It's a short science fiction novel about a boy who has a 'voice' in his head ---
actually, it's more about how his parents react to it.
Here's an excerpt from the first page:
I assumed that he had brought one of his friends into the garden to play, and that the question which prompted his remark had been asked out of earshot. I listened for the reply, but there was none. Presently, after a pause, Matthew went on, rather more patiently:
'Well, the time the world takes to turn round is a day, and that's twenty-four hours, and . . .'
He broke off, as if at some interruption, though it was quite inaudible to me. Then he repeated:
'I don't know _why_. And I don't see why thirty-two hours would be more sensible. Anyway, twenty-four hours do make a day, everybody knows that, and seven days make a week . . .'
Again he appeared to be cut short. Once more he protested. 'I don't see why seven is a sillier number than eight . . .'
--
I quite liked it. Apparently the author has also written "The Day of the Triffids", which sounds vaguely familiar. I shall be looking for more of his.
I'm currently starting "The Overcoat and Other Short Stories" by Nikolai Gogol. And man pages. A lot of man pages. |
