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Cryptofauna #1
Cryptofauna
Could be his job as a janitor at an insane asylum, could be the meaninglessness of existence, could be the unwanted cilantro on his tacos. Whatever the reason, Jim has elected to commit suicide. But before he can do the deed, a mysterious resident at work equips him with a dog and a bag of ash, and throws him into a secret game known as Cryptofauna. Cryptofauna is played by Operators, persons of special abilities who battle one another to influence important events around the world. To become an Operator, Jim must survive being stranded in the Pacific Ocean, pass a bizarre examination by leprous French monks, and pluck the existential splinter from his troubled soul. If there’s time, he must also stop a rival player from ending all life on the planet. Underwater Norwegian lairs, obsession with a decent pair of socks, and shapeshifting animals obsessed with AM radio all make up the strange world of Cryptofauna, which might help Jim discover a reason to live, assuming he doesn’t die in the process.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2018
32 people are currently reading
679 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Canning
6 books237 followersPATRICK CANNING is the author of the novels For Your Benefit (2024), Cryptonalia (2021), Hawthorn Woods (2020), The Colonel and the Bee (2018), and Cryptofauna (2018).
His work often blends genres, combining elements of humor, adventure, fantasy, and mystery into stories with imaginative settings, quirky characters, and typos.
Patrick lives in Chicago with his Australian Shepherd, Hank. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys walks on the lakefront, being excited/worrying about AI, and eating his bodyweight in potatoes.
@catpanning (Instagram)
His work often blends genres, combining elements of humor, adventure, fantasy, and mystery into stories with imaginative settings, quirky characters, and typos.
Patrick lives in Chicago with his Australian Shepherd, Hank. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys walks on the lakefront, being excited/worrying about AI, and eating his bodyweight in potatoes.
@catpanning (Instagram)
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December 4, 2025
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Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning is definitely a read that will certainly stay in your memory, for how unique and random it is.
Synopsis
Jim is a janitor at an insane asylum and one day, he decides to commit a suicide at his workplace. But before he can do the deed, a mysterious resident at work equips him with a dog and a bag of ash, and throws him into a secret game known as Cryptofauna.
Cryptofauna is played by Operators, people with special abilities, who battle one another to influence important events around the world. To become an Operator, Jim must successfully pass a couple of exams, including surviving the Pacific Ocean, surviving some weird monks, and ultimately, passing the exam that proves his mind and soul are ready as well.
On top of this, there is his enemy as well, another Operator, who is forever his rival until the game ends.
This is how Cryptofauna works, in case you are curious. The image was sent to me by the author:
My Thoughts:
From the synopsis, I expected this book to be unique. However, I never expected to enter such a creative and random world. The events are all so random, the characters too. It is all very random and chaotic in a very interesting way. I am still struggling to decide whether I love this chaos or not.
This book is amazing in terms of creativity and world building.
The author is quite good at creating something new in a place where everything already exists. Patrick Canning managed to create a whole new reality within our real world. A place where Cryptofauna exists as a game and a way of life, and I was glad I entered that world.
There were times I felt very confused on what is happening. I had to re-read chapters and scenes, which resulted in average reading experience. I liked Jim as a character, and I loved how he slowly develops throughout the book and finds his true purpose in his life. As a person that was about to commit suicide, I felt he learned a valuable lesson to not give up. However I felt that the other characters had more liveliness in them (no pun intended, given the fact he wanted to kill himself). I actually loved the evil guy more. He had a recklessness about him that I found intriguing.
Overall, I did enjoy the creativity and the idea of the game itself. However, I felt very lost and confused at certain times, which made my experience less enjoyable. I still recommend it to you, if the synopsis intrigues you and you enjoy stories about good battling evil.
Thank you to the author, Patrick Canning, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning is definitely a read that will certainly stay in your memory, for how unique and random it is.
Synopsis
Jim is a janitor at an insane asylum and one day, he decides to commit a suicide at his workplace. But before he can do the deed, a mysterious resident at work equips him with a dog and a bag of ash, and throws him into a secret game known as Cryptofauna.
Cryptofauna is played by Operators, people with special abilities, who battle one another to influence important events around the world. To become an Operator, Jim must successfully pass a couple of exams, including surviving the Pacific Ocean, surviving some weird monks, and ultimately, passing the exam that proves his mind and soul are ready as well.
On top of this, there is his enemy as well, another Operator, who is forever his rival until the game ends.
This is how Cryptofauna works, in case you are curious. The image was sent to me by the author:
My Thoughts:
From the synopsis, I expected this book to be unique. However, I never expected to enter such a creative and random world. The events are all so random, the characters too. It is all very random and chaotic in a very interesting way. I am still struggling to decide whether I love this chaos or not.
This book is amazing in terms of creativity and world building.
The author is quite good at creating something new in a place where everything already exists. Patrick Canning managed to create a whole new reality within our real world. A place where Cryptofauna exists as a game and a way of life, and I was glad I entered that world.
There were times I felt very confused on what is happening. I had to re-read chapters and scenes, which resulted in average reading experience. I liked Jim as a character, and I loved how he slowly develops throughout the book and finds his true purpose in his life. As a person that was about to commit suicide, I felt he learned a valuable lesson to not give up. However I felt that the other characters had more liveliness in them (no pun intended, given the fact he wanted to kill himself). I actually loved the evil guy more. He had a recklessness about him that I found intriguing.
Overall, I did enjoy the creativity and the idea of the game itself. However, I felt very lost and confused at certain times, which made my experience less enjoyable. I still recommend it to you, if the synopsis intrigues you and you enjoy stories about good battling evil.
Thank you to the author, Patrick Canning, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2020
I loved this book. First of all it was a great adventure with a ton of interesting characters, from strange jobs or situations or both. The main character was a janitor from an old people's home on the verge of suicide. On the verge as in, about to in fact commit the act before stopped by a strange man with a weird offer. Taking the offer rather than suicide seems like a option to take, and then the wild ride begins. He is to choose a weapon from a tree and a companion from a large, well hole. He chooses a bag of sand and a dog. They turn out to be excellent choices despite all logic.
Then he finds himself falling from the sky at the level of an airplane. The fun times begin. Getting the the surface with his companion without dying seems to be his first task, and against all odds, he succeeds. Strangely, finding his second companion in a small wooden boat, a painter who not longer can stand the colour blue. They are rescued, eventually, after losing half the boat to a battle with a large shark with tusks. Honestly, things just get better from here. Part of me wants to summarize most of the book, because it's so great, but that would give too much away.
Just trust me that it is a strange, funny, outrageous ride of a group of weirdos trying to save the world. The fantastic dog, the increasingly strange and sometimes useful additions to the party. The incredibly weird and often disgusting foes they finally determine they are fighting. Oh, and I can't forget Whip, the dragonfly. I just loved him. I loved all of them. Please read this book and tell me if you loved them too.
I must add that this was a free book from Netgalley, but this is in no way has affected my review. I call it like it see it. This just happened to be a fantastic, funny, adventurous book, with great characters.
Then he finds himself falling from the sky at the level of an airplane. The fun times begin. Getting the the surface with his companion without dying seems to be his first task, and against all odds, he succeeds. Strangely, finding his second companion in a small wooden boat, a painter who not longer can stand the colour blue. They are rescued, eventually, after losing half the boat to a battle with a large shark with tusks. Honestly, things just get better from here. Part of me wants to summarize most of the book, because it's so great, but that would give too much away.
Just trust me that it is a strange, funny, outrageous ride of a group of weirdos trying to save the world. The fantastic dog, the increasingly strange and sometimes useful additions to the party. The incredibly weird and often disgusting foes they finally determine they are fighting. Oh, and I can't forget Whip, the dragonfly. I just loved him. I loved all of them. Please read this book and tell me if you loved them too.
I must add that this was a free book from Netgalley, but this is in no way has affected my review. I call it like it see it. This just happened to be a fantastic, funny, adventurous book, with great characters.
November 28, 2020
This is the spoiler free review of Cryptofauna. If you would like to read about this grand adventure in detail please visit the spoiler full review here: https://amanjareads.com/2020/02/26/cr...
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cryptofauna had me in the first line: "Jim grabbed a can of root beer for his suicide."
I knew this would not be just another run of the mill fantasy adventure novel and I was pleased with the result.
Canning spends the entire book giving us more of an introduction to Cyryptofauna than a history or narrative but this introduction has me very excited for the universe building that could occur.
Cryptofauna appears to be an ancient world wide game that is played with a dramatic back and forth between good and evil and is heavily monitored by Jinn and demi-gods alike.
Our protagonist, Jim the suicidal janitor, is the newest recruit to the game and he must pass three trials before he can become an official player. This novel gives us the three trials and a taste of the conflict that this game can have.
Although it is a good book on it's own I do anticipate a sequel and I am excited to see how it plays out with all the introductions taken care of.
The characters are interesting and well developed. I have a sense for each of their unique personalities and oddball quirks. I especially appreciate how they all interact with each other.
Each group, no matter how the characters are rearranged, has a natural give and take with their dialogue and actions. I can fully picture every scene and hear each individual voice as it comes off of the page.
Canning has fun with language and there are times when this book made me laugh out loud. The way he describes things is priceless and Cryptofauna is worth buying for similes alone.
His descriptions are also creative and palpable. When the main monster is finally described in full I was completely disgusted and that's a high compliment!
My main critique of the novel is that it struggles with rough transitions. On several occasions I was startled to find a character present whom I did not believe to be in that scene or confused about where the cast was in the settings.
The book is in such a hurry to get to the wild and crazy action that sometimes it forgets to tell us how we got there.
But the wild and crazy action is well worth a wee bit of confusion. Cryptofauna is a lot of fun and I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes their adventures comedic and their action surreal.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cryptofauna had me in the first line: "Jim grabbed a can of root beer for his suicide."
I knew this would not be just another run of the mill fantasy adventure novel and I was pleased with the result.
Canning spends the entire book giving us more of an introduction to Cyryptofauna than a history or narrative but this introduction has me very excited for the universe building that could occur.
