A Review of Betweenways

Betweenways by newcomer Ben Hansen, tells the story of a group of people who undertake a journey into the mind of a chronic geek to cure him of his mental fallings. Or at least make him slightly less fucked up. Anymore explanation of the plot would surely ruin it, since it is definitely one of the book's greatest strengths.

For a debut novel, it is surprisingly assured and the deft mix of sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, philosophy and psycho-analysis is inspired. The cast of characters are excellently realised as well; some of the best moments in the book come from their often tumultuous relationships. But it is for the comedy that this book deserves its place among the classics of contemporary fiction. Hansen's wit is on full display throughout the novel and it ruthlessly attacks society and politics with a ferocious glory reminiscent of Voltaire. The more dramatic moments are also expertly crafted and fit perfectly into the eccentric mix of styles.

Hansen plays with a lot of sci-fi and fantasy clichés during the course of the book and it soon becomes obvious that he has put some of himself into the nerd character. Luckily he avoids the traps of self-deprecation with some genuine humanity and an incredibly poignant, albeit unsentimental, ending. Overall, it's a terrific book that highlights a great new talent with a flair for inventive language and absurdist humour. My pick for book of the year.