Dysphasia” that Larry supposedly has makes absolutely no sense. I understand struggling with being on time or with time blindness, but this takes that concept into a ridiculous realm where Larry is incapable of understanding time zones, what afternoon means, how days are measured, which hours come before or after others, etc. He carries around kitchen timers as a way to feel some type of control over time, I guess? It’s just a nonsensical way for Larry to be annoying and rude to everyone around him.
I think this is meant to be funny, yet it is anything but that. It’s as though we’re supposed to be laughing at Larry and the situations he, seemingly, brings upon himself. But it feels cruel more than anything, which I don’t enjoy. Larry seems to be on the spectrum, and it feels like the author is poking fun at that in an immature, high-school-bully kind of way. It’s as if the author took a mix of characteristics of people with ASD, dialed them all up to 11, then made this caricature to make fun of. It’s in poor taste.
This is before I even get to the actual plot of this novel, but after drudging through about 40% of this, I had to stop. I’m confused about whom this book is even meant for.
Since I normally like to give the good with the bad, I will say that I really enjoy the cover and the book's premise.
However, this book is a mess. These characters are incredibly unlikable. The tension and behavior between Larry and Dosia (a son and mother) are so unbelievably unpleasant. Who talks and acts like that with one another? It made me hate both of them almost immediately. Unfortunately, this is not in a fun, "look at this trainwreck” kind of way, but rather in a "wow, I never want to read about these two humans ever again" kind of way.
The “Temporal Dysphasia” that Larry supposedly has makes absolutely no sense. I understand struggling with being on time or with time blindness, but this takes that concept into a ridiculous realm where Larry is incapable of understanding time zones, what afternoon means, how days are measured, which hours come before or after others, etc. He carries around kitchen timers as a way to feel some type of control over time, I guess? It’s just a nonsensical way for Larry to be annoying and rude to everyone around him.
I think this is meant to be funny, yet it is anything but that. It’s as though we’re supposed to be laughing at Larry and the situations he, seemingly, brings upon himself. But it feels cruel more than anything, which I don’t enjoy. Larry seems to be on the spectrum, and it feels like the author is poking fun at that in an immature, high-school-bully kind of way. It’s as if the author took a mix of characteristics of people with ASD, dialed them all up to 11, then made this caricature to make fun of. It’s in poor taste.
This is before I even get to the actual plot of this novel, but after drudging through about 40% of this, I had to stop. I’m confused about whom this book is even meant for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*** ARC Review ***
This was… a bit of a mixed experience for me.
There’s no denying that this book is incredibly creative and bold. It leans fully into chaos, absurdity, and experimental storytelling, and at times that really works — there were moments that genuinely made me laugh, and I can absolutely see the appeal for readers who enjoy bizarre, unconventional sci-fi.
What makes the book stand out is also what made it a bit difficult for me at times. The story is technically cohesive, but it leans heavily into absurdity and exaggerated sci-fi ideas, often pushing logic to the side. At times it felt like one wild concept was stacked on top of the next without always fully grounding them, which made it harder for me to fully connect. I could see the intention behind the chaos, but it didn’t always land for me the way it was probably meant to.
That said, I did appreciate the originality and the willingness to take risks. It’s definitely memorable and unlike anything else I’ve read recently — just not entirely my kind of book.
Overall, a very unique and ambitious read, but one that didn’t fully work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was… a bit of a mixed experience for me.
There’s no denying that this book is incredibly creative and bold. It leans fully into chaos, absurdity, and experimental storytelling, and at times that really works — there were moments that genuinely made me laugh, and I can absolutely see the appeal for readers who enjoy bizarre, unconventional sci-fi.
What makes the book stand out is also what made it a bit difficult for me at times. The story is technically cohesive, but it leans heavily into absurdity and exaggerated sci-fi ideas, often pushing logic to the side. At times it felt like one wild concept was stacked on top of the next without always fully grounding them, which made it harder for me to fully connect. I could see the intention behind the chaos, but it didn’t always land for me the way it was probably meant to.
That said, I did appreciate the originality and the willingness to take risks. It’s definitely memorable and unlike anything else I’ve read recently — just not entirely my kind of book.