Cryptofauna appears to be an ancient world wide game that is played with a dramatic back and forth between good and evil and is heavily monitored by Jinn and demi-gods alike.
Our protagonist, Jim the suicidal janitor, is the newest recruit to the game and he must pass three trials before he can become an official player. This novel gives us the three trials and a taste of the conflict that this game can have.
Although it is a good book on it's own I do anticipate a sequel and I am excited to see how it plays out with all the introductions taken care of.
The characters are interesting and well developed. I have a sense for each of their unique personalities and oddball quirks. I especially appreciate how they all interact with each other.
Each group, no matter how the characters are rearranged, has a natural give and take with their dialogue and actions. I can fully picture every scene and hear each individual voice as it comes off of the page.
Canning has fun with language and there are times when this book made me laugh out loud. The way he describes things is priceless and Cryptofauna is worth buying for similes alone.
His descriptions are also creative and palpable. When the main monster is finally described in full I was completely disgusted and that's a high compliment!
My main critique of the novel is that it struggles with rough transitions. On several occasions I was startled to find a character present whom I did not believe to be in that scene or confused about where the cast was in the settings.
The book is in such a hurry to get to the wild and crazy action that sometimes it forgets to tell us how we got there.
But the wild and crazy action is well worth a wee bit of confusion. Cryptofauna is a lot of fun and I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes their adventures comedic and their action surreal.
April 30, 2023
I received a free audiobook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book in any way.
I got an email from the author back in 2019 requesting a review of this book, and I didn't really get to it until today. I'm pretty glad I went with the Audible audiobook option when given the choice (alternatively, I could have gotten a paperback but I'm glad an innocent tree wasn't desecrated in this way). I had high hopes initially and vetted the offer before accepting it. It seemed to be like an adult version of Percy Jackson with some Ready Player One vibes, but satirical like Peril in the Old Country, another indie fantasy comedy (and a book I quite liked). Unbeknownst to me, the Ready Player One comparison was more accurate than the other two: this book was offensive nonsense written by a middle-aged man who thinks he's way funnier than he actually is.
Despite the audiobook narrator's best efforts, this journey was boring, abhorrent, and gave me a splitting headache. If you think frequent racial and homophobic slurs and/or suicide are funny, then I guess you'll like this. If you're not a trash goblin, then you won't. I don't make the rules, and apparently, neither does Canning, for nothing was explained.
If you want to die of alcohol poisoning, take a shot every time the word "cryptofauna" comes up, especially if you don't understand what it means. Because, despite the definition provided in the beginning, the word is never defined with any degree of clarity. Is it a being or a concept? Beyond that, there were non-sequiturs in place of transitions, and the plot felt incredibly jumbled. What was clearly supposed to be a humorous, Odyssean tale was rendered a confusing mess lacking logic, stakes, or momentum.
In terms of the supposed humor, it wasn't always so bad, but it was never good, if you get me. Some jokes, on their own, might have been enough to drag a short nose exhale out of me, but unfortunately, my face was contorted into a grimace throughout and I didn't have the brain cells left to order the chuckle. This felt like the kind of humor in South Park, where everything is overtly sexual for no reason and nothing is safe from ridicule. When the only character who has any redeeming qualities whatsoever is literally the dog, you know there's a problem.
I guess I should have known this would be a dud for me. I didn't realize until I'd already started reading it that this is urban fantasy (for some reason, many reviews seem to think this is a satire of epic/high fantasy, but lol no? maybe in the journey aspect, but this was almost point by point a Percy Jackson-esque world, only horny and racist). Not that I hate urban fantasy on principle—quite the opposite, actually; I really like it! What I don't like is real-world insertion à la actual historical figures or events secretly being a part of or the result of the magic world. The intention there is to ground the reader, but it actually just makes me viscerally angry and takes me out of the story (that is, if I was ever invested to begin with, which I was not here).
The writing style alone, besides all of the above, was abrupt and very passive. I felt distanced from everything happening and never got a handle on what the main character was like or why he was the way he was. Nothing felt tangible. I never knew where the characters were or why.
I briefly bought the Kindle edition to follow along, but returned it about a chapter in when I realized that this book was awful. I ended up listening to the audiobook at 3x speed just to finish it sooner because I didn't want to DNF. I can't comprehend who this book was for, as no audience comes to mind other than Canning himself and perhaps some deranged close friends who I want nothing to do with. I feel like I'm on crazy pills since most people gave this book glowing reviews. Do most people have a horrible sense of humor or were they bribed? It's difficult to know for sure.
I got an email from the author back in 2019 requesting a review of this book, and I didn't really get to it until today. I'm pretty glad I went with the Audible audiobook option when given the choice (alternatively, I could have gotten a paperback but I'm glad an innocent tree wasn't desecrated in this way). I had high hopes initially and vetted the offer before accepting it. It seemed to be like an adult version of Percy Jackson with some Ready Player One vibes, but satirical like Peril in the Old Country, another indie fantasy comedy (and a book I quite liked). Unbeknownst to me, the Ready Player One comparison was more accurate than the other two: this book was offensive nonsense written by a middle-aged man who thinks he's way funnier than he actually is.
Despite the audiobook narrator's best efforts, this journey was boring, abhorrent, and gave me a splitting headache. If you think frequent racial and homophobic slurs and/or suicide are funny, then I guess you'll like this. If you're not a trash goblin, then you won't. I don't make the rules, and apparently, neither does Canning, for nothing was explained.
If you want to die of alcohol poisoning, take a shot every time the word "cryptofauna" comes up, especially if you don't understand what it means. Because, despite the definition provided in the beginning, the word is never defined with any degree of clarity. Is it a being or a concept? Beyond that, there were non-sequiturs in place of transitions, and the plot felt incredibly jumbled. What was clearly supposed to be a humorous, Odyssean tale was rendered a confusing mess lacking logic, stakes, or momentum.
In terms of the supposed humor, it wasn't always so bad, but it was never good, if you get me. Some jokes, on their own, might have been enough to drag a short nose exhale out of me, but unfortunately, my face was contorted into a grimace throughout and I didn't have the brain cells left to order the chuckle. This felt like the kind of humor in South Park, where everything is overtly sexual for no reason and nothing is safe from ridicule. When the only character who has any redeeming qualities whatsoever is literally the dog, you know there's a problem.
I guess I should have known this would be a dud for me. I didn't realize until I'd already started reading it that this is urban fantasy (for some reason, many reviews seem to think this is a satire of epic/high fantasy, but lol no? maybe in the journey aspect, but this was almost point by point a Percy Jackson-esque world, only horny and racist). Not that I hate urban fantasy on principle—quite the opposite, actually; I really like it! What I don't like is real-world insertion à la actual historical figures or events secretly being a part of or the result of the magic world. The intention there is to ground the reader, but it actually just makes me viscerally angry and takes me out of the story (that is, if I was ever invested to begin with, which I was not here).
The writing style alone, besides all of the above, was abrupt and very passive. I felt distanced from everything happening and never got a handle on what the main character was like or why he was the way he was. Nothing felt tangible. I never knew where the characters were or why.
I briefly bought the Kindle edition to follow along, but returned it about a chapter in when I realized that this book was awful. I ended up listening to the audiobook at 3x speed just to finish it sooner because I didn't want to DNF. I can't comprehend who this book was for, as no audience comes to mind other than Canning himself and perhaps some deranged close friends who I want nothing to do with. I feel like I'm on crazy pills since most people gave this book glowing reviews. Do most people have a horrible sense of humor or were they bribed? It's difficult to know for sure.
September 6, 2024
Reread 9/6/24
Now even though the book ends perfectly and there is no indication that there should be a second book, or even a second book in the works, I'm going to need a second book. I want to read more of Cryptofauna and this amazing team that I've gotten to know over the course of reading.
Jim is a janitor who's had enough with life and is ready to end it all. Somehow one of the patients, Oz, knows this and enters just when Jim needs him the most. He offers Jim something more in the way of Cryptofauna, and Jim, as well as we the reader, are given very little information as to what the game Cryptofauna really is, but as Oz puts it, you need to experience it for yourself.
We don't really get to the game until about 70% in, but we follow Jim into his training, where he learns everything he ever needs and perhaps a lot that he doesn't. He's training in an underground facility that is home for monks who have agreed to help Operators in training. We meet some fantastical people that Jim chooses for his Combo and some he doesn't, and they're all great people. The entire training experience, from the way you get down into the cave, to the monks and the people Jim meets is so much fun, it's so in depth, that at this point, you are having too much fun to realize he hasn't even started playing the game yet.
Cryptofauna is fantastically strange, it's so funny and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. But it's also deep and poignant and Canning's attention to detail is superb. You really are immersed in Jim's world. There are so many wondrous oddities such as the elixir Jim needs to bathe in to study, Oz's mode of transportation, the drink Marshmallow Bear, even Mars the dog is wonderful because Canning gives us a look into his mind. I adore this book and I am not above resorting to hounding the author for more.
Now even though the book ends perfectly and there is no indication that there should be a second book, or even a second book in the works, I'm going to need a second book. I want to read more of Cryptofauna and this amazing team that I've gotten to know over the course of reading.
Jim is a janitor who's had enough with life and is ready to end it all. Somehow one of the patients, Oz, knows this and enters just when Jim needs him the most. He offers Jim something more in the way of Cryptofauna, and Jim, as well as we the reader, are given very little information as to what the game Cryptofauna really is, but as Oz puts it, you need to experience it for yourself.
We don't really get to the game until about 70% in, but we follow Jim into his training, where he learns everything he ever needs and perhaps a lot that he doesn't. He's training in an underground facility that is home for monks who have agreed to help Operators in training. We meet some fantastical people that Jim chooses for his Combo and some he doesn't, and they're all great people. The entire training experience, from the way you get down into the cave, to the monks and the people Jim meets is so much fun, it's so in depth, that at this point, you are having too much fun to realize he hasn't even started playing the game yet.
