Pfitz (The Dedalus Hall of Fame)

"Pfitz manifests the same healthy disdain for realism that made his first novel, Music in a Foreign Language, such a pleasant surprise. His borrowings from Borges, Calvino and Pavic are here just as shameless. But at this rate Crumey may yet become a hero to fans of the postmodern Euro-novel who wonder why we Brits seldom produce a homegrown variety.” Jonathan Coe in The Guardian " "In the manner of Flann O'Brien's classic At-Swim-Two Birds, Pfitz is a hilariously mind-boggling story within a story within a story, all of whose characters eventually intrude on one another as plot lines converge. Sf fans will want to join the literati in laughing over former theoretical physicists Crumey's brainy romp.” Ray Olson in Booklist "Andrew Crumey's novel is a clever, dazzling puzzle,intricately crafted...There are moments of real brilliance in this novel. The description of the layout of Rreinnnstadt's Museum and Library is an awesome piece of imagineering. The repugnant Frau Luppen, who lusts after Schenk and serves him up dinners of bristly pig flesh, is superb. and, as the action dances and plays towards its conclusion through the insubstantial realms of this imaginary world, the revelation of Pfitz's true identity is a glorious stroke of genius.” Chapman's Magazine