3 out of 4 stars
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Zarqnon the Embarrassed, author of Of Zots and Xoodles, defines the story as a “stylistic blend of Lewis Carrol, Dr. Seuss, and Douglas Adams.” This is a very fitting description.
Of Zots and Xoodles follows Theodil in a place outside of place and a time outside of time as he grapples with dots (zots) and noodles (xoodles) to forge such things as time and matter. Told through entrancing descriptions of Theodil’s experimentation and the shouts of congregated unbelievers, this book breaks down the creation of the universe into something understandable by the masses.
This book is short, but it packs a punch. I read it in one sitting and was drawn into the flowing language. Zarqnon (the author’s pen name, chosen specifically for his own personal amusement) uses rhyme, alliteration, personification, and many other literary devices to create a narrative bursting with poetic phrase. There were times I felt as if I were flying through the universe—or before the universe, as it were. Other times, I stood still upon the precipice of something great, only to have the moment be twisted away in a rearranging of xoodles. It was quite a unique experience.
Of the three authors Zarqnon sites in his description of the book, I saw the most of Seuss. Such fun phrases were employed, especially by the congregation, in reaction to Theodil’s actions. One in particular that stood out to me was “Could we not, should we not, have time bound in a knot? The past, the future already laid out and neither the past forgot, nor the future an anxious blot, never destined by stain or spot?” This one shot me right back to childhood and reading Green Eggs and Ham— “I do not like them, Sam I Am.” If I had to add another style to this book, it would be that of an ancient Greek play. The back-and-forth between Theodil’s actions and the congregation is reminiscent of the chorus and hypocrites. Both culturally and scientifically, Of Zots and Xoodles brings much to the table.
While the language is gorgeous and flows beautifully, it could also be seen as the book’s biggest downfall. There were some points where I had to reread passages because the meaning got lost in so many words. Some rather lengthy sentences also made meanings unclear. For the most part, I was able to coast along on the words, getting caught up in the imagery while still understanding the concepts being introduced. Unfortunately, the instances of getting lost happened just enough times that I found it a bit distracting. Those who aren’t well-versed in thinking scientifically may also struggle with the heavy ideas here, even if they are relayed through zots and xoodles.
I rate Of Zots and Xoodles 3 out of 4 stars. The somewhat confusing writing/structure coupled with a smattering of errors keep me from giving this book the 4 stars I think it otherwise deserves. This is a short book, but it is so full of ideas. It’s the kind of thing that can inspire big-picture questions. Why are we here? How did we get here? Why do things work the way they do? Readers who are open to exploration and being challenged would enjoy this book. I would also recommend this to fans of science fiction, who don’t mind some poetry with their science. As I said before, those who struggle to think scientifically may find this difficult. Even so, give it a try. It surprised me. It might surprise you, too.
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Of Zots and Xoodles
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