Overall, a very unique and ambitious read, but one that didn’t fully work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
This was a very odd and original story. Larry is unable to tell time and is on his 27th rewrite of his novel when he goes to a job interview. The job? Creating a story with other writers and putting it together with the help of an AI. He is deeply suspicious of these people and the AI, trying to quit at every inconvenience but ends up staying. Then the aliens start invading - and Larry finds out that the story they are writing is actually the truth, and humanity needs his help to be protected from the invasion.
Larry is a very insufferable character. He is rude to everyone, is always late, and doesn't seem to care about anyone other than himself. I deeply sympathize with Tanya, the woman who hired him and the other writers, for having to deal with him on a daily basis. That being said, he is occasionally funny, and he does grow to care about his fellow writers. The book was written in a confusing way, with the chapter numbers out of order and sometimes repeated, as well as sentences not always being finished at the end of the chapters. It did take me quite a bit before I started liking the story and the characters. Most of the characters were underdeveloped, and the invasion portion seemed rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the novel.
Larry is a very insufferable character. He is rude to everyone, is always late, and doesn't seem to care about anyone other than himself. I deeply sympathize with Tanya, the woman who hired him and the other writers, for having to deal with him on a daily basis. That being said, he is occasionally funny, and he does grow to care about his fellow writers. The book was written in a confusing way, with the chapter numbers out of order and sometimes repeated, as well as sentences not always being finished at the end of the chapters. It did take me quite a bit before I started liking the story and the characters. Most of the characters were underdeveloped, and the invasion portion seemed rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's definitely not as funny as the author thinks it is, and that's what makes me cringe, because I think I know what makes him laugh, and it's not funny at all.
From the beginning, Larry struggles with reality, social conventions, and, of course, time. He's a jerk who acts as though he's superior to everyone else, which makes him highly unlikeable. I feel like the author is constantly laughing at Larry, never with him.
We're reading a book that seems to expect us to find autism funny, and sorry, but I'm not on board with that. The only genuinely amusing moments are when the whole team is working together and being silly together. The rest of the time, we're apparently supposed to laugh at Larry's painfully awkward emails to a child (or at least someone he believes is a child) and at his socially inappropriate behavior.
I also found it hard to believe that no one ever tried to explain to Larry that understanding time isn't necessary to grasp the concept of "the next day"—the sun rises and sets, days follow nights, and so on. Maybe I'm being too literal about this, but I couldn't enjoy the book because it seems to make autism the butt of the joke.
I don't believe the author had any malicious intent, but the book reads as though he's rather insensitive to the subject.
From the beginning, Larry struggles with reality, social conventions, and, of course, time. He's a jerk who acts as though he's superior to everyone else, which makes him highly unlikeable. I feel like the author is constantly laughing at Larry, never with him.
We're reading a book that seems to expect us to find autism funny, and sorry, but I'm not on board with that. The only genuinely amusing moments are when the whole team is working together and being silly together. The rest of the time, we're apparently supposed to laugh at Larry's painfully awkward emails to a child (or at least someone he believes is a child) and at his socially inappropriate behavior.
I also found it hard to believe that no one ever tried to explain to Larry that understanding time isn't necessary to grasp the concept of "the next day"—the sun rises and sets, days follow nights, and so on. Maybe I'm being too literal about this, but I couldn't enjoy the book because it seems to make autism the butt of the joke.
I don't believe the author had any malicious intent, but the book reads as though he's rather insensitive to the subject.
November 28, 2025
This was one of those strange books that, halfway through, you are wondering what I'm reading and then end up thinking about it for a couple of weeks. And I like such books because they present you with a different point of view. For me, this was an interesting way to describe trauma and psychological problems in a setting that actually requires such for the task to be done.
Everyone was on the odd train called "Larry," even though in a normal situation his behaviour would have been considered bizarre, but here it was the fuel they needed. And it was weird, funny, and enjoyable. It was like a fever dream, and it had no intention to be something else.
The characters were strange, hence the story (but normal characters wouldn't work here, let's be honest), and at some point, I wasn't sure if those things happened for real or not.
If you like strange sci-fi stories full of absurdly funny conversations and situations where you are questioning either character's sanity or your own, you will like this.
