What if the Universe ran out of an office in Queens?
And what if your job was to shape the world, but every move you made risked unraveling it?
After the tragic loss of her husband, Katie seeks a fresh start and finds it when she is hired by the Universe. The job is to carefully orchestrate events, large and small, to keep existence on track—or so she’s been told. During her first big assignment, Katie meets Mike–a man employed by the Universe for hundreds of years—and she begins to question her purpose. As their paths merge, and as Katie digs deeper into the secrets of the Universe, a dark secret reveals itself.
In a game where every move threatens chaos, can two pawns save the Universe, or will their choices bring it to an end?
Praise for The Universe
“Complex, high-concept, and beautifully rendered—tactile in its specificity. A magical piece of material, coming at a time when the world needs it most! Who knew so much could be revealed in just a couple hundred pages?” – Darren Stein, Writer & Director of Jawbreaker
“How many times have you heard the saying, ‘The Universe Works in Mysterious Ways’? Well, in Mike Matzdorff’s first novel The Universe, you find out the Universe is even more mysterious than you can possibly imagine. The Universe is a unique and entertaining page-turner that keeps finding imaginative twists and fresh, new ways keep you guessing from cover to cover. Matzdorff creates an original ‘world behind the world we know’ that makes you wonder just how much you REALLY want to know about how the Universe works!” – John D. Beck, Executive Producer of Fuller House
“If you were ever hoping to unravel the mystery of the Universe, this book will do it. But first it will mix pathos, intrigue, the past, office jobs, and the human condition into a swirling cauldron of mind-bending and metaphysical storytelling that is simultaneously fantastical and relatable and will help you worry a little less about your own universe in the grand scheme of things.” – Carlos Kotkin, 14-time Moth Short Story Prize winner
“A mind-bendingly original debut. Unpredictable, thought provoking and at times wildly funny, Matzdorff’s prose will stick in your brain for weeks after. You’ll never look at our ‘normal’ world the same way again.” – Ted Caplan, Co-author of Unpregnant
“Our lives unfold in infinite and unexpected ways. However, Matzdorff creates for us a more knowable Universe—one that’s actually run out of an office in Queens. While an easy read, it explores the march of history, the challenges of loss, and the purpose of existence, all while navigating absurd twists that ultimately remind us not to take life too seriously.” – Matt Walsh, Actor on Veep
Several times I found myself thinking while I was reading this story, “What if this is the way things ‘happen’? What if everything is truly connected and everything really DOES happen for a reason?” The Universe is not only about the main characters who find their purpose in life through painful experiences, but also and the bigger picture, about human connections and how we relate to each other in some cosmic way through our lifetime.
Loved this book! The characters and overall storyline really kept me reading. “Things all happen for a reason”… maybe.. or maybe life changing moments are not what they seem. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to look further into their own little pieces of life. See how their own real life situations connect with this book “The Universe”. Fantastic read ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Green Crow Publishing 