The Coincidence Engine

February 13, 2012
Any book that opens with a hurricane miraculously assembling a working Boeing 737 from old cans and metal scraps in the backwoods of Alabama requires a suspension of belief. The joyfully crafted chaos of Leith's fiction debut (after You Talkin' to Me?) will appeal to adventurous readers. Leith's characters seem dubious as to their missionâsecret agent "Bree thought: what a mess. None of this made any sense." However, Leith canâand shouldâbe forgiven, for while the book's plot is driven by what some might consider metaphysical nonsense, his sharply drawn characters, well-written dialogue, and compelling philosophical ruminations are smart and funny. Rumor has it that a reclusive genius named Banacharski has invented something variously called a "coincidence engine," a "coincidence machine," and a "probability bomb," which has the potential to affect real-world probability. Understandably, a lot of interesting characters would like to get their hands on it. Bree and her "apsychotic" partner, Jones ("My doctor told me to explain it this way: I don't have an imagination.")âagents of the Directorate of the Extremely Improbableâ,are on the case, as well as nefarious arms manufacturers. Both groups suspect British postgrad Alex Smart, who is en route to San Francisco to propose to his girlfriend, of possessing the machine, though Alex maintains his innocence. Leith's strange machine is sure to delight and confound.