An audiobook version of Flatlanders is being made.
10 paperback copies of Flatlanders arrived on my front porch.
Flatlanders is now (March 20, 2024) available in both digital and paperback on WolfSingers’ site. https://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/shop
March 20th is release day for Flatlanders!
‘Flatlanders’ is now available for pre-order.
The release date has been set: March 20, 2024.
The final cover!
I have signed a contract for the publication of ‘Flatlanders’ with WolfSinger Publishers. My science fiction novel is to be released early 2024.
HOME | Book Publisher | WolfSinger Publications (wolfsingerpubs.com)
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Synopsis:
Mickey and Eden learn how close a man and a woman can get after possessing each other’s body.
From the subatomic world to the craters on the moon to an ark in deep space, and many other even weirder dimensions, Mickey and Eden fight to defeat and protect each other.
How do you battle someone when they possess your body, which you want back in good working order.
Can you love someone enough to make love to your own body?
Man and woman, father and mother, son and daughter – it all gets tossed in the blender while traveling through the many dimensions on Earth.
These are only a few of the problems young theoretical physicist Mickey Haiku has to deal with after he is tricked by Eden, a much smarter female scientist who is intent on saving her own dimension by destroying his. Unbeknownst to either, beings from several yet higher dimensions have their own strategies. This sends the mixed-up pawns off on a wild odyssey through a dozen weird twisted dimensions. As if traveling through all these bewildering dimensions wasn’t challenging enough for Mickey, he has the additional challenge of embarking on this weird odyssey while pregnant!
REVIEWS
Amazon 4.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Premise Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024 by Anonnymous Bosch
Flatlanders ranges far and wide and across dimensions. It’s a fascinating exercise in storytelling that you will not soon forget.
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Amazon 4 out of 5 stars by Wendy A. Vogel
Another Earth…another dimension. An image of our planet where different choices have led to a very different outcome. We are there…all of us….changed from the “us” we know. Who are we in that world? Who are our friends, and more importantly, who are our enemies? And what happens when our world opens a gate for theirs to enter?
These are the questions Mike Scherer answers in Flatlanders. Mickey Haiku is visited by a being from a higher dimension who shares knowledge, the complicated physics necessary to open a portal between the worlds. He thinks she is benevolent, as a higher being should be. But she’s no deity; she’s just Eden…a scientist from her version of Earth with her own agenda. To Eden, Mickey is a means to an end, and our world is new real estate to be exploited. When her plans are thwarted by an even higher dimension, we’re left with two souls in unfamiliar bodies both trying to save their own worlds at any cost.
The science in this novel is impressive and well thought out. The characters (multiple versions for most of them) compelling, and the relationship that develops between Eden and Mickey is complicated and surprising. Sherer has done a great job making a head-spinning concept relatable and we’re left hoping that if there truly are other dimensions out there, that they’ll stay out of ours. A strong, heavy-science read.
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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite
Flatlanders by Mike Sherer revolves around Mickey Haiku, a
mathlete and physicist, whose earthly life in the three comfortable
dimensions changes when he finds himself in the company of Eden,
a scientist with ideas on how to help Mickey with his work but who
is really out to ensnare him in a complex interdimensional conflict.
Unaware of higher-dimensional manipulations, Eden and Mickey
transition through dimensions in swapped bodies. Through Eden’s
body, Mickey sees alternative versions of life, observes differences
in people, professions, and technology, and is somehow able to
escape the darkest of it. Not everyone he cares about is as lucky.
Forced to cooperate, the Crossover Project is initiated. There are
plans to reshape the new world, but the most pressing issue for
Mickey, stranded in yet another new dimension, is getting his own
body back.
“That’s Mickey… Eden, I mean. Don’t shoot her. Him. Whoever.”
Flatlanders by Mike Sherer is an intelligently witty adventure
through alternate dimensions in a literary intersection between
Freaky Friday and The Crossroads of Time. The narrative is mostly
written as dialogue, and it helps us get to know the characters and
the different iterations of them where applicable, as seen through
their conversations and environments. Sherer creates Mickey and
his colleagues as bona fide geeks to start, and even in Eden’s body,
he has a strong arc that preserves his eccentricity and intellectual
curiosity but sheds a lot of social awkwardness. I like that he does
get attached to having another life growing inside him, but he
wants his man-bits back more. Flatlanders is a long read that
covers a lot of ground but is worth the time investment by a reader.
I laughed a lot, thought a lot, and consider it a good, unique, and
immersive experience that is very entertaining.
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Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
Flatlanders is a work of fiction in the science fiction, interpersonal
drama, and suspense subgenres. It is best suited to the general
adult reading audience. Penned by author Mike Sherer, the story
follows young theoretical physicist Mickey Haiku as he navigates a
bizarre and perilous journey through multiple dimensions. Trapped
in a battle with the much smarter scientist Eden, Mickey must save
his own dimension from destruction. Unbeknownst to them, beings
from higher dimensions complicate their struggle, sending them on
a chaotic odyssey through strange realms. To add to the challenge,
Mickey embarks on this journey inhabiting a pregnant female body,
while Eden is stuck in his. Forced to cooperate, the two develop an
unlikely and complex relationship amidst the surreal challenges
they face.