Thank you to the author and Net Gallery for giving the assess to the advance copy of this book.
Everyone was on the odd train called "Larry," even though in a normal situation his behaviour would have been considered bizarre, but here it was the fuel they needed. And it was weird, funny, and enjoyable. It was like a fever dream, and it had no intention to be something else.
The characters were strange, hence the story (but normal characters wouldn't work here, let's be honest), and at some point, I wasn't sure if those things happened for real or not.
If you like strange sci-fi stories full of absurdly funny conversations and situations where you are questioning either character's sanity or your own, you will like this.
Thank you to the author and Net Gallery for giving the assess to the advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3☆
Considering that this is not the type of book that I would pick up, it ended up being a very interesting and ridiculous read to say the least (in a good way).
This has been a very unique read because I was introduced to a lot of new concepts such as ethnic blindness and temporal dysphasia. The unfinished chapters, unevenly numbered were an interesting addition as it felt like we were part of an ongoing conversation, tuning on from time to time to see what's going on and then leave once again.
Unfortunately at some point it did become quite tedious to read through it as it felt like we were picking up one narrative, dropping it immediately and then pick up a new one again, never settling for the actual plotline.
As insufferable as he wanted to make Dosia seem she was one of my favourite characters (she brought comedic relief with her unexpected stories and dialogue and she was badass) along with Demetrius. The commentary made by Larry on his peers novels was incredibly well written, as well as every memory he got to experience.
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Considering that this is not the type of book that I would pick up, it ended up being a very interesting and ridiculous read to say the least (in a good way).
This has been a very unique read because I was introduced to a lot of new concepts such as ethnic blindness and temporal dysphasia. The unfinished chapters, unevenly numbered were an interesting addition as it felt like we were part of an ongoing conversation, tuning on from time to time to see what's going on and then leave once again.
Unfortunately at some point it did become quite tedious to read through it as it felt like we were picking up one narrative, dropping it immediately and then pick up a new one again, never settling for the actual plotline.
As insufferable as he wanted to make Dosia seem she was one of my favourite characters (she brought comedic relief with her unexpected stories and dialogue and she was badass) along with Demetrius. The commentary made by Larry on his peers novels was incredibly well written, as well as every memory he got to experience.
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, although I think it's probably an acquired taste. There's an edge of lunacy and mania from the beginning that only gets dialed up as things play out. For me, that made it easy to keep reading, as it's certainly not boring at any time, even if there are some frustrating elements. The nature of Larry's condition is explained multiple times, although I'm not sure I ever understood it and I'm sure there are some inconsistencies as to how he goes about life - but maybe that's the point. It works as a satire on workplace politics too although some of the jokes about science fiction writers get repetitive. The humourist, bizarrist tone reminds me of Adams and Vonnegut, but I also picked up a little Pratchett who always has something more profound going on under the hilarity - the central idea about the aliens targeting us through stories evokes Pratchett's concept of "narrativium", of story as a living, breathing thing that powers humanity. The ending is delightfully ridiculous and leaves me questioning how much of the whole thing was real - and I'm fine with that.
June 24, 2026
The Story Eaters of Yamm is an off the rails story that leaves you laughing at the banter Larry has with quiet literally every individual he meets or scratching your head wondering where your are at in the story. How we got there or what time it is.
You see, Larry has a condition called Temporal Dysphagia which is the inability to perceive time. He doesn't understand if 5 o clock is before or after 6 o clock. He doesn't even know if tomorrow exists. Which may leave readers confused in the timeline of things, but it does make perfect sense for the way the story is written.
When Larry is forced to get a job by his mother Dorsia (who may or may not be a ninety year old terrorist.) His writers life gets derailed and thrown into a group of other writers in attempt to write a book of alien invasions.
The whole book was a mixed up timeline mess, it begins with chapter 1 again throughout the story but the tale continues on as if it never actually reset. Which upon reaching the ending made perfect sense. The only thing I truly wish was that the ending would have had more. I craved and wanted so much more description of what had actually happened. Even if it was a genius attempt.
You see, Larry has a condition called Temporal Dysphagia which is the inability to perceive time. He doesn't understand if 5 o clock is before or after 6 o clock. He doesn't even know if tomorrow exists. Which may leave readers confused in the timeline of things, but it does make perfect sense for the way the story is written.