Cryptofauna is fantastically strange, it's so funny and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. But it's also deep and poignant and Canning's attention to detail is superb. You really are immersed in Jim's world. There are so many wondrous oddities such as the elixir Jim needs to bathe in to study, Oz's mode of transportation, the drink Marshmallow Bear, even Mars the dog is wonderful because Canning gives us a look into his mind. I adore this book and I am not above resorting to hounding the author for more.
November 21, 2020
Rating: ★★★★✬ (4.5/5 Stars)
Title: Cryptofauna
Author(s): Patrick Canning
Character(s):
― Jim: Janitor, Blue Eyed
― Mars: Canine, Black, Red Eyed
Setting: Idaho, USA + various locations
Tag(s): Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Content Rating: PG-13
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Subtle
Favorite Quote(s): N/A
Overall Opinion:
Patrick Canning was able to blow me away with this action-packed whirlwind of a fantasy adventure that barely graced over 289 pages. The novel “Cryptofauna” was set in a world I have never seen with an ensemble of unique and lovable characters, unexpected twists and twirls, and down right funny moments. There was something rare and refreshing about this read that set it apart from other fantasy novels I have read thus far this year. Perhaps it was descriptive imagery that the author was able to create with his writing style that allowed me to envision myself in this crazy wild adventure alongside Jim and his companions or even the vibrant set of characters that were different from the next.
Overall the novel was an engaging read from start to end and is highly recommended to fellow readers that want to become a part of a fantasy world like no other. Lastly, with"Cryptofauna" becoming the first novel I have the pleasure of reading from this imaginative author, it was incredibly impressive and I look forward in seeing what else he has in sort for us.
November 30, 2022
This book read like the love child of Philip K Dick and Neil Gaiman; It was irreverent, bizarre and un-put-downable. If you’d like to read something that you won’t be able to explain to anyone afterwards, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it. It’s the sea cucumber of all stories!
October 3, 2018
If Alice and Wonderland and The Hitchiker’s Guide to The Galaxy had a love child, it’d be Cryptofauna. This fantasy novel creates an acid dream of lovable characters, tense twists, and a storyworld unlike any I’ve experienced. Our protagonist gets dragged through dangerous adventures, each testing his stamina until the final test is revealed.
But what is Cryptofauna? A game, of sorts. It’s a well crafted metaphor for life, but I did think it took a little too long for the characters to reveal the rules. For the first few chapters, I was very confused and while I understand the need to build tension, I wished Cryptofauna had been explained, in detail, much earlier in story.
Even so, the heart of the novel rests within our protagonist, a man on the verge of ending his life. His journey of self discovery, the supporting characters he meets along the way, and the life lessons explored through this wild game will be relatable to many readers. The imaginative way that life and death are discussed within the constraints of the game help Jim understand that some things, simply put, are not within our understanding.
This book is riddled with incredible imagery, perhaps even a little too much at times, bordering on purple prose. The pacing of the action sequences are perfect, but the reaction scenes seem a little slow at times, and there are jumps in time (a week passes, a month passes) that are a tad jarring. When they occurred, I felt a bit cheated as I was sucked into the world, caught up in the adventures, and then time simply passed. I wanted to be a part of every second. But it’s a beautiful story, funny at times, ridiculous in the best possible way, intense and action packed. But it had a deeper meaning, one that was woven into the fantasy world.
Give this book a try! It’s a little dense at time, the exposition is a little heavy every now-and-then, but not so much that you’ll put the book down. Overall, a fantastic adventure!
But what is Cryptofauna? A game, of sorts. It’s a well crafted metaphor for life, but I did think it took a little too long for the characters to reveal the rules. For the first few chapters, I was very confused and while I understand the need to build tension, I wished Cryptofauna had been explained, in detail, much earlier in story.
Even so, the heart of the novel rests within our protagonist, a man on the verge of ending his life. His journey of self discovery, the supporting characters he meets along the way, and the life lessons explored through this wild game will be relatable to many readers. The imaginative way that life and death are discussed within the constraints of the game help Jim understand that some things, simply put, are not within our understanding.
This book is riddled with incredible imagery, perhaps even a little too much at times, bordering on purple prose. The pacing of the action sequences are perfect, but the reaction scenes seem a little slow at times, and there are jumps in time (a week passes, a month passes) that are a tad jarring. When they occurred, I felt a bit cheated as I was sucked into the world, caught up in the adventures, and then time simply passed. I wanted to be a part of every second. But it’s a beautiful story, funny at times, ridiculous in the best possible way, intense and action packed. But it had a deeper meaning, one that was woven into the fantasy world.
Give this book a try! It’s a little dense at time, the exposition is a little heavy every now-and-then, but not so much that you’ll put the book down. Overall, a fantastic adventure!
February 13, 2020
*Thank you to BookSirens and the author for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
This was a fun one! I really enjoyed the adventure aspect of this book as well as the mystery surrounding Cryptofauna. The characters were all so loveable and I really felt for them any time something happened. I especially loved the dog, Mars. I found myself intrigued with what would happen in the plot as well as with the world this all happens in.
I’m omitting one star because I just wanted the book to be a bit longer. I felt like the first half of the book had a good pace, but the second half was a bit rushed. For example, there’s a certain plot line involving and school (no spoilers) that I felt was rushed over when it would have been interesting to read what happened instead of telling us after the fact. I also wasn’t a fan of racial slurs being used throughout the book; they just weren’t necessary.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend to anyone looking for a fun mysterious adventure!
This was a fun one! I really enjoyed the adventure aspect of this book as well as the mystery surrounding Cryptofauna. The characters were all so loveable and I really felt for them any time something happened. I especially loved the dog, Mars. I found myself intrigued with what would happen in the plot as well as with the world this all happens in.
I’m omitting one star because I just wanted the book to be a bit longer. I felt like the first half of the book had a good pace, but the second half was a bit rushed. For example, there’s a certain plot line involving and school (no spoilers) that I felt was rushed over when it would have been interesting to read what happened instead of telling us after the fact. I also wasn’t a fan of racial slurs being used throughout the book; they just weren’t necessary.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend to anyone looking for a fun mysterious adventure!
June 16, 2021
Took me a while to get into this, but once I did, I read it in one go. Although the writing is a bit clunky, to my mind, the premise suited me. To my surprise. I'm not a gamer, never have been, and I think that's what put me off when I first picked it up. But putting that on one side, and remembering other books of this ilk that I have enjoyed (in no particular order, The Raw Shark Texts, Weaveworld, The Talisman...you know, the sort of parallel world thingy) I found myself enjoying it.
Let's have the next instalment, please!
Let's have the next instalment, please!
December 5, 2019
(Thanks to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.)
While lots of great science fiction takes lots of effort to tell stories that take a magnifying glass to the worse parts of humanity, sometimes it's just really nice to take a break from that and luxuriate in a really fun science fiction story. After all, who doesn't love a good semi-comedic, super entertaining sci-fi romp? The correct answer is: no-one. All of the other reviews suggesting this book is a hybrid of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland are right on the money. Patrick Canning's Cryptofauna proves to be a book that's every bit as interesting as its cryptic title - and the cryptic game of the same name played by the novel's characters.
This kind of book is definitely right up my alley. As I mentioned, it's just a really fun idea and Canning's writing immediately sucks you into the world he's created. From those very first pages as you meet Jim, the suicidal janitor, right as he's about to kill himself, you're immediately captivated by his story. Why does he want to kill himself? And who is this mysterious man sweeping in to save him just in the nick of time, only to send him off on a somehow even-deadlier adventure? It's just a bonkers idea that's explored in all its truly insane glory.
I'd say the greatest elements of this novel are the care with which Canning has clearly taken to develop his characters and the world they inhabit. While a premise as odd as a group of near demi-gods playing this mysterious game is enough to intrigue a reader into picking up the book, having characters who aren't as interesting as the novel's premise would probably be a death-blow to a story like this. So, luckily, the characters in the novel are really interesting. Jim, himself, makes for a captivating protagonist. He's an everyman, which makes it super easy to relate to him as he's thrown head-first into this weird world. But then he's surrounded by all of these larger-than-life beings, and it all just gets more interesting. First, there's Oz, the man who rescued him from his suicide attempt and starts him off on this journey. Then there's Jim's loyal companion, Mars, a very good dog who you quickly fall in love with. Surrounding these three are a group of characters even more colorful: Barney, a man found at sea; two shape-shifting Jinn, and a collective of nearly-immortal monks. It's a kooky cast of characters that are perfectly situated for a story with this kind of premise - and all of them get a fair amount of development, even if they don't all have huge amounts of page-time.
Similarly, the world itself is very well-realized. From the word go, this world feels lived in. It's clear Canning knows the rules of his universe and he explains them to his audience exactly when the audience needs to hear it. He also expertly avoids sections that feel like massive exposition dumps, instead masking these moments of information-sharing as character-driven beats; information is only shared because another character in the story needs to know that information, so the exposition dumps tend to feel more natural than they otherwise might. Outside of these kinds of dumps, Canning also expands the world through little interludes that break up the action. Sometimes those interludes end up tying in with the overall story, but other times they act as ways to expand the point of view of the story for just a brief moment. These interludes show off this expansive world that Canning has created and, like the best interludes in novels like Good Omens or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, they leave you with a feeling that Canning really understands the world he's created and it just makes it all the more fun to spend time within that world.
While the novel's worldbuilding and character development are top-notch, much of its plot goes unfortunately underdeveloped. The book suffers from some pacing issues that largely stem from an underdeveloped threat. It takes the book a while to really get started, probably because the readers are just as clueless as Jim is and his first task feels very... underwhelming. The first chapter is really attention-grabbing, but then the second one is significantly slower and you're left feeling like you're not quite sure why any of this is happening. Luckily, it does start to come together fairly quickly and from that point on, the book continues at a very brisk pace, revealing new information at exactly the moment you'd like it to and holding your attention as it speeds along. I ended up reading the latter half of the book in one sitting because of this very aspect of Canning's writing.
