Mr g

A Novel about the Creation

By: Alan Lightman

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

With echoes of Calvino, Rushdie, and Saramago, this is a stunningly imaginative work that celebrates the tragic and joyous nature of existence on the grandest possible scale.

“As I remember, I had just woken up from a nap when I decided to create the universe.” So begins Alan Lightman’s playful and profound new novel, Mr. g, the story of Creation as narrated by God. Bored with living in the shimmering Void with his bickering Uncle Deva and Aunt Penelope, Mr. g creates time, space, and matter - then moves on to stars, planets, consciousness, and finally intelligent beings with moral dilemmas.

But even the best-laid plans can go awry, and Mr. g discovers that with his creation of space and time come unforeseen consequences - especially in the form of the mysterious Belhor, a clever and devious rival. An intellectual equal to Mr. g, Belhor delights in provocation: he demands an explanation for the inexplicable, requests that intelligent creatures not be subject to rational laws, and maintains the necessity of evil. As Mr. g watches his favorite universe grow into maturity, he begins to understand how the act of creation can change the Creator himself.

©2012 Alan Lightman (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Here is the creation of the universe and the young creator who grapples with what he has made - and ultimately with responsibility and loss…A gem of a novel that is strange, witty, erudite, and alive with Lightman’s playful genius.” (Junot Díaz, New York Times best-selling author)

Good first half of the book

I quit listening about half way through the book. It started very well, but then I lost interest.

This was certainly different

This was not something I would normally read but I enjoyed it. I found myseld excited to listen to the next chapter. It was creative.

Enjoyed very much

Not what I was expecting—so much more. Very thought-worthy. It could have been two or three times longer.

Wow

This book was extremely beautiful. The ending was kind of sad, but this is absolutely an outstanding work.

Original

One of the most original books I've read in a long time. For me it's on the same level as the book Flatland.

fascinating!!!

if you're into physics, even just casually so, you'll be able to enjoy this with it's subtle references to theory.

Fun for a entertaining look at god and creation

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Sometimes the details are too much for a casual listen

Would you be willing to try another book from Alan Lightman? Why or why not?

Sure, loved his creative perspective

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ray Porter is often a big reason I will take a chance on an author that I don't know. Ray is one of the best narrators in the business in my opinion. Ray brings the text to a colorful life.

Do you think Mr g needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I don't know about a follow-up to Mr g but I will gladly purchase Alan Lightman's next book if it is a creative concept.

Any additional comments?

This book is mind expanding for those that are not going to get to hung up on the poetic license that the author had to use to tackel this subject. This is worth a listen and can make you ask even better questions about how this whole univers got started and what does it all mean.

Loved this -- myth meets quantum

Congratulations to the Alan Lightman for venturing out onto such thin ice.
For those of us who love to learn about science and theory but still have a sense of humour, or enjoy the immersion of meaning and myth but appreciate grounding in fact and telling details, this is great fun.
The ending gets a bit soft, but headed in the right direction in terms of bringing all the speculation (scientific and spiritual) to the level of everyday human experience. Perhaps there would be a way to draw full circle with more intensity and interaction between the realms.

An Interesting Conceit

It's difficult to be god but Lightman makes a decent attempt, at least not an authoritarian one.

Interesting take on Creation...but who's creation?

What made the experience of listening to Mr g the most enjoyable?

The author's character who creates one universe goes from uncaring and dispassionate to becoming increasingly concerned and enthralled with the universe and its inhabitants. As the story progresses, he becomes more protective of the universe and the beings within it. Its growth mirrors his own, for as the universe grows, so does his understanding of life and how it relates to him, even though he is immortal and could easily start over with another universe. It is amazing how bereft he is at the end and how he looks forward to the future, instead of just taking a nap that lasts eons, like he does in the beginning of the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mr g?

Aunt Penelope's dress. You have to listen to know about the dress.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have several books read by him, mainly the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry. He's the reason why I picked up this book. He has a great voice, great characterization of the book, and great pacing. When the book calls for emotions, he delivers and then some.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Mr. G visited his creation and learned about an 18 year old girl who has to choose between obeying her mother and obeying the law. The consequences of her actions haunts them both and makes him rethink his policy of not intervening on their behalf.

Any additional comments?

This book can get long winded and technical, especially with math and science jargon. That is why I gave it a 3 star. I got bored in a few places, mostly with the descriptions of elements, atoms, and the Hydrogen Clock. If you're looking for something light, this isn't it. If you're looking for something that will make you rethink about the intity of God and how a creation could happen, this is for you.Aunt and Uncle provide comic relief, but not enough of it.