I first started listening to this over the 4th of July weekend and then, since there wasn't anything objectionable, and it was very funny I started listening to it over again with my kids. We all loved this hilarious novel. Grossman's novel takes place in a world gone slightly askew, a world where superheroes and super-villains, "enhanced" humans and aliens, battle regularly. Doctor Impossible, an evil super-genius, tells half the story, recounting his many attempts to take over the world (twelve so far), his philosophy, "When life gives you lemons you squeeze them, hard. Make invisible ink. Make an acid poison. Fling it in their eyes." He's enhanced, but damaged, he's got amazing strength and speed now, but he's still the middle-schooler who cried when he dropped his lunch, still the odd man out, just like when he was at the special high-school that produced all those super-heroes. His plans involve math and physics beyond the comprehension of most humans, but he still forgets important points, like how much it hurts when you get hit by a superhero over and over again, and that it's best not to get caught up in the moment and reveal your whole plan when confronted with a super-hero.
The other half of the story is told by Fatale, a newly-minted member of the Champions, the best of the superheroes. Fatale was surgically enhanced. She signed the consent papers while in the ER after a horrific accident. She doesn't know her own origin story too well, and she doesn't know the full extent of her own powers, not really, but she is an eager new member of a storied team.
All of the characters are meticulously crafted, and likable in their own ways. And the plot moves along smartly with lots of action and twists. I look forward to reading Grossman's new book, You.
J. Paul Boehmer narrates part of the audio, and does a terrific job.
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