“The Universe Versus Alex Woods” by Gavin Extence – The Loneliness of the Misfits

When The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence opens up, we are straight away presented with Alex, a British teenager who has been arrested for the possession of 113 grams of marijuana, and just to make things a bit weirder, an urn full of ashes. Though none sympathize with him and dub Alex as a criminal, he is nevertheless convinced that he did the right thing. 

The story then goes back to a few years earlier, when Alex was nothing but a 10 year-old child who got hit by a meteorite, becoming both a scientific genius and a social outcast. As you can guess, the rest of the book is about how Alex came to be in the position he was in at the beginning.

The quirky and unusual story of Alex Woods is one that combines elements of comedy and tragedy in the face of an inevitable doom. Much of Alex’s development as a character comes from his interaction with his only friend, an ailing American Vietnam War veteran. Though it wouldn't seem that the two have much in common, slowly they forge a bond, creating the type of friendship which can motivate people to go from one corner of the universe to the other.

As I just said, the book is a tragedy coated in a comedic way of delivery, being somewhat akin to an extensive attempt at finding silver linings in life. The way in which Extence approaches some of the heavier topics in the book, such as slow death and post-mortem friendship, hits home on all fronts; he is thought-provoking, tear-jerking and yet laugh-inducing all at the same time. In the end, I find it creates a very unique atmosphere which is actually a bit reminiscent of Vonnegut’s works.

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence (Book cover)
Much of the book itself revolves around the relationship between the teenager and the war hero, developing at a very slow pace (at times a bit too slow) while never lacking in meaning, depth or complexity. Every exchange between the two characters deals with some important issue in one way or the other… I’ll probably have to re-read it between the lines to understand all the subtle nuances and double-meanings.

All things being taken into consideration, The Universe Versus Alex Woods is a moving novel that manages to deal with some of the sadder topics in life in an uplifting and hopeful way that makes the future seem bright, despite the impending darkness all will one day encounter. I definitely recommend this to anyone who doesn’t mind slower-paced and introspective books revolving around human nature.

Gavin Extence (1982)

Gavin Extence


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Gavin Extence is an English writer with a more contemporary penchant. He was awarded the Waterstones 11 literary prize for his very first published book, The Universe Versus Alex Woods. He also detains a PhD in film studies, so a movie from him in the future may not be too far-fetched.


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