What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World

May 20, 2013
Clark’s debut, a complicated and often goofy SF fantasy about an evil power trying to take over the world, brandishes his background as a former Mad magazine contributor. Starring a Harry Potter–like triumvirate—two boys, Freak and River, and sharp, smart Fiona—the story begins with a sofa that has been mysteriously abandoned by their bus stop, in which the children find a rare zucchini-colored crayon. Their discovery launches a complex narrative involving a long-burning underground coal fire and an abandoned chemical plant, which turns out to be a portal to another universe. Offbeat plot elements include mind control through cellular phones and food additives, flash mobs, artificial intelligence in the form of furniture and a domino, an elderly axe-wielding ghost, and human spies wearing dog hats as disguises. The kids’ uncertainty about who to trust and the novel’s swift pace create unyielding suspense. Readers without much taste for this genre may find it too over-the-top, but for those destined to become Douglas Adams fans it will be hilarious and gripping. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kate Epstein, Epstein Literary Agency.

Bryan Kennedy deftly introduces listeners to friends River, Freak, and Fiona as well as to a sofa and a zucchini crayon hidden in the cushions. This unusual crayon leads them to Alf, the owner of the sofa, and to rambling, antiquated mansion. The trio's reactions to the existence of another world, sentient furniture, and the looming destruction of earth by invading stormtroopers are delivered with panache. Kennedy's renderings of Alf's friendly eccentricities, the sentient computer's companionable guidance, and the evil Disin's grating voice are especially delightful. No one does deadpan humor better than Bryan Kennedy, and the sound effects of the mansion provide perfect ambience. This wacky sci-fi romp is a great pick for a family road trip. M.F.T. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine