Geek Fantasy Novel

by E. Archer

Overview

What happens when a science geek and magic collide? Be careful what you wish for. Really. Because wishes are bad. Very bad. They can get you trapped in fantasy worlds full of killer bunny rabbits, evil aunts, and bothersome bacteria, for example. Or at least that's Ralph's experience. He's been asked to spend the summer with his strange British relatives at their old manor house in order to set up their Wi-Fi network. But there's much more to it than that, of course. It's just that nobody told Ralph. He's a gamer, sure. But this game is much stranger--and funnier--than anything to be found on his xbox. He is a geek. This is his story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545332484
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2011
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	853,294
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

Editorial Reviews

Author Eliot Schrefer (The Deadly Sister), writing as Archer, turns his hand toward comedic fantasy in this highly self-aware, genre-defying romp. Fourteen-year-old Ralph Stevens escapes his humdrum life when he's invited to spend the summer with his British cousins, ostensibly to set up their wireless network. What he discovers is a family given to eccentricity, from boisterous Cecil to solemn Beatrice and would-be princess Daphne. Things get seriously weird when their infamous aunt/fairy godmother Chessie of Cheshire turns up, ready to grant each child a wish. From that point on, it's pure chaos: Cecil's wish becomes a twisted satire of fairy tale quests and politics invoking the spirits of Terry Pratchett and Monty Python; Daphne's tears apart the classic fairy tale, "The Snow Queen;" and Beatrice's wish takes Ralph into the land of the dead. There's a high level of metatextual playfulness, from a Choose Your Own Adventure–style interlude to the active participation of the narrator(s) and the unconventional ending, which set this book apart from its ilk. Comic and experimental, it may be an acquired taste, but it defies expectations at every turn. Ages 12–up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Ralph has never been one to wish, which is good since his parents have a strict ban on any and all types of wishing. He has a dream, though, of one day working for MonoMyth, a top video game maker; he is disappointed when his portfolio is rejected. He does not have time to dwell on that though, as soon after, an offer arrives from some distant relatives who need networking help. Ralph accepts the offer and takes off to visit his distant relatives without a second thought. When his crazy Aunt Chessie appears, he soon finds himself swept away by the wish-granting quests of his three cousins forcing him to face exploding rabbits, deadly scones, and purgatory, among many other dangers. Geeks, be careful what you wish for. Archer writes with a wit and humor reminiscent of Neil Gaiman, making it a hilarious and fun read that will, at the very least, have readers chuckling throughout the many hijinks of Ralph and his cousins. The narrator is a great character, and does a fantastic job of keeping the story moving, when he is not trying to hijack it himself. The narrator's efforts, combined with short chapters, make the novel a well-paced and entertaining read. It is like a Dungeons and Dragons game gone wild, one that geeks and fantasy readers alike will enjoy. Reviewer: Susan Hampe

VOYA - Susan Hampe

Ralph Stevens is a geek. He's into computers, gaming and is awkward around girls. Overall, he's a nice guy who is very creative. Ralph has a fantastic imagination that is hampered by his parents' prohibition on wishes. In this family wishing on a shooting star or over birthday candles is simply not practiced. This summer Ralph wishes for adventure and his wish comes true in an offer from his mother's family in England asking if he would be interested in helping set up their computer network. Without hesitation and without his parents' permission, Ralph sets off to live with the Battersbys. His cousins, Cecil, Beatrice and Daphne take Ralph on a journey of his lifetime. The story is unpredictable and fast-paced which will engage reluctant readers. The story is full of fantasy and adventure like exploding rabbits, homicidal unicorns, an evil Duchess and a Snow Queen—elements that deliver a thrilling story for fantasy novel enthusiasts. Will Ralph be able to make sense of his family's tangled magical heritage? In the end, Archer is able to narrow the focus and weave all this fantasy together into an age and genre appropriate end. Reviewer: Denise Hartzler

Children's Literature - Denise Hartzler

Gr 6–9—Ralph Stevens, 14, is a typical nerd, inept at most things except gaming and computers. The only thing atypical about his life is that his parents have always forbidden him to make wishes of any kind. For some reason, he does not question this odd rule. Then one day he receives a letter from distant relatives in England asking him to spend the summer with them. Disobeying his parents' request that he not go, he books a flight and is soon engrossed in the lives of his cousins Cecil, Beatrice, and Daphne. It turns out that the family's evil Aunt Chessie wants to get hold of all four children, whom she's been barred from seeing. Her motives are unclear, but she wants to grant the cousins' wishes. In this family, wishes are granted only after the wishers complete a fairy-tale-inspired quest, and soon arrogant Cecil is off on his adventure. What ensues is a labyrinth of stories within stories with an abundance of hackneyed fable motifs ranging from fairies to evil queens, and even a dip into the underworld. Characters are killed and resurrected multiple times on their journeys. What makes the book even more annoying, however, is the narrator, who is also a character. He interrupts the action over and over again, even when he claims he will stop. Although he may evoke a few chuckles, the humor does not save his grating voice. Add his part to the meandering plot, weak character development, clichéd themes, and ridiculous side stories, and the result is a totally unsatisfying book.—Lauren Newman, Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School, Columbus, NJ

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