I loved this book when I first read it, which is why it was never registered and released at the time. But as I'm having a major clear out, its time has come! May well have to read it again before it begins its travels.

This is a strange novel and takes some getting used to, but it is well worth it as the plot gets going, then comes together. There are actually three separate stories, each having alternative chapters and interweaving together to create a great ending.

The first is set in Marrakesh in the 1970's and is about a poor boy, Moz, as he struggles to survive in the crime ridden slums. His friend, Malika, is his constant companion, but she has secrets of her own which could destroy them both. He accidentally falls in with a recluse ex-popstar, Jake Razor, and his manager, Celia. Not exactly friends, not exactly lovers, he tries to leave his old life behind to get drowned in theirs, but old enemies and so called friends drag him back into the gutter at every turn.

The second story is in 'present' day. Prisoner Zero, who might be Moz, might be Jake Razor, might be nobody, is arrested after he tries to assinate the American President. He retreats into a silent world, refusing to speak to his 'interviewers', but is still sentanced to die. When he starts to scrawl impossible equations into his own shit, the world relaises that he could be a genius, another Einstein that could change the course of human history. But to Prisoner Zero, locked away on a small island, the only thing that is real is the voice in his head and the dreams of starships, of far away worlds and the darkness.

The third is set in the future where the latest Emperor of the 2023 worlds is going mad. He knows that his Library, which he has nicknamed Darkness, has created a world where nothing is real and all a simulation to keep him happy. He knows that billions of his subjects are tuned into his every move, but refuses to 'perform' for them. An assassin is on the way to the palace, battling through wintery landscapes, talking to ghosts, but the Emperor no longer cares. He has his own plans and dreams, especially the ones involving a solitary man locked away for trying to kill a man that the voice in his head told him to do.

As I mentioned, to start with it takes some getting used to. The stories are so different to each other as first, that the jumping between the two is confusing and disorientating. But slowly, echoes of one story will appear in the others, words or phrases repeated, characters thinking the same thoughts or sharing the same dreams. As you are drawn into the concluding chapters, everything drops suddenly into place and the ending just takes your breath away. Amazing scope, brilliantly written. Well worth reading if you can forge through the beginning.

Sending to a fellow bookcrosser as part of the UK Sci-Fi and fantasy virtual bookbox.

This just arrived -- thank you dark-draco. Another one from the amazing sticker-covered envelope!

I'll add this to my TBR pile and look forward to reading it over the Christmas break.

Interesting and very clever. Inevitably, I cared more about some of the strands than others, but Jon Courtenay Grimwood does a good job of making his large cast of characters compelling.

Thanks, dark-draco, for sharing.

Reserved for UK SF and Fantasy VBB, round 2, starting September 2012.
Update: this book wasn't picked for the VBB, so is available again.

I'll leave this in the foyer at the Cameo before the 5:45 screening of Much Ado tonight.

If you've found it- welcome to BookCrossing! I hope you enjoy Stamping Butterflies and then pass it on to continue its journey. It'd be great to find out where it has travelled to and read your review. You can stay completely anonymous if you prefer, or you can join BookCrossing (it's free) if you'd like to take part in this booklovers' community.