Description
Description
"An act of intricate, puzzle-minded fabulism. Part Italo Calvino and part Ed McBain."--Jim Lewis, Author of New York Times Notable Book Ghosts of New York
"[A] playful literary mystery . . . Fans of Anthony Horowitz will find a lot to like." --Publishers WeeklyA clever, electrifying puzzle of a novel, inspired by MC Escher's optical illusions, in which two mirrored plots --a man waiting for an electrician and a mafia informant entering witness protection-- delightfully converge.
Franz Escher is waiting for the electrician. His power outlet has a loose connection. To pass the time, he buries himself in a book about a Mafioso-turned-informant Elio Russo. Elio is in jail, awaiting his imminent release into witness protection. He has betrayed so many people that he fears for his life. Unable to sleep, he lies awake at night reading a book about a man named Franz Escher who's waiting for the electrician. His power outlet has a loose connection. . .
after one of M. C. Escher's impossible drawings, its two stories gradually intertwine only to solve each other, culminating in one final short circuit. A phenomenon after its German
publication, this brilliantly entertaining novel promises to defy all expectation.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
Drawing inspiration from M.C. Escher's mind-bending graphic art, Haas toys with literary conventions including double identities and problems of translation to dazzling effect . . . a clever, wryly funny ride enhanced by a memorable supporting cast . . . Fans of Anthony Horowitz will find a lot to like. - Publishers Weekly
Short Circuit is incredibly easy to read, as entertaining as a well-oiled thriller, yet so sophisticated that it will dazzle you . . . an absolute must-read. - Die Zeit
Highly entertaining. But it's not just one book; it's at least three in one, all of which are highly enjoyable. He plays cleverly with form and structure--not just as a gimmick but as a fundamental part of the story. Wolf Haas has mastered the rules of writing so completely that he can just as easily ignore them." - Der Spiegel
A novel so rich in allusions, enjoyable, and cleverly constructed that only Umberto Eco, Italo Calvino, and Roberto Bolaño could otherwise achieve. - Welt am Sonntag
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
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