Gene Brewer

I came across the K-PAX series this year when I moved home, and spent three weeks in my empty living room with just a lamp and an air mattress. At first, I was merely enjoying the mystery of Brewer's original trilogy, but as his true meaning came out, I found myself enchanted by the knowledge that my own views seemed to cross so nicely with Brewer's own.

On reading K-PAX IV, I at first felt like it emphasised all the lesser elements of Brewer's novels: his slight absurdity is full-blast here with the ludicrously over-the-top agents; the 'pop psychiatry' in which prot recognises ways of curing every patient that we can't figure out, felt just a little pat this time. But on reaching that final chapter, I was blown away. Suddenly, everything makes sense.

I still can't say this book is amazing: the appearance of a genuinely alien creature (as opposed to prot's apparent humanity) doesn't seem to have an effect on Brewer's Earth. But on the other hand, his true point - the failings of humanity, and how horrific the dark side of our species is - needs to be spoken to everyone. There is hope, Brewer says, but we can't keep ignoring the darkness. A beautiful four book saga, all things considered.… (mere)

I originally saw the movie version of K-Pax, starring Kevin Spacey, which I enjoyed, so I figured I would read the novel on which it was based. In this novel, a patient with no identification is brought to the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute, where he is put under the care of a psychiatrist that has the same name as the author. The patient calls himself Prot and claims he comes from the planet K-Pax, and will return on August 17. Prot is often witty and charming. He has an amazing amount of knowledge on subjects that lend credence to his claim that he is an alien. Brewer believes he has a multiple personality disorder and is trying hard to help him. Prot has a strange effect on people as evidenced when Brewer brings Prot home for a picnic.

I mostly enjoyed the novel. It captured much of the mystery behind the Prot character that can be found in the movie. Specifically, is he an alien or is it all just in his head? For long portions of the book, it’s hard to figure out which is the case. The writing is competent and professional. There is less believability in the novel than in the movie, however. This was a solid novel and an interesting read.

Carl Alves – author of Blood Street… (mere)