Progress Report - The Stranger by Max Frei

The Stranger by Max Frei came out on the 1st and I've read the opening chapters.

Max is what the uncharitable might call a loser. He can't sleep at night and has a difficult time holding a job because of this. However, he sleeps deeply and dreams vividly during the day. So vividly that he has a difficult time telling his dreams from reality.

However, it turns out that his dreams are a sort of reality, which takes place in the city of Echo. Max is in training there to become an agent of The Minor Secret Investigative Force of the City of Echo. After a brief background, we are plunged into Max's training.

Lots of strange things happen, but for me, it suffers from a lack of conflict. Why is it I keep ending up with books that have conflict problems? I haven't gotten very far, mostly for this reason. No matter how strange the setting and engaging the magic--and it is both strange and engaging--I do need a bit of conflict to carry me through.

The Max Frei books are very popular in Russia, and this novel is its debut in the United States. The protagonist and the author have the same name, so it's like you're reading Max's autobiography. Check out this Wikipedia entry. I was a bit confused at first, and email conversations with the book's publicist led to my being offered this review copy.

I certainly intend to continue reading; I should have lots of unexpected free time this weekend.

UPDATE: Robert had the same problems I had with the opening, but he ultimately enjoyed it. Read his review here.