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Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic
When a pug vanishes into thin air during a rectal exam, Dr. Mabel Sassani realizes that her new place of employment isn't the backward little hole-in-the-wall she thought it was. It's a hole in the universe.
Welcome to Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic, where a mostly stable portal room connects five identical veterinary hospitals, each in its own dimension and every one of them a front for a transdimensional smuggling operation. Dr. Metifunger’s partner, Karen, runs the “business” side of the enterprise, and Mabel soon discovers the real reason Karen hired her. An anti-smuggling task force has zeroed in on the clinics, and Mabel is the latest pawn in a multi-dimensional game of chess her boss is playing with the authorities.
But Mabel has no intention of being used by anyone. Nor will she tolerate a boss who puts her patients’ well being in jeopardy, no matter how weird and dangerous some of those patients may be. Determined to put an end to the clinic’s illicit dealings and free herself from her boss’ manipulations, she initiates her own amateur sting operation, risking her veterinary license, her budding romantic relationship and her life to bring down a criminal mastermind who just smuggled in the ultimate upper hand.
Welcome to Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic, where a mostly stable portal room connects five identical veterinary hospitals, each in its own dimension and every one of them a front for a transdimensional smuggling operation. Dr. Metifunger’s partner, Karen, runs the “business” side of the enterprise, and Mabel soon discovers the real reason Karen hired her. An anti-smuggling task force has zeroed in on the clinics, and Mabel is the latest pawn in a multi-dimensional game of chess her boss is playing with the authorities.
But Mabel has no intention of being used by anyone. Nor will she tolerate a boss who puts her patients’ well being in jeopardy, no matter how weird and dangerous some of those patients may be. Determined to put an end to the clinic’s illicit dealings and free herself from her boss’ manipulations, she initiates her own amateur sting operation, risking her veterinary license, her budding romantic relationship and her life to bring down a criminal mastermind who just smuggled in the ultimate upper hand.
Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 5, 2022
I picked up “Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic” after seeing a review that captured my attention and curiosity. A book that offers interdimensional traveling, animals, a mystery, and some romance all mixed with humor—how could I pass that up? I wasn’t disappointed in this unique tale. Dr. Mabel Sassani is offered a job in Florida after having issues in California and having her license suspended. What Mabel found on day one was a disappearing dog, and oh, the clinic was in several dimensions. I love the animals she treats that are unlike anything Mabel has treated in her dimension, and the techs, Sandy, are a lot of fun. There is the silent partner, Karen, who seems to have given Mabel a break, but might be a criminal. Then there’s the handsome Bryce, who is there when Mabel needs help. Mabel is determined to figure this out no matter what world she must do it in, and Bryce becomes the person to do that with. Throwing Dr. Metifunger’s overbearing parents into this mix made for a fun read. A well-written adventure with entertaining characters in and outside of our dimension.
August 17, 2024
What a fun book!! It was an absolute joy to read that had me slipping out little giggles throughout the whole book. I really hope to see more books with the same quirky antics come from this author.
August 5, 2022
Review of Dr. Metifunger's Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic by Dennis Strubbe
Reviewed by Joseph M. Isenberg
Mabel Sassani is a veterinarian with a secret, which could destroy her career. She is relieved and overjoyed when Dr. Metifunger takes her on as the new associate in his clinic in Florida. Not only will she be able to escape her past, she will also be far, far away from her bossy parents in California. Or so it appears.
Things are proceeding quite reasonably for Mabel until she actually starts work with her employer. Her first patient, a pug with the felicitous name of Ernest Borgnine, simply disappears into thin air in the middle of a rectal probe designed to dislodge something the poor pooch swallowed.
Now, as every reader should realize, while felines like Schrodinger's cat can get up to quantum-level shenanigans, dogs are much more loyal, disciplined and classically minded than that, and never do such things.
The oddity of the situation leaves Mabel to make inquiries and investigate. She quickly discovers that Dr. Metifunger's clinic exists simultaneously not only in one, but several dimensions, each of which can be accessed using special equipment.
As Mabel probes deeper, into the mystery, not the pug, she uncovers more and more sinister, disturbing details, which threaten not merely her grip on reality, but her very existence and her family's safety.
This is the premise of Dr. Metifunger's Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic, by Dennis Strubbe. This charming, astonishingly original and hilarious book reads as though it was a speculative fiction collaboration between James Herriot, Douglas Adams, and Ian Fleming, all at the height of their craft.
Strubbe is able to deliver one comedic twist after another as he explores the flora, fauna, and eccentric felons of each of the clinics through the multi-verse. The pure chaos of the situation will keep the reader laughing, and guessing, right through to the very end, and hoping for more.
