The Infinite Future

October 16, 2017
Wirkus’s second novel (after City of Brick and Shadow) features an obscure science fiction writer whose stories chronicling the exploits of a space captain inspire an aspiring novelist, a Brazilian librarian, and a feminist historian to seek out the author. The action begins when Salt Lake City lawyer Danny Laszlo, one of Wirkus’s former BYU classmates, gives Wirkus a two-part manuscript. The first part of that manuscript is Danny’s account of how, while in São Paulo, he is introduced by librarian Sérgio Antunes to Eduard Salgado-MacKenzie’s stories about 23rd-century spaceship Capt. Irena Sertôrian. Like Sérgio, Danny is soon enthralled by Salgado-MacKenzie’s fiction. Joining forces with fellow enthusiast, historian Harriet Kimball, they track down the pseudonymous Salgado-MacKenzie at a remote Idaho hideaway. The second part of Danny’s manuscript is part of Salgado-MacKenzie’s unfinished last work, The Infinite Future, described in a book proposal as offering unparalleled majesty and insight. Themes of enlightenment and transgression, authority and dissent, and intellect and obsession pervade the many narratives within narratives. Wirkus can be inventive or derivative, a skilled storyteller who introduces more elements than he can connect, posing more questions than any earthly being could answer.

May 1, 2018

After a Salt Lake City reading, novelist Tim is approached in--okay, stalked to--a convenience store by Danny, a former college writing classmate. Danny has a mysterious manuscript for Tim, which has quite the provenance story involving Danny in São Paulo on a dubious grant, local librarian Sérgio, and disgraced Mormon professor-turned-translator Harriet. The trio's quest to locate obscure sf writer Eduard Salgado-MacKenzie and his potential masterpiece wends them through California, Idaho, Utah--even planets unknown. In a rare production reveal, the full cast is named at recording's end, including Michael Crouch as unsettled Danny, Jonathan Davis as softly accented Sérgio, Hillary Huber as no-nonsense Harriet; Phoebe Strole and Kristen Sieh crisply alternate voicing the book-within-the-book; and brief aural appearances include Sean Patrick Hopkins as Tim, with Oliver Wyman and Carol Monda in minor roles. While numerous narrators allow for distinct personalities, transitions sometimes falter. Accuracy can be a challenge, for example in an Idaho hot tub scene, Harriet's dialog is voiced by both Crouch and Huber during a three-way conversation. VERDICT Despite intriguing narratives, the result is an unsatisfying maelstrom more ear-numbing than enlightening.--Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A full cast capably adapts this complex novel with many nested narratives within narratives and frequent thematic digressions. Narrators Michael Crouch, Jonathan Davis, and Hillary Huber carry the first half as three disparate characters who are captivated by the works of obscure science-fiction writer Eduard Salgado-MacKenzie. Together they seek out the elusive author and his lost manuscript, THE INFINITE FUTURE. Though we know early on that they'll eventually find it, their quest is still full of surprises. Then, it's to infinity and beyond as narrators Phoebe Strole and Kristen Sieh read the title sci-fi story, a curious mix of space adventure and scholarly satire. Not everyone will love the unconventional storytelling. But the strong leading performances, plus several effective supporting roles, should win over many listeners. A.T.N. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine