The Trivial Matter of the Universe Review

 

Review: The Trivial Matter of the Universe by Adrian Stride

Felix Culpa is the sort of man history would overlook. After an accidental spell in cryogenic storage and a disastrous space mission, he finds himself repeatedly dropped into Earth’s distant past. His only guide is Alfred, a brilliant, manipulative intelligence who can see what Felix sees and rarely resists making a joke at his expense. Their uneasy partnership gives this sprawling comic science fiction novel its heart.

Stride builds a universe where Birth, Marriage, and Death began as bureaucratic departments and became self-aware black holes. Elsewhere, a powerful Chamber of Commerce monitors events, and a heavily armed vessel called Emotional Support has an alarming enthusiasm for its work. These ideas are inventive, but the pleasure lies just as much in their execution: official procedures follow characters into absurd situations, while grand questions about existence are interrupted by petty ambition, awkward conversations, and terrible timing.

The book grows stronger as its separate stories converge around ancient Troy. Felix’s growing willingness to act for others gives the comedy an emotional center. Alfred, meanwhile, remains entertaining even when his treatment of Felix is difficult to forgive. Stride also gives Birth, Marriage, and Death more to discover than their names suggest. Beneath the wordplay is a recurring question: whether possessing information about life is the same as understanding what makes it valuable.

At 440 pages, the novel asks for some patience. Its many viewpoints, explanations, and frequent asides can slow the momentum, especially before the characters’ paths begin to meet. The humor is abundant and deliberately relentless; readers who prefer a lean, fast-moving plot may find it too much. The ending also leaves a clear path for another adventure.

Still, The Trivial Matter of the Universe rewards readers who enjoy ambitious, joke-filled science fiction. Its scale is cosmic, its characters are pleasingly flawed, and its best moments find something humane amid all the chaos.

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