Jostein Gaarder — Maya
Phoenix 2000 Paperback, 320pp. An intricate web of mysteries & illusions, 'Maya' is a fascinating novel that addresses the big questions: the creation of the universe, the evolution of life on earth, the nature of consciousness, the purpose of human existence - & not least, the necessity for love. As its characters - an English writer, a Norwegian evolutionary biologist, a Spanish dancer - meet & their stories intertwine, Jostein Gaarder explores his theme with the same breathtaking leaps of imagination that made 'Sophie's World' a bestseller. (ISBN: 9781861591890). Good.