When Larry is forced to get a job by his mother Dorsia (who may or may not be a ninety year old terrorist.) His writers life gets derailed and thrown into a group of other writers in attempt to write a book of alien invasions.
The whole book was a mixed up timeline mess, it begins with chapter 1 again throughout the story but the tale continues on as if it never actually reset. Which upon reaching the ending made perfect sense. The only thing I truly wish was that the ending would have had more. I craved and wanted so much more description of what had actually happened. Even if it was a genius attempt.
June 25, 2026
Thank you to LBT for having me on this review tour and for my beautiful copy of this book !!
This was such a unique book. I really enjoyed this read. I also have to say I loved the cover and found that’s what drew me to the book in the first place!!
This was such a comical read !! I loved the way the author wrote this and how different it truly was!!
The book follows Larry Palczewski — neurodivergent, perpetually author who is on like draft 28 of his book. I mean gotta give the guy credit cause he hasn’t quit and then his mom locks up the food and said he can’t come back until he gets a job lol loved this. Sounds like something my mom would have done to my brother !!
Dosia that is Larry’s mom she is truly my favorite character and I kinda want her a friend. I mean she was crazy and chaotic and just awesome. We then have Larry who has no concept of time like literally. He has to have kitchen timers everywhere. Love this. I sometimes I feel like I need this for my children!!
Overall this book was pure magic and I loved it. I can’t wait for more by this author !! Yall check out this book!!
This was such a unique book. I really enjoyed this read. I also have to say I loved the cover and found that’s what drew me to the book in the first place!!
This was such a comical read !! I loved the way the author wrote this and how different it truly was!!
The book follows Larry Palczewski — neurodivergent, perpetually author who is on like draft 28 of his book. I mean gotta give the guy credit cause he hasn’t quit and then his mom locks up the food and said he can’t come back until he gets a job lol loved this. Sounds like something my mom would have done to my brother !!
Dosia that is Larry’s mom she is truly my favorite character and I kinda want her a friend. I mean she was crazy and chaotic and just awesome. We then have Larry who has no concept of time like literally. He has to have kitchen timers everywhere. Love this. I sometimes I feel like I need this for my children!!
Overall this book was pure magic and I loved it. I can’t wait for more by this author !! Yall check out this book!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
Larry Palczewski is a science fiction novelist, bombarding an agent with demands for a contract and hiding out from his lunatic mother. One day she turfs him out of the house to get a job: working with other science fiction novelists to brainstorm an alien invasion: how they do it, how to respond etc etc etc. Larry wants to resign but gets promoted instead. Hilarity ensues.
And hilarity does ensue. Other Goodreads reviews called out the homage to Douglas Adams, which I wasn't really getting until the final act. I did, however, get lashings of Kurt Vonnegut. Either way, this is a book that does not take writing, science fiction, science fiction novelists, or itself terribly seriously at all, and has immense fun with all of these things.
I will admit I found the saggy middle really rather saggy and episodic - only partially helped by the author hanging a lantern on the fact - but altogether this is a kinetic, anarchic romp of a novel, and I had a blast.
Larry Palczewski is a science fiction novelist, bombarding an agent with demands for a contract and hiding out from his lunatic mother. One day she turfs him out of the house to get a job: working with other science fiction novelists to brainstorm an alien invasion: how they do it, how to respond etc etc etc. Larry wants to resign but gets promoted instead. Hilarity ensues.
And hilarity does ensue. Other Goodreads reviews called out the homage to Douglas Adams, which I wasn't really getting until the final act. I did, however, get lashings of Kurt Vonnegut. Either way, this is a book that does not take writing, science fiction, science fiction novelists, or itself terribly seriously at all, and has immense fun with all of these things.
I will admit I found the saggy middle really rather saggy and episodic - only partially helped by the author hanging a lantern on the fact - but altogether this is a kinetic, anarchic romp of a novel, and I had a blast.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You’ve got great raw material here; I’ll polish it into a Goodreads-ready review while keeping your voice and humor.
