In this outrageously funny, outrageously inventive debut, one of the most outrageously talented new writers to break onto the sci-fi scene in decades asks the most loaded question of all . . . “Don’t you hate it when this happens?” . . . that’s what the business card asks Jonny X67, dream architect to the rich and jaded. It’s all the thieves who stole his house left behind. And if that weren’t bad enough, a saleswoman named Caroline E61 drops from the sky to sell him a set of encyclopedias and won’t take no for an answer. Can his luck get any worse? In this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride through a brilliantly imagined future of paranoid absurdity, Jonny X will learn the answer soon enough when he falls afoul of a lunatic motorcycle gang nicknamed the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a relentless Belgian assassin, and his own irate girlfriend. Traversing a cityscape whose neighborhoods are organized by musical genres, running into joke-telling elevators and holographic computer viruses, Jonny is about to learn what a nightmare it’s going to be to get his old life back in a reality warping faster than the speed of the imagination. Outrageous Fortune heralds a marvelous new talent sure to be delightfully altering the minds of readers for years to come.
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"Outrageously Funny! If you like British Humor and Crazy Science Fiction, then you'll love Outrageous Fortune. I would give this book an R rating only for the very strong language--the first word of the book is F***ers! But it is one crazy roller coaster ride. The main character is having a really F***-Up day (forgive my asterisks). He is chased around a Southern California that is divided up into musical genre themed neighborhoods including Christmas Carols, Punk, Easy-listening, White Noise--just to name a few. Tim Scott reminds me of Douglas Adams --almost. My one criticism is that although the character is from Southern California all of his English has British English characteristics. I guess it's one more crazy element of the book."
— Alicia (5 out of 5 stars)
" I think that I enjoyed this book mostly because I really had no idea what was going on until the end. Also I really enjoy what I call "absurdist" humor where the situation or conversation is so absurd that it is hilarious. The only criticism that I have for this book is that it supposedly takes place in California, but do to the dialogue and overall feel it should be based in England. "
— Tim, 1/29/2014" Lamest thing I've read this year. "
— krismee, 1/24/2014" This book reminded me a lot of Douglas Adams' stuff. I would have rated it 5 stars if not for the extreme Deus Ex Machina at the end. "
— Whitney, 1/7/2014" I didn't like this book at all and only finished it b/c I was on a trip with nothing else to read. A year later I can still remember the entire thing, amazing staying power for something so bad... "
— Steven, 1/7/2014" Funny, goofy, Douglas-Adamsy, but kind of a lame ending. Still interested in his recent book, though. "
— annebeth, 12/30/2013" Well, if you like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, this will likely catch your eye. Loved it, but it is crazy. "
— Linda, 12/21/2013" fast moving and silly fun "
— Ron, 12/15/2013" Wow this was a bit weird. I had trouble following it until chapter 37 and then things sort of fell into place. "
— RoseAnn, 12/9/2013" The book was zany and engaging right up until the overly logical and straightforward conclusion. The ending was what kept me from giving this five stars. "
— Alex, 11/2/2013" I found Scott's world interesting. The slow unfold of the story had me pushing it a bit to see where (if anywhere) he was going. Would like to read something else he has written. "
— Lmgthomas, 11/1/2013" Keep going between 2 stars and 3 stars. Eventually went with 3 because of the surfing and mountaineering. But more like 2.5. "
— Matthew, 2/5/2013" Its a difficult read. Very stream of fractured consciousness, some of the short chapters are achingly beautiful And some are absurd. The story is a combination of tim powers and douglas adams and on the whole it works. I enjoyed it. "
— Tom, 1/27/2013" Interesting idea, but it wasn't easy to read - it was sort of like listening to and reading someone's dream. Supported the story, but wasn't enjoyable. "
— Andrea, 10/17/2012" For a book that everything talked about how funny it was, I don't recall laughing once. It was ok, but not worth reading again or telling anyone else to read. "
— Stacey, 7/13/2012" Interesting overall concept, but the detailed storyline was very scattered and disconnected. I ended up getting restless and skimmed through many of the passages. "
— Shaun, 6/22/2012" I barely held on to the end. Yes, it all was just a dream. Fitting, because the book put me to sleep more than once. "
— Ray, 1/27/2012" This might be an author to watch out for, if he can pull his act together. Flair can be compared to Douglas Adams; inventive similes and metaphors abound; plot is lacking and unfulfilling. Needs more cohesiveness "
— Hans, 6/3/2011" This was a little hard for me to get into at first. It did end up making sense in the end...just not sure it was enough for me to just LOVE it. It was definitly creative, just not really my cup of tea. "
— Emily, 1/12/2011" An awesome imaginative hilarious ride. "
— Shannon, 12/24/2010" Bizarre, dystopian, madcap, disconcerting. Interesting, but doesn't inspire me to read his next book. "
— Linda, 12/9/2010" Its a difficult read. Very stream of fractured consciousness, some of the short chapters are achingly beautiful And some are absurd. The story is a combination of tim powers and douglas adams and on the whole it works. I enjoyed it. <br/> "
— Tom, 12/4/2010" Interesting overall concept, but the detailed storyline was very scattered and disconnected. I ended up getting restless and skimmed through many of the passages. "
— Shaun, 11/15/2010" Wow this was a bit weird. I had trouble following it until chapter 37 and then things sort of fell into place. "
— RoseAnn, 6/23/2010" This was a little hard for me to get into at first. It did end up making sense in the end...just not sure it was enough for me to just LOVE it. It was definitly creative, just not really my cup of tea. "
— Emily, 2/24/2010" I barely held on to the end. Yes, it all was just a dream. Fitting, because the book put me to sleep more than once. "
— Rcharbon, 11/16/2009" I didn't like this book at all and only finished it b/c I was on a trip with nothing else to read. A year later I can still remember the entire thing, amazing staying power for something so bad... "
— Steven, 9/30/2009" For a book that everything talked about how funny it was, I don't recall laughing once. It was ok, but not worth reading again or telling anyone else to read. "
— Stacey, 8/18/2009" Bizarre, dystopian, madcap, disconcerting. Interesting, but doesn't inspire me to read his next book. "
— Linda, 12/19/2008" Lamest thing I've read this year. "
— krismee, 11/25/2008" Funny, goofy, Douglas-Adamsy, but kind of a lame ending. Still interested in his recent book, though. "
— annebeth, 11/25/2008Tim Scott graduated from Cambridge University, England. He has written and appeared on BBC Radio 4 in around fifty comedy shows—and finally ended up being given his own late night comedy television series on network ITV. Scott has written a large number of children’s books, as well as works of fiction, including Outrageous Fortune.
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.