Title: Ich und die anderen
Author: Matt Ruff
First published February 4, 2003
715 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9783423208901 (ISBN10: 3423208902)
Rating: 4.29
Overview
Matt Ruff’s latest masterpiece, Ich und die anderen, takes readers on a journey through the rich, foreign, and sometimes frightening landscape of the human soul. Andy Gage is plagued by a fundamental problem: he hears voices! While we all engage in internal dialogue from time to time, Andy’s mind is home to dozens of souls who take control of his body at the most inopportune moments.
With the help of psychiatric treatment, Andy has managed to find some semblance of balance and lead a somewhat normal life. But when his carefully crafted schedule is disrupted, all of his personalities struggle to find their place in the “real” world.
Ich und die anderen is a stunning work of fiction that combines the best of traditional storytelling with a touch of the fantastic, proving once again that Matt Ruff is a master of the craft.
About the Author
I was born in the lively city of New York back in 1965. From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to be a fiction writer.
I spent my childhood and teenage years honing my storytelling skills. When I studied at Cornell University, I wrote my senior thesis in Honors English, which later became my first published novel, Fool on the Hill.
My professor, Alison Lurie, helped me find an agent, and within six months of graduating from college, my book had been purchased by Atlantic Monthly Press. With some timely foreign rights sales, the support of my loved ones, some grant money, and a growing list of published works, I’ve been able to make writing novels my primary occupation.
My third novel, Set This House in Order, proved to be a turning point for me. It won the James Tiptree, Jr. Award, a Washington State Book Award, and a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award.
It also helped me receive a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. My fourth novel, Bad Monkeys, also won multiple awards and is currently being adapted into a film, with Margot Robbie set to star.
My sixth novel, Lovecraft Country, has been produced as an HBO series by Misha Green, Jordan Peele, and J.J. Abrams. It will premiere on Sunday, August 16.
In 1998, I tied the knot with my best friend, Lisa Gold, who is a researcher and rare-book expert. We now call Seattle, Washington, our home.
Editoral Review
In Matt Ruff’s Ich und die anderen, readers are taken on a wild ride through time and space, grappling with philosophical questions about the self and the nature of reality. Ruff, a seasoned science-fiction author, weaves a tale that is both thought-provoking and entertaining, leaving readers with much to ponder long after the final page is turned.
The story follows a young man named Russell Walker, who seemingly has it all: a successful career, a loving wife, and a comfortable life in San Francisco. However, things take a strange turn when he begins to experience bizarre visions and strange events that leave him questioning his own sanity.
Told through a series of interconnected stories, Ich und die anderen explores the mysteries of identity, perception, and the human psyche. What makes Ruff’s novel particularly fascinating is the way he blends elements of science-fiction, fantasy, and psychological thriller into a cohesive and compelling narrative.
The characters are well-developed and complex, each grappling with their own inner demons and personal struggles. The world-building is top-notch, with Ruff creating vivid and immersive settings that transport readers to a variety of different times and places.
Beyond its entertainment value, Ich und die anderen also has tremendous cultural and historical significance. The novel touches on themes such as racism, politics, and gender identity, highlighting the struggles that many marginalized individuals face.
It also speaks to the current political climate and the challenges we face as a society in terms of understanding and accepting those who are different from us. On the downside, some readers may find the nonlinear narrative structure to be confusing or disorienting at times.
Additionally, the philosophical musings and metaphysical debates may feel dense or heavy-handed to some. Overall, however, Ich und die anderen is a must-read for fans of science-fiction, fantasy, and psychological thrillers alike.
It is a thought-provoking and deeply introspective work that asks important questions about the nature of reality, the self, and what it means to be human. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a mind-bending and emotionally resonant reading experience.
Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