Additionally, due to the general (and intentional) vagueness of what, exactly, Crytpofauna is, it often feels like Jim isn't actually going up against anything in particular. The novel frequently feels like more of a collection of short stories or episodic adventures instead of one bigger adventure. The climax of the book tries to tie all of these individual adventures into a bigger battle, but it kind of falls flat as the ultimate antagonist and his plan received fairly little development when compared with the rest of the book. You don't even learn of what the antagonist is actually trying to do until the last 20%, or so, of the novel. That, in itself, isn't necessarily a bad thing as you often don't want to reveal the bad guy's plan too early, but usually, you'd seed elements of that plan so that when all is revealed, it feels like the reader could have figured out the plan alongside the protagonist. Here, that doesn't really happen. Jim just sort of figures it out all of a sudden and when it's revealed to the reader, it kind of just lands with an "oh, so that's what we're doing?" instead of a more exciting feeling. Luckily, that semi-anticlimactic ending isn't really enough to put a downer on the novel as it's still a lot of fun to read the novel's climax and see just how everything shakes out, even if there wasn't a particularly great buildup to it.
Overall, though, Crytpofauna is a super fun read. It's a testament to Canning's writing that this whole thing works as well as it does. The idea is bonkers and the characters are larger-than-life, but he very carefully guides his readers through this world and before you know it, you're totally invested in everything that's going on. It's not a perfect read, for the reasons I've already mentioned, but it's definitely a fun one. If you're looking for a nice, breeze, silly sci-fi romp, Cryptofauna is the book for you! It'll grab your attention and won't let it go until the book comes to an end. While everything is very nicely tied up by the end of the novel, the world feels so expansive that I can't help but hope Canning returns to this world again and tells some new stories within it. It's a pretty great world that I'd enjoy returning to in the future.
While lots of great science fiction takes lots of effort to tell stories that take a magnifying glass to the worse parts of humanity, sometimes it's just really nice to take a break from that and luxuriate in a really fun science fiction story. After all, who doesn't love a good semi-comedic, super entertaining sci-fi romp? The correct answer is: no-one. All of the other reviews suggesting this book is a hybrid of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland are right on the money. Patrick Canning's Cryptofauna proves to be a book that's every bit as interesting as its cryptic title - and the cryptic game of the same name played by the novel's characters.
This kind of book is definitely right up my alley. As I mentioned, it's just a really fun idea and Canning's writing immediately sucks you into the world he's created. From those very first pages as you meet Jim, the suicidal janitor, right as he's about to kill himself, you're immediately captivated by his story. Why does he want to kill himself? And who is this mysterious man sweeping in to save him just in the nick of time, only to send him off on a somehow even-deadlier adventure? It's just a bonkers idea that's explored in all its truly insane glory.
I'd say the greatest elements of this novel are the care with which Canning has clearly taken to develop his characters and the world they inhabit. While a premise as odd as a group of near demi-gods playing this mysterious game is enough to intrigue a reader into picking up the book, having characters who aren't as interesting as the novel's premise would probably be a death-blow to a story like this. So, luckily, the characters in the novel are really interesting. Jim, himself, makes for a captivating protagonist. He's an everyman, which makes it super easy to relate to him as he's thrown head-first into this weird world. But then he's surrounded by all of these larger-than-life beings, and it all just gets more interesting. First, there's Oz, the man who rescued him from his suicide attempt and starts him off on this journey. Then there's Jim's loyal companion, Mars, a very good dog who you quickly fall in love with. Surrounding these three are a group of characters even more colorful: Barney, a man found at sea; two shape-shifting Jinn, and a collective of nearly-immortal monks. It's a kooky cast of characters that are perfectly situated for a story with this kind of premise - and all of them get a fair amount of development, even if they don't all have huge amounts of page-time.
Similarly, the world itself is very well-realized. From the word go, this world feels lived in. It's clear Canning knows the rules of his universe and he explains them to his audience exactly when the audience needs to hear it. He also expertly avoids sections that feel like massive exposition dumps, instead masking these moments of information-sharing as character-driven beats; information is only shared because another character in the story needs to know that information, so the exposition dumps tend to feel more natural than they otherwise might. Outside of these kinds of dumps, Canning also expands the world through little interludes that break up the action. Sometimes those interludes end up tying in with the overall story, but other times they act as ways to expand the point of view of the story for just a brief moment. These interludes show off this expansive world that Canning has created and, like the best interludes in novels like Good Omens or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, they leave you with a feeling that Canning really understands the world he's created and it just makes it all the more fun to spend time within that world.
While the novel's worldbuilding and character development are top-notch, much of its plot goes unfortunately underdeveloped. The book suffers from some pacing issues that largely stem from an underdeveloped threat. It takes the book a while to really get started, probably because the readers are just as clueless as Jim is and his first task feels very... underwhelming. The first chapter is really attention-grabbing, but then the second one is significantly slower and you're left feeling like you're not quite sure why any of this is happening. Luckily, it does start to come together fairly quickly and from that point on, the book continues at a very brisk pace, revealing new information at exactly the moment you'd like it to and holding your attention as it speeds along. I ended up reading the latter half of the book in one sitting because of this very aspect of Canning's writing.
Additionally, due to the general (and intentional) vagueness of what, exactly, Crytpofauna is, it often feels like Jim isn't actually going up against anything in particular. The novel frequently feels like more of a collection of short stories or episodic adventures instead of one bigger adventure. The climax of the book tries to tie all of these individual adventures into a bigger battle, but it kind of falls flat as the ultimate antagonist and his plan received fairly little development when compared with the rest of the book. You don't even learn of what the antagonist is actually trying to do until the last 20%, or so, of the novel. That, in itself, isn't necessarily a bad thing as you often don't want to reveal the bad guy's plan too early, but usually, you'd seed elements of that plan so that when all is revealed, it feels like the reader could have figured out the plan alongside the protagonist. Here, that doesn't really happen. Jim just sort of figures it out all of a sudden and when it's revealed to the reader, it kind of just lands with an "oh, so that's what we're doing?" instead of a more exciting feeling. Luckily, that semi-anticlimactic ending isn't really enough to put a downer on the novel as it's still a lot of fun to read the novel's climax and see just how everything shakes out, even if there wasn't a particularly great buildup to it.
Overall, though, Crytpofauna is a super fun read. It's a testament to Canning's writing that this whole thing works as well as it does. The idea is bonkers and the characters are larger-than-life, but he very carefully guides his readers through this world and before you know it, you're totally invested in everything that's going on. It's not a perfect read, for the reasons I've already mentioned, but it's definitely a fun one. If you're looking for a nice, breeze, silly sci-fi romp, Cryptofauna is the book for you! It'll grab your attention and won't let it go until the book comes to an end. While everything is very nicely tied up by the end of the novel, the world feels so expansive that I can't help but hope Canning returns to this world again and tells some new stories within it. It's a pretty great world that I'd enjoy returning to in the future.
September 12, 2019
Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning
Wow, what a bizarre trip Jim is sent on. In essence he ends up being a pawn in a century’s old game called “Cryptofauna.” It was designed to entertain the gods. They take wagers on the players and it is broadcast over the jinn radio station. Oz is Jim’s operator/mentor. There are three levels of trails/challenges the players must survive to become certified. The instructions Jim is given is to try not to die. Oz’s opponent is Nero and he has chosen Boyd, whose single mind set is destruction and death. He makes his own rules.
The outrageous adventure takes Jim, and the people he has chosen to be on his team, all around the globe. His team members are diverse but work well together, covering for each other’s weaknesses. Their trials are packed with action and nail-biting tension. Jim is a pacifist and tries to avoid conflict and confrontation, which never works out well for him. Boyd cheats by interfering with Jim’s trials trying to eliminate him during the challenges. Boyd is a loose cannon, and wishes to take over the world. He really is a nasty piece of work and Nero underestimates him.
The author, Mr. Canning, does an excellent job by not losing track of the many threads he has incorporated into weaving “Cryptofauna” together. If you enjoy eccentric fantasy adventure stories with unique twists, this book may be what you are looking for.
FYI: Bigotry, black humor, and adult language. I would not recommend "Cryptofauna" to young adults. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** August 30, 2019
Format/Typo Issues: No significant issues.
Wow, what a bizarre trip Jim is sent on. In essence he ends up being a pawn in a century’s old game called “Cryptofauna.” It was designed to entertain the gods. They take wagers on the players and it is broadcast over the jinn radio station. Oz is Jim’s operator/mentor. There are three levels of trails/challenges the players must survive to become certified. The instructions Jim is given is to try not to die. Oz’s opponent is Nero and he has chosen Boyd, whose single mind set is destruction and death. He makes his own rules.
The outrageous adventure takes Jim, and the people he has chosen to be on his team, all around the globe. His team members are diverse but work well together, covering for each other’s weaknesses. Their trials are packed with action and nail-biting tension. Jim is a pacifist and tries to avoid conflict and confrontation, which never works out well for him. Boyd cheats by interfering with Jim’s trials trying to eliminate him during the challenges. Boyd is a loose cannon, and wishes to take over the world. He really is a nasty piece of work and Nero underestimates him.
The author, Mr. Canning, does an excellent job by not losing track of the many threads he has incorporated into weaving “Cryptofauna” together. If you enjoy eccentric fantasy adventure stories with unique twists, this book may be what you are looking for.
FYI: Bigotry, black humor, and adult language. I would not recommend "Cryptofauna" to young adults. **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** August 30, 2019
Format/Typo Issues: No significant issues.
November 25, 2022
(I received a complimentary review copy of this novel via Voracious Readers Only)
This book was a wild ride from start to finish. The premise is original and the story was exciting and compelling. It’s a great dose of fantasy which is well-written and funny. Here’s my favourite quote:
“Tragedy upon tragedy upon tragedy. A lasagna of failures.”
I recommend this book if you’re looking for something out of the box and fun.
This book was a wild ride from start to finish. The premise is original and the story was exciting and compelling. It’s a great dose of fantasy which is well-written and funny. Here’s my favourite quote:
“Tragedy upon tragedy upon tragedy. A lasagna of failures.”
