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Wally Roux, Quantum Mechanic
Listening length: 1 hour, 55 minutes
A teenage genius with a big imagination, Wally just moved to Savannah, GA from Maine with his mom, who adopted Wally when he was an infant. In this charming and sweet solo show, Wally investigates a hiccup in the spacetime fabric of his neighborhood which is causing a number of strange events and occurrences. Part science fiction and part coming-of-age story, Wally Roux charts one boy's journey of self-discovery and identity.
A teenage genius with a big imagination, Wally just moved to Savannah, GA from Maine with his mom, who adopted Wally when he was an infant. In this charming and sweet solo show, Wally investigates a hiccup in the spacetime fabric of his neighborhood which is causing a number of strange events and occurrences. Part science fiction and part coming-of-age story, Wally Roux charts one boy's journey of self-discovery and identity.
2 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 1, 2019
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471 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
August 4, 2019
Ok story read by a fabulous narrator.
August 9, 2019
This is probably the BEST of the free monthly Audible Originals that have been offered since the program started.
Fantastic coming-of-age story, fantastic writing, fantastic narration.
Highly recommended. 5 solid-gold stars!
Fantastic coming-of-age story, fantastic writing, fantastic narration.
Highly recommended. 5 solid-gold stars!
October 8, 2019
I listened to “the audible original, “Wally Roux, Quantum Mechanic� by Nick Carr performed by William Jackson Harper. It’s less than a two hour listen in which we learn that fifteen-year-old Wally can’t wait to have children. Odd thing for a teenage boy. Wally provides the listener with scientific knowledge of time/space continuum. He’s a funny kid, disappointed in his recent move from Maine to Savannah, GA. His arguments with his mother are hysterical, mostly because they ring so true! Wally’s school experiences are also funny. I laughed out loud like a crazy person listening to this story. It’s a sweet story about a intelligent and quirky teen trying to find his place in the world. It’s a fun look at teenage angst.
August 5, 2019
This was an excellent short coming-of-age story that I wish had been longer. It was smart, funny, and engaging, with a wonderful narrator, William Jackson Harper (who plays Chidi in The Good Place!). I really need him to narrate more books.
October 19, 2019
This is a fun coming-of-age short story in which a teenage boy finds a quantum anomaly in the fabric of space-time and travels to another dimension. Excellent narration by William Jackson Harper, who plays Chidi on "The Good Place."
August 20, 2019
This Audible original is a quirky, funny (but hardly hilarious) story that is worth listening to. I listened to the entire story on my commute to and from work today. The best part was about trying to picture quantum physics: "Imagine an apple--close your eyes and and imagine an apple--but don't close your eyes if your driving; keep them open and imagine an apple."
August 14, 2019
This was a fun audiobook short story. It was a quick listen that I enjoyed. I got it free as an Audible Original.
This is done as a life performance audiobook, I am still not a fan of these. While this book only had one narrator, it had a variety of sound effects in the background that were distracting and I could have done without that.
Wally Roux is a boy genius who is finding quantum anomalies around his town. He is able to repair these anomalies, but they end up leading him on a journey of self exploration that he wasn't expecting.
This story was more of a coming of age story than a sci-fi story. The quantum mechanic elements are fairly brushed over. The story ends up being more about Wally's relationship with his mother and about him growing up.
Overall this is a fun and quick audiobook listen that would be appropriate for young adult and older readers/listeners. While I don’t think I would pay money for it, it was decently done for a free audiobook.
This is done as a life performance audiobook, I am still not a fan of these. While this book only had one narrator, it had a variety of sound effects in the background that were distracting and I could have done without that.
Wally Roux is a boy genius who is finding quantum anomalies around his town. He is able to repair these anomalies, but they end up leading him on a journey of self exploration that he wasn't expecting.
This story was more of a coming of age story than a sci-fi story. The quantum mechanic elements are fairly brushed over. The story ends up being more about Wally's relationship with his mother and about him growing up.
Overall this is a fun and quick audiobook listen that would be appropriate for young adult and older readers/listeners. While I don’t think I would pay money for it, it was decently done for a free audiobook.
August 3, 2019
I love reading stories about brilliant African American boys/men! This was an enjoyable quick read. Wish it was longer and could've gone deeper into Wally's experiences with the other dimensions
August 7, 2019
Being a straight-to-audio story that clocks in at just under 2 hours long, I think this just bit off more than it could actually chew.
Topics like quantum reality, adoption, coming of age, puberty, bullying, alternate realities, and first crushes were all glanced over here, but I don't feel like any one of them were handled adequately or fully.
Because the title of this includes "quantum mechanic", I think this could have been best served by focusing on Wally investigating and explaining the quantum phenomena happening in his neighborhood. Science-sounding terminology were thrown around but not actually addressed, so I don't think a kid interested in quantum physics would actually find fulfillment from reading this.
Wally also just isn't a very good person and doesn't grow enough in maturity by the end of the story. Just action is mentioned when there should have been more self reflection, especially since this is told retrospectively in Wally's voice. He is a cheeky kid who talks smack to his mom when it is clearly uncalled for, and he never apologizes or gets punished for acting like a jerk.
As someone who is adopted, I was extremely upset about how the subject of adoption was handled. I feel like it was there to create drama, but then Wally's insecurities weren't properly addressed. I tried to find information online about the author Nick Carr, to see if he had knowledge about adoption or had done any sort of research. However, all I found was that this was an Emerging Playwrights Commission, written for and available exclusively on Audible, so I am assuming Nick Carr is a nobody.
Final Verdict: Good narration once you get used to his inflection delivery. Lacking in character development and proper story arcs. Would not recommend.
Topics like quantum reality, adoption, coming of age, puberty, bullying, alternate realities, and first crushes were all glanced over here, but I don't feel like any one of them were handled adequately or fully.
Because the title of this includes "quantum mechanic", I think this could have been best served by focusing on Wally investigating and explaining the quantum phenomena happening in his neighborhood. Science-sounding terminology were thrown around but not actually addressed, so I don't think a kid interested in quantum physics would actually find fulfillment from reading this.
Wally also just isn't a very good person and doesn't grow enough in maturity by the end of the story. Just action is mentioned when there should have been more self reflection, especially since this is told retrospectively in Wally's voice. He is a cheeky kid who talks smack to his mom when it is clearly uncalled for, and he never apologizes or gets punished for acting like a jerk.
As someone who is adopted, I was extremely upset about how the subject of adoption was handled. I feel like it was there to create drama, but then Wally's insecurities weren't properly addressed. I tried to find information online about the author Nick Carr, to see if he had knowledge about adoption or had done any sort of research. However, all I found was that this was an Emerging Playwrights Commission, written for and available exclusively on Audible, so I am assuming Nick Carr is a nobody.
Final Verdict: Good narration once you get used to his inflection delivery. Lacking in character development and proper story arcs. Would not recommend.
August 7, 2019
Wally Roux is a teenage genius whose mother adopted him when he was an infant, and has just moved them from Maine to Savannah, Georgia. It is, in his opinion, lonely and boring at best. In addition to that, though, there's a strange space-time hiccup causing weird problems in his neighborhood. For instance, when he walks to and from school each day, he really is walking uphill, both ways.
After a chance encounter leads to him using his excellent mechanical skills to fix a bus engine, he starts thinking that maybe, with some study of quantum mechanics, he might be able to fix the the space-time malfunction, too.
On a certain level, he knows this doesn't really make much sense, but what the heck. He's doing really well in school and he has no friends to spend time with, and it could make life easier if the road to school isn't uphill both ways anymore.
This story is light, funny, and a lot of fun, and the narrator is excellent.
Recommended.
I received this audiobook free as part of Audible's Audible Originals program, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
After a chance encounter leads to him using his excellent mechanical skills to fix a bus engine, he starts thinking that maybe, with some study of quantum mechanics, he might be able to fix the the space-time malfunction, too.
On a certain level, he knows this doesn't really make much sense, but what the heck. He's doing really well in school and he has no friends to spend time with, and it could make life easier if the road to school isn't uphill both ways anymore.
This story is light, funny, and a lot of fun, and the narrator is excellent.
Recommended.
I received this audiobook free as part of Audible's Audible Originals program, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
August 6, 2019
Love the narrator (who plays Chidi on The Good Place), so when audible sent an email saying he narrated one of their free books, I went for it! It was short � only 2 hours, but I listen at 1.5 speed so it was more like 1.5 hours total � so, big a lot of substance. Like...kinda cute? And the narration was great, aside from all the looooong pauses audible put into production that kept making me think the book was suddenly over. I’m not really sure what I listened to, or really the point. But I’m happy to hear more of William Jackson Harper’s voice! So, 5 stars ONLY for him, like 1.5 stars for the book, which I'm just going to call a 2.
