The Man Who Turned Into Himself [NOOK Book]

( 6 )

Overview

Rick Hamilton has the perfect life; a great career, a wonderful son and a beautiful wife. Until one day, everything changes. Something - a premonition? A terrifying fantasy? - happens to Rick. Who is the man in the horrifying fatal car crash? Why is his wife crying at the scene? Who is the man she is calling Richard? And why does she deny they have a son? Rick Hamilton has become trapped in a terrible, strange new life, in which nothing will ever quite make sense . . . ...
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The Man Who Turned Into Himself

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More About This Book

Overview

Rick Hamilton has the perfect life; a great career, a wonderful son and a beautiful wife. Until one day, everything changes. Something - a premonition? A terrifying fantasy? - happens to Rick. Who is the man in the horrifying fatal car crash? Why is his wife crying at the scene? Who is the man she is calling Richard? And why does she deny they have a son? Rick Hamilton has become trapped in a terrible, strange new life, in which nothing will ever quite make sense . . .

Ambrose offers a superb, twisting, psychological thriller based on the "many worlds" theory of quantum physics--which posits the existence of parallel universes. Overcome by a premonition that his wife is dying, a man rushes home to find that it is true. And, as she nears death, the man is no longer himself, but another man with another life, a different history.

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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

Based on the "many worlds" theory of quantum physics, Ambrose's 1993 novel follows Rick Hamilton, who rushes to his wife after a horrible premonition only to find her dead on the road. Suddenly, she's alive again, and he's someone else. Kinda weird, but LJ's reviewer found it "a fascinating tale."


—Michael Rogers
Donna Seaman
Ambrose, a successful screenwriter, has applied his facility for rapid pacing and suspense to his first novel, which is both entertaining and, frankly, quite silly. The plot involves an intriguing "many worlds" theory that suggests that a nearly infinite number of parallel universes exist, separated only by the most fragile of divides. These simultaneous worlds mirror each other, but with eerie little variations. In one universe, Rick Hamilton, an enterprising magazine publisher with an amateur's interest in quantum physics, begins his day by falling off the roof while trying to rescue his cat. Not an hour later, he bolts from an important meeting, full of terror and prescience about his wife's impending death in a horrific car accident. Meanwhile, in another world, a real estate investor named Richard Hamilton has just been in a minor car crash and is suffering from a peculiar form of shock: he seems to be possessed by a feisty alter ego named Rick. Richard/Rick end up in the care of a blind therapist. Eventually, the two establish an odd sort of rapport, but no brain can comfortably accommodate two personalities for long, and things quickly get out of hand. Initially, Ambrose's clever improvisation upon the ever-alluring doppelganger theme is exhilarating, but things soon decline into a mass-market conventionality, that, while not all bad, is, finally, disappointing.
Kirkus Reviews
Hypnotic quantum-physics debut, from screenwriter Ambrose, that draws the reader into fabulous parallel worlds a bit like those of Ghost and the post-trauma of Fearless. Well-to-do Connecticut publisher Rick Hamilton finds himself beset by strange feelings and at an important business meeting sketches pictures of his wife Anne in a horrible accident. He dashes out of the meeting but is too late to save Anne, who dies in her car while looking at him (their boy Charlie lives). Whammo, the force of this event lifts Rick into the body of real-estate man Richard Hamilton: his wife is still alive in the car and he's helping her out of it. But meanwhile Charlie has disappeared—in this parallel world there is no Charlie, despite Rick/Richard's cries for him. Richard to Rick is Rick, and when he confesses as much to Anne in bed, she has him committed, where his troubles multiply. For one thing, he's rather disgusted with Richard's pouchy, slouching body (Rick had worked out thrice weekly) and Richard's much slower mind. In fact, Rick has little control over Richard's body and occupies only a room in his mind quite divorced from Richard's sensory system. And Richard doesn't know Rick is there. The duo land under the care of blind psychotherapist Emma J. Todd, who takes "Richard" into hypnosis. Rick, however, still alert, speaks for Richard and persuades Emma that he, Rick, doesn't exist. Once let out of the hospital, Rick begins awakening Richard to his state as host of Rick by letting Richard know that the new Anne is unfaithful...and the switches go on until the last page. Great suspense, with wonderful visual problems for a movie. (First printing of 13,000; film rights to HBO)
From the Publisher
"Ingenious . . . A striking novel."—Los Angeles Times

"A fascinating tale . . . Poses intriguing questions about life, time, and the universe."—Library Journal

"A masterly novel and a brilliant feat of mental analysis . . . Disturbing but also exhilarating, the kind of exhilaration brought to us by a successful work of art."—Evening Standard (London)

"Compulsive."—GQ

"Highly ingenious storytelling."—Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781471105111
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
  • Publication date: 3/28/2013
  • Sold by: SIMON & SCHUSTER
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 304
  • Sales rank: 107,768
  • File size: 262 KB

Meet the Author

David Ambrose read law at Oxford before becoming a writer. He has worked internationally in theatre, film and television. He has written, to date, seven novels and a book of short stories based on his years in Hollywood. For more information, visit his official website on www.davidambrose.com
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 6 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 6 Customer Reviews

  • Posted December 1, 2010

    It Had Me at Page One

    I picked up this book entirely on accident as I was browsing through my college book store. From the moment I read the first page, I was hooked. It's not a very long book, yet the story is surprisingly mind-blowing. The writing is neat and succinct. The characters are believable and well developed. I highly recommend this book if you are at all interested in the occult-like world of quantum physics, or if you'd like to read something short and sweet. Above all, this novel is about the love between a man and his wife. Quantum physics just puts a different spin on the classic model of a tragic love story.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 22, 2008

    Unique view... exciting

    great way of bringing the idea of quantum physics and how it may affect our every day life, also questions what we consider to be mental illness.. anything is possible. Great read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 20, 2001

    Fascinating, Challenging and Memorable

    It has been about a year since I read this book, and I continue to recommend it to other readers. The abstractions of quantum physics are not easily grasped, but Mr. Ambrose uses the basic theories to create an amazing 'what if' story. I felt for both versions of Rick/Richard and the mind-boggling confusion his 'pop' from one world to another creates. As I read, in the back of my mind, I heard David Byrne singing 'This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife...' The metaphysical implications of Rick's experience have given me food for thought ever since I began reading the book. Which world is 'real'? Is that even a valid question? I continue to loan my paperback copy to friends and I look forward to reading more work by the author.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 20, 2001

    a book worthy of reading

    Its been a while since i've read it, however i remember the story being complex and akward at some parts of the book, and feeling frustration for the main character. poor guy, never sure what was real. I think you can create your own explanation for what goes on in this story, David doesnt tell you what is real and what is not, i think...

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 31, 2014

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    Posted November 28, 2011

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