I recommend this book if you’re looking for something out of the box and fun.
December 1, 2020
This book made me laugh out loud more than once. I love a good dose of wit and this book was littered with it. Ridiculous amounts of fun = a thoroughly enjoyable read. This is the second book I have devoured by the author.
My thanks to Patrick Canning and Voracious Readers Only for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to Patrick Canning and Voracious Readers Only for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Every so often, you come across a book that leaves you wondering if you should be looking into psychedelic drugs, because you realize that your reality is rather limited.
This is definitely one of those books. I spent half of this confused and disoriented (in a good way!) and the other half just amazed at how out there it was and how the author pulled it together. I kept thinking through this book that there was no way it was all going to make sense and come together, and yet, it worked so well. It's still a bit out there for my general tastes, but it was still one of the most unique books I've ever read.
The Good Points of Cryptofauna:
The whole concept of Cryptofauna and the world it exists in is absolutely brilliant. It starts out a bit confusing and you're not given a lot of information for quite a while, but it's so cool once it's all explained.
I really liked the characters throughout the story. Though some are rather strange, they're all unique and interesting, and it's fascinating to follow them through the game and as they get faced with different situations. The main character, Jim, and what he does over the course of his journey is particularly interesting.
I liked the pacing throughout this book. It does go a little crazy with descriptions at times, and can be dense, but it moves along well, and it doesn't spend so long on anything that you get bored of it.
The Downsides of Cryptofauna:
While the writing is good, I felt like it took so long to get to the point of a scene. So many parts could have been explained more succinctly and it wouldn't have taken anything away from the book.
As well - and this is totally me being fussy - some of the chapters were way too long. My kindle saying that it's going to take me over 30 minutes to read a chapter is just off putting. I wish the longer chapters were broken up a bit more.
All in all, I'm still not 100% sure what to make of this book, but it was one of the strangest, most intriguing things I've ever read. I've seen some other comparisons to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and can totally see where that comes from. If you enjoy really strange but unique stories, new takes on challenges and games, and interesting characters, you should definitely check out Cryptofauna!
Every so often, you come across a book that leaves you wondering if you should be looking into psychedelic drugs, because you realize that your reality is rather limited.
This is definitely one of those books. I spent half of this confused and disoriented (in a good way!) and the other half just amazed at how out there it was and how the author pulled it together. I kept thinking through this book that there was no way it was all going to make sense and come together, and yet, it worked so well. It's still a bit out there for my general tastes, but it was still one of the most unique books I've ever read.
The Good Points of Cryptofauna:
The whole concept of Cryptofauna and the world it exists in is absolutely brilliant. It starts out a bit confusing and you're not given a lot of information for quite a while, but it's so cool once it's all explained.
I really liked the characters throughout the story. Though some are rather strange, they're all unique and interesting, and it's fascinating to follow them through the game and as they get faced with different situations. The main character, Jim, and what he does over the course of his journey is particularly interesting.
I liked the pacing throughout this book. It does go a little crazy with descriptions at times, and can be dense, but it moves along well, and it doesn't spend so long on anything that you get bored of it.
The Downsides of Cryptofauna:
While the writing is good, I felt like it took so long to get to the point of a scene. So many parts could have been explained more succinctly and it wouldn't have taken anything away from the book.
As well - and this is totally me being fussy - some of the chapters were way too long. My kindle saying that it's going to take me over 30 minutes to read a chapter is just off putting. I wish the longer chapters were broken up a bit more.
All in all, I'm still not 100% sure what to make of this book, but it was one of the strangest, most intriguing things I've ever read. I've seen some other comparisons to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and can totally see where that comes from. If you enjoy really strange but unique stories, new takes on challenges and games, and interesting characters, you should definitely check out Cryptofauna!
July 18, 2020
** I received a complimentary copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only**
I give this book 2.5 stars.
The description for this book immediately piqued my interest. It sounded incredibly quirky, and on that front, this book delivers. Cryptofauna is so bizarre and comical, and I have to commend the author on the creativity on display here. One of the things I enjoyed most about Cryptofauna was the writing style. It's pretty straight-forward, but like the subject matter it's depicting, the style is very quirky. This book contains lines that I can only aspire to quote someday in my everyday life. Frequently, I'd find myself pausing just to appreciate a particularly comical phrase. This book gave me some good chuckles.
There some typos and misspellings here and there, but my main issue with the book was the plot. As a concept, the game of Cryptofauna could have been really interesting, but it's scarcely ever properly defined. You get a grasp for some of its mechanics, but it doesn't seem to have much of a structure beyond that. The whole story itself is kind of 'anything goes,' and for that reason I found it difficult to have any sort of investment in the story or attachment to the characters when I was too busy being disoriented or coming to grips with whatever outlandish thing had just occurred. Everything that happens in this book is very random and out of left field, and I could compare my reading experience to staring at a screen flashing random images at you at lightning speed for a few hours.
If you're one for nonsensical fiction, then you might enjoy this book slightly more than I did. If I could recommend a book for its one-liners alone, I absolutely would recommend this one, but given all my other issues with it, I can only provide a shrug to those asking if they should read it. Canning is clearly a very imaginative author, and I'd love to see what else he can do with that imagination of his with a more structured concept.
I give this book 2.5 stars.
The description for this book immediately piqued my interest. It sounded incredibly quirky, and on that front, this book delivers. Cryptofauna is so bizarre and comical, and I have to commend the author on the creativity on display here. One of the things I enjoyed most about Cryptofauna was the writing style. It's pretty straight-forward, but like the subject matter it's depicting, the style is very quirky. This book contains lines that I can only aspire to quote someday in my everyday life. Frequently, I'd find myself pausing just to appreciate a particularly comical phrase. This book gave me some good chuckles.
There some typos and misspellings here and there, but my main issue with the book was the plot. As a concept, the game of Cryptofauna could have been really interesting, but it's scarcely ever properly defined. You get a grasp for some of its mechanics, but it doesn't seem to have much of a structure beyond that. The whole story itself is kind of 'anything goes,' and for that reason I found it difficult to have any sort of investment in the story or attachment to the characters when I was too busy being disoriented or coming to grips with whatever outlandish thing had just occurred. Everything that happens in this book is very random and out of left field, and I could compare my reading experience to staring at a screen flashing random images at you at lightning speed for a few hours.
If you're one for nonsensical fiction, then you might enjoy this book slightly more than I did. If I could recommend a book for its one-liners alone, I absolutely would recommend this one, but given all my other issues with it, I can only provide a shrug to those asking if they should read it. Canning is clearly a very imaginative author, and I'd love to see what else he can do with that imagination of his with a more structured concept.
October 29, 2018
Can we get something out of the way up front? This book is…unique. When you are presented with a story and you are thoroughly warned that it is a strange book and you may or may not enjoy the level of absurdity that it has attained to, you know it’s going to be fantastic. Without much to go on, I decided to give Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning a try. When I say I didn’t have much to go on, I mean that there isn’t much you can compare it to. It dwells somewhere in the realm of Alice in Wonderland and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, yet neither of those stories quite matches. Perhaps it is a story meant to be experienced rather than explained.
Cryptofauna, simply put, is a game of worldwide influence. The Operators (players) rival against each other with the help of their Combinations (allies). In essence, they bring balance to the world while competing against one another.
If you’ve ever read Patrick Canning’s work, you will know that he has a flair for the bizarre and colorful. Plot points, dialogue, and characters are a vibrant spectrum and it takes a sense of humor to appreciate the novel. Even amidst the absurdity of Oz’s instructions or the tasks that Jim had to complete, I found myself smiling.
Canning employs subtle humor at times, while being conspicuous at others.
For the majority of Cryptofauna, the plot may seem random–and it is! But by the time you reach the end, you realize that there was a much bigger plot device that took place.
Read my full review at: https://sevendaysaweek.co/cryptofauna...
Cryptofauna, simply put, is a game of worldwide influence. The Operators (players) rival against each other with the help of their Combinations (allies). In essence, they bring balance to the world while competing against one another.
If you’ve ever read Patrick Canning’s work, you will know that he has a flair for the bizarre and colorful. Plot points, dialogue, and characters are a vibrant spectrum and it takes a sense of humor to appreciate the novel. Even amidst the absurdity of Oz’s instructions or the tasks that Jim had to complete, I found myself smiling.
Canning employs subtle humor at times, while being conspicuous at others.
For the majority of Cryptofauna, the plot may seem random–and it is! But by the time you reach the end, you realize that there was a much bigger plot device that took place.
Read my full review at: https://sevendaysaweek.co/cryptofauna...
November 10, 2019
Finally a novel about a video game that doesn’t read like a video game. While loosely based on a game format, this novel has a definite story arc and realistic, developing and wildly charismatic characters.
It also has weirdly creative humour reminiscent of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” which results in such absurdities as travelling in an old school bus driven by a jinn in the form of a gibbon wearing a herringbone suit and sunglasses. When he isn’t a dragonfly. Oh, yes, and a Native American medium with a sphinxlike puzzle: a crossword with several hundred thousand clues.
The plot also includes an underwater habitat in the Norwegian Sea and an evil plan to destroy the world in an apocalypse of aphids. Telling you more sounds like a terrible spoiler, but there are so many plot twists it would just get lost in the cacophony.
Despite the madcap humour and rowdy creativity, the tale also manages to include a reasonable amount of suspense, some heartfelt sorrow and a sweet and simple love story.
There is even a theme. The novel starts with a suicide caused by “the lack of reasons not to do it,” and climaxes with Armageddon “for no real reason.” You figure it out.
Recommended for fans of wild and wacky fantasy.
It also has weirdly creative humour reminiscent of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” which results in such absurdities as travelling in an old school bus driven by a jinn in the form of a gibbon wearing a herringbone suit and sunglasses. When he isn’t a dragonfly. Oh, yes, and a Native American medium with a sphinxlike puzzle: a crossword with several hundred thousand clues.
The plot also includes an underwater habitat in the Norwegian Sea and an evil plan to destroy the world in an apocalypse of aphids. Telling you more sounds like a terrible spoiler, but there are so many plot twists it would just get lost in the cacophony.
Despite the madcap humour and rowdy creativity, the tale also manages to include a reasonable amount of suspense, some heartfelt sorrow and a sweet and simple love story.
There is even a theme. The novel starts with a suicide caused by “the lack of reasons not to do it,” and climaxes with Armageddon “for no real reason.” You figure it out.
Recommended for fans of wild and wacky fantasy.
April 5, 2019
Cryptofauna is a crazy batshit insane book. But in a good way. It is almost impossible to describe the plot to you, and If I even tried you would look at me like I lost my damn mind. Imagine writing a bunch of randomly selected nouns on papers, tossing them in a hat and producing a great story out of them. That is what Patrick Canning did.
Nouns include a Job at an insane asylum, cilantro, a bag of ash, the color blue, a dog, a Belgian, being marooned, leprous long living French monks, a body press made of mint, and shape-shifting animals.
That is just the start. It is a fantastically strange book where you completely fall in love with the characters and cheer Jim and his cohorts on in the grand competition. You want Jim to win, and you want to keep reading to see what else Canning can pull out of a hat. It is a great adventure, well worth checking out. You will not believe the Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy/Alice in Wonderland type journey the author will take you on. Give it a try.
Nouns include a Job at an insane asylum, cilantro, a bag of ash, the color blue, a dog, a Belgian, being marooned, leprous long living French monks, a body press made of mint, and shape-shifting animals.
That is just the start. It is a fantastically strange book where you completely fall in love with the characters and cheer Jim and his cohorts on in the grand competition. You want Jim to win, and you want to keep reading to see what else Canning can pull out of a hat. It is a great adventure, well worth checking out. You will not believe the Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy/Alice in Wonderland type journey the author will take you on. Give it a try.
March 12, 2020
Working as a janitor St. Militrude’s Home for the Insane and Elderly, Jim considers his existence to be meaningless, so decides to commit a clean, quiet and respectful suicide. Just before he swallows his pills, an elderly resident whisks him off down a previously non-existent staircase, and a few minutes later Jim falls from the sky into a featureless blue ocean.
Jim has been conscripted to play Cryptofauna, a game he’s never heard of and doesn’t know the rules for. All he has is a bag of dust, a faithful dog, and socks that his elderly mentor has deemed to be inadequate.
With a tagline of “If Alice in Wonderland & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had a love child, it’d be Cryptofauna”, this book was begging to be read. I’m not a fan of Alice, but Douglas Adams was a genius, so I had to see if this lived up to hype. I’m happy to say that it did – it’s funny, inventive, and just downright weird, and somehow all fits together in one fantastic package.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jim has been conscripted to play Cryptofauna, a game he’s never heard of and doesn’t know the rules for. All he has is a bag of dust, a faithful dog, and socks that his elderly mentor has deemed to be inadequate.
With a tagline of “If Alice in Wonderland & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had a love child, it’d be Cryptofauna”, this book was begging to be read. I’m not a fan of Alice, but Douglas Adams was a genius, so I had to see if this lived up to hype. I’m happy to say that it did – it’s funny, inventive, and just downright weird, and somehow all fits together in one fantastic package.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers.
Based on the dry sense of humor about dying and death that the email portrayed the novel to have, I assumed this would be up my alley because I also have a dry sense of humor concerning death.
For me, I was majorly disappointed. The novel has many characters that are difficult to keep up with because I felt no character empathy or regard toward any particular character. Additionally, the book was super difficult to get through because there wasn't a ton of humor involved...it was one task after another task with tons of unanswered questions.
Overall, the plot made little sense to me and reminded me of a "wanna-be" Lord of the Rings parody. If you're interested in epic fantasy/adventure this novel may be for you.
Based on the dry sense of humor about dying and death that the email portrayed the novel to have, I assumed this would be up my alley because I also have a dry sense of humor concerning death.
For me, I was majorly disappointed. The novel has many characters that are difficult to keep up with because I felt no character empathy or regard toward any particular character. Additionally, the book was super difficult to get through because there wasn't a ton of humor involved...it was one task after another task with tons of unanswered questions.
Overall, the plot made little sense to me and reminded me of a "wanna-be" Lord of the Rings parody. If you're interested in epic fantasy/adventure this novel may be for you.
March 28, 2021
Very off the wall story. Took me half the book to figure out what was going on. Difficult to finish.
May 6, 2021
Put it on my DNF shelf. I tried really hard to get into this book but 60 pages in and I just couldn’t go any further. Just not a book for me.
Read
February 24, 2022DNF 8%
I need to say thanks for the review copy, but this one isn't for me.
I need to say thanks for the review copy, but this one isn't for me.
December 30, 2020
I received a free copy of this book via Book Sirens and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
WARNING...This is a long review, skip to the last sentence if you like...!
The cover and title of this book immediately caught my eye and the blurb made up my mind to try it.
The general premise is similar to other fantasy/action/adventure titles but the way it's presented is pretty original and definitely new to me.
I initially found the writing style too busy and a little chaotic but I instantly took to the main character, Jim, and was intrigued enough by the strangeness of every person around him that I had to keep reading.
I really struggled for some time though, as despite being filled with fascinating characters, the pace just seemed to drag. By 10% on my Kindle I wanted to give it up, but have committed to trying to finish books I get through Book Sirens so I slogged on.
I'm really glad I did and though I didn't really get into the book properly until about 50% I then couldn't put it down.
There's a lot to like about this book.
The characters are simply brilliant. All of them. This may have been part of what slowed my reading initially. There are a lot of very diverse, highly original and well drawn members of the cast in this chunky story. We are thrown head first into a pretty confusing adventure with little or no "heads up" and my initial reaction was along the lines of "too much too soon with no instructions!"
As I've already said, I'm so glad I stuck with it, because in retrospect, (whether by design or not) this served to help put me in Jim's boots as the story goes on and he gradually battles through the chaos that is the game of Cryptofauna.
I ended up loving this book.
So why not 5 stars?
For me, there are some minor aspects of that could do with tidying up which would have made the book easier to get into and prevented me having to stop and figure out what was going on at times. Some are very minor and probably wouldn't have bothered most readers.
Right at the beginning I was thrown by Jim going to "his" room at the hospital. It soon became obvious he lived there, but is that a thing?! A janitor living at his place of work? Minor, maybe, but it really threw me. I'm British so maybe it IS a thing in other countries. Literally a few words could have made this clearer and not stopped me in my tracks wondering if I'd missed something.
The "missed something" issue occurred fairly often. At times the narrative wasn't clear enough and I had to go back and re-read a couple of sentences to get a better idea of exactly what was happening. This could just be me, I read quite quickly and possibly just needed to slow down.
"Dandelion air" was mentioned a couple of times at one point, which, due to the quirkiness of the plot and writing style, had me wondering if this was some new trendy phrase I was unaware of. I then realised it was alluding to something mentioned a while before which my mind had passed over as inconsequential and so had discarded. Putting "scented" in on the first "dandelion air" to remind the more careless reader (me) would have prevented that particular sudden halt.
I avoid spoilers but this is only a tiny one...at another point Jim is suddenly left alone by a monk soon after arriving which didn't seem natural to the narrative but forced to serve the storyline. I'm no writer, but but this author is more than talented enough to have got around the situation in a more fluid way.
I had to look up "ooichurned" as I excitedly thought I'd learned a new word..... as far as I can tell it doesn't exist, which would be top marks for inventiveness if doing so was a part of the writers bag, but it didn't seem to happen again so comes across more like laziness or an error. It's a great word! If he invented it he should do more and make it his bag.... fill a bag with new words!
Other than that it's just careless errors...
gate instead of gait;
pension instead of penchant;
flurs-de-lis instead of Fleurs de lys (though lis is sometimes used);
air gage instead of air gauge.
Nothing big, but in a really good book small errors stand out more.
(Oh, and yorkies aren't white, that's quite a blunder in a book with lots of dogs.... which is another reason to love this story.... the dogs, not the blunder).
This could easily be a 5star book which a tiny bit of work.
Try it, persevere IF you struggle at first, (might just be me) you won't regret it.
OH, AND IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE IF ANYONE FANCIES GIVING IT A GO!)
WARNING...This is a long review, skip to the last sentence if you like...!
The cover and title of this book immediately caught my eye and the blurb made up my mind to try it.
The general premise is similar to other fantasy/action/adventure titles but the way it's presented is pretty original and definitely new to me.
I initially found the writing style too busy and a little chaotic but I instantly took to the main character, Jim, and was intrigued enough by the strangeness of every person around him that I had to keep reading.
I really struggled for some time though, as despite being filled with fascinating characters, the pace just seemed to drag. By 10% on my Kindle I wanted to give it up, but have committed to trying to finish books I get through Book Sirens so I slogged on.
I'm really glad I did and though I didn't really get into the book properly until about 50% I then couldn't put it down.
There's a lot to like about this book.
The characters are simply brilliant. All of them. This may have been part of what slowed my reading initially. There are a lot of very diverse, highly original and well drawn members of the cast in this chunky story. We are thrown head first into a pretty confusing adventure with little or no "heads up" and my initial reaction was along the lines of "too much too soon with no instructions!"
As I've already said, I'm so glad I stuck with it, because in retrospect, (whether by design or not) this served to help put me in Jim's boots as the story goes on and he gradually battles through the chaos that is the game of Cryptofauna.
I ended up loving this book.
So why not 5 stars?
For me, there are some minor aspects of that could do with tidying up which would have made the book easier to get into and prevented me having to stop and figure out what was going on at times. Some are very minor and probably wouldn't have bothered most readers.
Right at the beginning I was thrown by Jim going to "his" room at the hospital. It soon became obvious he lived there, but is that a thing?! A janitor living at his place of work? Minor, maybe, but it really threw me. I'm British so maybe it IS a thing in other countries. Literally a few words could have made this clearer and not stopped me in my tracks wondering if I'd missed something.