On the whole, Strubbe has delivered a wonderful, witty tale. He has an excellent eye for detail, and a brilliantly tuned sense of plotting, character development and comedy. While there are moments of confusion arising from the problem of juggling several similar but not identical versions of reality, these were rare and minor, and did not detract from the joy of the experience.
Diagnosis: Dr. Metifunger's Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic is a virtuoso display of comedic art, and well worth a thorough examination.
Reviewed by Joseph M. Isenberg
Mabel Sassani is a veterinarian with a secret, which could destroy her career. She is relieved and overjoyed when Dr. Metifunger takes her on as the new associate in his clinic in Florida. Not only will she be able to escape her past, she will also be far, far away from her bossy parents in California. Or so it appears.
Things are proceeding quite reasonably for Mabel until she actually starts work with her employer. Her first patient, a pug with the felicitous name of Ernest Borgnine, simply disappears into thin air in the middle of a rectal probe designed to dislodge something the poor pooch swallowed.
Now, as every reader should realize, while felines like Schrodinger's cat can get up to quantum-level shenanigans, dogs are much more loyal, disciplined and classically minded than that, and never do such things.
The oddity of the situation leaves Mabel to make inquiries and investigate. She quickly discovers that Dr. Metifunger's clinic exists simultaneously not only in one, but several dimensions, each of which can be accessed using special equipment.
As Mabel probes deeper, into the mystery, not the pug, she uncovers more and more sinister, disturbing details, which threaten not merely her grip on reality, but her very existence and her family's safety.
This is the premise of Dr. Metifunger's Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic, by Dennis Strubbe. This charming, astonishingly original and hilarious book reads as though it was a speculative fiction collaboration between James Herriot, Douglas Adams, and Ian Fleming, all at the height of their craft.
Strubbe is able to deliver one comedic twist after another as he explores the flora, fauna, and eccentric felons of each of the clinics through the multi-verse. The pure chaos of the situation will keep the reader laughing, and guessing, right through to the very end, and hoping for more.
On the whole, Strubbe has delivered a wonderful, witty tale. He has an excellent eye for detail, and a brilliantly tuned sense of plotting, character development and comedy. While there are moments of confusion arising from the problem of juggling several similar but not identical versions of reality, these were rare and minor, and did not detract from the joy of the experience.
Diagnosis: Dr. Metifunger's Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic is a virtuoso display of comedic art, and well worth a thorough examination.
September 5, 2022
Such a fun read! Quirky with engaging characters. I loved it.
June 25, 2022
To say that Dr. Mabel Sassani’s first day on the job proved to be difficult was a severe understatement. Sure, she was a fully qualified veterinarian, trained to deal with any number of emergencies. But nothing had prepared her for a pug named Ernest Borgnine who’d swallowed a personal wormhole generator, a deca-dachshund with ten legs, or a weiner dog shaped like an actual penis.
But perhaps that’s the type of day she should expect from now on, given that she’d taken a job at Dr. Metifunger’s transdimensional veterinary clinic. Not her first choice, but she’d lost her veterinary license through no fault of her own, and she desperately needed a job.
However, dealing with five different Sandys (one for each dimension), was enough to make her question her now-fragile hold on events. Ordinarily, Mabel was a pretty good judge of people, but the overall level of weirdness in her job might be obscuring something she’d rather not be involved in.
Or it could just be that she didn’t want to wrestle another land shark to the floor.
A handsome man named Bryce complicated matters even more, especially considering that he had an interdimensional double who kept hitting on her. And what was Karen’s role in all this? She wasn’t a veterinarian, but she was a full partner with Dr. Metifunger, and when she wanted something done, everyone hopped to it.
But then Bryce starts lying to her, the FBI is on her case, her parents come to visit, and the interdimensional weirdness gets dangerous. Can she figure out this impenetrable tangle of conflicting events—in all the dimensions—before someone she loves gets hurt?
***
This book has it all. Great characters, believable dialogue, solid plot, and a level of worldbuilding that frankly leaves me in awe. (Think Men in Black or maybe Despicable Me.) It’s funny and yet it still has you concerned about the protag, since she has to hazard life and limb on multiple occasions. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
But perhaps that’s the type of day she should expect from now on, given that she’d taken a job at Dr. Metifunger’s transdimensional veterinary clinic. Not her first choice, but she’d lost her veterinary license through no fault of her own, and she desperately needed a job.
However, dealing with five different Sandys (one for each dimension), was enough to make her question her now-fragile hold on events. Ordinarily, Mabel was a pretty good judge of people, but the overall level of weirdness in her job might be obscuring something she’d rather not be involved in.
Or it could just be that she didn’t want to wrestle another land shark to the floor.
A handsome man named Bryce complicated matters even more, especially considering that he had an interdimensional double who kept hitting on her. And what was Karen’s role in all this? She wasn’t a veterinarian, but she was a full partner with Dr. Metifunger, and when she wanted something done, everyone hopped to it.
But then Bryce starts lying to her, the FBI is on her case, her parents come to visit, and the interdimensional weirdness gets dangerous. Can she figure out this impenetrable tangle of conflicting events—in all the dimensions—before someone she loves gets hurt?
***
This book has it all. Great characters, believable dialogue, solid plot, and a level of worldbuilding that frankly leaves me in awe. (Think Men in Black or maybe Despicable Me.) It’s funny and yet it still has you concerned about the protag, since she has to hazard life and limb on multiple occasions. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
September 11, 2022
Perhaps the strangest book you'll read this year, Dr. Metifunger's Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic opens with the Dr. Mabel Sassani’s first day at work, where she's performing...sensitive work on a pug named Ernest Borgnine, who abruptly disappears during the procedure. From there, she discovers something shocking about her new boss and her life goes officially nuts. The tone is somewhere between Futurama and perhaps Douglas Adams. The jokes are non-stop, but the world created receives some healthy attention (and its own internal logic). The lead character also maintains some reality to her, throughout the craziness. It's fun, absurd, and often quite amusing. Recommended.
March 12, 2024
great fun, lots of veterinary references and jokes that i thoroughly enjoyed as someone who works in the field
quick read, feel good ending without any major trauma along the way
quick read, feel good ending without any major trauma along the way
April 25, 2023
Dr. Metifungers Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic is a work of fiction that blends reality with a few elements that reflect science fiction. There were components that left me puzzled and questioned what world do these animals come from? It’s something that reminds a reader of Stitch. Metifunger does have the most eccentric veterinary clinic. Another component that I admire about Dennis’s novel is that it isn’t abashed in toning down its humor, which has been declining, and the first chapter based on one procedure on a pet is a highlight of this. Its crude humor is an element I respect and what gives an original voice to this story.
December 3, 2023
Hilarious!
This book was such a wonderful find. One of my connections in a VetMed group posted that she was going to be working with Dr. Strubbe and that he had written a book. I added it immediately and it was such a fun read. From true words about VetMed to physics and theory, this book was wonderful and hilarious and I hope another book is coming in the future.
This book was such a wonderful find. One of my connections in a VetMed group posted that she was going to be working with Dr. Strubbe and that he had written a book. I added it immediately and it was such a fun read. From true words about VetMed to physics and theory, this book was wonderful and hilarious and I hope another book is coming in the future.
May 12, 2026
I didn't find out until right after finishing the book that the author is also a vet! I loved the story, but that fact made it even better. It felt like he wrote out a fantasy of his. Who wouldn't want a little adventure in their everyday existence!
Edit: OH MY LORD DR. STRUBBE! I truly loved the book! I'm tongue tied...
Edit: OH MY LORD DR. STRUBBE! I truly loved the book! I'm tongue tied...
July 17, 2022
Dr. Metifunger's Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic follows the adventures of Dr. Mabel Sassani, a vet who has just taken on a new job at a clinic and begins to discover that there's a lot more going on at this place than there would be at any normal clinic. It was a hard start for me, because I got busy right around the time I started reading it and some of the situations the MC got into kind of grossed me out (the story starts in the middle of giving a dog a rectal exam and there's a lot of description of bodily functions and things like that in each chapter) but I hung in there and it all came together quite well in the end once the "transdimensional" part of the plot really came forward.
The main plotline focuses on the strange things Mabel sees and has to deal with at the clinic, but intertwined with that there's a very strong focus on her relationship with her new boyfriend Bryce, who may be involved in some of the goings-on. I didn't necessarily enjoy their relationship in itself, but it played a big part in how the main plotline unfolded so it really was essential to the story line and didn't feel like a tacked-on romance just because. There were also a few scenes with Mabel's parents, which - again - were fine.
Where the story really shines is with the strange goings-on at the clinic and Mabel's discoveries. At the beginning there's a lot of time spent on strange animals and because they seemed to be played more for the laughs/strangeness (a lot of them seemed to be designed around what I would call toilet jokes) I didn't enjoy them too much, but later on in the book I found the creatures to be a lot more interesting. I don't want to spoil it, but there were some great, creative "pets" that Mabel treated later on in the book.
Another aspect of the book that was really excellent was Mabel's investigations. Mabel discovered a lot of the weird things by accident, but it eventually becomes clear that she just can't help poking around and investigating and it works really well and got me really invested in the story. While the FBI are also doing their own investigations this makes the whole thing very fast paced and interesting. I especially liked some of the characters she met at this point, like Dr. Pixbury. Even Dr. Metifunger started growing on me near the end of the book. I also really liked some of the tech that was used, but I don't want to spoil the details!
