Damaged Beyond Recognition by Alan Felyk

Imagine a universe where one has access to memories from previous lives. Power to choose to keep the good memories and remember the bad so that mistakes are not repeated. Access to history lest repetition be doomed. Paul Tomenko wants the same thing.

He won the sweepstake at a very tender age. He is also a recognized counterculture writer. These are no small fetes for an individual barely out of his teens. He wants to prevent the end of eternity. So, he does the legwork. Visiting resource centers both on earth and outside the universe. Paul wants to find a way to reverse or bypass the DNA flaw that has caused this defect in the current version of the universe. He is determined. So determined that he enlists his ex lovers to help the endeavor. To do that he must really want it badly. 

In the course of it all, Paul is forced to choose between multiple exceptional women. His own heart betrays him by having affections for all of them. Who will he choose to spend the rest of eternity with? Which formidable woman is his proverbial ‘one’?

Damaged Beyond Recognition is wonderfully sci-fi. It boasts some mind bending possibilities. Ideas that make one wonder how the author could possibly have come up with that. The sheer amount of creativity and imagination is palpable and unparalleled. It interesting to read about and though provoking at the same time. One will be entertained often by the conversations and situations. The very fact that there are two ex lovers involved is a promise of drama. 

Alan Felyk has a wit that borders on sick. He is funny and quirky in a way that is endearing and appealing to the reader. His references to Vonnegut are especially hilarious. Some readers have confessed not exactly loving the book but would definitely pick up a sequel or another title by the same author. His spirit and voice will pull the reader. He has a unique way of telling stories. It is rare. It is also the quality that gives this book an extra nudge. 

Paul is not a perfect man. He is ordinary. His almost boring demeanor has not deterred the universe from bestowing upon him an extraordinary circumstance. He is very relatable and deep. The reader will love being in the same space as Paul. The other characters are also well rounded and take on a life f their own. The author has an uncanny ability to bring fictitious characters to life with apt descriptions and peeks into personal lives. 

The author needs to strike a balance between too much information and too little. The back-stories always seem to be on either end of the spectrum. This either leaves questions or has the reader digress unnecessarily. The story starts great and promises the world. However, it seems to plateau at some point never really delivering the climax. Paul’s dilemma is also a little predictable. 

The narrative is excellent. The writing is at par. The humor is sufficient. This book deserves a 4 out of 5 stars.