My Favorite Band Does Not Exist (review)

Idea Deity is pretty certain that his life is being controlled by some evil author who plans to kill him off soon. Reacher Mirage, who exists in a world with pink grass and an emerald sky, is the lead singer of a secret band called Youforia, a group that is being outed too early by Idea, who is certain that he is making up Youforia as a way to demonstrate the power of suggestion and the control the Internet has over the world. And then, of course, there's Johnny Without and Lord Fireskull, characters in a fantasy novel that both of the protagonists are reading (chapters of which appear with increasing frequency throughout the book), who are obsessed with killing one another but must soon unite against a common enemy. How all of these characters, two "real" and two "fictional," will somehow find what they seek (whether fame, family, peace, or revenge) is entirely unclear right up until the last few pages. It's a complex and heady mess of a plot, as the three stories converge, time travelers and parallel universes come into play, and merging of primary characters changes the world forever. It is also, however, a brilliantly developed and impeccably presented story that will engage readers immediately and keep them intrigued through to the last twists. The multiple narratives, sophisticated weaving of threads that draw the worlds ever closer together, and sardonic humor make this a book that is not for every reader, but fantasy buffs who don't mind a challenge (or those looking for a stepping stone to Nabokov's Pale Fire) will find this well worth the effort.