Author Mike Sherer has crafted a truly imaginative exploration of
multiple dimensions that results in an exhilarating and mindbending experience to keep readers engaged from start to finish.
The dynamic between Mickey and Eden is both intriguing and
humorous, as they navigate the challenges of inhabiting each
other’s bodies while grappling with their agendas. The dialogue and
thought presentation are very carefully crafted to showcase their
diverse and unique attitudes, and I loved the distinction but also the
moments of humorous crossover in their lives. Sherer’s vivid
descriptions and comprehensive world-building leave no stone
unturned, drawing the reader into a fantastical realm of epic
proportions that is filled with strange and unpredictable twists. As
the story unfolds at a slow-burning pace, the stakes escalate, and
the characters are forced to confront their biases and assumptions,
leading to unexpected revelations and personal growth. Overall,
Flatlanders is a thrilling and thought-provoking journey through the
realms of science fiction, blending humor, adventure, and
philosophical exploration in equal measure, and I would not hesitate
to recommend it.
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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers’ Favorite:
In the science fiction epic Flatlanders by Mike Sherer,
mathematician Mickey Haiku embarks on a journey of discovery
when he encounters mysterious voices disrupting his work. As he
delves deeper into theoretical physics discussions, he meets Eden,
a figure claiming to be from a higher dimension. Together, they
collaborate on opening gateways between dimensions, but Mickey
finds himself facing difficulty adapting to new realities, which is
compounded by a development that merges Mickey and Eden into
one. Betrayal from an unexpected source requires the help of
friends George and Priscilla, as Mickey reels with issues of identity
and the urgent need to return home—not such a simple task when
wading through extremely sophisticated technologies and threats
like neutrino strikes. As treachery is exposed, Mickey must confront
it as a matter of mass life or death, all while striving to find a
solution to the predicament and ensure a safe return.
Holographic McDonald’s, anyone? It’s good to know that Mike
Sherer is willing to give readers the comforts of home in a story
where those comforts are few and far between. Flatlanders is
creative in how Sherer uses more human aspects to balance the
swaths of scientific realism he injects into his writing, which is
impressive enough to satisfy even the pickiest of speculative
readers. There is a lot of sexual exploration written into the
storyline, and having a man in a woman’s body makes it all the
more interesting, especially as it takes on a polyamorous vibe.
Mickey’s experience of being pregnant in Eden’s body prompts
reflection on gender identity and the boundaries of individuality. I
think the standout philosophical theme and one of those rare gems
in science fiction, where an author gives us real depth, is that
despite discussion on centrifuges being used to separate souls from
bodies and to switch between different physical forms, the physical
and mental are still different. Sherer introduces genetic memory
passing between dimensions and a complex interconnectedness
across different realities, and when it comes to classic sci-fi, there is
nothing better than thought-provoking ideas about the nature of
existence and the potential implications of multidimensional travel.
Very highly recommended.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Dangerous Dimensional DramaReviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
Mickey Haiku and aspiring theoretical physicist dedicated to breaking down the walls between his and higher dimensions is visited by a phantom, or so he thinks when the phantom proves to be a scientist from another dimension working on the exact same issue. Eventually they succeed in their dimensional shuffle only to find they have swapped bodies. Soon Mickey comes to realize that his contemporary, Eden may not be as altruistic as he’s been led to believe. Luckily he finds help in a pair of friends from an even higher dimension than Eden’s but will it be enough to save his home Dimension from Eden’s nefarious machinations?
This is an intensely trippy multiversal drama that has been well researched and has plenty of hard sci-fi for the theoretically minded while still retaining a ton of wit and charm (not to mention humor) to keep the average reader flipping pages.
Mickey is your typical guy who is too smart for his own good, and lacking in the cunning necessary to see not everyone has his best interests, but with a truly good heart. His conundrum of being stuck in a pregnant female (who wants to co-opt his home dimension) is both poignant and hilarious at the same time. A fascinating and satisfying read.
I do have some nits to pick. There’s a couple formatting choices the author uses to identify whose in his body which become tiresome after reading fifty pages of Eden (Mickey) or Mickey (Eden) … This author is good enough not to have to rely on gimmicks. Readers are smart, they’ll cotton to that body swap pretty fast without the odd formatting choice. Also Mickey and Eden both are absolutely terrible at even attempting to fit in with their new dimensions. Anyone would have noticed something was extremely off with them in a heartbeat. This just struck me as odd. Also could have done with a tighter edit.
All-in all though, this doesn’t spoil Flatlanders as a great entry in cross-dimensional storytelling. Well worth a read.
From the North Rim 