Play Audiobook Sample
Coincidence Engine Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(2.98) - 194 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
“A tremendous novel—droll, savvy, original. An invigorating blast of fiction.” —William Boyd, Author of Any Human Heart and Restless.” A hurricane sweeps off the Gulf of Mexico and, in the back country of Alabama, assembles a passenger jet out of old bean cans and junkyard waste. This piques the interest of the enigmatic Directorate of the Extremely Improbable. Their fascination with this random event sets into motion a madcap caper that will bring together a hilarious cast of characters, including: an eccentric mathematician, last heard of investigating the physics of free will; a lovelorn Cambridge postgraduate who has set off to America with a ring in his pocket and hope in his heart; and a member of the Directorate with no capacity for imagination. What ensues is a chaotic chase across a fully realized, hyper-real America, haunted by madness, murder, mistaken identity, and conspiracy. The Coincidence Engine is a lively, boisterous debut that heralds the arrival of a major new talent.
Download and start listening now!
"A pinch of *The Gone Away World*, a dash of *Hitchhiker's Guide*. A conspiracy / fantasy / road-trip / math-mumbo-jumbo melange. Not perfect, but a fun read; the author's got a talent for character and description on top of some imagination."
— Bill (4 out of 5 stars)
Coincidence Engine Listener Reviews
-
" Really enjoyed this, it's an entertaining and surprising read and also an easy one - read it in about 2 days. Just the ending is a bit muddy, but I'm hoping someone in book club will help me understand that. "
— Kathy, 2/5/2014 -
" This book is well-written and has good character moments, but overall it was disappointing. The premise is so rich and has such potential, but the execution fails to meet the possibilities. Sometimes the narrative harps too long on one thing or another to the point that it seems to remove one from the story. I would probably rate this book higher as well if it had a better ending. I just didn't care for how it wrapped up everything. "
— Paul, 2/4/2014 -
" I didn't really see the point. There were a few laughs but generally i was left thinking so what an awful lot "
— Alan, 1/27/2014 -
" This was an ok read. I spent some time off the book before picking it back, not exactly a page turner. I like the fact it covers some modern stuff like the use of an iPod and also that it has a 'soundtrack' at the end which sort of plays along the story. "
— Hanoi, 1/12/2014 -
" Eh. The author seems consciously hoping for comparisons to Douglas Adams and Thomas Pynchon, which doesn't do him any favors. At heart it's a fairly pedestrian thriller for all its Fortean pretentions, although there are enough good ideas or odd characters to make it at least reasonably diverting. "
— Ian, 1/4/2014 -
" Interesting idea clumsily executed. Easily the most confusing book I've read. Anti-climactic ending. Didn't really care, just glad it was over. "
— Terry, 12/5/2013 -
" It was going good till the end started approaching. The story just fell apart at that point. "
— Weston, 10/25/2013 -
" Fun, a few philosophical musings but mostly a Macguffin hunt. A good one though. "
— Chuk, 10/16/2013 -
" This book was interesting, but I felt a little lost while I was reading it. I like the idea behind it but I feel as though the follow-through was a but lacking. "
— Samantha, 10/14/2013 -
" A bit boring. I didn't finish it. "
— Garret, 7/28/2013 -
" Really a 2.5 star rating is more appropriate. Overall, an ok story with some quirks to the storytelling. I think a lot of that came from a British author trying to write for American characters. "
— Gerry, 1/14/2013 -
" An odd book, but a good one. It also includes a character who loves Peggle and Plants vs Zombies. A coincidence? "
— Andrew, 11/12/2012 -
" A promising idea, but I din't find the details convincing "
— Al, 9/24/2012 -
" 100 pages in and I don't get it and am not sure that I want to. "
— Julie, 8/29/2012 -
" excellent! exciting plot, diverse characters, and a satisfying ending. "
— Allegra, 7/15/2012 -
" Neat quantum-ish sort of romping thinkpiece. I like it!! "
— Joe, 3/9/2012
About Jonathan Cowley
Jonathan Cowley, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a British actor hailing from Eastbourne, East Sussex, but he currently calls Los Angeles home. He has narrated many audiobooks and can also be heard on both sides of the Atlantic narrating film trailers and documentaries. He is also an active television and film actor who has appeared in Grey’s Anatomy, Veep, and WestWorld.