Book Review: The Impossible Bird

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Impossible Bird     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Patrick O'Leary
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction
Tor, Jan 2002, $25.95, 365 pp.

College literature professor Daniel Glynn still grieves the loss of his spouse Julie. He also feels guilty that he is unable to offer solace to his son Sean, suffering from painful nightmares. At the same time in Los Angeles, Daniel's brother Michael, a TV ad director, struggles with the recent death of a loved one. Neither sibling can turn to the other for relief, as they detest one another.

As the two siblings separately cope with death, strange beings assault both of them in different but related incidents involving demands to hand over the "codes" or reveal the whereabouts of one another. These "crossovers" force Michael and Daniel to seek each other out or else die. As they close in on one other, each brother questions what the future will hold, but both predict with absolute certainty that death is inevitable and this may be their time.

THE IMPOSSIBLE BIRD is an exciting science fiction thriller that provides a series of unbelievable subplots tied together by the Glynn brothers. The story line seemingly touches on every corner of the absurd and then some including hummingbirds as a key element to the wild plot. However, that hitting so much on full cylinders causes the reader to lose empathy with the lead couple as the wild plot overwhelms the audience with a what next attitude. Fans of a weird well written, but all over the place journey past a certain sign post will enjoy Patrick O'Leary's strange adventure.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner