Hilarious! This delightfully nerdy story follows Martin, computer programmer in 2012, as he discovers that he and the entire world are nothing but a computer algorithm–which he can manipulate. He first makes himself taller, levitates, time-travels, and then adds a few 0’s to his bank balance, whereupon the police show up to investigate possible bank fraud. In order to escape, he jumps back in time to medieval England, intending to pose as a wizard. There, he finds himself in good company with other programmers from various points in history (after the computer was invented, of course) who found the same file he did. He apprentices under the local wizard Philip, learns how to manipulate the program without the direct aid of his smart phone, and confronts the misguided wizard who has decided to turn medieval England into Middle Earth.
It’s a fantastic premise, but also so funny (and in such a dry, nerdy way) that I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended!
My rating: *****
