It's not as complicated as it sounds, I swear.
Every time someone has asked me about InterWorld, that's how I've ended the description. I've tried six or seven different iterations of a synopsis, but I've not found a way to keep people's eyes from crossing as I talked about alternate realities, multiple dimensions and an army made of different versions of the same person. It's a bloody shame, too, since Gaiman & Reaves have put together a fine story filled with action and abstract thought, science and sorcery. Despite the apparent contradictions, however, the narrative has an eminently readable balance which is not as complicated as it sounds, I swear.
Joey Harker is a sophomore in high school who, aside from a miserable sense of direction, has typical teenage problems. His biggest issue however, goes beyond madcap teachers and unrequited love. Turns out he lives in something called the Altiverse, a universe made of a nearly infinite number of realities. Some lie close to Joey's, with only slight differences (like McDonalds sporting green tartan rather yellow and red), while others are worlds filled with magic or over the top science. In each dimension, there's a Joey Harker, sort of, and each one of them can Walk between worlds. To complicate matters, there are two groups — the magical HEX and the cybernetic Binary — who hunt Walkers and use them as a necrotic power source in their perpetual war for multi-dimensional domination. Caught between the two, the Harkers created Interworld, not to save the universe, but to maintain the balance. When Joey, the narrator, discovers his ability, the game's afoot and his life changes, more than once.
InterWorld could have easily become a convoluted beast of a novel, a piece of hard sci-fi which took itself way too seriously. With deft hands, though, Gaiman & Reaves keep the pace elevated and the techno-jargon down, making their complex universe easily understood, even familiar. Much of this is attributable to the narrator's character. Joey's a pretty solid middle of the road kid. He doesn't get too high or too low, even in his most stressful moments. It's not that he's lacking emotions, it's that they're carefully calibrated to allow him to be the level center of a swirling mass of characters and ideas. This might be best embodied every time Joey actually "Walks."
Article comments
1 - Val MacEwan
Gaiman is a genius. I will certainly get a copy of InterWorld -- sounds like it will fascinate me -- like the rest of his work, especially "American Gods". Now that is one amazing novel... but then again, Wolves in the Walls, wow.
2 - Fran
Yes, Gaiman is amazing for sure. And he does a great job of reading his work as well. It would be great if he would do the readings for his books. I loved hearing him read The Graveyard Book.
3 - Chris Bancells
I loved the Graveyard Book! It's actually what got me started reading Gaiman's stuff. You're right, Fran, his readings are fantastic and I too wish he would do more. It's hard not to read him and believe in his genius.
4 - Fran
The Graveyard Book is what got me started on his books too. Well, actually it was his reading of Cory Doctorow's "The Right Book" that introduced me to Gaiman, and got me looking closely at Gaiman's writings, initially through his own videos when he read his book, The Graveyard Book.
I have never regretted that connection.