Warp

By: Lev Grossman

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne, Lev Grossman

The lost literary origin story of #1 bestseller Lev Grossman - including a new foreword about how and why he wrote his first novel: "It is the intense, concentrated, boiled-down essence of the unhappiest years of my life."

Twenty-something Hollis Kessler languishes in a hopelessly magician-less world (with the exception of a fleet-footed nymph named Xanthe) not too far from where he graduated college. His friends do, too. They sleep late, read too much, drink too much, talk too much, and work and earn and do way too little. But Hollis does have an obsession: there's another world going on in his head, a world of excitement and danger and starships and romance, and it's telling him that it's time to stop dreaming and get serious.

This re-publication of Lev Grossman's debut novel, Warp, shows the roots of his Magicians hero Quentin Coldwater in a book that is for anyone (and everyone) who has ever felt adrift in their own life.

With a Preface read by the Author

Not a bad book, but...

What did you like best about Warp? What did you like least?

Interesting read, interesting characters. No idea whatsoever why this was listed as Sci-fi/Fantasy. Would have enjoyed it more without the misdirection; kept waiting for the 'other' to kick in. It never does.

Very personal

This book felt like I was witnessing something I shouldn't have. It seems like a very personal and private story to the author. Honestly, it was very slow and did not seem to flow well. I had a hard time following along, because I kept thinking I missed something but really not much ever happened.

However, this book does show a proto Quinton in that Hollis has the same bleak, wandering demeanor as the aforementioned Magicians protagonist.

Overall, I would say you should read it/listen to it if you love Lev Grossman's work (like I do) and crave more, because it certainly has the same tone. But in skipping this one you won't be missing too much.

wouldn't have read this book without an audiobook

I read the first 5 chapters of this book without an audiobook and I wanted to like it, but it was just kind of boring. I'm glad I listened to the rest of the book on 2 times speed to get through it. The author is a good author, using big words I had to look up, and very detailed in describing the scene. But overall the book was just kind of boring. It did make me chuckle a few times, but the storyline was just kind of all over the place which made it hard to get into. And the ending was stupid and made me feel like I wasted my time reading it. at least I didn't read the entire time.

The audiobook reader was amazing at presenting the book though.

written for those who feel stuck

if you've ever felt stuck in life, like the sun just refuses to shine as brightly on you as it does everyone else, then this book was written for you. I can relate to Hollis so well. just as in the magicians Lev has captured the feelings of anxiety, depression, and disassociating in ways that I didn't quite know it was possible to. and it's nice to know there's more of us out there going through the same thing, and that it can get better.

Loved Magicians, but this was unbearable

I am a huge huge fan of the entire Magicians trilogy, so I thought I'd give this early book from Lev Grossman a shot. To be perfectly honest, it was one of the most boring uninteresting books I've ever read in my life. The characters were all formulaic and generally unlikeable, and absolutely nothing happened. On top of that, I found the split voice narration style quite annoying. I strongly urge you to avoid this book. If you're desperate for more Magicians, just go back and re-read The Magicians!