Here’s an edited version you can paste into the text box:
I was really surprised when I checked the rating while I was reading this. At first, I was convinced it was a solid 4–4.5 star book: it’s funny, the voice is engaging, and I was having a great time.
But as the story went on, it drifted down into 2–3 star territory for me. The tropes start to feel tired, and although the protagonist’s mom is one of the best characters, her antics get pushed farther and farther away from the center of the action until the grand finale. By the time we reach the big reveal, the plot “twist” doesn’t feel like much of a twist at all, which left me wondering what the point of the journey really was.
The whole thing ends up feeling like the author got to the last day of a sci‑fi workshop and had to wrap it up quickly before catching a flight home. Maybe Rebecca, the literary agent, really was still in kindergarten when this one was getting workshopped, lol.
Here’s an edited version you can paste into the text box:
I was really surprised when I checked the rating while I was reading this. At first, I was convinced it was a solid 4–4.5 star book: it’s funny, the voice is engaging, and I was having a great time.
But as the story went on, it drifted down into 2–3 star territory for me. The tropes start to feel tired, and although the protagonist’s mom is one of the best characters, her antics get pushed farther and farther away from the center of the action until the grand finale. By the time we reach the big reveal, the plot “twist” doesn’t feel like much of a twist at all, which left me wondering what the point of the journey really was.
The whole thing ends up feeling like the author got to the last day of a sci‑fi workshop and had to wrap it up quickly before catching a flight home. Maybe Rebecca, the literary agent, really was still in kindergarten when this one was getting workshopped, lol.
June 22, 2026
‘The Story Eaters of Yamm’ is not afraid to make fun of itself, has laugh-out-loud scenes and an intriguing plot. I don’t normally read a lot of science fiction, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well this one played out. This was the first book of the author’s that I have read, but I will be looking out for what he does next.
Larry, despite being frustrating at times, was a character you ended up rooting for! Full of quirks, naivety and a lack of world awareness, but he was also loyal and not afraid to dream. His inability to tell the time was interesting and unique. His mum, Dosia, was a riot! That really is an unusual and very weird relationship!
This was a fun read that was silly and fully aware of itself and its genre. Not afraid to poke fun at the established tropes of the genre (laser battle, anyone?) it makes for an easy and light read. I flew through it in a few sittings and was engaged throughout. I did think that the ending was a tad rushed and needed to be expanded upon.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
July 11, 2026
The Story Eaters of Yamm by Kevin Hincker is a witty, clever science fiction novel that lovingly pokes fun at sci-fi, the publishing industry, and the growing role of AI in creative spaces.
The story follows Larry, an aspiring sci-fi author who, after yet another rejection, joins a team of writers tasked with developing humanity’s response to an alien invasion. What follows is equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and surprisingly insightful.
The biggest strength of the novel is its cast. The interactions between the writers are full of personality, humor, and creative clashes that anyone familiar with writing workshops or simply group projects will appreciate.
Beneath the comedy, the book explores timely questions about creativity, publishing, and AI. Rather than offering simple answers, it highlights the wonderfully messy, imperfect, and deeply human qualities that make storytelling special.
Funny, original, and surprisingly thoughtful, this is a great read for science fiction fans, writers, and anyone who enjoys satire with heart.
The story follows Larry, an aspiring sci-fi author who, after yet another rejection, joins a team of writers tasked with developing humanity’s response to an alien invasion. What follows is equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and surprisingly insightful.
The biggest strength of the novel is its cast. The interactions between the writers are full of personality, humor, and creative clashes that anyone familiar with writing workshops or simply group projects will appreciate.
Beneath the comedy, the book explores timely questions about creativity, publishing, and AI. Rather than offering simple answers, it highlights the wonderfully messy, imperfect, and deeply human qualities that make storytelling special.
Funny, original, and surprisingly thoughtful, this is a great read for science fiction fans, writers, and anyone who enjoys satire with heart.
November 17, 2025
A highly eccentric, newly penniless, science fiction writer is forced by his terrifying mother to take a job at a mysterious company. His job? Train an AI to write science fiction...or so it first appears.
I thoroughly enjoyed the main character's atypical point of view. He's daft, but has a good heart. The supporting characters are varied and utterly lost in their own worlds. The on the mark jokes about sci-fi and it's authors made me laugh out loud. And the plot contains several mysteries and subplots and a twist. High marks for the prose, clever observations, and strange but astute asides.
