K-PAX II -- On a Beam of Light
Registered by kinkazzo on 1/5/2005
1 journaler for this copy...
Second book in the K-PAX trilogy... it gets better and better...!
Again, excerpts from Amazon.com's reviews:
"From Publishers Weekly:
Positively captivating, this warmhearted sequel to K-PAX (1995) revisits the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute, where psychiatrist/narrator Dr. Gene Brewer works with a highly unusual patient, a sexually repressed man suffering from multiple personality disorder whose alter ego "prot" (rhymes with goat) claims to be from the utopian planet of K-PAX. In K-PAX, a psychiatric detective story told over the course of 16 therapy sessions, Dr. Brewer eventually reveals prot to be Robert Porter, who fled Montana after killing the man who had just raped and murdered his young wife and daughter. At the novel's conclusion, prot returns to his home planet, promising to reappear "in about five of your years." Robert, meanwhile, is left in a state of intractable catatonia. The sequel opens as prot returns five years later, almost to the minute, and the plot evolves over the course of another 16 therapy sessions. Brewer's diagnosis of multiple personality disorder is confirmed as the tortured events of Robert's past surface and other personas begin to emerge. In the meantime, prot brings solace and healing to the other patients and visits the Bronx Zoo, where he comforts the captive animals with the assurance that humans aren't long for the Earth. As Robert's ego strengthens, prot appears less frequently and Robert's sexual repression disappears. But the lingering presence of prot, his amazing demonstration of light travel on national TV and conflicting DNA tests suggest that prot/Robert actually may be an extraterrestrial. Miracles and love abound in this clever modern fairy tale, pitched somewhere between Oliver Sacks's nonfiction and John Irving's novels. (Mar. 19) Forecast: K-PAX, just out in mass market paperback, has an ardent cult following, and Kevin Spacey is slated to play prot in the film version, all of which should help boost the sequel's sales.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist:
In K-PAX (1995), Brewer introduced prot, who hails from the planet K-PAX, whose name rhymes with goat, and who is a patient of psychiatrist Gene Brewer at the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute. In fact, Brewer's 16 sessions with prot were the subject matter of K-PAX. Brewer didn't "cure" prot. Rather, he, his colleagues, and several other patients learned much about themselves and the world from prot. On a Beam of Light reports on sessions 17 through 32, in which Brewer treats Robert, who hosts prot--and Harry and Paul, too. The sessions don't add up to a case history but instead offer a delightful, witty, often enlightening perspective on planet Earth and some of its social, medical, and political aspects--war, violence, and, especially, some events in the lives of Robert and company. Brewer's satire is usually gentle and occasionally devastating. Fans of K-PAX won't be disappointed by its sequel, and neither will those coming to this skillful and creative novelist for the first time. William Beatty
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Brewer's satire is usually gentle and occasionally devastating. Fans of K-Pax won't be disappointed...and neither will those coming to this skillful and creative novelist for the first time."--Booklist
"Miracles and love abound in this clever modern fairy tale."--Publishers Weekly
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
GENE BREWER was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, and educated at DePauw University and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Before becoming a novelist, he studied DNA replication and cell division at several major research institutions. Dr. Brewer lives in New York City with his wife and Dalmatian.
Product Description:
Five years to the day, almost to the second, after he disappeared from the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute, leaving his host body in a catatonic state, the being known as prot (rhymes with goat) has returned. Now, in sixteen more sessions with psychiatrist Gene Brewer, prot reveals that he has come back to escort a chosen few to his home planet, K-PAX.
K-PAX is an idyllic planet free of the pain and suffering of Earth. Prot has incredible insights into how to cure that suffering, and his radical ideas have made him a celebrity. Now, legions of people are longing to follow him home.
But Dr. Brewer has heard it before. Five years ago, he discovered another person buried deep in prot's personality: Robert Porter of Montana. The mystery of Robert's illness and of prot's true origins lie deep within Robert's shattered psyche. Now Dr. Brewer must race against the clock to unlock the secrets of Robert's traumatic past and not only save his patient's fate-but also that of humanity..."