Overall, while I personally struggled with it in the beginning just because I personally didn't enjoy some of the details and some of the humor it had an excellent plot and all came together really well in the end. I hovered between a 3 and a 4 for a while, so I think my true rating would be more of a 3.5, but I'm going to go with 4 because it's only "flaws" were just down to my personal preference. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun sci-fi story that involves strange animals and tech, adventure, and investigations.
The main plotline focuses on the strange things Mabel sees and has to deal with at the clinic, but intertwined with that there's a very strong focus on her relationship with her new boyfriend Bryce, who may be involved in some of the goings-on. I didn't necessarily enjoy their relationship in itself, but it played a big part in how the main plotline unfolded so it really was essential to the story line and didn't feel like a tacked-on romance just because. There were also a few scenes with Mabel's parents, which - again - were fine.
Where the story really shines is with the strange goings-on at the clinic and Mabel's discoveries. At the beginning there's a lot of time spent on strange animals and because they seemed to be played more for the laughs/strangeness (a lot of them seemed to be designed around what I would call toilet jokes) I didn't enjoy them too much, but later on in the book I found the creatures to be a lot more interesting. I don't want to spoil it, but there were some great, creative "pets" that Mabel treated later on in the book.
Another aspect of the book that was really excellent was Mabel's investigations. Mabel discovered a lot of the weird things by accident, but it eventually becomes clear that she just can't help poking around and investigating and it works really well and got me really invested in the story. While the FBI are also doing their own investigations this makes the whole thing very fast paced and interesting. I especially liked some of the characters she met at this point, like Dr. Pixbury. Even Dr. Metifunger started growing on me near the end of the book. I also really liked some of the tech that was used, but I don't want to spoil the details!
Overall, while I personally struggled with it in the beginning just because I personally didn't enjoy some of the details and some of the humor it had an excellent plot and all came together really well in the end. I hovered between a 3 and a 4 for a while, so I think my true rating would be more of a 3.5, but I'm going to go with 4 because it's only "flaws" were just down to my personal preference. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun sci-fi story that involves strange animals and tech, adventure, and investigations.
January 28, 2024
If there is no great genius without a touch of madness, then there is no literary creativity without a dose of absurdity. But what happens if you overdose? Better hope that Dr. Mable Sassani is there to save you, whether you are someone’s pet or her ally. The novice veterinarian protagonist Mable was not put-off by a pug that disappears during a rectal exam, a hairless shark-toothed bull terrier, and a penis-shaped dachshund. So, it’s not surprising she is not bothered by an eight-tentacled cocker spaniel or a foot-massaging spineless blorp. Of course, she’d love her new job in a trans-dimensional veterinary clinic, with five veterinary assistant clones named Sandy, that treats pets from multiple dimensions. If you like wackiness and imagination, you’ll love this book, frantically turning the page for the next whimsical designer hybrid pet or challenging veterinary emergency. Now throw in her comfort with wormhole generators, time machines, and disintegrator bombs, and you can understand why Mable’s trans-dimensional smuggler boss does not phase her. She even has time for romance with an FBI agent from another dimension that she accidentally tasers in the genitals and shoots in the butt. I might have rated the book higher if the silliness didn’t so often slide into bathroom humor and if the characters, particularly Mable’s parents, were not such caricatures. However, ‘Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic’ was still a page-turner, and fun read.
September 13, 2022
Mabel received her new job after having her veterinary license suspended. She cheated that she stil has one. It doesn’t feel that her new job will last longer. Just hired, she has a bad day in her veterinary clinic. The dog she is treating vanishes in thin air, in front of her. No warning and no trace. It comes back the same way. An indefinite number of “Sandy” try to tell her that things like this represent the normal at their clinic. Her next dog to work with is a “land shark” having more legs than a myriapod. Her boss is chasing his widow, who is alive in another dimension.
This novel can compete with Men in Black for the weirdest prize. It may be hard to suspend your disbelief; it may be hard to accommodate the humor, but if you are able too, you will be rewarded with a very original story.
This novel can compete with Men in Black for the weirdest prize. It may be hard to suspend your disbelief; it may be hard to accommodate the humor, but if you are able too, you will be rewarded with a very original story.
October 14, 2022
Having been suspended from her job in California, Mabel reluctantly accepts a job at a veterinarian clinic in Florida. But she quickly discovers that Dr. Metifunger’s clinic is anything but ordinary as we are swept away in a whirlwind of interdimensional traveling, peculiar animals, intrigue, and a non stop flow of witticisms.
The tone of the book reminded me a little of the Dr. Dolittle adventures. It was wacky and fun. The strange animals are fascinating, the world building thorough, and I was constantly impressed by the author’s imagination and humor. I confess I would have liked to have seen more of life in the alternate dimensions.
At times, the constant quips and wisecracks got tiring, and it also felt a little like all the characters sounded the same. A bit more differentiation there would have been nice.
Fun and enjoyable read on the whole.