August 2, 2019
I love books about smart African American kiddos� Wow Quantum Mechanics 🤯 lol!!! 😍😍😍
September 7, 2019
I didn't know it was going to be a fiction but I caught on pretty quick when the protagonist says that he fixed an error in the space-time dimension. If you're not in the mood to read and generally gravitate towards sci-fi content, then this is the perfect audiobook for you. It's quirky, a little funny, and adorable. It is also short and makes for a perfect listen during your commute, because let's face it, the songs on the radio suck.
August 2, 2019
This is a pretty ambitious effort. It’s short but good. It also helps that William Jackson Harper’s voice accurately describes what I feel the character hears in his head.
That story between his mother and the school bully when she was in school was crazyyyyyy.
I’m happy that I picked this for this month’s free audible original.
That story between his mother and the school bully when she was in school was crazyyyyyy.
I’m happy that I picked this for this month’s free audible original.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2019
An alright little YA story of self discovery using the sci-fi tropes of alternate worlds and the boy-genius.
I went through this phase of life a long time ago, so I’m not really the right guy to rate this one.
I went through this phase of life a long time ago, so I’m not really the right guy to rate this one.
August 30, 2019
This was a free Audible Original from Amazon Prime and it was actually pretty interesting. I love quantum physics, and paired with a 14 year old’s coming of age tale, it was a decent story.
But what made this story exceptional was the performance by William Jackson Harper!! Well done!!
But what made this story exceptional was the performance by William Jackson Harper!! Well done!!
September 1, 2019
Trippy but intriguing short story centered on a young boy tweaking quantum physics around his neighborhood.
August 26, 2019
What a great story. I really enjoyed it.
Wonderful narration by William Jackson Harper.
Wonderful narration by William Jackson Harper.
March 22, 2020
What a fun book! Great voice actor! I was very much entertained.
July 18, 2021
Enfaging story of a 13 year-old boy who creates a time warp to travel around parallel realities. The true magnificance of this short, free Audible selection is the narrator who voices a handful of other characters. One hour 15 minutes in length.
November 11, 2019
I thought the premise was great, but execution was poor.
Characters & Story: There was no character development and the story was all over the place. Wally was not likable at all. There's a way to do isolated, narcissistic boy genius, and Carr managed to capture all of the worst traits of that archetype without any of the entertaining or redeeming qualities. In addition to that, Wally is meant to only be 14-15 years old, yet the amount of cursing used felt extremely out of place and just.... odd. While I know teenagers swear, this just didn't feel natural and felt really unnecessary. Also, felt like Carr has a real beef to pick with religion. I get that the main characters were not religious, that's fine, but Wally seemed to have actual disdain towards everyone in his community who had religious affiliation.
Narration: The narration was another problem for me. While I liked the narrators voice for Wally, all of his female characters sounded identical and sounded over-dramatic, naive, and frankly annoying. Part of this could be laid at the feet of Carr, who also seemed to make all of the female characters equally difficult to deal with. The mother was the only female character that had any real likable qualities about her.
TL;DR This whole story reeks of stereotypes, flat characters with a lot of potential, but no growth, and no story arc.
Characters & Story: There was no character development and the story was all over the place. Wally was not likable at all. There's a way to do isolated, narcissistic boy genius, and Carr managed to capture all of the worst traits of that archetype without any of the entertaining or redeeming qualities. In addition to that, Wally is meant to only be 14-15 years old, yet the amount of cursing used felt extremely out of place and just.... odd. While I know teenagers swear, this just didn't feel natural and felt really unnecessary. Also, felt like Carr has a real beef to pick with religion. I get that the main characters were not religious, that's fine, but Wally seemed to have actual disdain towards everyone in his community who had religious affiliation.
Narration: The narration was another problem for me. While I liked the narrators voice for Wally, all of his female characters sounded identical and sounded over-dramatic, naive, and frankly annoying. Part of this could be laid at the feet of Carr, who also seemed to make all of the female characters equally difficult to deal with. The mother was the only female character that had any real likable qualities about her.