Toss Confederacy of Dunces, Son of a Grifter, Severance, and Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series in a blender then add aliens and laser battles. This novel may appeal to readers of humorous science fiction and corporate work place dramas, Science fiction writers will also enjoy this novel, but only if they have a sense of humor about themselves and their chosen genre.
I thoroughly enjoyed the main character's atypical point of view. He's daft, but has a good heart. The supporting characters are varied and utterly lost in their own worlds. The on the mark jokes about sci-fi and it's authors made me laugh out loud. And the plot contains several mysteries and subplots and a twist. High marks for the prose, clever observations, and strange but astute asides.
Toss Confederacy of Dunces, Son of a Grifter, Severance, and Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series in a blender then add aliens and laser battles. This novel may appeal to readers of humorous science fiction and corporate work place dramas, Science fiction writers will also enjoy this novel, but only if they have a sense of humor about themselves and their chosen genre.
June 29, 2026
I’m not sure where to begin with this review. The cover really caught my eye and made me want to read it. Now, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what the book was about at first. It did throw me off a bit, but I needed to know what would happen to our main character, Larry Palczewski. Larry has been writing and rewriting a novel 28 times! He and his mother have a unique relationship, and Larry doesn’t know who his father is. He also has a disability with time, so he has no idea when he’s late or on time. He sets timers to help him keep track. Some of the things his mother did reminded me of someone, but not the person I know would do all those things (no spoilers). I ended up purchasing my ebook copy.
This book is so different from anything else I’ve read. Each chapter is very different. I’ve read many science fiction books.
Would I read more of this author’s books? Yes, this was a crazy ride, and I read and enjoyed every minute of it.
Thank you, Lovebooktours and the author, for the opportunity.
This book is so different from anything else I’ve read. Each chapter is very different. I’ve read many science fiction books.
Would I read more of this author’s books? Yes, this was a crazy ride, and I read and enjoyed every minute of it.
Thank you, Lovebooktours and the author, for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Love unreliable narrators?
This might be a Sci-Fi book for you.
Larry has a very peculiar way of viewing the world, and most of the fun of this book consists in figuring out, and reinterpreting realistically what he is telling us. It feels fresh and the supporting cast is quirky and fun.
Another big bonus is the personal structure of the book, if you are tired of the formulaic way a lot of novels are being written in now, this offers a journey that kind of strays off the path, and kind of nods at a lot of tropes and conventions.
Don't go in for big science fiction, or serious themes, this is about the small and weird, and meta thoughts.
If you liked Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley, this might be an interesting one to pursue. Not as thought-provoking or innovative, but in that line of work that questions Sci-fi, reading, interpretation...
This might be a Sci-Fi book for you.
Larry has a very peculiar way of viewing the world, and most of the fun of this book consists in figuring out, and reinterpreting realistically what he is telling us. It feels fresh and the supporting cast is quirky and fun.
Another big bonus is the personal structure of the book, if you are tired of the formulaic way a lot of novels are being written in now, this offers a journey that kind of strays off the path, and kind of nods at a lot of tropes and conventions.
Don't go in for big science fiction, or serious themes, this is about the small and weird, and meta thoughts.
If you liked Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley, this might be an interesting one to pursue. Not as thought-provoking or innovative, but in that line of work that questions Sci-fi, reading, interpretation...
June 19, 2026
This is an extremely creative and ambitious book! On the surface, it’s about a group of science fiction writers hired to create an alien invasion story. The catch? The aliens are real, and the writers are unknowingly helping them conquer Earth through the power of story writing itself! It’s deeply weird, and intentionally disorienting. Kevin Hincker explores how stories shape our perceptions, influence our choices, and perhaps control us more than we’d like to admit. That said, this is not an easy read.
If you enjoy experimental sci-fi, metafiction, and books that blur the line between fiction and reality, this one is worth checking out. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it. Don’t expect to understand it all or have a tidy ending!
If you enjoy experimental sci-fi, metafiction, and books that blur the line between fiction and reality, this one is worth checking out. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it. Don’t expect to understand it all or have a tidy ending!
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