The "missed something" issue occurred fairly often. At times the narrative wasn't clear enough and I had to go back and re-read a couple of sentences to get a better idea of exactly what was happening. This could just be me, I read quite quickly and possibly just needed to slow down.
"Dandelion air" was mentioned a couple of times at one point, which, due to the quirkiness of the plot and writing style, had me wondering if this was some new trendy phrase I was unaware of. I then realised it was alluding to something mentioned a while before which my mind had passed over as inconsequential and so had discarded. Putting "scented" in on the first "dandelion air" to remind the more careless reader (me) would have prevented that particular sudden halt.
I avoid spoilers but this is only a tiny one...at another point Jim is suddenly left alone by a monk soon after arriving which didn't seem natural to the narrative but forced to serve the storyline. I'm no writer, but but this author is more than talented enough to have got around the situation in a more fluid way.
I had to look up "ooichurned" as I excitedly thought I'd learned a new word..... as far as I can tell it doesn't exist, which would be top marks for inventiveness if doing so was a part of the writers bag, but it didn't seem to happen again so comes across more like laziness or an error. It's a great word! If he invented it he should do more and make it his bag.... fill a bag with new words!
Other than that it's just careless errors...
gate instead of gait;
pension instead of penchant;
flurs-de-lis instead of Fleurs de lys (though lis is sometimes used);
air gage instead of air gauge.
Nothing big, but in a really good book small errors stand out more.
(Oh, and yorkies aren't white, that's quite a blunder in a book with lots of dogs.... which is another reason to love this story.... the dogs, not the blunder).
This could easily be a 5star book which a tiny bit of work.
Try it, persevere IF you struggle at first, (might just be me) you won't regret it.
OH, AND IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE IF ANYONE FANCIES GIVING IT A GO!)
August 20, 2019
Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning
Book Review: Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning
Posted on August 20, 2019 by kat
Cryptofauna by [Canning, Patrick]Title: Cryptofauna
Author: Patrick Canning
Publisher: Self-published
Publication date: December 7, 2018
Genre: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction
Summary: Jim works as a janitor at an insane asylum/home for the elderly, but feels his life is going nowhere, so he attempts suicide. Fortunately, his attempt is interrupted by a resident named Oz who, quite without explanation, pushes Jim into a massive worldwide game called Cryptofauna. Tasked with completing three trials in order to become Certified, he’s sent on a crazy journey into the game where what he does has the potential to impact the balance present in the world. But every player has a Rival, and Jim’s isn’t one to play the game fairly. Armed with good socks, a sack of magical dust, and some really great, if somewhat questionable, companions, Jim is prepared to play the game.
I loved this book. It was fascinating, intriguing, twisting, and unique. This was a great concept that was exceptionally well-executed. This is the kind of self-published book that I dream about. Not only does it have a fascinating story, but it’s actually well-written. A gem of a self-published book, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s bizarre, zany, nutty, funny, and overall delightful.
The game, Cryptofauna, was a little hard to follow at first. We’re literally thrown into it along with Jim. But, as the story went on, more and more was revealed and it became easier to follow and figure out. Indeed, the entire game is laid out, and it actually made sense. I loved that it took place in the real world and that the doings of the two Rivals balance the world.
The characters were charmingly bizarre, but somehow created a really lovely family. Each was interesting and unique with different personalities and great back stories that really contributed to who they were. Sometimes I felt the back stories didn’t connect well with what was currently occurring in the story, but they still added a little color to an already nutty game. I loved that Jim was a completely ordinary guy who was seemingly chosen at random, but who also managed to take it all in stride (after all, it’s more interesting than being a janitor to the old and insane) and make great strides in growth as a person and player. Overall, his was a very well-done hero’s journey.
I loved the jinn and their radio network. They’re these little, and big, creatures who enjoy wrecking havoc while also being dedicated reporters. They’re shape changers who largely stay on the sidelines for the purposes of properly reporting each game move, but their involvement in the game offers amusement, tension, and conflict as sometimes they reveal things they shouldn’t. I really think they added a ton of color and interest to the book, and I really wanted more of them.
Cryptofauna moved along at a great pace. Even though the second trial seemed overly long, the story never felt like it was stuck. There was continuous movement and every scene held importance. There was a constant forward movement. This story was a great blend of being character and plot driven where the plot clearly moves forward, but you get the sense that it couldn’t move forward without the characters being the driving force.
I loved that this wasn’t solely Jim’s story. We don’t get a lot of it, but there is a good bit of the Rival’s story being told. Even though the two stories felt off balance as Jim’s was, of course, at the forefront, the Rival’s story added a nice layer of tension and foreshadowing that really contributed to a delightful growing sense of foreboding.
Overall, this was an excellent book. It has a wonderfully fun concept that was well-done and with characters that created quite a bit of color. I do think it could have used another round of proofreading, but this was otherwise a truly excellent book.
Thank you so much to the author, Patrick Canning, for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book Review: Cryptofauna by Patrick Canning
Posted on August 20, 2019 by kat
Cryptofauna by [Canning, Patrick]Title: Cryptofauna
Author: Patrick Canning
Publisher: Self-published
Publication date: December 7, 2018
Genre: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction
Summary: Jim works as a janitor at an insane asylum/home for the elderly, but feels his life is going nowhere, so he attempts suicide. Fortunately, his attempt is interrupted by a resident named Oz who, quite without explanation, pushes Jim into a massive worldwide game called Cryptofauna. Tasked with completing three trials in order to become Certified, he’s sent on a crazy journey into the game where what he does has the potential to impact the balance present in the world. But every player has a Rival, and Jim’s isn’t one to play the game fairly. Armed with good socks, a sack of magical dust, and some really great, if somewhat questionable, companions, Jim is prepared to play the game.
I loved this book. It was fascinating, intriguing, twisting, and unique. This was a great concept that was exceptionally well-executed. This is the kind of self-published book that I dream about. Not only does it have a fascinating story, but it’s actually well-written. A gem of a self-published book, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s bizarre, zany, nutty, funny, and overall delightful.
The game, Cryptofauna, was a little hard to follow at first. We’re literally thrown into it along with Jim. But, as the story went on, more and more was revealed and it became easier to follow and figure out. Indeed, the entire game is laid out, and it actually made sense. I loved that it took place in the real world and that the doings of the two Rivals balance the world.
The characters were charmingly bizarre, but somehow created a really lovely family. Each was interesting and unique with different personalities and great back stories that really contributed to who they were. Sometimes I felt the back stories didn’t connect well with what was currently occurring in the story, but they still added a little color to an already nutty game. I loved that Jim was a completely ordinary guy who was seemingly chosen at random, but who also managed to take it all in stride (after all, it’s more interesting than being a janitor to the old and insane) and make great strides in growth as a person and player. Overall, his was a very well-done hero’s journey.
I loved the jinn and their radio network. They’re these little, and big, creatures who enjoy wrecking havoc while also being dedicated reporters. They’re shape changers who largely stay on the sidelines for the purposes of properly reporting each game move, but their involvement in the game offers amusement, tension, and conflict as sometimes they reveal things they shouldn’t. I really think they added a ton of color and interest to the book, and I really wanted more of them.
Cryptofauna moved along at a great pace. Even though the second trial seemed overly long, the story never felt like it was stuck. There was continuous movement and every scene held importance. There was a constant forward movement. This story was a great blend of being character and plot driven where the plot clearly moves forward, but you get the sense that it couldn’t move forward without the characters being the driving force.
I loved that this wasn’t solely Jim’s story. We don’t get a lot of it, but there is a good bit of the Rival’s story being told. Even though the two stories felt off balance as Jim’s was, of course, at the forefront, the Rival’s story added a nice layer of tension and foreshadowing that really contributed to a delightful growing sense of foreboding.
Overall, this was an excellent book. It has a wonderfully fun concept that was well-done and with characters that created quite a bit of color. I do think it could have used another round of proofreading, but this was otherwise a truly excellent book.
Thank you so much to the author, Patrick Canning, for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 31, 2020
3.5/5
This is one of those reviews that's hard to start. Cryptofuna is a lot. I mean that both for pacing, but also for just... everything. It's offers a bizarre, comedic. and action-packed jaunt through its strange world. While I never entirely clicked with it, I'd give it a strong recommendation for those who enjoy comedic-adventure books in a similar vein to Douglas Adams.
So I picked Cryptofauna up because it sounded weird, and I love me some weird. Fortunately, it had strange in abundance. Weird settings, weird characters, weird events. The Douglas Adams comparisons comes pretty readily, and I do mean that as a compliment. Cryptofauna evokes a very similar writing and comedic style while focusing on subject matter that is entirely its own (which prevents it from feeling derivative). Patrick Canning employs a very referential writing style that rewards you for paying attention. A joke or forgotten element from 100 pages ago might just return unexpectedly. If you're a fan of that sort of writing, Cryptofauna is probably a great pick for you.
Unfortunately, I was never a particularly huge Douglas Adams fan. For me, the baseline of witticisms and comedic tangents was endearing but also somewhat exhausting eventually. This book was strong in the comedy and adventure, but didn't have much that kept me coming back for more. The characters are pretty flat and fall into one comedic niche or another. There was also no strong central mystery that held my attention. It's more one of those plots where you're on a train with no breaks and you're just trying to find out where it's going. Those can be kind of fun, but also leave me without a strong sense of anticipation or purpose while reading.
It's hard to fault Cryptofauna for those things because well, that's not really the style it was going for. It knows what it wants to be but I'm just not sure if I was the right audience for that.
Overall, it's achieves what it's going for well, if you're into that sort of thing. Would recommend to Duglas Adams fans on the basis of similar style of humor and plot construction.
This is one of those reviews that's hard to start. Cryptofuna is a lot. I mean that both for pacing, but also for just... everything. It's offers a bizarre, comedic. and action-packed jaunt through its strange world. While I never entirely clicked with it, I'd give it a strong recommendation for those who enjoy comedic-adventure books in a similar vein to Douglas Adams.