TL;DR This whole story reeks of stereotypes, flat characters with a lot of potential, but no growth, and no story arc.
August 2, 2019
Remember what I said about listening to audiobooks while moving? Yeah. That's what happened here.
Ok, so I got this book for free from audible, it beingone of their monthly originals that they give away to subscribers. I didn't really expect much from it, and to be honest, I only bought it because it was so short.
So, I was pleasently surprised. The story was a bit twisty-turwy and felt cut a bit short at times, but generally I enjoyed it.
The plot was a little all over the place, though, but seeing as it was so short, it was ok.
The narrator did a good job, as well, even if all the background sounds did give me a headache.
Ok, so I got this book for free from audible, it beingone of their monthly originals that they give away to subscribers. I didn't really expect much from it, and to be honest, I only bought it because it was so short.
So, I was pleasently surprised. The story was a bit twisty-turwy and felt cut a bit short at times, but generally I enjoyed it.
The plot was a little all over the place, though, but seeing as it was so short, it was ok.
The narrator did a good job, as well, even if all the background sounds did give me a headache.
September 24, 2019
Fun sci-fi story that I enjoyed with my daughter. It was a little had to follow, but you will enjoy as long as you let go of reality. The language was a little offensive, maybe it needed a rating like movies.
September 1, 2019
An enjoyable, short and quirky coming of age story. Why only 3 stars? Because while the narration was great, there are too many big topics built into the narration but not fully explored.
May 24, 2021
Wally Roux, Quantum Mechanicis a short audiobook narrated by William Jackson Harper. I didn't recognize the narrator's name (because I'm flat out horrible remembering things like that) but the second I heard his voice, I knew who he was. The Good Place was one of my guilty pleasures and hearing Chidi narrate was such a joy. He has a great delivery and a very animated voice that only adds to the cuteness of this quick story.
For such a short story, it clocks in at just under two hours in length, it covers a lot of topics: bullying, puberty, adoption, race issues, and oh, quantum mechanics, among other things. The way it's written leans towards stream of consciousness at times which works well for an audiobook. You move from one moment in time to a memory and back again, learning about Wally's life and how he wound up where he is. There isn't a strong plot, but the little anecdotes you get throughout make up for that in my opinion.
If you're looking for a cute, quirky, and laugh out loud funny audiobook that you can get through in a single sitting, this is the one for you.
For such a short story, it clocks in at just under two hours in length, it covers a lot of topics: bullying, puberty, adoption, race issues, and oh, quantum mechanics, among other things. The way it's written leans towards stream of consciousness at times which works well for an audiobook. You move from one moment in time to a memory and back again, learning about Wally's life and how he wound up where he is. There isn't a strong plot, but the little anecdotes you get throughout make up for that in my opinion.
If you're looking for a cute, quirky, and laugh out loud funny audiobook that you can get through in a single sitting, this is the one for you.
March 24, 2020
A very brief and enjoyable-towards-the-end short story/play via Audible Original.
Wally Roux is a genius who quickly (VERY quickly in a hand-wavey just go with it kinda way) discovers a way to cut through the fabric of space time in and around his new hometown of Savannah where he lives with his mother.
This very short Audible original starts off a little too snappy by half but eventually matures nicely. The character development and revelations about Wally and his situation are bittersweet yet satisfying. Since it's all about quantum mechanics, we get a handful of quirky twists and looping back but it's worth it in the end.
Wally Roux is a genius who quickly (VERY quickly in a hand-wavey just go with it kinda way) discovers a way to cut through the fabric of space time in and around his new hometown of Savannah where he lives with his mother.
This very short Audible original starts off a little too snappy by half but eventually matures nicely. The character development and revelations about Wally and his situation are bittersweet yet satisfying. Since it's all about quantum mechanics, we get a handful of quirky twists and looping back but it's worth it in the end.
November 12, 2021
Free | Received free a couple years ago, and promptly forgot about it. I found this more enjoyable than I expected, and Harper was excellent doing the audio work. The special effects were too loud in a few places, but that doesn't impact the quality of the writing.
March 21, 2022
The main character uses to0 much profanity just in the first 5 minutes of this book. He is also rude and deceitful to his mother with no consequences. He isn't likeable in the least and I really wanted to like him.
April 12, 2020
Cute but just ok. I think I would have liked it longer
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