The tone of the book reminded me a little of the Dr. Dolittle adventures. It was wacky and fun. The strange animals are fascinating, the world building thorough, and I was constantly impressed by the author’s imagination and humor. I confess I would have liked to have seen more of life in the alternate dimensions.
At times, the constant quips and wisecracks got tiring, and it also felt a little like all the characters sounded the same. A bit more differentiation there would have been nice.
Fun and enjoyable read on the whole.
June 27, 2023
Quirky.
April 9, 2025
3.5
Well this was definitely non-stop action. It was incredibly silly and yet at the same time quite amusing. Yes there was a happy ending.
Well this was definitely non-stop action. It was incredibly silly and yet at the same time quite amusing. Yes there was a happy ending.
May 10, 2023
I've been in a reading slump for several books. This one started so great, I thought I was finally out of it. Alas, I despised Mabel. She was an abusive narcissist, who somehow was equal parts sociopath AND psychopath. Unfortunately, she was also the sole POV character. Her favorite victim was her boyfriend, Bryce, who thought only with his little brain (and not of self-preservation and dignity) as Mabel constantly belittled him, punched him hard enough to make him cry out multiple times, and gave him trauma-level injuries to his groin and buttocks, which she often led others in teasing Bryce about later. The guy literally jerks away from her when she tries to kiss him. Bryce's instincts were trying to tell him something. I started with a five-star book. At the end, I flipped a coin to decide between giving it two stars or three. The rest of my review will contain spoilers.
The Good.
I love a good opening line. The one in this book is the best I've read all year.
The banter, albeit often cruel, flowed well.
Crazy things happen, so setting some of the story in Florida (Florida man) seemed cheeky.
The rule against talking pets. Who doesn't smile at that thought of swearing cats?
Pixbury giving Mabel crap when they met. Her Mary Sue powers of making friends eventually won him over, but it was nice seeing someone give her the business for a while.
Pointing out gluten free should just he for Celiac disease.
The first time Karen was shot was unexpected. My BS meter triggered, so no surprise she came back, but I was caught unaware the first time.
The fact the Sandys immediately believed Mabel would kill Karen in cold blood.
I usually don't laugh out loud at books. I made an exception when Metifunger genuinely declared Mabel "lacked the demeanor of a sociopath." She's the textbook definition of impulsive, unwilling to learn, and attempting to control others. Metifunger is absentminded, so I'll excuse his exceptionally poor judge of character.
The clone envy phenomenon.
The Bad.
Bryce tolerating Mabel. She screams in his ears (multiple times), punches him (multiple times), ties him up, shocks his groin, and shoots his butt. That's just the physical abuse. She constantly mocks him and uses condescending language. Don't believe me? Ask yourself how you'd feel about Bryce if he did any of these things to Mabel. Don't like the idea of a taser to genitalia? Nobody does. It can lead to impotence. Clone Bryce had it right when he called Mabel a bully.
Mabel is paranoid. She suspects everyone of malfeasance. Does she ever get the cops? Nope. Like a true sociopath, she just impulsively rushes in, often making a bad situation worse. She truly is the product of her parents.
Three Sandys learn of Mabel's mission. First one knew, then two others, who all eagerly agree to help. This was inconsistent behavior considering the huge fight over birthday cards that did or did not have the word "very" on them. Shouldn't Sandy 2 and Sandy 3 have been pissed when Sandy 1 knew first? What happens when Four and Five realize they were completely uninvited?
Mabel reminded me of the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors. The same little girl who terrorized her cat, Asdeev, went on to be a vet. So many potential victims.
A small quibble, but I wish the foreign phrases had been in italics.
Mabel had Mary Sue combat capabilities. She easily outfought FBI agents and hardened criminals multiple times. She should have died early, comedy or not.
Another small quibble, but I didn't need the ethnic breakdown of every background character. An orderly can just be an orderly. No race or gender required.
The Technical.
Nothing stood out that went against common style decisions.
The Good.
I love a good opening line. The one in this book is the best I've read all year.
The banter, albeit often cruel, flowed well.
Crazy things happen, so setting some of the story in Florida (Florida man) seemed cheeky.
The rule against talking pets. Who doesn't smile at that thought of swearing cats?
Pixbury giving Mabel crap when they met. Her Mary Sue powers of making friends eventually won him over, but it was nice seeing someone give her the business for a while.
Pointing out gluten free should just he for Celiac disease.
The first time Karen was shot was unexpected. My BS meter triggered, so no surprise she came back, but I was caught unaware the first time.
The fact the Sandys immediately believed Mabel would kill Karen in cold blood.
I usually don't laugh out loud at books. I made an exception when Metifunger genuinely declared Mabel "lacked the demeanor of a sociopath." She's the textbook definition of impulsive, unwilling to learn, and attempting to control others. Metifunger is absentminded, so I'll excuse his exceptionally poor judge of character.
