Der Filmvorführer

This is a really hard book to describe. Set in the not so distant future, Jarrett starts working at the HoloPlex. There, he tries to get to know a successful and mysterious projectionist who turns classic films into HoloPlays. This new system immerses the viewers in movies and allows them to interact with the characters and, within limits, change the storyline. This book made me think. I'd love to be in Casablanca but would I dare ask Sam to play the latest single from One Direction? To what degree can we alter art without making it lose its value? Would the characters react by themselves? And this is just what I, an enthusiastic movie lover, got from the heavy philosophical issues put forth by the author. There are discussions on science, light, consciousness and even heaven. Sometimes it can be a little too much, especially if you don't really care about the subjects being discussed. The story breathes and evolves nicely; even if some plot points seemed to amount to nothing in the end. This is a deeply original book with very smart ideas, for readers who want to think.

3 1/2 stars

Jarrett is a typical nineteen year kid who takes a summer job at a movie theater - except the movie theater features HoloPlay shows - in which players can interact with the movies and theater-goers score their performance. The HoloPlay shows are ultimately controlled by the projectionist, and one of the most popular projectionists in the theater is the mysterious Ion, who runs the Classics. The story follows Jarrett as he becomes Ion's 'Second' (apprentice) and is a tome on art, movies, and entertainment.

I enjoyed the story and found the premise intriguing and plausible. However, everything came together a bit too neatly in the end for me. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would read other novels by the author.