"A darkly comic masterpiece, a rare and thrilling example of a philosophical novel as pleasurable as it is thought-provoking." –San Francisco Chronicle
"Who would have thought contemporary Central European literature could be so fun and so funny?. . . A real beauty of a book, farcical, satiric, melancholic, and humane." –Jonathan Franzen, author of Freedom
"Dazzling. . . . Has satirical bite and technical sparkle." –
The Wall Street Journal "Combines the geeky adventure of Stephenson with the icy wit that Paul Auster was once known for. . . . Engaging, provocative entertainment." –
Los Angeles Times "Kafka for the Facebook-famous generation." –
Time Out New York
"This slim, funny, provocative book justifies its structure brilliantly. . . . The stories in
Fame make a terrific case for the way fiction enables us to lead double lives–and then, at the stories' end, to go home." –
The Boston Globe "[A] brilliant study of the fragility and interconnectedness of life. . . . Layers of conection, irony, despair, and humor distinguish this masterful work." –
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The real subject of Kehlmann's book is language: its fiery possibilities of granting us a name, its humiliating shortcomings in telling who we are, its ignominious deceits and false promises, its ingenious devices to help us translate the experience of ourselves into the experience of another. . . . An extraordinary feat." –
The Guardian (London)
"
Fame is a Nabokovian puzzle, a game of hide-and-seek, and a playful reflection on cultural renown and the lack thereof. . . . Kehlmann has Nabokov's and Barth's love of false leads, false bottoms, and, perhaps, false dichotomies." –
Bookforum "In Kehlmann's wickedly clever novel, fame is something his cast of widely disparate characters seek, avoid, flirt with, and succumb to. . . . [They are] luminous creations, and the coincidental devices that link them are brilliant gambits. Kehlmann showcases a flair for devious satire." –
Booklist (starred review)
"We were so hooked by the intriguing, interwoven stories, we couldn't put it down." –
Gawker "[A] darkly comic tour de force. . . . A brazen take on the modern yearning for recognition. Kehlmann is a writer worth reading." –
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