Can't release it, as it's a signed copy: in fact I have the British edition which comprises the three books. Suggest you also see the movie... then buy the opus!
Again, excerpts from Amazon.com's reviews:
"From Publishers Weekly:
Positively captivating, this warmhearted sequel to K-PAX (1995) revisits the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute, where psychiatrist/narrator Dr. Gene Brewer works with a highly unusual patient, a sexually repressed man suffering from multiple personality disorder whose alter ego "prot" (rhymes with goat) claims to be from the utopian planet of K-PAX. In K-PAX, a psychiatric detective story told over the course of 16 therapy sessions, Dr. Brewer eventually reveals prot to be Robert Porter, who fled Montana after killing the man who had just raped and murdered his young wife and daughter. At the novel's conclusion, prot returns to his home planet, promising to reappear "in about five of your years." Robert, meanwhile, is left in a state of intractable catatonia. The sequel opens as prot returns five years later, almost to the minute, and the plot evolves over the course of another 16 therapy sessions. Brewer's diagnosis of multiple personality disorder is confirmed as the tortured events of Robert's past surface and other personas begin to emerge. In the meantime, prot brings solace and healing to the other patients and visits the Bronx Zoo, where he comforts the captive animals with the assurance that humans aren't long for the Earth. As Robert's ego strengthens, prot appears less frequently and Robert's sexual repression disappears. But the lingering presence of prot, his amazing demonstration of light travel on national TV and conflicting DNA tests suggest that prot/Robert actually may be an extraterrestrial. Miracles and love abound in this clever modern fairy tale, pitched somewhere between Oliver Sacks's nonfiction and John Irving's novels. (Mar. 19) Forecast: K-PAX, just out in mass market paperback, has an ardent cult following, and Kevin Spacey is slated to play prot in the film version, all of which should help boost the sequel's sales.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist:
In K-PAX (1995), Brewer introduced prot, who hails from the planet K-PAX, whose name rhymes with goat, and who is a patient of psychiatrist Gene Brewer at the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute. In fact, Brewer's 16 sessions with prot were the subject matter of K-PAX. Brewer didn't "cure" prot. Rather, he, his colleagues, and several other patients learned much about themselves and the world from prot. On a Beam of Light reports on sessions 17 through 32, in which Brewer treats Robert, who hosts prot--and Harry and Paul, too. The sessions don't add up to a case history but instead offer a delightful, witty, often enlightening perspective on planet Earth and some of its social, medical, and political aspects--war, violence, and, especially, some events in the lives of Robert and company. Brewer's satire is usually gentle and occasionally devastating. Fans of K-PAX won't be disappointed by its sequel, and neither will those coming to this skillful and creative novelist for the first time. William Beatty
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Brewer's satire is usually gentle and occasionally devastating. Fans of K-Pax won't be disappointed...and neither will those coming to this skillful and creative novelist for the first time."--Booklist
"Miracles and love abound in this clever modern fairy tale."--Publishers Weekly
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
GENE BREWER was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, and educated at DePauw University and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Before becoming a novelist, he studied DNA replication and cell division at several major research institutions. Dr. Brewer lives in New York City with his wife and Dalmatian.
Product Description:
Five years to the day, almost to the second, after he disappeared from the Manhattan Psychiatric Institute, leaving his host body in a catatonic state, the being known as prot (rhymes with goat) has returned. Now, in sixteen more sessions with psychiatrist Gene Brewer, prot reveals that he has come back to escort a chosen few to his home planet, K-PAX.
K-PAX is an idyllic planet free of the pain and suffering of Earth. Prot has incredible insights into how to cure that suffering, and his radical ideas have made him a celebrity. Now, legions of people are longing to follow him home.
But Dr. Brewer has heard it before. Five years ago, he discovered another person buried deep in prot's personality: Robert Porter of Montana. The mystery of Robert's illness and of prot's true origins lie deep within Robert's shattered psyche. Now Dr. Brewer must race against the clock to unlock the secrets of Robert's traumatic past and not only save his patient's fate-but also that of humanity..."
Can't release it, as it's a signed copy: in fact I have the British edition which comprises the three books. Suggest you also see the movie... then buy the opus!