The clone envy phenomenon.
The Bad.
Bryce tolerating Mabel. She screams in his ears (multiple times), punches him (multiple times), ties him up, shocks his groin, and shoots his butt. That's just the physical abuse. She constantly mocks him and uses condescending language. Don't believe me? Ask yourself how you'd feel about Bryce if he did any of these things to Mabel. Don't like the idea of a taser to genitalia? Nobody does. It can lead to impotence. Clone Bryce had it right when he called Mabel a bully.
Mabel is paranoid. She suspects everyone of malfeasance. Does she ever get the cops? Nope. Like a true sociopath, she just impulsively rushes in, often making a bad situation worse. She truly is the product of her parents.
Three Sandys learn of Mabel's mission. First one knew, then two others, who all eagerly agree to help. This was inconsistent behavior considering the huge fight over birthday cards that did or did not have the word "very" on them. Shouldn't Sandy 2 and Sandy 3 have been pissed when Sandy 1 knew first? What happens when Four and Five realize they were completely uninvited?
Mabel reminded me of the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors. The same little girl who terrorized her cat, Asdeev, went on to be a vet. So many potential victims.
A small quibble, but I wish the foreign phrases had been in italics.
Mabel had Mary Sue combat capabilities. She easily outfought FBI agents and hardened criminals multiple times. She should have died early, comedy or not.
Another small quibble, but I didn't need the ethnic breakdown of every background character. An orderly can just be an orderly. No race or gender required.
The Technical.
Nothing stood out that went against common style decisions.
April 26, 2023
Mild spoilers
This is a fun book. It’s very quick, and it’s very light. It’s about a veterinarian named Mabel, who takes a job at a clinic that turns out to be an transdimensional nexus point. Mabel has some professional licensing issues and needs the job, and to her credit, she rolls with the insane circumstances of the clinic almost instantly. She may blink once or twice, but she deals with everything the transdimensional nexus point throws at her—from very strange animals, to portable wormhole generators, to five copies of her office mate Sandy. Several reviews compare this book to hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, and the comparison is valid, but this book is much more structured and less absurd (though absurdity is built-in. Future installments could go bonkers at any moment). Mabel gets involved in a case of interdimensional intrigue and she proves herself up to the task time and time again. The tone of the book is always light. It’s a terrific rom-com with plenty of action and plenty of humor. There were at least three instances leading up to the last chapter where I chuckled out loud (an accomplishment for humor in prose), and three other instances where I chuckled in the last chapter alone. (In the middle of the book, Mabel gets a series of texts from her mother that are just comedy gold.) All the characters in the book are fun—even the villains are fun to read. The exchanges are cordial—though you know somewhere at the end of the exchange the threat of murder will be present (Mabel never waits that long). This is a tight book. The writing is great. The tone is light, the main characters are fun and so are the supporting characters (This is a parallel Earths set up, so while there is a small cast of characters, there is the potential, through alternate versions of people, for a familiar cast of thousands). The stage is set for as many sequels as the writer would like to provide. This would be a great book for couples to read at the same time—there are plenty of great moments to discuss that guys and girls may have radically different takes on (different versions of the same boyfriend, new loves as replacements for deceased loves, the ability to leave your reality and try another version of it, eccentric scientists, the icky aspects of extreme animal care. etc.etc.). The book is always working to entertain the reader. There are plenty of comedy moments and weird science concepts that would be fun to discuss as well—and since discussions are always better with two people, yes, read this with your significant other—or even a bunch of friends!
Have some fun. Add this book to your collection. Highly recommended.
This is a fun book. It’s very quick, and it’s very light. It’s about a veterinarian named Mabel, who takes a job at a clinic that turns out to be an transdimensional nexus point. Mabel has some professional licensing issues and needs the job, and to her credit, she rolls with the insane circumstances of the clinic almost instantly. She may blink once or twice, but she deals with everything the transdimensional nexus point throws at her—from very strange animals, to portable wormhole generators, to five copies of her office mate Sandy. Several reviews compare this book to hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, and the comparison is valid, but this book is much more structured and less absurd (though absurdity is built-in. Future installments could go bonkers at any moment). Mabel gets involved in a case of interdimensional intrigue and she proves herself up to the task time and time again. The tone of the book is always light. It’s a terrific rom-com with plenty of action and plenty of humor. There were at least three instances leading up to the last chapter where I chuckled out loud (an accomplishment for humor in prose), and three other instances where I chuckled in the last chapter alone. (In the middle of the book, Mabel gets a series of texts from her mother that are just comedy gold.) All the characters in the book are fun—even the villains are fun to read. The exchanges are cordial—though you know somewhere at the end of the exchange the threat of murder will be present (Mabel never waits that long). This is a tight book. The writing is great. The tone is light, the main characters are fun and so are the supporting characters (This is a parallel Earths set up, so while there is a small cast of characters, there is the potential, through alternate versions of people, for a familiar cast of thousands). The stage is set for as many sequels as the writer would like to provide. This would be a great book for couples to read at the same time—there are plenty of great moments to discuss that guys and girls may have radically different takes on (different versions of the same boyfriend, new loves as replacements for deceased loves, the ability to leave your reality and try another version of it, eccentric scientists, the icky aspects of extreme animal care. etc.etc.). The book is always working to entertain the reader. There are plenty of comedy moments and weird science concepts that would be fun to discuss as well—and since discussions are always better with two people, yes, read this with your significant other—or even a bunch of friends!
