In a queer and feminist take on Hamlet in modern-day New York City, a neuro-atypical philosopher, along with his best friend Horatio and artist ex-fiancée Lia, are caught up in the otherworldly events surrounding the death of his father.
Faye brings considerable skills and irreverent humor ... Lush and magical, thoughtful and provocative, The King of Infinite Space is a remarkable achievement, staying true to Shakespeare’s tragic play in ways that will surprise and delight while reveling in neurodivergence, queer attraction and quantum physics. Though the buildup is slow and Benjamin’s philosophical meanderings occasionally digressive, this is a novel to stick with for its rewards of a surprising plot and Faye’s delightful storytelling.
... a mind-bending update on the classic tragedy that cleverly keeps its spirit intact while modernizing relationships and plot points ... Faye drops the Bard's best beats into a blender with thought experiments, existential dilemmas and some snicker-worthy double entendres, then sets it to delirious fun. The story draws its allusions from a few of Shakespeare's best-known works. However, readers unfamiliar with the source material should have no trouble following the plot or investing in the emotional stakes. Ben and Horatio's complicated history and heavy sexual tension add a heart-stirring romantic subplot, but don't mistake this mind-bending romp for Hamratio slashfic. Faye has invested considerable care in creating and balancing her trio of protagonists ... wears its heart on its sleeve down to its explosive and sentimental conclusion.
... not only a richly realized mash-up of mystery and fantasy, it’s also a clever pastiche of Hamlet ... Their evolving relationship is brilliantly realized, as, for that matter, is the entire book, which is, alas, ever faithful to the original, which is, remember, a tragedy. The curtain falls.
