K-Pax III: The Worlds of Prot [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Don't read this book prior to reading K-PAX and On a Beam of Light.

Gene Brewer did a fantastic job of finishing off the K-PAX series. The book, as with the previous two, was very well thought out and masterfully written. The character of prot never looses his playful yet rather cynical nature and continues to surprise the reader right up to the end of the book. Several of the other characters from the pervious books also make appearances and add to the magic of this book. I must say I'm sorry to see the series end.

+++++

This book, by Gene Brewer, is the final installment of the K-PAX trilogy. In this book, there is, as in the previous two novels, a prologue and epilogue. Between are 15 chapters or "sessions" (as opposed to 16 each in the previous two novels). Unique to this book is a "Suggested Additional Reading" list or bibliography.

The prologue is excellent. What it does is cover the highlights of the first two novels then tells us why this third novel was written:

"All...of my thirty-two sessions with Robert/[P]rot [recall that Robert Porter was thought to be the main personality hidden within Prot] are described more fully in K-PAX and K-PAX II [subtitled "On A Beam of Light"] which ended with the birth of [Prot's]...[Earthling] son...in the summer of 1997. At that time it appeared the family...might, at last, live happily ever after.

Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case..."

Thus this novel is not simply a rehash of the two previous novels.

Prot (pronounced "Pr-OAT") is treated by the same psychiatrist of the previous two novels, Dr. Gene Brewer. (Note that the doctor has the same name as the author.) In this third novel, there seems to be more interaction between other characters and Dr. Brewer, not just with Prot exclusively.

Prot's wit, wisdom, and humor shines through in this novel. Recall that he had this in the first novel also but seemed to have lost some of this in the second novel. It was good to see him in top-form again.

Prot still demonstrates certain otherworldly abilities and even his medical tests are strange. Both Dr. Brewer and the reader are still not sure whether Prot is indeed an extraterrestrial or a traumatized human suffering from "multiple personality disorder."

In this novel, there is more interest in finding out what happened to Robert. As well, the reader is introduced to many new and interesting patients such as "Alex Trebeck" and "Albert Einstein." Prot, as before, has a positive influence on all patients.

Suspense is created when Prot reveals that he is going back to K-PAX for good and will bring 100 of his fellow patients with him. (Why not 200 or 1000? You'll have to read this novel to find out.)

The epilogue as with the prologue is also excellent. We get two possible explanations as to whom Prot is. As well, we are told that "a great many questions" still remain. The last paragraph of the epilogue has Dr. Brewer "look[ing] toward the constellation Lyra" (where Prot's home planet of K-PAX is located) and wondering...

Can this concluding sequel be read without reading the previous two novels? Yes, I think so. This is because the prologue to this novel is so well written. Besides, the author includes in his "suggested additional reading" list the prior two novels, K-PAX and K-PAX II. Why would he list these if he assumed that the reader had already read these novels?

In conclusion, this is a good novel that will hold your attention to the end. As well, it is a good conclusion to the K-PAX trilogy!!!

(first published 2002; prologue; 15 chapters covering sessions 33 to 47; epilogue; main narrative 265 pages; suggested additional reading list; acknowledgements)

+++++

This book is what looks like the end of the K-PAX series. It goes out on a good note. I am not upset that I read past the first, but the first was the best. The prot character has returned from the dark recesses of the mind of Robert Porter, or so we believe. Prot's arrogance toward the human race, and our self-destructive nature, wore on me a bit in this book.

The hidden personalities of Robert Porter make appearances again. Giselle, Robert's wife, and recurrent character, is again, a high point. It was interesting to read about Dr. Brewer's internal conflict with retiring. Dr. Brewer's children were very good secondary characters.

Well, this book will make little sense if you do not read the second one in the series, so read it. I liked all three books and I have passed them off to friends three times over already.

epc