Have some fun. Add this book to your collection. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2023
This book sees Mabel, a young Iranian-American vet, take a new job at Dr. Metifunger’s clinic in Florida only to discover that – that’s right – the clinic operates in a variety of different dimensions, which each have their own bizarre fauna and flora that need treatment, not to mention deeply unsettling pet owners. It’s a great premise, filled with plenty of comic potential, and ‘DM’sTVC’ delivers exceptionally well on that promise with lots of chuckle worthy scenes as Mabel tries to juggle the hectic demands of a transdimensional career and love life.
There’s a plot involving the FBI investigating illegal wormhole activity, but the real pleasure of the book lies in how well the transdimensional elements are realised, with all the weird patients being lovingly rendered. Ever wondered about the proper way to care for a decadachsund or a bloorp? You probably haven’t until now, but Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic succeeds in making you wonder about exactly those things.
The broader challenges of a transdimensional existence are also well imagined, with the Sandys being another great comic creation to go alongside the bewildering menagerie. Together with lots of nice pop culture nods and winks, this made for a fun and engaging read. The characterisation is a bit ‘sitcom-y’ in places, less concerned with being believable or relatable and more with setting up the next comical situation, but that’s a minor quibble because providing in-depth character studies isn’t the aim of the book. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for well written SFF comedy.
There’s a plot involving the FBI investigating illegal wormhole activity, but the real pleasure of the book lies in how well the transdimensional elements are realised, with all the weird patients being lovingly rendered. Ever wondered about the proper way to care for a decadachsund or a bloorp? You probably haven’t until now, but Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic succeeds in making you wonder about exactly those things.
The broader challenges of a transdimensional existence are also well imagined, with the Sandys being another great comic creation to go alongside the bewildering menagerie. Together with lots of nice pop culture nods and winks, this made for a fun and engaging read. The characterisation is a bit ‘sitcom-y’ in places, less concerned with being believable or relatable and more with setting up the next comical situation, but that’s a minor quibble because providing in-depth character studies isn’t the aim of the book. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for well written SFF comedy.
September 4, 2022
Dr. Metifunger’s Transdimensional Veterinary Clinic (bit of a mouthful) is a humorous SF novel. It’s a fun and easy read.
Mabel Sassani finds herself working at a rather unusual veterinary clinic – it’s transdimensional — which is also a cover for a transdimensional smuggler and meets a handsome FBI agent from another dimension and the plot carries on from there.
It's a little bit silly and not to be taken too seriously. I could imagine it as a cartoon. Some of the characters did seem like caricatures but it suits the style of the novel. Karen was a splendid villain (I don’t think that’s a spoiler as that’s made clear early on) and I liked her robocats. Mabel is very likeable. She’s also very accident prone which made for some comic slapstick moments. I wasn’t so keen on Bryce Anholts, her boyfriend who I found irritating a lot of the time.
I did love the animals from the other four dimensions that the clinic can access though, such as the cockopus, hermaphrodog, cradle cat and especially the psittaphyte. I did wonder whether the author doesn’t like cats.
I was disappointed though, that we didn’t learn that much about the other dimensions. For me, that’s one of the reasons to read a novel that includes multi dimensions. Because the dimensions weren’t described in much detail, it was hard to keep them apart. I wasn’t sure which dimension some of the characters came from which I would have liked to know.
It also has a great dedication.
I’m not sure from the ending whether this is a stand-alone or might have a sequel.
April 25, 2025
I wish I had a great fund of adjectives to describe this little gem, but I don't. The usual,
"I liked it" is just not going to suffice.
This book will take you out of the normal humdrum of reading e-books to the next, best level of pure joy in creative thinking. BLORP.
If you know what a BLORP is, you get it. If you don't, please find out by reading this book.
To say this is a gem of creative fiction doesn't do it justice.
I had some laugh out loud moments, and the only time I felt anything close to a slight tiff was with the descriptive of a hard working nurse: "Gotta get a degree to do this crap!".
Yes, a degree is necessary.
But aside from the slight jarring of my professional persona, this book simply takes you out of the mundane and dares you not to laugh.
The story is cliched, and well used throughout literature, but in the hands of a micro-managing time traveling veterinarian, it goes beyond the cut and dried to the laughably insane in a few chapters.
Do not take this book too seriously, you will be disappointed in yourself.
Let go a bit, give the metaphysical worlds(s) a chance and see if dimensional animal care might just be something you can deal with.
I LOVED this book.
I hope Dr. Strubbe has more to offer. I have become an instant fan.
BLORP!
"I liked it" is just not going to suffice.
This book will take you out of the normal humdrum of reading e-books to the next, best level of pure joy in creative thinking. BLORP.
If you know what a BLORP is, you get it. If you don't, please find out by reading this book.
To say this is a gem of creative fiction doesn't do it justice.
I had some laugh out loud moments, and the only time I felt anything close to a slight tiff was with the descriptive of a hard working nurse: "Gotta get a degree to do this crap!".
Yes, a degree is necessary.
But aside from the slight jarring of my professional persona, this book simply takes you out of the mundane and dares you not to laugh.
The story is cliched, and well used throughout literature, but in the hands of a micro-managing time traveling veterinarian, it goes beyond the cut and dried to the laughably insane in a few chapters.
Do not take this book too seriously, you will be disappointed in yourself.
Let go a bit, give the metaphysical worlds(s) a chance and see if dimensional animal care might just be something you can deal with.
I LOVED this book.
I hope Dr. Strubbe has more to offer. I have become an instant fan.
BLORP!
April 24, 2023
Wow! This is a quirky and unusual story, but you have to give the author points for originality. I don't believe I have ever read a book about veterinary clinics connected by magic portals! People start to realize there are some very strange things happening at the clinic, and there is a lot of goofy humor and silly jokes going on with the pets and the workers. I could see this being a computer-generated movie or animated series, as it plays well for laughs. Later, the pets that are being treated get more and more complex and interesting, and we get to see some dynamics of Mabel's relationships and family issues. Overall, this is one wacky read, but it has enough animals and a big enough imagination to keep you involved. It may be a bit childish, but the author is witty at the same time. Check it out, and make sure you don't step into another dimension on your way to the local vet.
February 10, 2025
3.50/3.75
Mostly disappointed because I thought this was going to be more of an interstellar “James Herriot” type book, and it was really less vet more crime-solving. Thus, it was not the book that I expected when I purchased it.
With that said, I found the characters pretty one-dimensional. There were sparks of humour—unfortunately, these were fleeting and few and far between.
Therein lies the problem with vanity press books in general. Potentially, a quality editor could have significantly strengthened this book by pushing the author to develop and strengthen certain ideas and characters; to tease out humorous situations and moments; to edit, edit, edit.
Alas, such is not the case, and although this story demonstrates potential, sadly, it isn’t fulfilled.
Mostly disappointed because I thought this was going to be more of an interstellar “James Herriot” type book, and it was really less vet more crime-solving. Thus, it was not the book that I expected when I purchased it.
With that said, I found the characters pretty one-dimensional. There were sparks of humour—unfortunately, these were fleeting and few and far between.
Therein lies the problem with vanity press books in general. Potentially, a quality editor could have significantly strengthened this book by pushing the author to develop and strengthen certain ideas and characters; to tease out humorous situations and moments; to edit, edit, edit.
Alas, such is not the case, and although this story demonstrates potential, sadly, it isn’t fulfilled.
September 7, 2022
Five stars
What am I reading??? :-) This story starts with a vet giving a a poor little piggy a rectal examination, but don’t let that put you off. Because if that idea, for one split second, made you forget the (insert world disasters) going on right now, then this is the book for you. The entire story amuses and entertains, with delightful characters out of their depth and doing their best to provide excellent veterinary care to bizarre fantasy creatures (personally, I liked Danny Boy the Irish Cradle Cat. Instead of purring, he sings Danny Boy when he’s happy.)
Quick pacing, lighthearted, multiverse-style romp. I normally pick up books with much more depth and realism to them, and now I’m wondering why. This one had me in stitches all afternoon.
What am I reading??? :-) This story starts with a vet giving a a poor little piggy a rectal examination, but don’t let that put you off. Because if that idea, for one split second, made you forget the (insert world disasters) going on right now, then this is the book for you. The entire story amuses and entertains, with delightful characters out of their depth and doing their best to provide excellent veterinary care to bizarre fantasy creatures (personally, I liked Danny Boy the Irish Cradle Cat. Instead of purring, he sings Danny Boy when he’s happy.)
Quick pacing, lighthearted, multiverse-style romp. I normally pick up books with much more depth and realism to them, and now I’m wondering why. This one had me in stitches all afternoon.
January 22, 2023
This has the vibe of hitchhikers guide to the universe with all the wonderful imaginary creatures and fiends. Just a fun read!
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