A Hundred Thousand Worlds
A Hundred Thousand Worlds by Bob Proehl, published by Penguin in 2016, is a literary work that explores the intricate dynamics of family life and the world of fandom. This edition spans 357 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Valerie Torrey and her son, Alex, as they embark on a road trip from New York to reunite with Alex’s estranged father. Along the way, they navigate comic book conventions, encountering a variety of characters that reflect the vibrant culture of superheroes and science fiction.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of experiences as Val and Alex meet a diverse cast, including illustrators and writers, while engaging with the fantastical elements of their journey. The story delves into themes of coming of age and the complexities of familial relationships, all set against the backdrop of a world where fiction and reality intertwine. A Hundred Thousand Worlds offers an affectionate look at the joys and challenges of fandom, highlighting how the narratives we create influence our lives and connections.
Official synopsis Publisher
“A Kavalier & Clay for the Comic-Con Age, this is a bighearted, inventive, exuberant debut.” –Eleanor Henderson, author of Ten Thousand Saints
“Proehl creates worlds within worlds within worlds, all of them full of surprise and wonder.”
–Charles Yu, author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
Valerie Torrey took her son, Alex, and fled Los Angeles six years ago–leaving both her role on a cult sci-fi TV show and her costar husband after a tragedy blew their small family apart. Now Val must reunite nine-year-old Alex with his estranged father, so they set out on a road trip from New York, Val making appearances at comic book conventions along the way.
As they travel west, encountering superheroes, monsters, time travelers, and robots, Val and Alex are drawn into the orbit of the comic-con regulars, from a hapless twentysomething illustrator to a brilliant corporate comics writer stuggling with her industry’s old-school ways to a group of cosplay women who provide a chorus of knowing commentary. For Alex, this world is a magical place where fiction becomes reality, but as they get closer to their destination, he begins to realize that the story his mother is telling him about their journey might have a very different ending than he imagined.
A knowing and affectionate portrait of the geeky pleasures of fandom, A Hundred Thousand Worlds is also a tribute to the fierce and complicated love between a mother and son–and to the way the stories we create come to shape us.
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