The book
When Ariel Manto uncovers a copy of The End of Mr. Y in a second-hand bookshop, she can't believe her eyes. She knows enough about its author, the outlandish Victorian scientist Thomas Lumas, to know that copies are exceedingly rare. And, some say, cursed.
With Mr. Y under her arm, Ariel finds herself thrust into a thrilling adventure of love, sex, death and time-travel
The Reviews
Thomas pulls off this intellectual rollercoaster of a novel with dry humour and panache, the ideas sparkle and the protagonist is wryly appealing.
The Sunday TimesEnormously ambitious and satisfying
Time Out
Smart, stylish and dizzying
The ScotsmanIngenious and original . . . A cracking good yarn, fizzing with intelligence
Philip Pullman"Enormously ambitious and satisfying."
Time Out"Immensely bright and very much on the cutting edge."
Guardian'Hugely enjoyable. This splendid piece of Victorian Gothic has a delightful whiff of decaying books, and a strong pinch of sulphur.'
The Times'A sprawling ode to curiosity and the life of the mind.'
Daily Telegraph'Ingenious and original. A cracking good yarn, fizzing with intelligence.'
Philip Pullman'Smart, stylish and dizzying - with a breakneck thriller of a plot - [it] should appeal to a wide popular audience.'
New York Times Book Review'Mindboggling brainy and playful, The End of Mr. Y deserves to make [Scarlett Thomas] better known at last.'
Independent on Sunday'One of the most exciting novels I have read in recent years.'
Jonathan Coe'The End of Mr. Y is a masterpiece . . . A brilliant, engaging story that in the end makes you rethink the nature of existence and the true structure of the world.'
Douglas Coupland