The Luneburg Variation

Paolo Maurensig

Funny enough this book reminded me of Umberto Eco's Foucoult's Pendulum. Not that these books are alike in ways of subject, length or complexity but it also had a hint of metaphysics in it. Not in the completely incomprehensive way Eco puts it in his work but still it came through in Maurensig's, well at least in my opinion. That was one interesting aspect of the novel. What I found interesting as well was that it is such a short novel, I wouldn't have mind it being a bit longer. Nevertheless it tells it story sublimely.

The story is build around chess. The characters live and breath chess even to the extend it kills them and others. It is in a way a very shocking and sad story with a bitter, yet just, end or should I say beginning? Told in one big flashback the history of 3 characters is told.

It starts with the mysterious death of a big German industrial and then flashes back to his last day alive. He travels from Munich to Vienna by train every weekend. On his last trip he meets a young man who interrupts the game of chess he's playing with his co-worker and starts to tell a story about chess and the way it has affected his life. Though being annoyed at first he shows great interest in the story of the young man as the journey continues. This story is a story about the young man's life with chess and his tutor Tabori. The first part of the story is told by the young man and gradually changes to the life of Tabori told by himself and the horrible role the German man has played in his life. The way the Maurensig tells the tale and transcends from one life story to the other is brilliantly done.

I was impressed by this book, as I though I would be having been very curious after some raving remarks in the barn mails. It's short enough for everybody to give it a shot I don't think anybody will be disappointed. I rate this one ****