So I picked Cryptofauna up because it sounded weird, and I love me some weird. Fortunately, it had strange in abundance. Weird settings, weird characters, weird events. The Douglas Adams comparisons comes pretty readily, and I do mean that as a compliment. Cryptofauna evokes a very similar writing and comedic style while focusing on subject matter that is entirely its own (which prevents it from feeling derivative). Patrick Canning employs a very referential writing style that rewards you for paying attention. A joke or forgotten element from 100 pages ago might just return unexpectedly. If you're a fan of that sort of writing, Cryptofauna is probably a great pick for you.
Unfortunately, I was never a particularly huge Douglas Adams fan. For me, the baseline of witticisms and comedic tangents was endearing but also somewhat exhausting eventually. This book was strong in the comedy and adventure, but didn't have much that kept me coming back for more. The characters are pretty flat and fall into one comedic niche or another. There was also no strong central mystery that held my attention. It's more one of those plots where you're on a train with no breaks and you're just trying to find out where it's going. Those can be kind of fun, but also leave me without a strong sense of anticipation or purpose while reading.
It's hard to fault Cryptofauna for those things because well, that's not really the style it was going for. It knows what it wants to be but I'm just not sure if I was the right audience for that.
Overall, it's achieves what it's going for well, if you're into that sort of thing. Would recommend to Duglas Adams fans on the basis of similar style of humor and plot construction.
August 25, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and BookSirens. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
It is sometimes said that ‘Gods play games with the fates of men’ (Sir Terry Pratchett). In this case, the game is Cryptofauna, the rules are obscure and the stakes are unclear. Let the game begin…
Jim is a janitor, living a reasonably humdrum life and failing to find any meaning or joy in it (Trigger warning: suicide attempt). Luckily, Oz is on hand to pluck him from despair and tenderly send him into danger… nothing to give your life meaning like having to fight for it!
Except maybe finding those worth fighting with and for. Jim slowly assembles a team of fellow ‘life strugglers’ and together they attempt to play Cryptofauna, or defeat evil, or survive… any or all they can manage really.
Cryptofauna‘s zany and chaotic style – shot through with political uncorrectness, running jokes and dark humour – will be familiar and welcome to fans of Robert Rankin and Tom Holt (perhaps especially Wish You Were Here). The plot takes odd turns and hinges on unlikely coincidences and dei ex machina, but then sometimes that’s the way the dice fall.
There is definitely potential for further adventures from Jim and his Combo and, as the ‘ordinary man’ persevered and modestly sidled his way into my heart, I hope to see many more in the future!
Obelisk into the void. A crackers castaway in a lifeboat. And to top it all off, Jim’s entire outfit was now a sock that would have a real “you think that’s bad, guess what I had to do” story for the washing machine crowd.
Even though Jim was generally a cool customer regardless of the situation, this seemed like a big ask. Previously, the strangest thing that’d ever happened to him was finding a second prize in his box of Cheerios.
– Patrick Canning, Cryptofauna
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
It is sometimes said that ‘Gods play games with the fates of men’ (Sir Terry Pratchett). In this case, the game is Cryptofauna, the rules are obscure and the stakes are unclear. Let the game begin…
Jim is a janitor, living a reasonably humdrum life and failing to find any meaning or joy in it (Trigger warning: suicide attempt). Luckily, Oz is on hand to pluck him from despair and tenderly send him into danger… nothing to give your life meaning like having to fight for it!
Except maybe finding those worth fighting with and for. Jim slowly assembles a team of fellow ‘life strugglers’ and together they attempt to play Cryptofauna, or defeat evil, or survive… any or all they can manage really.
Cryptofauna‘s zany and chaotic style – shot through with political uncorrectness, running jokes and dark humour – will be familiar and welcome to fans of Robert Rankin and Tom Holt (perhaps especially Wish You Were Here). The plot takes odd turns and hinges on unlikely coincidences and dei ex machina, but then sometimes that’s the way the dice fall.
There is definitely potential for further adventures from Jim and his Combo and, as the ‘ordinary man’ persevered and modestly sidled his way into my heart, I hope to see many more in the future!
Obelisk into the void. A crackers castaway in a lifeboat. And to top it all off, Jim’s entire outfit was now a sock that would have a real “you think that’s bad, guess what I had to do” story for the washing machine crowd.
Even though Jim was generally a cool customer regardless of the situation, this seemed like a big ask. Previously, the strangest thing that’d ever happened to him was finding a second prize in his box of Cheerios.
– Patrick Canning, Cryptofauna
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 16, 2019
When Patrick Canning sent me an email asking for a review, I had to jump on it. Cryptofauna sounded too much like David Wong’s John Dies at the End to ignore. I don’t read many black humor books, but I love David Wong, so I was excited to dive in. Now that I’m done I’m honestly, I’m not sure how to rate it. It’s a mind trip that is reminiscent of David Wong’s John Dies At The End, and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The black humor was present, but there was one thing that just didn’t sit right with me.
The most unsettling thing about this book is the casual use of racist remarks. I don’t enjoy reading racist or homophobic slurs, and I don’t enjoy having them thrown casually around in a book. It was done to show how uncouth a character was or someone starting a fight, but I found it completely unnecessary. I’m not used to reading the N-word or seeing the F word (the derogatory term for a gay man) or even referring to people solely by their ethnicity. I assume that the author was doing this for shock value and to add to the black humor feel, but it still didn’t sit well with me.
The characters in this book were unique and fun. They are what I enjoyed the most about this book. It was fun to watch them interact, and I loved how quirky and weird they all were. I loved how every character was there for a reason, and I loved seeing how they handled the twists and turns that the plot had.
The plot was exciting but also jumbled. I can’t help but think this might have been a book that should be read instead of listened to. The narrator was good, but with how jumpy and convoluted the plot was, it was hard to follow when just listening. I ended up borrowing the book from the KU library to use as a reference when I got lost. There were times I had to backtrack just to understand what I just read. This book definitely requires your full attention, and even then, you might appreciate it better high.
**I Received this book in exchange for an honest review**
The most unsettling thing about this book is the casual use of racist remarks. I don’t enjoy reading racist or homophobic slurs, and I don’t enjoy having them thrown casually around in a book. It was done to show how uncouth a character was or someone starting a fight, but I found it completely unnecessary. I’m not used to reading the N-word or seeing the F word (the derogatory term for a gay man) or even referring to people solely by their ethnicity. I assume that the author was doing this for shock value and to add to the black humor feel, but it still didn’t sit well with me.
The characters in this book were unique and fun. They are what I enjoyed the most about this book. It was fun to watch them interact, and I loved how quirky and weird they all were. I loved how every character was there for a reason, and I loved seeing how they handled the twists and turns that the plot had.
The plot was exciting but also jumbled. I can’t help but think this might have been a book that should be read instead of listened to. The narrator was good, but with how jumpy and convoluted the plot was, it was hard to follow when just listening. I ended up borrowing the book from the KU library to use as a reference when I got lost. There were times I had to backtrack just to understand what I just read. This book definitely requires your full attention, and even then, you might appreciate it better high.
**I Received this book in exchange for an honest review**
January 15, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! I was curious but unsure going into it, but it had me well and truly pulled in within pages.
Jim, a janitor at the St. Militrudes Home for the Insane and Elderly, decides to commit suicide. The moment before he downs the pills intended to end his life, Oz, a quirky patient at St Mili's, intervenes, dragging him into a bizarre but wonderful adventure, the game that is Cryptofauna. The tagline "If Alice in Wonderland & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had a love child, it’d be Cryptofauna," captures this book well. It is bizarre and quirky, with seemingly nonsensical and random elements, however, Canning has tied it all together so well, causing the strangeness of the story and writing to be delightful.
I'm not usually one to laugh out loud while reading, but I was laughing regularly through this book. It incorporates dark humour, running jokes and absurdity. The imagery is fantastic and action scenes gripping and well-paced. Despite it being a shorter novel, one of my favourite parts of this book is the characters. The characters are well developed and unique; it's easy to become invested in their adventures and wellbeing.
I have only minor criticisms for this book. The couple of small points I have are that it would be good to have Cryptofauna explained earlier on in the story, it is very confusing and stretches out the wait for things to make some sense. I also found some of the chapters too long, particularly The Abbey. I think this chapter could easily have been broken into at least a few distinct chapters, and some other chapters could be split too. However, these issues are minor enough that it's easy to round my rating of 4.5 stars to 5 rather than 4.
I strongly recommend Cryptofauna. Patrick Canning has created a unique and fantastic world with well-developed characters, great humour and a bizarre, fun storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only.
Jim, a janitor at the St. Militrudes Home for the Insane and Elderly, decides to commit suicide. The moment before he downs the pills intended to end his life, Oz, a quirky patient at St Mili's, intervenes, dragging him into a bizarre but wonderful adventure, the game that is Cryptofauna. The tagline "If Alice in Wonderland & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had a love child, it’d be Cryptofauna," captures this book well. It is bizarre and quirky, with seemingly nonsensical and random elements, however, Canning has tied it all together so well, causing the strangeness of the story and writing to be delightful.
I'm not usually one to laugh out loud while reading, but I was laughing regularly through this book. It incorporates dark humour, running jokes and absurdity. The imagery is fantastic and action scenes gripping and well-paced. Despite it being a shorter novel, one of my favourite parts of this book is the characters. The characters are well developed and unique; it's easy to become invested in their adventures and wellbeing.
I have only minor criticisms for this book. The couple of small points I have are that it would be good to have Cryptofauna explained earlier on in the story, it is very confusing and stretches out the wait for things to make some sense. I also found some of the chapters too long, particularly The Abbey. I think this chapter could easily have been broken into at least a few distinct chapters, and some other chapters could be split too. However, these issues are minor enough that it's easy to round my rating of 4.5 stars to 5 rather than 4.
I strongly recommend Cryptofauna. Patrick Canning has created a unique and fantastic world with well-developed characters, great humour and a bizarre, fun storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only.
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