Master Piece

The Master Trilogy #1

by Andy Dane Nye

As far as Norman Penkridge is concerned, there’s only one problem with having an angel floating above his living room carpet. He’s an atheist.When reclusive computer geek, Norman, starts receiving heavenly visitations, his fiercely logical brain assumes he’s going mad. But as attempts to prove they’re a figment of his imagination fail, he’s faced with a far more alarming scenario. If real, he must accept he’s been chosen from the whole of humanity to prevent EVERYTHING in the Universe... and a few extra dimensions he’s never even heard of... ceasing to exist. That not only includes a Supreme Being he doesn’t believe in, but - of far more immediate concern to Norman - his own bedsit off the Bayswater Road.Writing in a refreshingly original style that's been described as "Douglas Adams meets Terry Pratchett meets Dan Brown", Andy Dane Nye casts a satirical eye over the subject of religion, whilst encouraging the reader to explore the true nature of spirituality in this engaging, humorous, quirky, mystery adventure.“Just brilliant. Witty, clever and totally enthralling. Couldn't put it down.” Amazon review.“Captivating from beginning to end.” Amazon review.“An unfolding intelligent puzzle that’s gripping all the way through.” Amazon review.“A rollicking good read!” Amazon review.“Brilliant, surreal and laugh out loud funny.” Amazon review.“So good I read it twice.” Amazon review.If you’re looking for an unputdownable, thought-provoking read, centred around a mysterious international art conspiracy… featuring spiritual paradoxes and Templar intrigue… where an unlikely hero has to do battle with a group of ruthless industrialists who've chosen to style themselves on the Gods of Ancient Greece… two crack CIA operatives, whose corrupt boss is in the latter’s pay… an eccentric tramp with a posh voice who claims to talk to the dead… an increasingly irate and problematic landlord with the same surname as the father of the atomic bomb… and where the hero's toughest opponent might turn out to be himself … then this is the perfect book for you!A definite must for those who love their fictional intrigue to be mixed with a healthy dose of philosophical musings... and plenty of laughs!

444 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2019

About the author

Andy Dane Nye has had a busy life to date… although he'd like to think it’s only just getting started. He’s written songs for the likes of rock icon Roger Daltrey, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Zombies, Woodstock legends Ten Years After, & multi-million selling supergroup Asia… held a world record at five-a-side football… was once voted seventh best keyboard player in the world by Music Life magazine (though he doesn’t think he’s that good)… performed a citizen's arrest on an off-duty policeman... been the agent for rock legends Wishbone Ash for over 20 years… and once inadvertently razed to the ground a two-storey building that happened to be next door to a fire station. But his proudest boast to date is that, despite the above, he still has a remarkable amount of hair for his age. Now he looks set to eclipse it all with his writing.

Reviews

[Huw Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norman is a computer nerd - the type that never gets any sunlight, has no friends and spends his days writing code. He has created the avatar of his perfect woman, Xanthia. He is an atheist so when the Angel Gabriel appears in his bedroom trying to enlist his help to save the world he needs to have a lie down. The production of eye-watering sums of money to fund his IT needs persuades him that saving humankind may have an upside, after all.

If you have heroes, no matter how unwilling or improbable, then there must be villains too. These are the agents of chaos who will stop at nothing to prevent Norman from completing his task. However, they have no idea what the plan is. Using two highly skilled surveillance agents the information is slowly pieced together and a plan derived. Can the world be changed for the better or will the bad guys win?

The plot is fun and, were it to be true, would explain an awful lot about creative genius. In this it resembles Terry Pratchet's theory that inspiration comes in droplet form and only works when it hits the right target. It is funny, sometimes to the point of laugh out loud, witty and clever.

Having never head of Andy Nye I looked him up on Wikipedia. It turns out that he and I were at a gig together back in the eighties although he was on the stage and I was in the audience. Funny how some things never change!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I got it at a reduced price sometime ago and have only now got round to reading it. I enjoyed it so much I’ve immediately bought the next in the trilogy.

Norman is a typical nerd loner. He’s a computer whizz who is chosen by heaven to help restore the world by encoding all the most amazing works of art and music on a computer programme to bring about the second coming.

It’s funny and quirky with charming characters, even the bad guys aren’t so bad.

[Anoush · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly lacking any credible female protagonists, it seems a world occupied almost entirely by men. Which is boring.

[Kathi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up half way through, some reviews said it was like Pratchett, but I was disappointed.

[Bill Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

As good as Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams, seriously, both these authors and the like of Tom Sharpe can make me laugh like a lunatic, this tale was predictable and barely amusing, I all but gave up two thirds of the way, it was perhaps copying their style but certainly not to their standards.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. Full of wonderful humour and interesting characters and so much to say about the "big" things - God, Heaven, Fate, Love, etc etc. Can't wait to read more of Norman's adventures.

[ArneNator1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had some interesting concepts, but unfortunately, it never truly hooked me.